How can I learn about how military martial arts work?

[LucifinaLaurel]

So I've run into a slight snag in one of my books. I have a character who's supposed to be a hand-to-hand expert teaching younglings in a sort of paramilitary indoctrination facility, but I don't know a damn thing about how the martial arts style she's supposed to know (Jieitaikakutōjutsu, lit. Japanese Self Defense Forces Martial Arts). Or any other similar style for that matter. This really sucks because the book is going to have quite a few fight scenes in it and I want to get the choreography descriptions and terminology right. That, and I wanted to have a scene where they're teaching their class, which requires me to have such in-depth knowledge.

Problem is, I can't find many resources on the web about how specifically these types of martial arts work other than the basics of the more popular Krav Maga, which isn't one of the styles I want to add to her repertoire. So does anyone know where I can find this knowledge, or is anyone here an expert on the topic?

 

[Tocotin]

Hello,

I can recommend two things:

1. Watch YouTube videos, as many as you can. There's a lot out there. Put 自衛隊格闘術 in the search box and check everything you can find. Read comments, you might find some resources there too.
2. Check out a great Tumblr blog about writing on martial arts and all things fighting, How To Fight Write. The couple running it are experts and they accept questions.

Good luck!

 

[Theology of Bagels]

While I'm not an expert on any military hand-to-hand combat techniques, I did teach martial arts for several years. My style is a hybrid sport karate, mostly based on Japanese Shotokan. Apply salt as needed to the following.

In a class setting, most of what a sensei does (after calisthenics and stretching exercises, because you can't have your students hurting themselves due to their muscles being cold) is correct form. You probably can get away with learning a few names for different punches, kicks, or grapples specific to your chosen style, but all you need for authenticity in dialogue is commentary:

"Kick your heels out" - often said in reference to a poor stance. My senseis used to push me to prove my stance wasn't good, lol. I'd lose balance and have to move my foot to catch myself, which usually fixed the problem.

"Turn your hip over" - punching power comes from your hips, not your arms. Hip position can also affect the power and stability of your kicks.

"Don't lock your elbows" - extremely important when punching, doing downward blocks, or breaking a fall. It's probably the single most common mistake I saw with new practitioners or students with bad form, and it's one of the most dangerous. Great way to break your arm.

"Keep your guard up" - if your style involves sparring, keeping your fists up to guard your face and body is a common refrain. It's easy to let your hands drop too low, opening your face or chest to an attack.

For a military combat style, I would expect it to focus less on katas (memorized sequences of techniques strung together in a lengthy routine) and more on grappling and close-quarters fighting, including how to defend and wield modern weapons like guns, clubs, and knives. If I were running a paramilitary group, I'd want my students to know how to do basic punches, blocks, kicks, how to break chokeholds and other standing and ground grapples, and how to defend against someone coming at you with weapons. I'd probably introduce a lot of improvised weapon training and some Judo techniques (throws and sweeps) to my more advanced students. And the corrections I'd give would be mostly to ensure they wouldn't hurt themselves while fighting, rather than getting their form textbook. Street fighting is ugly and quick. Proper form optimizes power and strength, but it takes a long time to cultivate unless your student has natural talent or previous training.

 

[Theology of Bagels]

This really sucks because the book is going to have quite a few fight scenes in it and I want to get the choreography descriptions and terminology right.

Got so caught up reminiscing about my teaching days that I forgot to address this.

I wouldn't lean too far into the terminology in fight scenes, because the reader probably won't be familiar with them unless they know the style. To be totally honest, the things that break my immersion when it comes to fight scenes are when they're over-choreographed. So...most Hollywood films. And keep in mind, I'm trained in sport karate, the style that has become more and more gymnastics with punching.

There is a huge difference between stage fighting and real fighting. In a real fight, you're probably going to rely on fists, elbows, knees, punches, very basic kicks, and grapple techniques (if the fight lasts long enough to end up on the ground) to survive. If there's a weapon involved, it'll be like a sharp or heavy extension of an arm, unless it's a firearm. Spinning kicks, jumping kicks, fancy wristlocks and sweeps, etc. are less reliable, slower, and could potentially expose your back and take your eyes off your opponent. That's risky.

All that to say, when I read a fight scene as someone with a martial arts background, I judge it less on the terms used and more on where the characters decide to strike, how they strike, and how they react to being hit. Forehead-to-forehead headbutts are concussion fodder that just look cool in movies. Knees to the groin are effective, especially when the recipient crumples (autonomic body reaction is to fold) and the attacker follows up with an elbow or uppercut to the nose, temple or throat. Knees and elbows in general are really durable, generate a lot of power, and are super useful in close quarters.

The best advice I can offer for researching fight scene verisimilitude is to watch karate tutorials and note how the people being hit react. I also highly recommend studying the fight scenes in Netflix's Daredevil. Their fight coordinators were excellent, and they managed to balance realism with flash. Jim Butcher, author of the Dresden Files, also has some great fight scenes in his books. He's a martial artist as well, and his fight scene narration is really approachable and authentic.

Overall, though, most of us in the know won't really mind if a writer puts something silly in their book. If it's a compelling story, we don't care.

 

[Corax]

So I've run into a slight snag in one of my books. I have a character who's supposed to be a hand-to-hand expert teaching younglings in a sort of paramilitary indoctrination facility, but I don't know a damn thing about how the martial arts style she's supposed to know (Jieitaikakutōjutsu, lit. Japanese Self Defense Forces Martial Arts). Or any other similar style for that matter. This really sucks because the book is going to have quite a few fight scenes in it and I want to get the choreography descriptions and terminology right. That, and I wanted to have a scene where they're teaching their class, which requires me to have such in-depth knowledge.

Problem is, I can't find many resources on the web about how specifically these types of martial arts work other than the basics of the more popular Krav Maga, which isn't one of the styles I want to add to her repertoire. So does anyone know where I can find this knowledge, or is anyone here an expert on the topic?

Well, speaking as an Army veteran, most militaries don't bother with martial arts these days. Gun-Fu is surprisingly effective.

As you say, Krav Maga is used by Israel and some special forces elsewhere. I am unaware of any military that regularly teaches anything else.

If you're looking for inspiration, ideas for effective martial arts, Brazilian jiu jitsu might be a good starting point. I took a fair amount of karate prior to my time in the military and got a general feel for what's out there and I wouldn't say anything else is especially well adapted to military needs.

Unless there's a specific reason why hand to hand combat is emphasized in your culture it doesn't make much sense to have a focus on martial arts in the military. 99% of the time soldiers will have access to weapons, and unless you're writing about an anime style world where people with bare hands regularly beat armed opponents it just doesn't make a ton of sense.

 

[LucifinaLaurel]

Unless there's a specific reason why hand to hand combat is emphasized in your culture it doesn't make much sense to have a focus on martial arts in the military. 99% of the time soldiers will have access to weapons, and unless you're writing about an anime style world where people with bare hands regularly beat armed opponents it just doesn't make a ton of sense.

Yes, this is absolutely the case. I'd say it's less strictly military and more government-funded urban fantasy assassins, so there are obviously going to be characters who just have that souped up supernatural martial arts theme going on so they can appear unarmed even when they absolutely aren't.

 

[Corax]

Yes, this is absolutely the case. I'd say it's less strictly military and more government-funded urban fantasy assassins, so there are obviously going to be characters who just have that souped up supernatural martial arts theme going on so they can appear unarmed even when they absolutely aren't.

In that case I'd take more inspiration from Japanese and Korean cinema. The martial arts you describe simply don't exist in this world.

It's a bit old now, but if you can find a copy of Volcano High it's a good live-action adaptation of anime style martial arts (not currently streaming, so might be hard to find).

 

[benbenberi]

Yes, this is absolutely the case. I'd say it's less strictly military and more government-funded urban fantasy assassins, so there are obviously going to be characters who just have that souped up supernatural martial arts theme going on so they can appear unarmed even when they absolutely aren't.

One word for you: wuxia

The Chinese have been writing fantasy assassins/martial arts for a long time, as well as making films and TV of it. Go bathe in the waters of that overflowing spring for a while and you're sure to come out with a pot-full of ideas how to do what you want.

 

[LucifinaLaurel]

One word for you: wuxia

The Chinese have been writing fantasy assassins/martial arts for a long time, as well as making films and TV of it. Go bathe in the waters of that overflowing spring for a while and you're sure to come out with a pot-full of ideas how to do what you want.

Can you recommend any good Wuxia for this purpose, then?

 

[Bing Z]

Unless there's a specific reason why hand to hand combat is emphasized in your culture it doesn't make much sense to have a focus on martial arts in the military. 99% of the time soldiers will have access to weapons, and unless you're writing about an anime style world where people with bare hands regularly beat armed opponents it just doesn't make a ton of sense.

In June 2020, Indian and Chinese border troops engaged in a brawl in the Galwan River valley which reportedly led to the deaths of dozens of soldiers (Wikipedia). The two sides have some agreements that disallow using firearms in these situations to reduce the possibility of escalations. They used sticks and pipes, bare fists, and throwing stones.

IRL it is honorable for both sides to stick to the rules, I think it is a good starting point for a novel.

 

[Elenitsa]

Can you recommend any good Wuxia for this purpose, then?

Crouching tiger, hidden dragon
House of Flying Daggers
Curse of the Golden Flower
The Forbidden Kingdom
Man of Tai Chi

 

[benbenberi]

Can you recommend any good Wuxia for this purpose, then?

In addition to the things Elenitsa mentions, I would suggest for a written example the works of Jin Yong, esp Legends of the Condor Heroes (recently translated into English in 4 volumes) -- there are also several TV adaptations of this very popular work.

For a lot more possibilities, the Wikipedia article on Wuxia is a good place to start.