KerwinBenson.com Hidden Gems of Martial Arts

How Good Is Your Martial Arts Style? (Pascal Analysis)

Recently, I told you I'd take a look at some of the martial arts instruction that's offered on the Net.

I was able to look at a video on Filipino Knife Fighting by Paul Vunak, and 'ultimate' instruction in the martial arts by Bas Ruten, and three books on Krav Maga.

In addition, three people wrote in about Krav Maga.

Good or Bad Martial Arts Instruction?

Are they great instructional aids?

Do they fall somewhere in between?

Before I comment on them, could I get you to think about what your personal goal is in the martial arts?

Do you want to be able to defend yourself in a lot of situations?

Or do you have some sort of lofty goal of being so advanced and efficient (and effective ;-) that you are considered one of the deadliest people who do self defense on the planet?

If you are looking for basic self defense, then just about all that I read or watched last week would fit the bill. They all teach basic self defense skills. And the Vunak tape even dealt with more advanced (and difficult to execute successfully) techniques.

Complaints About Krav Maga

Personally, I have no problem with borrowing from a variety of styles, if the pieces fit together. That is, if you can get from one technique to another without contradictory advice and motions. The moves should complement each other.

Apparently, according these guys, Krav Maga hasn't worked out the bugs in the fit-it-all-together department.

After reading the books, I would comment that it doesn't look like a very efficient art. They seem to do a lot of wrestling and wrenching in an attempt to disarm an attacker. I need something that works quickly -- if you fight over the blade, pulling and pushing back and forth, you're going to get cut. So, Krav Maga loses some points, in that arena.

But overall, they seem to offer some decent basic self defense.

Vunak and Ruten for "The Basics" Only

The problem occurs when someone wants to be the elite of the elite at martial arts.

If you are looking for super efficiency in the way you fight, I'd avoid what I encountered, last week.

They all exhibit techniques that go way off center-line, to the point of being dangerous. Both Ruten and Vunak have moves that sweep to the side, where they could get faked easily, and where an attacker who was more center-line directed would re-orient right though the openings that these guys create when they veer off.

Not only that, Vunak needs to explore possibilities and responses more. Several times, he states that there is only one way for the attacker's blade to proceed, or he tells what the only option is at a certain point.

Each time, I wasn't thinking along his lines. I wasn't trying to be contrarian -- I would just respond differently. And he absolutely does not deal with someone who will pull back a blade and slash a wrist on the withdraw (See '10 Days to Better Knife Fighting').

Conclusion

But if you have some ideal of martial arts that deals with fakes and unexpected reactions, then I would avoid these videos and books.

They may take you further than some of you are right now, but they won't help you progress to the point you want to get to.