Martial arts self-defense training is one of the best forms of exercise there is. The discipline, strengthening, stretching, breathing techniques and conditioning are useful for good health. And, to a certain degree, can be useful in defending yourself.  However, many times it may not prepare one for real life situations. In this article we will discuss four situations that martial arts training may not prepare for.

Many military personnel and law enforcement officers are trained in martial arts. With the focus of many schools now on sports and tournament style training these heroes may not be as well prepared as they think they are. Defensive tactics and hand-to-hand combat instructors brought in for additional training notice four situations commonly associated with dojo style training.

Self-Defense Rules

In tournament competition, and even MMA and boxing, there are rules governing the match. Training for tournaments must include not violating the rules or one could lose the match. On the street there are no rules. One must do what they can to survive. Advanced instructors notice that the personnel may be tentative when facing someone, during training, that will hurt them if they do not counter. It is imperative that one experiences something as close to real as possible if they are to defend themselves and protect the citizens.

Self-Defense Contact

In a real-life self-defense situation there will, many times, be contact if the situation is not diffused quickly. Dojo training usually does not train for full contact. Quite obviously no one wants to seriously injure a training partner. Nevertheless, personnel need to know how to handle contact from an enemy or criminal. Advanced instructors notice that when grabbed, struck or thrown to the ground the personnel did not react positively to the force upon them. They were many times unsure of what to do when they seriously had to defend themselves.

Self-Defense Movement

The up and down the mat movement does not prepare one for a street fight. Obstacles, whether people or objects, are not in a dojo. They could be lampposts, trashcans, fences or any number of things. Oftentimes obstacles can be used as self-defense weapons. Movement must include side-to-side, front-to-back and over or around obstacles. Advanced instructors noticed that most of the personnel’s movement was forward or backward with no regard to what was around them. Tripping over something and going to the ground in a combat or mob situation could be seriously detrimental to their safety.

Self-Defense Focus

The focus needed in a real life self-defense situation is intense. Focusing on breathing techniques so as not to hyperventilate. Focusing on what and who is around. Focusing on not being injured. Focusing while delivering a disabling strike. These things cannot be taught in the dojo. It can only be learned “on the job”. Nevertheless, being taught to stop short with a strike for tournament competition will not stop an assailant. Striking with full force through the intended target will impart much more pain than a glancing blow.

Many of the personnel did not pass the advanced self-defense instruction although they were highly trained and experienced martial artists. Dojo and tournament style training are very good for a controlled environment. But they may not be the best choice on the street. A life-threatening situation is much different than winning a trophy. You get to take the trophy home. You may not make it home after an encounter on the street.