2 of 58

by E. B. Karas

• Writing:

• A
• A
• A

I have spent the greater part of my life training in the martial arts. For the past nearly twenty years I have come across many styles, instructors, schools, and philosophies associated with the martial arts. I have been instructing for nearly ten years now and have heard many of the same questions come from students or potential students. Most commonly, the questions tend to be about which martial art is the "Best", and which is the right one for them. Generally, I answer these question with my own question. I ask my students or potential students, what they are looking for specifically within a martial art. Almost unanimously, I get the standard answers of "Self-defense, work-out, discipline, competition, and confidence." In no way do I mean that these are not important aspects of your own martial arts training, but unless your potential instructor is just awful, you will get all of these regardless of where you go. So what becomes the important thing to ask yourself?

I always give my students or potential students the following phrase to ponder over. "If the worst possible situation confronted you right now, which of the five things you told me you're looking for in a martial arts is going to really save your butt?"

Take some time and think about that.

The obvious and correct answer should stand out right away, it's "Self-defense." So the next logical question becomes, "which self-defense?" With the hundreds of martial arts hybrids out there today, it is impossible to choose a best. No single martial art is the best, and I strongly believe that any instructor telling you otherwise is not one you should train under, but rather it is how you learn the martial arts that is most important. Simply put, I mean if you train stand-up fighting, then you will be proficient on your feet. If you on the other hand train on the ground only, then your realm becomes the ground. So again, the concern should be on how you are learning the martial arts.

The way I teach my students I have come to term as, "4 Zone Self-Defense." What is 4 Zone? To answer this question, I want you to consider this. That worst possible situation I mentioned earlier, how many situational areas on confrontation are there? The answer is 4. In Any situation, you have a stand up while apart area of confrontation (zone-1), you have a stand up within reach area of confrontation (zone-2), you have a stand up grab and tackle area of confrontation (zone-3), and you have a ground area of confrontation (zone-4). These four put together becomes my 4 Zone Self Defense.

Understanding that all fights start standing while still apart, and move toward standing within grabbing distance, and then to tackling/throwing distance, and finally to ground confrontation is all key to understanding what self-defense is. A proficient martial artist needs to be able to successfully defend not in one , but all of these positions. So, here is what I teach my student and I have spent nearly twenty years trying to perfect myself.

For Zone-1, I teach the stand up Korean martial art or Taekwondo. Taekwondo's lethal striking and kicking from a very upright stance lend itself perfectly to the initially confrontation and need to defend oneself.

For Zone-2, you've transitioned to being within grabbing distance of your opponent, and here the Korean art of joint manipulation/submission known as Hapkido renders itself extremely useful. This art is all about joint locks and throwing at distance to you opponent. It is extremely effective and known as a gentle art because striking is not required to subdue your opponent.

For Zone-3, the Japanese martial art of Judo is perfect. Remember, you are now within a tackle and throw distance to your opponent, meaning you're right up against them. The many easy to learn and ultra effective throws that Judo teaches, is what makes Judo such a loved martial art in tight situation confrontation.

Finally Zone-4, the Brazilian perfected Jiu-jitsu is another gentle art that has mastered the techniques of ground fighting. No other martial art has shown such supremacy in its applications on the ground. With its endless amount of techniques, Brazilian Jiu-jitsu uses submission, joint manipulation, and weight distribution to finish the ground attacks of any opponent.

Once again, it requires one to be very proficient in all these areas to be an exceptional martial artist. Being proficient in only one area, very much limits you to how effectively you can defend yourself in a real world self-defense situation.

A prospective martial artist needs to begin their training in any one of these areas. Choose an area that interests you most, find a great instructor who you've watched teach and perhaps even had a trail class from, and devote yourself to that art. Eventually, add an art form within another of the areas mentioned above, and before you know it you'll be training all these areas. If you're looking for one instructor who is proficient in all four zones, I recommend that you be patient. These instructors are few and far between, but when you do find one that is great, you will be that much closer to being a proficient martial artist in the 4 Zone Self Defense philosophy.

Good luck, get in there, and just make it your life. There is truly nothing as wonderful as living the life of a martial artist.

I can be contacted at the following website:
www.roaringtigermac.com

Learn more about this author, E. B. Karas.

Add your voice
Know something about Best martial art forms for self defense? We want to hear your view. Write now!