Mushin University™ Self-Knowledge the Ultimate Knowledge
"When you are talking about fighting with no rules, well then, baby, you'd better train every part of your body." Bruce Lee.
I have often heard martial artists that train in systems that utilize no sporting contest in their curriculum, referred to other martial artists that competed in sport as pretend martial artists and/or weekend warriors. Then again, I've heard precisely the same thing in reverse. It seems that on the other side of the coin these other martial artists that didn't compete were looked upon as weak and untested. As I have experience in both camps I can see the validity in both arguments.
Sporting competition does helps develop the will to win. It also encourages us, martial artists, to keep in shape. Being in shape is important whichever camp you're in, as long as we realize that there is a difference between peak performance and everyday consistent readiness. A good argument can be made that you fight like you train and practicing not going for illegal sport targets will hinder you in a real fight. But, I have found that most of the time this goes toward sensibilities more than anything else.
Wearing protective gear helps to test your timing and other abilities while lessening damage to you and your partner. However, if you always wear gloves and safety gear to hit and defend, this can curtail your ability to keep your tools sharp and your body hardened. On the other hand, sometimes wearing safety equipment prevents both wearer and receiver from reacting in a natural manner. In the martial arts what it always seems to come down to is will your stuff work against an unwilling participant. You can not base this on if your style worked for someone else a hundred years ago, but only if you can pull it off. This also implies that you can defend against an attack that you don't know is coming. Not only that, but will your techniques work against someone that has picked up a telegraphed signal from you. Then, there is the psychological factor to consider. Part of the equation is do you have the stomach to get blood and gore on you in the process, fights are often bloody and even worse.
Plus, I have often heard individuals from either camp being squeamish about sticking their fingers in someone's nose or mouth. Although they often cite, that their first line of defense would be a finger jab to the eye. I have found that any time that you stick a finger into an orifice, including the eye, can be repugnant for at least one but often both individuals. I'm not that fond of having to do it even if it is for self-defense, but it is better than having to kill them to get them to stop. None the less I am partial to throat strikes, and other such soft targets.
But groin shots, knee kicks, and the like will not stop everyone. I personally have had my leg broken and hands at different time, as well as dislocations etc, this includes groin shots with no cup and I've finished off the attacker/s on and off the mat. I wasn't even on drugs or in a rage and I'm not a tough guy. Yet, if the attacker has a weapon or there are more of them, then these vulnerable targets must be used; especially if you cannot get to a weapon.
Speaking of which, another thing that always needs to be addressed and tested when you're training for real martial arts is weapon proficiency. On the street even if you are only in a strong arm attack once the bad guy begins to lose he will go for a weapon. This isn't even considering that the bad guy probably started off with a weapon or multiple individuals on his side to gain the upper hand. Real fights almost always begin as sneak attacks, so real martial artists will do training to develop awareness and avoidance tactics. All of these factors together can be foundational to developing yourself as a real martial artist.
"The ultimate aim of martial arts is not having to use them" Miyamoto Musashi
I have often heard martial artists that train in systems that utilize no sporting contest in their curriculum, referred to other martial artists that competed in sport as pretend martial artists and/or weekend warriors. Then again, I've heard precisely the same thing in reverse. It seems that on the other side of the coin these other martial artists that didn't compete were looked upon as weak and untested. As I have experience in both camps I can see the validity in both arguments.
Sporting competition does helps develop the will to win. It also encourages us, martial artists, to keep in shape. Being in shape is important whichever camp you're in, as long as we realize that there is a difference between peak performance and everyday consistent readiness. A good argument can be made that you fight like you train and practicing not going for illegal sport targets will hinder you in a real fight. But, I have found that most of the time this goes toward sensibilities more than anything else.
Wearing protective gear helps to test your timing and other abilities while lessening damage to you and your partner. However, if you always wear gloves and safety gear to hit and defend, this can curtail your ability to keep your tools sharp and your body hardened. On the other hand, sometimes wearing safety equipment prevents both wearer and receiver from reacting in a natural manner. In the martial arts what it always seems to come down to is will your stuff work against an unwilling participant. You can not base this on if your style worked for someone else a hundred years ago, but only if you can pull it off. This also implies that you can defend against an attack that you don't know is coming. Not only that, but will your techniques work against someone that has picked up a telegraphed signal from you. Then, there is the psychological factor to consider. Part of the equation is do you have the stomach to get blood and gore on you in the process, fights are often bloody and even worse.
Plus, I have often heard individuals from either camp being squeamish about sticking their fingers in someone's nose or mouth. Although they often cite, that their first line of defense would be a finger jab to the eye. I have found that any time that you stick a finger into an orifice, including the eye, can be repugnant for at least one but often both individuals. I'm not that fond of having to do it even if it is for self-defense, but it is better than having to kill them to get them to stop. None the less I am partial to throat strikes, and other such soft targets.
But groin shots, knee kicks, and the like will not stop everyone. I personally have had my leg broken and hands at different time, as well as dislocations etc, this includes groin shots with no cup and I've finished off the attacker/s on and off the mat. I wasn't even on drugs or in a rage and I'm not a tough guy. Yet, if the attacker has a weapon or there are more of them, then these vulnerable targets must be used; especially if you cannot get to a weapon.
Speaking of which, another thing that always needs to be addressed and tested when you're training for real martial arts is weapon proficiency. On the street even if you are only in a strong arm attack once the bad guy begins to lose he will go for a weapon. This isn't even considering that the bad guy probably started off with a weapon or multiple individuals on his side to gain the upper hand. Real fights almost always begin as sneak attacks, so real martial artists will do training to develop awareness and avoidance tactics. All of these factors together can be foundational to developing yourself as a real martial artist.
"The ultimate aim of martial arts is not having to use them" Miyamoto Musashi
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