When people become interested in learning how to protect themselves in case of a street assault, they often turn to traditional martial arts training.
Unfortunately, most traditional martial arts schools do little to prepare for street confrontations. There are a variety of reasons why this is the case…
1. Traditional schools place little emphasis on avoiding such assaults through being more aware and alert on a daily basis;
2. Little time is spent on developing soft skills that could actually help you de-escalate a situation, or to help you recognize when an assault is imminent;
3. They place more emphasis on countering an attack, rather than striking first (the person who lands the first shot usually wins the fight, and the person who lands the first shot is usually the one who throws the first shot);
4. There is not enough time spent on developing the right mental state for dealing with an actual assault;
5. Little time is spent on simulating the conditions of a street assault so that you can at least have an idea what it is like to feel your adrenaline spike, your heart rate jump, and your ability to think and move quickly impeded as a result of these physiological changes;
6. Too much time is spent on learning techniques that would have virtually no chance at working during a street assault;
And I could go on with more issues, but I do find significant value in martial arts training, so let me get to it.
First of all, traditional martial arts training will indeed teach you a lot of skills that are needed to effectively deal with a street fight.
The most important thing you will learn is how to strike and kick with power. Most street fights will last about 5 to 10 seconds, so if you can strike with power, you have a better chance to end a fight quickly.
Second, traditional martial arts training will help you develop your athleticism and agility. Athleticism and agility are needed to deal with the normal terrain that is involved with a street fight… uneven surfaces, slippery surfaces, impediments, etc.
Third, traditional martial arts training will help you develop improved timing and distance with your strikes.
Fourth, your training will improve your overall strength and conditioning, which is always a good thing anyway. In a street fight, particularly if there are multiple assailants, improved conditioning may mean the difference between winning and losing.
With these thoughts in mind, I believe a multi-pronged approach to self defense training is appropriate. This is why I combine teaching kung fu techniques along with combatives and awareness principles.
Therefore, I will teach techniques such as an outside crescent kick that will not be very useful in a street fight. However, to throw the kick well, you’ll need to work muscles that you are not used to working, and you will need improved flexibility.
I will also teach kung fu forms to help improve your agility.
Finally, I also teach traditional martial arts conditioning along with combatives fitness training.
Combined, these three areas will be of benefit to your health and fitness in the long run. You will also benefit in the shorter run in case you face a confrontation, since you will be more athletic and mobile, and in good condition.
Thanks for reading!
