Martial Arts Vs Real Self Defense – Don’t Confuse a Black Belt With Being Able to Protect Yourself!
May 5, 2010 by admin
Filed under Self Defense Advice
What does a black belt mean to you. You and I both know what it means to most people. And, that’s what I call part of “The Karate-Myth.”
Contrary to popular belief, a black belt in the martial arts has little to do with whether or not someone has the ability to protect themselves. This is not to say that the person wearing it can’t defend themselves against a real-world, street attacker.
But then, I would never say that a high school wrestler couldn’t defend themselves either!
The ability lies, not with the belt but, with the focus that went into getting it. If the person wearing a black belt has focused on sport martial arts all along, then the belt represents his or her proficiency in THAT area – not self protection.
Again, just as with the wrestler, this is not to say that they cannot defend themselves. It means that what they are studying and practicing – where they’ve set their priority – is not centered on self defense, but on winning a contest!
If you’re serious about mastering the ability to protect yourself against real world assailants – savagely attacking you with raw, animalistic brutality – then you must begin with awareness and clarity. Before you can do that, though, you must first shed the illusions and deluded beliefs, myths, and misconceptions that are getting talented black belt martial artists broken by street thugs every day.
Without this awareness – the clarity of understanding just what you’ll be up against inside a brutal attack scenario, as opposed to a rule-laden tournament – you risk not learning the lessons that will save your life.
Remember, in a real-world self defense situation, the only trophy you get for “winning” is the privilege to go home in one piece after it’s over!
Effective self defense requires more than just a few “karate moves.” It involves the ability to think strategically, and understand how to defend yourself with as little wear-and-tear on you as possible.
For more information on what you MUST know to survive a real street attack, read my newest self defense book: “Fight Smarter – Not Harder!” It’s available free at: http://www.warrior-concepts-online.com/street-fighting-self-defense-book.html
Jeffrey M. Miller is an internationally-known self defense expert. Each month he teaches literally thousands of students through live seminars, corporate training events, and his in-demand Self Defense Success Secrets Home Study Courses, the lessons to be able to survive in Today’s often dangerous world.
