Q: i'm trying to get some self defense training. i want to be able to defend myself in a street fight situation. i'm not interested in getting any martial arts belts. i just want practical, hands on, hand to hand combat instruction. all of the local martial arts schools seem to be more theory than practice. i'm currently enrolled in a kenpo karate class, but i spend all my time waving my hands in the air, not fighting any real opponents. help! 

A: MOST people are initially drawn to the martial arts for self-defense reasons. After they are internally convinced that the instructor, art, curriculum, etc. is what they are looking for they begin studying. But low and behold, soon they find out that they are being indoctrinated into a "system". Then you are studying esoteric terms, katas, techniques, etc. in order to get your next belt so you can get the "real" techniques.

If you are lucky, you have a good instructor who can turn this "theory" into practical application.

I'm a product of a traditional Okinawan karate curriculum and I can fight. I was lucky and had two very, very good instructors. But I'm not sure the path that I took was the best nor the most direct. There are many items in my arsenal that I would not use in an actual confrontation. Now, on the other hand, I have had 6 years of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu instruction and I feel it has given me a fighting foundation that is about equal to my 15 years of karate experience. In other words, I feel I learned more, faster in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu than karate.

The key is to look for the instructor first, not the style. Be careful here. I've met some really interesting guys that sound like they are for real, but turned out to be full of baloney. I remember one guy in particular that ran a school that had many of its instructors hired out as bouncers. This guy was a blowhard and his reputation was more in his own mind than in actual performance. Once many of his "instructors" were found out to be paper tigers, his bouncing business went down hill. He is still making money off of unaware students though.

So you need to ask around town. Find out where the cops train. See who draws military and private security operators. A warning here, the REAL stuff is hard to find and -- often -- is really physical. You will be fighting here. You probably can count out the overly tournament-oriented schools.

Generally, I like Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Jeet Kune Do, Muay Thai, Kick Boxing, and Krav Maga. However, there are some really, really tough guys in every other style imaginable. But generally, some "styles" are more combat oriented and some are more sport oriented. I don't have much experience with the styles that bill themselves as "lethal" like ninjitsu and hwarangdo. The key, again, is to have a good instructor.

You should be studying empty hand techniques, an impact weapon (baton), and an edged weapon and defense against those weapons.

Finally, there is an entire self-defense faction that goes straight to firearms. While it is true that the firearm is probably the easiest to learn and easiest to use tool for self-defense, it is not a panacea and you will not be able to employ it all the time.

For a good article on the pros and cons of various styles, go to Henry Williamson's article on Choosing an Air Crew Self-Defense Program.