Over the next few weeks I'll be discussing some of the most popular misconceptions when it comes to reality based self defense and effective defensive tactics.
One of the most popular misconceptions in regards to self defense is the "bite".
Many people assume that the most common attribute of RBSD is using the bite as a dirty tactic and that proponents of RBSD believe that this is the most effective tactic you can use that will work against anyone. After all the most dangerous animals bite, so many people conclude that this is the worst thing you can do in combat.
Although there is limited use of this tool, the truth is it is just that, limited.
There are no be all end all tactics in true RBSD.
This misconception probably comes from the advertising of many RBSD proponents themselves which want to look as "raw" as possible in their advertising campaigns.
The bite is more a posturing tool used in to promote systems than the cure all tactic it is sometimes touted as.
Truly effective defensive tactics are designed around a logical approach to dealing with an attacker with one outcome in mind; surviving with the least amount of damage as possible in a threatening situation.
The bite is only a small piece in that puzzle and one that only brings a small desired result. ( Such as getting someone to let go of a weapon, etc,...)
Remember, if surviving a threatening situation is your desired outcome then logically no one tactic is enough, it is only a piece of the larger puzzle.
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Monday, December 21, 2009
Occham's Razor And Effective Defensive Tactics
The principle of Occham's Razor states that the simpler the strategy, the more efficient.
In other words, the more unnecessary steps involved in a process the less efficient it becomes.
It's easy to see that according to this logical principle, keeping things simple in applying tactics to defend yourself is the most efficient path to take.
The clearest example of this is developing movement and tactics that are effective against a wide range of situations and not individual defenses for every situation that can arise.
The situations involved in any conflict or altercation are nearly endless.
So trying to develop skills in dealing with every possible situation is not only inefficient and impractical, it's almost impossible.
Therefore examining the highest percentage situations and applying simple tactics that are easily performed when under stress is the logical answer.
This is why tactics must always come before techniques.
In other words, the more unnecessary steps involved in a process the less efficient it becomes.
It's easy to see that according to this logical principle, keeping things simple in applying tactics to defend yourself is the most efficient path to take.
The clearest example of this is developing movement and tactics that are effective against a wide range of situations and not individual defenses for every situation that can arise.
The situations involved in any conflict or altercation are nearly endless.
So trying to develop skills in dealing with every possible situation is not only inefficient and impractical, it's almost impossible.
Therefore examining the highest percentage situations and applying simple tactics that are easily performed when under stress is the logical answer.
This is why tactics must always come before techniques.
Did a Secret Ancient Technique Stop an Attacker Dead in His Tracks?
We've all heard of secret techniques in the martial arts that will enable a much smaller man to defeat a larger one or a group of men.
The truth is, the mystique surrounding these martial arts' so called "secret traditions" has long been dispelled.
"Mystical techniques" don't work for real. Solid skills do.
That's one thing we can thank MMA for; helping to demonstrate what martial arts skills are the most applicable.
But before we go jumping onto the bandwagon that claims MMA is the ultimate in martial arts, let's define what "ultimate" truly means.
If by "ultimate" you are thinking that MMA can defeat all other martial arts and if it isn't MMA it doesn't work then you've only been misled by clever marketing.
The fact is that the fighter is more important than the style.
Anyone who has many years of experience in the martial arts will realize this if he's being honest with himself.
What MMA has are two key points among several other things.
1) The fights are for real. That is, making real contact and resistance, developing several critical skills.
2) The athletes train in several ranges which is critical to developing a well rounded game.
So the story of the "secret" techniques that can stop an attacker dead in his tracks has been exposed as the obvious myth that it is.
But does this mean there are no "secrets"?
Well, yes and no, depending on what you mean by the word "secrets".
Are there hidden techniques that are magical in their ability to take someone or a group of attackers out?
No.
Are there hidden, not very obvious, sides to technical skill that can only be taught by an experienced instructor?
Absolutely!
The truth is that the word "secrets" can be replaced by years of dedicated, focused and logical training under someone with real knowledge and skill who knows what he's doing in teaching others.
The truth is, the mystique surrounding these martial arts' so called "secret traditions" has long been dispelled.
"Mystical techniques" don't work for real. Solid skills do.
That's one thing we can thank MMA for; helping to demonstrate what martial arts skills are the most applicable.
But before we go jumping onto the bandwagon that claims MMA is the ultimate in martial arts, let's define what "ultimate" truly means.
If by "ultimate" you are thinking that MMA can defeat all other martial arts and if it isn't MMA it doesn't work then you've only been misled by clever marketing.
The fact is that the fighter is more important than the style.
Anyone who has many years of experience in the martial arts will realize this if he's being honest with himself.
What MMA has are two key points among several other things.
1) The fights are for real. That is, making real contact and resistance, developing several critical skills.
2) The athletes train in several ranges which is critical to developing a well rounded game.
So the story of the "secret" techniques that can stop an attacker dead in his tracks has been exposed as the obvious myth that it is.
But does this mean there are no "secrets"?
Well, yes and no, depending on what you mean by the word "secrets".
Are there hidden techniques that are magical in their ability to take someone or a group of attackers out?
No.
Are there hidden, not very obvious, sides to technical skill that can only be taught by an experienced instructor?
Absolutely!
The truth is that the word "secrets" can be replaced by years of dedicated, focused and logical training under someone with real knowledge and skill who knows what he's doing in teaching others.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
A Healthy Approach To Self Defense
How does your training make you feel?
Now before you go thinking that I'm trying to get all psychological on you, I want you to realize that this plays a HUGE role in your training as well as effectiveness.
Just bear with me and find out how.
If you are training with the interest of being able to defend yourself then you realize that awareness is a key aspect of self defense.
With that in mind, it has often been said that self-awareness is the highest form of awareness.
"So it is said that if you know your enemies and know yourself, you can win a hundred battles without a single loss." -Sun Tzu
This quote signifies the importance of awareness.
It's even more important to realize that if you walk around trying to be the biggest bad ass then you will simply be escalating any situation where someone else feels the same way about themselves.
Compare that view of yourself with instead developing a quiet confidence and you clearly see the difference where you aren't adding fuel to the fire but are giving off the impression that you will not make an easy victim, something that all predators are looking for.
So ask yourself this question seriously, how does your training make you feel?
Confrontational, aggressive, angry, violent, or self-confident, self-assured, and focused?
Which set of feelings do you think will help you avoid or survive an altercation?
Which of these two sets depicts someone who is more likely to be involved in conflict?
Now before you go thinking that I'm trying to get all psychological on you, I want you to realize that this plays a HUGE role in your training as well as effectiveness.
Just bear with me and find out how.
If you are training with the interest of being able to defend yourself then you realize that awareness is a key aspect of self defense.
With that in mind, it has often been said that self-awareness is the highest form of awareness.
"So it is said that if you know your enemies and know yourself, you can win a hundred battles without a single loss." -Sun Tzu
This quote signifies the importance of awareness.
It's even more important to realize that if you walk around trying to be the biggest bad ass then you will simply be escalating any situation where someone else feels the same way about themselves.
Compare that view of yourself with instead developing a quiet confidence and you clearly see the difference where you aren't adding fuel to the fire but are giving off the impression that you will not make an easy victim, something that all predators are looking for.
So ask yourself this question seriously, how does your training make you feel?
Confrontational, aggressive, angry, violent, or self-confident, self-assured, and focused?
Which set of feelings do you think will help you avoid or survive an altercation?
Which of these two sets depicts someone who is more likely to be involved in conflict?
Thursday, November 26, 2009
The Many Levels Of Self Defense
As I approach the end of my 30s I think back at what has kept me interested in training in defensive tactics for over 17 years, I realize the importance of what true self defense is really about.
Ultimately there is ALOT more to self defense than merely learning to fight.
The majority of training programs and systems out there emphasize one main point, learning to take out an attacker, some do it with honesty and others use hype and marketing tactics to sell a product that is actually worthless.
Still, I feel after all these years that, teaching others ONLY to protect themselves physically will usually impart other benefits to most of those training.
But it's a shame if the skills necessary to think critically and feel compassion are left out of the mix.
Some people might ask what's the point?
Why would critical thinking and compassion matter in learning to fight?
Well, anyone who's been practicing for a few years will eventually figure out that in order to truly go beyond the level of somebody who can kick ass, to somebody who can affect the world around them in a positive way, becoming an "evolved" fighter, someone who fights for something more than just themself but who also embodies the skills he practices, is the unfolding potential of anyone who truly deserves to be called a fighter.
Surely you would ask yourself, what prevents you from simply becoming an enraged out of control thug that you started training to survive against in the first place?
Thinking critically and maintaining compassion are the immediate reasons that come to mind.
And this brings me to what has maintained my interest after all these years.
That ultimately self defense skills play a role in the bigger picture of not only learning to protect yourself, but of becoming a better person in the process.
Ultimately there is ALOT more to self defense than merely learning to fight.
The majority of training programs and systems out there emphasize one main point, learning to take out an attacker, some do it with honesty and others use hype and marketing tactics to sell a product that is actually worthless.
Still, I feel after all these years that, teaching others ONLY to protect themselves physically will usually impart other benefits to most of those training.
But it's a shame if the skills necessary to think critically and feel compassion are left out of the mix.
Some people might ask what's the point?
Why would critical thinking and compassion matter in learning to fight?
Well, anyone who's been practicing for a few years will eventually figure out that in order to truly go beyond the level of somebody who can kick ass, to somebody who can affect the world around them in a positive way, becoming an "evolved" fighter, someone who fights for something more than just themself but who also embodies the skills he practices, is the unfolding potential of anyone who truly deserves to be called a fighter.
Surely you would ask yourself, what prevents you from simply becoming an enraged out of control thug that you started training to survive against in the first place?
Thinking critically and maintaining compassion are the immediate reasons that come to mind.
And this brings me to what has maintained my interest after all these years.
That ultimately self defense skills play a role in the bigger picture of not only learning to protect yourself, but of becoming a better person in the process.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Self Defense Begins With Self
Self Defense Begins With Self
Very few people realize the importance of the word "Self" in the term Self Defense.
Why do I think it is the most important word in the term?
While all the self-proclaimed self defense experts around the world will tell you that their "system" is the way to go to learn to protect and defend yourself, their emphasis is always on the system and not on the individual.
I will say right now that responsibility for defending yourself falls in your hands, unless one of these experts is offering to be your personal bodyguard then their marketing remains just that.
I have decided to continue to post in this blog more regularly as the world of self defense (more specifically those who are thinking about training to defend themselves and don't know where to begin) seems to be in serious need of of an objective and rational approach.
So every week I'll be covering different methods, techniques and other skills involved in self defense in an effort to both enlighten AND empower everyone interested.
I just want everyone who continues to read this blog to remember one point, YOU are responsible for your own defense, actions and results, not any system or martial art.
If you are prepared to move past hype and into TRUE discovery, then you have come to the right place.
Very few people realize the importance of the word "Self" in the term Self Defense.
Why do I think it is the most important word in the term?
While all the self-proclaimed self defense experts around the world will tell you that their "system" is the way to go to learn to protect and defend yourself, their emphasis is always on the system and not on the individual.
I will say right now that responsibility for defending yourself falls in your hands, unless one of these experts is offering to be your personal bodyguard then their marketing remains just that.
I have decided to continue to post in this blog more regularly as the world of self defense (more specifically those who are thinking about training to defend themselves and don't know where to begin) seems to be in serious need of of an objective and rational approach.
So every week I'll be covering different methods, techniques and other skills involved in self defense in an effort to both enlighten AND empower everyone interested.
I just want everyone who continues to read this blog to remember one point, YOU are responsible for your own defense, actions and results, not any system or martial art.
If you are prepared to move past hype and into TRUE discovery, then you have come to the right place.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
The Reality of Self Protection.
Over these next few weeks I'd like to address the topic of self-defense and protection.
There are currently tons of self-proclaimed self-defense experts and "gurus" out there out for a chance to sell you on their system.
Although the topic of self-defense can be long and complicated, the reality of it is that there are some straight principles that can help keep you out of harms way, and if by bad luck you do get in it. There are some strategies and tactics that you can implement to survive.
A wise man once told me, "You can't win a real fight, you can only survive it."
There is a profound truth in this statement.
I believe the definition of a real fight is an altercation that you don't want to be in, therefore haven't concented in, and that there is nothing in it for you to "win" only to get away from and survive.
The main reason for this being that any attacker will only pick you as a target if he perceives you're easy prey. Which may or may not be the case but his perception plays a role in who gets picked as a target.
This rules out sport fighting and consentual fights.
Although I think there is nothing wrong with combat sports, be they MMA or Kickboxing or any other combat sport, fighting on the street or violence of this sort is anti-social behaviour.
So once we've clearly defined what self-defense and self-protection are, as viewed by the law, we can then begin to clearly analyze what real self defense is.
More on this next week.
There are currently tons of self-proclaimed self-defense experts and "gurus" out there out for a chance to sell you on their system.
Although the topic of self-defense can be long and complicated, the reality of it is that there are some straight principles that can help keep you out of harms way, and if by bad luck you do get in it. There are some strategies and tactics that you can implement to survive.
A wise man once told me, "You can't win a real fight, you can only survive it."
There is a profound truth in this statement.
I believe the definition of a real fight is an altercation that you don't want to be in, therefore haven't concented in, and that there is nothing in it for you to "win" only to get away from and survive.
The main reason for this being that any attacker will only pick you as a target if he perceives you're easy prey. Which may or may not be the case but his perception plays a role in who gets picked as a target.
This rules out sport fighting and consentual fights.
Although I think there is nothing wrong with combat sports, be they MMA or Kickboxing or any other combat sport, fighting on the street or violence of this sort is anti-social behaviour.
So once we've clearly defined what self-defense and self-protection are, as viewed by the law, we can then begin to clearly analyze what real self defense is.
More on this next week.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Intro
This blog will feature a continuing commentary on the martial arts as they pertain to self defense and developing a personal, logical approach to training.
If you are looking for intelligent commentary on training, skill development and strategy then follow along as I explore the deepest levels of training in defensive tactics.
If you are looking for intelligent commentary on training, skill development and strategy then follow along as I explore the deepest levels of training in defensive tactics.
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