Navigating the Martial Map
A framework for understanding the distinctions and relationships between three key aspects of martial training: self-protection, fighting, and martial arts - by Iain Abernethy
Note: this article was elaborated and posted with the expressed permission of Iain Abernethy. You can view the video explaining the Martial Map by Iain Abernethy in the following video:
The Martial Map by Iain Abernethy outlines a framework for understanding the distinctions and relationships between three key aspects of martial training: self-protection, fighting, and martial arts. Abernethy argues that mixing these areas leads to unfocused training and ineffective skill development. By clearly identifying the objectives of each area, practitioners can train more purposefully.
Let’s use the following Venn Diagram to illustrate the concepts:
The Three Main Areas:
Self-Protection (green):
Focuses on avoiding becoming a victim of crime through awareness, de-escalation, and personal safety measures. Some examples are: putting locks on your door, not drinking yourself silly in public spaces or driving around in dangerous areas. Other aspects of self-protection skills include understanding your legal rights for self-defense and situational awareness – concepts we will cover in future articles.
Fighting (yellow):
Defined as the effective use of violence to achieve a specific goal, such as winning a competition or subduing an opponent. Fighting emphasizes techniques and strategies tailored to a particular context or objective, like sport or law enforcement, but doesn’t inherently overlap with self-protection.
Martial Arts (red):
Combatively inspired disciplines practiced for personal development, cultural preservation, health, and aesthetic value. These may include non-combative practices like traditional kata or philosophical teachings.
Overlapping Areas:
Self-Protection & Martial Arts:
Traits like ego control and personal discipline that enhance both safety and character development.
Self-Protection & Fighting:
Physical skills used to escape danger, emphasizing survival rather than winning.
Fighting & Martial Arts:
Combative techniques practiced for cultural or personal reasons, even if no longer directly applicable.
Common Ground:
Universal traits like physical fitness, strong technique, and mental resilience that benefit all three areas.
Key Takeaways:
Effective training requires clear goals and acknowledgment of distinctions between areas.
The map encourages practitioners to assess their training practices critically and avoid the “by-product myth” (assuming skills in one area automatically translate to others).
Balanced training can help individuals develop as fighters, martial artists, and self-protectors, provided the objectives of each are addressed separately.
Abernethy’s Martial Map promotes clarity in martial arts training, aiming to foster better fighters, martial artists, and self-protectors by aligning practices with their intended purposes.