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Choosing the Best Style for Self-Defense
I'm often asked the question "what is the best martial art style that I could study if my goal is self-defense?" The answer is that there is no one martial art that I would say is the best for learning self-defense. Every style has its advantages and disadvantages when it comes to their effectiveness on the street. Learning self-defense and studying a martial art are two different things. You study the art for art's sake, while the goal of self-defense is to learn how to protect yourself on the street.
I'm not a big fan of brief crash courses in self-defense. The little you learn during one of these "workshops" will soon be forgotten. I believe that the ability to defend yourself begins with improving your physical fitness. One of the best self-defense techniques is running! If you can escape a situation, then do so. Take specific steps to improve your physical fitness. If you can't walk up a flight of stairs without panting or clutching your chest, you're in trouble.
Unfortunately, the running option isn't always feasible, so learning self-defense is important. The best advice for learning how to defend yourself is to start training in any martial art of your choice. It doesn't matter what you choose. Any style will give you the basics. Regular training in any style improves your strength, flexibility, reaction time and endurance.
Once you've become comfortable with the basics of your style and can execute them with some proficiency, open your martial arts training up to other styles. For example, let's say you began your training in Long Fist Kung Fu. Now that you have your black sash, the equivalent of a black belt, you may want to study some good old-fashioned Western Boxing, mixed martial art or Krav Maga.
Learning how to react is the next step. You need to go from a style that is regimented to learn the basics to one that requires you to learn how to react in the situation. Studying a martial art gives you the foundation, but realistically, in a self-defense situation, you may not be able to access much if you are under stress. So, find a style where you have to react without know what's coming. A boxer doesn't know what he's getting himself into until he meets his opponent. A mixed martial artist is in the same predicament.
You can also, at this point, look into programs that teach self-defense exclusively. For example, at my school, we teach a program called STREET SURVIVOR. Our approach here is to teach a reaction-type self-defense where you don't have to think about "what to do next." You're attacked and we teach you how to react, period.
The best self-defense advice is doing all you can to practice good personal safety and avoid an altercation at all costs. If you want to be prepared physically, then you have to be prepared to work hard.
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