Will any MA teach me how to defend myself?

[youlikeadajuice?]

I opened up the phone book and checked it out, and it appears that there is only karate.

I was interested in anything that would teach me how to kick a little ass if I need to.

What are some common disciplines that I may be able to find, that would help me achieve my goals?

 

[Ganryu]

IMO, it varies when it comes to Karate. Some sensei are very interested in katas and tournament fighting. Some are not. Also, it will depend on how well you can adapt the techniques you learn to defend yourself. Do you know what style of Karate it is? If you are just looking for a little self defense, there are many options. Boxing being the easiest to find.

 

[Big Rick Rock]

I was interested in anything that would teach me how to kick a little ass if I need to.
QUOTE]


What you are looking for is something you can take just for self defense purposes not necessarily sport... I would suggest Krav Maga.

You don't sound like you want some heavy commitment MA, in some Karate schools it may take several Months before you become combat effective.

 

[LARGELI]

If I had to rely on one art for self defense it would be Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
I took Karate for 2 years when i was younger, and i recently started BJJ and i can honestly say i had more confidence in defending myself after 1 BJJ class, then i did in 2 years of karate!
In karate you practice self defense moves against someone who you know what there gonna do. Example, you practice blocking and countering a punch. You know what is coming and what youre going to do to defend it. In a street fight you do not know whats coming and the attacker wont move as slow as your sparing partner in karate.

In a BJJ class you spend most the time applying moves youve learned against someone who is trying to do the same. your partner is not putting his hand out there for you to grab. he is trying to beat you and is resisting fully. After you submit someone you are confident that it works b/c you have just proved it! Not to mention that 90% of all street fights end up on the ground and 90% of the people dont know what the fuck to do once they get taken down.

Basically in karate you get promoted based on how long youve been ther, and in BJJ you get promoted based on how good youve become. I know white belts in BJJ who could whoop some TKD or karate black belts.

 

[youlikeadajuice?]

Thats correct that I'm not in it for the sport/competition.

Karate just seems to me like a money racket, where its treated like an after school activity, and not treated as a serious means of defense. ( I could be wrong- too much Karate kid when I was young)

Although boxing or kickboxing were the obvious choices... I was thinking the same thing that largi said, and that being what happens when the fight goes to the ground.

Although I would love to be the next tito ortiz, or hoyce gracie - I'm not really interested in training for years.

I'd like to get the endurace, learn to defend, cardio benefit.

 

[ErikZ]

Thats correct that I'm not in it for the sport/competition.

Karate just seems to me like a money racket, where its treated like an after school activity, and not treated as a serious means of defense. ( I could be wrong- too much Karate kid when I was young)

Although boxing or kickboxing were the obvious choices... I was thinking the same thing that largi said, and that being what happens when the fight goes to the ground.

Although I would love to be the next tito ortiz, or hoyce gracie - I'm not really interested in training for years.

I'd like to get the endurace, learn to defend, cardio benefit.

It depends on the Sensei you have... It is true that many karate schools today are more worried in making you learn Katas and make you go into Tournaments and stuff like that...
My Sensei though, discourages tournaments entirely... He says that the "soften a karateka". He says that tournaments are irrealistic... He enfasises what karate was all about when it began: A free hand way of self defense...

 

[Jacob Creutzfeldt]

Any martial art where you apply technique against a resisting opponent in real space and time will help you.

 

[rodneyabs]

"90% of all street fights end up on the ground"

Not true. The gracies would like everyone to believe that there are hundreds of thousands of EVIL ex-olympic caliber wrestlers out there who are going to shoot a double on you at the onset of a streetfight.

I've cross trained in bjj, shootwrestling, and am Instructor level in Muay thai. Guess how many times fights have gone to the ground? About twice out of 30 or so street fights.

I've bounced in 5 different nightclubs and the only time I see a fight go to the ground is when two fat idiots get tired and pull each other to the ground.

BJJ is a GREAT art that everyone should train in. However, try using bjj in a packed nightclub or when there are 3 guys who want to kill you and you are alone or with your gf. PUts a totally different paintjob on things.

IMO muay thai is the best followed very closely by BJJ. BUT i'd recommend people train in both.

 

[Griz1]

"90% of all street fights end up on the ground"

I've bounced in 5 different nightclubs and the only time I see a fight go to the ground is when two fat idiots get tired and pull each other to the ground.

QUOTE]


LOL!!!!! Total agreement!

I had a fat guy do that to me once (just stormed me, wrapped his arms around me and drag me down with his 300 lb frame) and my buddy told me that on the way down I was asking the guy "What are you gay or somethin?"

Being an old ex-wrestler I got up and behind him in about 2 seconds though, I was laughing the whole time too. Felt like I needed a shower when it was over though...ICK!

 

[Warpath]

Karate is absolute BULLSHIT! Its just a bunch of pussies who think they have some fuckin magical kungfu power. Boxing, muay tai, brazillian jju or greco roman are the best, a combo of striking and grappling. Everything else is just a bunch of deluded fuck ups hallucinating that they can take on 20 guys at the same time.