So, I was trained in MCMAP, which is a close-quarters hand-to-hand system developed by the Marine Corps. It teaches basic techniques to disarm and disable your opponent using your entire body as well as just about any improvised weapon that happens to be lying around.
I completed the green stripe training, which took several months and, as the instructors assured me, was "just enough to get my ass handed to me in a barfight."

What types of martial arts/fighting styles do you all practice out there? Armed? Unarmed? Mixed Martial Arts? Boxing? Let's hear what our brawlers have to say!

a little bit of everything. knock downs mainly. the one thing that truly matters in a fight in the real world is who hits the ground hardest. the floor is the weapon that's always there.

Krav maga and tae kwon do in my opinion are best to learn because they are useful in both self defence AND offensive situations, even though i only use self defence.
also both are martial arts styles that can be learnt and actualley be used and not watered down to be used in competitions.

not entirely sure i agree. at least where i live, if you say the scentence "i'm a black belt in tae kwon do" it means you have an after school special for an education, and will get stabbed trying to fight in the real world. there are no legitimate dojos in my area only storefront martial arts. and that's just enough to wind up dead.

Why use the mere power of hands when there is so much more to mankind?

External arts are good as well, but I suggest internal arts as well. Be a powerful spirit and a powerful arm.

Thank you for that Zen Koan-like response.

In layman's terms, whaaaat?

Tai Chi, Ba Gua, Xing yi, to name a few

Taekwon Do incorporates very fancy techniques, flashy high kicks, which I wouldn't recommend using on the streets. While it helps for speed, power, and flexibility, the techniques are made mainly for sport. And a lot of people who use TKD are too stiff and rigid in fights, which is a fatal flaw. You have to be loose and flow like water.

Aikido, Muay Thai, Stickfighting. They are the main styles that work for me. And yes I've been trained in MCMAP too, but that has various styles put in to one. I also know a little bit of Navy Seal/Delta Force hand to hand combat.

Mr. Ravenblade,

From what I mentioned about Taekwon Do, it's based on a pattern I've noticed from people I've sparred or fought who do Taekwon Do (I hate sparring, btw). And also everything I've heard about it from others who have done it. One example being that you wouldn't kick somebody in the face in a real fight (unless you were standing up and they were laying down, but that's overkill). How you train is likely how you will fight in a real fight, because in a real fight you'll mostly every time get something called an "Adreniline Dump" where you'll usually forget everything you knew about fighting, and have to rely on muscle memory.

I used to do Gojo-Ryu Karate. It had it's flaws, like for example when they practice punches, they nearly lock their arms out and hold their arms out when they punch, unlike in boxing which teaches you to be quick and flowing.

I won't deny what you're saying about Hapkido is right. Aikido is more about flowing techniques, blending with the attack and re-directing it into continuous circular motions. My Aikido Sensei told me he once took Hapkido for a little bit. From what he told me about it, it involves more using body mechanics and sinking your body weight instead of relying on strength. And how it does involve kicks.

I hold a back belt in shotokan karate, tae kwon do and trained in boxing for nine months and jujitsu for 5. I have been in this conversation a few time before on the form and I have said it once and I will say it again, I believe when it comes to a physical confrontation training in any self-defense or defense tactics does help and at times might give you an edge over your attacker or attackers. But at the end of the day, weather you jkd, tkd, baseball bat, six on one, or super eagle claw, the people that usually wins the fight is the one who is the most violent or takes it to that extreme.

I had a black belt in taekwondo...
Downside is I was 9 years old.
They couldn't give me my next belt until I was 13.
Sooooo.. being the impatient little attention deficit disorder child I was...
I decided to play little league baseball instead.
Which I was ironically.. no good at.
go figure

if you want to learn TKD as an effective style, learn it the traditional way. from a old korean guy, not in a mcdojo.

without throwing stones, its fair to say a lot of chain schools are more sport/belt oriented. DG may agree or not, depending on his experience, and it really depends on what you want to use it for. some are great ways to stay fit, study an ART for discipline, and build a good work ethic, team work, yadda yadda.

the other reality based stuff is meant for you to survive. period. it involves beating the shit out of somebody cause they want to kill/rape/maim you. and then you escape to live another day. that is the bottom line for self-defense.

Ninjutsu has worked best for me. I've also studied a bit of Shorin Ryu and Hapkido. I learned a long time ago that all of the techniques for punching, kicking, stances etc would not be really the most effective for me. I believe in ending the fight quickly, using what ever means necessary. Example, in my travels I was put into a choke hold from a VERY large guy, which there would have really been no way for me to get out of it easily, even if I had hip thrown him, his grip was powerful. I simple removed a spike shuriken from my drop leg and jabbed it into his leg. Needless to say, he let go, and I took him down then. I give respect and credence to all forms of martial arts, however I use what works best for me.

Trained against many different styles...... adapt as I go along. Emphasis on staffs and sword along with some 3-section staff, nunchaku, knives, and the like.

Skill earned over time. I prefer not to fight if it can be avoided and will attempt to talk most times even after being hit.

Knowing when not to fight is the test of a warrior...... but I'm more like a monk.

True Atavistik, I always make it a point to avoid fighting if I can. However, I am well equipped to do so, if need be. I utilize alot of "sneaky" weapons. ball bearings, shuriken, sand/pepper/ash bombs, (to throw into eyes) my trusty slingshot, caltrops, even blinding someone with my LED flashlight and a kick to the knee. I use anything and everything I can to end the fight. SAP gloves give me an extra sense of protection as well.

You have to be careful with what you carry because of the various laws regarding concealed weapons. Noble intentions or not, la policia will arrest you. Having knowledge of swords is all well and good but you can't walk around with a claymore! Curse modern society. I know in Michigan, for example, pepper sprays are illegal altogether. There's a type of tear gas, however, that is legal but with restrictions on amount and strength.

In the end, all you can rely upon is your fists. Those are legal in all 50 states.

Knowledge of something does not say you use it. I out of all people here, am probably the only person that could get away with carrying a sword on patrol. I live in a rural area. It's not a habit I'm in, but I have on occasion carried a sword down my road to a spot where I train. I carry a telescoping baton on patrol..... along with my bokken so I can spar with 8 on uneventful treks.




*really need to post pics... need new camera. We have beautiful places to train.*