When the effectiveness of a martial art is discussed, the concern at hand is usually self-defense, or how well that martial art would help you to survive and escape an altercation. In this context, an effective martial art will prepare you to deal with the most common self-defense scenarios. What those most common scenarios are will vary depending on who you talk to. Jiu-jiteiros will argue that most fights involving untrained attackers quickly devolve into grappling and takedown attempts while more striking-centric arts will focus primarily on defending and countering strikes.
In general, an effective martial art will teach you how to:
• Defend against standing strikes.
• Defend against takedown attempts.
• Defend against and escape common grips and holds.
• Defend against strikes from the bottom.
• Escaping or reversing inferior positions.
• Escalate or deescalate the intensity of your response in a manner that is appropriate for the situation.
I’m a bit biased here, but jiu-jitsu does this the best.
What makes martial arts effective, is a combination of how it is taught, and your mental approach.
You can have all the physical preparation you want, and still mentally collapse under real violence. Rolling on a mat and dealing with a genuine unknown situation and attacker are not the same. They could be armed, they could have friends, etc.., you could be in all sorts of places.
You will have an adrenaline dump, and your find motor skills will struggle a bit because of it.
The ability to stay calm and focused is something a good art should teach you. There are many ways that maybe accomplished. One of the ways BJJ does it best, is through live rolling with fully resisting opponents.
Just make sure you understand the difference between rolling on the mats with friends, and real violence.
When the effectiveness of a martial art is discussed, the concern at hand is usually self-defense, or how well that martial art would help you to survive and escape an altercation. In this context, an effective martial art will prepare you to deal with the most common self-defense scenarios. What those most common scenarios are will vary depending on who you talk to. Jiu-jiteiros will argue that most fights involving untrained attackers quickly devolve into grappling and takedown attempts while more striking-centric arts will focus primarily on defending and countering strikes.
In general, an effective martial art will teach you how to:
• Defend against standing strikes.
• Defend against takedown attempts.
• Defend against and escape common grips and holds.
• Defend against strikes from the bottom.
• Escaping or reversing inferior positions.
• Escalate or deescalate the intensity of your response in a manner that is appropriate for the situation.
I’m a bit biased here, but jiu-jitsu does this the best.
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LikeDislikeWhat makes martial arts effective, is a combination of how it is taught, and your mental approach.
You can have all the physical preparation you want, and still mentally collapse under real violence. Rolling on a mat and dealing with a genuine unknown situation and attacker are not the same. They could be armed, they could have friends, etc.., you could be in all sorts of places.
You will have an adrenaline dump, and your find motor skills will struggle a bit because of it.
The ability to stay calm and focused is something a good art should teach you. There are many ways that maybe accomplished. One of the ways BJJ does it best, is through live rolling with fully resisting opponents.
Just make sure you understand the difference between rolling on the mats with friends, and real violence.
Was this answer helpful?
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