| > I'm curious if you'd care to mention exactly what "more lethal martial arts" or "good schools" you're alluding too. That's actually a pretty complex question because I'm not sure I can really draw the line along the different styles rather than along different dojos/masters. I would say that generally e.g. Krav Maga, Japanese Ju Jitsu (including some of the derivatives like Small Circle Ju Jitsu), then something like Wing Chun, Musado and many others are pretty good. Note that minus Ju Jitsu, I have only limited experience with the others so my impression of them might be wrong but they seemed pretty good. The most important question is whether they teach you e.g. where on the body to strike to kill and then prepare you physically and mentally not to freeze when you get into a situation when it's needed. Another thing I have noticed is that the better dojos are very eclectic and pick and choose from other martial arts if it makes sense. > The US military's combatives program is based mostly on combat sports[1], e.g. BJJ, judo, muay thai, boxing, wrestling, etc. The fact that they pick and choose is exactly why it's effective though. They don't teach pure BJJ because pure BJJ isn't that useful IRL. > will lose quickly to even an average BJJ blue belt I'm well aware of that. But remember, none of these matches were to the death (I assume). > but if you're attacked by a team of people with serious weapons you're probably screwed anyway. If they have weapons, your martial art should teach you how to get the fuck out of there ASAP. If they don't have weapons, self-defense is not unimaginable. Harder, but not impossible. > Opening up leg strikes certainly changes the game, but experienced boxers will have extensive practice in controlling their position, distance, making angles and avoiding strikes He's prepared for a different type of opponent. Boxer will do well in mid-range but not so well in a clinch or on longer distances. > It was one of my first days of class, against someone with years of experience. Right. So maybe it wasn't the best example to bring up if you didn't have much practice. |