people think that training martial arts techniques is enough to guarantee victory over a less skilled opponent, but the reality is that technique is only a part of the puzzle. No amount of skill or physical prowess is of any use if the fighter folds under pressure or fails to make effective use of his abilities.
Nothing ever goes according to plan against a resistant opponent, so you need to train with “aliveness” to prepare you for the chaos that you will encounter when fighting anyone who isn’t a pushover.
Techniques that seem straightforward in a martial arts class can become very difficult when attempted against a resistant opponent or under severe stress, so training must not only give the fighter the tools he (or she) needs to win a fight, it must also prepare the fighter to function in the fight environment. Good preparation includes all three dimensions—technical, physical, and psychological—and addresses the most likely situations a prospective fighter may find himself in.
The first question that has to be asked is: what is the fighter training goals? There are strong parallels between the sporting environment and “street” self-defense, but there are also significant differences. Even within the sporting arena, there are different kinds of competition and the fighter needs to be familiar with the characteristics of each. Last-minute ringside questions about whether kneeing from the clinch is permitted in this event are the hallmark of the unprepared (or perhaps just forgetful) fighter.
It is always necessary to consider environmental factors. For the sport fighter, the question is generally whether the bout is to take place on mats, in a ring, or a cage. This can be important—being slammed or taken down hard on a cage floor may be an unpleasant surprise for the fighter used to training on good mats, and surprises are best avoided. Tactical use of the ring or cage can also bring benefits to those who know how to do it or how to deal with those who do.
For the more general martial artist, perhaps training for self-defense, it is not really possible to predict where an incident might take place. Training needs to take account of the possibility of confined spaces, passing traffic, uneven or slippery ground, poor lighting and so forth. The principles of effective combat are the same, but some techniques are simply not appropriate to certain environments. For example, most kicks are impossible to deliver in the aisle of a train or bus. This is not to say that a martial artist needs to undergo specific training in every possible environment, but he needs a broad range of techniques and the ability to decide what is appropriate in any given environment.
Focus pads (some people call them hook-and-jab pads) are an essential and versatile training aid. The can be used to train many different techniques, but it is essential that the pad-holder knows how to absorb the bigger strikes if injuries are to be avoided.
Focus pads are most commonly used to train hand strikes, for which they are ideal. Wearing heavy gloves for pad drills has the added benefit of building the muscular endurance necessary to keep your hands up during a long fight.
A fighter who is training for a sport fight knows when the event will take place, and what the rules will be. He knows that he will not suddenly be attacked with a weapon or by his opponent’s friends. He also knows that the bout will be matched for weight. It will be timed and a referee and judges will impose a binding decision about who won. On the down side, he knows that he is facing a trained and skilled opponent, and he will have the added stress of doing it in front of an audience and possibly television cameras.
Knowing when and where the bout will take place and what the rules are being used enables the sport fighter to tailor his training to the environment. He can focus on tactics and techniques for dealing with a single opponent, and can bring his fitness to a peak at the right time. He may even be able to tailor his training to give him an advantage over a known opponent or to give the judges what they are looking for in order to win on a decision.
Conversely, when training more generally or for self-defense, we do not know when (or even if) a fight will occur. We cannot predict where it will be, nor who against. Numbers and weapons may play a part. Training must be tailored to dealing with an unpredictable situation and should include some common-sense conflict-avoidance or conflict-management skills to avoid unnecessary fights.
When using focus pads to train low kicks, it is important to brace the pad against your leg. Even so, it is not really possible to take a pull-power kick on the pad, so this method is normally used for fairly light technical training.
Thai Pads are arguably a better option for all-round training, though they are more expensive than focus pads.
The single biggest difference between the “street” and the sporting arena is the uncertainty that prevails on the street. A sport fighter knows that his opponent has come to fight him. Someone confronted with an aggressive individual cannot know for sure whether the prospective opponent really wants a fight or is simply “posturing” for reasons that presumably make sense to him. This uncertainty can cause hesitation, and is exploited by those experienced in street violence.
A “street” aggressor may try to strike by surprise, perhaps by blindsiding the victim or by using deception to get close enough for a sudden assault. Innocuous sounding questions about the time or asking for a cigarette are common deceptions. Alternatively, a prospective assailant may test the waters by behaving aggressively, swearing, shouting, and pushing the victim. If he gets a response that makes him think he can win, he may escalate the level of violence. If he doesn’t like the response he may instead choose to back off.
It is worth noting that although the build-up is different, once a fight begins the same principles apply to both sport and street fighting. Good training will prepare the fighter for the fight environment and enable him to keep his head under stress, both during the build-up to a fight and during it. A fighter who can handle the physical shock of being hit but who is taken out of the game by his reaction will be defeated as surely as one who is simply knocked out.
In a “flash drill” the pad holder offers the fighter a variety of targets, forcing him to react quickly with an appropriate strike. The fighter must be ready for anything rather than falling into comfortable habits.
A kick shield can absorb a full-power kick, though this is not always a pleasant experience for whoever is holding it. It is tempting to hold the pad away from your body, but this can result in injury. Keep the shield in tight and just accept that training sometimes hurts.
In-fight stress can also cause fighters to abandon their training and resort to brute force or wild swings, or to fight in a predictable manner that is easy to deal with. A fighter who keeps his head can often see opportunities and read his opponent’s intentions. One who is badly rattled will miss obvious openings and let his opponent recover from mistakes instead of exploiting them.
This is a vital facet of all forms of fight training; the fighter must be properly prepared to not only perform techniques; he (or she) must also be able to keep a clear head and make quick decisions about what to do. It is this ability to function in the fight environment that separates an
