Realistic Street Defense: Martial Arts Versus Self-Defense On the Street

Realistic Street Defense Myths: What You SHOULD Know About “Real Street Defense” And “Traditional Martial Arts” - Is There A Difference?

There is a lot of instructions, self-defense videos, quick-fix self-defense workshops led by “special forces” instructors and Grand Masters.

But, if you have bought this video, attend those seminars or even when you go to your nearest Book Shop and open any book which is specialized in “self-defense” you will see pictures or movement, where women “block an attack" and provide some defense technique.

That is the approach, you will learn on every single seminar, every single video or book. That approach simply does not work for an individual, who has full time job, kids and full had of challenges every one faces each and every day.

And I guarantee you cannot afford study five to eight hours a day for 10 years to make it work! Hey, I am not here to criticize other or traditional martial arts and their instructors, but explain this to them when you become victim of violence.

Now you might be wondering how come? Why it does not work? I spent $250 to $ 500 for seminar, and it worked!

Well, in real situation, there is no attacker, who will do exactly what you want him to do!

You see, attackers choose victim, not an opponent. To prove my point, you can an exercise that will prove to you, that simple “block and counter attack” does not work if you have time one time, maximum two times per week.

Are You ready? Ok, here we go!

Just do this simple "self-defense" exercise...

Step in front of your partner, and tell him that you are going to hit his left chest with your right fist.

Your partner might already have his blocking hand in the middle of his body. Then punch without winding up or turning your body.

He won't be able to block your attack. If you are quick enough, you can even pull your arm back before he starts to move.

Did you try it? Amazing, isn’t it?

There is no mystery about all this. Just a simple math and a bit of pathology involved.

You need to know three things to be able to defend an attack: the technique that's being used, the target the attack is aiming at, and the time the attack will be launched.

Let's assume you are on top of your physical and mental condition. It is fair to say that you will need at least 0.1 seconds to recognize when an attacker launches a punch.

In addition you will need 0.15 seconds for the movement. This equals a total reaction time of 0.25 seconds. Most people are even slower than that. However, an average martial artist needs 0.2 seconds for a punch.

Some, like Sifu Emin Boztepe, need only 0.15 or 0.10 seconds. In other words: The one who attacks first, hits first.

So far we have just talked about an attack you already know prior to its launch. The only question you have to think about is:

"When will the attack on the street start?"

Now imagine you don't know the technique your opponent will use and the target he is aiming at.

You have to distinguish if the attacker kicks or punches, comes from right side or left side, wants to hit face, chest, liver, groin or knee. You also have to recognize the techniques being used and the angle it comes from.

The question when we talk about "Realistic Street Defense is:

If you cannot defend an attack you know, how will you be able to find the correct block against an unknown attack in time?

Established Chinese and Japanese martial arts distinguish 50 and more elements to identify an attack:

• three possible heights
• two possible sides (right or left)
• kick or punch
• and many more various techniques...

Because your nerves work with a specific speed (180 meters per second) to transport every element from the eye to the brain, and the brain itself needs time to choose the right defense, your minimum respond time to 12 elements is 0,745 seconds.

If we talk about 24 elements, you will need 0,925 seconds to find the correct block against an unknown attack.

This is why blocks can’t work in terms of "Realisic Street Defense".

For example: A good Tae Kwon Do fighter is able to kick to your head faster than you can react.

This is why he himself prefers to stay five eight feet away from his opponent. Since the attacker needs to do an additional step forward to hit from this distance, the defender receives more time to find the correct defense and to react.

This is why blocks can work.

There are other reasons why blocks sometimes work:

• 1. intuition
• 2. good luck
• 3. because the defender is experienced enough to make a good guess

Those blocks and techniques taught in most martial arts styles can work, but they can fail, too.

This is why we call this kind of defenses just methods, because it is impossible to systematically defend an attack in realistic street defense situation.

There Are Also Martial Arts "SYSTEMS", Which Allow The Defender Realistaically Protect Themselves Or Loved Ones

We call them "fighting systems".

One of the most realistic street defense systems is modern martial arts system EBMAS Wing Tzun.

We call EBMAS Wing Tzun a realistic street defense system because it allows to defend oneself using pure scientific knowledge based on four simple taoistic rules and four laws of using body force.

One of the first things EBMAS Wing Tzun students learn is their security circle. The radius of this imaginary circle depends on the attacker.

As soon as the attacker enters the security circle, the EBMAS Wing Tzun fighter starts his own attack. He does not want to block. He steps forward e.g. with a front kick and chain punches. His attack is his defense.

This realistic street defense strategy alone is efficient enough in more than 80% of all street fights.

Even without knowing all EBMAS Wing Tzun techniques.

Just remember how difficult it can be to defend oneself against a madman who does not use any specific techniques at all, but just permanently attacks wildly and furiously.

Those kinds of people knocked out many black belts from “traditional” martial arts styles.

But unlike those madmen the Wing Tzun student learns how to react systematically and intelligently in a fight.

He never blocks but he looks for as much body contact as possible. He tries to control both of his opponents arms and at least one leg.

Since the touching sense is quicker than the eyes he tries to feel ever movement of his opponent.

You can try it yourself.

If you want to touch your nose in the dark you can move your hand directly to it, since you know where it is.

You also know where your chest, your groin, your belly, or your knees are.

If you control somebody else's arm and he tries to hit your nose, you will feel it because your own arm moves into this direction.

And since you use your sense of touch instead of your eyes, every impulse from your attacker will lead into a natural reflex.

Reflexes are controlled in the spine, not in the brain. By using your sense of touch you bypass the thought process and do not burden your brain with time consuming decision making.

This way you can be as quick as you opponent.

You can even be faster, because the EBMAS Wing Tzun fighter never blocks.

You will learn to give way if his opponent uses power and then punch or kick through, when you detect a hole in the opponent defense or attack.

You will know how to get rid of opponent force, add your own force and redirect it against the attacker.

But it is very hard to describe how really EBMAS Wing Tzun works. You have to see this realistic street defense martial arts system in action and try it yourself.

Hope I see you in the class one day teaching you how you can effectivelly and realistically defend yourself or your loved ones.