Just Thinking Out Loud Here!!

[sensei8]

Do practitioner of the MA have any advantage because they're some type of Medical Doctor??

I wonder that because they study the anatomy quite seriously. In that, a Medical Doctor knows where and how to strike, manipulate, push, poke, hit or etc. to get that desired intent.

Well, I would!! I'd use anything I knew in order to survive an attack because...All's fair in love and war!!

Let the discussions begin!

[Nidan Melbourne]

Well anyone who studies anatomy because of work (MD, Paramedic, Exercise Physiologist, Physiotherapist, Osteopath etc) will have an understanding on anatomy on a scale that they could potentially use it.

But then there those people that study anatomy in depth not because they are a Medical Practitioner but because of pure interest and want to know what their body is doing.

Obviously in a Self-Defense situation you have to do whatever you must to survive. If it means striking an area that gets a response is fine. and the main thing is not to kill them, considering there are various laws around this and all our lovely law enforcement officers/judges/lawyers might specify what would and would not be considered self defense.

For me in my line of work I have to know the human anatomy extremely well and what could happen to a person when struck in different spots. But also have to be extremely careful because every single person on the planet is inherently different. Same Species = yes. Same response to certain Stimuli = no. So there could be the risk that you apply something that the majority of the population is able to get the same response, but the one person that you apply it to in such a situation could be affected in a way that you didn't predict.

Example: I know of a case where a man defended himself against a female assailant and he applied an armbar whilst standing and broke her arm (Elbow & Humerus), and she unfortunately passed away because a shard of bone got into the Brachial Artery and got into her heart. And the shard tore the hell out of the arteries and heart. He was found not guilty because he was able to prove beyond reasonable doubt that it was unintentional, and the witnesses to the situation all said the same thing.

They also had video footage of the whole encounter from first contact to her passing away and his attempts to resuscitate. He had no idea that it would have done more damage doing CPR. But the Coroner had informed the court that she was already deceased by the time she hit the ground.

[jaypo]

My Kyusho instructor is a chiropractor, and he also does accupuncture. I believe it gives him a great advantage when applying techniques because he uses a lot of the same principals in his daily work.

[vantheman]

I agree with sensei8. An understanding of anatomy can make strikes more effective, devastating, disabling, ect. While the fine motor skills required to pull off the MOST accurate targeted strikes not be viable in every situation due to adrenaline, ect., having an understanding of anatomy is an indispensable asset in training and combat.

[DWx]

I doubt it would offer much advantage really over standard MA training. Beyond a basic understanding which a lay person could also pick up, how would knowledge of anatomy help? We talk already of vital or vulnerable spots in our general MA training, knowing the hip bone is connected to the thigh bone won't serve much purpose. And realistically how many people can hit a moving and unpredictable target with pinpoint accuracy every time?

Now for when dealing with the situation after an altercation, medical training will absolutely come in handy. Manly for assessing and treating injuries (yours, your assailant's or any witness'), but also from the prior experience of dealing with people in stressful situations.

[sensei8]

I doubt it would offer much advantage really over standard MA training. Beyond a basic understanding which a lay person could also pick up, how would knowledge of anatomy help? We talk already of vital or vulnerable spots in our general MA training, knowing the hip bone is connected to the thigh bone won't serve much purpose. And realistically how many people can hit a moving and unpredictable target with pinpoint accuracy every time?

Now for when dealing with the situation after an altercation, medical training will absolutely come in handy. Manly for assessing and treating injuries (yours, your assailant's or any witness'), but also from the prior experience of dealing with people in stressful situations.

To the bold type above...

First thing is that, I don't hit/strike a moving target, for the most, especially if it's Kyusho jitsu related because the hit/miss ratio doesn't favor me. Intercepting a moving target that's in my direct line of my target requisitioning doesn't need a static target. Why? I have skills...you know...knowledge, experience, and speed, just to mention a few of my skills.

I pause my opponents moving by slowing them down by that which I'm doing. Basically, I get in my opponents way!!

Edited July 30, 2015 by sensei8

[JR 137]

I guess I can offer some pretty good insight into this, as I worked as an athletic trainer for 15 years. An athletic trainer is not a personal trainer/strength & conditioning coach. An athletic trainer (ATC) is a sports medicine specialist. If you've watched sports, I'm one of the guys running onto the field when someone's hurt. I did the initial evaluation of the injury, then the follow up rehab for it, along with other things. I had about 6 or so anatomy classes between undergrad and grad school.

In regards to the OP, my training is most effective in debunking myths about what's lethal and what isn't. Debunking how to cause injury. There's a ton of stuff in MA that flat out isn't true. The human body can take far more trauma than most people think.

Studying anatomy is a great thing for better understanding MA. Surface anatomy is probably the best bet. Surface anatomy teaches how to locate anatomical points on the body. Finding the carotid sinus, ulnar nerve, spleen, liver, etc. Surface anatomy is all about touch, not about memorizing places from a book. Everyone's exact location of stuff is different.

Knowing anatomy is great in theory. In practice, it doesn't offer that much of an advantage, really. You don't need to know where the MCL is or even what it is in order to know the if you kick someone with a sidekick or roundhouse to the outside of the knee that it'll make an opponent's knee buckle.

[Judodad_karateson]

I would say generally no, not unless they make and effort to apply their medical knowledge to Martial Arts. To some extent, maybe, but their skill set is quite a bit different. I was a paramedic for a while, and more than anything else, it helps me call garbage I hear some guys regurgitate from their McDojo instructor.

It's kind of like being a mechanic vs being a Mechanical Engineer. How helpful is advanced understanding of Thermodynamics going to help you replace a spark plug? It may come in handy in understanding new automotive technology and help troubleshoot on occasion, but in your day to day work, it would be mostly useless. Same with being a fighter. Advanced medical knowledge may come in handy at times, but you know enough to know how to put someone in an armbar, advanced knowledge of every tissue you are putting under pressure isn't going to be a great deal of help.

[Spartacus Maximus]

Intimate knowledge of anatomy as well as healing techniques to treat injuries and common illnesses was once taught alongside martial arts. Nowadays they are considered mostly separate endeavours and the average martial arts instructor has only basic notions of anatomy and basic first aid training at best.

There are very few exceptions to this, but historical accounts such as biographies of known experts show that it was the norm in East Asia. In those countries, trained doctors were few and often travelled so communities more often consulted a martial arts expert of reknowned teacher to fix an injury or heal a sick person. Many experts also made and sold herbal medicines, practised accupunture or other healing arts to make their living.

[Nidan Melbourne]

Knowing anatomy helps in a self defense situation because you will then have a better idea of what the body can and cannot handle.

For me in working in rehabilitation and training, I have learnt how every joint can and can't move as its range of motion.

Applying a rear naked choke? many people apply it and don't know what they are restricting (be it restricting blood flow or air flow!).

Are you applying an armbar standing up? What movements is the person being restricted likely to be able to do? What movements can you do to dislocated the elbow or shoulder?

When taking someone down what positions can you move them into with minimal effort?

I have spoken to many karateka, judoka and BJJ students + instructors about this topic and majority have said having knowledge of anatomy is vital for effectiveness when required. As they all said that if your training and have to use it in self defense then make it as reliable as possible where you can stop an incoming attack all whilst using minimal effort. A BJJ instructor said to me having no knowledge of anatomy even a little bit in a self defense situation puts you at a disadvantage.

Having that knowledge makes you more aware of what you can do and how much force to apply in different situations. And how to maximise your own safety.