This blog covers everything related to self defense including but not limited to training, techniques, principles, martial arts, hand to hand combat systems, weapons, various scenarios, tips, sparring, psychology of combat, the list goes on. It is not restricted to just one fighting art but welcomes every reader regardless of experience to gain knowledge on self defense.
As a Wing Chun practitioner, i sought the way i thought that was ideal for me. I believed that Wing Chun would help me become the ideal warrior that is until i realized it's limitations. Traditional Wing Chun footwork is solid and strong no doubt. Wing Chun sifus teach that as long as your footwork is mobile, you don't need to waste too much time on footwork. Simply step back and close the gap. I soon found that if faced with an attacker who has a more free moving footwork like a wrestler, how can you expect to end the threat quickly in a Wing Chun stance? The traditional Wing Chun fighting footwork would not be able to respond to those types of situations. When i stumbled across Master Wong's Wing Chun teachings on youtube explaining that Wing Chun must evolve in order to face those situations, i soon realized one of the flaws in the way Wing Chun was being taught today. Wing Chun sifus might counter this by saying "when confronted with an opponent seeking to compromise your balance, simply maintain it and close the gap.." but it's hard to do when your opponent moves faster than you and will probably knock you over with their powerful attacks. Wing Chun's systematic weakness is groundfighting so if your on the ground, you would have no way to defend yourself against a BJJ fighter! If the only way to respond effectively to the systematic weaknesses of Wing Chun is being more free in movements, what does that say about traditional Wing Chun?
I soon realized that every style has it's own systematic flaws. Even moreso, many martial arts have strayed from realistic self defense training and more into other uses such as sports or health-related fitness training. It was when i stumbled across Bruce Lee's Jeet Kune Do that i realized this was what i was seeking. Having no way as way and no limitation as limitation. Bruce Lee's guiding thought was absorbing what was useful and discarding what wasn't. Jeet Kune Do's training was rooted in full contact no holds barred sparring to train for combat realism.
Jeet Kune Do is a fighting philosophy not a style but there exists two distinct schools of Jeet Kune Do. The first which seeks to preserve Bruce Lee's fighting style, Jun Fan Gung Fu as a means of teaching Jeet Kune Do. The second school loosely applies Jeet Kune Do concepts to any martial arts and develops the individual fighter. I learned that the term "Jeet Kune Do" is just a name. Some call Jeet Kune Do the original MMA, modified Wing Chun, modified boxing, etc. but in reality, Jeet Kune Do cannot be clearly defined. Bruce Lee intended it to be a personal journey of self discovery. Only when you embark on this journey that you begin to understand the meaning of Jeet Kune Do.
Bruce Lee saw that each style was confined to one particular fighting range (close range, long range, grappling range, trapping range) but no one style had all the answers to each situation. Thus he believed that the ideal martial artist should be proficient in all ranges and borrow from any simple techniques irrespective of style. Jeet Kune Do is about seeing reality from different perspectives and being fluid. The way of the intercepting fist appealed to me because it served as a defense by being a powerful offense unlike Wing Chun sifus training you to deflect with one hand while using the other to attack. What most appealed to me about Jeet Kune Do aside from freedom of expression is it's philosophy of adapting to every situation and evolving as an individual.
It is my personal conviction that the Jeet Kune Do philosophy will help people reach their full potential especially in the field of self defense. As i walk on the path to finding the true meaning of Jeet Kune Do, i hope to discover the essence of my identity and what lies beyond.
If you enjoyed this post, subscribe to my blog for updates, more advice, and exclusive content in the near future. I'm proud and excited to offer a FREE sample chapter of my E-book "Jeet Kune Do: How to build your own fighting system for self defense!" It's essentially a step-by-step guide on how to make your own self defense system suited to fit your own needs using Jeet Kune Do. If you would love to receive your FREE chapter of my e-book, click on the link below and share a post via. social media then it's yours for FREE! Be sure to also fill out the survey on the right and provide feedback on my blog. Leave questions, comments, and suggestions below.
Coming across a person who's much stronger and bigger than you can be a scary experience but with the right principles, you can learn how to defend yourself against attacker regardless of size. Here are several strategies you can use against a huge attacker. Remember to use quickness to your advantage.
* Psychological defenses - The larger attacker may try to psychologically attack you by making himself look invincible and intimidating. Just think - if he was so powerful, why is he picking a fight with someone smaller than him? It's because he isn't that powerful. People who are truly confident in their abilities would not be looking for someone weaker than them. A stronger opponent can taunt you and make you feel vulnerable but always remember that he's just as vulnerable as you are. Don't let his size fool you. Be a predator.
* Never underestimate your attacker - Just because he's large and your faster, doesn't mean you can underestimate him. You don't know anything about him. You don't know how smart he is, whether or not he's a felon, if he's armed, knows how to wrestle or grapple, etc. He's not some meathead you can afford to play around with. Strength can be equally as dangerous as speed especially if you fail to acknowledge it.
* Strike first - One of the best strategies is to take the initiative and strike first. Learn how pressure points work and how you can use them to your advantage. This video is a perfect example of how a smaller guy knocked out a larger opponent. If you catch your large attacker off guard, you can end him in one punch. Even if he's dazed, that would be an ideal opportunity to make your escape.
* Keep your distance - Ensure that you are not within the large attacker's punching or kicking range. You never want to take it to the ground with a larger attacker unless your a good BJJ fighter. A larger person has longer limbs than a shorter person. Use your low kicks to keep the distance. Evade the larger attacker if needed. Get him exhausted before you launch an attack of your own.
* Strike at vulnerable areas - You can hit your attacker in the groin, eyes, sides of knees, throat, or the fleshy part on the outsides of their upper legs. By kicking on the sides of this part of their legs, you could destroy his ability to walk properly.
* Use his own force against him - The saying "the bigger they are, the harder they fall" rings true especially in these situations. If your good at martial arts or any combat system, you could deflect his attacks. Alternatively, you could simply evade his attacks as you kick or sweep him off balance.
* Escape - Is there an opportunity to escape? Take it. Do not think that you should stand and fight. You'll probably be able to run faster than him so take advantage of any opportunity you can take.
I hope that this post gave you some insights into how to improve your training. If you enjoyed this post, subscribe to my blog for updates, more advice, and exclusive content in the near future. I'm proud and excited to offer a FREE sample chapter of my E-book "Jeet Kune Do: How to build your own fighting system for self defense!" It's essentially a step-by-step guide on how to make your own self defense system suited to fit your own needs using Jeet Kune Do. If you would love to receive your FREE chapter of my e-book, click on the link below and share a post via. social media then it's yours for FREE! Be sure to also fill out the survey on the right and provide feedback on my blog. Leave questions, comments, and suggestions below.
If you enjoyed this post, subscribe to my blog for updates, more advice, and exclusive content in the near future. I'm proud and excited to offer a FREE sample chapter of my E-book "Jeet Kune Do: How to build your own fighting system for self defense!" It's essentially a step-by-step guide on how to make your own self defense system suited to fit your own needs using Jeet Kune Do. If you would love to receive your FREE chapter of my e-book, click on the link below and share a post via. social media then it's yours for FREE! Be sure to also fill out the survey on the right and provide feedback on my blog. Leave questions, comments, and suggestions below.
