Good article here from Paul Rackemann!
Martial Arts - Is it really about Self-defence? - Rackemann Wing Chun
Martial Arts - Is it really about Self-defence? - Rackemann Wing Chun
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Ok. Lets simplify the issue. If I can reliably do this.
How many self defence situations can I resolve?
The gif didn't play for me, DB. What did it show?Ok. Lets simplify the issue. If I can reliably do this.
How many self defence situations can I resolve?
And overstated. It focuses on the scenarios that are farthest from the most common training methods. It then asks whether different types of common training would address those. My answer, actually, in each case is, "Probably better than not having it." That even goes for the BJJ question with multiples. I'm not a fan of going to the ground, and I do think multiples present a special problem for an art that likes the ground. But a competent BJJ-er is significantly better prepared for those multiples than someone without that training.Personally, I think the article is overthought.
Agreed. Good training (and there's a wide continuum and variety of stuff that qualifies) will help. Some will help more than others in some situations (and it may be reversed in other situations). None of it can cover everything, and attempting to do so has a high likelihood of leading to that semi-paranoia you mention. There are decisions I don't bother to worry about in my life, because they would reduce the quality of my living it.If you are getting quality training, then there ought to be some applicable self defense skills that you are developing. However, nothing is perfect and nothing can prepare you for a genuine sneak attack or overwhelming odds.
In addition, self defense does not need to be your first or second or third or fourth reason or motivation for training. And yet you can still be developing legitimate and useful self defense skills.
Personally, and I’ve said this before, I feel that those people who become very focused on self defense can cross the line to paranoia. No thanks.
The gif didn't play for me, DB. What did it show?
Ah, then it goes to my point. Something will be different in different situations, but that one skill will potentially handle a number of them. The situation matters. I think the basic skills matter more.Little dude gave the big dude a sleeping pill.
Whether that's important or not really depends if they're trying to hit you.Are you really training for self defense?
It depends on how good you can protect your head from been punched. IMO, there exist no skill that's more important than this.
I think one of the main points of that article is simply to be aware of WHY your are training! I think it was addressed primarily to those people who THINK they are very "self defense" oriented but not truly preparing for situations they might find themselves in. Or for a student to be aware if a teacher is promoting what he is doing as excellent for "self defense", but then not addressing things like situational awareness, etc. He didn't say there was anything wrong with training just for the fitness or for enjoyment.
With awareness, there’s some decent logic to be applied, I think (based upon crime statistics, etc.). With deescalation, there are professionals who use some of thes tactics on a regular basis (though some of the published material is for folks working with disturbed or impaired people). The issue, to me, is how it can be effectively practiced. You can’t practice with resistance.People think they they are training situational awareness or deescalation. But to be honest how does anybody know any of it works?
There is basically nobody with any real grounding in the subject and there is no real way of finding out if any of it works.
Now given all of that. Consider the instructor who knows that he is making up tactics on the spot. And is teaching it anyway.
With awareness, there’s some decent logic to be applied, I think (based upon crime statistics, etc.). With deescalation, there are professionals who use some of thes tactics on a regular basis (though some of the published material is for folks working with disturbed or impaired people). The issue, to me, is how it can be effectively practiced. You can’t practice with resistance.
With awareness, there’s some decent logic to be applied, I think (based upon crime statistics, etc.). With deescalation, there are professionals who use some of thes tactics on a regular basis (though some of the published material is for folks working with disturbed or impaired people). The issue, to me, is how it can be effectively practiced. You can’t practice with resistance.
Agreed. I was addressing the question, “How does anybody know any of it works?” We have ways of knowing some of that. But there is a problem with “practicing” it in a dojo. Role playing is useful, but there’s no “live” feedback. It’s like training a single-leg, and never getting to resistance. For most of us, te best we can do is pass along the concepts we research -including info from folks who actually have to use it regularly.If they had an actual grounding in the subject. There is information on nuclear physics but that doesn't mean I can build a reactor any time soon.