martial arts, are they useful in todays world?

[Kyle59]

Didn't know where to stick this so i've put it here.

Are martial arts really useful in todays world?
theres much more laws restricting the use of violence as self defence, so can you actualy fight back with out being penalised.
when people get into fights these days theres normaly more than two people involved, especially with anti social subcultures, so could you really look after your self with the use of a martial art.
When someone gets in a fight do they revert to their martial art or do people lose control and just go for it like any normal person would by just puting punches and kicks in willy nilly?

What's everyones views.

[danfaggella]

Martial arts have plenty of purposes in today's world, purposes besides self-defence. People get involved in MAs for many reasons, and most are good reasons. And yes, multiple attackers is common in fights, but this isn't just "nowadays", fights have always had this aspect (there are more then 2 men on a battlefield). This is why you only fight when you absolutely MUST fight, and why when you do fight, you do it in a consice way and then get the F*** out of there.

Also, in the street many novice martial artists (especially those who have never sparred before) will revert to fighting like a flailing moron, but after you funtionalize yours skills and drill/spar/practice over and over, your body and mind know what to do in certain situations so you can aply your skills in any fight.

[blitz]

Martial arts will always be useful. Even when every knife is replaced with a gun. Unarmed fights will always exist, and disarming is possible. Multiple opponents aren't IMPOSSIBLE to deal with, if 2 people are fighting you it is more than double the trouble but it isn't impossible.

There are laws restricting violence but I'd rather deal with these laws than die. You will be penalised if you can't prove that you were attacked first and if present; with a weapon.

As for using your martial arts skills in a fight, with enough training what you learned will become the fighting most people revert to.
Reasons people take martial arts? Self defense (IT DOES WORK), it's usually one hell of a workout and it's fun as hell. Personally I wouldn't have taken martial arts if I didn't have fun practicing them even though they help me in defending myself, but what keeps me going is having fun during the workout.

[Tom Yum]

Yes.

You fight how you train. If you don't train you go on random instinct. If you do, you'll start pulling stuff that you've drilled into muscle memory.

Someone dives at you, you somehow sprawl, clinch and knee...how the hell did I just pull that off? Someone charges in throwing haymakers at your head....how the hell did I know to keep my hands up and make the dude miss he seemed like he was punching slow and I was moving slow (but everyone else said he was swingin for the fences)? The same punch that you're pro-instructor shook off and made you think you're weak totally drops a dude without that level of experience and you're like wtf, didn't seem like I hit that hard...

I'm drilling the hell out of some empty-hand and knife drills to hopefully reach that same effect.

[Tant01]

Didn't know where to stick this so i've put it here.

Are martial arts really useful in todays world?
theres much more laws restricting the use of violence as self defence, so can you actualy fight back with out being penalised.
when people get into fights these days theres normaly more than two people involved, especially with anti social subcultures, so could you really look after your self with the use of a martial art.
When someone gets in a fight do they revert to their martial art or do people lose control and just go for it like any normal person would by just puting punches and kicks in willy nilly?

What's everyones views.

Empty hand defense skills are vital in YOUR country where handguns are illegal to own.

You might be in big trouble if you use a knife to defend your life but awareness doesn't end with WHO is around you or who might be a threat to your security. Awareness includes attributes like knowing that a simple toy like a Yo-yo can be used as a flail and a garote or that a flashlight is a small club...

Familarize yourself ("awareness") with the laws regarding the use of force and INTENT because even lawyers fail to defend their clients sometimes. You can only count on yourself (defense) and your knowledge of the skills that make you capable of ending a threat to your life and then to be able to JUSTIFY it before a jury...
Training will develope awareness and sharpen your responses to a serious threat... Even if it's after the fact or in a court of law.

"self defense" is a legal term to justify violence against someone.

[kuk sool won]

Be sure to look at where the Yo-Yo was made, if it says U.S.A or England then its going to break before you make contact.

[GQchris]

Maybe Aikido is no longer "relevant", I mean how do you "redirect" a punch to the jaw, lol.

[Tom Yum]

Maybe Aikido is no longer "relevant", I mean how do you "redirect" a punch to the jaw, lol.

You can redirect it into your elbow. It'll break the other dudes knuckles and let you close the gap. Or you can cover and drive an elbow into the bicep (if its a hook), but this is more FMA.

Best way to work this is to do it empty-handed and have a partner put on boxing gloves (it'll protect his fists but he'll still get a sharp impact feeling). Spend two rounds doing med speed to get some timing down then speed up each additional round.