Self-Defense: Distance Is Your Best Friend
People who know little about the martial arts tend to start their search with a valid question: “Which style of martial arts is best?” Of course, this question is subjective to what the student is looking to achieve. Practicing martial arts in Boulder will give you endurance, strength, community, confidence, discipline, and skills that could come in handy if put to the test.
Discover which martial arts are best for learning effective self-defense in Boulder, Colorado.
Why Training Matters in Real Situations
When a situation calls for you to defend yourself, you will have very little (if any) time to think. If you have skills to fall back on, your muscle memory will take over. All your training—defensive and offensive—will help you. The amount of effort and time you’ve invested in practicing your skills on people and punching bags or pads will become apparent.
Any experienced self-defense teacher will confirm that awareness is your number one defense. If you can sense trouble, get out of there as fast as possible. If you're not present, you won't even get your feelings hurt.
When You Can’t Avoid the Threat
Sometimes, trouble sneaks up on us or heats up in our face. Perhaps we have loved ones who can't get away quickly. Or maybe we're surrounded or backed into a wall. Now what?
Our skills may be all we have to lean on to get us out of there fast. This could mean taking out one or more opponents.
Should we strike or grapple (wrestle) to defend ourselves?
Striking vs. Grappling in Self-Defense
One thing is for sure—the closer an opponent gets, the more dangerous the situation becomes. Striking to keep an opponent at a distance is your first line of defense. A well-placed strike to the throat or groin can drop him, allowing you to escape unscathed. Striking can be used at all distances—kicking, punching, elbows, and knees, and even on the ground.
Grappling is the last line of defense and should be used only if you weren’t able to stop the opponent from taking you to the ground. Even if you are skilled in wrestling or Jiu-Jitsu, consider this: what if he has friends who don’t mind kicking you in the head while you’re locking up the first guy? What if he pulls out a hidden knife or gun mid-roll?
Why Sport Fighting Isn’t Self-Defense
Any martial art practiced as a sport—even MMA—is not self-defense. Sport martial arts have rules, a limit to only one opponent, weight classes, and even a referee to stop the match if things get out of hand. It’s easy to glorify what we see on TV, but for true self-defense techniques, you’ll want to train with a more open mindset.
Choosing the Best Martial Arts Dojo
If you're going to start by learning a striking martial art, what type of dojo (studio) should you look for?
Look for a martial arts school that lets you try a free class to get a sense of the overall community vibe and teaching style. If you enjoy the training environment and style, you'll probably stick around long enough to learn the skills you're seeking.
When looking for the best martial arts studio in Boulder, keep these points in mind:
Try a class first. A free intro lesson helps you experience the community, instructors, and overall energy before committing.
Pay attention to the teaching style. You should feel challenged, supported, and motivated—not rushed or overlooked.
Look for realistic training. Since we can’t gain real-world experience by picking fights (and let’s be real—we’d get in over our heads), your training should simulate real situations safely and effectively.
Focus on partner training. The goal is to become comfortable—and eventually confident—at all ranges, both close and far.
Fine-tune your awareness and timing. As you train, you’ll learn proper distance, timing, and position relative to your opponent—skills that make all the difference in a true self-defense situation.
Training for Real-World Awareness
As you become more advanced, you gain a sense of what a person might do next—and how to mitigate it before it ever happens. This is pure gold. When things get heated, you’ll be able to see how your opponent is standing and what attack might come from that position, so you can react before they take action.
Why Kempo Karate Works
Kempo Karate helps you develop these skills and gives you the best chance possible to come out on top—and hopefully have enough sense to avoid the confrontation from a distance in the first place.
At Boulder Karate, you will gain the complete self-defense skill set: awareness, effective striking (arms and legs), and enough grappling to get you out of a situation if it ends up on the ground, so you can regain your distance quickly.
We're proud to offer semi-private martial arts lessons for all students to provide one-on-one attention to sharpen technique and accelerate progress.
Start Building Real Confidence at Boulder Karate
Still searching for martial arts classes near me? Boulder Karate offers a welcoming community and a proven path to growth, whether you're looking for self-defense in Boulder or simply want to gain strength, awareness, and control.
Reach out to us to schedule your FREE INTRO LESSON and start your martial arts journey today.