On Close Quarter Combat and Traditionnal Martial Arts

[Usagi]

A debate that never ends!

One wants to learn how to teach and learn combat techniques? He had better start by learning about the human being and the way the body and the brain work together, especially psychology, physiology and motion dynamics. Doing so, it is easy to see why so many martial arts are totally useless in the real life.

For many years, I trained in Karate, Ju-Jitsu and Judo. During the classes, I blindly did was I was told and I learned the techniques in the curriculums. Until I started questioning the usefulness of my art in the real life.

Also, for many years, I worked as a consultant in robotics. You can guess that I always tried to compare the dynamics of the human body to the dynamics of robots. I found out that robots and humans are different when it comes to the brain but very much alike when it comes to motion and dynamics.

When I disagreed with my martial art masters, I was always told that the techniques had been taught like that for centuries and if it didn't work for me it was because I hadn't trained enough. Sorry! Wrong answer!

Then I discovered Krav Maga, Russian Systema and, recently, Hashita. First of all, I totally agree with most people here, these systems are very good for real life combats. I've been training and I've been teaching theses techniques for years now.

But then, why are these systems so good? Even if I was told by the entire world that these systems are good, I would still want to know why. It must be related somehow to my former engineering career.

This is where we need to understand psychology, physiology and motion dynamics of the human being. I've studied all three and came to understanding many things.

There are two major aspects to consider here. First, how does the brain LEARN things and, second, how does the human body USES its knowledge when under stress. If you understand these two elements, you'll find out why most traditional martial systems just don't work. We must remember that three hundred years ago, the knowledge about the human brain was really limited. They just didn't know. They developed martial arts based on the reality of combat at this time. Samurais fighting each other under a very strict code of honor for instance. Or dances that were practiced as martial arts where practicing combat techniques was not permitted.

On the opposite, Krav Maga, Russian Systema, Hashita and other modern close combat systems where developed a few decades ago and the masters did take into account the way the human brain works. And these systems are still evolving.

We could go on for pages just explaining the processes of learning a technique and using it under stress. I will only give an example here. A very simple way to see the brain is to imagine two boxes. One contains your reflexes and the other, the cognitive brain, contains everything you see and learn in the course of your life. It is also responsible for making choices, for instance, a choice between two techniques. When you learn a technique, it is recorded into your cognitive brain first. You can remember it and you can use it. Now, if you repeat the technique again and again, thousands of times, it will make its way to the other box, the reflexes part of your brain. That's how we learn. You can use techniques that are in both boxes at any time when not under stress. The problem arises when stress is high. The brain partly shuts down the cognitive part of your brain and uses the reflexes. Most of what is in the cognitive box become useless. You will not even have the opportunity to make choices. Your brain goes back to the animal. It's called the fight-or-fly response. And here, I'm not even taking into account the many chemical changes in your blood and affect greatly your response.

Now, it's quite obvious that techniques that have been practiced thousands of time will have become reflexes and will effectively be used by your brain even under high stress.

And this is why Krav Maga primarily uses techniques that are very close to the natural human reflexes. Because they are already in the reflexes zone. Other techniques that are not there will have to be added. They will have to be repeated again and again before they can really be useful in a fight.

Now, you can see why traditional martial arts are often useless. They teach complex techniques that are often opposite to normal reflexes. Their curriculum contains so many different techniques that it is impossible to practice even one of them often enough so it passes over to the reflexes zone of the brain. They teach techniques assuming that the brain will not be under stress and that the cognitive part of it will be fully operational. They also teach techniques that just go against the laws of physique.

And again, when I learned about this, I wanted to see it by myself. During a bootcamp, I taught already experienced martial artists one single technique. The technique was easy but opposite to a normal reflex. After two hours, they could use it very effectively. Then, I created a stressful environment (cold and deep water and exhaustion from push-ups). The stress level if still far from the stress of a fight. Then I attacked then with same way we had been practicing for two hours. Believe me, no one used the new learned technique. They all went back to their normal reflex, even AFTER I told them to use the new technique.

Please, don't make me wrong here. I enjoyed practicing traditional martial arts. I think they are great! I got in very great shape and liked the combats. And I encourage anyone in enrolling in whatever martial art system they feel good with. But when it comes to working in the security industry, I think that many martial art instructors actually put people in great danger by teaching them techniques that don't work while telling them that they work. On the opposite, I've seen traditional martial art instructors that have modified their curriculum in such a way that it becomes useful in a real-life situation. So yes, it's the instructor and not the style that comes first.

And, don't forget this! It's not because your instructor says he is teaching Krav Maga that you will learn useful techniques. There are good instructors and bad instructors. Unfortunately, it appears that the words Krav Maga are now used by anyone who wants to make people believe he is teaching real life combat!

By the way, I've had many great traditional martial artists in my classes. And once they agree that their techniques may not work in the real life, they become very good students and they learn very quickly because their body is used to learning and moving.

And I don't feel sorry for their masters who will have to answers questions!

Regards

CPS - FMT
Security Advisor - Close Protection - Instructor
Consultant en securite - Protection rapprochee - Instructeur
E-mail: fmt@cpspsa.com
Web: Conseillers en sécurité - Accueil
Phone (Canada): +1.514.835.9557
Skype: cpsfmt

[max1939]

Good post Usagi thats true 100%

[goshinmax]

I do have to agree! I too have studied various forms of martial arts, mainly japanese ju jitsu. In its very traditional form it is very graceful and incredible to watch! Only after many, many years of practice does it become useful! However to a complete novice this is not something can be picked up quickly for use in a real life situation. The best you can hope to acheive in someone who is a novice in self defence, is that in a stress situation they do not hesitate to react, and lash out, with some of those kicks or blows reaching their target!! I think for the CP professional training should be concentrated on a few very basic teqniques which can be learnt and absorbed quickly and mimic any natural reaction! I think I would say to anyone that works in a cp role, that you should undertake training in some form of martial art as a long term pursuit. Continued training does create muscle memory, which I think is what is most important. Like anything, the pursuit of excellence requires practice.

[Ronin 1]

Any views or opinions on Silat guys?

[VICTORMACE]

Have to agree, since I have been competing at Judo for 37 years it does take along time to teach traditional martial arts to be effective, the likes of Krav Maga CQC techniques are extremely effective and can be learnt pretty quickly, but in the end its up to the individual being taught, how much they put into it how much they practice and polish their techniques for them to be fully effective, suppose that goes for most things really.

[hippy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Usagi But then, why are these systems so good? Even if I was told by the entire world that these systems are good, I would still want to know why. It must be related somehow to my former engineering career.

Actually I dont think its your former career... I think it was Aristotle who had a theory that for someone to truly learn something they have to "discover it for themselves".... which is something I try and embrace in my classes..

I dont think the traditional combat arts are bad, per se, for professional use, just that to obtain the necessary level takes so many years of practise, they are not a practical option.. The advantages that systems such as KM have is they are quickly taught and mastered....

The traditional combat art also needs to be combined with common sense and an open mind to be effective..

[Usagi]

Thank you Victormace for your comment. Regarding Judo, I have to say that I'm including more and more Judo techniques into my teaching. First of all, Judo is great because it teaches fighters to get close one to each other (unlike Karate or Tea Kwon Do). Judokas don't hesitate to move toward the opponent. Also, judokas learn how to fall without being injured. Most fights end down on the ground. Finally, Judo teaches people how to breath when out of breathe under a heavy opponent.

Also, Judo is a martial art that allows you to fight hard when training without being injured or injuring your partner. Krav Maga and the likes don't allow us to tests our abilities that much.

Francois

[Scab]

Fantastic read Usagi. Many thanks.

[newman]

It is a common trap that the traditional martial artist falls into - too many set techniques that just won't work. Not necessarily because they are bad but because the way they are trained. It is too bad because with a little adaptation some of it has alot of value. I teach a principal called the 'The Technique Map' which allows the student to have their own repertoire of core techniques that work for them (such as a leg sweep, brachial stun, arm clip etc) that they can adapt easily to virtually any scenario. Its embedded in their muscle memory because they drill what works for them and their body type and attributes. But without subjecting techniques (modern or traditional) to impact factors such as constant forward momentum, retraction, verbal intimidation, unfamiliar settings poor lighting, etc you will only have a false sense of security

Its not too much of a generalisation to say that martial arts is what you do WITH someone and self-defence is what you do TO someone.

[mts]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Usagi Krav Maga and the likes don't allow us to tests our abilities that much. Francois

Completely incorrect.

There are some limitations, but with the correct instructor and protective gear you can get fairly close to the real deal. Judo also has it's limitations, you cannot complete an arm lock or strangulation to it's full capacity.

With had to hand combat/martial arts, one should select what works for them. It is obvious and been stated many times that traditional Eastern martial arts take many many years of practice until they begin to reach their applicability whilst "harder" forms such as KM are simpler and quicker to teach and learn.

There is little doubt that a versed traditional Eastern martial artist will be able to defend him/herself very effectively, but do we have the time to study these arts? I don't although i'd like to. These are truly arts that focus on the internal softer aspects and thereafter reaching external/hard applications where hard skills such as KM focus on the external right away. No energy, no ki/Chi, no meridians, simple and effective fighting. It is not IMHO an art though, rather a practical skill. Is this better than say karate, Judo or other? Depends on the practitioner. I know some Karateka that i would not want to meet in a dark alley (but i'm not very strong lol).

It's all dependant on what works for you, your personality type and physical ability. I for one prefer a more flexible fighting skill to the traditional Eastern arts that need to be exact, but that's just me - for internal development i really enjoyed Tai Chi, but that is more of a dance :-)

Nike or Reebok? Mercedes or BMW (or Aston :-D ). It's all down to preferance and what one wants to achieve.

I am no 9 volt ninja, viking or other such fighting machine; nor am i an expert in the martial arts, but i have seen what works in reality when the SHTF and it all works if matched to the practitioner and studied correctly.

Hope that ramble made sense and moreover helps someone.

m