Deputy Travis Junior said:
Dads on the board, I think you're doing your sons a disservice if you don't put them in jiu jitsu for a year or two. I'm not victim blaming, but I see some of these videos and the guys on the ground are clamming up and are completely oblivious to what the standing assailant is doing. With even a little training the victims could clinch or submit the attackers. Jiu jitsu is also less upsetting than a punch so your son is less likely to be charged or suspended for using it in a fight.
My suggestion, having some experience in this area, is 4-5 years of tae kwon do, or a similar Korean style fighting art. There is a lot of emphasis in most styles on not only taking punches but also working with multiple attackers. I know many think TKD and similar arts aren't realistic and its true that high kicks (for example) aren't sound practice on the street. However, like learning Latin, you don't learn it to speak it but to know English better -- you don't learn TKD to use it; you learn it to engage in a LOT of very beneficial sparring (among MANY other skills and abilities like flexibility).
A year or two of boxing training. Most encounters, if they become physical, can be ended very quickly with hand techniques like boxing punches. Plus, there is no better physical conditioning.
The aforementioned Jiu jitsu or other form of ground fighting is VERY important. Grappling and even wrestling is fine. He or she MUST get comfortable on the ground as most fights will end up there.
Finally, some training, and it could be in one of these, in fairly simple, akido-like defensive moves to get an attacker off of you or someone else.
Unfortunately, once a conflict becomes physical, just about everyone is going to get charged or suspended. Its the way the schools work these days. Get a good lawyer and make sure your kid knows the difference between using his or her techniques to STOP the attack and beating the hell out of someone.
