Are Women Doomed on the Street?

The Problem with Traditional Martial Arts Training

Traditional martial arts often emphasize stylized forms of kicking and punching, focusing on pre-arranged or choreographed kata. While these forms have their place, they fall short in real combat situations. Most classical martial arts include "passive" blocking movements, which are ineffective against larger, stronger opponents. Women, in particular, need to adopt "striking-type" martial arts that prioritize actual contact over aesthetic or ceremonial considerations.

The Importance of Impact Training

Women's martial arts training must incorporate impact training from the start. How can you gauge the power of your kicks and punches without making solid contact? Impact training can be broken down into three progressive stages:

1. Stationary Targets: Develop power by striking stationary targets like focus gloves, air shields, or heavy bags. This helps you understand your reach and body mechanics.
2. Moving Targets: Hit moving targets such as top and bottom bags, air shields, or Thai pads. An alert coach or training partner can move these targets randomly, enhancing your mobility, precision, and timing.
3. Full-Contact Sparring: Engage with an "opponent" wearing full body armor. This phase is not about self-defense but about dealing with an aggressive adversary who changes combat ranges unpredictably.

Combat Ranges and Effective Strikes

Statistics show that most assaults on women occur in close-quarter combat. Therefore, it's crucial to master strikes that convey the most damage in the shortest time. This means hitting, not blocking, on the first move. Some of the most effective strikes include:

• Finger Jab: Practice on something harder than a pillow to build up strength.
• Elbows, Knees, and Headbutts: Perfect these on focus gloves or Thai pads.
• Low Kicks: Aim for the groin, knees, femur bone, or shins. Practice on a partner wearing shin guards or long "banana bags."

Contact Conditioning

Contact conditioning is the progressive and controlled willingness to absorb impact. Women often lack exposure to full-contact sports like football, which many men have experienced. This phase of training is crucial for developing the resilience to continue past the shock of pain and impact in a real encounter.

Boxing Basics

Familiarity with basic boxing techniques like jabs, crosses, hooks, and uppercuts is essential. These strikes are more likely to be encountered on the street than martial arts-specific moves like sidekicks. Mastering these basics will help demystify realms of combat traditionally reserved for men.

Training with Men and Supplemental Training

Women must experience the aggressive energy and greater strength of men in their training regimen. This exposure helps develop the evasiveness and resilience necessary for real-world encounters. Additionally, supplemental training like weight lifting and conditioning can enhance martial arts skills.

Weapons Training

A martial arts program that doesn't include weapons training is incomplete. Women are at a disadvantage when facing larger, stronger assailants or multiple attackers. The ability and willingness to use a knife, stick, or other weapon can serve as an "equalizer." Like empty-hand training, weapons training should emphasize hitting rather than blocking or flowery movements.

Conclusion

Traditional martial arts training methods are insufficient for real-world self-defense. Modern training techniques, including impact training, contact conditioning, and weapons training, are essential for women to defend themselves effectively. Ignorance of these methods only benefits aggressors. It's time to adopt innovative training techniques to ensure women have the power, speed, coordination, and conditioning to fight back and win.

For more information on modern martial arts training methods, visit Fran Joseph's website.

This article originally appeared on Real Fighting.

Interesting Stats

• Close-Quarter Combat: According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, 77% of violent crimes against women occur within close proximity to the victim (BJS).
• Effectiveness of Striking: A study by the University of Oregon found that women who trained in striking martial arts were 60% more likely to successfully defend themselves in simulated attacks (University of Oregon).

By adopting modern training methods, women can significantly improve their chances of defending themselves effectively in real-world situations.