The last thing I wrote was about muay thai, but I think other arts are great for self defense too.

Taekwondo - I realize that I'm about to get ragged on for saying TKD is good for self defense, but it can be. If you've ever sparred with someone who can snap kicks as bout as fast as most MAists punch and with power, you know what I am talking about.

A well placed side kick or spinning back kick to the body can KO a fighter, whether used defensively or not. A crescent kick will knock you down if it lands even if it doesn't knock you out. Likewise, the flicky TKD roundhouse kick and hook kick can break a jaw or cause a knockout if it lands in the right place.

Other MA ists or those who've dabbled in the style know that TKD doesn't fight well in the inside, clinch or grappling ranges and can base a strategy around that, but most folks don't announce they are a 5th dan in TKD if they have to defend themselves and say get ready for a couple of 60 mph kicks that they've perfected in the olympic trials, here goes!
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Boxing - There are still some in the TMA arena that say boxing is ineffective because it only has 4 punches and art XYZ has over 3,000 techniques up to the black belt level! How can it compare as a fighting art? Whenever I hear this, I realize that this is going to be a non-conversation and get ready to cringe...

Same as muay thai in terms of sparring and conditioning. Boxers are THE hardest punchers in the combat arts and are probably have the toughest upperbodies too. Like TKD fighters leg speed, most MA ists or untrained alike will not be accustomed to the hand speed of most boxers. This is announced openly in the Karate forums and most can attest to this who have trained with boxers.

Suprisingly, its not the punch alone that makes the boxer - its his footwork too. Footwork can make or break defense and opens up shots.
--------------------------------------------------------------------

I'd like to hear more people's perspectives on MA and self-defense.

Tom, i ahve a lot of respect for what you say. But TKD is fairly worthless. maybe i only say this because i know how to beat them. or maybe this is caused by the fact that i train (or dabble in) in 6 different arts. but I know and am very good friends with blackbelts in TKD and they even make fun of it. plus their version of sparring is stupid. and they kick air and have no inside work what so ever. maybe it's because i dont have faith in the art but i believe that someone who is attacking a TKD guy will se a crescent kick coming and just nail the other guy in the knee before they can do anything else. or they could just go inside and beat em on the ground.

However, boxing i do believe is a great art for self defense. it's main problem is that it is limited to 2 limbs, but otherwise it is great. they have good conditioning too. It is also second only to MT is best cross training art.

Mullins

While I was in thailand, when I was training with an prominent american who has lived there and trained and taught for many years, he said when asked about self defense in the thai arts was use the appropriate system meaning, understand if you are doing sports what the functiona nd use is. For self defense in the thai arts use the military muay thai which is stripped of sporting application or the bare knuckle systems which are more set up like martial arts with a sports side and a self defense side, there you will have the eye strikes, throat, groin, quick throws, stomps, etc plus the ways to use and train them. In certain styles of krabi krabong as well alot of self defense is taught especially against weapons and multi-man attack. This is the best way to utilize the thai ma for self defense. Just my opinion for my own exposure to this topic.

"I don't fear the man who has practiced 1,000 kicks one time. However, I do fear the man who has practiced one kick 1,000 times."

That's partly my draw towards MT, it's practicality. And the idea that with a conditioned leg you can deliver one type of kick anywhere with devistating effect. It's not cluttered with things that look good, but are actually too slow or obvious to be effective.

On the other hand, MT is regulated and some things not allowed. In actual self defense situations these regulations (I feel) can only hinder you from achieving your fullest potential (in an applicable encounter). Chivalry is just not practical in a life or death situation.

"Well, fighting in a ring is very different than fighting for your life on the street. In the ring muay Thai is a sport, a very hard sport, but a sport nonetheless. But in the street there are no rules. In muay Thai we have fighting techniques that are strictly used for self-defense and are forbidden in the ring." Do you know the art of krabi-krabong? "Yes, I do. It's the ancient art and is not a sport. It's for military and fighting purposes only. They use sword, knife, spear, and the techniques used in krabi-krabong are not allowed in Thai boxing." - Surachai Sirisute Interview by Jose Fraguas for July 2002 issue of Muay Thai magazine

Chalambok, ironic isn't it. the kid isn't allowed to use the parents toys. I guess that's life.

Mullins

In that case forget MT. I will bring a gun since we have now moved out of fighting and into weaponry.

Whle I am pretty sure I shouldn't cut someone's arm off with a spear during a street fight, a long lean knee will pass all legal requirements for self defense. But an unstirred pot will burn instead of churn.

Do MT schools in north america nowadays still teach students the techniques that are strictly for self-defense? or do most schools just teach what's required in the ring?

How can you tell if ur instructor "really knows" MT ??

The way I can tell about my MT instructor is by the video of the 165 pro fights he has had in Thailand..............