Want to learn to "fight"

[Kraken]

It seems like, these days, everyone is in something. Take a walk down the street and just assume 25% or more of the men you pass are in MMA or something. Knowing this, and knowing that skill trumps strength, I feel like it's important for me to at least learn to throw an effective punch, roll with punches, etc so that I can at least handle a situation that comes at me and react appropriately.

So many many years ago, I was in martial arts. They were old school karate and didn't translate a lot to modern day. I also have a concealed carry license, so I am not so sure that a form that uses the ground a lot if a good idea either.

Dont get me wrong, this isn't about picking fights, but I understand that sometimes a self defense class isn't quite enough. I sometimes feel like a good defense is a good offense as well. Let's not forget the cardio I will get from the training as well.

Anyone with experience on this able to give me some advice. I am thinking that Muy Thai might be what I am looking for, but not sure there is a good school around here. A colleague of my wife, who is a high rank in BJJ, has mentioned all the good schools are a good hour away.

[paolo59]

No experience, no advice! LOL I never leave the house that I don't have at least two black, SUV's tailing me. I like the thought of high caliber weapons on my tail. Not that they could do anything in a given circumstance. But it would all make some excellent video! If I'm going to be gunned down in the street, blood and guts, I want it to be on the 6 o'clock news!

I honestly think that preventative measures, just being aware of your surroundings, are as good a defense as one can hope for today. I would like to think that I would become Bruce Lee himself should I ever be accosted! Not much chance of that. LOL But I could kick and scream!

[hmmmm16417]

No experience, no advice!
I honestly think that preventative measures, just being aware of your surroundings, are as good a defense as one can hope for today.

Very good point.

Just remember that just because someone is doing it doesn't mean they are very good at it. A lot of people will go to a class just for bragging rights lol. I was from the old school as well before everything was so commercialized. Seems now many places just exercise, show you a few moves, make you pay for tests way too often, and you still have no experience with a real situation. A lot of places I see will customize the rank tests to your ability....so basically, show up for class and pay for tests and in a short time you will be a "black belt" hahaha
I say go back to your old school root and just practice what you know. Maybe find a group of people that workout together on a regular basis that are NOT just interested in your money.
Or find an old guy that has very few students. One on one is best, or at least very small group. Try boxing or REAL kickboxing. Every time you step in the ring, its real .....

I too have my concealed permit. ...but most of my firearms are too bulky to conceal lol if im going somewhere that I feel I may need a gun or self defense.....I rethink the situation

[paolo59]

One can't live in fear. Some cities seem to have more of this sort of stupidity than others. I think I'd almost rather get shot than have to shoot somebody else. But that's just me. As a man, you don't think a whole lot about such things. A woman, crossing a parking lot at night, gathering up things and getting into her car. That's another thing altogether. I read about a little, defenseless damsel in distress, shooting some moron right between the eyes; it makes me smile! Whenever the criminal element comes up against something they hadn't bargained for, I tend to chuckle just a bit.

[Karl_Hungus]

It seems like, these days, everyone is in something. Take a walk down the street and just assume 25% or more of the men you pass are in MMA or something.

I seriously doubt that figure. In fact, I would wager it is probably less than 1% who study it seriously. You might be a tad paranoid here. That said, nothing wrong with studying MMA.

[blkbelt42]

It seems like, these days, everyone is in something. Take a walk down the street and just assume 25% or more of the men you pass are in MMA or something. .

Not a chance, more like 1 or 2 % and knowing how to use something is a hell of allot
different than just showing up to class a couple times a week. And unless you plan on
actually taking it to the ring and fighting, even in a controlled environment, the street
plays a totally different game with your head when nerves start kicking in.

[hmmmm16417]

the street
plays a totally different game with your head when nerves start kicking in.

exactly! you can be a star in the ring, but on the street there are NO rules and NO refs - most fights rarely last more than a couple of minutes.

[orangegoblin]

This is a good website. It discusses the myths of self-defense; the mindset of attackers; situational awareness, and some other good stuff.

http://www.nononsenseselfdefense.com/

[Smelly bull]

This reminds when I was a kid and my brothers and I would watch Bruce Lee movies. Thinking we where disciples of Bruce Lee, we would spend the rest of the day trying to kung fu kick each other in the balls..and sometimes we connected...ouch

[DuracellBunny]

This reminds when I was a kid and my brothers and I would watch Bruce Lee movies. Thinking we where disciples of Bruce Lee, we would spend the rest of the day trying to kung fu kick each other in the balls..and sometimes we connected...ouch

MMA is exactly the same phenomenon. In the days of Bruce Lee, people went to 2 martial arts lessons and when they got in an argument it would be "careful, I do karate". People now go to MMA (in many cases for fitness/to lose weight) and feel the need to tell the whole world. These are normally the same people who suffer from invisible lat syndrome.

[Brackneyc]

MMA is exactly the same phenomenon. In the days of Bruce Lee, people went to 2 martial arts lessons and when they got in an argument it would be "careful, I do karate". People now go to MMA (in many cases for fitness/to lose weight) and feel the need to tell the whole world. These are normally the same people who suffer from invisible lat syndrome.

Works that way in weightlifting too. Skinny or fat dude, 3 weeks into his "transformation" doing 1/2 squats with 2x more weight than he can handle, talking about someones elses ROM.

[Corbi]

Not a chance, more like 1 or 2 % and knowing how to use something is a hell of allot
different than just showing up to class a couple times a week. And unless you plan on
actually taking it to the ring and fighting, even in a controlled environment, the street
plays a totally different game with your head when nerves start kicking in.

Told this story before, guy in my old town was a big dude and had his own karate studio, supposedly was a real badass in the ring. Anyways his studio was next to a bar that would get pretty rowdy at times. One night a guy and his girl got into a fight outside and the studios owner who was named Mike Jackson...seriously...went out and was going to break the fight up because I guess the guy was getting pretty rough. News accounts stated Mike got in 4-5 words at the guy and made a move for him, guy pulled out a gun and dropped him where he stood. Many many years of training and still can't tell if people are carrying nor can you stop bullets.

[ArchAngel'73]

I'm an excellent fighter, yet I have not laid hands on anyone all my adult life.
I specialize in psy ops, situational awareness, and reality based counselling. Carl Rogers was my Sensei.

I'm big and I will cause some damage even if I lose, I don't like fighting but will as a last resort, I far prefer to phuck with my opponent's head and beat them there before a punch is even thrown.
So far this has worked very well for me, perhaps not for everyone, but it worked well for me.

[Kraken]

Not a chance, more like 1 or 2 % and knowing how to use something is a hell of allot
different than just showing up to class a couple times a week. And unless you plan on
actually taking it to the ring and fighting, even in a controlled environment, the street
plays a totally different game with your head when nerves start kicking in.

I have taken classes in many different things, from self defense when I was young, to Urban survival (I can explain more of this to someone who is curious), to handgun training. In every situation, the saying was the same. Whenever you are in a stressful situation, you will fall back on your training. If you have no training, your brain will simply trigger fight or flight and results will range tremendously. The purpose of this is to hopefully wire my brain to react in an appropriate manner; to know how to stop or injure an attacker enough that he will rethink his next swing and walk away, and to learn to avoid taking a direct hit. Ever watch two amateur boxers? I mean, with only a few weeks of training? It's horrendous. You just know, as a beginner, you're going to be hit a LOT, because you aren't trained enough to know how to avoid being hit. After many many many hours of training, all that becomes muscle memory.

[crupiea]

99% of guys say they are mma fighters.

.01% actually are.

i would not worry about it if I were you.

I kick in the nuts trumps both strength and skill every time.

The only time to worry is if he is wearing a pair of these bad boys

[hmmmm16417]

99% of guys say they are mma fighters.

.01% actually are.

i would not worry about it if I were you.

I kick in the nuts trumps both strength and skill every time.

Knees, nuts, and nose lol

[Corbi]

Knees, nuts, and nose lol

Disabling throat punch over any of those.

[BigJ66]

Wing Chun/Krav Maga

Simple and effective either one.

[machined]

Disabling throat punch over any of those.

You are correct. I received one of these ( w brass knuckles). It is beyond disabling if not deadly. That said, I was cold cocked. It is very difficult to get one in clean when you are fighting.

[J777]

It seems like, these days, everyone is in something. Take a walk down the street and just assume 25% or more of the men you pass are in MMA or something. Knowing this, and knowing that skill trumps strength, I feel like it's important for me to at least learn to throw an effective punch, roll with punches, etc so that I can at least handle a situation that comes at me and react appropriately.

So many many years ago, I was in martial arts. They were old school karate and didn't translate a lot to modern day. I also have a concealed carry license, so I am not so sure that a form that uses the ground a lot if a good idea either.

Dont get me wrong, this isn't about picking fights, but I understand that sometimes a self defense class isn't quite enough. I sometimes feel like a good defense is a good offense as well. Let's not forget the cardio I will get from the training as well.

Anyone with experience on this able to give me some advice. I am thinking that Muy Thai might be what I am looking for, but not sure there is a good school around here. A colleague of my wife, who is a high rank in BJJ, has mentioned all the good schools are a good hour away.

skill helps, but some people are just naturally better at fighting. You do not need to learn MMA, BOXING OR MARTIAL ART TO FIGHT good

[J777]

This reminds when I was a kid and my brothers and I would watch Bruce Lee movies. Thinking we where disciples of Bruce Lee, we would spend the rest of the day trying to kung fu kick each other in the balls..and sometimes we connected...ouch

you are 270 lbs mate? call BS

[trev71]

It seems like, these days, everyone is in something. Take a walk down the street and just assume 25% or more of the men you pass are in MMA or something.

Well, seems this thread is off to a factual start.

[Smelly bull]

you are 270 lbs mate? call BS

Are you calling me out on my freaking weight?

Fukk off and go back to the kids section.

[Kraken]

Well, seems this thread is off to a factual start.

Thanks for contributing to this thread. Now that you have posted, we can all move on.

As mentioned earlier, I have had enough training in other areas to know better than to assume anything positive. When you have an encounter, assume that person is armed, assume he has friends around that will jump in, and if they aren't already inside, assume they might walk through that door during the altercation.

So, you might think that my assumption above is stupid, when in reality, my frame of mind will help to keep me safe and yours might get you killed.

[Kraken]

you are 270 lbs mate? call BS

Yeah, I'd prefer you didn't hijack the thread on a call out. Smelly has been around long enough that we are quite sure he is close to the stats he claims. Moving on...

[LaudyBrah]

9/10 times people bs about training so no one fuks with them... Personally the only people who know I train are my friends and family

[jeffaus]

I did karate for 2 years as a young buck. Our football coach at the time, signed us all up for karate but not of the fighting or self defence side of it. His theory was that the style of training done would dramatically improve our flexibility ( and he was absolutely right ). A couple of the guys became really involved in it and went through with obtaining black belts. For the most part, I was only interested in being a better footballer and the improved flexibility helped alot.

[trev71]

Thanks for contributing to this thread. Now that you have posted, we can all move on.

As mentioned earlier, I have had enough training in other areas to know better than to assume anything positive. When you have an encounter, assume that person is armed, assume he has friends around that will jump in, and if they aren't already inside, assume they might walk through that door during the altercation.

So, you might think that my assumption above is stupid, when in reality, my frame of mind will help to keep me safe and yours might get you killed.

Kraken, I love your rum.

That said, you did clearly state, men walking by vs. men you are having an encounter with. 25% of men walking the streets do not have training in MMA or other fighting arts, the 1-2% marker above, I would lean to believe to be a bit more accurate, though probably high depending on what we would define as skills.

How me disagreeing with that absurd notion, is going to get me killed, I have no idea, but I am really looking forward a creative reply.

Now, if you are taking the fact that I think your figure is completely made up, and without any accurate research, is somehow going to be transferred into how I react to an actual confrontation.. is even more ridiculous.

Now you can move on, thanks for waiting.

[Old-Time-Lifter]

9/10 times people bs about training so no one fuks with them... Personally the only people who know I train are my friends and family

In college I trained sometimes with a guy who was in ROTC we called him 'Willie'. He was a crazy sob and one time he was out drinking and got into an altercation with a guy in a bar that used to be an old Bank. They were upstairs at the head of the stairwell and the other guy pops off that "you'd better look out I know karate", at that moment Willie drills him with an uppercut and sends the guy tumbling down the stairs. When Willie told me about it I was like "you know you could have killed the guy doing that", Willie just said "He said he knew karate so I wanted to get in the first blow".

Willie had a lot of interesting brushes, he could have given BH a bit of a run for his money. LOL, I wonder what happened to that crazy bugger.

[datderecreatine]

Join the style your country is known for. America has plenty of boxing gyms everywhere. You will learn basic skills that will help. Foot work and hand speed. U will keep your balance and your hands will always be faster than kicks.

Basic skills goes a long way. I literally Anderson Silva'd my friends in backyard boxing. Hands completely down and I knocked out 2 of em.