Is martial arts a practical form of self defense?

[Syringer]

I can't see how much learning something like Tae Kwon Do will help someone who's 5'2", 120 lb., defend himself from someone who's 6'2, 220 lb..or does it?

 

[Viper GTS]

Well, I've been taking taekwondo for a little over a month now & there's a 12 year old girl who's a third degree black belt. She's not even 5'2, but I have no doubt she could kick my ass.

I'm 6'2 ~220.

Viper GTS

 

[Angrymarshmello]

Depends on the martial art. Tae Kwon Do is pretty worthless in a fight until you get to a certain level. Something like Krav Maga or certain forms of Jiu Jitsiu (just an example) would be appropriate and useful for a smaller opponent.

I don't know exactly what form of martial arts Marines are taught, but a lot of Special Forces guys are taught Krav Maga. I've seen 5' 5" 140lb sticks take out guys twice their size with ease. Could have very easily killed them to boot. It just depends on what martial art

 

[WinkOsmosis]

Funny how you see martial artists kicking ass in movies but not in real life.

 

[Heisenberg]

Only if the other guy is unarmed and waits patiently for you to hit him.

 

[Schadenfreude]

Well, in most situations, it is.

All you need to basically learn how to defend yourself is how to:

-Correct mindset

-Correctly strike (which part of the hand/foot/etc.) without hurting yourself

-How to strike (right angle)

-Where to strike (where do you hit with the palm of your hand? And the knuckles?)

Really, I think most any 'martial art' can properly teach you how to defend yourself in most situations. The trouble comes when you ahve to face other fighters/ multiple opponents/ armed opponents.
And, someone else will point this out too, it's not the style you learn, it's the quality of instruction and how well you can apply that to the situation at hand.

 

[Angrymarshmello]

Originally posted by: WinkOsmosis
Funny how you see martial artists kicking ass in movies but not in real life.

What's that supposed to mean? Would you pick a fight with Chuck Norris, Bruce Lee (if still alive), or Jet Li? I don't think any sane person would try to, other than to say they got their asses handed to them by someone famous. Regardless of the martial art, once you reach a certain level of experience you don't need to fight people to prove yourself.

 

[LS20]

depends on the martial arts

some are alot more effective than others ... like krav manga (as mentioned) for street fighting as opposed to the "traditional" karate or TKD which is really more for show.

i hear kick boxers are real adept at whooping ass, too

 

[AlienCraft]

Originally posted by: Syringer
I can't see how much learning something like Tae Kwon Do will help someone who's 5'2", 120 lb., defend himself from someone who's 6'2, 220 lb..or does it?

The answer depends really on if the MA is fighting strictly within the style, or if, as Bruce Lee suggests in his Jeet Kun Do paper, the MA has transcended the style and is fully "aware".
Want to find out for real? go to a dojo and spar.

 

[Schadenfreude]

Originally posted by: LS20
depends on the martial arts

some are alot more effective than others ... like krav manga (as mentioned) for street fighting as opposed to the "traditional" karate or TKD which is really more for show.

i hear kick boxers are real adept at whooping ass, too

I dunno about kickboxers, but man, I'd rather take on a Krav Maga guy than a Muay Thai guy . . ..

 

[kazeakuma]

Actually, with martial arts there is an advantage to being small. You're faster, usually more flexible, tire less and small size is great for acrobatics.

It also depends on the martial art and the teacher. Nearly all martial arts can be effective from a basic level, it depends on how you are taught and well. There are exceptions to this, Aikido and Kung Fu springing to mind. They require a much more thorough knowledge to be effective.

EDIT: Jehovah beat me to it and said it better. Damn I'm slow

 

[Schadenfreude]

Originally posted by: kazeakuma
Actually, with martial arts there is an advantage to being small. You're faster, usually more flexible, tire less and small size is great for acrobatics.

It also depends on the martial art and the teacher. Nearly all martial arts can be effective from a basic level, it depends on how you are taught and well. There are exceptions to this, Aikido and Kung Fu springing to mind. They require a much more thorough knowledge to be effective.

It really depends on the style - you wouldn't have an advatage if you were the smaller guy and you both were Muay Thai practitioners. That having been said, the more soft style, I could see having the advantage for.

 

[Schadenfroh]

heh, i would just carry around a conceiled weapon

 

[kazeakuma]

Originally posted by: Jehovah

Originally posted by: LS20
depends on the martial arts

some are alot more effective than others ... like krav manga (as mentioned) for street fighting as opposed to the "traditional" karate or TKD which is really more for show.

i hear kick boxers are real adept at whooping ass, too

I dunno about kickboxers, but man, I'd rather take on a Krav Maga guy than a Muay Thai guy . . ..

I hear that, I have a funny video of a sport Tae Kwon Do fighter taking on a Muay Thai guy. Neither are particularly good but the Tae Kwon Do guy gets his ass kicked. I think alot of it comes from the insane conditioning and training kickboxers do. For that they excel over many martial arts in terms of physical ability but I think Muay Thai doesn't really have the martial arts mindset. It's almost something else.

 

[Ornery]

• These should do the trick.

We had a local fellow get jumped by four guys outside a bar about ten years ago. He used a knife and walked away. One of the attackers died. Not sure what happened to the other three. A jury later let him walk away, too.

 

[Schadenfreude]

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh
heh, i would just carry around a conceiled weapon

Same thing here - would you face an average joe swinging around a medival sword, or an experienced ecrimador with two rattan sticks 28" long?

 

[kazeakuma]

Originally posted by: Jehovah

Originally posted by: kazeakuma
Actually, with martial arts there is an advantage to being small. You're faster, usually more flexible, tire less and small size is great for acrobatics.

It also depends on the martial art and the teacher. Nearly all martial arts can be effective from a basic level, it depends on how you are taught and well. There are exceptions to this, Aikido and Kung Fu springing to mind. They require a much more thorough knowledge to be effective.

It really depends on the style - you wouldn't have an advatage if you were the smaller guy and you both were Muay Thai practitioners. That having been said, the more soft style, I could see having the advantage for.

Dammit stop posting so fast. If I find another one by the time I post this

It does depend on the style, if you stay strictly within the one, like kickboxing then yes small guys would have a disadvantage. That said I've seen many a small kickboxer that beats the pants off big guys.

I don't think the 'soft' styles really have any advantage over small people compared to the harder styles. And what would you consider soft? Just trying to get it right in my mind.

 

[Schadenfreude]

Originally posted by: kazeakuma

Originally posted by: Jehovah

Originally posted by: kazeakuma
Actually, with martial arts there is an advantage to being small. You're faster, usually more flexible, tire less and small size is great for acrobatics.

It also depends on the martial art and the teacher. Nearly all martial arts can be effective from a basic level, it depends on how you are taught and well. There are exceptions to this, Aikido and Kung Fu springing to mind. They require a much more thorough knowledge to be effective.

It really depends on the style - you wouldn't have an advatage if you were the smaller guy and you both were Muay Thai practitioners. That having been said, the more soft style, I could see having the advantage for.

Dammit stop posting so fast. If I find another one by the time I post this

It does depend on the style, if you stay strictly within the one, like kickboxing then yes small guys would have a disadvantage. That said I've seen many a small kickboxer that beats the pants off big guys.

I don't think the 'soft' styles really have any advantage over small people compared to the harder styles. And what would you consider soft? Just trying to get it right in my mind.

Bagua, Wing Tsun(not Ving Tsun or Wing Chun, those are hard), Tai Chi, Hsing I - do I need to go on? And no, I wasn't thinking about Judo when I said this.

 

[Schadenfroh]

Originally posted by: Jehovah

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh
heh, i would just carry around a conceiled weapon

Same thing here - would you face an average joe swinging around a medival sword, or an experienced ecrimador with two rattan sticks 28" long?

this is what i prefer
im still trying to figure out how to conceal it, wait, i could just stick in my pants

 

[Rogue]

Take up the art of S & W or Hk. Works every time, well, almost every time.

 

[kazeakuma]

Originally posted by: Jehovah

Originally posted by: kazeakuma

Originally posted by: Jehovah

Originally posted by: kazeakuma
Actually, with martial arts there is an advantage to being small. You're faster, usually more flexible, tire less and small size is great for acrobatics.

It also depends on the martial art and the teacher. Nearly all martial arts can be effective from a basic level, it depends on how you are taught and well. There are exceptions to this, Aikido and Kung Fu springing to mind. They require a much more thorough knowledge to be effective.

It really depends on the style - you wouldn't have an advatage if you were the smaller guy and you both were Muay Thai practitioners. That having been said, the more soft style, I could see having the advantage for.

Dammit stop posting so fast. If I find another one by the time I post this

It does depend on the style, if you stay strictly within the one, like kickboxing then yes small guys would have a disadvantage. That said I've seen many a small kickboxer that beats the pants off big guys.

I don't think the 'soft' styles really have any advantage over small people compared to the harder styles. And what would you consider soft? Just trying to get it right in my mind.

Bagua, Wing Tsun(not Ving Tsun or Wing Chun, those are hard), Tai Chi, Hsing I - do I need to go on? And no, I wasn't thinking about Judo when I said this.

Nope that's cool, some people have weird conceptions about soft and hard. I see your point now , but I still think that size doesn't matter to a proper practitioner of martial arts. After all martial arts is about using your body and mind to it's full potential.

EDIT: Ignore the Wing Chun stuff I was in la la land. I had kind of extrapolated one of your earlier statements.

 

[AlienCraft]

Originally posted by: Ornery

• These should do the trick.

We had a local fellow get jumped by four guys outside a bar about ten years ago. He used a knife and walked away. One of the attackers died. Not sure what happened to the other three. A jury later let him walk away, too.

Carry one of those in California and they'll take your ass to jail on a big time felony. And let the victims sue you.....

 

[her209]

If you are dong Tae Bo, run!!!

 

[Krassus]

Originally posted by: Viper GTS
Well, I've been taking taekwondo for a little over a month now & there's a 12 year old girl who's a third degree black belt. She's not even 5'2, but I have no doubt she could kick my ass. I'm 6'2 ~220. Viper GTS

LOL!! I'd quit the moment i saw that. What a scam. Why do people still study TKD at those belt factories?

 

[Superwormy]

It all depends on what martial art, how its taught, how you've trained, who you're up against, WHAT you're up against, etc.

Hell, if you're up against a dude with a machine gun, MA would def. not be a practical form of self defense.

If you've been studying for only a year, and know next to nothing, its going to be a bit different from someone whos devoted their life to it.



People should remember where martial arts came from though, it wasn't always a sport or money-making thing like it is now. MA were used in combat for HUNDREDS of years very successfully by Samurai / Brazilian warriors / Japanese / Thai / Chinese / Korean / etc. warriors, both open-hand and with weapons, and a lot of it has just been passed down generation to generation. If it worked then, why shouldn't it work now?