Grappling in Karate article

I came apon this article and thought it had just interesting points

"I'll fight you on broken glass!"
by Don Rearic

You know, I've been seeing all of this nonsense for nearly five years on the Internet. Sometimes, "serious" martial arts and self defense forums resemble an MTV Show asking kids what their opinions are on martial arts and fighting. Grown men become children and squeal like little girls when you dare to challenge their worldview or sacred, martial cow (TM).

I'm not a badass, but I'm as bad as I ever had to be. I have kicked ass and had my ass kicked as well. I used to laugh at people I would meet who claimed to be in a lot of fights and never had their ass handed to them by someone that was stronger, faster, meaner or just plain “better” than they were. It sure is possible that people like that exist, but in most cases, it is usually a case of someone who has an undercurrent of “bully” in their persona and they pick their fights very carefully.

I once engaged an NHB Fighter in a "debate" in a forum and I tried to get the environment that I am used to, across to him as a reality. His response was, "I don't care, I'll fight you on concrete, blacktop or broken glass!"

I was like, OK, are we talking about going home with minimum damage to us and maximum damage to the attacker, or are we talking about sporting nonsense and ego inflation? What he could not comprehend was the fact that I don’t want to have to fight on broken glass. He just could not understand that survival is not a “game” to me. It’s not a sporting competition to me. It’s not something to hyper-inflate my own ego. I’m not so fragile in that department that I have to prove my manhood by saying such silly things, let alone doing them.

Call me a “sissy” or a “pussy” if you must, I’m not stupid. I have nothing to “prove” in the “balls” department. I want to survive, that is all. Almost everything you see on this website is geared to that end and that end only. Very little sporting element or “Art for the sake of Art.”

Really, you want to fight on glass? You think you're that bad? If you are, you're not bad, you're stupid. Watch Royce Gracie in one of the early UFCs where he goes upside down against the chain link fence with his face grinding into the mat. You think you're going to pull that off in the street where the chain link exists but the mat does not? You think grinding your face into blacktop or concrete with all sorts of sharp and jagged debris is "the way to go" when it comes to fighting?

If you do, you need your head examined; you're a fool, an idiot. Strong words, harsh words...true words.

Now, if you find yourself on the ground, being taken there against your will, you have to fight there. But the focus should be on getting back on your feet where you are not so vulnerable. Understand that the street (and the battlefield) is not a mat, nor is it a competition. It's real life where people live and die and of those that live, some are maimed, crippled and parts of them are destroyed forever.

Real life. No bull****, no marketing hype, no theorizing or painfully convoluted reasoning...just reality. Reality is a bitch. Reality does not care how big your balls are or how bad you think you are. Reality just exists.

Reality

• While you may be able to control the person you are fighting, you cannot control the possibility that he will have a weapon you did not know he had until it is too late.

• While you may be able to control the person you are fighting, you cannot control the possibility or presence of multiple attackers, people other than him that might help him.

• While you may be able to control the person you are fighting, you may not be able to control the environment and who lands on what.

This will be incredibly unpopular with some people; I know that before I say it, yet I feel it has to be said. I know some people consider loyalty to system, style or teacher is paramount. I’m not trying to change you or even reach you. If you think what you are doing is the thing to do, by all means, do it. This is my opinion based on what I have observed. It is a warning to people getting involved in some systems and styles, people who are looking for a method of Self-protection.


Two more things to consider


1. Most people who are killed in streetfights by being punched in the face or head are not killed by the strike; their head impacting the ground kills them. I have observed this for a very long time in newspaper and other, local, news stories. I wish I had some online source to direct you to in order to “prove” it, but it is a reality that I have watched play out in the news time and time again.

2. In cases where multiple attackers are concerned and someone is beaten to the point they are in critical condition, or beaten to death, invariably, it ends up on the ground with the attackers kicking the person to death, etc. That being the case, the reality of the situation, why would you want to do half of the attacker’s job for them and favor the ground to begin with?

Going to ground is not an “advantage” on the street or Battlefield, this is where the clear difference is seen between Sporting and Combative.

This is where we see the Point of Demarcation between “Survival Arts” and “Sporting Arts.” The words, “Martial Arts” have been whored out to the point you don’t know what you are getting into anymore. It might be Sport, Spiritual, Cultural or Survival Oriented. Very few have several of the components at once, but they do exist.

So, to those that train to go to the ground to get some sort of “advantage” over an attacker because you think it is cool and you believe the hype, hey! You might just win! But what if you are fighting someone who does not play around? What happens when that folding knife, pocket screwdriver or boxcutter comes out that you never knew existed? It’s not going to be like sparring or a demo where everyone gathers around and they all know for the most part this is now shifting to the “Knife Defense” portion of class.

No, you’re going to feel it in most cases before you ever see it because smart, violent people don’t let you see anything, you’re already bleeding and maybe dying in some cases, before you even realize what happened. Understand that it is a myth that everyone will threaten you with a weapon before they use it on you. Especially if they are losing because you are more skilled than they are and you are actively beating them or humiliating them. Understand what I am saying, a common boxcutter that can be found everywhere, a little bit larger than a stick of chewing gum, can kill you. Understand, precisely, what I am saying…if you can feel your pulse, a boxcutter with intense pressure from the attacker, can sever that vessel. In general, if the pulse can be felt, you can cut the vessel with a very small but sharp knife.

Same thing holds true for the attacker having a concealed handgun that you did not know about. It is hard to get the “advantage” when you’re shot three times crossways through the thoracic cavity before you even knew what happened.

On the ground, you are vulnerable to weapons you did not know the attacker had to begin with. You are vulnerable to multiple attackers, the guy you are fighting, and he might have friends, relatives or associates that you don’t know about. Perhaps someone will just come up and kick you in that thick head of yours because they want to get a hit in and you’re there and you’re not supposed to be in that neighborhood. You know what I mean? There won’t be any opportunity for cool sporting movements when your head is punted like a juiced up NFL Player would boot the pigskin during the Super Bowl.

And, like it or not, even if you are crazy enough to say, “I’ll fight on broken glass!” Or perhaps you are nutty enough to claim; “I don’t care if you gouge one of my eyes out!” You’re not tracking properly on the concept of survival; you’re stuck in the game! Life is not a game, the street is not a game and the battlefield is not a game.


Don Rearic

Mola.mola wrote:

Michael,

Just a small point, a strangle and a joint lock can be applied from a standing position.

Kevin

Yep, but Matt specifically talked about the ground. Sorry I am not saying anymore on this as I promised Roper I would shut up in return for a slice of Blueberry Swirl Cheesecake.

Regards,

Michael O'Leary
www.wingtsun-escrima.ie

Mola.mola wrote:

hehe fair enough.

I said in another post last night that I would probley apologise to you today, so,,, get ready for it. Sorry for referring to what you do as a fad. I was drunk and feeling a little self-righteous because of the crap you were writing. I actually like what you do. (Just don't tell Roper!)

Regards,

Michael O'Leary
www.wingtsun-escrima.ie

Mola.mola wrote:

I was writing crap ? :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: me? TAKE THAT BACK. Let me investigate.