Go for Filipino martial arts (Eskrima, Kali, Arnis). Filipino martial arts start with weapon training, which will boost your coordination by quite alot. Most of them actually start with some variation on the Sinawali (which means "pattern" or "weaving") style, which is using two weapons of equal length at the same time. It is mainly used for exactly that: developing coordination between both hands and your footwork. I have quite some experience with a broad range of different martial arts, and for me, nothing what I do improved my coordination (never lacked that much, though) like training with two canes. Besides, Filipino martial arts are still rather combat orientated, meaning that it is not "an art for the ring" like many styles you see today. Don't get me wrong, I am not starting to hate on any other sport or art. I regularly practice "ring arts" like Muay Thai or Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and you would not want to tangle with any of its practitioners who are well-trained. Ring arts just have the "disadvantage" of being trained under the aspect of having a certain set of rules. Just take a look at some MMA fights where pure boxers are pitted against someone who is not, and watch their footwork and defense go bye-bye because they have not practiced it.
With that said, do not pick up martial arts for the wrong reasons. I did it because I simply wanted to do something that involved moving. I guess any martial artist can testify that once you reach a certain level of confidence and skill in your art, you will not be needing it anymore. You will simply automatically stay clear of any situation that could potentially dangerous. Wanting to defend yourself is a your every right, and it is something everyone should be able to do. Just remember, and this comes from someone with legal knowledge, if you want "to rip a man apart", in most civilized countries, YOU WILL BE GOING TO JAIL for it. If someone tries to mug you and you smash his head in without a warning, or break every bone in his body, breaking his neck or choking him while you are at it, you better pray that your prosecutor does not know that you are proficient in self-defense. There IS such thing as use of excessive force in self-defense.
On an additional note: I would stay clear of Krav Maga. This is just my personal oppinion based on experience I made with it and some of the people I know. It IS a self-defense style, but at least for me, it promoted too much false security. Practicing "self-defense" maneuvres is NOTHING that comes too natural, or fast. Those maneuvres have to be practiced on preferably daily basis, over the course of YEARS. Self-Defense courses have an other goal: They are aimed to build confidence, so that you don't seem to be a favorable "victim" to potential attackers. Krav Maga instructor's are usually very high skilled. Mine was an ex-soldier, who looked still very intimidating and was very capable. But he trained for it. For years. Every day. And still, if weapons are involved, YOU WILL GET INJURED! If someone assaults you with, say, a knife, YOU WILL BE CUT. YOU WILL BLEED. These aspects are something that will not likely be taught in pure self-defense classes, because they don't belong there. That does not mean that you should not try it out. Go ahead, try Krav Maga when you have the ability to do so. Just keep in mind what I told you. You need extraordinary dedication and time to develope self-defense skills you can rely on. You could be a 300 lbs beefcake with pure muscle, if someone attacks you with a knife, all that beautiful muscle will not protect you from the fact that it is very likely that the first stab is going to kill you.
01 Jun 2011, 12:58 pm
