Martial Arts for My Niece

I'd start with the women's self defense class. From what I've seen of them they are pretty effective and are readily available.

Someone mentioned the Bilton and having a backup weapon is not a bad idea -- but try to find one that's legal. I used to carry a little punch dagger made of composite material (invisible to aiport xray machines) on my key chain -- a gift from old Marine Scout RayC. This turned a 70 year old man into a formidable opponent -- unless your enemy had a .44 Magnum or 20 inch AK -- and it would work the same for a 100 pound lady. Learn to use it. Don't save it for that rainy day. Practice, practice, practice.
 
I'm amazed that nobody has mentioned the traditional British system of self defence usually referred to as the Way of the Lemming. It's exceptionally popular here in the UK - in fact, it's the only method of self-defence that isn't highly illegal.

It's also very simple to learn. Anybody can master it in thirty seconds.

Basically; on being attacked, you immediately fall to your knees, cover your face with your hands and scream "PLEASE DON'T HURT ME!" at the top of your voice. The effect is to fill the attacker with overwhelming remorse, whereupon he heads for the nearest police station and gives himself up.

Politicians, cops and other proponents of the Way of the Lemming point out that practitioners enjoy a 100% success rate, apart from the people who get killed or cut up.
 
Most Martial Arts cope with all types of fighting if taught right. I love it when it is asked which art is the best or most effective. There really is not a best art. It depends on the person studing the art, the person makes it effective. If Bruce Lee started out in Kung Fu, Kenpo, Muay Thai, Taekwondo, or whatever it wouldn't have mattered because he is what made it so effective. So just find a school that has a solid foundation and teaches how to protect yourself standing upright and on the ground and teaches there art in a down to earth way.
I like traditional Tae Kwon Do because I have long legs and kick well but TKD also teaches what to do if your attacker takes you to the ground. Find out if they teach what to do in all situations and you should be good go!
I'm glad she is ok and she sounds like a tough girl and will do well in no time!;)
 
Originally posted by Thunderchyld ....
McDojo......(I love that phrase, thanks ddean)
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You're welcome.

I picked it up in a newsgroup: rec.martial-arts

Advisory: This newsgroup varies from 30%-70% insults, arguments, and slander.
Fortunately, my Agent newsreader lets me set up filters to delete
most of these before I have to read them.
 
Originally posted by Kai Witte
Aikido or Taijiquan are great MAs to practise just for the fun of it. But please steer clear off them if SD is a major concern.
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:) For sake of clarity for other readers,

I did not recommend taiji as a self-defense art;
For the very reason you cite.
I was in a hurry and didn't write as clearly as I should have.

But I do recommended it as an adjunct to other training,
because it helps quickly develop:

#1 Physical balance

And less quickly, but significantly:

#2 Mental focus and relaxation.

I've heard many comments among -good- or better teachers of Taijiquan
that it takes 10-20 years to become proficient enough
to use taijiquan as a fighting art.

If a -Good- taiji teacher is not available,
then I'd recommend a -Good- qigong (chi kung) teacher,
or a -Good- yoga teacher.
These also achieve -some- of the same goals.
(taiji and qigong are so closely related,
if you find a -great- teacher for one,
you'll have at least a -good- teacher for the other.
Or someone who can find the other teacher for you.)

If Kung Fu is taught in terms of self-defense applications,
rather than simply forms, then it makes for a great self-defense class. Very practical.
If only forms are taught then it's only great exercise.

A -good- taijiquan teacher who also teaches kung fu
will have a better basis for being a -good- kung fu teacher.
Not necessarily a requirement,
but they are both approaches to the same art.
Yin-Yang Soft-Hard Internal-External Theory-Application
[Remembering that Yin and Yang are not exclusive.
The Taiji symbol shows Yin within Yang, and Yang within Yin.]
At the pinnicle of achievement in Kung Fu the external and internal meet.


:)
 
A Filipino style (what you learn today you can easily use today) or Wing Tsun (developed by a woman, similar in stature to your niece and very efficient).
 
Firstly I would always recommend avoidance. Regardless of physical harm, many schools have no tolerance policies (Doesnt sound like your nieces does though) that punish both victim and attacker. A good friend who was beaten at school was suspended for it. He was hit from behind, and knocked un-concious while the bullies beat him. The wonderful school admin in their great knowledge suspended him (since both participants are punished under the zero tolerence policy regardless of guilt).

Anyways, I view most martial arts in the US as a hobby/sport. While there are some self-defense aspects to most, some moves are very dangerous to pull in real fights. Such as the high kick (only really works if the guy is caught un-awares, or chooses not to fight). Secondly, I fear too many inspire false-confidence in practitioners. Size and athleticism are always big factors in empty hand fighting. Also, many MAs are structured around rules that just dont exist in real life, so some of the best moves arent taught such as the good ol foot to the cajones or thumb in the eye. So to the point, physical activity will always be a plus regardless of style, but should not be a substitute for escaping the situation or calling for help. However that aside, my personal favorite would be the good ol art of kick the balls and run, or cut anything that comes too close for comfort.
 
this is totaly stupid girls arent meant to defend physicly, self defence leads to dead bodys usualy the person , girl niece.
the best defence for your niece would be a stun gun,preferably the highest voltage available.
and the correct course of action in the first place would have been to let the teacher deal with the problem, not turn round and punch him.
she sounds likes she needs lessons in diplomacy not violence.
theres an old saying
PUT BRAIN IN GEAR BEFORE ENGAGING MOUTH ECT. :grumpy:
 
Originally posted by Federico

Anyways, I view most martial arts in the US as a hobby/sport. While there are some self-defense aspects to most, some moves are very dangerous to pull in real fights. Such as the high kick (only really works if the guy is caught un-awares, or chooses not to fight). Secondly, I fear too many inspire false-confidence in practitioners. Size and athleticism are always big factors in empty hand fighting. Also, many MAs are structured around rules that just dont exist in real life, so some of the best moves arent taught such as the good ol foot to the cajones or thumb in the eye. So to the point, physical activity will always be a plus regardless of style, but should not be a substitute for escaping the situation or calling for help. However that aside, my personal favorite would be the good ol art of kick the balls and run, or cut anything that comes too close for comfort.
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The typical Mcdojo (to use the word :D) is killing (so to speak :D) the whole purpose of Martial Arts, with certain exceptions, being for the battlefield!
 
I'm not a MA expert. But here's my .02$:

Aikido: I studied it for 1.5yrs which is a very short amount of time in Aikido. Like others have said, Aikido is not practical for real streetfight selfdef. in its traditional form until you reach higher levels.

I can't believe nobody has mentioned Gracie Jujutsu! Don't the Gracies (and their students) win almost every full contact match they enter? Experts say that almost every street fight is ended on the ground, therefore a style such as this which is designed to let smaller fighters prevail against larger ones (the founder was small and routinely beat men MUCH larger/heavier than he) in REAL down and nasty fights. Plus a style that focuses on ground grappling would in my opinion, be the best defense against rapists too.

Think about it--if you outweighed a girl by 50-100lbs and she was throwing punches and kicks at you, how would you subdue her? Get her on the ground and try to use you superior weight/strength on her.

I am sorry your neice got into this mess:( I do have to say that punching someone in the face for throwing spitballs seems a little extreme, but then again she DID warn him...
 
This is a polite forum, so I must choose my words carefully...


Originally posted by Kendo
this is totaly stupid girls arent meant to defend physicly, self defence leads to dead bodys usualy the person , girl niece.
the best defence for your niece would be a stun gun,preferably the highest voltage available.
and the correct course of action in the first place would have been to let the teacher deal with the problem, not turn round and punch him.
she sounds likes she needs lessons in diplomacy not violence.
theres an old saying
PUT BRAIN IN GEAR BEFORE ENGAGING MOUTH ECT. :grumpy:
Click to expand...

"Girls aren't meant to defend physically" - What would you recommend instead? Lie back and enjoy it?

"Self defence leads to dead bodies &c" - You aren't the only one who thinks so; the lawmakers of the UK (and also, I believe, Australia) are of the opinion that there is no right to self defence. In the UK, this has resulted in a 30% increase in muggings and violent street crime in the last 12 months. Guess I'll have to agree to differ with you there.

"The best defence for your niece would be a stun gun &c" - Not a *violent* stun gun, naturally. One that tickles the attacker unconscious, maybe?

"She sounds like she needs lessons in diplomacy, not self defence" - From Neville Chamberlain, maybe?

"Put brain in gear before engaging mouth". Well, yes. You said it.
With the utmost respect; I feel that your opinions on this matter would do wonders for my pumpkin patch.
 
IF YOU COULD READ INSTEAD OF SLINGING BULL I SUGGESTED WHAT SHE SHOULD HAVE DONE, (THE CORRECT THING) TELL THE TEACHER AND LET THEM DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM.

AND AS REGARDS THE STUN GUN IT IS THE MOST SENSIBLE OPTION,
AS IT TAKES NO LEARNING AND IS THE QUICKEST DETTERENT I KNOW OF.
THAT WILL STOP AN ATTACKER IN HIS TRACKS GIVING THE GIRL THE OPTION TO RUN FOR IT.
AND AS REGARDS THE PUTTING BRAIN IN GEAR IT SUITS YOU PERFECTLY YOU
#########:rolleyes:
 
MauiRob, actually train with some Gracie jujitsu guys, and it definitely is an effective art. Even in armed confrontations, its amazing how easily one can be puton the ground.

However, in a pure empty hand conflict MA training alone will not help. There is another factor here too, how much training does the attacker have as well. Bad Guys can enroll in MA just as easily as the rest of us. Also, while MA may allow you to do some damage if youre the smaller guy, the bigger guy can always throw in his weight, that if you cannot counter physically, will give him the advantage. Ive seen so many real life street fights where one guy with MA training will try and take on the bigger street thug with no MA training but more real life experience. Guess who would win without exception. What counts in the books/theory doesnt mean much if it cant be applied in real life.
 
STUPID THING TO SAY INDEED
what i said was probably the only thing that makes sense in this whole thread.
she should have let the teacher deal with the problem not resort to violence ????
and as for any attack on the street where life and limb are at stake.
the stun gun is the safest action as it stuns the attacker enabling her to escape.
not advocating self defense fight go down in a blaze of glory ect.
this is real life not a bloody movie. next you twits will be advocating she take to her attacker with a KHUKRI ??
COME ON GET REAL I THOUGHT THE GUY WAS ASKING FOR GENUINE ADVICE NOT DANGEROUS CRAP.:mad:
 
AT LAST SOMEONE WHO HAS a bit of common sense.
i am sorry if i reacted a bit strongly before but the guy asked for a bit of advice on his nieces safety.
and out come some crazy gungho advice, its his niece for gods sake not a bloody marine.
she should have done the sensible thing an let the teachers deal with it, AGAIN I EMPHISISE THIS.
AND AS REGARDS THE SELF DEFENSE AGAIN I POINT TO ALL THE FEMALE DEAD BODYS IN THE MOURGE WHO BEAR WITNESS TO CONFRONTATIONS WITH BAD GUYS.
federico is very correct in what he says, ask any law enforcemaent officer???
the violence of an attacker will only escalate if met with force.
SO THE ONLY DEFENSE IS FLIGHT, hence the (stun gun then run) :)
 
I spent several years as a racial minority in a third world country, and was assaulted numerous times. Running and cooperating don't work in the long run. Sooner or later the bad guys are going to catch and harm you just for their own personal pleasure. I speak from experience. The only times I emerged unhurt were when I fought back like a crazed savage.

"Let the teacher deal with the problem?"

I also grew up the shortest, scrawniest, and most uncoordinated kid you could imagine. If I complained to a teacher I would pay dearly in between classes or after school. Such bullies are the very reason I began weightlifting and studying martial arts.

Any reputable psychologist will tell you that abuse will continue until the abuser experiences it from the hand of their intended victim. I applied that advice and the bullying stopped.

And the bullies I encountered never would've touched a girl, let alone punch one in the face. This one is particularly violent. If your niece does buy and use a stun gun, make sure she doesn't run; but instead finishes the job, i.e. make sure that her attacker is physically incapable of ever hurting another person.
 
As per my character, I'll hew to the middle line.

Self control and avoidance are both prudent and admirable. These should be first options. However, backed into a corner with no option of escape or having just been attacked without warning, I'd like to have some tricks up my sleeve. Technology - be it a stun gun, firearm, or knife - may not be the most desirable solution. It could malfunction (yes, knives can malfunction. This comes from the first person to request a replacement for the "Indestructible Knife") or be taken and used against you - especially in the case of an unexpected attacker. Also, authority (teacher, police, etc.) aren't always around when the 250 pound gorilla sitting on your chest is trying to separate your life from your body with extreme prejudice. Furthermore, if people are known to be defenseless or unwilling to defend themselves, that emboldens others to take advantage of them.

Martial arts may be part of a viable defense plan. Probably more because they teach awareness and poise than how to hit someone.

As for the incident itself, the repercussions of the young lady's punch are not, IMHO, worth it. There is a long way between spitballs in your hair and feeling genuinely threatened for your safety or life. Why she didn't let the teacher deal with it I don't know. As a teacher, I'd like to say I would've done something about it, but it is EXTREMELY difficult to know what 25 people are doing while you're distracted by making sure that they learn something. It becomes even more difficult when the person knows what they are doing is wrong and tries to hide it.


The summary: Yes, this situation was probably handled poorly by all parties (niece, boy, school). No, the young lady shouldn't be encouraged to go knocking peoples blocks off. Yes, the young lady should be safe and have the knowledge to protect that safety. Yes, martial arts could be a skill to learn, and I would probably be looking into this option myself. Should she use martial arts or any other sort of direct encounter to preserve her safety? Yes, but only as an absolute last resort.

YMMV.


Oh, and I think Bruise would make a cute Sherpa Girl. :D
 
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