Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Crashsti
this topic is occasionally brought up in Black Belt magazine. i feel there is really only 3 categories, Traditional, sport and self-defense/combat. its not the art that defines its place but the desired goal. this is where the confusion takes place. you get alot of traditional martial artists claiming that thier art is self-defense or would do well in sport fighting. sport fighters generally know where they stand and are never really an issue. true self defense systems are based on real life situations, not theoretical outcomes. you don't wear a Gi and there are no belts. yet at the same time people take Kung-fu for self defense when the chances of being attacked by someone using the crane stance is unlikely.
|
I agree 100%. The biggest challenge I face as a Self-Defense kickboxing instructor is parsing the differences between students I know have a lot of Traditional Martial Arts training, and helping them get off those habits of deep stances, etc. Many of them adapt well to the simpler forms of self defense using elbows, knees, concentrating more on boxing and kickboxing combinations rahter than flips, throws, and spinning around that most TMA systems use.
And what's more odd, is when some go directly to our Brazilian Jiu Jitsu classes and it's as though someone opened up pandora's box. We have for example this 6 time U.S. Karate champion guy who had no idea (even with all the exposure MMA has these days) that it was possible to actually fight off of your back and be successful. Now he's all but dropped his traditional training and is so hooked on BJJ he's thinking of also joning AKA which is close to the gym I workout at.