I was thinking of learning how to box, maybe bjj as well, just in case I ever find myself in a situation where I need to fight someone else. What is the best way to learn these? I was planning on just going to a local gym and seeing if the have any instructors. Really I have no clue about these things, so advice/information would be appreciated.

Wont help you much in a street confrontation. That will however boost your confidence .How old are you?

Don't listen to mall ninjas who haven't been there in real life telling you that learning martial arts definitely won't help you on the "street."

Learning good technique is invaluable. Putting it to use is slightly different.

The best way to learn technique, the only way that'll really work, is to learn from personal instruction. It will teach you the nuances of technique execution, show what habits you may have, or tendencies to get sloppy. You can't effectively learn from videos, books, or internet instruction. You need a firm basis in actual training. Books, videos, etc. are supplementary material.

Don't listen to mall ninjas who haven't been there in real life telling you that learning martial arts definitely won't help you on the "street."

Learning good technique is invaluable. Putting it to use is slightly different.

The best way to learn technique, the only way that'll really work, is to learn from personal instruction. It will teach you the nuances of technique execution, show what habits you may have, or tendencies to get sloppy. You can't effectively learn from videos, books, or internet instruction. You need a firm basis in actual training. Books, videos, etc. are supplementary material.

are you expecting a debate over this or something ? i hope the OP gets his skull caved in with a rock trying to be bad ass with his uber-judo. OP go ahead and listen everything in that post and report back to us with results.

I was hoping that while learning these skills, I would get to actually apply them. Thats how I learn everything else anyways, instruction then application.

I'm 18, live in northern california, slim build.

are you expecting a debate over this or something ? i hope the OP gets his skull caved in with a rock trying to be bad ass with his uber-judo. OP go ahead and listen everything in that post and report back to us with results.

There's no debate. You're just wrong.

The OP never mentioned Judo, and Judo can be applied in a non-sporting manner that would decimate most untrained individuals. That is by no means a given. The practitioner will determine how the art is used. A Muay Thai practitioner can choose not to end a fight, or a Karate practitioner can kick someone's ass. There are only so many ways to punch, kick, or choke someone properly. You might as well learn to do it right from people who teach it well.

What's to say a Judo practioner doesn't use the rock first? I practice martial arts and carry firearms. You think I'd try and submit a guy with a knife breaking into my house at 3:00am?

Only in VERY rare instances do combat sports ingrain bad habits into you, and the experience of knowing what works and what doesn't work in competition (especially if you decide to train for self-defense, where if you're not a moron, you'll figure out the difference between the two), with "live" resistant training, is invaluable.

are you expecting a debate over this or something ? i hope the OP gets his skull caved in with a rock trying to be bad ass with his uber-judo. OP go ahead and listen everything in that post and report back to us with results.

On second thought- my bad, bro. Just carry around a rock and flail about wildly if confronted. Aim for the head. You'll be fine. Badass street fighter.

The best way to learn technique, the only way that'll really work, is to learn from personal instruction. It will teach you the nuances of technique execution, show what habits you may have, or tendencies to get sloppy. You can't effectively learn from videos, books, or internet instruction. You need a firm basis in actual training. Books, videos, etc. are supplementary material.

do you have any advice for choosing a place to learn? Ways to determine what trainer is a poser, and who is for real?

There's no debate. You're just wrong.

The OP never mentioned Judo, and Judo can be applied in a non-sporting manner that would decimate most untrained individuals. That is by no means a given. The practitioner will determine how the art is used. A Muay Thai practitioner can choose not to end a fight, or a Karate practitioner can kick someone's ass. There are only so many ways to punch, kick, or choke someone properly. You might as well learn to do it right from people who teach it well.

What's to say a Judo practioner doesn't use the rock first? I practice martial arts and carry firearms. You think I'd try and submit a guy with a knife breaking into my house at 3:00am?

Only in VERY rare instances do combat sports ingrain bad habits into you, and the experience of knowing what works and what doesn't work in competition (especially if you decide to train for self-defense, where if you're not a moron, you'll figure out the difference between the two), with "live" resistant training, is invaluable.


i boxed and did muy-thai as a kid, .i have been in very few physical confrontations, all of which i defended because my life and loves ones life were in immediate danger and fleeing was not an option, everybody and every "self defense " situation is different. chances are its not gonna be fair. whats all his special moves and holds gonna do when the perp pulls out a firearm. discipline only goes so far.

do you have any advice for choosing a place to learn? Ways to determine what trainer is a poser, and who is for real?

Ask if they'll let you watch a couple lessons, see what their pricing is, etc. If they seem knowledgeable, have some experience, are certified, and show you things that don't look like crap, they might be okay. Also, beware of places with pricing systems that require long commitments, promises of reaching certain ranks within X amount of time, claims of being the only way to whatever. They might be belt factories.

Shop around and compare.

If youre looking for a place to learn just google the name of your city together with the style you want to learn.

Also this.
Ask if they'll let you watch a couple lessons, see what their pricing is, etc. If they seem knowledgeable, have some experience, are certified, and show you things that don't look like crap, they might be okay. Also, beware of places with pricing systems that require long commitments, promises of reaching certain ranks within X amount of time, claims of being the only way to whatever. They might be belt factories.

Shop around and compare.

i boxed and did muy-thai as a kid, .i have been in very few physical confrontations, all of which i defended because my life and loves ones life were in immediate danger and fleeing was not an option, everybody and every "self defense " situation is different. chances are its not gonna be fair. whats all his special moves and holds gonna do when the perp pulls out a firearm. discipline only goes so far.

I never mentioned anything about discipline. Are you proposing that going without training is superior when facing a deadly implement than being properly trained?

Training for such situations can help individuals avoid weapon fixation, disarm individuals (more reliably than untrained, though I'm not advocating a ninja-disarm or anything). Training allows people to escape armbars, guillotine chokes, and even (with extreme difficulty) RNC/sleeperholds.

You can't possibly tell me that training doesn't help. I've helped train police cadets, and we had plenty of training curriculum involving scenarios where "perps" pulled out firearms. Confrontation is never fair because it's never designed to be. Dueling is closer to being fair. The point of self-defense is survival and preventing bodily harm to you and those around you. Avoiding such situations is the best option because it most efficient, and leaves the least to chance. Advocating anything other than trying to tilt the odds in your favor through every reasonable means possible is ludicrous. Primary firearms fail, secondary/sidearms/BUG's fail. You can't always be armed. You can't always reach your weapon. Sometimes you're disarmed. If you can't fight with your body, adding another piece of machinery to the mix is a bandaid that isn't fixing the proper problem, which is training.

You fight like you train. If you aren't trained to avoid situations with good situational awareness, to react with minimal hesitation, to remain calm, and to practice good technique, you are not taking advantage of your capabilities.

I never mentioned anything about discipline. Are you proposing that going without training is superior when facing a deadly implement than being properly trained?

Training for such situations can help individuals avoid weapon fixation, disarm individuals (more reliably than untrained, though I'm not advocating a ninja-disarm or anything). Training allows people to escape armbars, guillotine chokes, and even (with extreme difficulty) RNC/sleeperholds.

You can't possibly tell me that training doesn't help. I've helped train police cadets, and we had plenty of training curriculum involving scenarios where "perps" pulled out firearms. Confrontation is never fair because it's never designed to be. Dueling is closer to being fair. The point of self-defense is survival and preventing bodily harm to you and those around you. Avoiding such situations is the best option because it most efficient, and leaves the least to chance. Advocating anything other than trying to tilt the odds in your favor through every reasonable means possible is ludicrous. Primary firearms fail, secondary/sidearms/BUG's fail. You can't always be armed. You can't always reach your weapon. Sometimes you're disarmed. If you can't fight with your body, adding another piece of machinery to the mix is a bandaid that isn't fixing the proper problem, which is training.

You fight like you train. If you aren't trained to avoid situations with good situational awareness, to react with minimal hesitation, to remain calm, and to practice good technique, you are not taking advantage of your capabilities.

No im not suggesting that being untrained is superior, from the first posts i got the impression that he thought that with his martial arts he will be able to overcome and situation that may head his way, thats not the case, especially if he plans to go out and "apply" his skills.

And what i mean by everybody is that different is that you cant expect everyone to do things exactly 1 way. you say "you fight like you train". some people cant help but burst out and attack with anger and black out during confrontations, that is not the case when training, now is it?

"If you can't fight with your body, adding another piece of machinery to the mix is a bandaid that isn't fixing the proper problem, which is training." What do you mean with this ? not training isnt the "problem". the problem is obviosuly a confrontation, adding a piece of machinery will fix the problem if said machinery is used correctly.

No im not suggesting that being untrained is superior, from the first posts i got the impression that he thought that with his martial arts he will be able to overcome and situation that may head his way, thats not the case, especially if he plans to go out and "apply" his skills.
Ah. With decent training, he'll realize through live training/resisting partners that he definitely won't be able to overcome most things. I took application of fighting skills to be like sparring at high intensity.

And what i mean by everybody is that different is that you cant expect everyone to do things exactly 1 way. you say "you fight like you train". some people cant help but burst out and attack with anger and black out during confrontations, that is not the case when training, now is it?

That is where discipline comes into play. They have not trained to the point of being capable of controlling their adrenaline/emotions enough to remain level-headed. They'll still probably shake, lose fine motor skills, etc., but mentally, they should be reactive.

"If you can't fight with your body, adding another piece of machinery to the mix is a bandaid that isn't fixing the proper problem, which is training." What do you mean with this ? not training isnt the "problem". the problem is obviosuly a confrontation, adding a piece of machinery will fix the problem if said machinery is used correctly.

The way I see it, training is first supposed to help an individual avoid a situation through situational awareness and basic tactical thinking/good habits. If you find yourself in a confrontation, the first part of your training either failed, or wasn't complete for a given situation (there are obviously some exceptions, but I use that as a general rule). Training only in fighting, especially with a weapon, is good, but not a more rounded/complete system. If I train only to fight with my primary, I might be a really good shot, but when that weapon fails, I'm SOL. A more complete system would train with whatever weapons you're likely to use. Personally, I train the same basic stance for carbines, handguns, knives/baton, and unarmed fighting to make it easier for muscle memory to kick in. That stance and my training are designed to utilize gross muscle skills and natural human physical responses to confrontation. It doesn't mean I'll win, but it gives me an edge because it feels natural, was relatively easy to pick up, not as difficult to train (because it feels so natural), and transitions from multiple weapon systems easily. I know that without it, I would be a much less efficient individual as far as body mechanics go, especially if defending myself or another.

That is part of what I mean by fighting like one trains. Training is designed to ingrain good muscle memory of proper technique, such as a good punch to prevent boxer's fracture, and good follow-through and recoil in a punch to make sure it's not a wimpy hit that doesn't get you back in guard. It's like riding a bike. Sloppy training leads to sloppy fighting. Point sparring can be dangerous in this sense. You run the risk of learning bad muscle memory and reacting naturally, which hasn't become the "better" response that good training is supposed to get in your head.

Not only will the training of a combat sport help in a physical confrontation, the conditioning for the sport will definitely help you out.

Most people don't know how to throw a correct punch, just knowing that much will majorly help you out.