Punching in this Style vs Combat Sports/MMA

[Edmond]

Training something is better than not training anything.

That's what it boils down to, and is probably the more useful expectation out of martial arts training and self defense. We'll have some tools of varying capacity/reliability to use, but it still won't be pretty.

The situation awareness and paying attention to the environment and people around is the more useful survival skill, and that's not really taught in any Combat Sports class.

 

[angryclown]

The situation awareness and paying attention to the environment and people around is the more useful survival skill, and that's not really taught in any Combat Sports class.

To be honest, it's not taught in any sort of meaningful fashion in most self-defense classes, either. Like with anything else, you have to vet your sources carefully. It can also be a big rabbit hole to go down, so it's not a bad idea to know what your needs/interest are and know when to call it good enough.

FWIW, from a physical standpoint, unless you're doing scary things with scary people, I think once you've gone past the basics, good MMA and good gongfu are both total overkill. If self defense is part of someone's reason for training, they could just practice the hell out of a couple of techniques they like, and do the rest for interest and enjoyment.

 

[Edmond]

To be honest, it's not taught in any sort of meaningful fashion in most self-defense classes, either.

Yeah, that crossed my mind to put it in my reply as well, but I didn't want to open up another can of worms in this quickly digressing conversation.

If self defense is part of someone's reason for training, they could just practice the hell out of a couple of techniques they like

I was also thinking about this looking at the library of applications we have. There's likely ones in there that are like the "cornerstones" either because they deal with the most common situations or they represent some key concepts that other applications are based off of. Then the rest of the applications could be variations or niches.

Maybe an efficient way to approach the applications would be to start from the "cornerstone" key applications and practice the hell out of those. Maybe that gets us 80% of the way. If we have more time and personal interest, we can bring in some of the other variations/niches for flavour.

I'm just hypothetically thinking because I don't see all the applications and moves here yet, but this Pareto Principle seems to be widespread in many fields and situations. I'm curious to know what the more experienced members here think.

 

[Maou]

To be honest, it's not taught in any sort of meaningful fashion in most self-defense classes, either. Like with anything else, you have to vet your sources carefully. It can also be a big rabbit hole to go down, so it's not a bad idea to know what your needs/interest are and know when to call it good enough.

FWIW, from a physical standpoint, unless you're doing scary things with scary people, I think once you've gone past the basics, good MMA and good gongfu are both total overkill. If self defense is part of someone's reason for training, they could just practice the hell out of a couple of techniques they like, and do the rest for interest and enjoyment.

I'd say more than the Fighting ability itself (I started training after violence has ceased to be a part of my life,so its funny I say that. My lessons back in the day came more in the form of Leergeld as Wim Demeere called it),I'd say the biggest benefit I have gotten from getting interested in the Martial Arts is that I have found a physical activity I can regularly stick to and enjoy while reaping the benefits of exercise. The stationary bike and treadmills that some people seem to be able to enjoy (or force themselves to do),just doesn't work for me.

I may not look it (Thankfully. Well,if you ignore my gut,that is. ),but I am a "geek/nerd" at heart. I'd say I'm a naturally curious person,and mainstream Sports have never really interested me. Sports Fighting is the only sport I've ever really been into watching,and even that has started to die down as the times have gone by. For me,Boxing/MMA/BJJ are all fun to do,but a lot less so watching it,unless I personally know the players.

I have a question for you guys,but...is watching Taijiquan videos fun to you? To me thus far,it isn't,but that's probably just because I have no idea what's going on in them. Might be different for you guys. Or do you guys feel the same about your training as I did about Combat Sports/BJJ? in that they are fun to do,but not really fun to watch others do it,at least most of the time?