We often talk about tools in the box. A gun is a tool, OC spray is a tool, a flashlight is a tool, a knife is a tool, a mindset is a tool, and the box is the all-encompassing skills, gear, equipment, and mindset we tote around with us. One I often see missing from our self-defense toolbox is hand-to-hand skills, or martial arts.
It’s easy to understand why. Martial arts can be difficult to learn, time-consuming, and even expensive. Is that time better spent learning to shoot, learning first aid, or even just spending time with our families? That’s a question you’ll have to individually answer, but I think martial arts are a valuable tool to have on hand.
Enhancing Self-Defense with Martial Arts
Why Martial Arts?
The obvious answer is to be able to engage a threat with your hands. Hand-to-hand skills give you another tool to deal with a threat, and at particular times, it might be the best tool to have. If we are in a violent situation that comes out of nowhere, we might not have that second or so to draw a gun or an alternative, less-lethal option.
We may have to react with our hands, and in that case, it’s better to be well-trained than to guess. Additionally, there are plenty of scenarios where a gun or even OC isn’t a viable option due to state and federal laws. Regardless of what 1980s movies say, there is no registry of hands as deadly weapons.
Martial arts can also give you an advantage in how to retain your weapon or weapons. Lord forbid you end up in a fight for your gun and find yourself on the losing side. Martial arts can give you the skills necessary to defend yourself and your weapons.
It’s smart to look at martial arts less as dudes throwing spin kicks and breaking boards and more as an efficient tool to defend yourself. You train with your handgun, and martial arts are no different. Much like shooting, martial arts can offer a competitive environment to test and grow your skills under pressure.
Which Martial Art?
That’s the golden question. The good news is that that’s mostly solved. With the rise of the UFC, we saw that what seems to work best isn’t one martial art, but a mix of martial arts. Striking, wrestling, and slams are all valuable to have. This seems like a crazy revolution, but that’s because the history of different martial arts has been watered down a bit by competition focus.
For example, Karate wasn’t just punches and kicks, but throws, sweeps, and off-balance techniques. Judo also has striking, but it’s largely ignored. Mixed martial arts has become a style unto itself, and if you can find a gym that’s dedicated to MMA, it’s a great place to start.
If not, Judo and BJJ tend to be effective disciplines that can work well when mixed with basic striking. Judo and BJJ tend to avoid the McDojo-style gyms that give seven-year-olds a black belt in a couple of years. Mix a grappling art with boxing, and you will be able to outfight 99% of normal bad guys.
You’re not likely to find yourself fighting Jon Jones on the street, so you don’t need to be a pro at either discipline to win. Even knowing a little can be massively beneficial. You don’t have to be a black belt to learn a few techniques to give you a serious advantage in a fistfight.
You don’t have to shoot like Tim Herron to survive a self-defense encounter, and you don’t need to be Mike Tyson to win a fistfight.
Self-Defense Martial Arts
If you’re looking for a down-and-dirty lesson in hand-to-hand self-defense skills, the preeminent school for modern self-defense is ShivWorks. ShivWorks uses realistic training methods built around modern people. Their classes are grounded in reality and designed around modern self-defense techniques that may involve the use of guns, knives, and other weapons.
Any martial arts training can be valuable for physical fitness. You can get stronger, up your cardio, and more. That gives you a better chance at survival in any situation, be it defensive or something like escaping a fire, saving a loved one, etc.
Additionally, the modern world has instilled in people a fear of aggression, and many individuals struggle to tap into it. Martial arts can help responsibly tap into aggression and learn to control and use aggression as an advantage. The confidence to defend yourself is invaluable.
Going Hands-On
Gaining some martial arts experience can be a fantastic way to enhance your defensive skills. It goes right along with carrying a gun, OC spray, and similar items. Having the ability to confidently go hands-on can be a lifesaving skill set.
