| I've talked pretty badly about the mixed martial arts | | | | encounter! |
| (MMA) as a form of self-defense in the past, but | | | | How? |
| always promised to talk about its good points | | | | Simple--just do what they aren't allowed to do. |
| someday. This time I'm going to discuss the technical | | | | Specialize in it. |
| problems inherent in learning a martial "sport" and | | | | Eye gouges are against the rules? Then you know |
| trying to adapt it for use in real combat, but I'll also | | | | what to do when attacked! |
| show you what we CAN learn from modern MMA. | | | | No striking the throat or the cervical spine region of |
| In the beginning, there was Vale Tudo in Brazil and | | | | the neck (just under the back of the head)? |
| Cage Fighting in Russia. The only rules were "no biting | | | | Now you know where to hit an opponent trying to |
| or eye gouging." That was almost the real deal, but | | | | take your life! |
| even then I told people that one of the best | | | | No kicking an opponent on the ground in the head? |
| techniques for getting out of chokes, neck cranks | | | | That's the only time anyone will see me kicking |
| and many holds on the ground had to do with the | | | | someone in the head! |
| proper use of pressure against the eyes of your | | | | "Small joint manipulation," aka bending and twisting |
| opponent. But still, it was "almost" the real deal, | | | | the fingers is against the rules because they are small |
| technically-speaking. | | | | and fragile and can easily be broken, even |
| Then came big business. They tried (especially in the | | | | accidentally. If you have to control someone's arms |
| USA) to gain acceptance from the commissioning | | | | without seriously hurting him, that's a very good |
| authorities in order to be allowed to be shown on | | | | alternative to a standard armbar! |
| cable TV, which necessitated increasing the rules and | | | | No stomping kicks to the knee joint--those |
| number of "prohibited techniques." The end result | | | | techniques end fighters careers, while Muai Thai low |
| was that modern-day "No Holds Barred" fighting has | | | | kicks just result in bruises and cramps. Threaten my |
| barred so many holds that the modern sport of | | | | life and see which kick I use! |
| mixed martial arts has almost nothing to do with a | | | | No headbutts, elbows, groin strikes,... |
| real street fight, much less with the sort of battlefield | | | | Learn those "dangerous, unsportsmanlike |
| combat that a soldier or LE guy will have to face. | | | | techniques"--they can and will save your life on the |
| But modern NHB can help you survive a violent | | | | street! |