As with all things you have to choose what you think is best. I suggest you read what I write hear and think upon it.
I appreciate the humorous and serious answers equally. ^_^
Humour is good. Being able to laugh oneself is even better.
I want to have all the tools necessary for a "just in case" scenario.
All the tools. This would be a gun. A knife. A good understanding of improvized weapons.
Yet, please understand that EDUCATION is the single most important thing you can do for self defense.
If you have education and preferred one in a science field you can make money. Money allows you to live in better neighborhoods. Allows you to have better running vehicles that are less likely to break down. Education allows you to provide for your family. I would say go to college if you have not already and get a degree and provide for your family.
I have a wife and kids, and lets say we are out walking and a group of guys try to mug us or something, I want to be equipped and prepared for SUCH situations.
Ok, first if a group of guys and they want you, they will get you. If you let me and a group of people get that close to your family and they could be a threat you have made mistakes.
(* Note: I am note a lawyer. I am not providing legal advise. I am not giving you a plan. I am just presenting opinions. *)
If you had a gun with PROPER training and LEGAL rights and license to carry then you could do that route. You can carry a knife. Just remember in the really abd areas where people are more likely to mug someone they are just as likely to also have a weapon. So if they get the drop on you you need to do what you can to not go with them and stay alive. Give them your wallet. They want the money. Give it to them. The sooner they are gone the sooner you get to walk away.
Planning on fighting 3 to 5 guys while your family is present it not a plan to win.
1) You wife needs to be trained in evacuation. Your child needs understand that when your or mom says something it needs to be done in these types of situations. She, your wife, also needs to understand this and follow those directions with the understanding that you cannot leave until they are safe.
2) Response training to stress is not a good way to live your life for overall happiness. Most people break down over time due to the exposed stress.
3) The bad guys that do this, will separate you from your family. This is bad if two or three keep you busy and the others go after them.
Which explains why you want to have power and devastation.
The problem is that there is always someone faster or stronger than you or has a plate in their head, or just plan likes getting hit in the head, that will not go down. This means you need to have someone to equalize the situation. Hence my point about weapons and improvised weapons as well.
This goes beyond the dojo or gym.
The problem with this thought is that it is in error. You will do what you train. It does not matter if in the gym or dojo or in the backyard. You will do what you train.
Now if you mean it goes beyond that art, and you want to know how to cut loose and take people out when needed this is completely different. This is a mindset. Some people have it. Some people can develop it. Others cannot.
As for Ki/Chi, I want to hone my internal energy and add that to my external blows.
I understand you want power, but this will take a long time or at least it has for most people.
I don't believe in wasting punches, so lets say I was jumped and I had to fend off 3-5 guys, I want to have the power to take them out in at least 2 blows...
2 blows. I understand your idea, but understand, other train. They can block and or delay you. If they are better than you then your plan is out the window. Do you have another plan? Can you think on fly? Can you adjust in the heat of combat? I am serious. These are questions that many cannot answer. Others can be trained slowly over time.
I want my jab to be devastating,
Why a jab? Your hand is moving through a 3d space while the opponent is moving through a 3d space a little bit off and you can move from a vital area to solid plate. Just a little bit off and nothing.
Wanting to hit hard is not a bad thing. Only wanting to strike hard is not thinking.
I want my kicks to be devastating,
See above.
THAT'S my purpose. Why throw a punch if it wont be effective????
I throw a punch to bait the opponent to provide me something. I might get a lock which then allows me to use that one as a shield from two other. Or I might be able to throw them into another and cause them to go down.
Believe me if you take the first one out quick, the others may think twice. I understand this. Yet look for more. Think for more. Educate yourself not only in college but also in philosophy and how people think. How you think. And open yourself. (* This will help with your search of ki/chi as well. *)
I want to be able to defend myself and family efficiently...
Efficiently. There are people I work with who have never been in a dangerous situation. They grew in a nice home. They went to college as did their parents and married someone who went to college and they work and live in places that are low in crime. They do not try to be a superman, but understand their limitations. Many of them are hunter and or gun owners. Unless the do something silly while traveling they most likely will never run into anything in their life. THIS IS A GOOD THING. It is also the most efficient. They avoid the situation completely.
Its not a cool factor nor a bully factor, this is a real life scenario.
I am concerned by this. What is the real life scenario chances of this happening? If it is more than slim, you need to read what I said about college and school and education and income, and providing for the family. I understand it is not for everyone, and I understand that one has to do what they can with what they can do.
As the head and protector of my home, I'd want to be equipped with the best possible training, JUST IN CASE a situation should arise.
Being prepared is a good thing. Having food and water for a long weekend without electricity is good. Having a small amount of cash on hand is a good thing.
Remember marriage and family works best when the husband and wife are a team. Working in the same direction. If she is not going to assist you in this plan you need to understand this. It might be best to avoid all conflict possibilities.
I don't own a gun, because I have kids and u never know what can happens with something like that in your home.
Gun Safes. Trigger locks. And training kids to know a safe gun and what they can touch and why they cannot are good things. The same is true for blades. Let me ask you a question. Do you have any kitchen knives? If you do, do any of they have a tip or point or sharp edge? Bad things could happen. Why do they not? Because it is not something total forbidden or unknown. They have seen people use them and understand they cut.
Training kids, even just taking them to a gun range with a friend so they understand the sound and all that goes with a trigger pull is not a bad thing. Of course right age and maturity for each kid for this point is a good thing. (* And yes this is my opinion. *)
I understand that u should run away, and that would ALWAYS be my 1st intention, but that is not always the case, so then what???
Yes then what? There is no magic bullet or golden ring or what have you. Every move has a counter. There is always someone faster. There is always someone stronger. So what do you do. You keep trying. You do not give up.
Exactly... That's why I'm seeking THIS kind of training. Power and efficiency.
Good Luck
