I wish I had gotten into combat sport earlier. There are all kinds of benefits from learning to fight that would have made my life a lot easier. Why you should learn combat sport:

+ You learn to defend yourself. I don't mean when your life is threatened, but in certain situations you cannot be intimidated. You can defend your own code and ethics and choices free of intimidation. You don't have to apologize when you're in the right because someone gets in your face. Of course, if they have a weapon you're still ****ed, and street fights are never the answer but most people back down when you show that you're not a pushover.

+ You learn humility. You might be the toughest kid on the block, but if you're not trained to fight, in a gym you'll be someone's bitch. That someone might be 70lbs smaller than you, or a foot shorter. You learn to respect and not bully people, because you realize that some of the people who can absolutely fuk you up might look weak and harmless on the outside. I have seen some large newbies sparring by going all out on their sparring partner, only to get dropped when their partners lose their patience and hit back. In this respect it is even more beneficial to kids who are prone to be bullies.

+ You get into a good, fostering environment. Save a few in the ghettos, most combat sport gyms harbor a friendly environment. Whatever your goal is, if you train hard and generally aren't a fuking dick, people will welcome you. Like it or not, you'll have to interact with your partners whether it is sparring or pad work, you can build a relationship with them through a healthy activity. Nobody gives a fuk if you have pimples or a manlet or a ginger, you all pay to be there for the same thing. Once you become a regular at the gym, people will know you by name. The coaches will know you by name. If you train hard and put in the effort, people will respect you and like you. And if you fight, or train seriously, you'll have a group of friends akin to brotherhood. It's a small circle of people who sweat, hurt and beat each other up, trying to get better. I have trained at 3 different gyms and my experience had been the same. I made a lot of good friends in these gyms even though I'm not always the most sociable person.

+ You get fit. I can't speak for other disciplines, but Muay Thai is extremely cardio intensive, and I know boxing is the same. You won't get jacked, but you'll be more agile and explosive in the motions which are required of the sport. Before starting muay thai, I ran a mile in 7 minutes, which is pretty decent, but in my first muay thai session I could barely survive the warm-up. If you want to look jacked, you can always add in weight training, as a lot of fighters do; they look like the Terminator and can definitely fight like one.

+ Meditation. As to why I put this here - meditation is simply the practice of being in the moment. Basic meditation involves using anchors such as breath counting to keep your mind from being distracted by thoughts. Combat sport is the same. You won't be thinking much when you're gassing out, or trying to coordinate your strikes on the pad, or trying to defend yourself and timing your attacks in sparring. Every session I come out of the gym with an absolute sense of peace, as if I know all of my problems can be solved with a roundhouse kick.

+ Managing your anger. For brahs who deal with anger issues, combat sport will likely be good for you. Firstly, training is a good outlet to release your aggression. Many lives had been changed by combat sports. You hear stories about fighters growing up in rough neighborhoods and would have turned to violence and gangbanging if they hadn't joined a gym and train. Also, realize that most anger likely come from insecurity. You're angry some guy cut you off. You're angry because your coworkers talk shyt about you behind your back. You're angry because people keep walking over you like a doormat. The more you train, the more competent you become. You won't feel as much the sting of anger. That guy who cut you off won't bother you, because you know you can dismantle him in less than a round. You won't be angry at your coworkers talking behind your back because words from strangers don't hurt as much as a punch in the face, or a kick in the liver, and you have experienced both. You stop letting people walk over, because what's the worst that could happen? A fist fight? lol.
You might argue that this is false confidence or cope, but it gives you pride and confidence in yourself, a confidence more concrete than driving a jacked up truck or getting a barbed wire tattoo.


+ Discipline. This is self explanatatory.


It's not going to fix everything. It will not fundamentally change who you are. But it will improve you and if you have an ounce of determination in your body you can use it to climb out of the hole of flaws that disgust you and make you hate yourself.

A few things to note:

Martial arts that have no competitive nature is likely worthless. This includes Krav Maga, most Kung Fu styles, Aikido... I don't care what their value is to you, I think they are worthless.
Make sure the combat sport you're doing allow full contact sparring/fighting. This rules out most Taekwondo and many Karate dojos. One thing to look for in a gym is if they have any amateur/pro fighters. If they don't, they're useless..


Cliff: everybody should learn to fight

lol Krav Maga is the most practical and street tested form of self defense if you think sport fighting mimics a real life violent encounter you're an idiot






Cliffs- OP is an idiot.

You're very special. And I don't mean special as a compliment.
LOL so you're saying drilling with plastic knife and pretend groin strikes with a nonresisting, complying opponent is more realistic? then you've been dropped on the head too many times.

Do you even know anything about Krav Maga? Have you ever trained in it ? My guess is no because your knowledge on it is non existent. In Krav Maga you actually do train with live weapons at a certain level in addition to sparring both standing and on the ground . You learn all of the strikes you would in a basic MMA class .

It also teaches you de escalation , how to spot potential threats in addition to a myriad of other things . So maybe do your homework before you talk about something you don't know about.

I reckon I could knock OP out with a piece of wet tissue paper.

Busta you could fall out a boat and not hit water

I reckon I could knock OP out with a piece of wet tissue paper.

Busta you could fall out a boat and not hit water

No, I haven't trained in it and I wouldn't want to. My old gym has a section for Krav Maga and we would stand over the ropes in the ring and laugh at those doofus pretending to eyepoke in the Krav Maga class.

Well then your opinion is based on sheer ignorance . Have fun thinking there will be a ref to stop a street fight .

The best way to learn how to fight is to get in real fights, srs, idc how much training someone does, if you have never been in a real fight, it's like you are a virgin, you have never had sex, you don't know what is like and you don't know how it's going to be. I personally just bodybuild and I'm very strong after many years of serious training, most people can NOT kick my ass

I reckon I could knock OP out with a piece of wet tissue paper.

I called OP a ******* but now I'm starting to see his point about hardos bringing training into the streets.

And if you're learning KM from anywhere but the IDF then you aren't training krav maga but some McDojo tier bullchit.

Not true . Krav Maga Worldwide founded by Darren Levine is a very well respected organization . He trained directly under Imi Lichtenfeld who was the creator of the system . Krav Maga Global is another one , Eyal Yanilov also trained directly under Imi as well .

Idk what are you talking about, have you seen me fight? I actually have real fighting experience (real fights, no some MMA stuff with a referee), do you? I bet anything you have never been in a real fight.

Not true . Krav Maga Worldwide founded by Darren Levine is a very well respected organization . He trained directly under Imi Lichtenfeld who was the creator of the system . Krav Maga Global is another one , Eyal Yanilov also trained directly under Imi as well .

LOL. Get out of here boyo.



You're putting your stake on a system that had likely never been used effectively in self defense. Even with IDF, how often are their soldiers get stripped off their firearm and knives and have to fight for their lives with bare hands. That's right, almost never.
Show me evidence of Krav Maga in action, not some plastic knife sparring chit or rehearsed acts that you all like to do.

And you know they never have to fight hand to hand how ? Are you a former IDF soldier ? Like I said , your opinion is based on sheer ignorance . I guess we have to agree to disagree .

But since you insist



That is a real life violent encounter , not two guys in a cage .

OK, I take back what I said. In this instance he did used it effectively.

Boyo why are you backtracking

I know that most likely it will be a bunch of uncoordinated haymakers thrown around

No. What will probably happen is you'll be grabbed...

can't afford it. Those places always charge an arm and a leg. Also, I have a hard time fitting in 4 workout sessions perweek so even if I could afford it I wouldn't have time to even go.

....and I don't want cauliflower ear. Don't care what anyone says that chit is gross and only seen as "trophies" to fighting aficionados. it may be okay to walk around with that chit in the ring, but not in a white collar job.

Cuz I'm a grown up and I admit when I'm wrong. Like I didn't admit that you're not a dumb phuck because I haven't been wrong about that.

Grown up.

Body of a 12 year old girl.

Pick 1.

Grown up.

Body of a 12 year old girl.

Pick 1.