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Anarchism and Martial Arts

# | 14.05.2014 13:37 | Anti-racism | Education | Health

Anarchism and Martial Arts

The Left and Anarchists have usually had a strange attitude towards martial arts. Preaching 'revolution' and 'self help' on the one hand, whilst not actually being able to defend themselves, never mind fight in the streets. So we've got self help on one hand that strangely does not apply to people's own capabilities to look after themselves on the street.

We are aware that macho sexist behaviour can be a problem, but people like the prominent activist Becca Kirkpatrick in Birmingham combine gym work with trade union activities (& there are more). They are not incompatible. There can be hierarchies between teachers and students in some martial arts clubs, but we aim to disolve these barriers and work in a supportive cooperative way.

Throughout much of Europe there is a severe fascist/far-right problem, and in response anti-fascists organise training and popular MMA forms. In true anarchist fashion, makeshift gyms, classes and skill shares have pushed the anti-fascist scene in a truly new and professional direction. Self-defence has become a way of learning the street crafts of defending ourselves in dangerous situations. Using the DIY (Do it yourself) anarchist ethos, which is one of skill sharing without prejudice or hierarchy.



Let's see videos:


Italy
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_wrukRdyV8
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkawe-0HzZI

Russia:
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNRazWuSlzQ
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hv8JxRWn-VY
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsB-boYMaQ4
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uf-dNLXLKkI
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQqjvPf0Rfg

Ukraine:
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4EEx9gJf9I

Poland:
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEuPnCVOSas
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMsHklBZ_S0

#

Comments

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Spain

14.05.2014 13:53

Spain
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Fqspg84zpQ

.
- Homepage: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Fqspg84zpQ

JKD

15.05.2014 07:26

I have just started a Jeet Kune Do class. It is Bruce Lee's fighting style, a mixture or Wing Chun,(about 80%) and Western boxing (20%). It is not a sport, but a an actual street fighting , real life scenario, system. No grading, no hierarchy. It is very much about technique, body mechanics and deception. Using these it doesn't matter if you are not the biggest or fastest of people. There should be plenty of these in the larger cities. Definitely worth a look.

Crow

Skill sharing

17.05.2014 10:36

There are very few within the anarchist scene (in the UK at least) who are capable of delivering the quality of instruction needed to make people proficient in any martial art. This is an area where 'skill sharing' has a role but should not be the main method of developing knowledge or experience

Rather than trying to teach ourselves boxing, Muay Thai or MMA or whatever it would be better if anarchists joined local clubs, trained with everyone else (maybe even spread some of our ideas!) and then brought those skills together regularly and passed them on.

However to gain a street level of skill and proficiency i.e to be able to use what you've learnt under full adrenalin pressure you need to train three to four times a week for more than six months - that training should not just be fitness and working the pads but involve sparring and other contact drills.

Most anarchos - including those currently flocking to the 'antifa' banner seem to fetishise being really skinny and really skint. For the most part this will preclude the level of training required.

Grumpy Old Manarchist