Do you think it's important to subsidize your hand-to-hand combat skills with weapons skills?

Question

or do you only prefer practicing straight hard-core hand-to-hand combat skills(like street techniques or full contacts with realistic approaches skills)?

Answer 1

I think that training with weapons is useful as long as it is practical. Sword training is nice and quite beautiful to watch, especially at the higher levels, but it is not very practical. I mean, how often are you in a fight and there just so happened to be a sword laying on the ground?

For weapon training, I suggest using weapons that you might actually use in a real life situation. Escrima or Kali sticks are great because you can always find a broom stick or plunger handle, broken chair leg, or even a branch off a tree to use. Knives are also useful because alot of people do carry them so training with them, especially the disarm techniques, will be very useful.

Answer 2

Bear in mind that I've only studied TKD (which is Korean for 'the way of the hands and the feet'), but it really depends on whether you're talking about street skills or competition skills. Weapons are great for competition, but unless you live in a rough neighborhood or carry a handgun, you're highly unlikely to have anything other than a pocketknife on you during an attack.

If you only want to be prepared on the street, hand-to-hand is really all you need to work on extensively. But, weapons are very graceful and are a credit to anyone who can use them properly. Plus, you never know when you'll find a bit of rebar when you get attacked.

Answer 3

I believe that weapons training can prove helpful for several reasons. Someone said that a weepon is an extension of the hand. This is very correct.
If you reach a level where you train with a weapon it actually enhances your empty hand form.

Also, it is plausible that in a self-defense situation you may use an object to defend yourself. Most likely it will be a stick of some sort (umbrella, broom, cane, who knows what else you could get your hands on). If this happens you are better off if you have already had some exposure with a weapon.

Answer 4

Ive been training for many years what i have come to realize is that a weapon is just an extension of your hand. sure it can be an advantage in a fight. if you have good hand techniques learning weapons will be fairly easy..but dont spend too much time on it..the biggest problems with weapons is you got to have it ready when ya need it..they also can be taken and used against you..might be unlawful to carry...learn cane techniques. you can carry a cane anywhere you will always have it handy and it doesn't appear to anyone as a weapon or threat..ie won't get hasseled by the cops for having one...

Answer 5

Yes. Weapons come at you faster. As you learn to counter them you will develop a faster reaction time and be better able to handle physical attacks. It is good to know what to do if some one pulls a stick or a knife on you.

Answer 6

Yes, weapon (i.e. stick) is just an extension of empty hands technique. For girls, weapon (like a stick or an umbrella) provide great help to fight a stronger and bigger guy.

Answer 7

they are the same. the moves you do with empty hands can be done just as well as with a weapon. you should definitely train in methods of disarming your opponent whether they have a knife, gun, hammer, stick, etc. then once you have your opponents weapon youll need to know how to use it effectively. train in methods of disarming then turning your opponent's weapon back on him.

Answer 8

If you have weapon skills, do you really need any other skills?

Answer 9

weapons what? blades? no ...your either gonna get into a barroom brawl or fist fight or ur gonna get shot ... nobody is gonna play with you with a blade in the real world.

Answer 10

i go to the shooting range every once in a while just for the heck of it