Self-Defense Instruction

The problem with too much martial arts’ self-defense instruction is that they are low percentage defenses against unrealistic attacks taught by some instructors, who have limited knowledge of street attacks.  Some systems were created for street or military training and are better than others.  However, the insularity of too many martial arts keep some instructors from exploring defenses for different attacks and positions.

First, the attacks are not very realistic.  Most attacks occur without warning and involve great violence.  Sometimes the only warning is the initial “shark pass” of a wary criminal, who has not determined if you are a good target or not.  Many times the attack will occur without warning.  It is not half-hearted.

While you cannot realistically attack a beginner without losing many of your students, you should turn up the heat as they progress.   If they would ever be attacked, they could defend themselves.  A lot of our training is focused on making the student a hard target, so they are not a desirable victim.

Second, the defenses are not realistic.  Unless the person is keeping their distance with a firearm, most attacks are going to occur at close range and 70 percent will go to the ground.  You are not going to have much time or room to be getting off spinning kicks.  People in the United States also fight differently than the samurai warriors of the 1700 and 1800s.  If you are preparing for an attack, it is critical you keep your hands high enough to protect your head.

Third, the instructors have never been attacked and does not study street attacks.  If you have never been attacked and your instructor showed you a spin kick defense to an attack, you might think it would work.  I would never expose my back to an attack, if I can help it, so spin kicks are out.  When I commute, I generally stand with my back against a partition to eliminate the possibility of a rear sneak attack.

I will not completely denigrate traditional self-defense instruction because it is better than nothing.  However, it could be much better.

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