What’s the best way to defend oneself in this day and age? Well, according to former Navy SEAL and Jiu-Jitsu aficionado Jocko Willink, it’s about what you might expect.
“First and foremost, if you’re talking about true self-defense to protect yourself from other evil human beings in the world, it’s a gun. Concealed carry,” Willink says in this interview on martial arts.
“And that is what you should train to do,” he continued. “You should go to the range, you should get a gun, and if you’re in situations where you need to protect yourself that is how you protect yourself.”
Amen. Of course, he doesn’t stop there. He also discusses, albeit briefly, his favorite forms of martial arts and how one ought to prioritize one’s training, especially when jumping into the field for the first time.
Pretty cool video. I think he’s got a pretty sound approach, and also the experience to back it up as well.
As a former Army hand-to-hand/edged weapons instructor(circa 1970) for 1st SF, before they really knew about applying real martial arts to military training protocols, what he says is as relevant today as it was then…namely you use what works for YOU. If you are proficient with firearms and are out of shape, 3 or more years of training in martial arts may not help you in a street environment. However, it WOULD help in a restricted bar or restaurant setting where movement is interfered with by furniture and other people. So regular situational considerations will determine what works best for you as well.
I studied Chinese Kenpo for about 15 years and Chinese Hung Gar for another 12, because in addition to the traditional forms and workouts the studio owner & Sifu (respectively) insisted on sessions of “Environmental Combat” for the Brown & Black belt students and the older instructors. We would practice close-quarter fighting in bars, restaurants, dance nightclubs, until we felt confident we could fight effectively using whatever was available to end the fight, hopefully with “less-than-lethal” results. As Joe pointed out…after the dust settles, it’s the lawyers who become the weapons of choice. If you have had military or formal martial arts training, you will be made out to look like a “professional killer”in court. So be aware of the litigious side of engaging an assailant. “Better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6!!! “, may not be the best mantra to follow in the USA. Just sayin’…
Amen to that.
People don’t realize that all those real black belts in their respective fields also from time to time enter the domain of the streets in their daily activities.
I have been there and although most times the other person is a joke, sometimes you are in for a real time lightning round. And I spoke from experience about the legal fallout once the altercation has run it’s course.
I practice wing chun, every time I see my art fail in a contest, it’s only because of rules, the no eyes, ears, nose, throat, balls, instep stomps, ect. On the streets fight dirty and run hard first chance, and if you can’t run, I can’t, finish them.
Bas Ruttens Street Fighting technique. Use the ambiance. Improvised weapons.
As a martial artist a disabled Vietnam veteran and long time security guard.
Don’t go hand to hand with any one unless you have to. And if you have to fight the old saying that GOD did not make men equal . Sam colt did is 100% correct . Buck🇺🇸⚔🇺🇸 100% disabled Vietnam veteran
Only one thing to add to this. There are no rules in a fight except to protect your self. Fight more dirty as the SOB attacking you. I am a male with training and I have no problem grabbing a handful of junk and squeezing till it looks like mud coming through your fingers.
As a long time street taught fighter, School Gym taught wrestler, and class taught karate (tang su do) fighter, I found the best way to end a confrontation was to overpower with punches both high and low, and then kicks to mid section… solar plexus, liver kidney section. But if the other guy was proficient enough to make it a real contest, wrestling came into play with a rear naked choke once had the guys back made it a done deal.
This was over thirty years ago rambo, long before you became one of the killer elite so peace out.
And remember…once the fight is over, the real fight begins with the long arm of a law suit to prove your claims of self defense over his claim of assault and battery , and the lawyer becomes the weapon of the day.
Joe,
I thought it was spelled Tang “soo” do.
Anyway, you really didn’t watch the whole thing did you?
I have utmost respect for any Seal, well all except for Jesse Ventura.
You missed the point of self defense.
I am glad you aren’t running around with a gun, you should be a statistic anyway.
You are an opinionated ignoramus.
I agree with everything he said, and couldn’t say it any better. The only thing I would add is that martial arts teaches you to not take anything for granted. Never underestimate your opponent, but instead test his reactions and use them against him. Learn balance (yeah, like the Karate Kid), tempo, and most of all maintaining and manipulating distance in a hand to hand encounter. The reason for the latter is two fold: one, you do not want your opponent to close on you (unless you want him to), and second it opens opportunities for you, while keeping your balance, to cause your opponent to lose his, at which point he is vulnerable. And if you are charged, hopefully you have room to retreat/evade, or you’d better know judo or jujitsu so that you can use his momentum to your advantage.