Karate Kicks

[Stuarto85 4]

I am also an ex soldier...Everything I do gets viewed through the prism of real combat

I am as well and have similar views.

 

[Gyakuto128 137]

Just out of curiosity, did either of you actually engage in hand-to-hand combat (details not required!)?

My impression is that modern warfare (post WW1) takes place at a distance if not remotely. I once asked a lovely trainee fighter pilot acquaintance about how he felt about dropping bombs on people and ripping them limb from limb. He said there was a pilot’s concept known as the ‘morality of altitude’ where if you don’t hear, see or otherwise experience the results of one’s military sortie, it doesn’t register emotionally or psychologically.

 

[Stuarto85 4]

Just out of curiosity, did either of you actually engage in hand-to-hand combat (details not required!)?

My impression is that modern warfare (post WW1) takes place at a distance if not remotely. I once asked a lovely trainee fighter pilot acquaintance about how he felt about dropping bombs on people and ripping them limb from limb. He said there was a pilot’s concept known as the ‘morality of altitude’ where if you don’t hear, see or otherwise experience the results of one’s military sortie, it doesn’t register emotionally or psychologically.

No, but we did train in combatives. If we had to fight in hand-to-hand combat overseas, then that would be a very bad situation, and it would mean we were being overrun. We never let anyone get that close to us, and we were never alone.

 

[Prince_Alarming66 2]

The impression I get is that it's a bit like a combat dagger- you're probably never going to need it, but if you ever do you will need it like heck.

 

[Gyakuto128 137]

No, but we did train in combatives. If we had to fight in hand-to-hand combat overseas, then that would be a very bad situation, and it would mean we were being overrun. We never let anyone get that close to us, and we were never alone.

The very thought of being eye to eye, ‘dealing’ with an enemy <shudder>

 

[Buka40]

The very thought of being eye to eye, ‘dealing’ with an enemy <shudder>

It’s good practice for marriage.
But not as scary.

 

[opr1945126 13]

Ouch!

 

[HighKick]

Just out of curiosity, did either of you actually engage in hand-to-hand combat (details not required!)?

My impression is that modern warfare (post WW1) takes place at a distance if not remotely. I once asked a lovely trainee fighter pilot acquaintance about how he felt about dropping bombs on people and ripping them limb from limb. He said there was a pilot’s concept known as the ‘morality of altitude’ where if you don’t hear, see or otherwise experience the results of one’s military sortie, it doesn’t register emotionally or psychologically.

Do some reading on the Korean and Vietnam wars and you will see this is very incorrect. Even Desert Storm/Shield had it fair share.

 

[gspell68]

Do some reading on the Korean and Vietnam wars and you will see this is very incorrect. Even Desert Storm/Shield had it fair share.

Yep.
In basic training in 1990, we were sleeping overnight on the range.
Woke up and happened to look over at one of my Drill Sergeants as he was putting on his T-shirt.
He was a big ol’ black guy who was about 6’4” in any direction you measured him.
He accidentally joined the Marines during the Vietnam Era with a buddy while drunk.
Well, to quote Jim Croce, he looked like a jigsaw puzzle with a couple of pieces gone.
I didn’t even have to ask.
He just said a VC charged him with a bayonet and he got stabbed and carved up a bit.
He said that he was holding his M-16 in his hands at the time but was so shocked and scared that he forgot how to use it.
He said he just dropped his gun, picked the guy up, body slammed him once, and then stomped him to death.

 

[EJC]

I will have to do some research into the traditional Okinawan arts.

I appreciate the suggestion, but with the bad rap Aikido gets and the fact that it seems like a colossal waste of time for self-defense. I just feel punching a makiwara and doing some low kicks would be time much better spent than throwing around a partner that is non-resistant.

You're thinking of modern Aikido. Original Aikido was much more "jutsu" focused, with crippling techniques still taught, and falls were onto wood floors.