Non-firearm weapons- who trains with their BODY?

Status
Not open for further replies.
There is a pretty good online course available through "The Great Courses" from The Teaching Company, entitled
Understanding and Applying Self-Defense Strategies
Course No. 7808

Instructor Tammy Yard-McCracken, Psy.D., LPC
Kore Self-Defense & Krav Maga

The Teaching Company courses can be ordered as an online subscription for a fancy internet based TV or can be purchased separately in either audio or DVD format. Her advice seems spot-on, she has taken quite a few points from Rory Miller, and gives pretty good advice to people who carry a firearm, as in "train a lot, get professional training, make sure you train for the legal aftermath of a self-defense event, etc." She also has a section of really dirty tricks which I have never seen anybody else either train or write about, but since she (the instructor) is about 5'3" 130 lbs. she gets a pass on "sportsmanship" Overall well worth watching. It is like a mixture of Mas, Rory and some unknown sensei all together in a pretty well thought out approach to self defense with a lot of good judgement about avoiding such encounters wherever possible.
 
I had first replied with a really long post and then realised it had little to do with the original topic, so removed it.

If I understand your topic, I think it's critical to keep up with sparring fairly regularly to keep reflexes sharp and be able to "slip" (dodge) punches and keep a solid tight guard. I still train pretty hard, and have been doing at least one style of martial arts or other hand combat sport for nearly my whole life.
 
Last edited:
Took Southnarc’s ECQC course one weekend and was eye opening. My BJJ (only bluebelt at time) gave me quite the advantage in many evolutions.

I came away from it changed. Hand to hand is essential as so much is suprise, close in need to make contact prior to drawstroke, retention. I really came away changed. I saw more the reality of how things evolve.

For me, I enjoy the physicality of all martial discipliines. Have my littles doing JJ since age 5-6, now at 8 have added boxing. I think being able to last through a tough 5 minute round is a good goal. You need to spar, hitting the bag is not fighting. You will find sparring, even on a training levell is exhausting, mental in that when you get hit, you have to maintain calm composure to ensure you don’t do anything stupid to help you prevail. Distancing, targeting is harder than it looks. The fiream is way down the line. It’s funny, cause so many women would br way better served with a solid BJJ curriculum than many who think they are protected by sticking a gun in their purses.

You will always have your mind, arms, legs, fists, elbows on you at all times. You need to know how to use them. Lastly, with a good marital art you will gain a confidence I can’t explain. Are you really gonna take a 25 yard shot in public? Think about it.
 
Souvenir from last night's session- good times!
shiner.JPG
 
WrongHanded said:
I once trained 3 times a week at Gracie Jiu Jitsu. But some of those MMA wannabes just don't know how to go less than 100%, and I decided getting injured was counter-productive to working the job that paid for the training. After a few years, I was done.

But it's amazing what a person can retain over the years. No, I don't remember how to flow into an omoplata from a failed triangle, from a failed mounted arm bar. But I remember how to take and keep a position, and how to protect myself on the ground.
And that's a whole lot of what grappling really is.

Learning some hand-to-hand in never a waste of time.
Click to expand...
I had a similar experience at a BJJ school. More than a couple guys didn't seem to understand not going full speed all the time. After getting my shoulder injured twice because the idiot I was sparring with didn't feel me tap until I yelled at him (why he was pushing past the point of pain is the real question) I left the school. Seemed to be a real problem, especially here in Vegas where the UFC has such a huge following. I got more out of wrestling than BJJ anyway. I don't think I can recall all the moves from school, but I learned a hell of a lot about body position and leverage and it has worked for me.
 
I am 57. I train Shotokan karate 3 times a week and BJJ 3 times a week. I have black belts in both.

That is a shame that some of you had BJJ schools where everyone went all out. That actually hinders learning because you have to bring your A game to survive. It’s better to have a more relaxed atmosphere when you can experiment. That is how you get better.

I think part of the real value of martial arts is how it makes you think. You are more aware of strength, weakness, timing and opportunity. Training your body trains your mind.

One other thing ... you learn there are terrifying people out there who can destroy you physically AND it is impossible to tell who they are just by looking at them!
 
At 6'3" and closer to 300 then 290 I don't get much lip and if I do I just ignore it. At 62 situational awareness is my best weapon. If it ever came to physical I choose the shortest route. Eyes, throat, groin, choke. And any heavy object I can grab. I don't carry right now due to too many times in life I've had to thwart at gun point being ever so glad I never had to drop the hammer. A carry permit will make that change as my kindness and patients have dwindled with age. At least where I live carrying concealed in the vehicle is legal and depending on my travel I utilize it along with dashcam.
 
Skeeter, you bring up a good point. We have a saying in karate:

“Eyes, throat, groin. Don’t fight size.”
 
My b-n-l has been a jiu-jitsu instructor for decades. I used to hold my own with him when we sparred just by brute strength and toughness I had gained from a lifetime of wrestling cattle and shoeing horses and just general countryboy orneryness..
Now I'm 55yo and still tough enough I think....but I run... out ....., of air .......
..........really quickly.
B-n-l still teaches martial arts at 59yo. I admire that, and wish I had sold a couple guns, and spent the $$ on a couple years of training.

My .02.
 
The only formal (I guess you could call it) training I had were combatives in the Army and the rest were bastardized forms of Kung-fu and judo I learned when I started bouncing in college bars in my twenties. No belts or badges, just a bunch of bruisers who'd get together once a week and work on assorted moves so we wouldn't be embarrassed on the job.
Today? Not so much. 48+ broken bones, arthritis and a bad back severely limit my ability to go hand to hand with someone. Still got a few tricks up my sleeve, such as cane fighting techniques I've picked up over the years, but my biggest martial art is avoiding conflict as much as humanly possible and being prepared to fight as dirty as I can to win. That and my EDC, which is the absolute last resort.
 
shafter said:
Unarmed combat is a very neglected aspect of self defense because it involves physical fitness, and far too many people don't have the inclination for that.
Click to expand...

WINNER!!!!!! No more calls, please.

You just described me perfectly. "Out of shape" really sneaks up on you. One day, I'm graduating from basic training, and running up mountains, and the next day, (or so it seems) I've been out of the military 18 years, I'm double the weight I was when I was in high school, my son is running up that same mountain, but I can't make it to the top. What happened?
 
Oh, and to answer the original question, I did Tae Kwan Do in middle school. I gave a lot of thought to getting back into it, but I'm so out of shape (see post above) and inflexible, I couldn't do those moves, and I would only end up with an injury if I tried.
 
I firmly believe most gun owners are in more danger of dying of natural causes brought about from neglecting their physical fitness than any bad guy with a gun. The good thing about this is that it can be fixed.

When I see a morbidly obese male fixate on the "best carry gun", it seems ironic to me. I say this not to be critical. But, as encouragement to change something that can be changed.
 
Last edited:
56 with a 7 and 9 year old. Go to gym regularly. Muay Thai, BJJ conditioning and strength. Have gotten compliments from younger dudes like dude you got like that super human old dude strength!

Took South narcs ecqc one year and my bjj skills really helped. Train like a fighter, be able to last 3 5 minute rounds. Spar, as without it you wont have any idea of your ability. You will be worse than you think you are. Have a plan, consisting of canned verbal responses that are firm, but not escalating. Have your line in the sand. Get solid training. Old school boxing gym will do you wonders. Doesnt matter how it is all just hard work and effort.
 
I used the Buzzard method. Anybody attack me I puke on them. While they are puking I kick their butt.
 
BJJ223 said:
I am 57. I train Shotokan karate 3 times a week and BJJ 3 times a week. I have black belts in both.

That is a shame that some of you had BJJ schools where everyone went all out. That actually hinders learning because you have to bring your A game to survive. It’s better to have a more relaxed atmosphere when you can experiment. That is how you get better.

I think part of the real value of martial arts is how it makes you think. You are more aware of strength, weakness, timing and opportunity. Training your body trains your mind.

One other thing ... you learn there are terrifying people out there who can destroy you physically AND it is impossible to tell who they are just by looking at them!
Click to expand...

This is excellent information to keep in mind, especially for gym rats or other naturally big guys who reply on their imposing physique. That skinny guy in the corner can wreck your soul.
 
D.B. Cooper said:
WINNER!!!!!! No more calls, please.
You just described me perfectly. "Out of shape" really sneaks up on you. One day, I'm graduating from basic training, and running up mountains, and the next day, (or so it seems) I've been out of the military 18 years, I'm double the weight I was when I was in high school, my son is running up that same mountain, but I can't make it to the top. What happened?
Click to expand...
Well Mr Cooper, jumping out of that airplane probably didn't do your body any good.

Just a general tip for unarmed fighting - remember to breathe! Sounds like a no brainer but it's something beginners at our gym forget all the time. They tense up and hold their breath when the punches start flying and then they're gassed out in no time. Intentionally take a breath with every step and exhale with every action performed - punch, block, parry, whatever. Keep your hands high, chin down, and your shoulders loose. And if you see an opening to run for it, then beat feet.
 
I wrestled when I was in school and still lift 4 days a week and try to run sprints at least once a week. I’m 36 yo, 6’1 and about 225-230 right now. I try to stay physically prepared for whatever may come.

It’s crazy the amount of people who seem to be concerned enough about being able to survive an armed “bad guy” (which statistically is extremely unlikely) while completely ignoring things that ACTUALLY kill thousands of people every day such as diabetes, hypertension, etc.

Self defense and physical fitness go hand in hand. If you care enough to carry a gun, care enough to cut the pizza and soda and get some physical activity. The older you are the more important that is as the body is less forgiving as we age.
 
S&W620 said:
I wrestled when I was in school and still lift 4 days a week and try to run sprints at least once a week. I’m 36 yo, 6’1 and about 225-230 right now. I try to stay physically prepared for whatever may come.

It’s crazy the amount of people who seem to be concerned enough about being able to survive an armed “bad guy” (which statistically is extremely unlikely) while completely ignoring things that ACTUALLY kill thousands of people every day such as diabetes, hypertension, etc.

Self defense and physical fitness go hand in hand. If you care enough to carry a gun, care enough to cut the pizza and soda and get some physical activity. The older you are the more important that is as the body is less forgiving as we age.
Click to expand...

The difference is I choose to eat pizza and soda, as is my right; being killed by a bad guy is not my choice, rather it is a denial of my rights.

That said, I don't disagree with your assertion.
 
You're more likely to be in a fistfight than a gunfight. And you're more likely to be laid low by bad health or heart disease than either one. I used to box and kickbox, and had a couple mma style fights back in the 90's. Even got invited to compete at the Shidokan Open in '99. Studied several different martial arts styles, as well as learning to box at places like the old Heights Boxing Club in Houston, and the old Main Street Gym, (AKA: the House of Pain.) I spend most of my gym time nowadays lifting and pushing the prowler, but I still try to get in 2-3 hours of Judo and Muay Thai per week. And while I love the sweet science of boxing, and enjoy BJJ, I spend my time at those two because my experience with criminal assaults leads me to believe the techniques are more suitable for self-defense. Both of them work the standing clinch very hard, one from a striking mindset, and the other from a grappling one. If you're training to defend from a criminal assault, you don't train like a competitor; an assault is not a match. Judo is heavy on grip-fighting for throws, and being able to control a bad guy's hands will keep him from accessing a weapon.....And a well executed throw ends altercations a lot; it's a technique with a high return on investment. You have to train grappling because knowing how to choke a guy out is very helpful when it's not serious enough to kill over, but the guy won't stop coming at you..... sometimes a little nap is the best way to resolve a situation so everyone can go home, instead of to the jailhouse or the graveyard.
A few rounds of Muay Thai clinch training (called "plum") will wear out anyone, it will improve your striking,(especially elbow strikes and knees) and there are plenty of trips and throws involved. Put in a few rounds on the thai pads as well.
If I had more training time, I'd add more, but I feel that these are the skills most likely to help me defend from a criminal assault.
Watch how much sparring you do; you have to spar, but try to keep the number of head-shots you take to a minimum..... I've been hit in the head a lot, and I have trouble remembering things sometimes. If you want to live a long healthy life, don't set yourself up for pugilistic dementia.

Oh and read this; https://www.amazon.com/Violence-Min.../ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

It helps to know how the folks who are most likely to assault you think.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

Hokie_PhD
  • Locked
Who else trains in Martial Arts and do you feel there's crossover?
2 3
Replies
53
Views
3K
grampajack
grampajack
R
  • Locked
How many of you can defend yourself without your firearm
2 3 4 5 6
Replies
128
Views
3K
hso
hso
A
  • Locked
Paintball?
Replies
11
Views
448
ASHeat
A
T
  • Locked
Gang Training Update
2
Replies
28
Views
2K
Fred Fuller
F
D
  • Locked
Krav Maga, is any training "real" training?
2
Replies
30
Views
1K
dscottdennison
D
Back
Top