Many people choose to utilize traditional martial arts training as a substitute for self defense training. While there are definitely benefits to doing this, there are also some drawbacks that need to be considered. That is why many self defense classes focus very little on learning specific moves, and instead address a more simplified approach. While there are valid arguments on both sides of this issue, there are also some hard truths that both sides must face including the length of an attack, the ability to respond, and the effectiveness of complicated tactics.
The first thing that most people do not realize is that a majority of fights last on a matter of seconds. This is true for bar room brawls and getting attacked on the street. The idea that a fight is going last several minutes is largely incorrect, although there are always exceptions to the rule. This means that if you choose to utilize martial arts moves, they must be quick and precise. One of the biggest differences between self defense and martial arts is that self defense emphasizes defending yourself and getting away from the situation, whereas martial arts focuses on winning a fight. This fundamental difference is a big reason that martial arts are not a good solution for most people, if there main concern is simply protecting themselves.
The second point that must be considered is the ability to respond to an attack. In a martial arts setting, you know who your attacker is and there are rules that must be followed during sparring and tournaments. Essentially, you are forced to learn moves in a highly controlled environment. A real life fight is anything but controlled. This is why self defense training is more geared towards ending the fight quickly and creating an opportunity to escape.
Finally, it is important to understand that most martial arts moves are designed to compliment other moves. This means that in order to effectively utilize the entire system, you often need to complete several moves consecutively in order for them to be effective. It is also important to understand that many martial arts moves are designed to counter other martial arts attacks. Most likely, when you are in a street fight, you will not dealing with someone who is classically trained in martial arts, so your counter-moves may not be effective. This is why most self defense training focuses more heavily on learning a few single moves that are effective independently
As you can see, there are certain facts about a random street fight or attack that make it much harder for traditional martial arts moves to be effective. Does this mean that knowing martial arts doesn't help? Absolutely not. However, it does mean that applying the fundamental philosophy of self defense training can make your knowledge about martial arts more effective. It also means that if you are not interested in martial arts, you can still learn everything you need to know about defending yourself from an attacker and creating an opportunity to escape.
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