What is the most effective method of self defense?

Question

This question has been asked before many times. I ask based on my requirements.

I don't know how to fight. Period. I'm also blind in one eye. I want to learn how to handle myself in a fight - if the opportunity ever presents itself. I was in a situation recently where a drunk guy who had obviously fought many times before wanted a piece of me. Luckily I talked myself out of it...that time. The time's going to come where I won't be able to talk myself out of it and I want to be prepared.

Answer 1

Being blind in one eye will make it a little harder to do sparring or fist fighting. For that reason I would stay away from Karate. I would look into Aikido or Judo. You will want to get control of the situation and have it end on your terms. These two arts (especially Aikido) will let you do this.
Stay away from the flashy arts that can't really help you in real life situations like Kung-Fu or Tae-Kwon-Do. Hapkido might be worth looking into also. It's a Korean version of Aikido.
Good Luck

Answer 2

"All battles are won before they are fought." -Sun Tzu, The Art of War


Preparedness. Be prepared. Always pay attention. Don't go anywhere alone. Never get drunk some place you are not familiar with. Be alert. Don't start fights. Always try to talk your foe down. Don't go to bars where violence might be a problem.

Second: Run. Fighting just isn't worth it. You don't know that your opponent doesn't have a knife in his pocket. Get away before it gets ugly. If you can disable your opponent with your first strike, enough that you can get away, do it. You aren't a coward for walking away from a fight.

Third: Go all the way. If a fight does occur, then do what it takes to survive. There are no rules except survival. If it requires you to broken bones, maim, paralyize, or even kill to keep yourself alive, do it.

Forth: Control yourself. Know when it is time to retreat. Use the proper amount of force. If your opponent is unarmed, don't use a knife against him. Get in. Get it done. Get out of there.

Those are the most basic rules for self denfense. Observing those, learning a martial art is almost unneccesary. However, if you do want to learn how to fight, find an MMA instructor. Don't depend on the "Self Defense" Course at the local YMCA, or a black belt it Tae Kwon Doe, as a means for defending yourself.

There are probably a few things I forgot, but those are the most important. Most self denfense occurs before the fight.

Answer 3

Face reality.... those fancy kicks you see in movies are not effective.

I am a well rounded fighter... and practice not for sporting competitions... but for street fighting.

Dont get me wrong... I am not a violent person, or try to be hard either. However, I know how to look after myself and rip anyone if they push me to the very limit.

I recommend you study grappling. I say grappling because it can include Ju-Jitsu's, Judo, Wrestling's, and other forms with high level of submissions.

Learn how to take people to the ground. Learn how to apply bone crunching submission holds....

Get some books and if you can, DVD's. I also say to learn some punching also. Best to just get some gloves and practice on a punch bag.

To end this, study street fighting. How do they start? Is alcohol related to this? Is it normally 5 guys taking on 1 guy?

Plan different strategic methods depending on the 'street fight' scenario. For example... run away at any given moment if outnumbered. I think you get the idea..... Knowlegde is a powerful tool!!!!

Remember, it is always best to walk away from a fight. This will always make you the smart one and this way, no one gets hurt.
If you have no other alternative... do what you feel is right.

Good luck.... and if you do study grappling, make sure you practice them because reading it and looking at the photos are NOT enough!! The same applies to you fitness and conditioning. These are JUST AS IMPORTANT!!! Look around the internet, book stores, etc.... You will learn more things everyday!!!

All the best!!!

Answer 4

You already know part of the most effective style, talking your way out of a fight. The other part is not putting yourself in a position where you might get into a fight. Other than that, the best style is the one that works for you and only you can find that out by investigation. Take some introductory courses in many styles and find the one YOU like, not the ones that people tell you are the best.

Answer 5

Try looking into AUTHENTIC (I stressed that word authentic because it is tricky finding a true sifu of this art) Jeet Kune Do instructor. This is Bruce Lee's method of self defense designed for him alone, and since he was only 132 lbs. and stood 5 ft. 8in. tall, he needed the tools to explode through tough opponents in real street fighting scenarios. This art is very, very brutal, and cannot be labeled as any style or way. It's not pretty and does not look impressive, the footwork is awesome! Check it out, and remember to get a real sifu and not one of the guys that teach Filipino (no disrespect) integrated arts into the system. Good Luck!

Answer 6

Ok. you know yourself.

If it's ground and pound or brawl and sprawl. Try these:

1) Jiu-Jitsu

2) Aikido

3) Krav Maga

4) Muay Thai

5) Wing Chun

6) Jeet Kune Do (but you gotta be lightning fast)

As much as possible, it is still better to avoid conflict.

Call the police and have the A****** reported and picked up for questioning. Also avoid that person and that place at all times if you can.

Peace.

Answer 7

With only one good eye, grappling styles will be better for you than striking styles. Jujitsu, Judo, Sambo and Mixed Martial Arts training will give you an edge over less skilled opponents. Because of your blind spot, stay away from karate, TKD, kickboxing or Muay Thai. They can all be good arts, but not as good for you with your limited field of vision.

No art is as effective without some physical conditioning. Lift some weights and try to find a school that offers a good cardio program along with its classes.

Another advantage of the arts I recommended above is that they have pretty reasonable learning curves. If you really dedicate yourself to one of them, you can expect to be a competent fighter within a year's time.

Best of luck!

- Cai

Answer 8

Each confrontation presents itself differently and unexpectedly.

It's always good to have an ace up your sleeve. In case talking doesn't help and screaming for help makes it worse; have a deterent.

Find a workshop to teach a few key moves and CARRY highest grade most effective MACE.

Get instructions on how to handle & use it; without it getting it turned on you.

Learn about "paradigm shift".

Distance yourself.

Always be prepared to run at any opportunity.

Answer 9

Krav Maga is the best and most straight-foward, easiest form of self defense to teach to a person who's never fought before.

Krav Maga is a simple, effective self defense system that emphasizes instinctive movements, practical techniques, and realistic training scenarios: http://www.kravmaga.com/krav01.html

You don't have to be a 3rd Degree Black Belt to learn this stuff.
What's even better, if you can't find an instructor in your area, you can learn quite effectively from their video collection: http://www.kravmaga.com/store/tek9.asp?pg=products&grp=30

hope this helps and good luck!

Answer 10

If you find a martial art too tricky why not take up weight training at the gym and building yourself up?
That way if anyone had a go at you you could just slap them one without having to do anything fancy. Plus a muscular body will be a good deterrent in itself people will leave you alone.