martial arts as self defence, is it a load of BS?

[Gorbash]

I was watching the Penn and teller BS series and they had one on martial arts. i thought it was quite funny and some interesting points.

it has swearing and some nudity though
hope it doesn't offend

http://www.megavideo.com/?d=HAB3LG2Q

[Nazareth]

Very good!

I'd like to see them cover full contact fighting sports though...

[Goober]

I'll have to watch this later, what I've seen of BS has been really good.

I don't necessarily agree with it all, and it is pretty polemic, but it's usually funny and well argued.

[Matt NZ]

"The first thing I'll do when I wake up is drop down and do three hundred knuckle push-ups, and thats before breakfast".  The Karate Master.

This clip is halaaaarious!  Thanks for posting Gobrash

[eugenemcfadden]

I saw the show a few days ago.  Does neatly skewer the worst aspects of MA.  The Qi Gong woman was nuts, the self defence guy was detached from reality and the karate guy was talking out of his anus ("the belt system comes from Okinawa").  

It was a bit sad really, but seems to be the state of affairs or martial arts in America.  Was kind of like watching the Foot Fist Way too.

Euge

[Ronin]

OH DEAR LORD!!!
300 pressups before breakfast!  Well, not such a big deal if you have breakfast at 7pm of course

Just seen the Hawaiin Gi!! NICE!

Sensei Creampuff!

The whole thing was very entertaining and it is very worrying what marketing can do to a Martial Art.  Damien was a little unerving and the little old dear clearly had mental health issues!  Your organs are talking to you?? Of course they are!

[ToffeeApple]

On a laptop atm, so I'll probably join in the discussion next week.  Just have to comment that the foot fist way was an awesome movie, and if you haven't watch it, do.

[Genghis]

Not exactly balanced reporting - for example, what did the chap who was criticising everybody else do?  And what did they mean exactly by 4 injuries per year?

But it was a fair criticism of the worst excesses of MA practice, and they were probably right, that if you get mugged every couple of years, and just give the mugger your wallet and watch, you'll probably save a lot of money over mat fees in most clubs (especially the expensive American clubs).

Just emphasises that we should just all be careful what we claim!  And good entertainment.

G

[Goober]

I get the impression that BS is not trying to be balanced reporting, it is a comedy show first and foremost, if it makes people think then all the better.

[Genghis]

I'm sure it is, although I've never seen it.  But, to criticise something, you still have to find something worthy of criticism!

G

[eugenemcfadden]

to be fair, they hit the big targets:
Strip mall Karate
Nutsy Tai Chi
Uber Deadly Str33t Self Defence.

But those are generally what a lot of people think of when the think "martial arts".

[Urban Fisherman]

In my experience, its very frequent for MA instructors to BS when they start talking about self defense or the street. Almost no-one has even attempted to systematically look at the risks, and try and then try to identify how to reduce these risks (and the cases when they cannot be reduced). Starting from the top, consider Captain Tau's experience of dealing with the aftermath of assault:

My experience of treating assault victims is, according to their version of events, is simply unpredictable punches out of nowhere.

The first problem self defense should be dealing with is punches coming out of nowhere. This is difficult in a martial arts setting as generally people expect to be attacked (in some way, shape or form), so are already slightly on edge.

Now, hazard perception is well researched in other fields of risk management, especially driving, (although it's proved more difficult to assess and improve hazard perception in driving than would be hoped).

Applied to self defense, what risks should people be looking for? Do these vary from person to person, and context to context? How can we improve ability to perceive these risks (better scanning appears important in driving)? How should people respond to these risks: cross the road? run? scream? fight?

[PointyShinyBurning]

Applied to self defense, what risks should people be looking for? Do these vary from person to person, and context to context? How can we improve ability to perceive these risks (better scanning appears important in driving)? How should people respond to these risks: cross the road? run? scream? fight?

And does a sane cost-benefit analysis justify 'self-defence' training for the average person whose job does not involve violence?

[Urban Fisherman]

Applied to self defense, what risks should people be looking for? Do these vary from person to person, and context to context? How can we improve ability to perceive these risks (better scanning appears important in driving)? How should people respond to these risks: cross the road? run? scream? fight?

And does a sane cost-benefit analysis justify 'self-defence' training for the average person whose job does not involve violence.

Exactly.

[BrassMan]

Applied to self defense, what risks should people be looking for? Do these vary from person to person, and context to context? How can we improve ability to perceive these risks (better scanning appears important in driving)? How should people respond to these risks: cross the road? run? scream? fight?

And does a sane cost-benefit analysis justify 'self-defence' training for the average person whose job does not involve violence?

No, but that isn't really the point, is it?