I’m 18 years old and was interested in learning kung fu, I had an interest in the mantis style. Anyways, I was just wondering if kung fu could really be applied to real life street fights? Do the techniques you learn really help you when the time comes? If so, how long would you say you have to be in Kung Fu before you learn how to defend yourself?
My friend was in karate his whole life and lost 5 teeth and got put in a hospital because the guy just tackled him and went for his face.
Just wondering if Kung Fu is really effective in real life situations and if i should invest my time in it.
Of course kung fu works in a street fight. I wouldn’t say any martial art worked 100% of the time, because the nature of a fight is so unpredictable. Someone could attack you while you’re not looking, have a weapon, or jump you. The truth is the effectiveness of any martial art depends on the person training. If you only practice forms and no sparring or 2 man training exercises you don’t develope a fighting instinct. and if you just go to class every once in a while you really can’t expect to be a good fighter. Remember the only way to become a better fighter is to practice fighting.
So your friend that studied karate did he know he was going to get in a fight ( was there a arguent first or a preceeding confrontation) or was he sneak attacked.
Yes, kung fu works. But no martial art teaches everything. Mantis is very effective but I would say the most important thing in any martial art is your instructor. How does the instructor approach kung fu? Do they concentrate on forms? Do they do two man drills? We he demonstrates a technique does he also demonstrate the appropriate amount of force and power to make the technique effective?
Just because a person studies a martial art doesn’t mean they’re a good fighter. I’ve seen several people that have studied an art for years but still wouldn’t stand a chance in a real fight. Much of it depends on your willingness to mix it up and respond to violence with more violence. If you don’t have the proper mindset then you’re going to get your teeth knocked out evey time. It doesn’t matter how many boards you can break or how high your flying kicks are.
I agree with this statement I’ve been in class and Sifu taught us a tech. and I would hear some one say “that would hurt I could never do that to someone”. people like that lack a fighting spirit and the mind set for combat.
Of course Kung Fu can be effective in a fight. I’ve used it many times to great effect. It was created by people who were literally fighting for their lives after all. But, it all depends on the training and the individual. Some people just aren’t good fighters and no amount of training will change that. At the Tien Shan Pai school I went to there was a brown sash student that I would regularly work over in sparring. His technique was flawless, but he couldn’t fight to save his life. If you train hard with LOTS of sparring and have a fighting instinct you’ll find Kung Fu to be very much worth your time.
You also can’t neglect cross-training. Your friend did and look what it got him. If you find yourself in a street fight and start whooping up on somebody with your mad skills they will quickly realize they can’t compete with you standing up and try to take you to the ground and overpower you. This is a virtual guarantee. This is where the dreaded grappling comes in. Every self-defense oriented person NEEDS grappling training.
No matter what you learn, if a sucker punch/kick/tackle/whatever happens, you’ve been had. Those are things hard to recover from in time to save your @ss. So, what ever you learn, be aware that there is no art is 100%effective …no matter what it is.
Not every style of kung fu was created during war time or for the need of constant self defense…I think that is nostalgic fantasy that a lot of people like to buy into. And even if they were, they were fighting for their lives hundreds and thousands of years ago… fighting for your life today is quite different.
Some people just aren’t good fighters and no amount of training will change that.
The problem with kung fu in general is that they usually don’t spar realistically.
IMHO sparring realistically is having a really good fighter really trying to really take your head off. It’s just a level of intensity you don’t find in the dojo where people are trying specifically NOT to hurt each other.
It’s not that KF doesn’t work, it’s that their training is not usually realistic. I don’t know any other way to run into this except get into a real fight on the street against a good fighter. The closest thing might be to spar with some boxers.
[indent]I think so. Like some of the other posts said, it depends on the teacher and the individual.[/indent] [indent] The ONLY true test of a fighter is what he or she can do and no more. Form practice, sparring, self-defence practice and brick breaking are meaningless if the individual cannot withstand the burden of the REAL THING.[/indent] [indent]In a fight it is not just about dishing it out you have to able to withstand a blow too. On the street there ars no rules. An individual must be taught courage, fearlessness, and tenacity because on the street there are no second chances. It’s either you or him. You must be ready mentally and phisically for any situation. That being said.[/indent] [indent]THE END JUSTIFIES THE MEANS ![/indent] [indent] SIGNING OFF NOBBY[/indent]
You have to look into the individual school and see what it is they tend to focus on. Like Bruce Lee said “fighting is alive and dynamic.” The only way to be truely effective in fighting is to practice all different real fight scenarios. If you concentrate on forms and more showmanship type of kung fu ofcourse it won’t be effective. It also depends on other things such as the number of opponents, their skill level, and yours. Also strength training is a very important aspect of any martial art to be effective, but it is also one of the most neglected aspects of many martial arts today. Without the power behind the techniques you’re wasting your time.
I would disagree with that. judoka, thai boxers, capoeristas, boxers, wrestlers…none of them do scenario training, yet all can be devastatingly effective in a fight. The key is the training methods you use, not how much scenario training you do.
I hate the “battle tested” theory people always use. Battle tested by whom? if not by the individual in question, then the statement is regardless. Just because my coach’s coach used his thai boxing in several streetfights and won, that doesn’t mean that I can make it work; He is not me. TKD has worked in fights for many people; It has also failed many people miserably. Why? It was battle tested, right?