Most certainly, that is the case, all of your information is correct. The problem is, most people are going to learn self-defense instead of a martial art. Striking is impractical to start out learning for purely defensive purposes.
If a person wants to learn a martial art, for physical or mental disciplinary purposes, more training can be arranged. Also, a concern is that which you pointed out. Familiarity with the environment is usually not a luxury we have. In a training setting, the environment is uniform or at least fairly constant. On the streets, God knows what the environment is like. Strikes, basically, can be used by us with great effect, but that's only after you've grabbed a person, unless you've gotten lots of training. If I've got someone, I'm going to do a pressure point, wrist or arm lock, or throw them hard because that'll do more damage and disable them faster than a strike, based on odds of hitting the target. Remember, these are based on self-defense, not professional martial arts issues. Everyone should know self-defense, but not everyone wants to know martial arts. Signed: Dakotah Rickard -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Christopher Bartlett Sent: Thursday, January 03, 2008 12:29 To: Gamers Discussion list Subject: Re: [Audyssey] Accessible self-defence I must take issue with the idea that striking is impractical for a blind person. It's a matter of distancing. Get in close and your lack of vision becomes far less of a handicap. In fact, if you've trained yourself to have good tactile and tactical awareness, the contact of one hand on your partner/opponent/attacker should give you a good notion of where the rest of his/her body is. I'm trying to work past that to the point where I can pick up incoming motions/attacks in space before the contact is made. When it works, it's one of the most beautiful feelings I've ever experienced. On a practical evel, movement is your friend. If you are confident of your environment, constant motion will reduce the effectiveness of an incoming attack, particularly if it is unpredictable. Seek to close with your attacker, particularly if he has a weapon. A weapon is only an asset at its optimum range. Get inside that range and you make it a liability. All of that isn't easy, but it can be done. Christopher Bartlett --- Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. All messages are archived and can be searched and read at http://www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED] If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, please send E-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] --- Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. All messages are archived and can be searched and read at http://www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED] If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, please send E-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED]