Popular culture has had a huge influence on what average folks think about when they hear the term martial artist. Lots of people think of the movie Karate Kid, and imagine a martial artist as someone who dresses up in a gi and black belt, who breaks boards and bricks during competitions that take place at local civic centers.

This imagery isn’t all wrong – sometimes legitimate martial artists enter these kinds of competitions to earn money or to promote their gym or school. However, the life of a martial artist isn’t all about karate forms and weapon demos.

It sounds a little bit cliché, but true martial artists use the techniques and tools that they learn to overcome tribulations in life. Whether that means using self-defense skills to stop a home invader or using discipline to overcome a difficult life event, it is the ability to deal with adversity that martial artists focus on.

More often than not, martial artists prefer balance and peace over chaos and aggression. Sometimes, though, certain situations demand that reason and tranquility be put on the back burner. This is especially true when one is in the midst of a physical altercation in the street.

Martial arts can be incredibly helpful in achieving balance in one’s life, but they can also be brutally effective when used against an attacker who doesn’t know how to fight properly.

Some of the most potent kinds of martial arts used in the street include jiu-jitsu, wrestling, taekwondo, Muay Thai, boxing, and judo. Have you ever seen a large, spiteful bully try to pick on a smaller man who has studied judo for his entire life? It doesn’t usually end well for the bully.

To see some exciting examples of martial artists using techniques in the street, check out the video below.

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Ray Higginbotham is a professional writer and an avid fan of MMA. You can follow him on Twitter @_MMARAY for more.