Legit question for martial artists?

Question

Ok, I when I was younger trained in several martial arts, attaining black belts in judo, and Hapkido before I was 14 years old. ( Since then I have had to have major back surgery which for all intents and purposes wiped out my martial arts involvement) but I have kept an interest in the subject. If it is anything ive realized to this point its this, martial arts are wonderful for keeping in shape, and effective if used under controlled scenerios such as against another martial art in a match. But to this day 22 years since I first took a judo class, I have yet to see any martial art which offers an effective way of fighting in a real street fight situation. Now I dont mean a mugger trying to get your wallet, I mean an old fashioned bar fight. Where you got some guy who just comes swinging haymakers at you and wont back off. I have yet to see any martial art that offers a legitimate way to deal with a real parking lot type fight situation. If anyone knows of one Id be very interested

OK for those of you who doubted my background I trained from age 6-14 1/2 in Kosen Judo and from the age of 8 to the same age in Chun Ki Hapkido. Chokes and such in Judo were allowed at age 11 so I had several years experience in them before I was forced to quit due to the back surgery I mentioned in my question. Now as for what I was meaning by lack of preperation for a street fight is that in every major martial arts style including MMA I have never seen prepared effective defensive technique for things like a wild flurry of sucker punches or haymakers, or things like a tackle where the opponent is faster or stronger than yourself. I mean whats the point is studying a martial art if in the field, the other guy is strong enough to punch right through your attempted block, or physically is so fast you cant block him. Ive seen "black belts" who were almost killed by a guy who just swung wildly because they werent use to it not being a controlled fight.

Answer 1

What makes a bar fight or a street fight difficult to deal with is not the skill of your attacker(s), but their unpredictability. I've heard many times that the most dangerous people to spar with are the white belts. They don't react as you would expect, and they typically lack the control to spar safely, which goes to make the argument that an opponent need not have more advanced training that you to be dangerous. Look at all of the recent upsets in MMA as well. In a real fight, you do not have any control over who you are fighting, unless you can avoid it all together. The best you can do is train in the most effective system you can find.

The general chaos and brutality of a real life encounter is the most difficult aspect to train for. Most martial arts do not train full contact under real life scenarios. This is the very reason I originally started training in Krav Maga. KM was developed by the Israelis for use in their military and law enforcement and has since spread to the military and law enforcement community worldwide. Many schools now offer classes for civilians. As the martial art that is used most frequently in "real life" scenarios in combat zones, prisons and police departments around the world, I felt that I couldn't find a better system to train in for self defense.

Techniques focus on gross motor movement and blunt force trauma to end a violent confrontation quickly and effectively. Training incorporates "chaos drills" with attacks from unexpected angles and aggressive sparring. There are quite a few schools around the country, with at least one in most major metropolitan areas.

My opinion is not entirely biased my my experience with Krav Maga. While I have the most experience in Krav Maga, I also train for MMA with a mixture of Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, wrestling, Sambo and Judo. While any of the other disciplines I study could be used effectively in a street fight, I think your best bet is Krav Maga

Answer 2

I see it just the opposite. MMA is a street fight in a cage. If throwing wild haymakers was effective, you would see more of it in the cage. The early UFC was bar fighters and martial artists. Tank Abbott did great, but if he didn't knock you out, he got beat. The key thing is you are going to get hit. It is part of fighting. What you do after you get hit is the important part.

I find your observations odd. I would think a Judo BB would want to react to a wild haymaker. The attacker has forward momentum and little balance. I mean, you put you left up for defense and trapping and step in with an o goshi (major hip throw). The floor does all the work for you.

Occasionally in my kickboxing class I teach defense techniques that include groin shots, eye gouges, throat attacks, etc.

Answer 3

Haymakers are head shot attacks that as all wild attacks have no defense.
After a few fights you gain a sense of reason to you called experience, and from this you can go from a boxers approach to Rope A Dope, to ground attacks including but not limited to knee , groin, and or shin attacks. Look at some of the great take downs being used today, a wild puncher has no defense ready for this as the take down artist has dealt with many wild punchers. Boxing is the best answer here, if wild punching wasn't easy to evade by a skilled fighter it would be part of the curriculum.

Answer 4

First, let me respond to the others that answered your question. The ones that said MMA, get a clue! By their own definition they are a sport, not self-defense. If you do not understand this, you do not know the rules of MMA and do not know the difference between self-defense and fighting.

Which brings me to the rest of the people that answered the question, and the question itself. A bar fight or a parking lot brawl is NOT a self-defense situation. What it is is two idiots breaking the law, risking their lives and going to jail for no reason.

Your answer is: LEAVE!

Any real understanding and application of martial arts would not find themselves in that situation. It is your ego that asks the question and it is the Ego that has answered it . Do not listen to them. They have demonstrated that they have no understanding of what MA truly is, of what Self-defense is, and what fighting is. They are not the same.

Technique (Styles you have been quoted) is not wisdom. You have been shown nothing of that by these others.

All of you: Learn what a self-defense situation is by law. Learn an accepted use of force continuum. And above all, learn a higher level of moral understanding.

Answer 5

I really don't understand how you can say you're more afraid of a drunk in a bar than a sober martial artist. Luckily, skill and mental stability usually go together. Martial arts is in part the victory of the mind over brutality. If anything, a drunk in a bar throwing hay-makers is what I'm least afraid of - if I keep my head straight, there's little reason to fear him; such fighting is the sloppiest you'll find. Chances are I'll get out of there without even having to hurt him seriously.

Answer 6

Many martial arts are fully capable of handling the wild hay-maker in a parking lot. I am not sure what kind of Judo and Hapkido you studied because these two arts should have taught you how to handle this sort of scenario. If I were you I would question the validity of your training and possibly start over if need be.
Good luck
And remember, the quality and frequency of your training will far outweigh your style.

Answer 7

I think Moo Duk Kwan might be one to look at. It doesn't really have any high flying kicks that wouldn't work between two parked cars......and how we train for One steps would be the equivalent of a drunk guy swinging haymakers at us.

Most kicks we have are straight in attacks. Side kicks, step behind sidekicks, spinning back thrust(or spinning sidekick), front snap kicks, knees...

And if I only go by traditional kata, we have pivot sidekicks, sidekicks, front snaps kicks and cresent kicks.

From what I picked up about the founder of Moo Duk Kwan, Hwang Ki worked in a train yard and practiced his art between the trains on gravel. The narrowness of the walkways would not be conducive to round house kicks and jumping around.

But seeing as how I've only be officially trained in Moo Duk Kwan, I can only speak for that.

Answer 8

Try Aikido, good against haymakers. As for bar fights, I prefer to throw beer bottles and chairs rather than punches, more effective in my opinion, just make sure you skiddaddle outta there real quick before the cops come.

Answer 9

Isshinryu does, but it's not pretty. The best defense against a haymaker or two is a straight punch, or better yet 5 straight punches. (Isshinryu Chart 1 #11+#12)

Answer 10

Check out Jeet Kung Do, originated by Bruce Lee, incorporates Kung Fu, Kick Boxing, and street fighting. If you're coming back from an injury add Tai Chi and Yoga to your workouts for the streaching exercises.