In terms of personal protection, you don't need a high level of skill in martial arts (techniques to use). Basically, you need on the average about 5 skill sets, per each skill set 2 to 3 techniques. You also need and most importantly, awareness of your environment and planning for attack situations, and try n' true pre-conflict de-escalation skills. Any more skill set or high level skill training is over skill for personal protection against the average jerk- who is most likely not skilled in fighting if he attacks you. The chances of having a skilled fighter attack you any where is slim. The chances of a poorly skilled attacker, attacking you is high. For a good example, there is the well known vid of the martial arts dropping a pimp in the street with a basic telegraphed back fist. The martial artist didn't do a strike that was of a high level or sophistication to drop the pimp-you can tell the martial artist only need half of the skill he delivered to drop the pimp.
The basic back fist, it’s dynamic, and application, can be learned in a few days at the most, and practiced to be a reflex in a week. It isn't a high level technique, yet just as effective to end the conflict as a high level technique.
It was clear the pimp was not well trained in fighting as he walked right into the combative zone of the martial artist, despite the martial artist telegraphing his strike. It would have been a whole other story if the pimp was trained in martial arts at a high level of skill. The martial artist then would have needed many techniques to drop the pimp, if the pimp was highly skilled in fighting. It is evident that pimp felt he had enough slapping down women to take on the martial arts instructor.
So, do we need to learn all those high level techniques (with all the nuances and fantastic results) to be effective in terms of personal protection? The odds of being attacked by a highly skilled fighter is very low. More than likely than encountering a highly skilled fighter, you may be confronted by some one who has had moderate training. I am delineating those who are watching and practicing a bit the moves they see on TNA, some street fighting while drinking, those who drop out of martial arts classes after 6 months, or those who buy martial arts DVDs and self-study at home. Basic skills with the above abstract skills will take care of them. What is the importance in learning high level skills in terms of personal protection?
In my opinion, a person doesn’t need to get to a high level of skill to be effective when it comes to personal protection. You don’t need to learn a long list of kata, or the secret baffling high level skills, or every single archaic technique an art offers. That is more about politics, promotion, monetary gain, recruitment, and jumping through hoops then fighting. I think in this case it is a matter of technical de-evolution. This is the best way to go in terms of being effective technically.
Any thoughts?