Self Defense and Offense

[UMICH]

Im just gonna come straight out and ask...Ive been looking for a martial art that is proficient in self defense and offensive techniques. I know the best martial art is the one you practice the most and devote the most time and energy to. I'm a fairly small guy, 5'6" 120lbs and have been boxing for a year and enjoy it. The only reason i started boxing was because I couldnt find a martial art that interested me. I just want to learn to defend myself and basically hurt anyone giving me a problem. Any suggestions would be appreciated, thanks

[Tom Yum]

I'm no expert, but boxing is really good for stand up fighting and is great for guys of different sizes & builds. Most people, even some martial artists, are not prepared for the hand speed and power that boxers can generate. As you allready know, footwork is very usefull and ain't shabby either.

Stick with boxing for awhile.

[Tant01]

Some dangerous armlocks can be found in Sambo, Judo and BJJ, to name a few. Your boxing skills will help a TON for closing the gap to grappling range!

[Ronson]

Damn, if you're even a least bit proficient at boxing, you've already got a leg up on most people - the training and conditioning. You add a grappling/submissions game to your boxing skills and you can pretty much put a hurt on anybody who gives you a problem (as most people out their don't train at all).

But just like Spiderman, with great power, comes great responsibility.

[jdolsenmau]

Yes grappling could compliment your boxing skills nicely but as you are looking for learning self-defense I would focus on an art that does just that.
Jeet Kune Do is a form of martial study that is dedicated to dealing with self-defense. If you find a good legit school you will find training to really compliment your boxing, by adding trapping, joint locks, submissions, weapons training and grappling.
That's what I would look for.

[shirase]

one thing ive been thinking lately is that you could combine a striking art with a throwing/clinching art (ex greco-roman, judo etc) and you would have a great tool set for street confrontations. Most people dont recomend groundfighting in a "street" environment as there will most likely be multiple attackers and/or weapons. Thats where i got the idea of learning a throwing art along with striking. Most "streetfights" have a good deal of clinching in them so if you learned how to use them to toss your opponent on their ass it would definitely shake them up and have them question whether they want to keep fighting you. In a worst case scenario you could even use them to injure/KO/ or even possibly kill your opponent. In a few MMA fights ive seen, a slamming greco-roman throw can KO your opponent from the sheer impact. Imagine combining those skills with being capable of taking and throwing hits(from boxing), it would definitely cause you to be very capable of defending yourself. However, if you are really serious of self defense, id just have to say go buy a gun.

[UMICH]

hahaha i dont think i need a gun. But this happens to me all the time, i ask people and I get a bunch of different answers. This is the reason why I cant figure out what martial art to pursue and try to master. With my boxing skills I have basic punches and balance/footwork down, but what else would compliment a good street fighter? Submission wrestling? I just want something that will show me how to defend myself and basically hurt someone. I dont want to prance around in my colored belts, just want a tough martial art to teach me intense self defense and offense. Thanks guys

[Hardball]

The (PMAA) Princeton martial arts academy over in princeton new jersey is grrreaat. What part of Jersey are you in? New Jersey is rich with martial arts schools.

[Tom Yum]

Hardball, can you share some self-offense techniques as well ?

Thanks.

[Brem123]

Im just gonna come straight out and ask...Ive been looking for a martial art that is proficient in self defense and offensive techniques. I know the best martial art is the one you practice the most and devote the most time and energy to. I'm a fairly small guy, 5'6" 120lbs and have been boxing for a year and enjoy it. The only reason i started boxing was because I couldnt find a martial art that interested me. I just want to learn to defend myself and basically hurt anyone giving me a problem. Any suggestions would be appreciated, thanks

Boxing is a really great art for self defense purposes. But of course, a good fighter is someone who knows how to do everything. Grappling can suppliment your skills, and can teach you how to fight, if the fight goes to the ground. Wrestling is great for being offensive and aggressive, also for controlling certain positions and for the great takedowns. BJJ is good too, for the many submissions, positions, and self defense scenarios.

[UMICH]

I live in NJ but i go to school at Michigan. Over the summer I'll def look into that Princeton Academy, but I'm looking at places in the Ann Arbor area, which is where I spend the majority of my time. They offer a good amount of martial arts here, but I'm still stuck with the decision of what to pursue. Jeet Kune Do, BJJ, Sambo? I'm just trying to find something that would teach me powerful and dangerous defensive and offensive techniques. Thanks for the great info guys...keep it up.

[Hardball]

I live in NJ but i go to school at Michigan. Over the summer I'll def look into that Princeton Academy, but I'm looking at places in the Ann Arbor area, which is where I spend the majority of my time. They offer a good amount of martial arts here, but I'm still stuck with the decision of what to pursue. Jeet Kune Do, BJJ, Sambo? I'm just trying to find something that would teach me powerful and dangerous defensive and offensive techniques. Thanks for the great info guys...keep it up.

For one tuition you can have it all at the PMAA. Google them; they have an excellent site with plenty of photos and an archives.

[Hardball]

Hardball, can you share some self-offense techniques as well ?

Thanks.

Sorry I don't believe in crash courses; you just gotta put your time in.

[EmptyneSs]

I live in NJ but i go to school at Michigan. Over the summer I'll def look into that Princeton Academy, but I'm looking at places in the Ann Arbor area, which is where I spend the majority of my time. They offer a good amount of martial arts here, but I'm still stuck with the decision of what to pursue. Jeet Kune Do, BJJ, Sambo? I'm just trying to find something that would teach me powerful and dangerous defensive and offensive techniques. Thanks for the great info guys...keep it up.

go with sambo. sambo is hardcore.

[Tom Yum]

Sorry I don't believe in crash courses; you just gotta put your time in.

It was a joke...self-offense