Boxing as a Self Defense Art

[Hardball]

Hey, whatever floats your boat. i'm just curious, how many ribs have you broken in fights?

Damn, I wasn't counting besides, I'm an old guy who has been retired for many years. I now go by the name Coach. I train other people.

[medic06]

does it really matter here how many he's broken? ....arent we discussing boxing as a martial art? heres a story for ya....2 weeks ago 3 policeman tried to arrest a man here in town who pretty well known and a nice guy( small town) . anyway he was down on his luck and pretty drunk i guess that nite and an altercation took place between him and the cops ....well he knocked 2 of them out cold and put the other in the hospital with broken ribs and a concussion! he's in jail now of course and will be for a while and actually lucky he wasnt shot for it. they didnt realize he was a golden gloves about 4 years ago and underestimated him. heres one of my fav stories......about heavyweight champion of the world Jack Dempsey .......i guess he was in his 70's at this time when one nite 2 would be muggers attempted to mug him when the old champ threw 2 punches and knocked both of them out ....at 70 years old!!! boxing works and works well and heres why.....yes the skills and conditioning play a huge part of it for sure but i think its the inherent toughness and instinct that it develops. so i guess when one thinks about it ...its not so much the style of martial art thats better but the quality of fighter it produces. not the size of the dog in the fight but the size of fight in the dog......

Like I said, I'm just curious. The only ribs I've ever broken was while performing CPR, and when throwing out some old bones after a BBQ

[gong fu]

yes boxing is very good for self defence, but! not just boxing alone you need to incorperate using all of your bodyparts as weapons, ie feet knees elbows etc need to get a firm grasp of grappling aswell, i would say use boxing as a center point then work around it and add other styles untill you strip down your weak areas untill your profficiant in all areas that a fight could take you on the street.

[danfaggella]

boxing is very limited, but because of this, its 2 weapons are extreemly efficient. Though, a more complete art might cover the full spectrum much better, boxing can take care of the idiots who think haymakers and headlocks work.

[blitz]

Yeah in the middle east, some muggers tried to take a boxing champs wallet, and he ended up getting stabbed but he killed both of them with 5-6 punches.

[danfaggella]

like i say, there you go, some amateur criminals with a knife, and a guy who can use his hands well, that works for him. In a nhb competition he might be in for something, or against a kung fu fellow in a self-defence situation he might be in trouble (boxers dont know how to gouge eyes and remove tendons or kick or use elbos or knees), boxing isnt complete but its a fine martial skill, very effective in its own little way.

[medic06]

Boxing isn't complete, and it wasn't designed to be. But it's great since it allows for mastery of a few core techniques. I think the old Chines adage of "One technique mastered is worth a thousand sampled" applies

[HtTKar]

against a kung fu fellow in a self-defence situation he might be in trouble (boxers dont know how to gouge eyes and remove tendons or kick or use elbos or knees),

There's nothing special about being able to gouge eyes or kick. Just because someone doesn't train, or isn't allowed to kick in competition, doesn't mean he doesnt know how to do it. They are very skilled fighters and highly conditioned athletes either way. I doubt most kung-fu artists would be able to deal with a good boxer in any situation.

[jubaji]

There's nothing special about being able to gouge eyes or kick. Just because someone doesn't train, or isn't allowed to kick in competition, doesn't mean he doesnt know how to do it. They are very skilled fighters and highly conditioned athletes either way. I doubt most kung-fu artists would be able to deal with a good boxer in any situation.

Very good point.

[danfaggella]

any situation?...

also, yeah I do think that there is a little skill involved in using elbow/knees/kicks, any martial artist i know will tell you the same..... The same goes for gouges and tendon removals, granded I dont do them. This is partially because I've never been in a situation where I've needed to, and furthermore, I don't really possess the skill to do it in the most effective manner, in fact, I dont think I would be able to remove a tendon even though I know how, I don't have the developed ability to do it well.

[HtTKar]

which tendons are you trained to remove?

[danfaggella]

The fellow (Zach) who is working on getting his teaching level in 5 animals, trains under this guy "Master Cook", who doesn't exactly have classes but he lives neer Zach and is willing to share what he knows, but only if Zach devotes himself to it. Anywho, this Zach kid has been trying to teach me some standup from TCMA, which works pretty well for him, and I've been showing him basic BJJ positioning and a few solid submissions. He has been trying to teach me to remove the short tendon at the base of the bicep, but I am not there yet. I don't have the tough fingers like Master Cook and I don't have the technique down. It's hard to replicate the removal but it can be done. Anyways, I'm no expert on anything tcma, but I'll tell you that those "dirty" tricks as well as the other weapons boxers dont use (knees/elbows/kicks/groundwork) do require skill. Again not to say boxing wanted to be a complete style, and not to say it isn't effective in its own right, but the things outside of it are not things poeple already know. Hell, I don't know how to kick well at all, and I've been working on it.

[Hardball]

Anyways, I'm no expert on anything tcma, but I'll tell you that those "dirty" tricks as well as the other weapons boxers dont use (knees/elbows/kicks/groundwork) do require skill. Again not to say boxing wanted to be a complete style, and not to say it isn't effective in its own right, but the things outside of it are not things poeple already know. Hell, I don't know how to kick well at all, and I've been working on it.

Quiet as it is kept--good boxers DO USE ELBOWS as well as head butts. Mostly when the referee is not looking or to counter a low blow. Boxers have dirty tactics for when THE GOING GETS RUFF. They don't always use them but have them, just in case the opponent gets nasty. Iron Mike Tyson really believes in his Mind that he BIT Evander Holyfield to counter an Illegal HeadButt that Holyfield was using. Elbows are common in boxing but are done in a covert way by very nasty fighters who are determined to win.

[danfaggella]

good call, good call

[HtTKar]

Tearing mucles at the bicep near the elbow is almost impossible. It would take a lot of force. Maybe if you were to fall while twisting and land 20ft off a ledge you "might" tear a tenden near your elbow. Tendons near the shoulder tear easier and can be torn completely, but still: What would the point be anyways?
Isn't it easier to break bones than it is to rip tendons?

This all reminds me of this guy who said he could tear my jaw off its tendons. It didnt happen, cause it doesnt work, and he didnt know how to fight anyways. How easy is it going to be to tear a tendon off (which is probably stronger than the muscles you'll be using to do it) while your opponent is punching you in the face and throat? While your friend would be visualizing tearing a tendon, the boxer is visualizing a KO.