EMA FAQ
Q: What is the best martial art style?
A: There is no superior martial art. Every style has its place in the MA world. Some styles fit some people better than others. Some are geared toward sports and others toward self-defense. Some have attributes of both. There are even those that seem to be neither sport nor self-defense and just look like dancing.
Q: In what styles are you trained?
A: In order from most trained to least trained: Taekwondo, Krav Maga, Kickboxing, Karate, Wrestling, Grappling, Jiujitsu. see the “about us” page for more details.
Q: How do I go about finding a good MA school?
A: See articles: “The 10 Steps to Finding a Great MA School and Succeeding In It!,” “Avoiding McDojos,” and "Finding a Martial Arts School
Q: What’s the best style for self-defense?
A: The first thing you must realize is that there are many, many opinions on this topic. Short of actual street brawling, the best MA style for self-defense is the one in which you train the hardest. In other words, almost any martial art can be applied to the street as long as you convert its “fine motor skills” into “gross motor skills.” This concept is discussed in various articles and videos in this website.
You also must understand that there are certain styles that are closer to the self-defense end of the MA spectrum than are others. For example, Krav Maga was invented strictly for self-defense. But as I previously mentioned, if you get good enough at any martial art then you have practical tools.
Q: How important is strength and being in good shape?
A: In my opinion, it is very important. The reality: It depends. I’ve known many seasoned martial artists at a master level who are hardly in any shape at all, but at the same time I wouldn’t mess with them any day of the week. However, they are seasoned. Maybe back in their day they were fit and in shape. If you are young and out of shape, I would recommend getting a good fitness program going along with your MA training. Being in good shape DOESN’T HURT. It may just open doors that otherwise wouldn’t be open due to lack of physical training. Also, there are a lot of gimmicks out there that claim you don’t need to be in good shape to win a street fight. They will spit out story after story of how this old couch potato took on five guys in a bar because he bought their exclusive, state-of-the-art self defense video that was originally taught for Navy Seals but has been miraculously leaked. If you have any sense of logic, you won’t waste your money. It is true that winning a street fight doesn’t have much to do with physical fitness, but it does have everything to do with physical ability, to which fitness can contribute substantially.
Q: Do you condone the new MMA craze?
A: Sure, why not? It’s fun! However, we must remember that it is a trendy acronym that represents a sport. Sports such as boxing, kickboxing, muay thai, and MMA are not necessarily conducive to self-defense. If you only want to learn self defense, don’t participate in a “combat sport.” Furthermore, MMA is not a good representation of traditional martial arts, which teach respect, discipline, peace, personal value, duty, meditation, and inner-strength. These qualities are rarely expressed in the egotistical MMA craze. You’re safe as long as you are able to distinguish between the terms “sport fighting,” “street fighting,” and “traditional martial arts.” They are not all equal in purpose.
Q: If you’re not a master level instructor of any martial art, why did you decide to create a website based on it?
A: It is true, I am not a seasoned martial artist. I am a young martial artist. I do not claim to have greater knowledge or ability than anybody else. If there is something I cannot teach, I will research it, learn it, practice it, master it, and then teach it. If for some reason I am unable to do so, I will happily refer you to someone who can. I insist that this website be a supplement to your MA training and not be your only source. A great martial artist is open minded and seeks to learn from more than just one style, and hopefully more than just one website.
Q: What can I learn from your MA website?
A: You can learn the basic principles of various forms of martial arts. There is a very heavy emphasis on self-defense in this website. I don’t believe that a martial art is truly “martial” unless it has within it components of real-life application. If you would like to learn how to defend yourself, I will be able to teach you many of the key concepts, techniques, and principles that you will need to fulfill your desire. If you want to become a black belt in martial arts, I can only provide some information based on how to find a good school and definitely some supplemental videos, articles, and other information that will guide you along the way.
Q: Why doesn’t your website focus on one martial art?
A: Because there is no superior martial art. Anybody who tries to convince you otherwise is very loyal, but also naive and ignorant.
Q: If you’re a black belt, does that mean that you’re “street safe?”
A: Of course not. Formal training is invaluable, but it cannot fully prepare you for the real thing, which has no referees, protective gear, mats, rules, or predictable opponents. It knows no boundaries and is very unpredictable. Formal training is a simulation of the real thing, and can therefore only take you so far. Short of going out and picking fights with random thugs, the best thing you can do is get as good as you can with the simulation and trust in your abilities. I’m not trying to discourage formal training by any means! Remember that the better you get at the simulation, the closer you will get to understanding the real thing, and will therefore be much more prepared for it than if you hadn’t trained.