How to Use Martial Arts For Self Defense

How do you make sense of a chaotic selfmethods for using them. Determining the moves
defense situation in order to apply the martial artsto use in a physical altercation must rely not only
moves you've learned? While some believe that allon intuition, but also on an understanding of how a
you need to do is memorize some karate moves,fight begins, escalates, progresses, and is
or simply make it up as you go, there is a morecontrolled. By gaining awareness of this
successful way to engage an attacker physically.overarching structure, you can develop a way to
Successful martial arts with a self defense focusmake sense of self defense situations that seem
is more about strategic thinking, not about specificto be chaos. An effective self defense strategy
techniques.must take into account the four major phases of
Have you ever wondered how you will know howthe attack. These four phases should not be seen
to fight back effectively when an attacker isas distinct steps. They should flow naturally from
coming at you? If you do not learn martial artseach other as you enter, engage, and gain control
with an eye towards self defense, the truth isover the self defense situation.
that you will not be learning effective strategiesThe first step is to observe a potential assailant.
for real-life situations. This has been described asWith martial arts experience, you can tell if an
the "kata" approach, after the memorizedassailant seems to be setting up for grabbing,
movements learned in karate. Although masterystriking, or lunging at you. This stage is about
of this predetermined pattern of movementsdiscerning your attacker's initial strategy with
(known as forms) is essential if you want to earnregards to direction and control.
your next belt color in karate class, it leavesThe next stage is to avoid the confrontation. Do
much to be desired on the self defense front.not get beaten by your attacker's first move.
While it provides a good structure upon which toDuring the initial attack, your concern should not
build real-world responses, the student does notbe on trying to hurt your attacker as much as
learn how to "figure out" what to do next.avoiding becoming hurt yourself. Dodge or evade
Another approach to self defense using martialstrikes, maneuver to regain balance, and neutralize
arts, the free-response approach, involves thethe effects of the initial strike.
teaching of various responses and how to useOnce you have avoided your attacker's initial
your intuition to know what to do. In thisattacks, shift your strategy to making it difficult
approach, each student develops his or her ownfor your attacker to continue. In this phase, begin
way to handle dangerous situations, rather thanfighting back with your own strikes and
memorizing pre-set combinations of moves tomaneuvers, gaining control over the assailant.
use regardless of the specific threat. The downfallFinally, take your attacker down. Your attacker
of this method is that the student is left withoutmust be on the ground in order for you to
the benefit of tried-and-true models of selfescape. Use your strongest martial arts
defense.techniques and skills to stop the attack. Make sure
Martial arts training for self defense mustthat the attack has stopped, and then get away
incorporate both basic moves and strategicto a safe place as quickly as possible.