Monday, May 17, 2010

Can anyone with martial arts training relate to my problem?

I’m 26 years old and have had about seven years of martial arts training and earned my black belt. I’ve never actually gotten in a real fight past the age of maybe 10, so I don’t know for sure how I would fare if I ever had to fight. I feel like I should probably be able to do well in a fight, given my training. BUT…. Whenever I happen to sort of play-fight with friends or anyone, I immediately realize that I feel like I don’t know what I’m doing. You’d think I’d have all these moves to pull on people who have had no fighting training. Yet, as I play-fight, I feel like I have no tricks up my sleeves what-so-ever and that my friends (who are all about my same size and have had no fighting training) are an even match for me.





Does anyone else with fighting training ever feel like this or do you always feel a distinctive edge over people if you ever play-fight or joke around at all with fighting? Is there something wrong with my training or something? I’ve had TONS of experience sparring.

Can anyone with martial arts training relate to my problem?
There is nothing wrong.





Even in a "real" fight, outcomes are unpredictable. Training might give you an advantage, but it would depend on the circumstances. (More than one assailant, weapons, surprise attack, etc. nullifies training.)





After years of hockey skating training without one serious injury, I was tripped from behind while public skating and sustained leg injuries that put me out for the season. All my years of training were no match for a blind-sided trip, and it was from a little kid.





Martial arts are great when you are in a gym practicing with cooperative partners. But, as you already know, real life is not like that at all.





You are not getting into any real fights anyway, which means you are not looking for trouble, and have learned to avoid bad situations.





That is the main value of quality training. As long as you stay away from bars, seedy areas, and confrontations, you will (hopefully) never need your martial training.





Play fighting is different. It really puts you at a disadvantage, and you will always lose. If you are nice.





When you are play-fighting, you have no desire to hurt your friends. So, you are controlling yourself. The "tricks" are nullified, and you are an even match because that is your objective. To go further would put your friends in danger.





Play-fighting is not sparring in a gym, nor is it "real" fighting. You are in play mode. Your friends are safe. (In fact, the one who is most risk is you).





In play fighting, judo and wrestling are the most effective, as you can control a response and still be effective.





I am a boxer, and I always get killed in any play fight (my gal clobbered me in the mouth in our last playful encounter) because any boxing strike could really hurt someone. Therefore, I will block, parry, and feint, but never actually strike. I lose happily. Even in a self defense situation, I would avoid using my boxing skills because who wants to be sued or seriously hurt someone? I would run.





Self-defense courses provide interesting fight avoidance and psychology training. The usual message is to "run with pride", avoid fights at all costs, and to use techniques only if there is no running option (rare).





Anyway, relax. If you were ever in a real situation (and we all hope never), your training would certainly emerge, automatically.





Lucky for your friends, it won't at play, because you are too nice.


(That is a good thing).





Good luck, and keep losing!
Reply:The skills will be there if you need them
Reply:toughen up man what you know wil help try boxing
Reply:I believe your techniques would kick in should you ever be in a real fight or situation rather than play fight. You subconsciously don't want to hurt anyone while play fighting so you likely don't think about your martial arts moves. But when confronted with a real loaded gun in a life and death situation, you'll be amazed at how much aggression your body will put out and how quickly your trained fighting skills will come back to you.





It probably wouldn't hurt to get back into martial art training to jog the memory and body a bit.
Reply:I've had some martial arts training...Soo Bahk Do (I was 3 exams away from earning my black belt) and I can relate. I when you're 'sparring' with your friends its not a life-or-death situation and therefore your natural insticts don't really kick in. I'm sure if you ever get into a situation where you need to defend yourself, it will come naturally to you. But I also think that hours of martial arts training cannot compare to street training.
Reply:I have a black belt in Judo and am a wrestler as well. I've competed in both disciplines. I have been in fights and have always had a distinct advantage. Only on a few instances have I had to hit someone with my fists. I've always thrown the guy to the ground (knocking him out at the same time), choked him out or put him in some kind of arm lock. But I try to avoid street fights at all cost for several reasons. 1) These days, you never know who's carrying a blade or a gun. 2) If I throw a guy hard and he lands awkwardly, it could change both his life and mine. So... fight only if absolutely necessary. Hope that helps.
Reply:Training under a discipline and fighting (play or otherwise) outside of a disciplined environment are two different matters. I practice a variety of styles (mma) and yet during a couple of altercations outside the ring I wasn't 100% confident I could handle it. I did after all, but my doubt in my own abilities made me a bit more cautious. However, nobody can ever win every fight they come across. Use your training responsibly and continue tuning yourself to be in control when necessary.
Reply:You should try a different art......Karate isn't a great "fighting" art. It's great for sparring and it looks really awesome but it leaves alot of open areas to get beat.





Try Muay Thai, boxing, or BJJ......these are fighting arts
Reply:Have you seen that clip with the martial art students when their instructor shows them what moves to do in a real-life street fight?





(I tried to find it for you, but can't)





Here's this pristine instructor showing the class these fantastic moves, then when he asks for a volunteer so he can show the class what to do in a street fight, he lines him up and goes completely apesh*t. Arms flailing, putting his head down and ramming this guy, you name it. And not one perfectly executed martial arts move in there.





He goes on to say that in the real world these moves mean nothing, survival and self-preservation does. So do what you have to to look after yourself.





I'm a black-tip brown belt Chea TKD advanced and I wouldn't use TKD moves on a person, but you can bet your butt I would bite, claw and scream like a big girls blouse.





I think it's the confidence you have from the arts that allow you to look after yourself in the real world. Not necessarily executing the perfect moves.





Hope to meet you in a dark alley somewhere! ;)
Reply:It seems like you are a compassionate person. if the people that are "getting you" are not on the same level as you, you should not use the training you have learned.It sounds like you have had a good teacher. If everyone learned martial arts, our world would be a better place








by the way, as i read you answers it looks like "stop the whinning" has it nailed
Reply:Being trained gives you an advantage over someone untrained... Not a gurantee...





In any fight you will likely find times when it is hard to win. Sometimes when someone lower ranked or skilled puts you on the back foot you will doubt your abilities, this does not mean that they are better, it is just the nature of the beast, if you fight, you are likely to get hurt.
Reply:The problem with sparring is that it is controlled and you are in a comfort zone. You know you are not going to get seriously hurt and even if you do full contact sparring, you are wearing protective gear. There is also a "trust" factor in that your opponent is not going to hit you with an illegal strike. You can also anticipate some of your opponents moves because they have had similar training. In a real fight, anything goes. You don't know what your opponent may do. The best you can do is try to gain control of the fight and use as much of your training as possible. Also remember that when play-fighting with your friends, you are forced to hold back. It is probable that any advantage you might have is negated by slowing down movements in order not to hurt somebody.
Reply:Start practicing Judo. Go halfway through a kata guruma on your friends without throwing them. They'll get the point...
Reply:Most of the answers are pretty accurate





1)You don't wanna hurt your friends and you're probably not an aggressive person.It also depends on what Martial Art you learned.If it didn't have grapples and non leathal or painfull stuff you'd probably not want to practise it on your friends





2)Maybe your afraid of being moked, maybe cause the Martial Art you know has some bizzare stance or something :)





I'm pretty sure it's all there.There are times during training when my adrenaline sky rockets and I do most of the stuff I know and sometimes I save only 5/10 hits.
Reply:I know what you mean but there are a few factors here:





1. Your conscious mind is exremely slow to react. On a recent test at my dojo I forgot wht technique I was supposed to be doing, however I just didn't worry because I had done the techniques so many times that I knew my subconscious would kick in. When play fighting with your firends your subconscious doesn't kick in because it doesn't need to.





2. As said, you don't want to hurt your friends. Even with pulling punches and such accidents happen.





3. There are some things you just can't use play fighting. Remember all those fun, throws, strikes, joint locks ect that you learned at martial arts. You can't use them, I don't mean in real life, but most people don't know how to block, fall, or submit so they don't get hurt. Also things like elbows are dangerous weapons even when you're playing around.





4. Attitude. Last time I was play fighting I got bagged in the groin because of an accidental kick. It hurt, but in real life I would never have allowed myself to stay that far from my opponent, I don't like long range fighting. But because I didn't want to hurt the guy and wasn't using deadly techniques I hung back and got caught with a kick that was aimed at my midsection but missed.





So it's a combination of factors but trust me, I understand what you mean.
Reply:It would all depend on the situation and your training. Maybe you should try some fully dressed (and padded) drills with a few friends to see how effective your fighting will be.





I've been in several street fights, the basics are the most important of all. All the cool advance techniques usually stay in the dojo/ang. Knowing how to block, punch effectively, holds, and execute low powerful kicks. This all (including advanced techniques) needs to be muscle memory. Repitition is key. No thought from you is needed, your body reacts at the right time with the right moves.


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