What is the best art for Street fighting?

[Kane Fan]

I would say san shou. I used to box for a couple of years before taking a more traditional style of kung fu. The only thing I believe boxing taught me was good footwork and head movement. I can honestly say that boxing made me a very weak puncher. A lot of people may disagree with that but that's fine. Once I learned differently I found tremendous punching power.

If the teacher is really good I think the best against street fighting would be tai chi. Now, if it's like the new age modern tai chi than it's a waste of time. However, traditional tai chi is really good against most people since they like to attack full force or put all their weight behind a punch. Same as akido works well against most people like that.

that's so odd, boxing would make you a weak puncher
especially when yous ay it taught you footwork
if boxing taught you footwork where is the extra power your punches are getting from kungfu coming from?
I'm heavily into tremendous punching power so anything you(or djimbe cus I know he's into kungfu and is in this thread) can recomend would be great for me to try out

 

[Kane Fan]

wouldnt it be optimal to train to do kicks too or are kicks not important in a street fight?

it depends
as with anything it's not 100% one way or the other, each has advantages and disadvantages
an example, it is a disadvantage of fists that generally even when you are well trained, it hurts a lot to smash them into jaws and foreheads, yet if it's a street fight you will probubly be wearing shoes (and if you cang et into the habbit boots!) so that is a big advantage for kicking
a big disadvantage for kicking tho is balance, it takes longer to learn really good balance for a kick then for a punch because on the kick your only one one leg when you deliver it

 

[tommboy]

yea they dont teach any of that accept the punches in street fighting in this san shou class they teach all of it ........

I had same idea with boxing but the instructor in san shou is really a kick ass guy ....... and not much conditioning where in boxing thats what a lot of it will be, (street fight doesnt last very long)

Yeh kicks arn't really important in a streetfight fast, hard punches and strong grappling are the most important. Simple techniques work the best like the 1,2 combo, a left hook to the jaw, elbows and knees to the head, the rear naked and the guillotine, ground and pound etc etc

 

[dgatehouse]

that's so odd, boxing would make you a weak puncher
especially when yous ay it taught you footwork
if boxing taught you footwork where is the extra power your punches are getting from kungfu coming from?
I'm heavily into tremendous punching power so anything you(or djimbe cus I know he's into kungfu and is in this thread) can recomend would be great for me to try out

Well, a lot of boxing teaches people to punch on the balls of their feet and the punches fly mainly through the shoulder. To explain better find a heavy bag.
Try to punch the bag with your power hand pivoting on the balls of your feet into the bag, what happens is that pivoting on your balls tends to make you go back further with your punch. Now, try this flat footed except when you punch pivot using the heels. Meaning lift the balls of the feet slightly of the ground as you try to turn both feet pointing into the bag. This will allow your hips to allign better and will actually drive you more into the bag.
Now, for the way punches are done. Power punches in boxing are usually huge swings wear the elbow lifts up high and the punch moves in. Hit the bag a few times this way and you'll notice that your hand connects and then bounces back. Now, if you drive your punch with the elbow close to the body throughout the delivery you'll notice that it produces a much more solid hit. Plus, it's a lot harder to block than the other.
Just some things to try. It's hard to explain, but really easy to show in person unfortunately. The technique is harder to learn, but when done it's devastating. The extra power just comes from the better technique and from a physics standpoint it also goes along better with the body. It's really all in the hips. If you can use your hips to drive punches than just your arm, then my friend you'll have a good punch.
Anyways, good luck in your search. In reality it's not the art as much as it is the instructor. I believe any art can be considered the "best" if the teacher is good. Just for example I mentioned Tai Chi which is regarded as an old person thing for arthritus, but it is a martial art designed for fighting. If you learn it right you can really hurt people and look pretty impressive because of how little effort you put forth.
Again good luck. I hope you find what it is you're looking for.

 

[Big Rick Rock]

wouldnt it be optimal to train to do kicks too or are kicks not important in a street fight?

I think kicks are great in almost any situation. I just think in a setting where you are in a hallway or in a parking lot, stuck in between two cars or in a crowded bar or something. You can finish the confrontation with a good hand combination. No need to risk throwing a kick.

No need to re-invent the wheel here. If a hook to the chin can put a trained fighter to sleep, it should take care of the regular stree punk.

If we are talking about street fights... If you had a choise between kicks or knees -And- you could only learn ONE, I would go for a doing good knee work over kicks... And if we you HAD TO learn kicks, I would concentrate most of my training on straight front kicks or even low leg kicks over roundhouse kicks.




-BRR

 

[Kane Fan]

Well, a lot of boxing teaches people to punch on the balls of their feet and the punches fly mainly through the shoulder. To explain better find a heavy bag.
Try to punch the bag with your power hand pivoting on the balls of your feet into the bag, what happens is that pivoting on your balls tends to make you go back further with your punch. Now, try this flat footed except when you punch pivot using the heels. Meaning lift the balls of the feet slightly of the ground as you try to turn both feet pointing into the bag. This will allow your hips to allign better and will actually drive you more into the bag.
Now, for the way punches are done. Power punches in boxing are usually huge swings wear the elbow lifts up high and the punch moves in. Hit the bag a few times this way and you'll notice that your hand connects and then bounces back. Now, if you drive your punch with the elbow close to the body throughout the delivery you'll notice that it produces a much more solid hit. Plus, it's a lot harder to block than the other.
Just some things to try. It's hard to explain, but really easy to show in person unfortunately. The technique is harder to learn, but when done it's devastating. The extra power just comes from the better technique and from a physics standpoint it also goes along better with the body. It's really all in the hips. If you can use your hips to drive punches than just your arm, then my friend you'll have a good punch.
Anyways, good luck in your search. In reality it's not the art as much as it is the instructor. I believe any art can be considered the "best" if the teacher is good. Just for example I mentioned Tai Chi which is regarded as an old person thing for arthritus, but it is a martial art designed for fighting. If you learn it right you can really hurt people and look pretty impressive because of how little effort you put forth.
Again good luck. I hope you find what it is you're looking for.

sounds like pivoting on the heels would be rough on balance
I do tend towards good hip movment for when I punch with Hooks but I have some trouble with my Cross
not sure why
but I keep working on it

 

[Kane Fan]

I like Low Round Kicks
we just call them Low Kicks
I think they are one of the nicest looking kicks to for form and stuff

 

[Judo Tom]

im just not a fan of striking in a street fight.

i really enjoy the training i do that mixes in striking and grappling.. i just dont do much of it but it is fun and it gives me a lot of confidence if i ever do need to use it.

also if my safety is ever on the line i will more then likely result to shooting in and getting a grip rather then striking.

i know thats not the best plan for most but considering that i have had years and years of training gripping and throwing very skilled people and very little experience striking it will work better for me because of my background..

now if i had some knockout power with my punches i would throw in a second.. but my knockout power is in my takedowns not my strikes..

 

[Big Rick Rock]

im just not a fan of striking in a street fight.

i really enjoy the training i do that mixes in striking and grappling.. i just dont do much of it but it is fun and it gives me a lot of confidence if i ever do need to use it.

also if my safety is ever on the line i will more then likely result to shooting in and getting a grip rather then striking.

i know thats not the best plan for most but considering that i have had years and years of training gripping and throwing very skilled people and very little experience striking it will work better for me because of my background..

now if i had some knockout power with my punches i would throw in a second.. but my knockout power is in my takedowns not my strikes..

I hear what you are saying...
I have found that in the last couple of "situations" I have had. I was dressed up and wearing very nice shoes (coming out of a Night Club). Not the type of clothing I would want wrestle in (if i can avoid it)... I feel very confortable on my feet and would rather stand up with the guy and knock him out, I know if I hit the right spot, he is gone. granted if I throw a couple of combinations and the guy is tossing it back at me, I might need to take it to the ground.



-BRR

 

[dgatehouse]

sounds like pivoting on the heels would be rough on balance
I do tend towards good hip movment for when I punch with Hooks but I have some trouble with my Cross
not sure why
but I keep working on it

Yeah, it's a little hard to explain like I said. Showing people is much easier. Power just needs to generate from the ground up. It starts with the feet and transfers into the body. Try to visualize that more and it might help.