A common question

[JR 137]

It doesn’t take much common sense to know a properly thrown, placed and timed punch, kick, knee, elbow, etc. will work. Is it really that counterintuitive to figure out a side kick to the inside or outside of someone’s knee will injure it? Ribs? Book to the jaw?

It doesn’t take much common sense to know a choke, joint lock, throw will work either. Basic physics at work with the throws and joint locks. We’ve all had our elbow bent the wrong way once or twice, even non-MAists in non-fighting/sparring circumstances. Cutting off oxygen to the brain doesn’t exactly take much imagination to figure out what’ll happen.

Anyone can learn the core techniques of pretty much any art within a few weeks IMO. And they’re all effective, excluding chi balls, chi force fields and the like.

What really takes time is a few things - executing them with proper form mechanics (throwing that roundhouse kick, hip throw, arm bar, etc. correctly), setting them up correctly, knowing what to use and when, and being able to do so in the presence of fear.

Mike Tyson’s right hook to the jaw will KO 100% of his opponents if he can land it cleanly and with full force. Royce Gracie’s triangle choke will KO 100% of his opponents’ if he get the proper position and sink it in just right. JR’s side kick will blow out 100% of his opponents’ knees if he can land it cleanly and accurately.

The techniques work. The key is being in a position (figuratively and literally) to use it in a textbook manner.

The other side of them allegedly not working is your opponent doing his thing better than you and not giving you the chance.

The techniques are solid. The fatal flaw is the practitioner. All IMO.

Edit: There may be some sequences/combinations that are pretty fantasy based, but the individual techniques are solid.