Joe Hardwick

I started this topic in another forum and since I am bored I thought I would post it here. So here are 3 questions: 1-Is it appropriate to start a new martial art? Please answer with a yes, no or maybe and give reasons why. Also, if you feel that certain parameters must be required then mention them as well. 2-Is it appropriate to make a derivative or variation of an existing martial art such as "Combat TaeKwonDo" (I don't know if this exists or not but is simply an example). Again, please answer with a yes, no or maybe and reasons why. 3-Is it appropriate to start a reality based self-defense system? If you do not believe that they exist and are simply martial arts in another name then please say so, otherwise please answer with yes, no or maybe and of course reasons why. I would like this to be a thread where you can give your opinion and not a thread where we go after anothers opinion. Obviously, if your opinion disagrees with another it will be known from your answers. Thanks, Joe.

The problem that occurs in martial arts is that we stereotype artists by what they study as an art. If you say you practice a martial sport (BJJ, MT, KB, etc) then it can be assumed you spend all your time on the ground rolling and never deal with strikes and eye gauges. Conversely, if you study a reality based self-defense system (Senshido, Combative Solutions, Krav Maga, Contemporary Fighting Arts, etc) then you never practice against a resisiting opponent and only practice eye gauging a willing opponent. I will not even go into the stereotyping that occurs to Traditional Arts. The point of my post is that the way you train for self-defense is more important than the art you study. If you spend hours practicing complex moves whether they are sport based or traditional based and NEVER against a resisting opponent then your ability to use it in actual combat will be severely reduced because it is not functional. Furthermore, you will believe certain techniqes will work when in reality they won't. Finally, you will not have an understanding of psychology, the adrenaline dump and fight/flight response if you do not use scenario training. Ultimately, I feel that these 3 training methods I have mentioned are more important to understanding the reality of a violent encounter than what art you study.

One of the big problems in martial arts training in general is not understanding the adrenaline dump and its effects on the body. When an attack occurs you will resort to what you know and how you have trained. Also, gross motor moves come out in full force and fine motor movements are discarded simply because under stress and adrenaline fine motor skills disappear. This is why feel that Scenario Based Training is so important. You can simulate a blind ambush attack, a distraction ambush attack or a verbal assault to attack or other types of attacks. Also, based the students ability you can have these scenarios as light contact to full contact with protective gear on and go all out.

These are the elements I feel are required for proper self-defense training and that I prefer to use. They include: 1. Drill Training - An example would be the Circle Stress Drill and its many variations 2. Sparring - This does not have to be done all the time but can be helpful in understanding body mechanics other things and it can be fun. It can range from light to full contact. 3. Scenario Based Training - This is simply doing role playing with the many different ways you can be attacked and there are many different ways to perform them. Also, gear can be added (as it should be) and full contact attacks can be simulated with anything goes. Of these 3 I feel that 1 and 2 are vitally important and must be done to understand a violent encounter. They allow the practioner to develop ability and understanding of psychology, adrenaline response, gross motor skills vs. fine motor skills, attacker ques and body language. How does everyone else train for self-defense and what other elements do you use? I would like this to be an exchange of ideas and training. Thank you. Joe.

To stay on topic I would recommend the palm strike, elbow, hammerfist, headbutt, and forearm strikes but it is more important to understand the whole picture rather than just focusing on a few techniques. These are both good techs for the upper body but you may not be able to use them based on the conditions of the altercation. Here is an example: You are attacked and respond with a defense but due to the ground being wet you slip and drop down. Now this is a bad position to be in and you better know how to respond to what has happened. It is very easy to say that if he does this I will do this but this is not a good idea for many reasons. You have no idea what the conditions will be nor the environment. You may go for a choke but if another attacker is there they may attack you. But to stay on track I would suggest the techniques above.