best style for street...bare with me on this

[kiddbjj]

hi guys

obviously this has come up many times but just wanted to flesh out the concept with the combat sports crowd in this forum.

As I see it street self defence would most likely need to focus on three areas:
1) awareness and general ability to tune into the vibe of your surroundings ie. to use your natural instincts to preempt and avoid danger
2) defence against multiple attackers (since this is very common)
3) defence against weapons (also common)

Whilst one on one fights still occur they are less likely (based on my observations) and even if they do occur, in a public place its best to assume that other bystanders could jump in at any time.

So based on these assumptions, which style/s would offer the most bang for your buck? Let's assume you have 1-3 free evenings per week to train for a scenario that would occur in 6 months.

Personally I train in BJJ and have for the past 5 years but I can honestly say that this would not be my pick for the aforementioned scenarios for the obvious reason that the training is focused on one on one fighting, 95% of which is spent on the ground.

I think that perhaps boxing or muay thai would be effective in terms of developing explosive anaerobic flurries of strikes, plus you would be used to contact and pushing through fatigue and pain. Footwork is quick and mobile. They are also very aggressive forward moving styles. But of course they have no real drills for multiple attackers or weapons....

Also thought Krav Maga since they do spend a lot of time working weapons and multiples drills. Things like angling to avoid being overwhelmed by a group and staying mobile. But then again you don't really 'spar' the people when doing these drills as you would when doing boxing or muay thai against your one opponent; so are you really developing the toughness and follow through on your techniques that would be necessary??? I dunno...

So what do you guys think:
What styles would you nominate and why? and
do you think that the toughness/fitness/explosiveness/aggressiveness that comes from a strike oriented combat sport (that only trains one on one) is actually worth more overall than something like Krav that does the multiples/weapons drills but doesn't allow real sparring during the drills????

[Sagacious Lu]

How about cross-country? You can't get stomped or stabbed from half a block away :P

[Tom Yum]

I think that perhaps boxing or muay thai would be effective in terms of developing explosive anaerobic flurries of strikes, plus you would be used to contact and pushing through fatigue and pain. Footwork is quick and mobile. They are also very aggressive forward moving styles. But of course they have no real drills for multiple attackers or weapons....

To sum it up, I think boxing/muaythai would make you tougher and give you more fight - able to handle the initial barrage and land what you want but if you're in a street fight chances are it will be much more unpredictable and end faster than any sports bout if you're in a public place - security (or police) would be on someone's tale, someone might have intervened on your side or theirs and while it would feel like a 15 min ordeal, it probably happened and concluded within 2-3 min.

Landing a solid punch/strike without wraps or gloves might suprise you. If your shots (with gloves) can slow trained guys down, punching/striking/kicking without gloves or protection against an untrained will put them on there knees fast unless their on some kind of drug, insanely tough or have a significant weight advantage.

If you can land one or two clear shots that staggers your opponent, get the hell outta dodge but like you said, there's no weapons training or training against multiples.

Mr.Miyagi said it right - "best fight? not be there."

[legshot420]

Krav Maga was designed for this sort of thing but other than that, I'd go with Muay Thai.

[Yu Law]

traditional wing chun and krav megra

[Tom Yum]

In terms of traditional arts, I would train in a Chinese-influenced system but not necessarily a Chinese system. Why? Because most Chinese systems will take you a long time to ramp up to fighting ability. Not saying its bad, so long as time isn't a factor.

Chinese influenced systems? Take your pick: pukulan tjimande (silat), kuntao, kenpo, tukong musool, hwarang etc.

I've found alot of these systems are usually more self-defense oriented and more 'complete' - cover more ranges - kicking, striking infighting, grappling; even though they do train in forms but they also train with weapons.

Also Krav Maga. As I understand it Krav Maga started out as a fusion of traditional martial arts but constantly evolves as it acquires arts like muaythai, BJJ and FMA as well.

[TigerClaw]

So based on these assumptions, which style/s would offer the most bang for your buck?

Kung Fu all the way

[Ben Grimm]

Maybe Wing Chun or JKD. Boxing and Muay Thai are also great.

[Thaifighter28]

I would have to go with Muay Thai, or what I train in called Muay Boran. It is an older form. Infact Muay thai is a watered down ring version. Muay Boran is more focused on stopping a fight with limb destruction ( putting just the necessary amount of force to break either the arms or legs). There is also a bit of grappling but most of it involves very quick moves that thrust an opponent to the ground. I find it very effective especially in street fights because the ground is usually concrete and the ground can be your best friend.
Now there are not any defensive manuevers strickly for combating weapons, But i would say training in muay thai ( or Muay Boran) would give you the proper amount of speed, pain conditioning, and defensive manuevers that it could be easily adapted to someone coming at you with a knife or bat. But if they have a gun.... well good luck with that!!

[Ben Grimm]

Muay Boran... Where do you train? That sounds like a great style to learn.

[Thaifighter28]

Muay Boran... Where do you train? That sounds like a great style to learn.

been training for the last 6 month out of the Ymca in memphis tn.

[rey.tllz]

The best is what the person has to give.

hi guys

obviously this has come up many times but just wanted to flesh out the concept with the combat sports crowd in this forum.

As I see it street self defence would most likely need to focus on three areas:
1) awareness and general ability to tune into the vibe of your surroundings ie. to use your natural instincts to preempt and avoid danger
2) defence against multiple attackers (since this is very common)
3) defence against weapons (also common)

Whilst one on one fights still occur they are less likely (based on my observations) and even if they do occur, in a public place its best to assume that other bystanders could jump in at any time.

So based on these assumptions, which style/s would offer the most bang for your buck? Let's assume you have 1-3 free evenings per week to train for a scenario that would occur in 6 months.

Personally I train in BJJ and have for the past 5 years but I can honestly say that this would not be my pick for the aforementioned scenarios for the obvious reason that the training is focused on one on one fighting, 95% of which is spent on the ground.

I think that perhaps boxing or muay thai would be effective in terms of developing explosive anaerobic flurries of strikes, plus you would be used to contact and pushing through fatigue and pain. Footwork is quick and mobile. They are also very aggressive forward moving styles. But of course they have no real drills for multiple attackers or weapons....

Also thought Krav Maga since they do spend a lot of time working weapons and multiples drills. Things like angling to avoid being overwhelmed by a group and staying mobile. But then again you don't really 'spar' the people when doing these drills as you would when doing boxing or muay thai against your one opponent; so are you really developing the toughness and follow through on your techniques that would be necessary??? I dunno...

So what do you guys think:
What styles would you nominate and why? and
do you think that the toughness/fitness/explosiveness/aggressiveness that comes from a strike oriented combat sport (that only trains one on one) is actually worth more overall than something like Krav that does the multiples/weapons drills but doesn't allow real sparring during the drills????

Im sick about hearing about BJJ or grappling to be the best out there. The truth is there is no ultimat fighting art and there never will be. I respect the grappling arts out there but the fight for your life is more than a fight for a belt. I like all styles and especially the newer ones like TFT and SCARS. I wouldnt try to fight like they do on their videos but would get their moves and modify it to how it would work for me which ive done a number of times. I also mix it with old school street fighting and martial arts perferably boxing, wrestling, and chokes from several grappling arts. Im a experience street fighter and I could honestly say when a person fights out there the best way to win is to be the most violent. The Gracies and the Lions Den and so many others have alot to teach but get what they teach and put it realistically. Dont think all MMA cage fighters are the most elite cus they are not. You put one of those guys in the wrong neighborhood and they get into it with a gangbanger and they happen to be getting the best of the gangbanger guess what their boys are going to be there with bat,knives, or worst a gun. So all of you out there that dont know the difference between whats for real and whats just a competition than you guys/gals should look for something else to be interested in.

[rey.tllz]

the best is what the person gives.

Im sick about hearing about BJJ or grappling to be the best out there. The truth is there is no ultimat fighting art and there never will be. I respect the grappling arts out there but the fight for your life is more than a fight for a belt. I like all styles and especially the newer ones like TFT and SCARS. I wouldnt try to fight like they do on their videos but would get their moves and modify it to how it would work for me which ive done a number of times. I also mix it with old school street fighting and martial arts perferably boxing, wrestling, and chokes from several grappling arts. Im a experience street fighter and I could honestly say when a person fights out there the best way to win is to be the most violent. The Gracies and the Lions Den and so many others have alot to teach but get what they teach and put it realistically. Dont think all MMA cage fighters are the most elite cus they are not. You put one of those guys in the wrong neighborhood and they get into it with a gangbanger and they happen to be getting the best of the gangbanger guess what their boys are going to be there with bat,knives, or worst a gun. So all of you out there that dont know the difference between whats for real and whats just a competition than you guys/gals should look for something else to be interested in.

I forgot to add that I cant stand those kung fu styles that I know and bruce lee said it right on the mark that they are a classical mess. All the traditional people also need to get into the 21 st century. Alot has changed in just the past few years so get up to speed.

[TigerClaw]

Kung Fu is also designed for multiple fighting, that is why the forms look so great and flowing, because they have to fight off many attackers at once.

[Ben Grimm]

Any style can be tailored for fighting multiple opponents. Not just TCMA. Why don't you go and play with HuYanSan.