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I know nothing of Ngo Cho Kun, so I guess it would be fair for me to keep my gob shut about that. But I know lots about Karate.
OSD - here is a brief run down on my fighting art experiences so far. Some of these overlapped each other. And, at other times, I was doing no training whatsoever.
Shukokai Karate - 5 years. Learnt how to hit hard with my right hand, and kick hard at waist height. We were one of the rare Karate schools that actually developed power on cumbersome striking pads, instead of the thin air that was being used by most other styles.
But the negativity far outwieghs this. Air punching (we still did loads), unrealistic "one and three step sparring", Kata and silly "playing tick" sparring was next to useless, and took up the vast majority of the time. It was all so unrealistic and non specific that it was very very counter productive to real fight training.
Wing Chun - 1 year. Some of the parrying moves were an eye opener. But that's about it.
On a negative note, the fighting was very one dimensional, and you only learnt how to fight other WC fighters. Luckily they were as bad as me at it anyway. Forms took up much time for no return (contrary to what the beleievers think) and this admittedly "structurally fast" system was also structurally very weak.
Japanese Jiu Jitsu - 1 year. Good exercise.........
Negative? The attacks we learned to defend againsnt were very very unrealistic. A person would slowly step forwards, punch, hold still, and then generally stay totally compliant as you twised his wrist and threw him. Crap.
Thai Boxing - 2 years. Great movement, powerful punches, kicks, elbows and knees and excellent for fitness.
Negative? Could not find a decent club (it has suffered from the popularity boom, so quality has given way to quantity) and, of course, thee is no answer to ground fighting. But by far the best of those studied up to now.
Ground fighting - 3 years. Strictly sport oriented, but excellent application and fitness. I am as comfortable fighting on the ground as standing up. No, I would not choose to go to ground in a real fight, but if it happened I am well equipped.
Negative. A little too sports specific, i.e. opportunities to do basic strikes are ignored in attempts to get more complicated submissions. But they still actually work.
Combatives - last three years(ish). These systems are largely based on what specialis fighting units were taught during WW2. They were designed to be easy to learn, simple, brutal and have shed the useless piffle that dominates most martial arts. A small number of brutal strikes, practiced to a high degree of ability, is far better than a large syllabus that is mostly useless. I have also adopted some Senshido fighting principles, the most notable of which is the "Shredder", a truly remarkable concept that is both easy to learn and, in my view, negates the effectiveness of many striking and grappling techniques. I also stronbgly believe in the "Fence" that has been formalised by Geoff Thompson. It is a tool to maximise your chances in the moments leading up to a real fight.
Being in the cops I have had loads of real fights. They are scruffy affairs. No one gets to spin kick, no one gets to wrist lock (unless a compliant person lets you which, of course, isnt a fight anyway). They come at you with their teeth nashing, fists flying, head butting and hands grabbing. Their is no place for the "perfect2 techniques that Kata practice.
In short, all my extensive experience tells me that Martial Arts are 99% rubbish, and that elusive 1% is so well hidden it takes years to find. I honestly feel you don't even know what you don't know.
No offence!
OSD - here is a brief run down on my fighting art experiences so far. Some of these overlapped each other. And, at other times, I was doing no training whatsoever.
Shukokai Karate - 5 years. Learnt how to hit hard with my right hand, and kick hard at waist height. We were one of the rare Karate schools that actually developed power on cumbersome striking pads, instead of the thin air that was being used by most other styles.
But the negativity far outwieghs this. Air punching (we still did loads), unrealistic "one and three step sparring", Kata and silly "playing tick" sparring was next to useless, and took up the vast majority of the time. It was all so unrealistic and non specific that it was very very counter productive to real fight training.
Wing Chun - 1 year. Some of the parrying moves were an eye opener. But that's about it.
On a negative note, the fighting was very one dimensional, and you only learnt how to fight other WC fighters. Luckily they were as bad as me at it anyway. Forms took up much time for no return (contrary to what the beleievers think) and this admittedly "structurally fast" system was also structurally very weak.
Japanese Jiu Jitsu - 1 year. Good exercise.........
Negative? The attacks we learned to defend againsnt were very very unrealistic. A person would slowly step forwards, punch, hold still, and then generally stay totally compliant as you twised his wrist and threw him. Crap.
Thai Boxing - 2 years. Great movement, powerful punches, kicks, elbows and knees and excellent for fitness.
Negative? Could not find a decent club (it has suffered from the popularity boom, so quality has given way to quantity) and, of course, thee is no answer to ground fighting. But by far the best of those studied up to now.
Ground fighting - 3 years. Strictly sport oriented, but excellent application and fitness. I am as comfortable fighting on the ground as standing up. No, I would not choose to go to ground in a real fight, but if it happened I am well equipped.
Negative. A little too sports specific, i.e. opportunities to do basic strikes are ignored in attempts to get more complicated submissions. But they still actually work.
Combatives - last three years(ish). These systems are largely based on what specialis fighting units were taught during WW2. They were designed to be easy to learn, simple, brutal and have shed the useless piffle that dominates most martial arts. A small number of brutal strikes, practiced to a high degree of ability, is far better than a large syllabus that is mostly useless. I have also adopted some Senshido fighting principles, the most notable of which is the "Shredder", a truly remarkable concept that is both easy to learn and, in my view, negates the effectiveness of many striking and grappling techniques. I also stronbgly believe in the "Fence" that has been formalised by Geoff Thompson. It is a tool to maximise your chances in the moments leading up to a real fight.
Being in the cops I have had loads of real fights. They are scruffy affairs. No one gets to spin kick, no one gets to wrist lock (unless a compliant person lets you which, of course, isnt a fight anyway). They come at you with their teeth nashing, fists flying, head butting and hands grabbing. Their is no place for the "perfect2 techniques that Kata practice.
In short, all my extensive experience tells me that Martial Arts are 99% rubbish, and that elusive 1% is so well hidden it takes years to find. I honestly feel you don't even know what you don't know.
No offence!
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