Las Vegas Martial Arts Blog

A major pivoting point in my ninjutsu martial arts learning process happened when I realized that there was something more going on than just the punching, kicking, and what-not, that makes up conventional martial arts and self-defense training. In fact, once I saw it happening, my mind shifted away from the typical orientation toward this “style” or that, and started looking beyond the techniques themselves to…

…what was being “done” by each move in a technique string.

The question I began to ask was, “what’s the logic behind the moves?” And, “why are the moves where they are in this particular string?”

And THAT is what the book, “Controlling the Fight: The 5 Keys of Effective Self-Defense Strategy,” is all about.

It’s about understanding and recognizing the keys, or bridges, between one phase…

…one strategic moment…

…in a self-defense situation, and another.

It’s about controlling the “pieces” of a fight-scenario that must be strategically managed in the correct order, and at the correct time, if you are to be successful.

What are these critical moments within the flow of the fight? Let me first tell you what they’re NOT.

They are not…

…when you’re fist makes contact with the surface of your assailant’s body…

…when you lock his joints to immobilize him and prevent him from continuing to fight…

…when you take up your “way-cool” stance…

…the way with which you’ve been taught to hold your weapon, or…

…a hundred other “things” that most books, videos, and schools of martial arts and self-defense focus almost exclusively on.

But, they are not NOT these things either. If you don’t understand what I’m trying to point out here, you won’t see it.

Confused? Don’t be.

The point here is that, behind any move or technique itself – the punch, lock, throw, etc. – there is a “reason” that THAT particular technique is being done at THAT way, and at THAT particular time. There is something that the technique is either doing ‘for’ us or ‘to’ our attacker that gains, maintains, or accentuates our control of the situation. In short…

…there is something that makes a particular technique RIGHT and APPROPRIATE for any given moment…

…and completely WRONG for another.

And, make no mistake here. We are talking about a scientific application of principles that work, and have worked for centuries. And, this science works…

…for whoever is knowledgeable of, and in control of it in the fight!

What it means is this; if you know how to use this scientific application and make it the logic behind your strategic use of your skills and techniques, then you will probably win. If you don’t and your assailant does, you will lose.

So, what are these key moments or critical phases?

They are…

1) Your ability to assess your situation and understand what the assailant is doing or attempting to do to you.

2) Your defense against his incoming attacks. This is your ability to neutralize the effect that his attacks were to have on you.

3) How you unbalance him in a way that prevents your assailant from going on with his own strategy and literally puts him in a position of weakness.

4) The actual counter-attack that you use to knock him back or take him to the ground. This is the phase where you actually take the fight to him.

5) Your ability to assess the effect that your technique has had on your assailant and what your next move (escape, restrain him, or prepare for another barrage of attacks) should be.

In my attempt to learn how to really be successful at defending myself and others, I was lucky enough to find some teachers who could point the way towards many of these answers. Unfortunately (or fortunately, as this caused me to have to really look), we’re not talking about the step-by-step mechanics of the “style” here, as these can be taught by practically anyone to almost anyone else. What we ARE talking about is something that cannot be seen unless you know what you’re looking for. It’s invisible to the naked eye but there nonetheless.

Just know this. Each of these critical moments – these keys – is an important, no crucial, element in any overall defense strategy. But, where the book “The Karate-Myth” focused on the big-picture defense strategy that lead from General Awareness to Actually having to Deal with the Attacker (remember?), what I’m talking about here is the little-picture strategy of phase 6 – “dealing with the attack.”

Where an overall general self-defense strategy is ultimately designed to “avoid” dangerous situations altogether; this life-saving knowledge is all about effectively and efficiently handling one one you find yourself in it.

And, when the “rubber-meets-the-road,” so-to-speak…

…it doesn’t matter how many way-cool techniques you know, so much as…

…what you can “do” with them.

Jeffrey M. Miller is the founder and director of Warrior Concepts International in Sunbury, Pennsylvania. He is the author of the “Foundations of Self-Defense Mastery” eCourse, which is available free of charge to subscribers of his self defense newsletter. You can subscribe to the newsletter at: http://www.warrior-concepts-online.com/newsletter-subscribe-self-defense.html He is also the creator of the EDR: Non-Martial Arts Defensive Training Program, author of the book, “The Karate-Myth” as-well-as the powerful, “Danger Prevention Tactics” video. Additional information is available by visiting http://www.warrior-concepts-online.com

Tags: Wing Chun, Kung Fu, Las Vegas Kung Fu School, Las Vegas Wing Chun School, Lo Man Kam, Lo Man Kam Wing Chun, Martial Arts Self Defense

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In the world in which we currently live, it is now necessary that one knows how to properly defend themselves or their loved ones if they are in danger of being hurt. This article will become useful if you want to increase your knowledge of basic self-defense and techniques used to fight off an attacker. You are going learn what self-defense is, why it is needed, basic self-defense moves, and weapons that can be useful if needed.

Self-defense refers to the use of violence to protect oneself and is a legal right that you have. You`ve seen it in the movies. A pretty girl is in a parking lot, some guy attempts to rape, she kicks him in the groin, and she runs to safety. This is just an example of a situation where self-defense would be necessary. You should always plan ahead to a possible attack, always being aware of your surroundings, and preparing to run if possible.

Your attitude and voice tone can make all of the difference in the world. Being able to stomp on someone in a fight can be fun, but if you somehow mess up, you could possibly end up dead. Avoid the situation whenever possible, but if you are being attacked, there are certain targe points on the human body that should be targeted. These targets are the bridge of the nose, the knees, throat, eyes, and groin region. Learning martial arts is great but only if the martial arts program that you learning practices efficient ways of dealing with common attacks, preparing you for real life situations.

In some self-defense situations, the use of weapons may be needed, especially if you are being attacked by more than one person. The two most common methods of self-defense is pepper spray/mace and the stun gun. Another method of self-defense is by the use of a 45 caliber pistol. However, before carrying any of these weapons around, you need to ask yourself these questions:

* Is it legal?
* Will it be available when I need it?
* Can I carry it all the time?
* Am I mentally prepared to use it?

There are also good VHS videos that I highly recommend if you are wanting to further your knowledge of self-defense. These movies are Bruce Lee`s, The Man/ The Myth and John McSweeney`s Total Self Defense.

It is a powerful state of mind when you know these methods of self-defense, and you will no longer be afraid to take a trip to the grocery store at night. But as I stated previously, your safest route is to avoid the confrontation at all costs, and not walk around acting like an idiot just because you know how to defend yourself. Use your power for good and NEVER use it as a means of harming someone else unless they harm you first. Until next time, later.

About the Author :

MY SITE: http://www.mightybody.com

This article is distributed by: www.iSnare.com

Tags: Wing Chun, Kung Fu, Las Vegas Kung Fu School, Las Vegas Wing Chun School, Lo Man Kam, Lo Man Kam Wing Chun, Martial Arts Self Defense

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Fundamental “Nuts & Bolts” training for close combat should be directed at dealing with the extremes. That is a life and death struggle for survival, i.e. worst case scenario. Restraint, control, and use of force scenarios and methods are peripheral to this core training. In other words train to deal with these beliefs at the forefront: The enemy is quite willing and capable of killing you – there are multiple threats – they are armed – the assailant(s) are bigger, stronger, faster than you and they CAN FIGHT! Can it get any worse that that? Now add this to the mix: You are physically/mentally exhausted – ill or injured – caught by absolute surprise – may have to protect others as well – no viable avenue of E&E.

So what do we HAVE to do? I think we would all agree that immediate and absolute “threat” elimination by the most extreme (hence most reliable) measures possible is really the only pragmatic answer. So now what?

Let’s look to real world models for some possible answers. Three potential goals seem obvious:

1 – Immediate cessation of life. Yes, killing the SOB’s outright!

2 – Unconsciousness. Knocking the SOB’s out cold!

3 – Acute traumatic shock (least viable). Making it physically impossible for the SOB’s to do ANYTHING.

I would heartily suggest following up with 1 or 2. John Minnery had a good line, “If you killed him once and you’re sure he’s dead, kill him again and be dead sure”. If anyone regards this as melodramatic or overly harsh; well consider what you would do if some animal were about to harm your wife, children, etc.

Look at it this way. Most of us have dogs. You wouldn t think of hurting or harming that animal. Now you re walking through the woods and you come across a rabid dog, foaming at the mouth, and it closing in on you and your family. Ask your self, would you think twice about killing that dog where it stands? Of course not! What s the difference between that dog and the one at home? Your dog at home behaves in a way that deserves your love and respect. The rabid dog behaves in a way that doesn t. Enough said.

Considering the worst case, it seems only logical that we attack the most viable targets with ruthless, abject brutality. Priority #1 – the throat/neck region and the face/skull (brain box). Everything else is secondary. Why? These two areas assure the “biggest bang for the buck” so to speak. Reality sucks, so you may very well have only ONE CHANCE, you had better make it the best chance possible! This applies to unarmed as well as armed combat.

Attack the throat with the INTENTION of crushing it! No brainer.

Attack the anterior/lateral carotid triangle. One of TWO primary KO points.

Kyusho/Dim Mak this AIN’T! Just “hammer” the bastard. Fast, hard and often is the key phrase!

Attack the cervical spine/C-1 – dens bone attachment.

Attack the head/brain case. Now here we get interesting. The goal in attacking the head should be, in my opinion, to cause ACUTE TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY. Other possible injuries are secondary. Attack with the intention of causing massive “coup contra coup” brain trauma, either through translational or rotational impact. Cause severe “kinking” of the brain stem, either by hyper flexion or extension. Forget the “death touch” stuff. THIS IS HOW people in the real world get F***ed up.

Just research contact sports injuries, i.e. football, hockey, soccer, boxing and judo. Shocking the medulla and the raephi ganglia are proven “shut downs” in the real world. Second proven KO is located at the jawline lateral to the chin at about the spot where the mental foramen is located(draw a vertical line down from corner of mouth). This is the classic boxing KO and is due in large part to rotational acceleration causing “brain bounce” or concussive referal shock and acute twisting of the cervical vertabrae.

No one is saying that this is “easy”, BUT it is what you are going to HAVE to do. Sometimes you CAN attack directly, sometimes you can’t. Uncle Murphy rules the roost here. So you DO whatever you have to DO, but get there! Spit in his eyes, slam a kick(with real intent and hopefully solid boots) into his shins, crush his nuts with a knee, grab the bastard and bite his nose off…….whatever! Shock him, rock him, and knock him out! Or just smile simpering and waste the skel with total abject ruthlessness. Then go home and get a good night s sleep.

It ain’t pretty, it ain’t easy, it ain’t fun, this is SERIOUS “guano” and your very life and well-being will be hanging in the balance. Either stand up, accept it and deal with it, or fold your hand, the choice is yours. The morgue is filled with compromise. Survival is its OWN REWARD!

Copyright 2003 www.thetruthaboutselfdefense.com

Carl Cestari began his study of the martial arts with judo at the age of 7 under the direction of Yoshisada Yonezuka. During the past forty plus years Carl has dedicated his life to studying the martial arts, hand to hand combat systems, history and religion. What makes Carl unique is his combination of martial arts, law enforcement and military and real world experience. Carl has been exposed to a multitude of people with a wide variety experience. The following is a list of some of Carl s ranks and honors.

Shinan (Founder) Tekkenryu jujutsu
Ryokudan (6th degree) Koshinkai Karate under John Burrelle
Godan (5th degree) Jujutsu under Clarke of the World Jujutsu Fedaration (now defunct)
Sandan (3rd degree) Nippon Kempo under Narabu Sada
Nidan (2nd degree) Judo under Masafumi Suzuki
Shodan (1st degree) Judo under Yoshisada Yonezuka
Shodan (1st degree) Shukokai Karate under Kimura, Kadachi and Yonezuka
Shodan (1st degree) Daitoryu Aikijujutsu
Instructors Certificate- Charles Nelson System of Self Defense under Charlie Nelson

http://www.thetruthaboutselfdefense.com

Tags: Wing Chun, Kung Fu, Las Vegas Kung Fu School, Las Vegas Wing Chun School, Lo Man Kam, Lo Man Kam Wing Chun, Martial Arts Self Defense

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In the world of women’s self-defense training, there are two generally accepted “schools” of thought. Unfortunately, both take extreme viewpoints and are usually founded on nothing more than the so-called “expert’s” beliefs. Without real-world experience, and instructor teaching self-defense to anyone, but especially to women, is quite likely putting their students in severe danger.
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Women’s self defense issues are constantly in the news and a ‘hot’ topic for conversations. It seems that everyone from police officers to karate instructors has his or her own philosophy and theories about the how’s and why’s of self defense for women and girls.
The truth is though, that many of the same techniques and tactics taught to men for self-protection simply will not work for a woman. Why?…
… because attacks perpetrated on women have, at their foundation, certain inherent problems, issues, and conditions that are often very different for men who find themselves in defensive situations. Women have to deal with things that, quite frankly, men don’t.
Click on the link at the end of this article to get more information about real-world self defense for women designed around issues specifically related to womens self-defense.
Now, before some of you start rolling your eyes or nodding your head in agreement, this is not a women’s lib issue or anything of the sort. It’s simply the way it is.
What kind of things make self-defense for women different? I’m glad you asked.
Well, for starters, physiologically speaking, there is a 7-to-3 strength ratio between male and female bodies. That means that if you were to stand a man and a woman, having the same height, weight, and build, side-by-side, and all things considered (health, fitness, etc.)…
… the man would still be two-and-a-half times stronger than the woman!
This is not theory or one person’s belief over those of others. It’s scientific fact.
Next, women are more likely to be slapped, grabbed and pinned than punched or kicked. For men, it’s just the opposite. The fact is that, most of us have been conditioned since childhood to act, play, and, yes, fight with each gender very differently. And attackers are no different.
The good news is that more and more women are being drawn to the life-enhancing benefits of the martial arts and basic self-defense programs for increasing their level of self-confidence and overall feelings of safety and security. The not-so-good news is that…
… there is a shortage of:
* Martial arts instructors who understand scientific self-defense, ‘and’ have the necessary life experience to be able to teach from a perspective that shares that experience.
After all…
… if an instructor has never been in a real-world self defense situation themselves, it will make it nearly impossible for them to teach real self defense to anyone – let alone self defense for women. It’s kind of like going to a priest of counselor for marriage counselling who has never been married themselves. They both have information passed on by others but, neither has anyway of expressing that information based on real-word knowledge.
However, there is an over-abundance of…
…so-called self-defense experts who are of the tough-guy, fighter type or the “This is Reality – Deal With it! macho-type.
These people, by their very nature are the “slugger-types” who rely and depend on speed, strength and size to win. Since self defense situations usually involve a bigger, faster, stronger attacker victimizing a smaller, less-prepared target – and, that’sexactly what most women are up against when they’re attacked…
… these instructors, and their “strike-first-and-crush-them-where-they-stand mentalities, are far from being suited, knowledgeable, or able to deliver the necessary lessons needed by women to effectively protect themselves from an assailant intent on dominating them physically.
Other Considerations for Girls and Women’s Self-Defense
The following is a partial list of some of the other major differences between self defense for women and men. The important thing to remember is that…
… a self-defense situation is very different from a sport or competition-based contest where the individuals are willing participants. They are evenly matched to insure for a “fair fight.” I have been in contests and I have been attacked and I can tell you without a moment’s doubt that…
… there is nothing “fair” or “even” about a real attack. NOTHING! And, once your personal space is invaded by another human being wanting to beat you to your core, you will know what I mean and never, ever, buy into the crap that most of these so-called experts are shovelling.
With that said, please know that I have not said that every self-defense or martial arts instructor is full of it. Just that you must know what you need and make sure that that’s what you’re getting. Remember – you’re not buying a couch that you can take back. A mistake in this area could literally cost you your life!
Here are some other differences between men’s and women’s training that a good program must address:
* Cultural Influences – girls have been taught from a very early age that fighting was not “lady-like.”
Oh my god! What would people think!
* Situational Self-Defense – rape and sexual assault are two of the biggest differences between the genders when it comes to suriviving an attack.
The fact that men are usually dealing with the more obvious situations (muggings and competitive (”oh-yeah! let’s go!”-type fighting), while women, and more and more young girls, are required to deal with subtle tactics like date-rape or being ambushed by a group.
Add to this the strength differential discussed earlier, and you have a very different situation, requiring very different self-protection tactics.
* Incorrect Information – I believe that the majority of teachers and instructors mean well. They aren’t out to con you. It’s just that they have no real experience to go on so they do what everyone does when they don’t know any better…
… they make assumptions that seem logical and rational within their own frame of reference.
The problem is that we’re talking about self-protection here…
… self defense for women…
… girls self-defense. Not…
… vegetable soup. Where, if you make a mistake, you can just dump the pot and start over.
As I said earlier, a mistake in a women’s self-defense situation, in any situation requiring defense against an attack from an assailant bent on damaging you, could be very, very costly indeed.

About The Author

Jeffrey M. Miller is the president and CEO of Warrior Concepts International, and specializes in teaching the lessons for effective self-protection and personal development to individuals, groups, and business organizations. He has been studying and teaching these methods for over two-thirds of his life. He is a former federal police officer, private investigator, and bodyguard – all professions that demanded that the techniques, strategies and tactics that he used in the line of duty worked, and worked every time.
Mr. Miller is the founder and creator of the EDR: Non-Martial Arts Defensive Training SystemTM. EDR stands for Emotion-based Defensive Response and focuses on teaching adults how to tap into their body’s own natural defensive response system to effectively deal with over 95% of the assaults that might happen to them. And they learn in hours instead of months or years as required by most karate programs. You can get more information about the EDR System, or to have him speak or conduct a seminar for you, by going to http://www.warrior-concepts-online.com/self-defense.html

Tags: Wing Chun, Kung Fu, Las Vegas Kung Fu School, Las Vegas Wing Chun School, Lo Man Kam, Lo Man Kam Wing Chun, Martial Arts Self Defense

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