IMO... they should have just mowed him down in his tracks. But that's just me. Your mileage may vary.
Banks won't take Fort Hood shooting suspect's paychecks
Friday, July 30, 2010
Sunday, July 25, 2010
MORE Evidence Of What Happens (And Of What REALLY WORKS) In The Real World
© COPYRIGHT 2010 BY BRADLEY J. STEINER - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Sword and Pen – June 2010 Issue
[Reprinted With Permission]
American Combato
Seattle Combatives
(The following incident was brought to our attention by one of our upper level Black Belts, Greg Anderson. We are happy to pass it — and the message that, following the description of the event, enumerates what the incident teaches — along to our visitors.)
JUST married, 29 year old Nicole Emerson and her bridegroom — coming straight from their wedding ceremony — decided to stop off for a drink in what is normally an upper class establishment in Louisville, Kentucky.
Upon entering the place three sewer animals begin directing suggestive and insulting remarks to the newlyweds. Wisely ignoring the lice, the couple proceed to order their drinks.
The scum continues to push and to prod and to harass the couple verbally, finally driving Nicole’s husband as far as he could be pushed. He arises from his seat and proceeds to confront the group of troublemakers. Acting like the pack of mindless hyena they are, the three creatures proceed to jump the husband. They smash him to the floor and proceed — gang style — to beat the man.
Perceiving (correctly) the potentially deadly attack on her husband, 110 pound Nicole springs into action immediately. Seizing a bottle she proceeds to attack the predators and to repeatedly beat the miserable cowards across their heads and faces. When the smoke clears, two of the dirtbags are hospitalized (one, we were delighted to hear, requiring upwards of 70 stitches! GO GIRL!), and the third was simply neutralized — unfortunately not severely enough to require hospitalization or a body bag, but sufficiently to cause him to cease his attack on Nicole’s husband.
Little Nicole, distraught and horrified after the near-murder of her husband, is subsequently arrested and, according to the news report on WLKY.COM, potentially faces three second degree assault charges.
[Bloggers Note: It has since come to light that the three assailants in this incident were in fact three of Louisville's finest, odd duty, intoxicated and drinking in the establishment.]
WARNING!: STAY AWAY FROM LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY. THAT CITY HAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH IT POLICE OFFICERS’ JUDGMENT AND — PERHAPS — THEIR UNDERLYING ETHICS AND CHARACTER, AS WELL! It seems to us that acting in defense of the life and limb of one’s spouse when one’s spouse is attacked by three men justifies the use of deadly force, since three assailants against one is a deadly attack. Need we add that grabbing a bottle to assist one’s actions against the three attackers only makes good, common sense — unless one has a firearm to use! Most especially when one is a 110 pound female, it is all too obvious that resorting to any kind of weapon in defense against even a single grown male assailant is not only "justified" — it is a virtual necessity!
Now let us consider some LESSONS regarding real world violence and handling it, that may be extrapolated from an analysis of that awful incident:
• It is wise not to go into bars
Not that you do not have a perfect "right" to go wherever you please; common sense tells us that the kinds of characters that one is likely to encounter where liquor is served are more likely to be unsavory than those one encounters in a public library, a nice restaurant, etc.
• Whenever it is possible to do so, it is wisest to leave any place where troublesome individuals seem to be congregating
Once again, we do not say that one should "have to leave a place where one has every right to be" just because some human garbage happens to be there, too. However, it is SMART to do so — so as to avoid trouble. Thus, while we appreciate that the husband in the incident described was certainly justified in being angry, we’d have advised the couple to leave, rather than to confront the lice that were bothering them.
• In the real world you may well find yourself being targeted by violent types, regardless of your own behavior or intentions
Good people do not provoke trouble. And too many good people believe that that is sufficient to keep trouble out of their lives. "I don’t go to those places", or "I don’t get into fights", etc. are statements that certainly express common sense and good judgment on the part of the speaker, but they in no way indicate that the speaker will not suffer an extralegal attack! Do not deceive yourself. Trouble can come to you regardless of how sensibly you live, and how much you avoid behaving in a provocative manner.
• Never respond to mere verbal provocation
This can be difficult, but it is good advice. If, instead of responding to some foul-mouth piece of garbage you go to condition orange, and attempt to leave the area, you will either — a) avoid a violent incident, or b) be prepared, and enjoy the complete element of surprise when you act in self-defense, should taking such action become necessary despite your attempt to avoid trouble. Also, you more firmly establish your "mantle of innocence" in the eyes of the law if you physically retreat without a verbal response, and find that you must defend yourself against one or more who COME AFTER YOU.
• Violent troublemakers always resort to foul and unfair tactics (the very FIRST of which is initiating violence in the first place!), and they generally attack in numbers when going after a lone individual
When you are attacked you are at WAR. Show no mercy, compassion, restraint, forbearance, or reluctance to DO ANYTHING THAT YOU CAN DO TO STOP YOUR ATTACKER(S)! It is not a sport or a game, and it is to the battle skills that one would employ against an enemy in hand-to-hand military combat in war, that one must resort. Never give an attacker a break. Never hold back. Go after your enemy(ies) like a wild animal.
• Effective defense requires immediate and aggressive action
Here you can see — in the real life incident described — that even a diminutive woman who does not hesitate and who attacks with ruthless fury, can defeat the odds!
• Use a weapon if at all possible against your attacker, or use anything at hand as a weapon — and to hell with whether the attacker is or is not armed, himself
There is no reason to abide by any rules or ethical principles whenever you must defend yourself against unavoidable, potentially life-threatening attack. Take every advantage that you can, and attack without mercy. Use sporting techniques and competition or antiquated classical methodology and you are sunk. Can you imagine the result of the incident described if Nicole (or even her husband!) had attempted a "defense" by grappling and pinning the attackers in submission holds?
• Be ruthless! Go for the enemy’s weakest target areas and do so with your most powerful and destructive weapons — natural, manufactured, or improvised!
Nicole smashed the dirtbags viciously across their faces and heads with the bottle that she grabbed, and thank goodness she did so! Had she attempted to hit them across their arms or their legs, etc. in an effort to ―try a lesser degree of force, and see if that will suffice‖ it is probable that her husband would have been killed. Wisely, correctly, and intuitively, she smashed for their vulnerable facial and head targets — and despite the enormous numeric advantage of the assailants, and the obvious superiority of their individual strength levels (superior to Nicole’s) the little girl was successful!
• Size and strength are not always decisive factors, since even in a worst case scenario, a sufficiently vicious, ruthless, aggressive, and unhesitant individual can prevail
Yes — size, strength, and numbers do always factor in, in any combative engagement. But none of those factors are invariably decisive. No situation is completely hopeless unless you give up.
• Multiple attackers can be defeated by a single individual. Period.
Clearly the ridiculous idea of utilizing sporting or competition methods when engaged in close combat must be dismissed from consideration. But COMBAT techniques, tactics, and attitude constitute a different story! Use them, and use them in an unhesitant, spirited, relentless manner, and you can shift the odds in even the most desperate situation.
• Keep on attacking, and attacking, and attacking, until the enemy has been neutralized
Note that little Nicole kept her onslaught going. She gave no opportunity to those three potential murderers to get set, to retaliate, or to continue focusing on their murderous attack on her husband. Intuitively, through sheer desperation, this little girl hit upon the all-important principle of unrelenting attack, until the emergency has been resolved.— and she succeeded in saving her husband’s life.
We hope that what we have just presented is of value to YOU, and that — should any violent emergency come your way — it contributes to your ability to save your life and the lives of all whom you hold dear.
Sword and Pen – June 2010 Issue
[Reprinted With Permission]
American Combato
Seattle Combatives
(The following incident was brought to our attention by one of our upper level Black Belts, Greg Anderson. We are happy to pass it — and the message that, following the description of the event, enumerates what the incident teaches — along to our visitors.)
JUST married, 29 year old Nicole Emerson and her bridegroom — coming straight from their wedding ceremony — decided to stop off for a drink in what is normally an upper class establishment in Louisville, Kentucky.
Upon entering the place three sewer animals begin directing suggestive and insulting remarks to the newlyweds. Wisely ignoring the lice, the couple proceed to order their drinks.
The scum continues to push and to prod and to harass the couple verbally, finally driving Nicole’s husband as far as he could be pushed. He arises from his seat and proceeds to confront the group of troublemakers. Acting like the pack of mindless hyena they are, the three creatures proceed to jump the husband. They smash him to the floor and proceed — gang style — to beat the man.
Perceiving (correctly) the potentially deadly attack on her husband, 110 pound Nicole springs into action immediately. Seizing a bottle she proceeds to attack the predators and to repeatedly beat the miserable cowards across their heads and faces. When the smoke clears, two of the dirtbags are hospitalized (one, we were delighted to hear, requiring upwards of 70 stitches! GO GIRL!), and the third was simply neutralized — unfortunately not severely enough to require hospitalization or a body bag, but sufficiently to cause him to cease his attack on Nicole’s husband.
Little Nicole, distraught and horrified after the near-murder of her husband, is subsequently arrested and, according to the news report on WLKY.COM, potentially faces three second degree assault charges.
[Bloggers Note: It has since come to light that the three assailants in this incident were in fact three of Louisville's finest, odd duty, intoxicated and drinking in the establishment.]
WARNING!: STAY AWAY FROM LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY. THAT CITY HAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH IT POLICE OFFICERS’ JUDGMENT AND — PERHAPS — THEIR UNDERLYING ETHICS AND CHARACTER, AS WELL! It seems to us that acting in defense of the life and limb of one’s spouse when one’s spouse is attacked by three men justifies the use of deadly force, since three assailants against one is a deadly attack. Need we add that grabbing a bottle to assist one’s actions against the three attackers only makes good, common sense — unless one has a firearm to use! Most especially when one is a 110 pound female, it is all too obvious that resorting to any kind of weapon in defense against even a single grown male assailant is not only "justified" — it is a virtual necessity!
Now let us consider some LESSONS regarding real world violence and handling it, that may be extrapolated from an analysis of that awful incident:
• It is wise not to go into bars
Not that you do not have a perfect "right" to go wherever you please; common sense tells us that the kinds of characters that one is likely to encounter where liquor is served are more likely to be unsavory than those one encounters in a public library, a nice restaurant, etc.
• Whenever it is possible to do so, it is wisest to leave any place where troublesome individuals seem to be congregating
Once again, we do not say that one should "have to leave a place where one has every right to be" just because some human garbage happens to be there, too. However, it is SMART to do so — so as to avoid trouble. Thus, while we appreciate that the husband in the incident described was certainly justified in being angry, we’d have advised the couple to leave, rather than to confront the lice that were bothering them.
• In the real world you may well find yourself being targeted by violent types, regardless of your own behavior or intentions
Good people do not provoke trouble. And too many good people believe that that is sufficient to keep trouble out of their lives. "I don’t go to those places", or "I don’t get into fights", etc. are statements that certainly express common sense and good judgment on the part of the speaker, but they in no way indicate that the speaker will not suffer an extralegal attack! Do not deceive yourself. Trouble can come to you regardless of how sensibly you live, and how much you avoid behaving in a provocative manner.
• Never respond to mere verbal provocation
This can be difficult, but it is good advice. If, instead of responding to some foul-mouth piece of garbage you go to condition orange, and attempt to leave the area, you will either — a) avoid a violent incident, or b) be prepared, and enjoy the complete element of surprise when you act in self-defense, should taking such action become necessary despite your attempt to avoid trouble. Also, you more firmly establish your "mantle of innocence" in the eyes of the law if you physically retreat without a verbal response, and find that you must defend yourself against one or more who COME AFTER YOU.
• Violent troublemakers always resort to foul and unfair tactics (the very FIRST of which is initiating violence in the first place!), and they generally attack in numbers when going after a lone individual
When you are attacked you are at WAR. Show no mercy, compassion, restraint, forbearance, or reluctance to DO ANYTHING THAT YOU CAN DO TO STOP YOUR ATTACKER(S)! It is not a sport or a game, and it is to the battle skills that one would employ against an enemy in hand-to-hand military combat in war, that one must resort. Never give an attacker a break. Never hold back. Go after your enemy(ies) like a wild animal.
• Effective defense requires immediate and aggressive action
Here you can see — in the real life incident described — that even a diminutive woman who does not hesitate and who attacks with ruthless fury, can defeat the odds!
• Use a weapon if at all possible against your attacker, or use anything at hand as a weapon — and to hell with whether the attacker is or is not armed, himself
There is no reason to abide by any rules or ethical principles whenever you must defend yourself against unavoidable, potentially life-threatening attack. Take every advantage that you can, and attack without mercy. Use sporting techniques and competition or antiquated classical methodology and you are sunk. Can you imagine the result of the incident described if Nicole (or even her husband!) had attempted a "defense" by grappling and pinning the attackers in submission holds?
• Be ruthless! Go for the enemy’s weakest target areas and do so with your most powerful and destructive weapons — natural, manufactured, or improvised!
Nicole smashed the dirtbags viciously across their faces and heads with the bottle that she grabbed, and thank goodness she did so! Had she attempted to hit them across their arms or their legs, etc. in an effort to ―try a lesser degree of force, and see if that will suffice‖ it is probable that her husband would have been killed. Wisely, correctly, and intuitively, she smashed for their vulnerable facial and head targets — and despite the enormous numeric advantage of the assailants, and the obvious superiority of their individual strength levels (superior to Nicole’s) the little girl was successful!
• Size and strength are not always decisive factors, since even in a worst case scenario, a sufficiently vicious, ruthless, aggressive, and unhesitant individual can prevail
Yes — size, strength, and numbers do always factor in, in any combative engagement. But none of those factors are invariably decisive. No situation is completely hopeless unless you give up.
• Multiple attackers can be defeated by a single individual. Period.
Clearly the ridiculous idea of utilizing sporting or competition methods when engaged in close combat must be dismissed from consideration. But COMBAT techniques, tactics, and attitude constitute a different story! Use them, and use them in an unhesitant, spirited, relentless manner, and you can shift the odds in even the most desperate situation.
• Keep on attacking, and attacking, and attacking, until the enemy has been neutralized
Note that little Nicole kept her onslaught going. She gave no opportunity to those three potential murderers to get set, to retaliate, or to continue focusing on their murderous attack on her husband. Intuitively, through sheer desperation, this little girl hit upon the all-important principle of unrelenting attack, until the emergency has been resolved.— and she succeeded in saving her husband’s life.
We hope that what we have just presented is of value to YOU, and that — should any violent emergency come your way — it contributes to your ability to save your life and the lives of all whom you hold dear.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Pick Your Weapon
© COPYRIGHT 2010 BY BRADLEY J. STEINER - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Sword and Pen – June 2010 Issue
[Reprinted With Permission]
American Combato
Seattle Combatives
WEAPONRY has always been integral to martial arts. So-called "martial arts" in which weaponry is not taught, are more properly regarded as martial sports, or as derivative systems of martial-related training that come from arts which also, in their origins, taught weaponry.
Classical/traditional arts have their weapons, and those weapons are perfectly legitimate and of great value in their particular and specific training context. However, nine foot poles, swords, throwing darts, weighted chains, and/or antiquated farm implements that were employed by disarmed Okinawan peasants are not appropriate studies for the modern student of self-defense and close combat. Not only are such weapons not at all likely to be encountered, but if they were, they could be rather easily trumped by modern weapons — i.e. a .45 automatic in skilled hands beats a sword or a wooden pole, etc. Additionally, the modern student of self-defense and close combat would be quite unrealistic to equip himself with nunchucks, sai, a tonfa, or a samurai sword for self, family, and home defense, when a Remington 870 and boxes of 12 gauge 00, 000, or #4 Buck can be purchased, and while top quality revolvers and semiautomatic pistols are obtainable.
Even when classical/traditional weaponry is made commercially available as seemingly "modern weapons" (the popular "tanto" knife is a great example) those who know close combat opt for modern, more suitable arms. The tanto was designed to penetrate wooden armor. If you anticipate encountering a wooden-armored samurai whose purpose is to kill you in hand-to-hand combat, then maybe a tanto could help you. We, personally, would still want the .45 automatic or the 12 gauge shotgun, but it is conceivable that your tanto could be employed successfully against a grappling samurai warrior.
Be real. If you train for self-defense and close combat, train with modern weapons — for the same reason that you train with relatively modern skills, and utilize the latest modes of mental and physical readiness training to prepare yourself. The age of the shaolin warrior, the warrior monk, the samurai, and all of the other great but antiquated warriors whose classical/traditional arts are so enthusiastically studied today, HAS PAST. Check your calendar: it is 2010.
For your reference we shall list those weapons that we teach and that we advocate for modern use — by private citizens who train in combat arts, and for professionals in the military and intelligence fields, as well as the police, who require realistic, armed readiness in the course of doing their work.
1. HANDGUNS
©ern combative system that does not teach students the use of the handgun as a combat weapon is incomplete and remiss. We favor the Browning-designed 1911 .45 pistol and the Smith and Wesson line of .357’s — but there are a lot of other fine handguns from which to make a selection. We’d recommend nothing less than a .38 Special, and nothing "hotter" than a .45 — simply because those are readily managed in close combat, and are reliable in trained hands.
2. SHOTGUNS
The "ultimate home defense weapon" in our opinion, and a damn sight better for many military uses than a submachinegun or a battle rifle. Our hands down preference is for the Remington 870, 12 gauge.
3. FIGHTING KNIVES
The finest — i.e. the Randalls, Eks, Loveless, Applegate-Fairbairns, and so on — are highly desirable, but not necessary. Commercially available NATO-issued Fairbairn-Sykes Fighting Knives are excellent and as serviceable as they were in the 1940’s. The old, proven USMC KaBar is also a good choice. And there are others. Gerber’s Mark II (original design) is fabulous, and quite affordable.
4. THE AMERICAN (LA GANA) TOMAHAWK
Sadly, Peter LaGana, the designer of the fighting tomahawk that bears his name, has passed away. He was a USMC hand-to-hand combat instructor during the Vietnam War. He designed what is a fine fighting tomahawk, and this is one of the weapons that we teach at Black Belt level. More of a soldier’s weapon than anything else, we still can see an application for the tomahawk in home defense.
5. THE STICK
The walking stick is one of the most effective and under appreciated self-defense weapons. Also, the baton (or baton-length short stick), and the yawara hand stick rate as excellent weapons for the modern student of close combat.
6. UNCONVENTIONAL (IMPROVISED) WEAPONS
Virtually anything at hand can be used in an emergency as some kind of weapon, and the modern student of close combat and self-defense should be trained to appreciate and to exploit this fact. Even something as seemingly harmless as a cup of water or a handkerchief can serve — when thrown in an enemy’s face — as a means of distraction. Box cutters, utility knives, screwdrivers, hammers, kitchen utensils, pens, pencils, rulers, notebooks, even folded newspapers (an old SOE/OSS technique, from WWII) can be utilized to KILL in an emergency, when the individual knows how to do it. The modern student of close combat and self-defense should know how to do it.
We hope that the foregoing will cause some serious thinking to percolate in the minds of those concerned about total preparation for self-defense.
Sword and Pen – June 2010 Issue
[Reprinted With Permission]
American Combato
Seattle Combatives
WEAPONRY has always been integral to martial arts. So-called "martial arts" in which weaponry is not taught, are more properly regarded as martial sports, or as derivative systems of martial-related training that come from arts which also, in their origins, taught weaponry.
Classical/traditional arts have their weapons, and those weapons are perfectly legitimate and of great value in their particular and specific training context. However, nine foot poles, swords, throwing darts, weighted chains, and/or antiquated farm implements that were employed by disarmed Okinawan peasants are not appropriate studies for the modern student of self-defense and close combat. Not only are such weapons not at all likely to be encountered, but if they were, they could be rather easily trumped by modern weapons — i.e. a .45 automatic in skilled hands beats a sword or a wooden pole, etc. Additionally, the modern student of self-defense and close combat would be quite unrealistic to equip himself with nunchucks, sai, a tonfa, or a samurai sword for self, family, and home defense, when a Remington 870 and boxes of 12 gauge 00, 000, or #4 Buck can be purchased, and while top quality revolvers and semiautomatic pistols are obtainable.
Even when classical/traditional weaponry is made commercially available as seemingly "modern weapons" (the popular "tanto" knife is a great example) those who know close combat opt for modern, more suitable arms. The tanto was designed to penetrate wooden armor. If you anticipate encountering a wooden-armored samurai whose purpose is to kill you in hand-to-hand combat, then maybe a tanto could help you. We, personally, would still want the .45 automatic or the 12 gauge shotgun, but it is conceivable that your tanto could be employed successfully against a grappling samurai warrior.
Be real. If you train for self-defense and close combat, train with modern weapons — for the same reason that you train with relatively modern skills, and utilize the latest modes of mental and physical readiness training to prepare yourself. The age of the shaolin warrior, the warrior monk, the samurai, and all of the other great but antiquated warriors whose classical/traditional arts are so enthusiastically studied today, HAS PAST. Check your calendar: it is 2010.
For your reference we shall list those weapons that we teach and that we advocate for modern use — by private citizens who train in combat arts, and for professionals in the military and intelligence fields, as well as the police, who require realistic, armed readiness in the course of doing their work.
1. HANDGUNS
©ern combative system that does not teach students the use of the handgun as a combat weapon is incomplete and remiss. We favor the Browning-designed 1911 .45 pistol and the Smith and Wesson line of .357’s — but there are a lot of other fine handguns from which to make a selection. We’d recommend nothing less than a .38 Special, and nothing "hotter" than a .45 — simply because those are readily managed in close combat, and are reliable in trained hands.
2. SHOTGUNS
The "ultimate home defense weapon" in our opinion, and a damn sight better for many military uses than a submachinegun or a battle rifle. Our hands down preference is for the Remington 870, 12 gauge.
3. FIGHTING KNIVES
The finest — i.e. the Randalls, Eks, Loveless, Applegate-Fairbairns, and so on — are highly desirable, but not necessary. Commercially available NATO-issued Fairbairn-Sykes Fighting Knives are excellent and as serviceable as they were in the 1940’s. The old, proven USMC KaBar is also a good choice. And there are others. Gerber’s Mark II (original design) is fabulous, and quite affordable.
4. THE AMERICAN (LA GANA) TOMAHAWK
Sadly, Peter LaGana, the designer of the fighting tomahawk that bears his name, has passed away. He was a USMC hand-to-hand combat instructor during the Vietnam War. He designed what is a fine fighting tomahawk, and this is one of the weapons that we teach at Black Belt level. More of a soldier’s weapon than anything else, we still can see an application for the tomahawk in home defense.
5. THE STICK
The walking stick is one of the most effective and under appreciated self-defense weapons. Also, the baton (or baton-length short stick), and the yawara hand stick rate as excellent weapons for the modern student of close combat.
6. UNCONVENTIONAL (IMPROVISED) WEAPONS
Virtually anything at hand can be used in an emergency as some kind of weapon, and the modern student of close combat and self-defense should be trained to appreciate and to exploit this fact. Even something as seemingly harmless as a cup of water or a handkerchief can serve — when thrown in an enemy’s face — as a means of distraction. Box cutters, utility knives, screwdrivers, hammers, kitchen utensils, pens, pencils, rulers, notebooks, even folded newspapers (an old SOE/OSS technique, from WWII) can be utilized to KILL in an emergency, when the individual knows how to do it. The modern student of close combat and self-defense should know how to do it.
We hope that the foregoing will cause some serious thinking to percolate in the minds of those concerned about total preparation for self-defense.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Never Grapple When Dressed For Battle!
© COPYRIGHT 2010 BY BRADLEY J. STEINER - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Sword and Pen – June 2010 Issue
[Reprinted With Permission]
American Combato
Seattle Combatives
WE have received many e-mails and even letters from marines and soldiers and specialist (i.e. SWAT) police officers that express their utter contempt for the "ground grappling" and competition material that had comprised their training in "hand-to-hand combat" (so called!) and/or "defensive tactics". Being a part of the organizations that have mandated their being instructed thusly, these individuals have asked for anonymity (which I shall always be delighted to respect — so if you wish to contact us with information of a sensitive nature, please feel free). Yet they have plainly asked that we keep urging AGAINST this in-vogue approach to training, since — as they say, and as we have been saying since the thing took off as a new fad in this Country — IT IS ENTIRELY UNREALISTIC AND WHOLLY INAPPROPRIATE TO THE DEMANDS OF ACTUAL CLOSE COMBAT AND DEFENSIVE PREDICAMENTS.
One theme that has been 100% consistent in the communications that we have received is outrage at the fact that, entirely aside from such ground-grappling material being absurd even when a given situation enables them to employ it (since there are far better ways to drop one’s foe in an encounter), these warriors CANNOT POSSIBLY EVEN TRY TO EMPLOY SUCH SKILLS WHEN IN BATTLE DRESS!
A soldier, marine, or SWAT officer goes into action encumbered by a lot of heavy gear. The equipment weighs a lot, is bulky, and places him in the position of a turtle on its back (using the analogy provided by one U.S. marine combat veteran who wrote to us) when and if he "goes deliberately to the ground" in a "wrestling match". Police SWAT officers (actually, even many patrol officers, as well) carry plenty of encumbering equipment, also. These men cannot roll around on the ground and grapple for a pin or a mount with a violent suspect. Their possession of a sidearm that may be snatched by the felon is also a bit of a problem!
We have no interest in converting true believers in the MMA, cage fighting, UFC stuff to our way of thinking. These people have every right to do whatever they wish, and if they wish to participate in these events, and to insist that this is "real combat", so be it. However, we do not agree, and neither do many actually experienced military, police, and intelligence people who DO IT FOR REAL.
Our Monograph on the subject is available if anyone wishes to have the entire phenomenon of ground-grappling’s unsuitability for self-defense presented. We thought that our visitors might be interested, however, in this very excellent point regarding the matter of battle dress and its resulting bar to the use of that which is (we feel, ridiculously) now taught in some military and law enforcement training circles. It has been raised, and is being raised, by real world hand-to-hand fighters
Sword and Pen – June 2010 Issue
[Reprinted With Permission]
American Combato
Seattle Combatives
WE have received many e-mails and even letters from marines and soldiers and specialist (i.e. SWAT) police officers that express their utter contempt for the "ground grappling" and competition material that had comprised their training in "hand-to-hand combat" (so called!) and/or "defensive tactics". Being a part of the organizations that have mandated their being instructed thusly, these individuals have asked for anonymity (which I shall always be delighted to respect — so if you wish to contact us with information of a sensitive nature, please feel free). Yet they have plainly asked that we keep urging AGAINST this in-vogue approach to training, since — as they say, and as we have been saying since the thing took off as a new fad in this Country — IT IS ENTIRELY UNREALISTIC AND WHOLLY INAPPROPRIATE TO THE DEMANDS OF ACTUAL CLOSE COMBAT AND DEFENSIVE PREDICAMENTS.
One theme that has been 100% consistent in the communications that we have received is outrage at the fact that, entirely aside from such ground-grappling material being absurd even when a given situation enables them to employ it (since there are far better ways to drop one’s foe in an encounter), these warriors CANNOT POSSIBLY EVEN TRY TO EMPLOY SUCH SKILLS WHEN IN BATTLE DRESS!
A soldier, marine, or SWAT officer goes into action encumbered by a lot of heavy gear. The equipment weighs a lot, is bulky, and places him in the position of a turtle on its back (using the analogy provided by one U.S. marine combat veteran who wrote to us) when and if he "goes deliberately to the ground" in a "wrestling match". Police SWAT officers (actually, even many patrol officers, as well) carry plenty of encumbering equipment, also. These men cannot roll around on the ground and grapple for a pin or a mount with a violent suspect. Their possession of a sidearm that may be snatched by the felon is also a bit of a problem!
We have no interest in converting true believers in the MMA, cage fighting, UFC stuff to our way of thinking. These people have every right to do whatever they wish, and if they wish to participate in these events, and to insist that this is "real combat", so be it. However, we do not agree, and neither do many actually experienced military, police, and intelligence people who DO IT FOR REAL.
Our Monograph on the subject is available if anyone wishes to have the entire phenomenon of ground-grappling’s unsuitability for self-defense presented. We thought that our visitors might be interested, however, in this very excellent point regarding the matter of battle dress and its resulting bar to the use of that which is (we feel, ridiculously) now taught in some military and law enforcement training circles. It has been raised, and is being raised, by real world hand-to-hand fighters
Friday, July 16, 2010
Dealing With Bullies
© COPYRIGHT 2010 BY BRADLEY J. STEINER - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Sword and Pen – June 2010 Issue
[Reprinted With Permission]
American Combato
Seattle Combatives
IN a past edition of SWORD & PEN we discussed bullying. We also placed a tribute to a young girl who was the victim of a disgusting collection of human filth at her school and was driven to suicide by this pack of scum, at the head of a past edition. This collection of debris drove the poor girl to take her own life, and we can only hope and pray that every single one of those responsible for adding to that girl’s torment will be struck down by a disease that will see each confined to an iron lung for the rest of a long, long life — a life lived in agony. The degree of suffering — of HELL — that such bullies deserve is without limit, as far as we are concerned.
Recently, we checked the internet for information and resources on the subject of "bullying" — purely out of curiosity. While there is a ton of material on line, we were shocked at what utterly worthless, useless CRAP it amounts to.
So-called "experts" discuss how to deal with bullies and bullying. "Never fight back" is one of the common threads that runs throughout this welter of mindless and incompetent hyperbole. Teachers, counselors, psychologists, ad nauseum, all vomit out their nonsense advice (which is pointlessly elaborate and complex, and irrelevantly beside the point, insofar as those who are actually suffering the bullying are concerned).
What a bully needs to put an end to his behavior is a beating that both cripples him permanently and that terrifies him into a state of trembling, head down, withdrawn and silent passivity. In some instances, when the bullying is life-threatening, there is absolutely nothing inappropriate about a response that ends the bully’s life.
What’s the big deal about this?
No one seems to be able to say it, and fewer still seem willing or able to do it. But how can a rational person deny that this is the right and just reaction to that sort of unconscionable terrorism that children and adults alike are so often victimized by?
Bullies can be stopped by HURTING THEM, and hurting them very, very, very badly. Like all wild animals, bullies do comprehend PAIN immediately, and they do not wish to be hurt, themselves. So . . . the solution to the evil that they foist so gleefully upon those whom they torment is to crush their very souls with the most viciously merciless and ferocious counterattack imaginable; a counterattack that leaves them in literal agony or unconscious, never again to be or to live as whole human beings, for however long their worthless lives may continue.
The bully whose spine is ruined, or whose eyes are blinded, or whose skull is fractured with such severity that he is unable to function normally again due to brain damage will NEVER be able to bully anyone, ever again. Simple. Final. Just. Is this justified? Bullies have done as much — and WORSE — to their victims.
And all bully wannabe’s who may be tempted to indulge their despicable urges at the expense of the innocent will be given much cause for reflection after witnessing scum of their ilk suffer thusly; and the proper treatment of one bully may well, then, be the means by which other potential bullies are prompted to exert the effort necessary to control their desire to torment others.
Bullying occurs between adults no less than it occurs between children. The simple, plain truth is that there is no excuse or justification for refusing to come down mercilessly and savagely upon ANY bullies — young or old.
If you are a parent we’d suggest enrolling your child for judo and boxing instruction. This combined training will give any youngster the physical and psychological tools with which to stand up to any bully and fight back, and WIN. Telling your child that fighting back is no better than being the one who starts a fight is, in our opinion, child abuse. That school administrators and teachers tell this drivel to kids is understandable. These incompetent lice are simply touting the politically correct lie. Let these bureaucratic dummies know, in no uncertain terms that YOUR CHILD HAS YOUR PERMISSION TO DEFEND HIMSELF, and if he is persecuted for doing so, you will sue the school and the morons who participate in pounding the kids with the notion that they ought to submit to being punching bags.
If you are past childhood and are concerned about troublemakers (i.e. adult bullies) who might torment you, then get started in a good combatives training program. Enroll with us, or with some other qualified professional, and make up your mind that anyone who intends you harm will pay a terrible price if he raises a hand against you. No one deserves to be someone else’s victim; however only the individual himself can decide — finally — that he will not accept victimization.
The war against the bully begins with INDIGNATION and WRATH. It is our fervent hope that, should bullying come to you, the matter ends with your application, via sound physical techniques that have been well-directed by your explosive indignation and wrath and that see the bully neutralized, and unable to ply his trade of terror ever again.
Sword and Pen – June 2010 Issue
[Reprinted With Permission]
American Combato
Seattle Combatives
IN a past edition of SWORD & PEN we discussed bullying. We also placed a tribute to a young girl who was the victim of a disgusting collection of human filth at her school and was driven to suicide by this pack of scum, at the head of a past edition. This collection of debris drove the poor girl to take her own life, and we can only hope and pray that every single one of those responsible for adding to that girl’s torment will be struck down by a disease that will see each confined to an iron lung for the rest of a long, long life — a life lived in agony. The degree of suffering — of HELL — that such bullies deserve is without limit, as far as we are concerned.
Recently, we checked the internet for information and resources on the subject of "bullying" — purely out of curiosity. While there is a ton of material on line, we were shocked at what utterly worthless, useless CRAP it amounts to.
So-called "experts" discuss how to deal with bullies and bullying. "Never fight back" is one of the common threads that runs throughout this welter of mindless and incompetent hyperbole. Teachers, counselors, psychologists, ad nauseum, all vomit out their nonsense advice (which is pointlessly elaborate and complex, and irrelevantly beside the point, insofar as those who are actually suffering the bullying are concerned).
What a bully needs to put an end to his behavior is a beating that both cripples him permanently and that terrifies him into a state of trembling, head down, withdrawn and silent passivity. In some instances, when the bullying is life-threatening, there is absolutely nothing inappropriate about a response that ends the bully’s life.
What’s the big deal about this?
No one seems to be able to say it, and fewer still seem willing or able to do it. But how can a rational person deny that this is the right and just reaction to that sort of unconscionable terrorism that children and adults alike are so often victimized by?
Bullies can be stopped by HURTING THEM, and hurting them very, very, very badly. Like all wild animals, bullies do comprehend PAIN immediately, and they do not wish to be hurt, themselves. So . . . the solution to the evil that they foist so gleefully upon those whom they torment is to crush their very souls with the most viciously merciless and ferocious counterattack imaginable; a counterattack that leaves them in literal agony or unconscious, never again to be or to live as whole human beings, for however long their worthless lives may continue.
The bully whose spine is ruined, or whose eyes are blinded, or whose skull is fractured with such severity that he is unable to function normally again due to brain damage will NEVER be able to bully anyone, ever again. Simple. Final. Just. Is this justified? Bullies have done as much — and WORSE — to their victims.
And all bully wannabe’s who may be tempted to indulge their despicable urges at the expense of the innocent will be given much cause for reflection after witnessing scum of their ilk suffer thusly; and the proper treatment of one bully may well, then, be the means by which other potential bullies are prompted to exert the effort necessary to control their desire to torment others.
Bullying occurs between adults no less than it occurs between children. The simple, plain truth is that there is no excuse or justification for refusing to come down mercilessly and savagely upon ANY bullies — young or old.
If you are a parent we’d suggest enrolling your child for judo and boxing instruction. This combined training will give any youngster the physical and psychological tools with which to stand up to any bully and fight back, and WIN. Telling your child that fighting back is no better than being the one who starts a fight is, in our opinion, child abuse. That school administrators and teachers tell this drivel to kids is understandable. These incompetent lice are simply touting the politically correct lie. Let these bureaucratic dummies know, in no uncertain terms that YOUR CHILD HAS YOUR PERMISSION TO DEFEND HIMSELF, and if he is persecuted for doing so, you will sue the school and the morons who participate in pounding the kids with the notion that they ought to submit to being punching bags.
If you are past childhood and are concerned about troublemakers (i.e. adult bullies) who might torment you, then get started in a good combatives training program. Enroll with us, or with some other qualified professional, and make up your mind that anyone who intends you harm will pay a terrible price if he raises a hand against you. No one deserves to be someone else’s victim; however only the individual himself can decide — finally — that he will not accept victimization.
The war against the bully begins with INDIGNATION and WRATH. It is our fervent hope that, should bullying come to you, the matter ends with your application, via sound physical techniques that have been well-directed by your explosive indignation and wrath and that see the bully neutralized, and unable to ply his trade of terror ever again.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
The Result Of Proper Mental Conditioning For Combat
© COPYRIGHT 2010 BY BRADLEY J. STEINER - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Sword and Pen – June 2010 Issue
[Reprinted With Permission]
American Combato
Seattle Combatives
INDIVIDUAL combat is 90% mental and 10% physical. Techniques and the speed and accuracy and strength with which they are executed is important; but these things simply do not work without MINDSET, and the proper degree of psychological/emotional readiness and willingness to apply them immediately, and with relentless fury, until the enemy has been rendered harmless.
Remember that all of the physical skills of individual combat depend upon the voluntary muscles for execution. This means that without the mental command to act, nothing happens. And the reliable conditioning of the mind of the individual so that in a crisis he will in fact ISSUE that command, is the great goal of much of that aspect of "mental conditioning for combat" that we teach and advocate.
Assuming that the process takes; assuming that we are successful in effectively conditioning the student’s mind (and with every student who applies himself to our training properly and in earnest we are successful) what exactly happens? What is it that now occurs in that student’s psyche when the moment of truth arrives, and when self-defensive action is required of him?
Very simply put, we believe that the essence of what flashes through the properly conditioned mind at the time of crisis when an imminent attack is perceived, is “THIS IS WHAT I ANTICIPATED MIGHT HAPPEN SOME DAY, AND I KNOW WHAT TO DO AND WILL NOW DO IT!”
We are obviously unable to describe the exact and the specific self-talk that flashes through the individual’s mind (if in fact there is any ascertainable "self-talk" per se) when, confronting an imminent attack, that individual goes without hesitation into counter-aggressive action. And we are further fairly certain that what transpires mentally is more of a momentary explosion of an awfully difficult to describe IMPULSE TO ATTACK — that manifests as an inner COMMAND. However, the sentence that we presented likely sums up the essence of that which manifests in the conditioned mind of a combatives pupil, if and when he has been trained correctly to do battle in self-defense.
Since the properly conditioned mind ANTICIPATES that violence may one day come to him, it is logical that he would not be so astonished by its appearance that he would freeze; or even that he would take much more than perhaps half a second to act.
Since the properly conditioned mind is CONFIDENT that its possessor can in fact undertake successful (not necessarily "guaranteed" to be 100% perfect, but tactically correct and potentially successful) action, it is logical that “I know what to do” would characterize an aspect of the flash of self-talk or realization that the conditioned mind would experience.
Since the properly conditioned mind is DECISIVELY AGGRESSIVE it is logical that the individual who possesses such a mindset will in fact issue forth the unequivocal emergency command to “Go!” — i.e. to right now DO that which all of his physical training and technical work has drilled into his motor memory.
It took us decades to develop the art of conditioning the combative student’s mind ALONG WITH HIS BODY, during the course of his training with us. We make no claims of perfection — but we certainly make the claim of being SUCCESSFUL; for we have been and are, and when a serious, properly disciplined, attentive individual undertakes his training with us, he may be sure that, in due course, he will be mentally, tactically, physically, and technically ready to defend himself.
Of what does our approach consist?
We have decades of experience in both physical training and hypnosis, as well as in all aspects of armed and unarmed close combat and self-defense. We have studied psychology and elements of psychiatry in depth. By drawing upon all of that, and researches into combat that others in all walks of life have experienced and report, we have drastically revised the method of conducting class sessions in group training in martial arts, and we have incorporated unique ways of jarring and adjusting the prosaic psyche of the (at first!) noncombatant into a battle-ready mode — when and if necessary.
Far from making the student aggressive, belligerent, or "eager to fight", in every single instance we have made our students COMMITTED TO BEING NON-AGGRESSIVE AND TO BEING NONVIOLENT — EXCEPT WHEN ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY FOR LAWFUL AND MORAL DEFENSE PURPOSES.
If we sound proud of our record, we are. But this is something of a digression.
What we wish to describe here for the benefit of our visitors is a kind of touchstone or acid test to determine what marks the end result of correct mental conditioning for combat.
Surely the person who learns and practices the best genuine combat skills, who acquires the tactical know-how, who builds his body and keeps it strong and well conditioned, and who ESTABLISHES THE PROPER COMBAT MIND SET, will stand an excellent chance of prevailing in a dangerous emergency.
With discipline, time, and persistence, YOU can be such a person.
Sword and Pen – June 2010 Issue
[Reprinted With Permission]
American Combato
Seattle Combatives
INDIVIDUAL combat is 90% mental and 10% physical. Techniques and the speed and accuracy and strength with which they are executed is important; but these things simply do not work without MINDSET, and the proper degree of psychological/emotional readiness and willingness to apply them immediately, and with relentless fury, until the enemy has been rendered harmless.
Remember that all of the physical skills of individual combat depend upon the voluntary muscles for execution. This means that without the mental command to act, nothing happens. And the reliable conditioning of the mind of the individual so that in a crisis he will in fact ISSUE that command, is the great goal of much of that aspect of "mental conditioning for combat" that we teach and advocate.
Assuming that the process takes; assuming that we are successful in effectively conditioning the student’s mind (and with every student who applies himself to our training properly and in earnest we are successful) what exactly happens? What is it that now occurs in that student’s psyche when the moment of truth arrives, and when self-defensive action is required of him?
Very simply put, we believe that the essence of what flashes through the properly conditioned mind at the time of crisis when an imminent attack is perceived, is “THIS IS WHAT I ANTICIPATED MIGHT HAPPEN SOME DAY, AND I KNOW WHAT TO DO AND WILL NOW DO IT!”
We are obviously unable to describe the exact and the specific self-talk that flashes through the individual’s mind (if in fact there is any ascertainable "self-talk" per se) when, confronting an imminent attack, that individual goes without hesitation into counter-aggressive action. And we are further fairly certain that what transpires mentally is more of a momentary explosion of an awfully difficult to describe IMPULSE TO ATTACK — that manifests as an inner COMMAND. However, the sentence that we presented likely sums up the essence of that which manifests in the conditioned mind of a combatives pupil, if and when he has been trained correctly to do battle in self-defense.
Since the properly conditioned mind ANTICIPATES that violence may one day come to him, it is logical that he would not be so astonished by its appearance that he would freeze; or even that he would take much more than perhaps half a second to act.
Since the properly conditioned mind is CONFIDENT that its possessor can in fact undertake successful (not necessarily "guaranteed" to be 100% perfect, but tactically correct and potentially successful) action, it is logical that “I know what to do” would characterize an aspect of the flash of self-talk or realization that the conditioned mind would experience.
Since the properly conditioned mind is DECISIVELY AGGRESSIVE it is logical that the individual who possesses such a mindset will in fact issue forth the unequivocal emergency command to “Go!” — i.e. to right now DO that which all of his physical training and technical work has drilled into his motor memory.
It took us decades to develop the art of conditioning the combative student’s mind ALONG WITH HIS BODY, during the course of his training with us. We make no claims of perfection — but we certainly make the claim of being SUCCESSFUL; for we have been and are, and when a serious, properly disciplined, attentive individual undertakes his training with us, he may be sure that, in due course, he will be mentally, tactically, physically, and technically ready to defend himself.
Of what does our approach consist?
We have decades of experience in both physical training and hypnosis, as well as in all aspects of armed and unarmed close combat and self-defense. We have studied psychology and elements of psychiatry in depth. By drawing upon all of that, and researches into combat that others in all walks of life have experienced and report, we have drastically revised the method of conducting class sessions in group training in martial arts, and we have incorporated unique ways of jarring and adjusting the prosaic psyche of the (at first!) noncombatant into a battle-ready mode — when and if necessary.
Far from making the student aggressive, belligerent, or "eager to fight", in every single instance we have made our students COMMITTED TO BEING NON-AGGRESSIVE AND TO BEING NONVIOLENT — EXCEPT WHEN ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY FOR LAWFUL AND MORAL DEFENSE PURPOSES.
If we sound proud of our record, we are. But this is something of a digression.
What we wish to describe here for the benefit of our visitors is a kind of touchstone or acid test to determine what marks the end result of correct mental conditioning for combat.
Surely the person who learns and practices the best genuine combat skills, who acquires the tactical know-how, who builds his body and keeps it strong and well conditioned, and who ESTABLISHES THE PROPER COMBAT MIND SET, will stand an excellent chance of prevailing in a dangerous emergency.
With discipline, time, and persistence, YOU can be such a person.
Monday, July 5, 2010
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Drive In FAST, HARD, And FURIOUS!
© COPYRIGHT 2010 BY BRADLEY J. STEINER - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Sword and Pen – May 2010 Issue
[Reprinted With Permission]
American Combato
Seattle Combatives
WE have come to the realization that certain tactical imperatives must be stressed when training people to physically defend themselves. And while it certainly does make a big difference whether one employs proper combat versus competitive or classical techniques, the implementation of good tactics regardless of what techniques are employed, cannot be overemphasized. Less than perfect techniques will often prevail when employed by using good tactics.
One critical tactic is "Whenever you are in a situation where you have no choice but to physically defend yourself, move in viciously and with every ounce of physical and mental determination of which you are capable! Never “square off”, take some formal stance, or hold your ground and attempt to strike out at your enemy from a “sparring distance".
One of the greatest detriments to the study of any sporting/competitive "martial art" if your goal is self-defense is that EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM advocates and requires that participants use “get ready” stances, and that they square off with each other before entering the match.
Never should a defender assume a formalized "fighting stance" when he is attacked. If — as we would hope — the troublemaker who is initiating violence shows his hand to a properly schooled defender who has been trained to face strangers correctly and unobtrusively, then the second that troublemaker acts, the defender PREEMPTS.
If an attacker takes the defender off guard, then the proper reaction on the defender’s part is to GO AFTER THAT ATTACKER AS SOON AS HE POSSIBLY CAN DO SO, not to square off in a stance, awaiting the aggressor’s next onslaught, or to focus completely upon releasing a grip or getting out of a hold If you’ve been hit then you’ve been hit. If you are not knocked out or disabled, then ATTACK YOUR ATTACKER! Never mind ridiculously "preparing to defend against that attacker’s next effort".
This is all, as our decades of training, research, study, and experience has taught us, BASIC DOCTRINE. Ignore it at your peril.
Whenever you move against an adversary, ADVANCE AGGRESSIVELY INTO HIM. Attack while and as you drive into him — relentlessly. This provides your most certain defense. "Defense" in effect, is built into the offense.
During WWII when the justifiably famous Silent Killing Course of Fairbairn’s was being given to members of the OSS in the United States training facility at Camp Ritchie, Maryland and at Camp-X in Canada, the mandate to instructors was clear: “Students must be made attack minded.”
"Attack mindedness" involves, as we see it, much more than a mere focus upon offensive rather than defensive techniques. It means, among other things:
• Wanting to destroy the enemy (not merely “win a match”, or “stop his attack”, etc.)
• Being prepared at all times to make the crucial mental shift required (from mundane thoughts to serious aggressive violence) should one find oneself in a confrontational predicament
• Possessing a real enthusiasm for employing the proper attacking actions of close combat so that foolish recourse to purely defensive or to mere evasive actions will not flood one’s psyche in a critical moment
• Having not the slightest hesitation about explosive brutality — about instantly savaging an enemy in the most ruthlessly merciless manner — when there is no choice but to protect oneself or others
• Being conditioned to physically propel oneself aggressively at one’s enemy in a combative engagement, attacking, attacking, and continuing to attack some more, until that enemy has been destroyed.
Moving in is key. Make it a 100% drive to the wall! Attack!
Moving in provides the greatest channeling opportunity for the fear energy that manifests during the initial, involuntary "flight or fight" reaction of the organism to the awareness of danger.
Moving in makes you a moving target for any second or third attacker who may be present — perhaps coming in behind you, without your immediate awareness.
Moving in facilitates physical followup (ALWAYS something to be emphasized).
Moving in causes any attacker to shift to a defensive mode, himself. If he does not "back peddle", then he must use his strength and energy to attempt to halt your onslaught. Thus, if he is larger and stronger than yourself, as we assume in training he always will be, you cause him to waste his strength by attempting to halt your advance.
Moving in (while, we suggest, growling and screaming like a madman) imparts the maximum degree of surprise and shock effect to your action.
Great caution must be employed in training with a practice partner, naturally. However, this is the way to end an enemy’s threat to you, DECISIVELY.
Question: "What is the best technical way to 'move in' against an enemy in a close combat situation?"
Answer: This varies with situations, to an extent. We’d recommend that those working on their own experiment with advancing after lashing out with a surprise side kick to the knee, an open hand fingertips thrust to the eyes, rapid handaxe chopping to the facial/throat area, or tossing some object into the adversary’s face. We teach many proven and marvelously effective options, as well as personally tailoring movements to one’s physiological and psychological idiosyncrasies, when we give personal instruction.
Sword and Pen – May 2010 Issue
[Reprinted With Permission]
American Combato
Seattle Combatives
WE have come to the realization that certain tactical imperatives must be stressed when training people to physically defend themselves. And while it certainly does make a big difference whether one employs proper combat versus competitive or classical techniques, the implementation of good tactics regardless of what techniques are employed, cannot be overemphasized. Less than perfect techniques will often prevail when employed by using good tactics.
One critical tactic is "Whenever you are in a situation where you have no choice but to physically defend yourself, move in viciously and with every ounce of physical and mental determination of which you are capable! Never “square off”, take some formal stance, or hold your ground and attempt to strike out at your enemy from a “sparring distance".
One of the greatest detriments to the study of any sporting/competitive "martial art" if your goal is self-defense is that EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM advocates and requires that participants use “get ready” stances, and that they square off with each other before entering the match.
Never should a defender assume a formalized "fighting stance" when he is attacked. If — as we would hope — the troublemaker who is initiating violence shows his hand to a properly schooled defender who has been trained to face strangers correctly and unobtrusively, then the second that troublemaker acts, the defender PREEMPTS.
If an attacker takes the defender off guard, then the proper reaction on the defender’s part is to GO AFTER THAT ATTACKER AS SOON AS HE POSSIBLY CAN DO SO, not to square off in a stance, awaiting the aggressor’s next onslaught, or to focus completely upon releasing a grip or getting out of a hold If you’ve been hit then you’ve been hit. If you are not knocked out or disabled, then ATTACK YOUR ATTACKER! Never mind ridiculously "preparing to defend against that attacker’s next effort".
This is all, as our decades of training, research, study, and experience has taught us, BASIC DOCTRINE. Ignore it at your peril.
Whenever you move against an adversary, ADVANCE AGGRESSIVELY INTO HIM. Attack while and as you drive into him — relentlessly. This provides your most certain defense. "Defense" in effect, is built into the offense.
During WWII when the justifiably famous Silent Killing Course of Fairbairn’s was being given to members of the OSS in the United States training facility at Camp Ritchie, Maryland and at Camp-X in Canada, the mandate to instructors was clear: “Students must be made attack minded.”
"Attack mindedness" involves, as we see it, much more than a mere focus upon offensive rather than defensive techniques. It means, among other things:
• Wanting to destroy the enemy (not merely “win a match”, or “stop his attack”, etc.)
• Being prepared at all times to make the crucial mental shift required (from mundane thoughts to serious aggressive violence) should one find oneself in a confrontational predicament
• Possessing a real enthusiasm for employing the proper attacking actions of close combat so that foolish recourse to purely defensive or to mere evasive actions will not flood one’s psyche in a critical moment
• Having not the slightest hesitation about explosive brutality — about instantly savaging an enemy in the most ruthlessly merciless manner — when there is no choice but to protect oneself or others
• Being conditioned to physically propel oneself aggressively at one’s enemy in a combative engagement, attacking, attacking, and continuing to attack some more, until that enemy has been destroyed.
Moving in is key. Make it a 100% drive to the wall! Attack!
Moving in provides the greatest channeling opportunity for the fear energy that manifests during the initial, involuntary "flight or fight" reaction of the organism to the awareness of danger.
Moving in makes you a moving target for any second or third attacker who may be present — perhaps coming in behind you, without your immediate awareness.
Moving in facilitates physical followup (ALWAYS something to be emphasized).
Moving in causes any attacker to shift to a defensive mode, himself. If he does not "back peddle", then he must use his strength and energy to attempt to halt your onslaught. Thus, if he is larger and stronger than yourself, as we assume in training he always will be, you cause him to waste his strength by attempting to halt your advance.
Moving in (while, we suggest, growling and screaming like a madman) imparts the maximum degree of surprise and shock effect to your action.
Great caution must be employed in training with a practice partner, naturally. However, this is the way to end an enemy’s threat to you, DECISIVELY.
Question: "What is the best technical way to 'move in' against an enemy in a close combat situation?"
Answer: This varies with situations, to an extent. We’d recommend that those working on their own experiment with advancing after lashing out with a surprise side kick to the knee, an open hand fingertips thrust to the eyes, rapid handaxe chopping to the facial/throat area, or tossing some object into the adversary’s face. We teach many proven and marvelously effective options, as well as personally tailoring movements to one’s physiological and psychological idiosyncrasies, when we give personal instruction.
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