No Nonsense Self Defense

20/02/2021

I'd like to ask for your help to keep people safe.

It won't cost you a penny and you'll get to read my latest book for free. All it takes is a library card and you emailing in a patron request for "Safety Doesn't Have To Be Scary." (You can ask for an e-book or paper version.)

Please share this

Safety Doesn't Have To Be Scary: Simple steps to avoid violent crime, attacks and conflict

20/02/2021

A recent post to YT on territorialism

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdDN8hYJvAc&feature=share&fbclid=IwAR2P3g2BydFmVADRsu_JUsIngvsG2RaCdAI4NlPd2QSQ7Ad7cIIt83gDtso

Fights over "don't touch my stuff" are about way more than just the item

30/11/2020

I'm currently finishing up a new book for the general public called "Safety Doesn't Have To Be Scary: Simple steps to avoid crime and violence."

It's not a 'self-defense' book. In fact it starts with asking a blunt, no room for weaseling or conditional softening, question.

"Are you willing to use physical force to defend yourself?" Yes or no.

There is no right answer. There is only personal choice. Both answers are valid. However, either answer opens some doors and closes others. Either answer comes with limits, responsibilities, consequences, directions of further research, self-control, and powers. In other words you can't have your cake and eat it too.

Unfortunately, that's what a lot of people want. What they especially want is low impact answers to dangerous situations they have —and I cannot use the term 'unwittingly' because so often they've worked hard—put themselves into.

Personal safety isn't found in some magic pill. It is a complex mix of what you do and even more importantly, what you don't do. Unfortunately, in pursuit of money martial arts have lost the critical self-defense component of telling people "Don't do that." Instead they spend way too much time selling fantasy solutions to fantasy problems.

A big part of the book is "This is what developing crime and violence looks like" and if you see it developing, extract yourself. If you don't there's a good chance you're going to get hurt, maybe killed. Regardless of your answer.

If you answered "yes" while you might physically come out ahead, now there's the next danger of ending up in prison. Preparing people for that little problem associated with what they're teaching is another area that martial arts schools high dive into an empty pool.

04/07/2020

This is from a seminar that Guru Steve taught several years ago. Initially, Steve was discussing the use of either a stick or machete. Silat is talked about as a weapons based art and he is demonstrating a drill to initiate the group inot the idea of where in the djurus this can be seen. He also repeats the idea of a true line of attack. You feed your partner a true line so they can see a "real" attack and thus respond appropriately. Steve also demonstrates the importance of footwork to assist in your training.

I'm posting this primarily for the guys in training right now so we can work on our "social distancing".

12/06/2020

We are running classes again! Classes begin again on 16 June. Our class time will be 6-7:30 pm at Marc’s house. If you need the address, please PM us. We are waiting on the Castle Rock Rec Center to change their schedule back to normal hours for us to return there. We have some rules -

Please use the restroom at home before class. The bathroom will not be available at Marc’s.

We will make hand sanitizer available to students to spritz before and after class, but you can bring your own if you have a favorite.

Masks are optional. You may wear one if you wish but we will not provide them.

We will be working out outside, please dress appropriately.

Check the weather, if it is raining there will not be class.

It is likely to be hot during the summer, bring a water bottle for yourself.

You might get sweaty, a small hand towel to wipe sweat is nice.

We will try to schedule one day a month at a local park, in addition to our normal schedule.

If there are updates to the schedule, then we will communicate them through the usual means.

We look forward to seeing everyone again!

02/05/2020

Kimo Sensei gave us Tensho Kata asking us to do it either as a warm up or cool down exercise whereas we only do Sanchin as a warm up kata. It combines both soft and hard (Goju roughly five/ten soft/hard) movement with a characteristic breathing pattern. We perform Tensho in a slightly unqiue way. We use a pair of iron or steel balls, one in each hand. This forces us to work our grip strength so we develop stronger hands, useful for both Kobudo and empty hand practice.

From Wiki - Tensho is a kata originating from Goju Ryu karate. ... Tensho was created in 1921 as "softer sanchin" by Chojun Miyagi to balance Go aspect of Heishugata (Sanchin-kata) with Ju variation for Heishugata. It combines hard dynamic tension with deep breathing and soft flowing hand movements.

Kimo Sensei suggested that Tensho may have some Chinese influence. Coming from the Matayoshi branch of Goju Ryu, it isn't hard to believe that Matayoshi Shimpo may have been influenced to add his knowledge of Chinese style when teaching Tensho.

It's a short kata and I recommend it highly. As Kimo Sensei has passed away I would like to preserve his teachings where possible.

25/04/2020

Many of you have been social distancing and hopefully doing it well. There are a lot of people out there that aren't doing it well. Civil behaviors are starting to fray and people can't agree on continuing to social distance and keep employment shut down or open up the country and potentially risk a flare up of illness. Facebook, Nextdoor, and other social platforms are becoming less fun.

Regardless, with the onset of summer, there is a direct correlation between increasing temperatures and increasing violence. Now we add into the mix people that have had to adjust to staying inside and remain semi-isolated. This all has the potential to lead to confrontations that we would really like to avoid once we can get out more.

So I came across this article today, it's a short read. It reminds us that we need to consider de-escalation as out first line of defense. We need to be cognizant of the words we use. Our actions in the initial stages of a confrontation may determine if we go to the morgue, the hospital, jail, get a ticket, or get to go home.
https://www.calibrepress.com/2020/04/new-study-expert-vs-novice-use-of-force-decision-making/

Anyone have a favored de-escalation technique they care to share?

New research has revealed specific differences in how “expert” officers think compared to novices in dealing with contentious confrontations—and these findings may help trainers more rapidly educate recruits to make better use-of-force decisions. The research—limited but revealing—was led ...

17/04/2020

Silat is pretty damn complex and there are a lot of facets to it. This video is from one of Steve's seminars about 15 years ago. The audio is weak because of a gymnastics party on the other side of us, so you may have to turn up the sound. Steve is teaching some flow locking and a little head manipulation. The locks, I'm sure everyone has seen before, many arts have them. If you come to our classes you have probably seen these applications there as well. There is very little if anything new in the martials arts.

However, rather than say "...Oh I know that..." look at it in terms of Silat, look at the positioning of his feet, working his opponent off center, keeping the spine erect, and look at his movement. See his back up position, see how he controls his opponent's center, see where he can make his hits, and limt his opponent.

08/04/2020

This video is over 20 years old. Kimo Sensei shows a traditional k**a kata, provides explanation of certain aspects, and some cautions. Nothing flashy, basic Okinawian k**a. Of note, these are real farm implements. We went to the local Japanese store, bought a few pair, and used them sharp. We did cut a few belts and slash a couple of uniforms during training. If you're looking to practice social distancing...these will do it.

We don't teach a lot of kobudo these days unless a student specifically requests it. We concentrate primarily on some FMA stick work, the bo, and nunchaku. We do teach bo, tonfa, sai, nunchaku, kawa, eku, nuite bo, chizekunbo, timbe and roshin.