If you don’t want to screw up in a real life self defense scenario, try and practice JUST 2 or 3 core techniques (and what to do if the situation changes) on a bunch of different probable scenarios and rep it. When in defense circle/random attack/gauntlet, try using only those 2 or 3 moves for every applicable attack you encounter and pick something that works for you on different body types. Make sure you also rep the follow up techniques just in case something bad happens.
Remember, everyone is different so there is no end all and be all technique but there is something that works for you, when you find it, REP it
The 2 minute Coles-Notes on Fighting like a shameless man when you NEED to win.*
1. Break the UFC rules: The Eyes, Ears, Nose, Neck, Knees, Fingers, Toes and Crotch are a great place to start your shameless fight. Unless he’s wearing hockey gear, chances are these areas are not protected. Also MMA fights don’t train to protect themselves there too. (Did I mention Hapkido is NOT a SPORT and there are NO rules?) So use these areas as a distraction to launch your full fledge technique (such as a move my friend named passionately, “THE MANBREAKER”)
2. Hit Him in Mid Sentence: Most people NEVER see that coming. “Hey man Fighting is… <insert technique of choice here>”
3. Pretend to cry: What kind of man cries? I do, but guess what, you just got your ass kicked by a man who cries.
4. Ask him a question: “Hey man, why are you so upset?” then hit him. He won’t be upset when he’s TKO’ed.
The Bottom Line: Get him thinking about something else before you hit him.
* I am not responsible if you start a fight and get your ass kicked. I do support this behavior
5. CORE MUSCLES: work on them (core workout section coming soon i promise). ALL techniques for all martial arts require strong core muscles for stability, balance and power (everyone has heard of kicking power coming from your hips! well your CORE is what moves those hips!!!). They are very important and this is something everybody should work on. Plus do it for the ladies (or guys)!
4. Back to Basics Babe: Basic foot work and escapes may seem stupid and boring, but they are very important. Pretty much every technique (at least in Hapkido) requires the basic star footwork and opening the door. So spend some time practicing it. You want to be solid on your feet and not on your knees (or worst)
3. ASK someone: Sometimes all it takes is someone pointing something out to you that you don’t realize you’re doing. “Hey Francis, do you know you’re spitting?”
2. Practice Makes Perfect: Practice the technique over and over and over and over again!
And Finally:
1. Repetitions:HOW is this difference from #2? It’s not. HAHA i just need YOU to understand the major importance of practicing. Jackass.
If you’re getting bored of the plain old techniques in the curriculum, try spicing up the techniques a bit. Today in an impromptu class with a Fellow Black belt we experimented and diversified our portfolio. We went through a couple sets in the curriculum and did all the punch defenses as wrist grabs and vice versa. We also tried all the push techniques as shoulder grabs and vice versa. What we came up with was pure gold! What we ended up with NEW straight forward practical techniques. We also found a practical fit to some techniques that never seemed work (at least in my eyes).