hey guys!

[Wilson]

Most people think of long range as outside of punching and kicking range. And short range as already in contact. As far as I'm concerned, long range fighting is sport. Its more dancing away from the opponent. I could care less about that. Let the opponent dance at long range all he wants. When he steps in, hit him. That's "close" range. You can't actually fight at long range. That's prefight. In order to hit someone, guess what, you have to be within a arm or leg length. On the street, don't dance and don't let the opponent within hitting range. If he steps into my range, that's a threat. I'll back up once, if he keeps coming into range, whoops....he just got hit.

[Martial Joe]

Shaun~No I dont think its a disadvantage because in order to get close you will probably start in long range.
Im sayin you will be familiar with long range due to the fact you have to work your way to get to a shorter range.


I just think training when you start at long range it will be good training.(closing the gap)

[No_Know]

If you'd like to protect yourself on the street and others, then think of how you would get attacked there and come up with solutions.

It's a step at a time.

Rig something to test your resolutions or or and have someone do the attack and try your soltion. Make adjustments as to which you see and as to which you understand.

[Laknath]

Yah it’s a completely different scenario in street fighting. Your bravery and aggressiveness is tested more than your techniques. It is secure to strike the enemy out side your punching range, you’ll never know, that guy might be carrying knifes and stuff. So the long range will be very beneficial. But what will be, if it’s a sudden strike to you, trapping you hard and pointing a knife at the throat? That is where the short range comes to play. So practicing both will be efficient. Always pick your martial art style according to your body description to get the maximum performance.
Not only the style, think of the things you can gather and use as weapons. Like a stick, stone, some sand and even your pens & pencils (to strike at the eye, but not advisable). It’s true that it underestimates your martial art, but that’s the way it goes in street fighting.

[LEGEND]

Shaun...I'm going to give u the simple answer ever. And yes I teach this now. Geoff Thompson theory...hit hard...hit first AND learn to hit FUCCing hard!!! U have prob. seen clips of real fights...and sometimes an individual can be SUCKER PUNCH into oblivion. My personal opinion of a real fight is 3 second fighting. U will prob. be using strikes in the 1st 3 seconds of a fight. Whether it's punches...knees...elbows...headbutts whatever! If it's more than 3 seconds then u'll prob. end up wrestling the guy! Whether it's standup wrestling or ground fighting. I advise u to learn to hit hard...basic boxing training can teach u this! And based on your size and weight...u can learn some basic standup/grapplingstrikes=muy thai=END the fight with KNEEs, elbows and headbutts or choose to take the fight to the ground=basic wrestling=End the fight with eye gouge, biting an ear off, chokes or strikes. The longer the fight last the more likely that u may get attack by the opponent friend's or u may get hit by friendly fire. GOOD LUCK.

[Boffo]

Originally posted by LEGEND
standup/grapplingstrikes=muy thai=END the fight with KNEEs, elbows and headbutts or choose to take the fight to the ground=basic wrestling=End the fight with eye gouge, biting an ear off, chokes or strikes. The longer the fight last the more likely that u may get attack by the opponent friend's or u may get hit by friendly fire. GOOD LUCK.

This is arguably the safe way of fighting. Total brutality. Afterall, isn't it better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6?

Well, that depends... Let me give you another quote:

Is it better to be carried by 6 or judged by 12 and then gang raped in prison by 10?

The problem with eye gouging and biting and crippling strikes is that it can put you in jail. Study martial arts for a three months and if you put an attacker in the hospital, then in the courtroom you are suddenly considered a deadly master of the martial arts by the guy you put away. Suddenly you find yourself in jail, wrapped in a blanket, and losing your butt cheery to an AIDS-ridden guy whose last conjugal visit was just too long ago.

Remember, pepper spray came into existence because rapists and muggers were suing their potential victims for both criminal and civil damages!

Find you what the legal limits in your area when it comes to self defense. In some cases, it is better legally for you to carry a gun and shoot an attacker than beat the crap out of someone with your barehands. Silly? Yes. But it is something you have to account for in self-defense situations.

Because if you don't account for it in your plans for self-defense, it may account for you after the fight.

[LEGEND]

Hey Boffo...a fellow DC METRO guy!

Shaun...what BOFFO says is true...I forgot to left out...better to run from the law...after hitting the guy with a saw! LOL. Don't stick around after a FIGHT...ball out asap!!!

Here's a flow chart situation I developed!

Verbal Assault.
Establish a 45 degree stance( ala the Fence ).
Make sure u're hands are up near your chin.
This is to throw the right cross OR boxing combo if u DECIDE to.
OR if u got caught off guard u can COVER UP and absorb the blow!
If u launch the offensive aka SUCKER PUNCH! We hope the guy is KO or KNOCK DOWN( if Knock down proceed with kick to the head )...if NOT then depending on YOUR and YOUR OPPONENT SIZE...u can take him to the ground( double leg takedown ) or CLINCH and use elbows/knees/headbutts/eye gouges=hopefully a KO or Knockdown. If u TAKE IT TO THE GROUND...try to stay on your feet...then KICK the opponent in the head! If u end up being on the ground with your opponent...try to get on your feet asap...and KICK the opponent in the head! After the kick...step back and avoid FRIENDLY FIRE and AGGRESSIVE FIRE. Then LEAVE THE AREA ASAP.

Please note this is a very BASIC way of fighting based on someone with LIMITED martial art experience. If u learn an art it will take u maybe 3 months to apply it effectively depending on how fast u CATCH ON! If u do get some training...then u can use the same stragedy except add on the technique u may want to use...for ex: Verbal Assault...jab/cross/hook/cross instead of basic sucker punch...

Regarding Brazill JJ...I love the art...but I have never been in a one on one fight since my high skool days. Most fights are at bars...clubs...sporting events...sometime street with MULTIPLE ATTACKERs and FRIENDLY ATTACKERs. Be aware...and read material from Tony Blauer( he deals with FEAR ) and several others. It helps.

[Ryu]

"Verbal Assault.
Establish a 45 degree stance( ala the Fence ).
Make sure u're hands are up near your chin.
This is to throw the right cross OR boxing combo if u DECIDE to.
OR if u got caught off guard u can COVER UP and absorb the blow!
If u launch the offensive aka SUCKER PUNCH! We hope the guy is KO or KNOCK DOWN( if Knock down
proceed with kick to the head )...if NOT then depending on YOUR and YOUR OPPONENT SIZE...u can take
him to the ground( double leg takedown ) or CLINCH and use elbows/knees/headbutts/eye gouges=hopefully
a KO or Knockdown. If u TAKE IT TO THE GROUND...try to stay on your feet...then KICK the opponent in
the head! If u end up being on the ground with your opponent...try to get on your feet asap...and KICK the
opponent in the head! After the kick...step back and avoid FRIENDLY FIRE and AGGRESSIVE FIRE. Then
LEAVE THE AREA ASAP. "


The following fighting style and strategy was copyrighted by Ryu a few years back. LEGEND, I urge you not to plagerize my stuff...


LOL

Ryu

[shaun]

hey guys, thanks for all the help so far, its been great!

btw how long does it take to get some decent fighting ability in wing chun?

[Boffo]

Originally posted by shaun
btw how long does it take to get some decent fighting ability in wing chun?

It ultimately depends on you. Contrary to what anyone will tell you, martial arts are platform dependant. That means that the factors involving fighting ability belong mostly to the fighter and less to the martial art.

So... you could be a natural fighter and a quick learner who develops real fighting skills in Wing Chun (or whatever you chose) in less than 12 months. It is rare, but it happens.

You could also be one of those people who just doesn't have the temperament of physical talents to ever be a great fighter. Years of training could make you a wonderful performer of forms and breaking techniques, but lousy in a scrap.

Odds are you are like most of us, right in the middle. You'll train hard and if you stick with it you'll develop the confidence, fitness, and skills to defend yourself. If you are smart, you'll also look into the laws applying to self-defense in your state or region.

Also, Wing Chun isn't the only style you should consider for self-defense. There are a number of other martial arts styles geared towards self-defense or towards the hard-core sparring you need to develop. The ones I recommend are:

Arnis/Escrima/Kali: The various filipino families of martial arts. They start you with weapons and gradually teach you empty hand. A good fighter can use anything that comes to hand. I've used sticks, chains, notebooks, newspapers, and plastic bus trays to demonstrate my skills. Nearly anything can be used as a weapon, so these styles are useful indeed. Empty- hand Kali (I do Kali so I am not sure about Arnis or Escrima) tends to loosely resemble a mix of Wing Chun and Jiu-Jitsu.

Boxing: Western Boxing is great for developing good punching skills and avoiding or taking punches. Very useful to have in your repetoire.

Jiu-Jitsu: Brazilian or Japanese versions are good. Yes, ground fighting can get you into trouble, but many teachers of Jiu-Jitsu are in law enforcement and teach great stuff on self-defense applicability laws. Plus, all forms of Jiu-Jitsu include some form of strikes and standing joint locks that can be useful under the right conditions.

Judo: Basicaly the sport form of Jiu-Jitsu, but great for groundfighting. Yes, ground fighting can get you into trouble in a real fight (hard surfaces & multiple opponents), but you going to the floor in a fight is something you need to be ready for.

Muay Thai: Actually a sport, but it teaches you to hit hard and take a hit. Focus on low kicks, elbows and knees really gives you an edge too. Krabi-Krabong, the martial arts version, is a good style for self-defense.

Sambo: Russian sport wrestling, similiar to Judo. Martial Arts variants are interesting, but those martial arts variants often come with wacky mysticism attached.

San-Shou: Chinese style that teaches hard strikes like Muay Thai and grappling. Actually a sport but great for self-defense.

Wing Chun/Tsun: Chinese style that teaches good punches and handy low kicks, and the ability to avoid taking hits. There is question about the ranging issues, but a good Wing Chun fighter elbows and punches the long ranged strikes of his opponent.

There are more and everyone has their own opinions. Keep your eyes and mind open to new ideas. Never accept outrageous promises and remember that every style has something valuable to offer.

[LEGEND]

Shaun...wing chun learning curve is rather...hmmmmmmmm...can be tough. I would suggest u get some boxing experience before u get into wing chun. Wing chun has good concepts and theories. However I feel u need to have full contact experience before u can initial those theories. Wing chun can be technical at times...

[Merryprankster]

Shaun, if you are looking to develop basic fight skills quickly, I recommend learning to box and joining the local wrestling club. Both are cheap, both are readily available, and it is easy to find decent quality instruction in both.

I have been boxing for about 9 months now, have been sparring for about 5 or 6 months, and I would consider my punching both usable and reasonably powerful. Wrestling will teach you how to grapple standing, and after a similar amount of time spent wrestling, you will be able to handle almost any untrained grappling attack that comes your way.

If you are looking for a specific art, then you will have to do more research, and you may not necessarily develop a set of fighting skills quickly--there are more frauds out there in the MA world than in the boxing and wrestling world. However, Boffo is right in that it is platform dependent--what is YOUR potential vice the potential of the style.

[shaun]

thats an interesting point that you bring up...can you elaborate more on what you mean by being technical?

oh one more thing guys...what type of temperament of a person suits what type of martial art? like for wing chun, do you need to be aggressive or more on the neutral side?

thanks...

[LEGEND]

What I mean by technical example would be...boxing...hit first...hit hard...hit a lot...4 punches to remember! Wing chun...chain punch...pak sao...lop sao...bil sao...jut sao...bil jee etc...which one has a faster learning curve??? Also stragedy is different...boxing teaches u to hit and hit hard and MOVE. Wing chun is to blitz inward and trap any limbs so u don't get hit. The problem with wing chun FIGHTERs is they don't usually have enuf full contact experience...so sometimes when they entry/blitz in and get tagged...they FREEZE!!! Then they get hit more and more and eventually KO. Boxers when they get hit they stay compose and continue onward. Wing chun is a good martial art...but u should have some college football experience before u get into the NFL type setting. The PLAYBOOK is harder in wing chun than boxing.

[Cyborg]

There have been alot of great answers here. As someone who is studying JKD I'll object to the apparent criticism. There are a number of "camps" in JKD and each one does things a little different. Or alot different. Don't ignore it as an option and apply what the others have said about all schools. Do they practice realistically?

No matter what the style, there are 95 McDojos for 5 good schools.

As to the grappling, I find that I can use it to steal the balance of an opponent to hit him, or break a bone if I'm feeling particularly vicious. But that took more than 3 months to learn...

As to Wing Chun, of course those on the WC board think it's the best. I just believe it's easier to avoid a strike than it is to trap. Not that trapping isn't very useful sometimes. But why trap when you can hit?

Take everything with a grain of salt and do your own investigation. Good luck.