Expert: Colin Wee - 1/24/2007

Question
I am a 21 year old female in okay shape and I would love to get involved in martial arts. I have taken a self defense class that I loved and would love to continue I just don't know what type I want to study. I think I would love the kicks of tae kwon do but I also live by myself and want something that would help if I was attacked. I was also wondering if the stretching machines I have seen online actually work? Thank you!

Answer
Brandi

Firstly, let me congratulate you for taking the effort and time to look after your personal self-defence needs. Not enough young adults (or adults for that matter) take heed of the necessity of such training.

Now, the self defence training you have taken will probably be different from what is offered in a regular martial arts class. Most martial arts classes introduce basic stances, movement, and simple blocks and attacks. Newer techniques are taught that require this foundation. Self defence courses however, look at how to communicate the most practical movements in as short amount of time as possible – whether or not you’re performing it correctly or maximally is an entirely different matter. So don't expect a continuation of what you did during that SD course.

Each martial art style has its own plusses and minuses. It is difficult to generalise but many martial art schools just don't get you into effective fighting form until you spend at least a few years training with them. Some of the few that do, and which might cater to your immediate needs, in a relatively short time are: Krav Maja or Wing Chun or some Philipino system. Just how quick and how effective is dependant on a number of things, the most obvious one being who your instructor is and what he wants the class to accomplish.

Saying that, other systems, even those may even delve into the competitive arena may give you excellent and practical skills. This too depends on the instructor.

Might I suggest that most hard style ‘sporting’ martial arts are not good for women or for your self defence needs. Sporting styles improve your strength and fitness for competitive performance. Few of them teach you skills to pit yourself against a real live hard-core opponent who will eat those techniques (typically high kicks and light punches) for breakfast and you along with them. Sporting type schools are those that might have a lot of children in their class, or which might have lots of trophies at the door, or which might have a very ‘glossy’ exterior – a beautiful website or slick dojo. This is a generalisation of course.

It seems the less polished the school is with customer service, the better it may be for real martial arts training. My own instructor said to me the other month, I’d rather not have beginners come to me, and I’d rather that they quit quickly … so I can get on to train those that really are interested in training. So go into those training halls and smell the sweat, look at the dullness of their uniforms, and see their seriousness. Those are the places where you’re going to learn some practical skills. Doesn’t matter if they call themselves Taekwondo, or Karate, or Jeet Kune Do. The labels don’t matter.

Re: Stretching machines. Don’t waste your money. Do some research on the web regarding how to stretch. There are a few interesting and modern techniques that will help you lengthen your muscle fibre safely. Those same articles will describe to you exercises you can do by yourself. I’ve been able to do splits since I was 14. I’m now 37 and still have that flexibility – and yet no stretching machine has graced my home.

Lastly … deep breathe … how well you’re going to do depends entirely on how far you are willing to take your practice. If you want a way to get into shape and stay fit, that’s what you’re going to get. If you want something that will cover some self defence needs, that’s what you’re going to get. If you want to be a serious martial artist and also cover your self defence needs, then your path will be made clear to you … after you stick with something year in and year out.

Good luck.

Colin