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You use footwork. The techniques you learn in low stances and with your body in a still position are exactly that, "learning techniques". You dont stand still in sparring do you? Read alot, practise, ask your instructor if he is knowledgeable etc. Once you practise a technique for long enough it becomes your natural reaction, so you are replacing the humans natural reaction (something you dont have any control over), to a reaction that you know because you have practised it.

Some reasons why karate WILL be good for self defence: 1. Most techniques are basic and realtively easy to learn. 2. Was designed for un-armed combat. 3. Teaches people to make the most of what they have, weather they are big, small etc. 4. In a good school, the sparring should be an expression of YOURSELF. This means that you learn what works best for you. 5. If you look hard enough into your style and use some imagination you will find alot of extra techniques that will work for you. Some reasons why karate WILL NOT be good for self defence: 1. If the school focuses on competition. 2. To much kata practise without the applications being shown, this is not always the instructors fault. It is up to the students for some part to look into what they are learning. 3. Sometimes not enough practise against partners is available once the student learns the techniques. 4. Not enough information is given to the students about self-defence and how/why situations occur. THE MOST IMPORTANT>>> 5. Students think that just by turning up to class every week they will become great fighters etc. It takes alot of hard work, and once you learn the techniques you need to find out what works and doesnt work for YOU. If you need futher explanation on any of these please ask...

You can usually block these without using your hands or by moving them into position. Thats really what its about, finding what works for you and practising it. I just prefer to keep my hands close to the thing im protecting and the kickboxing style guard works best. I mean hands completely open so that you dont look threatening. In self defence would you use the boxing style guard or some other type?

Some links that might help: The World Wing Chun Association Wing Tsun Self Defence Wing Chun Interactive

I totally agree with this. When i was about 6 years old i attended my first martial arts class. I did it for about a month and then got sick of it. Then when i was about 11-12 i made the decision myself that i wanted to join a martial arts school again. The most important thing is that the kids want to do it. So maybe mention it to them and if they seem to really like the idea then let them look at a few classes.

I was wondering how the boxing guard would fair if you used it on the street. I think at the beginning of a situation it may appear to agressive. But thats when you could use an open-hand version of it which would still offer you most of the same benifits. What do you guys think?

Where are you going to learn skills like kicking out the knee and striking the troat properly? I thought that is something you would learn in martial arts.

Good point, beating them to the punch.

I think you should go and see a doctor just to check if anything is wrong with your knees. If nothing is wrong than maybe you need to train a bit harder to get used to the stances.

interesting

Thanks alot for your reply Justfulwardog.

Can't disagree with that..

have you ever heard the saying "Southpaws should be strangled at birth" hahaha

I tried this for quiet a while but then found for me at least that its alot easier to defend and you dont get hit as much if you keep both hands up because you can cover both high and low at the same time and you dont need to "reach" to defend.

I think what they were implying is that you have an advantage if you are on your feet and train specifically for that.

What type of guard(hand position in sparring/fighting) does everyone use? I practise karate and use a boxing/kickboxing type guard. So what do u use???

I must say though that boxing does have alot of good points. I myself practise karate and when sparring etc, i use a guard similar to boxing/kickboxing because i find it most effective for defence. But in saying that im not to sure what style or person was the first to use this kind of guard.

Well its pretty much like Taikudo-ka said. Most martial arts are designed so you don't stand there and slug it out with your opponent, or run around picking away at their guard(which boxers usually train to do). So sure a boxer would beat you in a boxing match, because that is what they train for, but in the street its alot different.

Can a muay thai practicioner please explain the basic principles of the clinch and "neck wrestling" ?? thanks alot

What is to say that the person you are fighting will be trained in closing the gap and taking down?

When you are on the GROUND ( the place bjj is designed for ) you dont have the option of running, unless you stand up first. That automatically gives a striker an advantage because they are already standing up...

How common are shin breaks from round kicks going wrong?

Treebranch, Do you have a picture or a video of this "stop kick" you talk about??

I dont watch to many muay thai fights but i was wondering if you guys could tell me the most common kick used in these matches. Im assuming its the round kick to the thigh. Also do they have side kicks in mauy thai... One more thing, would these kicks be used the same amount in a real situation or would other kicks be prefered. Thanks alot.

I should also mention that this training shouldnt be performed so that you become used to going to the ground. But it should be done so your are comfortable and can get back up ASAP if you ever end up on the ground.