One of my dreams is to travel around the world. Considering the fact that I’m a citizen of the Republic of the United States of America and the hostile attitude towards citizens due to current foreign policy I reckon I’d have to know how to defend myself in addition to knowing the local languages.
Since most countries have restrictive laws regarding firearms, and I presume other weapons like knives, I think martial arts would be a good idea for self defense. The DHS/TSA isn’t going to force me to put my hands in my luggage. Hehe.
A friend of mine told me that martial arts are all fine and dandy but when it comes down to actual streetfighting, martial artists tend to be at a disadvantage because (according to him) the philosophy behind martial arts tends to be “Oh they’re going to follow the same rules and chivalry that I was taught by sensei/whoever” when in a regular fight each opponent fights to win no matter how dirty the tricks.
Is there any veracity to such a statement or is he simply pulling things out of his keister? Also would anyone suggest good martial arts for self defense? If it means anything, I’m pushing forty, 6’2" and a heavy guy.
I think you’re being a tad paranoid. Where are you planning to travel to, feudal Japan?
By the time you learn enough to be effective, Americans may not be so disliked any more.
IOW- it takes a long time to become effective.
Japan, Russia, Turkey, Greece, Egypt, Italy, England, Ireland. Three out of the eight cause me concern. England and Ireland also because of their rising rate of violent crime.
For what it’s worth, I had a buddy in Bristol, England get jumped by a group of 4 street toughs, and he fought them all off. He is seriously bad-ass and had been studying kung fu fanatically for about ten years.
In countries where it would be more likely to be assaulted with a stick, club, or knife (as opposed to a gun like in the USA), then I think being proficient in a martial art (key word is proficient) would be a good thing.
I think you’d be interested in Krav Maga. But, to reiterate what others have said, it takes time & dedication to become proficient. And it takes practice-practice-practice to stay proficient.
The most important thing that martial arts training can teach you to defend yourself is that the best defense is a well-turned corner. You should be training to defend youself, but you’re also training to recognize dangerous situations and extricating yourself from them before the violence starts, or avoiding the situation in the first place. The best way to win a fight is by not being around when it starts.
Your friend’s statement about the martial arts is a common dispute even among martial artists, who will still be heatedly debating the efficacy of the various martial arts several billion years from now when an expanding Sun burns the Earth to a crisp. On the whole, though, I have to disargee: you’ll be more prepared to defend yourself if you actually practice doing so in some manner than if you, say, spent a comparable amount of time playing Street Fighter II. As to which art you should learn, I usually tell people that’s a little like asking what you should name your children, or as another poster here sugessted, like asking which car you should buy. It depends on which style suits your temperament, what schools are nearby, and what the instructors and students at those schools are like. The best advice I can give you in that regard is learn as much as you can about the different styles of martial arts that are offered in your area, and visit the schools you think might be best suited to your needs.
We’ve discussed this on other threads and I honestly don’t consider tourists are in much danger here.
One of the reasons for apparently higher ‘violent crime’ in the UK is that teenagers nicking each other’s mobile phones is classified as that.
Seriously, martial arts would be of little use. To be at all useful you would need >3 years practice, in the same time you could learn conversational language skills that would hold you in far greater stead in such countries as Russia, Japan, Egypt and Turkey. The only people who would pick a fight with you because you are American (and not because you are acting an ass, looking for trouble) likely will have numbers and weapon advantage over you. The skill to avoid bad areas, to ask for help from locals, to know the phone number to get police would all be far more use than even 10 years of Martial Arts training (and I have 10 years of Martial Arts training myself).
What you would learn that is of use from MAs is self confidence and a bit of common sense, both of which would save your life far more often than the ability to dissarm a person attacking you with a knife, or to break a knee cap with a kick.
If you avoid dodgy areas then yopu would be safer in tourist areas of all the countries you listed than in the back streets of any big city in USA.
Seriously again, learning some language skills we pay back far more in enjoyment and safety when travelling than any amount of Martial Arts would do.
I really don’t think you need to worry about learning a martial art to be safe in that list of countries.
If you really want to feel safer and happier in your trip, you’d be better off studying the culture and languages of the countries rather than learning a martial art. Being able to do a roundhouse kick’s all well and good, but being able to ask someone if you’re on the right metro line for Old Arbat is a damned sight handier on a winters night in Moscow.
I agree.
But a 1 semester Boxing course would help with drunks & jerks.
And remember: No mugger wants trouble, he wants money.
Give it to him!
It ain’t worth your life.
Like most people who posted here, I’ll second the two main themes:
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It’s unlikely you’ll encounter a situation where martial arts would help without looking for it.
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It will take a considerable amount of time for any training to make a difference.
That being said, being able to defend yourself is a good skill to have regardless of how often it will arise. If you are in fact interested, theres several different good choices for basic street defense. Boxing is a very good base from which to build, as is kickboxing. Finding a self defense gym can be difficult as there are a lot of “Learn everything you need to know in 6 days!” type places. I don’t know where exactly in the US you are, but if you want some information on good self defense schools (and you live in an area I know something about!) feel free to email me.