Brief Friday afternoon video thoughts, published in the late evening

TikTok video one

I originally viewed this video several years ago, seems to me. Reflecting on this video in the past, it did influence my change in martial arts approach. I could understand even more so than earlier in my life, after quitting Karate, that my doubts on traditional Karate, at least, were again justified. I also had been bottled in Manchester, England, and then received professional advice from a former, US operative online, and this especially served as a major influence to have me make many changes in my martial arts workout.  

I had been bottled in Manchester, while a friend left the scene (while a thug stood with him), that I had stepped into defend as he was being struck. I won the fights against three 'on points', by mainly using Karate, with some fusion from online reading. But as they could not take me, one of them threw a wine bottle (or like) from a distance. Over the next few months, I realized that if I was going to study and practice martial arts for exercise and self-defence, I needed to implement more instantly effective methods in a street fight. This included much more 'soft art' (not primarily striking, martial arts) techniques as well as weapons, when legal and necessary.

In the video, the Karate black belt seemingly has no idea how to deal with a grappling attack, whatsoever. Besides learning weapons after the assault, as mainly a stand-up fighter that also uses 'soft art' techniques that can be used on the ground, I learned some very effective choke holds, grips and the odd targeted throw, for a street fighting context. These choke holds and grips can work while standing and while on the ground. Also, I learned the basic guard move from my limited viewing of UFC, and by studying online videos. The Karate black belt should have implemented this when needed, as well as other possible moves. At approximately the 13 second mark, for example, there was an excellent opportunity to put the attacker in a guillotine choke.

Before using the basic guard if taken down, for better balance, a fighting stance should be much wider than the one used by Karate black belt, as the grappler 'shoots' in quickly taking away punches and kicks from the opponent. This is a major reason why someone serious about learning self-defence needs to know how to use elbow strikes when an attacker attempts to take away punches and kicks. Elbows are more difficult to tie up than punches and kicks, in my humble opinion. As well, there are often opportunities for the defender to use a rear naked choke hold, guillotine choke or even a gable grip against an aggressive attacker attempting a takedown, or after a takedown, leading at an attempt at a submission by the attacker. 

In the video, the Karate black belt seemed very ill-prepared, like I reason, in similar situations, the 'hard art' (primarily striking, martial arts) 'Karate' student or expert will be unless he/she has a more in-depth knowledge of fighting and martial arts techniques. A reason I quit Karate, read books, watched videos, sparred with a black belt in Aikido, and finally took professional training from an online MMA trainer. A reason, I workout with weapons.

TikTok video two

For clarity. I strongly dislike this scene, and have no interest in watching the film. The scene came up on my random TikTok rotation. I publish and comment on it, in the context of self-defence. Robert Di Nero, a trained actor in violent films, pulled out and fired that gun out so quickly, the character played by Bridget Fonda, at that distance, had little chance to not be shot. Shot twice it appeared. A similar scenario could occur in real life. Comments:

1. It is best to avoid violent people in life. One example from Proverbs: 

Proverbs 4:14-17 King James Version (KJV)

4 Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. 15 Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away. 16 For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall. 17 For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.

2. If one ends up near a person that might pull a weapon, the potential victim should keep much more distance than was demonstrated in the film clip. Also, a potential victim should take a side stance, not front stance, so the attacker has less body to physically aim at, and less vital organs to aim at. The victim must be able to effectively flee or use a form of legal, self-defence.

Photo: Izrezak, the basic guard bjj spot