[H1N1]

Leg kicks are a terrible idea for most genuine street fights. Most happen at bad breath range. Most are not one-on-one choreographed movie fights. Go to kick a bloke in a busy bar, or a smoking area, or wherever, chances are you are going to catch your leg on a table, or hit the chick standing beside you minding her own business smoking, or that in the moment you've spent thinking 'do I really need to fight this bloke' you've lost the optimal distance for throwing a leg kick, and he is now inside your kicking range. It is also worth bearing in mind that if you decide to fight, whoever lands the first meaningful shot is most likely going to win the confrontation. Leg kicks hurt, and can cumulatively immobilise a guy who doesn't know how to take them. But if you kick, and matey you're fighting still steps in and puts a straight right down your pipe, you've just handed the advantage to your opponent.

In any kind of 'real' street fight, maintaining balance and not ending up on the floor is probably the most crucial factor in your survival. However much of a ninja you think you are, being on one leg is a fast track to being on no legs. Straight punches, and short, chopping elbows and palm strikes allow you to do concussive damage, and open a guy up and get him bleeding and demoralised (for most but not all).

I do not subscribe to the view that MT is somehow superior to boxing for street fighting 'because kicks'. Both MT and boxing are sports, and there is nothing sporting about a street fight. Both sports require toughness, discipline under pressure, aggression, and an ability to take a good shot and keep fighting. These are the qualities that matter when fighting outside of the sporting arena. Both will develop these qualities, both will do wonders for your ability to 'be a fighter'.

[Saweeep]

Nothing outside of real, train in Israel style Krav Maga is better than boxing for street fighting.

I will defend that position to the death...because it's correct.

[Kieran]

I've always believed that the amount of time that needs to be invested to become good enough for self defence purposes compared with the amount of occasions that it will actually be required makes it foolish to train for that reason. I've had my fair share of street fights, but looking back nearly all could have been avoided. Being friendly and confident and having good social skills is far better (and not hanging around with idiots that attract trouble), and there's not much training that can prepare you to deal with 4-5 attackers all prepared to smash a glass in your face anyway.

[Linure]

(11-09-2015 06:58 PM)CrashBangWallop Wrote:  

No. As soon as you have a set of rules, a sport changes its nature to accommodate them. It then becomes a different sport.

Also, what do you mean by you train on your own?

Oh sorry for my bad english (not my firsh language). I mean training in a gym almost daily, but only for a little over 2 years.
Thanks for the correction that K-1 is a sport, google says the same as you.

[Wutang]

If someone is going to claim that MT is better then boxing for an one on one street fight he should emphasize more the clinch work rather then the kicks for the reasons people have pointed out above. What does the average drunk hooligan on the bar do in a fight? They throw massive winding haymakers or they try to rush and clinch and try to sloppily drag the guy down. If you learn how to fight in the clinch well, you can close distance and lock the guy up tight so he can't throw those big haymakers and while he's clinched up with you can start bashing him with close range knees and elbows.

[Wutang]

(11-10-2015 07:49 AM)Kieran Wrote:  

I've always believed that the amount of time that needs to be invested to become good enough for self defence purposes compared with the amount of occasions that it will actually be required makes it foolish to train for that reason. I've had my fair share of street fights, but looking back nearly all could have been avoided. Being friendly and confident and having good social skills is far better (and not hanging around with idiots that attract trouble), and there's not much training that can prepare you to deal with 4-5 attackers all prepared to smash a glass in your face anyway.

Same. If someone's first priority for learning a martial art is self-defense rather then fitness or the pleasure of mastering a new skill I would suggest they get a weapon of some sort instead.

[Saweeep]

You guys are missing something.

Most people do start training martial arts for self defence reasons. Millions of them.

And it works! Not as a result of the punching and kicking involved but the extra confidence they get as a result of the training.

[cascadecombo]

(11-10-2015 02:44 PM)Wutang Wrote:  

(11-10-2015 07:49 AM)Kieran Wrote:  

I've always believed that the amount of time that needs to be invested to become good enough for self defence purposes compared with the amount of occasions that it will actually be required makes it foolish to train for that reason. I've had my fair share of street fights, but looking back nearly all could have been avoided. Being friendly and confident and having good social skills is far better (and not hanging around with idiots that attract trouble), and there's not much training that can prepare you to deal with 4-5 attackers all prepared to smash a glass in your face anyway.

Same. If someone's first priority for learning a martial art is self-defense rather then fitness or the pleasure of mastering a new skill I would suggest they get a weapon of some sort instead.

In your case, the only acceptable weapon would be a pistol or some other form of small firearm. Even then, there are chances that if they only purchase a weapon and then do not take the time to garnish any sort of training with it, they just wasted money buying something dangerous that could be used against them.

Just for the sake of mentioning it, owning a weapon is only providing another and very dire reason for the person threatening you to draw his own weapon as well. While there is no honor in a bar fight, a person generally won't pull out a weapon unless they are planning to kill you.

As far as the training goes. I train in combat arts because 2 reasons, the love of sparring/competing to win and to know that if I ever need to use my strength to protect myself or someone I am with that I can do at least do something. I've yet to be in a bar/street fight but that's more to be attributed to my demeanor towards someone who may be wanting to cause trouble. I've had several occasions where people start to get rowdy and then expect me to back off so that they can continue pushing and feel big. When I acknowledge their childlike behavior and show them I'm willing to engage them in their playtime if that is really what they want. They always either back down or try to befriend me immediately.

[samsamsam]

(11-12-2015 10:04 PM)cascadecombo Wrote:  

When I acknowledge their childlike behavior and show them I'm willing to engage them in their playtime if that is really what they want. They always either back down or try to befriend me immediately.

Could you elaborate on this?

Edit: Forgot to say thanks.

[cascadecombo]

(11-12-2015 11:12 PM)samsamsam Wrote:  

(11-12-2015 10:04 PM)cascadecombo Wrote:  

When I acknowledge their childlike behavior and show them I'm willing to engage them in their playtime if that is really what they want. They always either back down or try to befriend me immediately.

Could you elaborate on this?

Edit: Forgot to say thanks.

I've got an anecdote for each.

At a friends party, there was a guy who was starting to get a bit rowdy after being unable to pull any of the girls at the party. So instead the guy starts to try talking about how he can fight and wanted a go with someone while doing the basic self-inflation routine people do. At the time I had a LTR and wasn't interested in picking up randoms at all, but the idea of a buzzed sparring session appealed to me. I walked up to the guy and in a fairly playful subdued tone and told him we could step outside and see who wins. Dudes demeanor instantly changes and asks me "you're one of those dudes who like to fight just to fight aren't you?" I just smile and then the guy's all about being my buddy for the night.


For the other example, I was a traveling bum in Osaka for about a month. Somehow, a bartender girl I was hitting on but hadn't got anywhere yet was letting me crash at her place. A night or two before I had either banged her, or was making progress to bang her. But with bartenders their hours were till 5am and the ones that wanna party have to do so after 5am. So my bumming month turned me into a night zombie of partying till 8-11am. Anyway, I had taken her to this dirty ass after hours club and every time I went to the bathroom this dude was trying to get up on her. Rather than walk in between them, I'd just reach across the dance floor with an outstretched arm and pulled her away, this happened at least 3-4 more times obviously pissing off the guy. Not long after I feel a double palmed shove square in the middle of my back, I look back and see that dude then look at the girl who looks scared shitless that she's gonna get caught in the middle of a brawl. So instead of reaching around an swinging at the guys face, I just put on a shit eating grin and look back towards him. Once he sees my face, and how little I care about what he just did he walks right outa the club.

These might not be amazing examples of badassery, but while I'm not the type to start fights. I certainly haven't felt the need to run away either.

[Hairz]

Probably depends on situation but I prefer thai boxing because it uses legs, elbows and clinch. At the end of the day it all depends on soo many random variables.. both styles are good.

Imo if you like tactical stuff and jumping around go with boxing, Thai boxing is more stand there and trade sort of thing. In most bar fights it's a confined space so both will work altho most club bravs throw haymakers so clinch would be perfect here.

[HOD]

We now live in the era of mix martial arts, the days of comparing martial arts are over, Bruce Lee was the first MMA fighter, he knew that to be truly a great fighter you must be open minded and learn from all effective martial arts.

To sit there and compare is a waste of time, its just better to appreciate both aspects and learn to leverage those experience.

Boxing is the old guard, its game over for the industry, looking at boxing is like looking at railroad for transportation. High Speed Trains are here and electric cars are on the rise.

[Saweeep]

(11-17-2015 07:58 AM)elimanning Wrote:  

We now live in the era of mix martial arts, the days of comparing martial arts are over, Bruce Lee was the first MMA fighter, he knew that to be truly a great fighter you must be open minded and learn from all effective martial arts.

To sit there and compare is a waste of time, its just better to appreciate both aspects and learn to leverage those experience.

Boxing is the old guard, its game over for the industry, looking at boxing is like looking at railroad for transportation. High Speed Trains are here and electric cars are on the rise.

What on Earth are you on about?

[samsamsam]

I thought high speed trains use railroad tracks. But maybe I am wrong, I'm not the sharpest knife in the kitchen.

[HOD]

(11-17-2015 08:47 AM)CrashBangWallop Wrote:  

(11-17-2015 07:58 AM)elimanning Wrote:  

We now live in the era of mix martial arts, the days of comparing martial arts are over, Bruce Lee was the first MMA fighter, he knew that to be truly a great fighter you must be open minded and learn from all effective martial arts.

To sit there and compare is a waste of time, its just better to appreciate both aspects and learn to leverage those experience.

Boxing is the old guard, its game over for the industry, looking at boxing is like looking at railroad for transportation. High Speed Trains are here and electric cars are on the rise.

What on Earth are you on about?

It wasn't a very good response, I was off the railroad tracks.

[cascadecombo]

I doubt boxing will go away anytime soon, if at all.