Just curious to see if anyone supplements their self-defense training with martial arts. I took Jui Jitsu classes for a bit and thought it was great (other than the cost). That being said, I would go for my gun before I tried to take a life threatening bad guy to the floor. That being said, if I didn’t have my gun, I could uses some of the skills I leaned. I also know some martial arts compliment firearms use.
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When I was younger I did. I still incorporate some of what I learned. But I am not who I was 20+ years ago. So I use my tools. Now some of those tools and moves come from martial arts, but going to ground and pound . That is like last last resort.
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Same for me. Through my 20s and most of my 30s I did, but into the early 40s and with a family now I have chosen to train with my firearm. Not time for both with family, job, etc. I do miss it though.
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I would like to supplement with martial arts at some point, but I’d like to find a class that incorporates it with firearm training. I practiced martial arts in my early teens until my mid-20’s and, similar to weights, I feel like there is some muscle memory. Now whether my mind is in sync with my aging body is a completely different story! 
If you trained consistently it’s very likely that your body would naturally use your training if needed, but going pound to pound with an attacker while my family is present is probably my last resort. Martial arts, pepper spray, firearm - (not necessarily in that order, but) whatever stops the threat. 
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I had a coach who once corrected me and said that firearms are the West’s greatest martial art. There are all kinds of armed and unarmed martial art systems designed for competitors and warriors, but the ability to hit a target or multiple targets with gunpowder and lead was something developed in Europe and (nearly) perfected in the Americas.
The big difference, he continued, was the equality. “Colt made us equal.” To become very skilled at unarmed martial arts takes years of training and practice, and requires ongoing physical conditioning. Most armed arts are similar. Skilled swordplay became a nobleman’s art both in the East and the West because it requires so much training. But a gentleman and a plebe are relative equals when they both have firearms and know how to use them.
I think all martial arts, including firearms, have this in common: you train for it and hope you never need it.
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great question. It seems a lot of CCW have a lot of courage/b@lls/testosterone because they carry a gun. I wonder what happens when they go to a stadium where they can’t carry and meet some rowdy’s.Then what. I actually studied Krav Maga before I carried so I have always walked with confidence. I’ve convinced myself I’d use KM before I reached for my gun to eliminate the legal hassles. Someone mentioned you have to have years of train in MA to become proficient. If you learn self defense, KM, you learn enough to get yourself out of sticky situations. Everything doesn’t have to be a John Wick moment.
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MMA takes a lot of dedication to training. Too much for me to allocate. Places that prevent the carry of a firearm provide security–you have to trust them. Even LE generally when off duty can’t even carry in a stadium–that’s why the uniforms are there.
I know only about MMA from my fiancé’s son, who is a professional MMA fighter (UFC guy) and title holder. He truly makes it look easy because he is so good, and so fast–but he trains constantly. (I think he must have cabin fever right now due to the shut in rules in Calif).
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I want to learn BJJ just gotta find a reputable training center. IMO if the person is unarmed and it’s just a fist fight BJJ and boxing or Muay Thai are your best options. If I don’t have to use deadly force and can just restrain the person while the cops are on the way I’m fine with that. I have a background in amateur boxing so I know how to punch without breaking my hand or wrist lol. But I can’t grapple for ■■■■.
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If you’re in Sacramento her son has a gym there. They train pretty much every imaginable MMA.
I’ve debated on responding to this, because with text I can’t tell if you are being sarcastic or if you really think CCW holders think they have Cuevos because they have a gun and spineless victims without.
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Just read some of the responses here. I’m too old…etc I’ll just use my sidearm YADA YADA YADA. I just started carrying three years ago but before I did I viewed many youtube videos, websites and forums and there are many people who think because they carry that side arm they are badass. hence my post.
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Self Defense is NOT MMA. One hour a week minimum. You need to keep yourself save until LE arrives. That’s why I stress self defense.
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But it is harder for older people to get into martial arts… and fire arms a real viable option for everyone. Guns are called the ultimate equalizer. Some people have chronic injuries and disabilities. I actually saw a woman paralyzed from the waste down at the range a couple months back. I though that was amazing/ eye opening (disabled people become easy targets for evil people. They should have a means to protect themselves too. At the very least, firearms is an accessible hobby for many people)
Also, martial arts is full of meat head over testosterone dudes… but that doesn’t mean EVERYONE is that way. Same here. I really like this community. I don’t always agree with everyone, but this is a respectable community unlike a lot of other gun forums.
I took jui jitsui to learn how to protect myself. I didn’t want a gun. After all the money I spent, getting injured because a guy cranked on me to train for a tournament, I realized Guns are the best tool for self defense. I could train to hammer nails with my fists… but a hammer is much more proficient. I could learn a martial art, but I could also carry a tool for self defense. If I had to pick between a gun and martial arts, I’m going gun EVERY time.
My other issue is martial arts is typically really expensive, and not financially accessible to everyone who is not 100% dedicated to it.
Happy Easter!
There will be the “testosterone-driven” egos in almost every area.
Having done Tae Kwon Do for years, I think anyone can do it- no matter their age or physical ability. Now the ability to defend yourself using a martial art when you’re physical ability is limited isn’t as likely, the training helps focus and stamina. That will help with physical defense - even with a firearm.
I’ve seen plenty of inflated egos in the firearms community and in the martial arts community. Inflated egos aren’t helpful to anyone. I think that’s what we’re all getting at, just from different directions.
BTW, when I was a massage therapist I had a big bulky construction worker who said I’d never be able to hurt him (he had more than 150 lbs and a foot on me). With my TKD knowledge and massage therapy knowledge, I had the guy on the ground in pain in less than 10 seconds because I knew where to strike and how. It’s not all about strength and size. You don’t need to be huge or even that fast to be able to use pressure points and vulnerable points to take your attacker down. As they say, Knowledge is power!
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i took a class in college called “Functional Anatomy”. We used a book massage therapists used and my respect for massage therapists went way up! The amount of knowledge required is insane.
Would MMA training not be proficient in your opinion?
I like Krav Maga like you mentioned because it I’ve seen videos that actually incorporate guns and knives in the training. It seems like a practical martial art for lack of a better word.
Though this was relevant. It’s a navy seal who talks about using martial arts.
I’ve been studying martial arts since I was 13. With my main focus being Escrima. It’s a Filipino stick fighting art. I love Escrima because you can turn almost anything into a weapon. That’s why the art was created. The peasants weren’t allowed to have weapons.
The first thing I would do is wonder why in the world am I at a stadium? But we will go with I am there and meeting your crowd of rowdies. The first thing I am going to do (because I am a cuevo less gun owner) is the most important skill you learn in martial arts. I will try to deescalate whatever has this mythical group of rowdies focused on me.
I’ve talked on here before about how to make field expedient weapons. Office tape is a great thing. This is where perspiration meets preparation. Know what’s about 2 feet long and 2 inches thick? (wrong forum type 
up here please 
). An Escrima Stick. Know how to make an Escrima Stick in a place where there is no wood?
You use 10-20 pages of newspaper rolled up really tightly and throw a couple of clear wraps of tape around it after you fold it, and yes I would have that done in a place where I am weaponless.
I now have 2 “sticks” of the right size and I go to work. It doesn’t take alot of pressure in the right places. Go to the Warrior Poet Society and look for some of those improvised weapons. John and another guest made improvised clubs and were hitting each other in the head while wearing motorcycle helmets.
Physically, I am a mess, back fused from L-1 down to S-2, both hips replaced, and a rare medical issue dealing with stress.
But I’m not going to put myself in that situation, and if I couldn’t help but being in that position, I would try to deescalate, failing that, maximum violence in minimum time. Using pressure points, joint locks or soft tissue injuries.
But what do I know? I am a testes less gun owner and my gun is just an over compensation for that lack.
YMMV
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I think martial arts has its purpose in self defense. Who’s to say that you’re very close to someone and next thing you know, you’re in the middle of a confrontation and you can’t engage your firearm because you’re both into some sort of physical altercation. It would be nice to always being able to distance yourself from people but that’s not realistic. So you may be Jerry Miculek on the range but one day you might not even be able to use those skills and you’re depending on your own skills. We have a local marital arts gym that teaches jui jitsu but what’s pretty cool is if you’re a local LEO, you can train for free. I think that’s pretty bad ass on the gym’s part on recognizing who could use their facility and become more prepared and then use it that same day when they go to work.
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