As September approaches... and my (alleged) re-entry into formal self-defense training... I'm once again focusing on cshool selection. As I delve once again into the quagmire that constitues such a choice I keep coming back to the option that for me is a KNOWN QUANITY (and in this case KNOWN QUALITY!)
I've looked at many systems... and studied nearly as many ovr the years. Very few have met the standard that I have developed. They all seem to have the same issue: complexity of technique... & marketing. I am continually confounded by this phenomenon... & I intend to write about it later this month. It's baffling.
I've been guilty of it myself. There's a certain Hollywoodesque flavor about such things; especially when it comes to martial arts. The more complex & flashy the better. It's even better if they have some custom logo'd gear that you can invest in.
American Combato
Seattle Combatives
© COPYRIGHT 2009 BY BRADLEY J. STEINER - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Get Tough For The Tough Times Ahead
2009 does not appear to be a very optimistic year. Socioeconomic conditions are grave — throughout the world. The cities are packed with angry, impulse-dominated, uncivilized, violent savages. The ―system does nothing to eliminate these vermin. It has never been so evident as it is today that the private citizen — the thinking private citizen — is pretty much on his own, insofar as providing for his and his family‘s security and protection is concerned. Government has neither the means nor the apparent desire to offer much help. In Seattle, Washington, for example, word has it that police will not respond to property crime calls unless the cash value of whatever property has been stolen or destroyed exceeds $10,000. Insane? Outrageous? Just plain wrong? Of course it is.
Ask yourself how hard and long you have to work in order to accumulate $10,000. What is the purpose of having well-paid, supremely well taken care of (their overtime and benefits packages — paid by YOU and by ME — are phenomenal; and their basic pay — paid by YOU and by ME — is a hell of a lot greater than my income, and probably than yours, too. So what the f— is this?
The injustice, and the times are, as Thomas Paine wrote, of the kind ―. . . that try men‘s souls.
What to do?
GET TOUGH! And by that we mean become mentally and physically strong, hard, and competent. Disengage from the idiocy around you and hunker down — with you and yours — and establish a tough, no-nonsense policy of independence, self-reliance, and readiness.
Good, tough training in the combat arts, coupled with serious physical training and the cultivation of a no-nonsense realist‘s philosophy — amidst the lunacy that surrounds us — will of course not ―guarantee that some unforeseen, catastrophic circumstance or situation will not overwhelm you. However — tough training in the combat arts, coupled with serious physical training and the cultivation of a no-nonsense realist‘s philosophy . . . will stack the odds in your favor.
So get cracking. It‘s later than you think. Tough times demand that you be tough in order to survive them.
© COPYRIGHT 2009 BY BRADLEY J. STEINER - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Are Big Muscles Helpful?
WHILE we regard anyone who challenges the merits of progressive resistance (ie weight) training being valuable for the combatives student as being seriously misinformed, we do not feel the same way about those who question the purpose and the value of developing a "magazine cover body" — or the oversized, bulging muscles so often (and so unfortunately) automatically linked with the term "bodybuilding" today.
If you are asking "What's the difference?" then you are the victim of the kind of ignorance that those who have ruined the field of mainstream bodybuilding love to capitalize upon.
Anyone who trains correctly with weights will increase the girth (ie the size) of his muscles. However, it is not the sole objective of weight training or of "bodybuilding" to focus almost entirely on the development of huge, bulging muscles. The muscular development is a byproduct of proper training, but strength, condition, agility, and good health coupled with a sense of well being and self-confidence constitute the primary and most important training objectives.
This is even more important to understand when one takes up weight training as a supplementary activity to one's training in close combat and self-defense. The last thing that any combat arts student should hold as his training objective is the acquisition of bloated, bulging muscles. Rather, he should follow a good all round routine, developing every major muscle group, and working on general, overall strength building and physical conditioning.
One thing that many people do not realize is that the incredible outsize proportions and "superman" type physiques can only be developed by those whose hereditary potential allows for such development. Everyone cannot build a "Mr. Universe" body!
Here is what you need to know about "big muscles":—
If you train correctly, and if you follow a reasonably good diet, get enough rest and sleep, and avoid such suicidal activities as smoking, using steroids (or any other unlawful, controlled substance), heavy drinking, etc. then you will, within two to three years, acquire muscles that are as "big" as they need to be. You will have achieved your hereditary and genetic potential for size. Striving to merely bloat the muscles beyond the level of development that they naturally attain after proper all round sensible progressive resistance exercise has brought them to their natural "maximum" is unrealistic, unnecessary, perhaps downright stupid, and — often — dangerous. You (we all!) have been set by nature with our own unique genetic potential for size, strength, and athletic/physical performance abilities. Strive mightily to achieve that. Then, once you have done so, be satisfied and grateful, and keep training regularly to maintain what you worked so hard to build.
What is truly "helpful" is not big muscles, per se, but STRONG muscles, and well conditioned muscles that enable you to utilize their potential for power-output in a fast, coordinated, skilled manner. Strong muscles do tend to be big — at least bigger than when they were weak — but the primary concern when training sensibly should not be on the attainment of mere size. Build powerful muscles. Emphasize the hardest work on the major muscle groups (legs and back) in order to bring about the finest all round gains.
Sensible men do not train solely for appearance. Train the way sensible men do train, and your appearance will be fine. Today, there appear to be very few "sensible men" in the bodybuilding/physical training field. Nevertheless, they are the ones to emulate and to turn to for worthwhile advice.
[...and one more.]
© COPYRIGHT 2008 BY BRADLEY J. STEINER - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Stickwork
THE stick is a marvelous weapon. Back in the 80's we wrote an installment of our (then) monthly feature article in a major firearms publication entirely devoted to the stick — the walking stick — as a weapon of self-defense. The article was well received, and in it we were concerned to emphasize all of the great virtues of the walking stick as a self-defense weapon. Among these virtues are —
Legality
The walking stick is, even in such oppressive environments as Red China and Russia, completely legal. It would be difficult to imagine "outlawing" the walking stick, since it is a utilitarian item that many people need and carry for medical reasons.
Handiness
Unlike a firearm or a fighting knife that is carried in a holster, or a folding knife that is carried in a pocket, a walking stick is carried, properly, in the hand at all times. This makes it immediately usable against anyone whose attack is perceived to be in its formative stage.
Effectiveness
While the stick is not normally employed with lethal intent, it certainly can — in trained hands — speedily enable its possessor to drop the most dangerous individual, lethally, in a life or death encounter. The stick allows the user to inflict crippling or/and extremely painful and debilitating injuries, and to do so rather simply, and with only marginal physical strength.
Confidence
"Speak softly and carry a big stick." Teddy Roosevelt's advice, taken literally, makes excellent sense. For with a stout walking stick in hand, and the ability to use it well as a weapon, anyone may be confident of his ability to handle trouble, and may thus "speak softly", indeed.
Deterence
A man who is in possession of a walking stick, and who does not appear to actually need it in order to assist him in locomotion, sends a clear and unmistakable message to any potential physical attacker: "Not this particular individual! This one's got a weapon!"
Tactical Advantages
If you do carry a concealed firearm legally, then you also might give some serious thought to carrying a walking stick. The stick may be the means by which you secure the opportunity to access your pistol, or — it may enable you to stop an assailant without having to access your pistol, at all.
Versatility
The stick can punish, damage, or kill. It extends the reach of its user, and it bolsters all unarmed combatives. It never runs out of ammo, makes noise, jams, or is awkward to keep near at hand — conspicuously. The stick delivers hard, destructive jabs as well as smashing blows. When using certain techniques it can cut and slash, and it does not represent a danger to the user or to innocent people in the vicinity, when it is correctly employed. It would be very unlikely that a normal walking stick would be banned for carrying onto an airline.
Carryover Value
Learn how to use the stick in combat, and you will almost never be in a position where some stick, or stick-like implement, cannot be found, made, or improvised.
Combat Stickwork Vs. Popular "Stickfighting"
in the Martial Arts
Many people are engaged in training in such arts as Filipino "escrima" or "kali", and Japanese "jo jutsu" and "bo jutsu". While all of these classical/traditional stick arts are beautiful and worthwhile studying, they are not necessarily the best choice when it comes to practical combat and personal self-defense needs. As martial arts (emphasis upon the "arts") no one can fault traditional methods. But as martial arts (emphasis upon the "martial") there is a lot of room for improvement.
Get hold of a copy of Fairbairn's GET TOUGH!. Study the description Fairbairn gives of his excellent stick technique. Now THAT'S how we use a stick in combat. Or, pick up COLD STEEL, by John Styers. His well illustrated instruction in the Marine Corps' "Kengla Technique" also provides a glimpse of how — in real, honest-to-goodness hand-to-hand combat — we use a stick against an enemy.
For combat the stick is used with extreme aggression, and it capitalizes upon the element of surprise. There is no twirling, and there is no two-stick style. Nor is there competition. One ATTACKS.
Both the Fairbairn and the Kengla techniques are taught in their complete forms in American Combato (Jen•Do•Tao)™, and we include dozens of other excellent techniques and stick tactics — all combat-worthy. At Black Belt, 1st degree, we teach a syllabus of thirty(30) super-destructive stickwork maneuvers. But you don't need to study with us to acquire all that you might have need for in an emergency. Just remember: Keep it simple. Attack by surprise. Use every ounce of ferocity and determination you can generate. Move in! Keep on attacking! Go for the enemy's most vulnerable, vital points. And, for heaven's sake do not forget to first acquire basic unarmed combat skill. The stick, like any other hand held weapon, should be utilized as an adjunct and an extension of your body's natural weapons, and your combative mindset.
Selecting A Suitable Stick For Personal Defense
Anything that can be done with a baton sized stick (ie approximately 18" to 24-36") can be done, and done better!, with a walking stick. And a walking stick is not classified as a "weapon" per se.
We have always liked the English or the Irish Blackthornes. However, any stout hardwood walking stick (not a hiking stick, but a cane-length walking stick) will do admirably. Skill is demanded, of course, in order to fully exploit the weapon's potential, — but assuming that the reader understands this and is prepared and willing to train and to practice, he should obtain a plain, hardwood walking stick, or a good, stout blackthorne.
Question" "How about a ‘cane'? Wouldn't the crook on the end permit some excellent additional techniques to be employed?"
Answer: We would strongly advise that a cane per se not be chosen. The cute tricks of catching an enemy's wrist or ankle when he kicks or punches, or hooking him behind the neck and throwing, etc. look great in demonstrations and in dramatic photographs that have been carefully taken for martial arts magazines. However, such techniques are nearly impossible to use for real, and the crook-necked cane is much less versatile than the plain walking stick. Locking up with an attacker (when utilizing a cane, just as when utilizing bare hands) is suicide if and when multiple attackers are encountered. The cane is also poorly balanced for speedy combative skills manipulation. Go with a hardwood walking stick, or a good, stout blackthorne.
© COPYRIGHT 2008 BY BRADLEY J. STEINER - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
[Reprinted with permission.]
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