Who doesn't know Geoff Thompson? What? You don't? Well, get over HERE.
Anyway, Geoff Thompson wrote Dead or Alive: The Choice is Yours, which is basically the primer of the physical side of self-defence. It is being serialised by Fight Times Magazine as a bimonthly article. Good stuff. Check it out here, if you missed the link.
Also, another interesting tidbit from Mr. Thompson is his Fighting Without Fighting e-book, which basically covers the non-physical aspects of self defence. Normally you would have to subscribe to his newsgroup to get this e-book, but... well, you know...
Skinny tomes, them both, but vastly less intimidating that any other resource that I have posted in this blog.
Use them well.
Keep safe.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
The Ubiquitous Umbrella
Aaannd... I say thank you to those who wished my family and I luck, and stuff.
As a sign of gratitude, I would like to share a small tidbit on using, again, the ubiquitous umbrella, as a self-defense tool.
As Mother Nature would have it, here I am, sitting in my office, staring blankly at the dark skies beyond the citysscapes, pondering my fate without my trusty red umbrella in sight.
My red umbrella had an accident. Carelessness on my part, actually. Involving a huge ass bus to boot. Cutting the story short, my umbrella is no more. Long live my red umbrella.
Anyway, back to me staring blankly to the darkened skyes (typo intentional), feeling oh so defenseless without my primary defensive tool, I can't help to ponder how I would use my umbrella in a self-defense situation.
I ran across this transcript, Cold Steel, written by John Styers.
Now, John Styers was a student of A.J. Biddle, who tried to incorporate elements of dueling into the USMC knife fighting repertoire. It didn't go very well, since the marines aren't that hot on dueling. But, Biddle did have some long-standing students, such as Mr. Steyrs here.
Now, though I find Styers method on knife and empty hand fighting somewhat suspect (since the knife is about dueling and the hand-to-hand has holes the size of Titanic in the guard), the bayonet fencing is very simple and directly applicable to umbrella for self-defense.
For starters, the Guard position is an effective fence-like stance to assert personal space.
Second, the Beat Thrust maneuvre is simple and gross enough to learn in short time for self-defense. You step aside while parrying (beating the attack), and follow up with a simple thrust with your whole bodyweight behind it to the head.
Check it out. I think you will like it.
Yet, I do have one reserve. If it downpours later in the afternoon, how am I supposed to go home early? I do despise staying late in the office.
Be safe.
As a sign of gratitude, I would like to share a small tidbit on using, again, the ubiquitous umbrella, as a self-defense tool.
As Mother Nature would have it, here I am, sitting in my office, staring blankly at the dark skies beyond the citysscapes, pondering my fate without my trusty red umbrella in sight.
My red umbrella had an accident. Carelessness on my part, actually. Involving a huge ass bus to boot. Cutting the story short, my umbrella is no more. Long live my red umbrella.
Anyway, back to me staring blankly to the darkened skyes (typo intentional), feeling oh so defenseless without my primary defensive tool, I can't help to ponder how I would use my umbrella in a self-defense situation.
I ran across this transcript, Cold Steel, written by John Styers.
Now, John Styers was a student of A.J. Biddle, who tried to incorporate elements of dueling into the USMC knife fighting repertoire. It didn't go very well, since the marines aren't that hot on dueling. But, Biddle did have some long-standing students, such as Mr. Steyrs here.
Now, though I find Styers method on knife and empty hand fighting somewhat suspect (since the knife is about dueling and the hand-to-hand has holes the size of Titanic in the guard), the bayonet fencing is very simple and directly applicable to umbrella for self-defense.
For starters, the Guard position is an effective fence-like stance to assert personal space.
Second, the Beat Thrust maneuvre is simple and gross enough to learn in short time for self-defense. You step aside while parrying (beating the attack), and follow up with a simple thrust with your whole bodyweight behind it to the head.
Check it out. I think you will like it.
Yet, I do have one reserve. If it downpours later in the afternoon, how am I supposed to go home early? I do despise staying late in the office.
Be safe.
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
Welcome, Contratulations to Dasa Man.
On behalf of the Cempaka Putih Dojo I'd like to offer congratulations to the real-world incarnation of Dasa Man and his wife on the arrival of their baby, sometime in April. I'm presented to them this cyber-bouquet, known in Japanese as Sakura. . The Sakura in Japan is a symbol for spring, but also the transient and precious nature of life. In China, it's the flower of April.
Armed "Preman" = Hopeless Martial Arts Training?
Salam Budo! Last Saturday April 29th Pak Lili came over our dojo to share with us several techniques and insights regarding knife fighting, street gangs and street fights. Being a former street fighter himself, Pak Lili is now reformed and a priest, during his youth Pak Lili was involved in many real fights that were not 3 minute rounds tournaments but actual life & death encounters which was decided in close-up lethal skirmishes within 10 seconds. A careful look at hims arms and one can't help notice the scars in what he humbly shares as "old, reckless, youth memories". During our two hour session Pak Lili sat us down to highlight several interesting facts in regards to preman, street fighting and knife realities:
Knife techniques are relatively easier to learn than empty-hand techniques due to the fact that most of the knife techniques aren't flashy three or four moves rather than simple one-two counter or combos which easily result in serious injury and in most cases death.
Due to its nature, speed, power and its area of impact, knife techniques WILL slow down any opponent regardless of size, and in the right spot a single "stab" or "cut" is sufficient to "shock" or kill an opponent. Multiple stabbings add to the overkill
Unarmed knife defenses are STRICTLY "last resort" (case study: Thomas Autry Ex Marine story) and anyone faced with a knife attack must accept the fact that you WILL sustain injuries. Improvised weapons with a longer reach or strategically placing obstacles to nullify the sharp weapons reach is highly recommended along with aggression and the WILL to WIN & SURVIVE
The general "preman" or street criminals are not trained as "knife fighters" or "street fighters" the standard operating procedure is wolf pack mentality, substance abuse which impairs judgement, rational logic and emotional attachment to victims. "Knife fighters" that do know how to "dance" generally do come from "traditional" martial art systems predominantly from silat, although cultural influence usually dictate the weapon of choice, style and technique of fighting (killing).
Lesson learned:
Train your knife defenses to be "dynamic" and train yourself to learn responses which can be universally adapted regardless of the attack
Experiment with going to the ground and actively using your legs to block and sweep the attacker of his/her feet
Experiment with using longer range impact weapons to defend yourself. Umbrella, cane, stick etc.
Understand that "taps" to disarm the weapon away from the opponent MAY NOT work! If he or she is hell bent on actually killing you, the person will "instinctively" hold on to his/her weapon as hard as the person can
Understand that FEAR is NORMAL, but learn to control your fear by submerging yourself into these scenarios. The absence of such training will result that in a stressful situation your brain will fail to search for "a set of moves, reaction and response" critical to self protection
High levels of stress during either high-risk phsyical or weapon altercations will significantly affect your "motor" movements, in Marc Young's word... if it doesn't work now it's not going to work later!
Strength and Honor
Knife techniques are relatively easier to learn than empty-hand techniques due to the fact that most of the knife techniques aren't flashy three or four moves rather than simple one-two counter or combos which easily result in serious injury and in most cases death.
Due to its nature, speed, power and its area of impact, knife techniques WILL slow down any opponent regardless of size, and in the right spot a single "stab" or "cut" is sufficient to "shock" or kill an opponent. Multiple stabbings add to the overkill
Unarmed knife defenses are STRICTLY "last resort" (case study: Thomas Autry Ex Marine story) and anyone faced with a knife attack must accept the fact that you WILL sustain injuries. Improvised weapons with a longer reach or strategically placing obstacles to nullify the sharp weapons reach is highly recommended along with aggression and the WILL to WIN & SURVIVE
The general "preman" or street criminals are not trained as "knife fighters" or "street fighters" the standard operating procedure is wolf pack mentality, substance abuse which impairs judgement, rational logic and emotional attachment to victims. "Knife fighters" that do know how to "dance" generally do come from "traditional" martial art systems predominantly from silat, although cultural influence usually dictate the weapon of choice, style and technique of fighting (killing).
Lesson learned:
Train your knife defenses to be "dynamic" and train yourself to learn responses which can be universally adapted regardless of the attack
Experiment with going to the ground and actively using your legs to block and sweep the attacker of his/her feet
Experiment with using longer range impact weapons to defend yourself. Umbrella, cane, stick etc.
Understand that "taps" to disarm the weapon away from the opponent MAY NOT work! If he or she is hell bent on actually killing you, the person will "instinctively" hold on to his/her weapon as hard as the person can
Understand that FEAR is NORMAL, but learn to control your fear by submerging yourself into these scenarios. The absence of such training will result that in a stressful situation your brain will fail to search for "a set of moves, reaction and response" critical to self protection
High levels of stress during either high-risk phsyical or weapon altercations will significantly affect your "motor" movements, in Marc Young's word... if it doesn't work now it's not going to work later!
Strength and Honor
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