Are MA really useful for Self Defense?
Just a quick question.
Are MA really useful for Self Defense purpose?
For me MA are fighting arts and not SD-arts.
I also don't know of many stories where masters of old used their MA against the dark alley assault or similar.
Yes, they were fighters that did challenge matches, duels and partook in fights, but did they use it to prevent muggings and similar?
Laws also haven't changed that much during the centuries, in fact I think we could say that they got more lenient.
Example:
Chen Wang Ting hid back in his village after killing an opponent during a fight in order to prevent prosecution and possible execution.
Most places also forbad duelling and similar thus we got "secret" rooftop fights and so on.
What's your opinion & take on the subject?
Been thinking about the same thing lately
This might be a CMA thing. Take a look at aikido, or late edo-period jujutsu for example - both arts have virtually no "offensive movements", whereas CMA moves in/out with both defensive and offensive tactics all the time.
It might be the Japanese arts, which were considered more defensive, earned the name "self defence" before the public at large were able to see more balanced systems like many CMA.
To bring the thread back to its central focus, I agree CMA are fighting arts primarily, although can be used for self defence. Some arts are self defense only though, and aren't fighting arts, making the two areas often shared, but not always one and the same with all arts.
Re: Been thinking about the same thing lately
Quote:
Originally posted by sing fu
This might be a CMA thing. Take a look at aikido, or late edo-period jujutsu for example - ...
Agreed, considering that during and after the Edo period japan was united and pretty much at peace.
Which is in stark contrast to the muromachi and earlier periods.
Cheers.