Karate and Self Defence.

[AngelaG]

Here are some questions for you. How many of you have actually had to use your Martial Arts in a real life situation? How many of you have deliberately put yourself into situations whereby you can test your MAs? Either by going into a job where the likelihood is that you will need some sort of self defence training, or by maybe not calming down situations that maybe you could have talked your way out of, because you were curious to see if all his stuff actually works? Do you think MAs go through a dangerous stage whereby they actually go looking for fights in order to test out what they have learnt?

It’s very hard for me to know whether my MA would work in a self-defence situation or not. I do my best to avoid confrontations, I try not to frequent bars that are known to be troublesome hotspots, as a female I don’t get the ‘alpha male’ syndrome when boozed up guys try to show their fighting prowess on a Friday night, and the most fighting I have to do at work is getting to the tea trolley before all the decent chocolate sells out. My worst habit is thinking I am invincible after a couple of pints and deciding to walk home from the pub, especially if the cash funds are low. However, in these circumstances I hope I never have to find out whether Karate works in a self-defence situation because the likelihood is that anyone accosting me would have far more dangerous things on their mind than the average overheated pub brawl.

I think though that whether I know it or not I use my karate as a self-defence skill on a weekly basis. It shows in the way I stand, in the way I am more confident when I move, I am more aware of my surroundings, the fact that less and less I will put myself into stupid situations (such as walking home alone) and will either wait for someone else to walk back or catch a taxi. If I go into a pub and the atmosphere seems tense, then I’ll walk on out and go to another one, there’s plenty of drinking establishments around. I now loathe sitting with my back to the door. If I am walking down the street I am very aware if someone is walking close to me, or homing in on me. I try to walk in a confident manner, chin up, making eye contact. In my opinion all these things are as important skills in self defence then actually being able to block a punch and retaliate.

What do you lot think?

[Aefibird]

"My worst habit is thinking I am invincible after a couple of pints and deciding to walk home from the pub, especially if the cash funds are low."

Ah, so it's not just me who is invincible after a few pints! ;D
I have to say, that I often walk home at night on my own. Although I do martial arts, I still try not to put myself into situations where I would be vulnerable.

Now, before you jump on me all and say that 'as a woman I am making myself vulnerable by walking home alone', well, when I get the finances for a chauffer driven limo service, I shall have one, believe me!! lol
Until then, walking it is...

However, just because I often have to walk home alone in the dark doesn't mean I'm stupid. I always stick to well lit areas and I try to walk with people I know whenever possible. Heck, I try and scroungle lifts off people whenever possible too! lol. I also have my biggest pointiest and nastiest looking door key stuck through the closed fingers of a fist, ready to jam into an attackers eye or groin if necessary.

I think that getting into fights and situations where trouble may be around isn't what martial artists should be doing. Most martial artists start karate or taekwondo or whatever as a form of self defence and to stay out of trouble. Plus, martial arts can really heighten awareness and help a person to stay away from potentially troublesome situations (such as going into any of the pubs in Barnsley on a saturday night! ;D ).

Martial arts also gives a person confidence - if you look confident and like you can handle yourself if need be then there's less of a chance that some eejit will decide to try and kick seven bells out of you. It's not about being overconfident or appearing cocky - just the inner confidence that you can use the skills you've been training in, shoud you ever need to.

Personally, since starting martial arts I've never had to use my skills.

I hope I never do, too.

However, I think that I'll have a much better chance of getting out of a potential combat situation unscathed than someone with no martial arts training.

[RDKI]

Hi ange,

I have had to use my karate on a number of occasions to get myself & family out of certain unpleasant situations. The fact that I do karate and, more to the point, kyusho, meant that I could get out of the situations intact pretty quickly. It isn't about standing toe to toe and trading blows, or beating the living c**p out of people. It's about getting yourself in a position to get away with as little chance of you getting hurt as possible. If you can talk you way out, great!

I have had occasions where my sparkling wit (and size!) have got me out ok, but the karate has defintely helped me. Kyusho has also made me respect the art that bit more too - so that I try and gert out of the fight rarther than tryiong to damage my opponent - although the potential is there should it be needed ;D

[dojo]

So far I was only close to having to use MA in a real life situation. I managed to just let it drop I left the place and no one followed ;D

[AngelaG]

dojo said:

So far I was only close to having to use MA in a real life situation. I managed to just let it drop I left the place and no one followed ;D

Do you think it was because of the confidence that your MA training has given you that you 'let it drop'?

I think that training in the MA can give different mindsets; depending on what type of person you are:

a) Wanting to experiment. Perhaps bragging about it and causing trouble in order to start fights. Perhaps starting a job which may require fighting skills.

b) Not wanting to use it at all. Trying to calm situations down, but being confident enough to use it should a dangerous situation ever arise.

c) Totally anti using it. Perhaps scared of what may happen if they do. Scared of legal repurcussions, or they have seen what damage these techniques can do and are scared they will may really harm or kill someone.

[dojo]

The most "dangerous" situation was when I went home with my friend from Karate class. Winter .. 10 o'clock PM. We are followed by a drunk man. I mean DRUNK He was cursing us for no reason. Quite proficient I may add (multilingual, too). He was looking for trouble and tryed to come near. Now we could accept the opportunity to test our boots on his nose, or just try to walk away from it. (I've heard some days before about a guy who stayed a bit late at his own shop. On his way out he found a thief. He got him out and threw a punch at him. The thief fell on the concrete, bumped his head on it, died instantly. Now tell me who's scre..d? )
So with this in mind we chose to hurry a bit looking over the shoulder if he followed. He couldn't catch us. So we went on. I'd rather not get into troubles. When I can't walk away I'll defend myself and hope I won't give my conscious something to think of

[demonwarrior]

dojo said:

(I've heard some days before about a guy who stayed a bit late at his own shop. On his way out he found a thief. He got him out and threw a punch at him. The thief fell on the concrete, bumped his head on it, died instantly. Now tell me who's scre..d? )

Depends what country you are in.