Greg Newton
11-04-2011, 11:12 PM
The other day I tried to do a sitting spin kick just to see if I could still do it. You know, the kicking technique where you pivot your feet, go down to one knee and spin a low heel kick. Now, there were a lot of years where I couldn't do that technique because of being busted up from the weights and an ATV accident. However, I had the satisfaction of being able to spin this 51 year old body and do a strong and fast kick without pain and with relaxed flexible movement.
What is the point though? How often are you going to be in a position where your are wearing clothing loose enough and you will be on a surface flat enough to execute that technique? It looks good, and when I was in my twenties it was fun to master, but is that really an effective self-defense technique?
Certainly it could leave you vulnerable and would be hard to do in the best of situations. It also wouldn't be something you could learn quickly and retain with minimal practice. I know many of the other spinning and high flying Hapkido style kicks I learned in years gone by cause pain and spinal impingement at this stage in my life. Partly it is my fault from my weight training endeavors, but there are inherent risks in training like that. Both Bill Wallace and Chuck Norris have to have hip replacements.
I don't want to knock martial ARTS, and I emphasize ARTS. It can be a fun recreational activity or even a passion. You just have to realize that many martial arts techniques aren't effective because they aren't flexible in your ability to do them and they require a high degree of training to maintain proficiency.
So what are the criteria for self defense training? Check out this list. Compare it to what you are spending time practicing these days. If you are training specifically for self-defense and what you are doing doesn't line up with these specifics then you might need to rethink what you are doing.
1. A self-defense technique must be easily learned.
2. A technique must be easily retained.
3. A self defense technique must be effective.
4. A self defense technique must be flexible in the different responses it could be used for.
Examine 3 and 4 in particular. Can you do a spinning kick in a telephone booth? Are you going to do an aikido throw off a chair? A lying throat and arm bar looks great for MMA competition, but if you're are fighting two or more people is that the technique to use? That finger and elbow wrist lock and throw you learned in Jujitsu class worked well with someone flexible and your own size or taller, but what about the 5-5 powerlifting ape with the stiff and thick muscles who grabs your coat lapel? How about good ole fashioned boxing? Any of you ever broken your hand by hitting someone in the head with a fist? It happens. Even to those who are well trained.
How flexible are the things you've learned and how applicable are they to different situations? As Larry has often said, martial arts are great. I did them myself for many years. But for truly effective self defense your response must be less than spectacular. It must be short, sweet, and to the point and then get out of there. Think about it.
Greg Newton
.
What is the point though? How often are you going to be in a position where your are wearing clothing loose enough and you will be on a surface flat enough to execute that technique? It looks good, and when I was in my twenties it was fun to master, but is that really an effective self-defense technique?
Certainly it could leave you vulnerable and would be hard to do in the best of situations. It also wouldn't be something you could learn quickly and retain with minimal practice. I know many of the other spinning and high flying Hapkido style kicks I learned in years gone by cause pain and spinal impingement at this stage in my life. Partly it is my fault from my weight training endeavors, but there are inherent risks in training like that. Both Bill Wallace and Chuck Norris have to have hip replacements.
I don't want to knock martial ARTS, and I emphasize ARTS. It can be a fun recreational activity or even a passion. You just have to realize that many martial arts techniques aren't effective because they aren't flexible in your ability to do them and they require a high degree of training to maintain proficiency.
So what are the criteria for self defense training? Check out this list. Compare it to what you are spending time practicing these days. If you are training specifically for self-defense and what you are doing doesn't line up with these specifics then you might need to rethink what you are doing.
1. A self-defense technique must be easily learned.
2. A technique must be easily retained.
3. A self defense technique must be effective.
4. A self defense technique must be flexible in the different responses it could be used for.
Examine 3 and 4 in particular. Can you do a spinning kick in a telephone booth? Are you going to do an aikido throw off a chair? A lying throat and arm bar looks great for MMA competition, but if you're are fighting two or more people is that the technique to use? That finger and elbow wrist lock and throw you learned in Jujitsu class worked well with someone flexible and your own size or taller, but what about the 5-5 powerlifting ape with the stiff and thick muscles who grabs your coat lapel? How about good ole fashioned boxing? Any of you ever broken your hand by hitting someone in the head with a fist? It happens. Even to those who are well trained.
How flexible are the things you've learned and how applicable are they to different situations? As Larry has often said, martial arts are great. I did them myself for many years. But for truly effective self defense your response must be less than spectacular. It must be short, sweet, and to the point and then get out of there. Think about it.
Greg Newton
.