1. Always choose reality over tradition Martial arts has a rich history that should be studied and understood. Ultimately, I have respect for tradition and when put in their proper context many arts have valuable information. However, martial arts also teach a lot of BS frankly. Some practitioners know they’re teaching impractical techniques but to […]
1. Practice deception In self-defense classes, most teachers place emphasis on using deception and subterfuge to set-up your preemptive striking assault. However, it’s not enough to just know you should use deception before striking your assailant. You have to practice it in role-playing scenarios so you’ll do it under duress convincingly. Today, I’ll give you […]
1. Criminals use aggressive ploys to intimidate you In practical self-defense we spend considerable time training to deal with “interview scenarios”. These are confrontations that begin with a criminal attempting to distract you in some manner before attacking you. This distraction can be relaxed or exceedingly aggressive. Today, I want to discuss how to deal […]
1. Intro to Guided Chaos Cane-Fighting Recently, I returned home for a tune-up with Grandmaster John Perkins at the Elmsford headquarters in New York. These tune-ups are routine for me starting back when I entered college. My tuneups generally consist of training with Grandmaster Perkins and his instructors and getting my butt-kicked…a lot. In a […]
1.How criminals manipulate you When preparing people to defend themselves, the physical part of the training is one part of it. There are other aspects to the training that aren’t physical but are just as important. One of those aspects is understanding and having a strategy for dealing with manipulative behavior. Criminals are adept at […]
1. Conventional sparring isn’t the best preparation for self-defense Martial artists argue sparring is the best measure of a martial arts effectiveness in real-world self-defense. Allegedly, it provides the best reliable “evidence” we can use to ascertain what techniques work on a resisting opponent. To the extent they work on a resisting opponent we can […]
1. Bullying requires specific strategies to overcome it As a child who suffered from bullying in school, I know firsthand how difficult it is to deal with. I recall the feelings of humiliation and fear that I would experience as a result of being physically assaulted and taunted at school. It’s what drove me towards […]
1. Excessive nervousness, attempts to get close to you, and excessive eye contact Often I’m asked by students what’re important indicators you can notice to predict if someone will attack you. Upon first hearing this question you might believe it’s silly as nobody is a mind-reader. While this is true, there actually are behaviors that […]
1. How to deal with robbery scenarios Robberies are a dangerous scenario that need to be taken seriously. The best defense is awareness which allows you to avoid the situation altogether. However, if you’re caught unawares you need a physical plan that’ll allow you to escape. There are techniques to deal with this but many […]
1. Intro to Guided Chaos Combatives Kicking Often, I’m asked about the best way to kick for close combat. This is a good question because you’re severely limiting yourself if you only study ways to attack with your upper body. Kicking can play a crucial role in ending a situation quickly, creating space from a […]