Martial arts discussion thread

[GoktimusPrime]

Lots of "real world" fights are close up and make sure you hit them harder types of affairs. Street fighting, as that's all drunken / robbers / bullies really know.

Yeah but what I was talking about is defending yourself against thugs without becoming a thug. And this is kinda where the difference lies between internal and external martial arts. Now _generally_ speaking external styles are like fight fire with fire. They meet force with force. Internal styles on the other hand neutralise and/or redirect force (back at the attacker). There are various different levels of range - long, medium and close.

I'd also imagine ancient battles were more of a "cut their guts open first" type of affair in the field as well. If you lost your sword, then tackle them and pummel their faces, hit them with rocks and other brutal types of things. You wouldn't be waiting in a defense stance for them to throw a punch and you to counter it, then let them have their turn, etc like you would do in a public showing.

Depends on the context of the fight situation. Sometimes you need to go on the offensive, but other times you need to be defensive. It's like other things that require strategy (e.g.: sports, chess etc.) Some styles like Aikido are _completely_ defensive. They have to wait for the attacker to throw the first punch because they have no attacks. It doesn't mean that they'll let the attacker _land_ that punch, but they'll let them throw it! Jujutsu works in the same way as does many other passively defensive styles.

Some other styles/forms intentionally bait their opponent too. i.e.: they let them throw the first punch or kick because, as Admiral Ackbar would say, "It's a trap!" As Beast Wars Megatron once said, "Deception is the better part of valour."