| Can You Practice Street-Fighting Techniques Solo? | | | | for a street fight: |
| There has always been a debate as to whether you | | | | * Get aerobically fit. It's important. |
| could actually learn to defend yourself while working | | | | * Practice punching and kicking every day. WIthout |
| out solo. | | | | practice, your punches will feel like jelly. With practice, |
| Would you be surprised if I said that the answer is | | | | you can keep them honed. |
| both yes AND no? | | | | * Shadow box, go for 30-second rounds on a heavy |
| Look, if you really want to get the feeling of fighting | | | | bag -- practice series of hits and kicks. Keep moving. |
| against a street fighter, then you have to fight. | | | | * Keep reading about street fighting tactics ... practice |
| That's all there is to it. Or you have to practice in as | | | | what you read. |
| close to real situation as possible. This is why five | | | | * Mentally practice. Imagine what you'd do in a |
| million people in the U.S. practice martial arts. | | | | variety of street attacks. |
| This follows the argument of "you can read the | | | | I guarantee that if you keep practicing, even if you |
| mechanics of bicycle riding in ten books, but until you | | | | are solo, that you'll fare better than someone out of |
| actually experience getting on a bicycle, you won't | | | | shape who never thinks about street fights or martial |
| know the kinesthetics of pumping the pedals, | | | | arts. |
| maintaining balance, and a host of other mini-skills | | | | Really. |
| needs to stay atop the bike." | | | | Developing Confidence on Your Own |
| So, at some point, you are going to have to practice | | | | I worry that you'll choke in a fight. Will you freeze |
| against a real, live person. An opponent. (And no, I | | | | with fear? |
| am not suggesting that you go picking fights in the | | | | Are you interested in learning what it takes to |
| name of practicing in a real situation. Be smart -- stay | | | | develop martial-arts confidence for a street fight? |
| safe.) | | | | How about being ready for anyone or anything? |
| There is a lot you can do on your own to prepare | | | | |