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