The importance of reality fighting

[Tallsilkyslim]

If you are like me, you absolutely love mma. I like to train,watch,sleep and eat the stuff. However, if you really want to be ready for anything, its important to incorporate reality based street fighting into your arsenal. Where i train, every week we dedicate one night to street fighting. We show up in regular clothes and practice under realistic conditions. I promise you this, when youre on the street, and the adrenaline hits you, you will resort to whatever you have practiced the most. That means if youve wrestled for 10 years, but train boxing now and then, when shit hits the fan, you can bet your bottom dollar that you will respond with the double leg takedown. That is what ive seen and thats what ive expierenced. If you consider yourself a true martial artist, I highly reccomend training for the real thing, as well as the sporting aspect of fighting. The styles I suggest are Krav Maga, Kali, Silat, Kapap, as well as a traditional art like Karate or Kenpo. My advice is free because thats all its worth. But ive seen some amazing guys get pummeled on the street that could get out of a RNC or armbar but didnt know how to defend against the most basic of moves i.e. the headlock. It took the Gracies 50 years to get beat in the ring but their street challenge for 100,000 dollars still stands today. Thats because they never forgot whats really important and thats survival.

[Ari Bolden]

AMEN to that (you forgot Japanese Jujutsu! Saved my ass more times that I can count!)

[Ryan]

Ari- have you ever tried aikido? I saw it practiced in a YMCA room and tried it a bit in police class but never saw it applied except in Seagal movies. Didn't know how effective it is.

[Ari Bolden]

Ryan:

Did aikido for over 10 years..have my black belt in it also. It does have some great stuff, but you have to know how to adjust it for the street.

cheers
Ari

[Ryan]

Ryan:

Did aikido for over 10 years..have my black belt in it also. It does have some great stuff, but you have to know how to adjust it for the street.

cheers
Ari

It probably doesn't look as pretty on the street with the fancy wrist stuff

[Tom Gavrilos]

Ari put me in some weirdo wrist licks you dont want to let him get ahold of your wrist is my advice!

[Ryan]

Sounds painful Tom.

Ari- do you use Aikido when BJJ or JJJ isn't appropriate (ie a packed bar) or do you just go into your bag of tricks and do anything you first react with?

[Ari Bolden]

Ryan:

My bag of tricks for working the bar is about 5 standard moves. It depends on if I am escorting someone out, breaking up a fight, or need to really get a guy out of the bar.

Depending on the level of resistance of the person in question will dictate my response.

90% of the stuff I use in the "real world" is JJJ. Most of the aikido joint locks are found in JJJ (aikido comes from JJJ anyways). Some of the concepts of aikido I use all the time (kazushi (taking balance), kokyoho (breathing and timing)).

JJJ has some of the most painful wris locks on the planet.

cheers!
Ari