It is interesting that we are debating the modern application of HEMA, when so many modern EMA are horrible for self defense, but just fine for tournements. I have seen 1 year black belt wonders pull their punches and kicks in a real fight just like they do in tournaments because that is how they train. It is usually a nasty shock to the guys that train this way when they find out that their "indefeatable" training is nothing but a sport without any real teeth. That is one of the reasons why boxers generally destroy most black belts, they learn to actually hit their opponents.
I mean compared to this type of strip mall training that so many people recieve, thinking they now know how to defend themselves, which is so pathetic compared to what I have been seeing in the type of training done in ARMA, and by others in the WMA community. (don't get me wrong here, there are people in the EMA community that have very good training and are very dangerous in a fight, I am referring to the general pap that so many are fed whose whole purpose is to get money for handing out belts.)
The techniques left us by the european masters are wonderful because they have not been watered down by modern day sports and modern day conventions and even outright lies and hoaxes. We have all seen the so called "master" who has decided to reveal the till now hidden techniques handed down to him by a secret chain of masters going back ad-nausim. At least we can trace the masters like Fiore, Silver, Lichtner (spelling?) and have a historical understanding of why they were considered masters and mostly where they traveled and taught. Thus we know the techniques are sound because they come from a time when real hand to hand fighting was done for your life.
Since the techniques are solid, I think the real question would be in a self defense situation is how well rounded is our own individual training. If all I have done is train in Long Sword, and he grapples me, then I am in trouble. It is a matter of having proper techniques well trained in all ranges. Plus as has been said before, a strong awareness of our surroundings at all times. In my own opinion the best training we could do for modern self defense applications would be a combination of your empty hand wrestling techiniques both your italian and german styles are very good, I especially like Fiore. Plus I would include a series of striking arts like pugalism of some sort and a series of what to do if he has a knife, etc. Not to mention some form of physical conditioning exercises. I would also think that a good knowledge of the Law where you live as it applies to what you are allowed to do for self defense.
There are a lot of people who express the opinion that you should never do anything physical to defend oneself, but should instead try to weather the attack and maybe survive. You could end up being judged by one of them if you have to go to court for inappropriate levels of violence, while "defending" yourself. I mean, if someone punches at you in a bar are you allowed to perform a ligadora and then a throw that results in him landing on his head and cracking his skull open? Courts of all nationalities are known for being much harder on the trained martial artist than upon the person who instigated the attack in the first place.
In black belt magazine I read of a case in Canada where a teenage boy had been taking karate classes for about 4-5 months - he was attacked by three of his school associates and tried to defend himself - in the process he managed to break the arm of one of his attackers, but the other two put him in the hospital. After he got out of the hospital he had to go to court over the attack where he was placed in Canada's form of Juvinille Jail because he was a trained martial artist and should not have used these "leathal" techniques against anyone.
A lot of experts on what is allowed for self defense use what they call the ladder of escilation. Meaning simply if we are at this level of confrontation this is what you are allowed to do or should try to do. For example, He is yelling and threatening you - you should simply try to disengage or walk away not remove his head from his shoulders. These so called ladders change from area to area according to the local laws, thus a understanding of our laws and what we are allowed to do to defend ourselves by the law is a very neccessary form of self defense.
In the United States the general approach on self-defense seems to be was your back "against the wall." Meaning could you retreat instead of fight, and was the confrontation happening at a place you had too be at (i.e. work and it is a fellow coworker) or in your home, would be a couple of examples of places where you may be considered to have your back against the wall. And even then different states have different laws pertaining to what extent you may then harm your attacker in self defense.
In some States if a man has invaded your home you may shoot him, in others he must first invade your home and then make appropriate threats (either through gestures or verbal communications or outright attacks) before you may shoot him. In still other states it may be outright illegal to even own a gun without all the appropriate paperwork.
Of course there is always the old American saying of "I would rather be judged by 12 than carried by 6."
Just some thoughts (which I hope are well written since I keep getting interupted by my 3 year old <img src="/forum/images/icons/smile.gif" alt="" /> ) on this interesting and fascinating subject. Do with them what you may.
Brian Hunt.
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