Post: #601

I haven't dealt with mouth guards since my glory days on the lacrosse field but I remember if you over boil them a bit they'll shrink up. Also I remember you cut them with scissors to fit your mouth. Not to much difference in brands other than the ones with straps to attach to your helmet were bigger than the other ones...for some reason I wanna say clear ones are smaller than colored but its probably an illusion...

If you are willing to take the risk get a dental night time grinding mouth gaurd from the drug store. These are a lot thinner and might be fine for light sparing or whatever but they aren't made to prevent concussions like sports mouth gaurds. They're made to prevent teeth from being damaged while grinding your teeth,while still being comfortable enough to sleep in.

BJJ wouldn't be that big of a deal with a dental gaurd. It doesn't appear to be a high trauma sport. Wrestlers dont use mouth gaurds at all and its more explosive and higher potential for trauma. Seems more like one of those things thats required for liability purposes.

Stricking arts are notorious for head trauma.I dont think I'd want to step into a boxing ring with someone better without a thick mouth gaurd to prevent brain trauma.

Post: #602

(03-12-2018 11:14 PM)SteezeySteve Wrote:  I haven't dealt with mouth guards since my glory days on the lacrosse field but I remember if you over boil them a bit they'll shrink up. Also I remember you cut them with scissors to fit your mouth. Not to much difference in brands other than the ones with straps to attach to your helmet were bigger than the other ones...for some reason I wanna say clear ones are smaller than colored but its probably an illusion...

If you are willing to take the risk get a dental night time grinding mouth gaurd from the drug store. These are a lot thinner and might be fine for light sparing or whatever but they aren't made to prevent concussions like sports mouth gaurds. They're made to prevent teeth from being damaged while grinding your teeth,while still being comfortable enough to sleep in.

BJJ wouldn't be that big of a deal with a dental gaurd. It doesn't appear to be a high trauma sport. Wrestlers dont use mouth gaurds at all and its more explosive and higher potential for trauma. Seems more like one of those things thats required for liability purposes.

Stricking arts are notorious for head trauma.I dont think I'd want to step into a boxing ring with someone better without a thick mouth gaurd to prevent brain trauma.

Use that mouthguard in BJJ too. I have seen guys loosing theet because of unintended knees (guy on top trying to pass guard for example) or headbutts. Like they say in UFC keep yourself protected at all times.

Post: #603

Gotcha. I stand corrected.

The only reason anyone should ever use a dental gaurd In a sport is because they make it easier to talk through. If you dont need to communicate with team mates its not worth the risk.

Post: #604

(03-12-2018 10:04 PM)nzd Wrote:  I'm going to start martial arts again, bjj, mma or boxing, I need a mouth guard for a small mouth, any good brands? The custom is too expensive in my country

You do not need a custom made one. Get a cheap 20 dollar one that you boil in hot water and it molds to your mouth.

Never do this stuff without mouth guards. I have enough broken teeth that I would not put this on my worst enemy. Dentistry is highway robbery and one of the reasons I have to get at least 20K worth of work done in Asia because it is not possible to afford all of it in the USA.

Also make sure you do not develop teeth grinding problems in the future even after you quit sports. Keep an eye out for it as you get older while sleeping It can cost you big if left unchecked.

Post: #605

(03-12-2018 11:30 PM)SteezeySteve Wrote:  Gotcha. I stand corrected.

The only reason anyone should ever use a dental gaurd In a sport is because they make it easier to talk through. If you dont need to communicate with team mates its not worth the risk.

You can easily communicate with teammates while wearing one. There are many different styles to choose from.

The risk of concussions and CTE alone is why guys need mouthguards. Mouthguards absorb shock and allow you to take more PSI worth of impact to the face and head area, than what your neck alone can absorb.

Have fun, but be smart about it. There is no reason to ignore the new science and advancements in sports science just so you can look cool or feel more comfortable.

Post: #606

(03-14-2018 09:34 AM)TravelerKai Wrote:  

(03-12-2018 10:04 PM)nzd Wrote:  I'm going to start martial arts again, bjj, mma or boxing, I need a mouth guard for a small mouth, any good brands? The custom is too expensive in my country

You do not need a custom made one. Get a cheap 20 dollar one that you boil in hot water and it molds to your mouth.

Never do this stuff without mouth guards. I have enough broken teeth that I would not put this on my worst enemy. Dentistry is highway robbery and one of the reasons I have to get at least 20K worth of work done in Asia because it is not possible to afford all of it in the USA.

Also make sure you do not develop teeth grinding problems in the future even after you quit sports. Keep an eye out for it as you get older while sleeping It can cost you big if left unchecked.

I tried many 20 dollar mouth guards and they all crap and fall. My first one that I bought for 2 dollars made of silicon was the best.

Post: #607

(03-15-2018 01:21 PM)nzd Wrote:  

(03-14-2018 09:34 AM)TravelerKai Wrote:  

(03-12-2018 10:04 PM)nzd Wrote:  I'm going to start martial arts again, bjj, mma or boxing, I need a mouth guard for a small mouth, any good brands? The custom is too expensive in my country

You do not need a custom made one. Get a cheap 20 dollar one that you boil in hot water and it molds to your mouth.

Never do this stuff without mouth guards. I have enough broken teeth that I would not put this on my worst enemy. Dentistry is highway robbery and one of the reasons I have to get at least 20K worth of work done in Asia because it is not possible to afford all of it in the USA.

Also make sure you do not develop teeth grinding problems in the future even after you quit sports. Keep an eye out for it as you get older while sleeping It can cost you big if left unchecked.

I tried many 20 dollar mouth guards and they all crap and fall. My first one that I bought for 2 dollars made of silicon was the best.

Back when I used to fight I had 5 of them. I had one I preferred when I was teaching class, one for BJJ rolling, one for serious BJJ rolling/competition, one for MMA sparring, and one for boxing.

The serious ones I had usually had holes in the middle so that I could breathe out of my mouth without opening my mouth. Suck air basically. they were bulky so it was uncomfortable to wear all day or all the time.

No one mouth guard is great for everything. Thankfully they are cheap enough to buy them like that. I bet there are some new fancy ones with all the CTE and concussion research out there, but I am too long out of the game to tell you about them. Maybe someone out there that played football recently or other full contact sports can tell us about those.

Post: #608

(03-15-2018 05:01 PM)TravelerKai Wrote:  

(03-15-2018 01:21 PM)nzd Wrote:  

(03-14-2018 09:34 AM)TravelerKai Wrote:  

(03-12-2018 10:04 PM)nzd Wrote:  I'm going to start martial arts again, bjj, mma or boxing, I need a mouth guard for a small mouth, any good brands? The custom is too expensive in my country

You do not need a custom made one. Get a cheap 20 dollar one that you boil in hot water and it molds to your mouth.

Never do this stuff without mouth guards. I have enough broken teeth that I would not put this on my worst enemy. Dentistry is highway robbery and one of the reasons I have to get at least 20K worth of work done in Asia because it is not possible to afford all of it in the USA.

Also make sure you do not develop teeth grinding problems in the future even after you quit sports. Keep an eye out for it as you get older while sleeping It can cost you big if left unchecked.

I tried many 20 dollar mouth guards and they all crap and fall. My first one that I bought for 2 dollars made of silicon was the best.

Back when I used to fight I had 5 of them. I had one I preferred when I was teaching class, one for BJJ rolling, one for serious BJJ rolling/competition, one for MMA sparring, and one for boxing.

The serious ones I had usually had holes in the middle so that I could breathe out of my mouth without opening my mouth. Suck air basically. they were bulky so it was uncomfortable to wear all day or all the time.

No one mouth guard is great for everything. Thankfully they are cheap enough to buy them like that. I bet there are some new fancy ones with all the CTE and concussion research out there, but I am too long out of the game to tell you about them. Maybe someone out there that played football recently or other full contact sports can tell us about those.

Thank you for all the info on mouth guards, Kai. I've been practicing BJJ for about 3 years but have never used one because I have difficulty breathing when I wear them. Granted, I've only tried the cheap ones. I never thought much about it, because all the wayward knees and feet I've caught while rolling seem to have been laser-guided toward my nuts and not my face.

Post: #609

I wore cups for years until I was a red or brown belt. They laughed at me but I was not the one doubled over with the piss and vinegar knocked out of me.

Post: #610

Been doing martial arts on and off through most of my life (mostly striking; TKD, Hapkido, and Muay Thai). Did BJJ a while too though. I've been hoping to improve my grappling techniques again lately. Should I get back into BJJ or look into Japanese Jujutsu? Technique wise, are they really that different other than the fact that JJJ does not use mounts?

Post: #611

Video description

Quote:Multiple Assailants: An Inconvenient Truth

WARNING: This video contains footage of real world violence! This includes people getting struck, knocked out, and stabbed. This video should not be viewed by those under 18 or by those who are likely to find such images distressing.

These examples are used to show the real danger posed by multiple assailants and the highly irresponsible way many martial artists approach the topic. I have converted all videos to black and white to soften the impact, as well as reducing definition, but they remain unpleasant to watch. Please take this warning seriously.

This video discusses the need for any worthwhile approach to self-protection to address multiple assailants and the three key “tricks” martial artists use to deny this reality.

All the best,

Iain

PS You can find the YouTube link is HERE (age restricted)

PPS Note: The Office of National Statistics has multiples assailants recorded at 43% for all violent crime where the assailants are not acquaintances (24% muitiples) or partners (1% multiples).

Post: #612

(03-18-2018 11:20 PM)budoslavic Wrote:  

Is there a version of this video with subtitles?

Post: #613

(03-18-2018 05:34 PM)Coffee Wrote:  Been doing martial arts on and off through most of my life (mostly striking; TKD, Hapkido, and Muay Thai). Did BJJ a while too though. I've been hoping to improve my grappling techniques again lately. Should I get back into BJJ or look into Japanese Jujutsu? Technique wise, are they really that different other than the fact that JJJ does not use mounts?

Check them both and compare. My opinion is that JJJ sparring is much lighter

Post: #614

(03-19-2018 02:03 AM)nzd Wrote:  Check them both and compare. My opinion is that JJJ sparring is much lighter

Thanks. Lighter sparring could make the difference between knowing how to properly use a techniques. I'll dig around and see how different JJJ is. The place I was going to check out is actually taught at an MMA gym, so I'm hoping it has some level of hands on stuff other than just learning the techniques.

Post: #615

(03-18-2018 05:34 PM)Coffee Wrote:  Been doing martial arts on and off through most of my life (mostly striking; TKD, Hapkido, and Muay Thai). Did BJJ a while too though. I've been hoping to improve my grappling techniques again lately. Should I get back into BJJ or look into Japanese Jujutsu? Technique wise, are they really that different other than the fact that JJJ does not use mounts?

The question you need to ask yourself is what do you need? Fitness? Self Defense? Sport? The two are drastically different in use and purpose.

Post: #616

(03-18-2018 11:20 PM)budoslavic Wrote:  



Video description

Quote:Multiple Assailants: An Inconvenient Truth

WARNING: This video contains footage of real world violence! This includes people getting struck, knocked out, and stabbed. This video should not be viewed by those under 18 or by those who are likely to find such images distressing.

These examples are used to show the real danger posed by multiple assailants and the highly irresponsible way many martial artists approach the topic. I have converted all videos to black and white to soften the impact, as well as reducing definition, but they remain unpleasant to watch. Please take this warning seriously.

This video discusses the need for any worthwhile approach to self-protection to address multiple assailants and the three key “tricks” martial artists use to deny this reality.

All the best,

Iain

PS You can find the YouTube link is HERE (age restricted)

PPS Note: The Office of National Statistics has multiples assailants recorded at 43% for all violent crime where the assailants are not acquaintances (24% muitiples) or partners (1% multiples).

This video is amazing. I agree with 90% of what he said. All the guys in here like that Muay Thai guy need to watch this video. Anyone thinking that boxing by itself is good enough for self defense needs to watch this video.

The only thing I disagree with him on, is grabbing someone when surrounded by multiple attackers. Yes in certain situations you do not want to waste time grabbing someone, but if you are a high level Judoka, BJJ, JJ, or Aikido practitioner getting a quick grab for a fast trip, throw, or sweep can disrupt the movements of several attackers at once. You also need to be good at countering a grab on your own arm or clothing super fast. Only the styles above, along with Karate, Kenpo, Systema, and Hapkido, are excellent at dealing with lapel (clothing and wrist/arm) grabs.

What if a woman grabs your arm for a second to either calm you down or to agitate you, and her boyfriend blasts you in the face with a punch?

You do not want to punch her but she grabbed you while you were trying to de-escalate a tense situation at this bar with these idiot dudes.

With something like the styles I mentioned above, if a bitch grabs your arm or hand, you will flick her hand off and away with zero effort and without taking your eyes off the threat.

I cannot stress how important it is to be able to shrug/flick off simple grabs in self defense, especially while moving backwards or to the sides.

Also the other thing I disagree with him on is the constant moving back and running away. Sometimes you will not have that luxury. People do not always attack people that can easily run away. A fight in a bar or club is an enclosed place. Aikido is the master style for small circle fighting and Japanese JuJitsu is second best. Systema is solid as well. The video guy makes standing your ground a losing bet but sometimes you will have no choice due to environment. You need skills for both.

I also disagree with him talking about if you are not in good enough shape to run enough miles to get away from an attack you cannot defend yourself well. Tell that to guys like George Kirby or Gene LeBell. Heck I doubt Frank Ropers or Doug Marcaida can run far or fast. They are not going to run fast anywhere. For starters they are older men now, but even 15-20 years ago for some of them, that was still not going to happen. No one is going to touch them either, even if they were ganged up on.

Intimidation is a factor as well. Most attackers flee when met with deadly force resistance. We see it all the time with gun defense videos, even when robbers have guns themselves. If you slice an attacker's neck open, and slice the arm tendons off in seconds, like Doug would, would his buddies try their luck? I highly doubt it. Most attackers are looking for victims and suckers, not fights.

Other than that, good video thanks for sharing.

Post: #617

(03-19-2018 02:03 AM)nzd Wrote:  

(03-18-2018 05:34 PM)Coffee Wrote:  Been doing martial arts on and off through most of my life (mostly striking; TKD, Hapkido, and Muay Thai). Did BJJ a while too though. I've been hoping to improve my grappling techniques again lately. Should I get back into BJJ or look into Japanese Jujutsu? Technique wise, are they really that different other than the fact that JJJ does not use mounts?

Check them both and compare. My opinion is that JJJ sparring is much lighter

Japanese JuJitsu is not designed for sparring practice. Its for memorizing through repetition in practice for self defense. The reason Judo and Aikido exists was because in old Japan people were getting killed in Japanese JuJitsu practice.

Different styles exist for different needs and uses.

Post: #618

(03-20-2018 02:44 AM)TravelerKai Wrote:  

(03-19-2018 02:03 AM)nzd Wrote:  

(03-18-2018 05:34 PM)Coffee Wrote:  Been doing martial arts on and off through most of my life (mostly striking; TKD, Hapkido, and Muay Thai). Did BJJ a while too though. I've been hoping to improve my grappling techniques again lately. Should I get back into BJJ or look into Japanese Jujutsu? Technique wise, are they really that different other than the fact that JJJ does not use mounts?

Check them both and compare. My opinion is that JJJ sparring is much lighter

Japanese JuJitsu is not designed for sparring practice. Its for memorizing through repetition in practice for self defense. The reason Judo and Aikido exists was because in old Japan people were getting killed in Japanese JuJitsu practice.

Different styles exist for different needs and uses.

Exactly TK.
We never spar.
BJJ is mainly ground based.
JJJ encompasses many aspects of combat. Armed/Unarmed. Single/Multiple attackers. Standing. On the ground.
Please keep in mind bjj is more focused toward competition and jjj is not. If you are able to find a legit jjj school you'll learn very destructive things over time. You really can't play around with these techniques either or someone will get seriously injured.

Post: #619

(03-20-2018 02:41 AM)TravelerKai Wrote:  I cannot stress how important it is to be able to shrug/flick off simple grabs in self defense, especially while moving backwards or to the sides.

Very true. I'll always remember being shown early on during Judo how to 'twist out' of a wrist-grab. It was shown to me just while messing around waiting for the real training to start by one of the lads who had trained in Aikido in the past.

It was so simple, yet effective that it blew my mind that nobody had ever shown me before! At school, for example, why haven't teachers devoted time during Gym/P.E to just showing kids how to do this one simple trick?! How many men, women and kids have come undone by unknowingly trying to use strength and 'pull' away from a stronger man, when a good, fast twisting movement (and using your wrist like a knife against their wrists) works so well!

I instinctively recognized this as being vitally important, and the very next day, I demonstrated this technique to my young son and have practiced it with him at random intervals for years; just grabbing his wrist until he can just twist out (and run away if real life!) with absolute ease. I've got a good grip (from years of 'Captains of Crush' hand-gripping) but he can get away easy now, which is absolutely brilliant in my eyes.

We were all sitting watching Patriot Day the other day and there's a great illustrative scene where the enricher grabs the Chinese student he's car-jacked by the wrist, as the student attempts to escape from the car. Now, he eventually escapes the wrist-hold and gets away, but it takes him an absolute age and was a close thing. I turned to my son and asked him 'what should he have done?' knowingly, and got the reply I wanted. My wife asked what we were talking about so I showed her too.

I'm probably missing a great deal from the full technique and all the little nuances that go with it as it was only shown to me for about 30 seconds 5 years ago, yet it has stuck in my head. Even if I'm doing it incorrectly, my bastardized version seems to work just fine.

Post: #620

(03-20-2018 02:41 AM)TravelerKai Wrote:  A fight in a bar or club is an enclosed place. Aikido is the master style for small circle fighting and Japanese JuJitsu is second best. Systema is solid as well. The video guy makes standing your ground a losing bet but sometimes you will have no choice due to environment.

I'm glad that someone serious like Kai actually advocates Aikido. Still I dont think most Aikidoka would be able to do this. As discussed before Aikido has a very steep learning curve for something that's basically stylized Jujitsu.

Maybe I'm of the wrong style? But the Aikido we see in Europe, championed by big bad Christian Tissier utilizes A LOT of space and put heavy emphasizes on big circles. I think earlier in the thread we saw a video of a police woman doing kotegaeshi on a dude, and I immediately recognized it as Jujitsu becase the circle was small and immediate, compared to the "classic" shown here:





I'm not sure just how many big black belts I know in France can shrug off a wrist/lapel/shoulder grab as an instant reflexes in a bar fight situation UNLESS he has cross-trained in other arts. In fact I believe most Aikidoka are very claustrophobic and would feel very uncomfortable being backed into a corner like in a bar fight.

This vid articulates it the best for me. The problem in Aikido? Very very few teachers teach us the slimplified, street version of the art. My teacher does but only very briefly, in a kind of "if the uke isn't compliant then just hit him". Yeah, right.





Agree though that it is among the only arts that teach you how to deal with multiple attackers.

Post: #621

(03-20-2018 08:06 AM)Dalaran1991 Wrote:  

(03-20-2018 02:41 AM)TravelerKai Wrote:  A fight in a bar or club is an enclosed place. Aikido is the master style for small circle fighting and Japanese JuJitsu is second best. Systema is solid as well. The video guy makes standing your ground a losing bet but sometimes you will have no choice due to environment.

I'm glad that someone serious like Kai actually advocates Aikido. Still I dont think most Aikidoka would be able to do this. As discussed before Aikido has a very steep learning curve for something that's basically stylized Jujitsu.

Maybe I'm of the wrong style? But the Aikido we see in Europe, championed by big bad Christian Tissier utilizes A LOT of space and put heavy emphasizes on big circles. I think earlier in the thread we saw a video of a police woman doing kotegaeshi on a dude, and I immediately recognized it as Jujitsu becase the circle was small and immediate, compared to the "classic" shown here:



I'm not sure just how many big black belts I know in France can shrug off a wrist/lapel/shoulder grab as an instant reflexes in a bar fight situation UNLESS he has cross-trained in other arts. In fact I believe most Aikidoka are very claustrophobic and would feel very uncomfortable being backed into a corner like in a bar fight.

This vid articulates it the best for me. The problem in Aikido? Very very few teachers teach us the slimplified, street version of the art. My teacher does but only very briefly, in a kind of "if the uke isn't compliant then just hit him". Yeah, right.



Agree though that it is among the only arts that teach you how to deal with multiple attackers.

The more you talk about your Aikido experiences, the more I wish I had elaborated in the original post about how difficult it can be to master Aikido, especially if you do not have great teachers. Unfortunately, the guy in your second video is 100% correct. The base forms are not simple at all. The long form has to be shortened for effectiveness or for environmental factors. You cannot use that entire motion in your first video in the middle of a crowd at a music festival if some dude grabs your arm wanting to fight you.

I have met Aikido guys that could make their adjustments in a situation like that, but guys like you cannot. I do not know if that is because they are just too masterful on an individual level or because they had better teachers. I just don't know the answer for that. Steven Segal made millions off his Aikido knowledge using it in movies in street situations. His stuff does not look flowery at all because he took out those bits.

Also there is the OTHER problem with Aikido. Almost 100% of your moves are supposed to include pressure point usage during a move (invisible hand). It's my understanding that only the master level students get taught this because it is too dangerous to show and even then it can be school bound as well. Like certain lineages know certain techniques and not others.

I wish the Serbian Real Aikido was alot more widespread in the world. That Aikido is bad ass. That style, while lacking the traditional Japanese aspects, is more fitting for real world applications, especially for knife and gun self defense.

Seems like the gripe about Aikido is that all the moves and concepts are there, but if you don't know how to adjust for situations, it is not effective enough.

Reminds me of what I wrote about Chinese Martial Arts aka Wushu/Gong Fu. Guys that are not creative and talented will never be able to utilize the full power of the art. Sure seems that way with Aikido in a way. That is not a good thing. If a system is too complex or too difficult for an average student to learn, then it is probably not a good system at all.

Post: #622

(03-18-2018 11:20 PM)budoslavic Wrote:  



Video description

Quote:Multiple Assailants: An Inconvenient Truth

WARNING: This video contains footage of real world violence! This includes people getting struck, knocked out, and stabbed. This video should not be viewed by those under 18 or by those who are likely to find such images distressing.

These examples are used to show the real danger posed by multiple assailants and the highly irresponsible way many martial artists approach the topic. I have converted all videos to black and white to soften the impact, as well as reducing definition, but they remain unpleasant to watch. Please take this warning seriously.

This video discusses the need for any worthwhile approach to self-protection to address multiple assailants and the three key “tricks” martial artists use to deny this reality.

All the best,

Iain

PS You can find the YouTube link is HERE (age restricted)

PPS Note: The Office of National Statistics has multiples assailants recorded at 43% for all violent crime where the assailants are not acquaintances (24% muitiples) or partners (1% multiples).

This teach us the point of situation awareness. The best fight is the one you don't have to fight. When I read about the knife attacks happen out of a group or general groups looking for victims its a key issue to be aware of your environment. How many look into their phone, have earphone inside and want to be disconnected from the world?
Then the next one is the distance, verbal de-escalation, attitude, appearance. When I look for the times when I had trouble - quite some time ago - I had a certain attitude that did not let me escape from it. I said bring it on. Also a lot of anger inside due several reason.

Over the years of course my level of aggression and the habits of nightlife did change as well. I'm quite sure in big cities where the vermin and scum feels attracted to like the mots to the light faces more possibilities of negative encounter. Public transport, dark alleys or be a woman alone. I remember a situation where to face a few guys, it was strike hard, strike fast and then move on. For today I have to say the public change, knifes, broken bottles and stuff like that are on the rise again. Because of certain people.

Seems like a knife proof vest is a better investment in self defence these days.

Post: #623

Japanese Jujutsu shodan chiming in here. Take this with a grain of salt as I left that style and TMA in general over a decade ago, and many here will disagree with my assessment of the usefulness of TMA training. That's fine. This is just one guy's opinion.

The problem with Aikido, in my view, is not that it is useless, as many online nutriders of BJJ and MMA claim, or that "it doesn't work." The problem is that many people who train Aikido (and JJJ) don't understand what it is they are training. Aikido was invented as a masterclass on how to grapple with sensitivity and timing, specifically, how to disarm weapons like swords and spears. But that key principle seems to go lost far too often in modern times. These techniques were not designed to teach people how to fight, but rather to teach people who were already good at grappling how to do so more efficiently.

Aikido and JJJ will not teach an otherwise ignorant/normal person gameness. You need live sparring for that.

This is the reason why 99% of the entries in Aikido look unrealistic. Because they are. The "strikes" in Aikido are meant to mimic sword strikes. The samurai fought with spears and swords (as well as rifles and bows from a distance). That was what they developed their techniques to defend against. Traditional jujutsu and its derivatives, modern JJJ, Aikijutsu, and Aikido reflect this, despite a significant portion of the curriculums in those arts training with "empty-handed strikes." They are not empty-handed strikes. No one attacks like that in a fist fight.

*Tsuki* is not a punch. It is a sword thrust. The same is true of the downward and sideways knife-hand chop. These are cuts, not punches. Yes, a proficient karateka can drop someone with these. I am not disputing that. But they are not the optimal ways for a human being to attack another human being with his limbs. The dead giveaway is that all of these "strikes" rely on the one thing a skilled practitioner of a primarily striking art will not do unless they absolutely have to, which is over-commit.

On the other hand, you cannot kill someone with a sword or spear on the battlefield without a ton of momentum. Sword cuts and spear thrusts that are intended to be killing blows are big movements. They require you to over-commit. This is the opposite of how boxers fight, which is to use smaller movements to pick apart and tire their opponent until the time is right for that big punch or combination. You are never going to grab a boxer's punch out of the air and throw them with a standing wristlock. That is fantasy. It will never happen. Now, try that same technique against someone lunging at you with a katana, whose full weight and momentum is behind the attack? That's a different story.

As important as how we train is knowing why we train, and the roots of where our techniques come from.

History can illuminate why these arts developed this way. When the Samurai Age ended, the old school of jujutsu and its derivative arts did not necessarily adjust well to the fact people no longer fought with swords and spears (or at all). And, unlike combat sports like Judo and BJJ which are scientific about adjusting their curriculums based on competition results, traditional jujutsu did not necessarily integrate open-handed strikes well into its training methods, because there was no longer a "lab" to test it in. At that point in Japan's history, training was not for warfare but cultural preservation.

It is fundamental to the understanding of Aikido that we remember Morihei Ushiba was not trying to revolutionize traditional jujutsu to be more sportive and safe to practice at full contact, as was the aim of Jigoro Kano. O'Sensei's revolution was spiritual. His aim in creating Aikido was to develop an art that increased the harmony and peacefulness of mankind. From a practical standpoint, that is important. It means the filter for which techniques and practices of the old school got incorporated, and which ones got the axe, was not a scientific filter (as in Judo), but an ideological one.

As for the defenses against grabs, and the "arresting" techniques, those obviously have their uses. My experience tells me Judo is probably better for learning to grip fight, but as TravelerKai said, knowing how to break grips and twist arms when people put hands on you is invaluable, regardless of where you learn it. But I would add the caveat that without live sparring, you're basically counting on the person you're taking down having some base level of subconscious compliance with your authority. Bouncers and police officers, for example, will probably find these techniques more useful than normal people, because most people will hesitate before going ape shit on them.

Now, so I don't come off as overly negative, a few words on the benefits of Aikido as I see them.

If you already know how to fight, for example because you're a scrappy motherfucker who grew up in a hard neighborhood and already have a few dozen (or a few hundred) fights under your belt when you step on the mat, or you congruently train in a combat sport with plenty of "live" sparring... then yes, Aikido or JJJ can significantly refine your skills. Sensitivity and timing are fundamental skills of every combat sport, and of fighting in general, whether it is in an MMA bout or on the street.

The game of high-level BJJ brown or black belts, for example, looks a lot different if those guys have trained in Aikido or Judo. They flow a lot easier with their opponent's movements, and they snatch submissions with a lot more grace, as opposed to the heavy, grinding game a lot of "pure" BJJ guys/submission grapplers play. I am not experienced enough in any way to argue if one is better than the other, but it is definitely something I've observed.

Anyway, I am of the school of thought that training in multiple arts is always better than only training one. The best analogy I have for the martial arts is that they are tools. Each individual tool has its proper place and time. This applies to individual techniques as well as their systems. Some tools are naturally going to be useful more often than others will be. We use hammers more than we use that one specific type of wrench. That doesn't mean the wrench is useless, unless you don't know what it's for or when it should be used.

Quoting Rener Gracie here: "The right move at the wrong time is the wrong move."

Post: #624

Well said Buddy. I think we are on the same page regarding the history of Japanese TMA. The funny thing is that most people who dont do Aikido recognize it as a weapon-based martial art. Whenever I said I do aikido laymen would be like "oh you train with those wooden sticks and swords right?", and it's the Aikidokas who actually confound it all with all the art of piece and other bullshitdo.

Kai said it before, Jap TMA simply dont adapt well to modern times. I'm going with Pencat Silat instead of Jujutsu because it's basically simplified Jujutsu applied for modern usage, and cutting out all the bullshit ceremonial stuff. That said lots of people are nostalgic about "the golden age" and they seek out the spiritual discipline of TMA, then get confused that it doesnt work IRL. Those stuffs were made for warriors to use against other warriors, to kill each other quickly and survive.

Post: #625

What do you guys make of this video that has come out of China that depicts an MMA fighter beating up a Wing Chung practitioner?