As martial artists, we’ve logged thousands of hours kicking, punching, running kata, sparring, and holding stances longer than a normal mortal would consider reasonable. We’ve read dozens (if not hundreds of books) on the fine and esoteric art of dismantling another human being’s body as part of our training.
But, if you look at statistics for death and injury worldwide, as much fun as we’re having, it’s a stretch to call all of that “self-defense.” Sure, it might work if we’re attacked, but the chances are we won’t be attacked. Violent crime is incredibly rare in developed countries. What’s more, the confidence and awareness good training inculcates in us means we’re not likely to be targeted by violent criminals. They tend to choose more easy marks for their mischief.
That’s not to say we shouldn’t train. The benefits outside of combat we get from it were the topic of the first article Black Belt ever paid me to write. I’ve been doing this for almost 40 years at this point, and don’t plan to stop.
What I do mean to say is, we should add some other forms of training into our repertoire, stuff that does come up in protecting ourselves and the people around us far more often than the entertaining violence we practice on the mat. Here are my five favorite.
5 Other Forms of Training Martial Artists Should Take On
#1 Ballroom Dance
A marriage ago, I was in love with a woman who was both a black belt and (during college) a competitive ballroom dancer. We had a brief conversation where I said “I don’t dance”, and she told me she had seen me do kata and I could shut up and learn to dance. So I took several months of classes.
The first thing I noticed was how it helped my sparring and rolling. The awareness and attention to a partner I had to practice in dance class slipped into my sparring. Things got to the point that often I found myself reacting to my opponent wanting to make a specific move rather than them beginning to make that move. It was weird, and frankly really cool.
The second thing I noticed was that awareness entering other parts of my life: navigating crowds, spotting the problem guy in a bar, even my driving.
We talk a lot about developing situational awareness, and get much of our advice on that from people in war zones. Ballroom dance is better training for civilians in this vital self-defense skill.
#2 Improv Theater
De-escalation comes up a lot in martial arts circles, because we keep telling ourselves it’s better to talk a fight out of happening than to actually go hands-on with somebody. It’s important, I think we all agree.
But how often do we drill on it, or give it any real attention beyond saying how important it is before learning yet another way to lay down the smack on some hapless bad guy?
De-escalation is the art and science of talking somebody down in a fraught situation. It requires a range of subskills from a gift for gab, regulating our emotions, body language, and managing our facial expressions. We don’t much practice any of those on the mat.
People practice all of those all of the time in an improv drama class. Not only that, but if you do it in front of a live audience, you get to do it all under adrenal pressure.
I know. I know, improv drama is sort of frowned on and made fun of, and it’s scarier to some of us than getting jumped in an alley…but I’m telling you from experience. Six months of this and your de-escalation game will be better than you ever imagined it could be.
#3 First Aid
Of all the items on this list, I’d bet this is the one most readers have taken formal training in. I know of several dojos which require some sort of first aid training or certification as part of their black belt prerequisites.
This makes sense. After an attack, all but the very luckiest will need some sort of first aid…and it helps in all kinds of situations outside of violent crime. From car wrecks, to long hikes, to unlucky moments in our own back yards, the need for basic healing skills comes up multiple times each year.
But it shouldn’t stop there. Experts in harming humans should be experts in healing humans. I’m not saying we should all put in the time and money to become doctors, or EMTs, or nurses. I am saying to look into some advanced layperson medical training options like:
- Stop the Bleed courses, available free in many areas
- Wilderness medicine training, for when you can’t get to a doctor right away
- Massage classes of one sort or another
- Backwoods medicine, to brush up your herbalist game
- Getting your basic first aid/CPR/AED instructor card
Any of these puts you several legs up on the average civilian for lifesaving skills you’re far more likely to use than the kicking, punching, shooting, and stabbing we so love to practice.
#4 Nutrition
Go look up the top causes of death in developed countries, among adults. Violence doesn’t even crack the top ten. On the other hand, four of the top five can be mitigated and made less likely by attention to diet.
You are what you eat, and as martial artists it’s on us to understand how our diet impacts our ability to stay alive. It’s self-defense in a way none of our violent skills can begin to touch.
If you’re in an HMO, reach out to their education department. Most either offer nutrition classes in-house or will get you a discount on one in your local community. If you’re not, look to the community education departments in your local community college and hospital. If you’re really motivated, check out some online nutritionist certifications or professional courses.
Whatever you choose, getting more current and robust information on how our food helps and harms us will make you safer. It’s not as much fun as learning a new gun disarm or choke, but it’s far more effective.
Editor Note: For a deep dive into the connection between proper health and being a high quality martial artist, be sure to check out Jonathan Snowiss’ article Nutrition/Health, Life and Martial Arts!
#5 Defensive Driving
Auto accidents represent the single most common cause of accidental death across all-ages. There’s little sense in spending multiple hours each week learning better ways to kill people if we spend zero hours a year learning how to drive more safely.
Defensive driving classes range from basic skills review, to high-speed or environmentally specific options, all the way to cool bodyguard and spy maneuvers. You can spend as much as you would on a month of classes at the dojo for a one-day refresher, or a few grand on a weekend or full-week intensive.
Either way, you directly approach one of the most likely ways you will get hurt or killed – and one of the best skills for protecting the people around you. Also, they can be really, really fun.
Okay, So Now What?
If you’re not teaching martial arts right now, I challenge you to choose the item on this list you’re most uncomfortable about taking on. Pick it, then find a class. Jump in with an open mind and an eye for how it will keep you safe.
If you are teaching, I dare you to make these part of your curriculum. Maybe you invite an instructor in for a quarterly workshop. Maybe you make them a requirement for rank. Maybe you get your own certification and make it part of what’s taught at your school. Whatever you choose, you’ll be taking direct, important steps toward helping your entire student body have better self-defense skills they really will use.
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Great tips! Awesome to be a well-rounded AND effective martial artist like the renaissance men and samurais of yore.