Page 6 - Pat O'Keeffe Combat Kick Boxing

Combat Kick Boxing

Preface

The worldwide explosion of martial arts from the mid-sixties to the present day
is a social phenomenon that bears some examination. Kung fu, karate and kick
boxing are three martial arts that enjoy broad recognition amongst the general
public, mainly due to films and television.
Many other martial arts, some quite esoteric, are gaining a significant profile.
Quite why these ancient fighting systems are in vogue in the early twenty-first
century is at once both complex and simple to explain.
There are some very good reasons for studying martial arts, among them are
health, fitness and recreation. Given the amount of time spent on leisure in the
last twenty years in particular, it is not so surprising that martial systems offering
more than just a work-out are attractive.
But the heart of matter is surely the deep psychological need for physical confidence
in an age when, despite all the technological advances made by man, society persists
in being violent.
For the public at large, martial arts mean self-defence. They are not always
sure just what the numerous systems are, or their relevance to physical protection,
but they generally accept that there exists a body of knowledge and skill that can
enhance their chances of successfully defending themselves in the event of being
attacked.
It doesn’t help when so many differing styles and systems are on offer. What is
the difference between karate and kung fu? Is silat the answer, or should I seek
out capoeira? Added to these traditional systems are many modern adaptations
that combine or ‘surf’ various elements from different styles.
Unfortunately, just to really confuse the picture, we as human beings frequently
have our own agendas when looking into the business of self-protection. Some
people, because they espouse a pacifist viewpoint, are drawn to so-called ‘soft’
martial arts such as tai chi chuan or aikido, irrespective of whether such systems
can provide the necessary elements of a realistic self-protection system. This
approach can be summarised as: ‘I couldn’t possibly hurt another human being,
so I’m learning a non-aggressive form of self-defence!’
Others see the so-called ‘hard’ styles, such as karate or tae kwon do as the
answer, but many of the hard styles are tied into ways of training that simply
don’t ‘cut it’ when it comes to modern-day violence. The words ‘tradition’ and
‘respect’ often mask an instructor’s lack of real fighting capability, though many
of their adherents would have a purple fit if you suggested that. To their minds,
sweating and hundreds of basics equal street effectiveness.
The truth is that the answer to realistic self-defence is far more elusive than
picking a martial art at random and training twice a week for a few months or
even a few years, because so many of the martial systems offered to the public are
no longer truly martial (warlike) in nature. They have been altered and toned
down, so as to attract and keep students.
Of the two approaches though, my own feeling is that a hard system has more
going for it – you should be fitter when it comes to running away!

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