Important Martial Skills, Other than Martial Arts
Learning martial arts and its practical techniques can help you defend yourself in real-world critical situations, be it bullying or physical assault. Many of the martial arts systems taught here at Strickland’s Martial Arts (like Taekwondo, Silat, Kali or Muay Thai) emphasize defending oneself against various threats and learning how to neutralize an attacker efficiently through escape holds, defence against strikes, and how to use your body effectively to protect yourself. But are these self defense martial skills all you need to know?
There are other important life skills like the defensive martial arts of karate that offer a range of benefits beyond just self-defense. Here are some key life skills worth learning that are essential to self preservation and are considered self defense skills.
Important Martial Skills that compliment Self Defense Martial Arts
Knowing how to use Firearms: A firearm can be an effective tool for protecting yourself and your loved ones, provided you are trained and legally allowed to carry one. Knowing how to handle a sidearm and or other firearms are important skill sets that should not be overlooked.
CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation): This is one of the most martial important life skills you can acquire. Knowing how perform CPR is a critical skill that can save someone's life if they stop breathing or their heart stops beating (cardiac arrest). CPR can also be needed for drowning victims or during choking emergencies.
How to apply a Tourniquet: Knowing how to use a tourniquet is an essential skill that can make a life-saving difference in emergencies, particularly in situations where severe bleeding occurs, especially from limbs. A tourniquet can buy precious time until emergency medical help arrives, increasing the likelihood of survival.
Simple skill sets that are at risk of loss to most people today!
Telling Time with an Analog Clock or Watch: Knowing how to read an Analog clock or watch is a very important skill even in this digital age. Knowing this skill ensures you’re never dependent on digital devices alone. Its essential in places where digital devices aren’t allowed or are impractical.
Driving a Manual Car: Knowing how to drive a manual means you can handle any type of vehicle. Be it “four on the floor or three in the tree,” knowing how to drive a stick shift can prove invaluable in a situation where only a manual car is available so you won’t be stuck.
Knowing how to Swim: Being able to swim is a life-saving skill that can prevent you from drowning and be helpful in life threatening emergencies, for both you and for others needing help. There’s little to no excuse for not knowing this vital skill.
Riding a Bicycle: Something as simple a riding a bicycle can help you navigate places when other transportation isn’t available. Thus knowing how to ride a bike can be helpful in emergencies.
Riding a Horse: Overcoming the fear of horses and learning to ride could prove useful. Horseback riding can be an alternative mode of transport in rugged terrains or when no other forms of transportation are available in emergency situations.
Rowing a Boat or paddling a Canoe: Knowing how to row a boat or paddle a canoe could be essential for navigating water bodies in emergencies. Knowing these skills could prove useful in a situation where motorized transport fails or is not an option.
Driving a Motorboat/Ski: Knowing how to operate a motorboat/ski properly can be useful in situations that may require you to operate it, both inboard and outboard types. This knowledge could be very usefull in emergency situations.
Driving a Motorbike or Scooter: Knowing how to ride a motorbike and a scooter could prove to be helpful in emergencies. Knowing the difference between the two machines and they handle are crucial learning skills.
How to Sail a Sailboat or Hobie Craft: Knowing how to operate a sailboat or a Hobie catamaran (Hobie Craft) could prove to be a valuable skill in an emergency when no other option presents itself.
Primitive Martial Skills that one should pursue.
Making Fire: Fire is one of the most essential survival skills, whether for outdoor adventures, emergency situations, or self-sufficiency. This is a skill taught by survivalist.
Using a Compass: Knowing how to use a compass can help you find your way home in unfamiliar terrain without relying on technology. Be it on land or underwater compass navigation can help you navigate out of dangerous situations if stranded.
Reading a Map: Knowing how to read a map improves critical thinking by requiring you to plan routes and adjust to obstacles. It proves useful for disaster preparedness when modern navigation tools fail.
Knot Tying: Learning to tie knots can be lifesaving in emergencies, like creating a rescue rope or securing a splint. It also prove useful for fire-starting, shelter-building, and first aid in survival situations.
Lock Picking: In non-criminal and legal scenarios, such as being locked out of your home or car, knowing how to pick a lock can be a lifesaver if other options aren’t available.
Building a Shelter: Knowing how to build a shelter is a crucial survival skill that can be the difference between life and death in outdoor or emergency situations.
These are but a few of the life skills that are invaluable in shaping a well-rounded, capable, and confident individual. These skills empower people to lead fulfilling lives, contribute to society, and handle the complexities of the modern world. How many other life skills are you aware of that are not listed here?
