© COPYRIGHT 2009 BY BRADLEY J. STEINER - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Sword and Pen – November 2009 Issue
[Reprinted With Permission]
American Combato
Seattle Combatives
Unfortunately, an acceptance of reality is not one of the more conspicuous characteristics of the thinking style of most of those who participate in the martial arts. "Mystique" is what one of our teachers, Charlie Nelson, used to call it. We think that he was being polite, however. Irrational, unrealistic, absurd, and self-defeating foolishness appears to us to be more appropriate. Something as innocent as a "mystique" can actually prove merely to be a charming "added attraction". Thus, if you find that the pursuit of whichever martial path you enjoy to be enhanced by some mystique, that’s okay. But if you allow yourself to abandon truth, facts, and reality because that which you participate in is essentially teaching you nonsense, and the "teacher" of that system simply does not know the reality of that which he purports to be disseminating as doctrine, you’re potentially doing great harm to yourself.
We have been intimately and professionally involved in the physical training and martial arts fields since the early 1960’s, and the mid-1950’s, respectively. In both fields we have noticed that participants and so-called "teachers" alike have tended to ignore an extremely important factor when pursuing their activities: GENETICS. That is, those hereditary factors that predispose the individual to agility, hand/eye coordination, strength, athleticism, favorable or unfavorable bone and muscular structural development, etc. Insofar as the physical training aspect is concerned, suffice it now to say that, while everyone can build strength and muscle and become much more efficient and effective physically if he follows a progressive, systematic plan of weight training exercise, only those with the right genetics can become "world class" physical specimens, or outstanding strength athletes. That's the way it is.
But let’s talk about the primary subject of this Newsletter: The armed and unarmed combat arts, close-in hand-to-hand fighting, and self-defense. And let’s make totally clear that which many simply do not understand, or have been misled about: i.e the critical role of genetics in determining that which can and cannot likely be achieved by the student through training, and the inevitable effect that one’s genetic predispositions have in determining one’s ultimate development as a physical combatant.
First, some encouraging facts:
1. Anyone, except perhaps the severely handicapped and/or those who are unfortunately physically crippled or sick, can develop a serious, formidable capability in close combat and self-defense. The only requirement is strong desire, hard work, patience, and determination, coupled with sound instruction and reliable, professional guidance.
2. One does not need great natural strength, unusual agility, particularly superior hand/eye coordination, or much athletic talent to master practical, realistic, modern personal combat and defensive skills. These skills are well within the capabilities of statistically quite average people to master, and even excel in.
3. A "genetically inferior" individual who has developed his capabilities and skills in close combat can defeat a "genetically superior" individual who has not similarly developed his capabilities.
4. There are numerous tactics and strategies that are integral to the study of modern and practical close combat and self-defense that can make "genetic advantages" in adversaries virtually irrelevant, providing these tactics and strategies are applied quickly enough, and with cunning and skill.
5. Weapons — which are a natural part of close combat and self-defense training, when this subject is properly taught — trump "genetic superiority" when and if the genetically superior party is unarmed. At the very least weapons EQUALIZE, and place anyone on an even keel with anyone else who is similarly armed, when weapons are involved. I.e. If a frail 80 year old man who knows how to use it is in possession of a .45 automatic, and if he is confronting a 20 year old home invader who is also armed with a .45 pistol, the age, strength, and size differences between the two matter not a bit. Each is equally capable of dropping the other; and all that matters is "who gets who first". (And, when an intended victim is, happily, armed with a powerful handgun, and his would-be killer or tormentor is not, the odds are overwhelmingly with the intended victim. — no matter how great the victimizer’s size, strength, age, etc. advantage may be!)
6. Genetics is important; but when considering all factors involved and concerned, genetics is NOT the decisive factor in close combat or in emergency defense situations.
Now, let’s point out how and why, despite the above, this matter of genetics is so critical a matter to understand for those who pursue martial arts for self-defense.
First, remember that, unless you possess the requisite natural flexibility and physiology you can be seriously and permanently injured if you elect to train in any martial art that demands constant and extreme training for maximum flexibility. There is real danger here, in other words, for the individual who undertakes the study of certain martial arts in which maximum stretching is demanded of students, and high kicks are invariably part of the program. Those individuals with the inherent flexibility can easily train to do all sorts of high and acrobatic kicks, and stretch to their heart’s (and to their instructor’s) content. But NO ONE who does not possess this inherent capacity should do any extreme stretching. The ligaments and tendons can be permanently damaged by this; the hips can be permanently injured, and severe muscle strains and even tears can occur. When a student is very young (early to late teens, and even through to his mid-20’s) he can often "get away" with doing a great deal of extreme stretching, and not suffer badly for it. But this becomes a dangerous practice once one he approaches the age of 30, if he isn’t genetically predisposed to great natural flexibility.
Second, unless you have naturally large, strong hands,and — preferably — fairly thick and heavy fingers, you are virtually wasting your time training in the popular "wrist turning" and wrist-twisting and control actions. Adversaries who are heavy-boned and naturally strong can easily resist and pull away from any "expert" whose hands and fingers are relatively diminutive (i.e. small boned) and who attempts to apply the popular ju-jutsu type kote-gaeshi grips. (Note: We do not recommend these techniques at all for anyone; however, they are simply useless for the person with small, fragile hands. The only effective application that such an individual could enjoy with such holds is when working with a cooperative partner or a non resisting opponent — quite unlikely in a real situation!)
Third, "hard" linear (ie Shotokan karate style) blocks require great power and strong arms and hands or they are entirely worthless against stronger, determined assailants who come in with powerful, fully committed attacks — with or without a weapon of some kind in their hand. A physically diminutive person who attempts a hard block against a vicious, powerful attacker who comes at him, will FAIL to stop the attack with his block.
Fourth, if your "self-defense" program advocates clenched fist punching, then WATCH OUT! For, unless you possess the strength and hand structure that at least allows for strong punches to be delivered, your "punches" stand NO CHANCE of even bothering, let alone stopping, a large, strong attacker.
Fifth, Raw strength — much more than "finesse" and skill — is required to pull off many of the popularly taught throwing actions of judo or (what is often mislabeled as, but nonetheless taught as) ju-jutsu.
Sixth, FORGET COMPLETELY about being able to secure an immobilizing hold on any dangerous and determined enemy in a serious hand-to-hand encounter (except perhaps a strangle or choke hold) unless you are very agile and very strong.
Seventh, the truth is that numerous martial arts systems depend, due to the manner in which they are constructed and taught, on the participant’s possessing very specific physiological characteristics in order to reach a high level of PRACTICAL proficiency. In this regard note how the very advanced individuals in some arts tend to possess very similarly structured physiques and inherent characteristics.
What all of this means is simply that you must be realistic and pragmatic when approaching the study of close combat and self-defense. Unless you possess the right genetics, many classical/traditional skills are totally worthless. And, if you are smart and go to a combat/self-defense system of merit (watch out, many are simply classical/traditional or sporting/competitive methods that have been "renamed" for commercial purposes!) then you need to appreciate the role of genetics in your training. DO NOT BE LED TO BELIEVE THAT YOU CAN, WITHOUT THE HEREDITARY POTENTIAL, EQUAL THE STRENGTH AND SPEED OF MOVEMENT, OR THE AGILITY, DEMONSTRATED IN PRACTICE, THAT A NATURALLY BLESSED PERSON WITH THE GENETIC ADVANTAGES IS CAPABLE OF EVIDENCING.
JUST ABOUT ANYONE CAN BECOME EXPERT IN PRACTICAL, REALISTIC SELF-DEFENSE AND CLOSE COMBAT METHODS; BUT, AS WITH ALL THINGS PHYSICAL, NOT EVERYONE CAN BECOME AN EXCEPTIONAL, AND OUTSTANDING TECHNICAL PERFORMER.
Do not let any of this bother you. Just be self-accepting and realistic, and approach this matter of acquiring physical combative capabilities with the same common sense and realism that you (hopefully) employ when approaching the study of any other subject.
Excise the "mystery", the "fantastic", the "secret", and the impossible forever from your thinking. No matter what you read, hear, or are told by anyone regarding martial arts and self-defense.
Bradley J. Steiner
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