Are martial arts useful?
- Thread starter Nycto
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I did Taekondo for over a year and really didn't get that far, a lot of what we did was forms and routines which really didn't seem to serve any practical purpose except for show. I wanted to do more sparring which we didn't even do everyday. I also would have liked more flexibility exercises,partially because I liked to show off. I was also good at consecutive roundhouse kicks. Also occasionally a Kung Fu master came in and taught us some Kung Fu which mostly consisted of falling down. As an answer to the original question, we did learn how to disarm some one so it doesn't just apply to unarmed opponents.
Also, I do not consider Tai Chi a true martial art.
Also, I do not consider Tai Chi a true martial art.
At the Taekowndo studio I trained in on average it took at least 7 years to get to black belt, where as most of the TKD studios in the are did it in three years or less and they were inferior. If I had gone to them I would have obtained a black belt.Lyiat said:
Again, that seems far too short to get a black belt. In my Kenpo school, it was roughly eleven years minimum. You could have all the skill in the world and my shihan wouldn't give a damn. You needed the experience, and you also needed to completely understand the philosophy behind what you where doing. Any less, and you couldn't past the test you had to take for your next belt.PatientGrasshopper said:
I did martial arts as a kid, but I would imagine they could come in handy some day if you kept at it.
Did people from your gym have advantages over people of the same belt class from other gyms? Also,if you group against someone from a higher belt class from a lazy gym you have to bow to them even if they are inferior to you in skill.Lyiat said:
Martial arts are extremely useful if the need ever arises.
I have studied Karate, Jiu-Jujitsu, Aikido and Boxing and intend to learn Judo.
Living in the neighbourhood that I do, I have been in a fair number of fights. Mostly at pubs or just when drinking. I fight only as a last resort, most of the incidents I have been in I was stopping a fight or defending a friend.
My best example is a guy walking up to my friend David, who was playing pool.
David says hi, random punches him in the face several times. I separate them, but it starts up again. David gets hit a few more times, and being a skinny guy and fairly drunk, does nothing.
I knocked out the attacker with a right hook to the jaw, and was then attacked by his friend.
I grabbed the second guy in a hold and took him to the ground, at which point the bouncers and cops showed up. I didn't even get a warning, although they did give me a 'move along direction' meaning I had to call it a night.
Interesting fact: I have found boxing to be the most effective in dealing with real world threats, although grappling techniques from Jiu-Jujitsu and Aikido have certainly been useful.
I have studied Karate, Jiu-Jujitsu, Aikido and Boxing and intend to learn Judo.
Living in the neighbourhood that I do, I have been in a fair number of fights. Mostly at pubs or just when drinking. I fight only as a last resort, most of the incidents I have been in I was stopping a fight or defending a friend.
My best example is a guy walking up to my friend David, who was playing pool.
David says hi, random punches him in the face several times. I separate them, but it starts up again. David gets hit a few more times, and being a skinny guy and fairly drunk, does nothing.
I knocked out the attacker with a right hook to the jaw, and was then attacked by his friend.
I grabbed the second guy in a hold and took him to the ground, at which point the bouncers and cops showed up. I didn't even get a warning, although they did give me a 'move along direction' meaning I had to call it a night.
Interesting fact: I have found boxing to be the most effective in dealing with real world threats, although grappling techniques from Jiu-Jujitsu and Aikido have certainly been useful.
Ok, just for those people who've said Gun/ Knife beats martial arts:
in the UK being caught with a firearm or concealed knife carries a mandatory 3 year minimum jail term. Being caught in possession of arms, legs, a disciplined mindset and a toned abdomen carries no penalty and arouses the ardour of women.
Still think you gun-nuts have called that one right?
Also, being able to fight someone without killing them means that you can actually fight them, rather than committing manslaughter. Winning a fight is a feeling like no other. I doubt that stabbing someone in the back and then doing some time will be quite as gratifying to the ego.
in the UK being caught with a firearm or concealed knife carries a mandatory 3 year minimum jail term. Being caught in possession of arms, legs, a disciplined mindset and a toned abdomen carries no penalty and arouses the ardour of women.
Still think you gun-nuts have called that one right?
Also, being able to fight someone without killing them means that you can actually fight them, rather than committing manslaughter. Winning a fight is a feeling like no other. I doubt that stabbing someone in the back and then doing some time will be quite as gratifying to the ego.
Martial arts for actual fighting?Useless,unless you're extremely well trained(and not YMCA karate black belt).Hell,someone tried Viet-Vo-Dao (he had 3 years of training) on me during a mock fight.Poor bastard tried fancy moves on me,I just grabbed his leg and started swinging him around.
HOWEVER,mentally,martial arts are great.It teaches patience,focus,respect,etc...
So,in that sense,I highly recommend martial arts,just don't try to actually fight.You'll get your ass handed to you.
HOWEVER,mentally,martial arts are great.It teaches patience,focus,respect,etc...
So,in that sense,I highly recommend martial arts,just don't try to actually fight.You'll get your ass handed to you.
I'm short on time, so I didn't real all the post. Anyway.......
To me martial arts are useless if you don't spar. Even if you did spar, you WILL freeze up when a few muggers assaulted you, even with just a small club. (Hell, that's what happened to my friend who claimed he can defeat his teacher in a spar. But then again, he's the most boastful guy you'll ever know, making the point moot anyway
He actually continues boasting after a period of low self-esteem and shock, the bugger.)
If reading books about Bruce Lee taught me anything, is that quick and generally direct attacks (mostly with fists or jabs) at weak points are best. You can be in a hundred fights, and you'll pull out a roundhouse kick only once. To me, kicking is an attack that commits too much, and a good counter will leave you unbalanced. And don't put too much effort into learning all those fancy moves. You'll never get to use them in real life. Rather, properly done basic maneuvers should be used as naturally as second nature.
Oh and in a real fight, prepare to kick sands, bite, do eye gouge, or anything one would think is 'dirty' if it means your life. A lion that pounce onto a deer from behind and tear its neck open may be considered 'dirty', but the lion is alive and the deer is dead.
Sorry if I sound patronizing. I just want to share some practical ideas I read than having people practicing cool-looking/devastating moves that are too easy to be predicted/dodged.
My two cents.
To me martial arts are useless if you don't spar. Even if you did spar, you WILL freeze up when a few muggers assaulted you, even with just a small club. (Hell, that's what happened to my friend who claimed he can defeat his teacher in a spar. But then again, he's the most boastful guy you'll ever know, making the point moot anyway
He actually continues boasting after a period of low self-esteem and shock, the bugger.)If reading books about Bruce Lee taught me anything, is that quick and generally direct attacks (mostly with fists or jabs) at weak points are best. You can be in a hundred fights, and you'll pull out a roundhouse kick only once. To me, kicking is an attack that commits too much, and a good counter will leave you unbalanced. And don't put too much effort into learning all those fancy moves. You'll never get to use them in real life. Rather, properly done basic maneuvers should be used as naturally as second nature.
Oh and in a real fight, prepare to kick sands, bite, do eye gouge, or anything one would think is 'dirty' if it means your life. A lion that pounce onto a deer from behind and tear its neck open may be considered 'dirty', but the lion is alive and the deer is dead.
Sorry if I sound patronizing. I just want to share some practical ideas I read than having people practicing cool-looking/devastating moves that are too easy to be predicted/dodged.
My two cents.
Actually If I'm not mistaken in the time I've lived in the States, I've noticed that when your heavily trained in something, be it ANY martial arts, asian- all the way down to Western boxing,it's possible to be charged with assault with a deadly weapon, even though you yourself may not be holding a object, just your discipline. don't know how common it is, but when I spent time in Albuquerque, I remember the news talking about some pro light weight boxers who got in a brawl with some wanna be thugs, and the boxers were charged with the weapons assault..
Short anssewer in noNycto said:
Martail arts will never help in a real fight (YES IM LOOKING AT YOU KARATE !)
the only ones in know that are garunteed to help you are
"That Thai Elephant arm breaking style used in The Prtector movie"
and kick boxing
those are the only ones in my experiance actually helped
yes, I have a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, and when i was in high school, i used it on bullies, no joke. that was 3 years ago, I know i can still take just about anyone bold enough to attack me. I also have trained in Judo, Mic Mac, Krav Maga, Kendo,Karate, Wrestling, Kickboxing and different forms of Kung Fu, including Prey Mantis Style. On top of the discipline you get from it, the techniques and moves are burned into your physical memory, so your reflexes are keener.
Ninjutsu was training protocol for secret guardsmen & assassins working under high up Japanese officials, some believe that to be the shogan. all of the previous schools of Ninpo were destroyed and burned down since many people believed that the practices the schools were dishonorable and even inhuman.Pigeon_Grenade said:
It's easier if you think of Ninjutsu as the old school Black ops in america, you know, the one people say don't exist?
I actually have to agree with Matronadena as i am a martial artist and have had real life encounters. You know what the cops had to say ? i should have known better to attack back. Subsequently charged with Assault causing bodily harm, all because a small trickle of blood seeped from over his eye. Drawing blood, even a little, ups the charge.
Then of course this all depends on your opponent as well. I have had many fights, but it was only the one punk kid that ever reported it to the police. He decided he was tough and punched me, being a bouncer throwing him out of a club. So i slugged him back splitting him open. Then he went crying foul to the cops. As there was no video camera where it occured i didnt have any proof he hit me first... so i pleaded guilty in court, as i admit i hit the guy. Then a YEAR, yes a YEAR later i get a noticed from the damages court saying he was seeking damages. Cost me and my $4000 in the end.
So to the OP: be glad you havent been tested as it could hurt you in the wallet... outside of the obvious pain.
Examples: Again while on duty as a bouncer. First night with a new company. Two white Kiwi ( new zealanders) guys decide that one of our guys is to much of a pussy and pull him off his observation box and start pounding on him. So we other guys bail over to him. We pull them off him, eventually. I ended up singled out against one as they worked the 2nd guy out the door. So i see him rev up to give me a shot. I saw it coming, and being me i thought to myself "you know ive never been hit by a guy this before, i wonder if i could take it" and as you may guess i let him hit me. It hurt, a bit, but not much. But when i saw him rev up again, i thought, ones enough. So i swayed out of his reach and as he over balanced i back fisted him in the head. He went head first into a metal flight of stairs. It was like a gong sounding.
Now remember this was my FIRST night with a new company. I stayed on there for 2 years, and towards the end i had another incident of major note. For the record i never saw that other bouncer after that night.
These guys were assing around at another contract, a Hungry Jack's across the road from our main contract in the town. So anyway i told them to quiet down or bugger off. So one picked up a sweeper scoop. While i was turned away and swung at me. Fortunately i have trained a traditional form of fighting, that for this forum will remain un-named, which allowed me to sense something was coming for my head. So i turned and out the corner of me eye saw something coming. So i braced my skull at the base of my neck. The 1/2 inch hollow metal pole snapped over my skull. Literally snapped. Without even batting an eyelid i grabbed the guy by the throat and kept him pinne duntil the police came. I filed assault charges on this guy as i dont appreciate being blind sided by weapons... I didnt see a dime in damages...even though he pleaded guilty. I needed 2 surgical staples to close the wound. There was so much being a head wound that the entire left side of my white uniform shirt was now red. Oh and when i had the staples put in i told the doctor to not ass around applying local anesthetic as it was just a waste of time. Two surgical staples scraping across your skull is a unique feeling.
After this incident and the one involving the punk kid, i had had enough of being bashed, abused, spat at, having booze spilt on me, working late hours, all for $14 AUS an hour.
So yeah my martial arts training saw use. Restraints, sleeper holds, some blocks, some strikes.
So if you are 21+ and really want to test your patience threshold and apply your techniques and get paid a shitty wage then i reckomend going to your nearest nightclub and applying for a job.
You will soon grow tired of the inate feeling of being untested. Trust me, no offence, but i guarentee you will freeze the first time someone lashes out at you. If only for a split second.
Then of course this all depends on your opponent as well. I have had many fights, but it was only the one punk kid that ever reported it to the police. He decided he was tough and punched me, being a bouncer throwing him out of a club. So i slugged him back splitting him open. Then he went crying foul to the cops. As there was no video camera where it occured i didnt have any proof he hit me first... so i pleaded guilty in court, as i admit i hit the guy. Then a YEAR, yes a YEAR later i get a noticed from the damages court saying he was seeking damages. Cost me and my $4000 in the end.
So to the OP: be glad you havent been tested as it could hurt you in the wallet... outside of the obvious pain.
Examples: Again while on duty as a bouncer. First night with a new company. Two white Kiwi ( new zealanders) guys decide that one of our guys is to much of a pussy and pull him off his observation box and start pounding on him. So we other guys bail over to him. We pull them off him, eventually. I ended up singled out against one as they worked the 2nd guy out the door. So i see him rev up to give me a shot. I saw it coming, and being me i thought to myself "you know ive never been hit by a guy this before, i wonder if i could take it" and as you may guess i let him hit me. It hurt, a bit, but not much. But when i saw him rev up again, i thought, ones enough. So i swayed out of his reach and as he over balanced i back fisted him in the head. He went head first into a metal flight of stairs. It was like a gong sounding.
Now remember this was my FIRST night with a new company. I stayed on there for 2 years, and towards the end i had another incident of major note. For the record i never saw that other bouncer after that night.
These guys were assing around at another contract, a Hungry Jack's across the road from our main contract in the town. So anyway i told them to quiet down or bugger off. So one picked up a sweeper scoop. While i was turned away and swung at me. Fortunately i have trained a traditional form of fighting, that for this forum will remain un-named, which allowed me to sense something was coming for my head. So i turned and out the corner of me eye saw something coming. So i braced my skull at the base of my neck. The 1/2 inch hollow metal pole snapped over my skull. Literally snapped. Without even batting an eyelid i grabbed the guy by the throat and kept him pinne duntil the police came. I filed assault charges on this guy as i dont appreciate being blind sided by weapons... I didnt see a dime in damages...even though he pleaded guilty. I needed 2 surgical staples to close the wound. There was so much being a head wound that the entire left side of my white uniform shirt was now red. Oh and when i had the staples put in i told the doctor to not ass around applying local anesthetic as it was just a waste of time. Two surgical staples scraping across your skull is a unique feeling.
After this incident and the one involving the punk kid, i had had enough of being bashed, abused, spat at, having booze spilt on me, working late hours, all for $14 AUS an hour.
So yeah my martial arts training saw use. Restraints, sleeper holds, some blocks, some strikes.
So if you are 21+ and really want to test your patience threshold and apply your techniques and get paid a shitty wage then i reckomend going to your nearest nightclub and applying for a job.
You will soon grow tired of the inate feeling of being untested. Trust me, no offence, but i guarentee you will freeze the first time someone lashes out at you. If only for a split second.
Its a waste of time learning any marital art, I got in a fight once with some guy at my school who's apparently won some ti qwon do (I have no idea how you spell it) tournaments. He tried to grab my shoulder and I kneed him in the balls and then ran him into a wall. So yeh I think martial arts are a waste of time, the only things you need to know is how to punch hard and past that its all down to instinct and anger.
My chair beats anything short of a firearm.
I love being as powerful as I am. Simply overpowering people is fun....
I love being as powerful as I am. Simply overpowering people is fun....