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4/29/10
What are we actually trying to do here...??? Quite a bit will depend on the instructor's perspective and goals for the student. If an instructor wants the student to have a very specific understanding of JKD, which will serve as a springboard for future development and the ability to teach JKD there will be a specific approach.
Wrestling coaches put their guys through certain routines, and breaks in those routines, based on a specific set of desired outcomes.
Police officers go through specific training for a specific job.
Military goes through a pre-determined regimen for a pre-determined outcome based on preparation for a specific set of duties.
What you want the final product to look like will determine the process.
My process usually looks something like this:
*Come to terms with the fact that if you want to go around getting in fights it probably means you're mentally ill.
*If the only way you can get your point across is by punching someone, you're extremely immature.
*Know that pre-fight re-direction/manipulation can solve the problem without violence or get you distinct pre-emptive advantage.
*Train to fight like a power lifter lifts! An intense burst of intense energy that brings things to a quick end.
*Train to move, box, kick, clinch, ground fight, use weapons, out-think, escape, frustrate and generally dominate your opponent.
*Don't let your training make you think you can do anything you wouldn't normally do. Use your brain and dont "put yourself" in danger.
*Dont be a freak and sit around trying to figure out what color code of awareness you're on while your eating a nacho bellgrande at Taco Bell.
But that's just my deal...
11/15/08
Aaaaaaaannnnd, we're back!
Many
years ago I had a training "focus" that was mostly
concerned with ending an assault with an intense counter
assault. It was hit, close, finish, grapple and fight
with sticks and knives. Training to "fight" like a
power lifter "lifts" was what we did for years. Although
I had been "shooting" for years, I come to understand
that "fighting" with firearms was a whole other animal.
The integration of firearms training was a major improvement
to the overall structure. It took almost a year for
me to get my firearms game together. I traveled to
train, practiced my technique in the mirror, trained
with red guns at the studio and did tons of close
range, mid range and long range shooting/drilling
on the range. I was going through about 10,000 rounds
a month working with 9mm and shotgun. Then I had some
friends who were really pressing the Greco clinch.
So my focus shifted again to control tie ups, takedowns
and striking from the clinch and they started training
firearms. Another friend was a really great boxer
and I convinced him of the merits of training the
Greco clinch and he made me see the light about functional
boxing. I then developed a pepper spray program and
I started to play with ideas for counter knife technique.
About this time I did a three day training program
for the U.S. Border Patrol. They wanted to do Counter
Assault Tactics and counter knife. Some of the counter
knife material they had been using was not so viable
and it really got me motivated to improve upon it
and what I had already been doing. I had another friend
who had been training good counter knife material.
He impressed me with it's function and I impressed
upon him the importance of pepper spray. And on and
on we go...
Imagine
if each individual just said "my way is the best"...???
Simplifying
the tactics for collective integration and then training
them in a functional manner has made the whole game
come to life.
Quite
often people get enamored with ideas. They think if
you just learn to shoot you'll be fine. Or if you
train grappling that's all you need. This is a critical
thinking error. The narrow focus doesn't provide the
larger payoff. It's like knuckle draggers and their
steroids or bimbos and their fake boobs. There is
more to life than enlarging shapely sections of your
body for attention.
The
effort put in to getting steroids, using them, training
on them and cycling on and off with other substances
to counter the negative effects is not worth the gains
your sure to lose once you stop cycling... Not to
mention how steroid use, for some reason, has inherent
lying involved with it. They all say "No, I'm not
on steroids..."
The
"look at me" mindset, the cost of getting fake boobs,
the risks and downtime, the loss of respect as the
individual is looked at as a sex object...
Mucho
take it easy! A brother isn't down with that. (When
I say a brother I mean me and not some other third
guy)
There
is an appropriate way to do everything as to achieve
desired development. Some of us will not be the world's
best grappler. I wouldn't take a pill that made me
a "fake grappler". It has to be real. So I'll train
and develop to whatever level I can. Getting a black
belt because your sensei says you're now a black belt
is funny. Just getting a black belt is funny. You
may have a black belt (whatever that means) but can
you defend yourself and your loved ones?
Steroids...
Fake boobs... Colored belts that have no meaning...
Instructors approval... Mean people (I don't know
where that one came from)
Not
for me.
I'll
stick with good technique, great training, clear purpose
and reasonable people.
2/24/08
Well...
It's been a while since my last entry. A lot has happened over the past 14 months.
In my personal life and in my training it's has become crystal clear that it's all about the basics.
No matter how specialized you are it will always boil down to how well you can work the basic elements of that specialization and then how you can integrate it into the whole. Let's deal with the known (this always helps us figure out the unknown).
We know that fighting sucks. We know that people get scared. We know that we have to strike, clinch and fight on the ground. We know that weapons show up. We know that violence is for sickos. We know that bad guys work together to set you up. We know that training takes time.
So, apparently, we know that it's way better to keep the ego in check, keep your mouth shut, treat others with respect, apologize when you make a mistake, smile as you back off etc.
But, when violence is forced upon you it's good to have a plan and even better to have the ability to implement it.
Even then, hope for a little luck. And as I've seen, luck favors the prepared.
3/5/06
The New Status Quo
It's new and improved.
According to me, the status quo in martial arts had much to do with less than functional tactics and training methods, persons training tactics that they would never be able to use in a fight, instructor/hero worship, accepting advice instead of testing advice and believing in some kind of martial magic (tech's that work like magic and always beat an opponent - nothing does that, not even a shotgun).
Well the status quo has either developed or evolved into something new. (Developed would mean it was methodical and evolved means it happened by itself with no thought applied - you tell me).
GROUPS: This was a problem for me many years ago.
I once was a member of an organization. This is always
a mistake IMO. I remember me and a number of others
getting out of the organization only to watch most
of them rejoin another. It fosters MOB think. And
when a tenet of the group is questioned you get MOB
defense which is a very aggressive attack on the person
who asked a question. This can be regarding a specific
tech or a DVD production etc. I have talked with many
in a certain group who (like Bruce Lee) really liked
the teachings of J. Krishnamurti. Here's one for you:
"If you are very clear, if you are inwardly light unto yourself, you will never follow anyone"
-- J. Krishnamurti
By the way... I don't like Krishnamurti. I was into his stuff for a few years when I was younger. I'm all grown up now.
It's fine to show respect to someone and learn from them, even if "they belong to a group". But you do not have to join.
OWNERSHIP: I remember talking to someone about "intellectual
property" years ago who said that all of her ideas
were hers and that basically no one else could think
them or pass them on. The funny thing was that I had
heard the ideas before she ever said them. The good
stuff is obvious to a critical thinker. I guess it's
just a matter of who writes it down first, kinda like
calling "shotgun" to get the passenger seat in a car.
The silly part is how the "owner" of any given thought
has become the KNOWER and apparently we must go to
the knower for his thought and not have it on our
own.
MY WAY IS THE ONLY WAY: Man has this one come a long way baby... Back in the day it was you must do kung fu or karate in order to be the real deal. Then it became kickboxing and Jeet Kune Do. Then Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Each one of these insisting they are the best. NOW it's the 3 in 1 of boxing/clinch/ground. Which, IMO, has tremendous merit. I wholeheartedly approve of this "as long as" you include weapons, firearms, pre-fight and psychological applications to some degree. For the most part the 3 in 1 peeps don't include much more than the 3 in 1.
Also, you have the WWII combatives guys. The concern
I have there is that they have a set of "killing (???)
tech's" that they never seem to functionalize. You
cannot really train ripping someones throat out so
how can it become functional. Again, how do you train
to rip someone's eyes out of their sockets. Boxing
would be great training as a delivery system for this
type of material but it's rare for my WWII combatives
friends to develop their boxing skills.
Then there are the GUN GUYS. I love'em. But guns are
not magic. They are operator dependent. Training is
key. This is probably the largest group who do not
get training "ever." Even when they do, they do not
routinely practice the material they were trained
on in order to make it functional.
I don't have enough time to get into the KNIFE GUYS...
I think that all of the MY WAY IS THE ONLY WAY guys have some good material but they need to talk to eachother.
"Simplicity is the last step of art."
-Bruce Lee
Sorry Bruce, that's dated thinking. Simplicity is the FIRST step of the art (Yes I know better than Bruce Lee). But simplicity doesn't mean "just box and you'll be OK".
Simplicity means: Learn simple, high probability empty hand tactics that have good training methods to functionalize them. Know the basics of weapons and firearms. Practice alot. Stay away from groups and politics. Divorce the word "loyalty" from your MARTIAL vocabulary. Don't be freaky and paranoid and sit around trying to figure out what color code of awareness you are on.
These are MY opinions. This is how I feel about things. If you don't agree with me that's OK. If you do agree with me that's OK too.
I just happened to have 25 minutes of free time this morning for the first time in a long time.
7/30/05
It's unfortunate...
I do have to exclude certain individuals from training. Sometimes I get
calls from people who have been recently beaten up in a bar and want to
come train so they can go back and get revenge. I'm usually all booked
up when they call. I get others who tell me about all the fights
they've been in. Often they tell me they can't turn down a challenge
and they even instigate some of the altercations. I'm always booked up
when they call. One guy even told me he doesn't want any trouble BUT he
won't take sh@t from anyone.
Fortunately, those calls are few and far between.
For the most part I have a lot of normal people who
want to train for the possibility of being assaulted.
Some people actually just want to train to get into
shape. They do not like the idea of just doing push
ups or sit ups (although I make them do'em sometimes).
Then there are those who think like me. I know that law enforcement
will not be there to stop an assault on me or my family. I know that I
have the responsibility of protecting myself and my loved ones. I
cannot take the easy way out and form an image of how it will happen
and spend years training for that image. It can happen anywhere,
anytime, under any circumstances. So I must train that way. I need at
least basic skill with firearms, legal/practical weapons and unarmed
tactics. I also need to be comfortable integrating these together. I
then need to develop a training schedule that is adequate but not
fanatical.
There was a time when I was super fanatical about my personal training.
This was before I started the CSPT and for the first 2 - 3 years after
starting it. I have learned to train in a functional, productive yet
safer manner over the past few years. Even when I was at my most
fanatical I had no real interest in getting into fights or hurting
people. I tend to shy away from criminal activity.
12/31/04
Many people train as if there were three main areas
of training. Those areas are striking, clinch and
ground. That is too limited an approach for me. I
do feel that those areas are of extreme importance
however. I just feel that there is more to know and
train. I applaud those who do train that way however
as it is much better than a traditional approach or
staying with just one game, say ground...
The
way I see it, one should strive to become a "Jack
of all trades, master of SOME!
I
like the idea of being "decent" in many areas, "great"
in a few and integrating them all.
11/8/04
Self Preservation training is a workaround. Self Preservation training
is a specialization in generalization. Self Preservation training is
the last page of the book you’ve been reading where all the loose ends
are tied together and it all makes sense...
My Self Preservation training now inludes some road biking, more
frequent visits to the gym and some hiking. It keeps getting funner!
I’ll be thirty six in a few weeks.
Over the past year, making high quality instructional DVDs has become a
big priority. The integration of style and substance, content and
production, has been a major focus. The newest production, “Total
Mobilization”, will be a documentary/semi instructional DVD covering
all the elements of Self Preservation training and the Center for Self
Preservation Training. It is the most complicated and ambitious project
yet.
2/11/04
Lack
Of Understanding
...on my part. I don't understand how some in the
"self defense" or "martial arts"
world are still stuck in a niche when it comes to
stopping the bad guy.
It's like everyone has their own recepie for self
defense and they are sure thiers will work. Some think
it's JKD. Some think it's a mix of grappling, clinch
and boxing. Some think it's firearms. Some think it's
what Bruce Lee was doing in 1973. Some think it's
karate. Some think it's wrestling.
The problem with this thinking is that the key to
self defense is none of the above.
If you have a "way" the bad guys may find
a "way around it". This is not definitive
but...
Multiple opponents counter grappling.
Knife counters gun at close range.
Grappling counters karate.
Gun counters multiple opponents.
MMA counters grappling.
Dark parking lot counters your ability to see. (White
light is the latest area identified as a missing element
in self preservation)
I could go on but I get it it. The people I work with
get it. Others get it. I see that many still don't
though.
Proximity negates skill. I've been screaming this
into people ears for years. If you have no way of
operating from a distance you have limited your response
options.
If you were 15 feet away from your friend and someone
approached your friend with a knife... by the time
you ran up to help... But if you were to draw a firearm
you could operate from where you are or as you moved.
Likewise "threat recognition" should keep
threats at a distance. If someone who means to do
you harm gets to close because you were lulled by
thier "hey bro what time is it", you may
never recover. If they "act" and you "react"
they have the advantage. Not only that, they had a
plan and were prepared.
People ask me do you really "do" this. It's
real simple. As long as you make the descisions in
advance. I was recently in ventura and we had to stop
at a convenience store. There was a bar next to it
that shared the same parking lot. I was 10:30 at night.
When I was coming out of the store a man and woman
cam out of the bar and started running at me yelling
"Hey, Hey". I looked over my shoulder and
then put on hand on my gun and put the other one up
at the two running at me and YELLED "stay back,
stay back". They froze about 20 feet in front
of me. I looked over my shoulder again and got into
the car with my family and drove off. My wife and
kids understood what had happened and my daughter
asked "What did they want". I told her "I
didn't know and didn't care".
No one is allowed to run up on me and my family in
a dark parking lot at night without a response from
me.
Threat recognition and the ability to operate from
a distance helped in that situation.
I see Self Preservation the way it really is. The
ability to preserve the self and those with the self.
Maybe for some who don't get it youth is the problem.
Maybe having children changes your perspective. I
don't know.
The moral of the story is:
No matter how good your boxing is, it's potentially
useless if you opponent brought a knife.
Threat Recognition
Movement
Firearms
OC Spray
White Light
Improvised Projectiles
Impact Weapons
Bladed Weapons
Counter Knife
Empty Hand Counter Assault Tactics - Close Quater
Combat
Grappling
I've seen many different approaches. I've been paid
by the US government to train law enforcement over
the past few years and I've seen "some"
failures even there in the lack of comprehensive training.
Not only in the "how" (spelled realistic)
but in the what (spelled no counter knife, no CQB,
weak firearms handling and more).
Have you not seen how the terrorist enemies of the
US are training. Even though they are rag tag etc.
they are effective. So when someone says you have
to train for "years and years in any one thing
to be great" just focus on being effective. That
does mean you have to apply yourself and spend some
time on each element. Or you could just be a great
striker. And maybe you can even beat up a lot of people.
But I see beyond that.
1. "Love you neighbor as you love yourself."
2. Avoid/respond to threats/violence as needed.
3. Repeat.
11/7/03
Over
the past year we have integrated the "white light
weapon" into almost every aspect of training.
It is an incredible tool. Using a personal combat
light for general safety, as an impact weapon and
as a blinding weapon has made a tremendous impact
on our overall training methodology. I have developed
a professional relationship with SureFire and recently
featured/introduced several of their "high powered
personal combat lights" in our Counter Assault
Tactics DVD. These lights are small enough to carry
in your pocket but produce a beam of light far beyond
what full size flashlight are capable of. Integrating
these lights with firearms, OC, weapons and empty
hand training has proven beneficial and effective.
5/3/03
I
think it is unfortunate that some are still using other
people or organizations to define what they do. I can
understand that it is attractive to associate yourself
with greatness, wether it is percieved or real. I can
also understand why one would want to emulate a methodology
they thought was functional. What I do not understand
is the desire to stop there and become that methodology.
If the person who is responsible for developing any
functional tactics stopped his development when he recieved
his first eye opening experiences then where would he
be? He may have not made a greater contribution to the
totality of the circumstances. Abandoning one method
for another is no better.
I
do not feel good about people becoming such and such
of you name the town. At the CSPT those who are on instructorship
programs or those who have already become instructors
may not represent the CSPT or act as a satellite training
facility. They are to represent themselves and act independantly.
They should strive to make further additions and subtractions
to the matrix as they develop. They should also command
attention based on what they have developed and not
solely on the merits of what came before.
If
those of us in the industry recieve accolades and praise,
if they call us visionaries, it is only because we stand
on the shoulders of giants. In doing so we can see beyond
what they saw. Hopefully there are those who will stand
on our shoulders as well.
I
still see too much hero worship in various martial arts
organizations.
10/11/02
A
martial arts magazine for women??? Hmmm??? Women have
special needs???
"The
ad" shows a women doing a knee to the groin and the
guy with the big head, the color of duct tape, goes
flying two feet in the air???
OC
Spray device in the shape of a yellow gun? A taser in
the shape of a black gun?? (these are gonna get someone
killed).
Ads
to increase your breast size???
Editorials
on equality??? Am I the only person to see this???
Women
need to launch a rapid counter assault when attacked,
period! No one cares "why" your attacker is doing what
he is doing. And all this talk about a male attacker
with certain intentions. What about a female attacker
who is just trying to take another womans head and bounce
it off the sidewalk???
It's
more important for a woman to be able to become "spontaneously
dangerous" to any attacker, in any situation, than to
become empowered! C'mon.
10/3/02
So
many people still think it's about "winning". Let me
call the meeting to order and state that in my (not
so) humble opinion it's truly about making yourself
scarce! Fights/assaults are a poisonous environment.
The longer you are exposed the more chances of you getting
hurt. People still marvel when I discuss the use of
distance and movement as a means to a pre-fight exit.
They say "You would just run if you had the chance???"
And I say "Yes"!
By
the way... You have a moral and legal obligation to
excuse yourself from any violent icident that you can.
There
is a time and a place when running is not an option.
Many examples could be given. That's what Counter Assault
is for.
Sometimes
it a problem you solve with a firearm. Sometimes it's
a problem you solve with headbuts, elbows and knees.
Sometimes it's a problem you solve with pepper spray.
Sometimes it's a problem you solve with the 50 yard
dash.
Avoidence
and escape are always the goal. You must be prepared
to do whatever you have to do to facilitate either of
these. Set that ego aside.
9/13/02
I
have a student who, after almost 4 years of training,
just earned his Level 4 Instructorship. He is the first
to earn this. In order to attain this Level 4 he had
to learn, understand, demonstrate and perform the material
listed on the "Instructors Page" of my website. He is
60 years old and trains 4 days a week privately with
me. He has done it all and continues to work hard as
ever. Aside from the training he is big on weight lifting,
bike riding, running, tai chi and stretching. He has
demonstrated a degree of proficiency in everything he
has done and shows great skill in boxing and firearms.
I have many people who are working on instructorship
but it takes time. There are, however, many people who
have put in the time and effort to earn their instructorships
already. These people do not owe me anything, they do
not pay continual dues and they do not have to continue
to see me to keep/maintain their rank. Once it is earned,
it's earned, you cannot undo it! Most people will not
earn Level 4 or even pass Level 1. The reason being
being they do not want to train in certain elements.
Some may be anti-gun (many are). Some may have no interest
in OC Spray (or they think they already know how to
use it). Some may not want to fight with chairs. Some
are still anti-grappling (they say they will not get
taken down). Some may not want to do full contact stick
fighting. It's up to the individual. Many people are
really not interested in being instructors. (Thank goodness
for them). *Side note... The requirements for the instructor
level keep changing (darn it). Nothing is set in stone.
I've never met an improvement I didn't like.
8/2/02
The
focus for the past several months has been on clinch,
counter knife, handgun and shotgun. I am constantly
trying to get everything as good as everything else.
The spectrum of training has been growing and a lot
of tactical gaps have been filled.
2/24/02
The
Status Quo - The state of things as they are at
the moment. The current state of affairs. The status
quo in martial arts... * Instructors are allowing people
to believe that there is some type of martial majic
in the world. * Students are still looking for some
kind of martial majic. * Instructors are looking for
disciples not students. * Students are star struck by
thier instructors. * Instructors do not teach all they
know, even to thier advanced students. * Instructors/schools
look at students as resources, not people. * Instructors/schools
are still teaching people how to fight instead of how
to end violence. * Certification is placed over abilty.
* Weapons, ground fighting, OC Spray and firearms are
horribly neglected * Combat Athletics (Attributes) are
totally neglected. * Students accept what they are told
instead of evaluating what they are told. * Schools/Instructors
do not evaluate themselves or their programs periodically
to see where improvements can be made to the tactics
or training. I’ve been doing it this way since... and
I will always do it this way... * Instructors don’t
train with their students. * Students are still being
trained to fight against an opponent of the same style.
* Instructors and students do not spend time training
against uncooperative opponents. * Instructors and students
are still repeating the same material for years and
years. Death to the status quo...
2/11/02
The
old argument was: What's better original JKD or JKD
Concepts? The answer is that original JKD is contained
within JKD Concepts. So JKD Concepts is a more combative
methodology. That was the 90's. Now, in the year 2002,
it's about Self Preservation training. Both OJKD and
JKDC are contained within Self Preservation Training
but the reverse is not true. JKD instructors/schools
of any persuasion generally do not teach/train: Firearms/Simunition
- Stick/Knife Fighting - OC Spray - Improvised Projectiles
- Fighting with chairs, keys, baseball bats, pens -
Improvised Weapons - Empty Hands - Ground Fighting -
Counter Knife - Psychological Elements. So OJKD
is "what it is" and JKDC is "what it is" but neither
is Self Presevation Training. Both, however, are a part
of Self Preservation Training.
JKD
has entered into a 'post-ideological era'. What came
before is foundational, not complete. The philosophy
and traditions of the past decade must be set aside
for continuing development and functionality.
12/24/01
The
year 2001 was a year spent developing and preparing.
Many new programs were developed and integrated. I learned
many usefull things from all the instructors I've studied
under over the past decade. That knowledge base has
been a springboard to develop and test new and unique
tactical methodologies and training structures. 2001
was spent preparing. Preparation exposes the usefullness
and the readiness of combative elements. Some tactical
ideas just don't play out in a combative training structure
so they are discarded after being tried. But some pass
the test. Some of the areas of development were: Hand
Held Improvised Projectiles, OC Spray, Improvised Weapons
and Empty Hands vs Knife. The addition/development of
these training programs has enhanced the learning experience
for CSPT clients. The feedback has been tremendous.
My
current client base is very broad. I have security specialists
from other countries, LEOs, international businussmen,
martial arts instructors of various disciplines, painters,
students, housewives, husband and wife teams... all
trying to learn their best options for "self preservation".
It has been very interesting and educational working
with them.
Thanks
to all those who have put on training suits, thrown
things at me, held thai pads, hit eachother with plastic
chains, shot at me with SIMUNITION® in the classroom,
shot CQB on the outdoor range, put holes in the walls
in the studio, sat through lectures, helped with videos
etc.
I'm
sure the year 2002 will see more of the same.
12/3/01
You
have to train as reality dictates. You cannot train
according to any style, whims or the limitations of
facility. This means you must examine your tactics and
delivery systems to see if they will hold up under "a
real assault". So padded assailants, training weapons,
paint knives, SIMUNITION and mindset must all come together
in dynamic scenario assault training.
#1.
Learn the tactics #2. Learn the training methods #3.
Train by yourself and with a partner #4. Spar #5. TEST
YOUR TACTICS and YOUR ABILITY TO DELIVER THEM UNDER
STRESS.
Things
have progressed in the training arena. You should take
advantage of modern advancements in training just as
one would with dentistry. Or we could all go back to
takin a swig of whiskey before we get that tooth pulled...!!
9/18/01
Gun
- check... knife - check... OC Spray - check... ballpoint
pen - check... keys - check...
8/16/01
I
disagree with everyone in one way or another. I do not
accept anything anyone says as the truth unless it makes
absolute sense to me right away or I test it.
I
have no interest in Bruce Lee's philosopy, Zen, Krishnamurti
etc. - NONE!
However,
I can appreciate Bruce Lee's sense of methodical thinking.
You see, I agree and disagree with most peoples sense
of martial arts. So I absorb what is usefull, reject
what is usless and add my own stuff.
"YOU
COULD NOT DO THAT IF YOU SIMPLY AGREED WITH EVERYONE!"
You
have to seek, test, train, talk, argue... You have to
look under rocks and in closets.
I'm
like a little kid on the beach. I grab every shiny thing
and check it out and turn it over and see if there is
and little treasure hidden in it. USUALLY THERE IS NOT!
But that does'nt stop me.
Don't
be to quick to accept, rather, assess!
In
my last video I listed those who have influenced my
training and development.
If
I just accepted what any "one" of them said how could
I move on to the next, as some of these people disagree
with eachother.
"Death
to the Status Quo"
7/9/01
I
like training that includes empty hands, firearms, weapons
vs weapons, empty hands vs weapons, ground fighting,
mindset, combat athletics and solid, methodical instruction.
So...
in the concepts vs original debate... does the above
definitivley remove me from one catagory??? If not then
great, if so then "Houston...er uh Chinatown... er uh
Oakland... we have a problem."
6/28/01
Walk
circumspectly... For the days are evil.
6/9/01
JKD
is about "Best Options" in worst case scenarios...
JKD
is about "Specialized Training Methods" that actually
make techniques work against bigger, stronger, resisting
opponents.
JKD
is about "Mindset". The mind runs the body, you must
run your mind.
JKD
is about "The Totality of the Circumstances" - Empty
Hand Game - Weapons Game - Ground Game - Firearms Game
(This is the standard)
JKD
is about "Functionality". It must work and it must work
quick! You can't wait years to be ready for an assault.
JKD
is about "Self Preservation" not self defense. Self
defense is a limited response to a limited threat.
JKD
"itself" has gone so far beyond Bruce Lee. It seemed
as though he knew it would by the way he talked.
I
do not worship at the alter of Lee. I can still learn
things from Bruce Lee, and I do. I can also learn things
from other instructors and even from my clients.
I
would love to call Bruce Lee, beyond the grave (insert
scary music here) and say
Demi:
"Hey Bruce there are some guys training and fighting
and telling people they are doing JKD but there are
not doing what "you" were doing. It really does'nt even
resemble it... I just wanted to report them."
Bruce:
"You say they are training and fighting?"
Demi:
"Yes some are streetfighter types and some NHB types."
Bruce:
"Are they winning?"
Demi:
"Yes."
Bruce:
"Then they are doing JKD!"
5/15/01
According
to Bruce Lee...
"Absorb
what is usefull, reject what is useless and add to experience
what is specifically your own."
So
it's absorb, reject and add.
5/14/01
One
of my clients recently asked me why we train knife disarms
since it is a bad idea to go into an altercation "looking
for a disarm". He also asked "Are'nt knife disarms suicidal?".
I
told him that it is important to give everything it's
"appropriate significance". In my opinion knife disarms
are not "self perfection" as some have stated. They
are an integral part of an overall "Self Preservation/Best
Options" structure. There is a time and a place when
a working knowledge of medium range counter knife is
important and a disarm may be the perfect tactical option.
Disarms don't come for free. Your going to have to probably
inflict some pain firts etc. But it's all subjective.
I have trained Level 4 Corrections Staff, Probation
and Youth Authority Staff. The Corrections guys are
in close proximity to the inmates at all times and fear
the "shank". There is more often than not no room to
move under the pressure of an assault. The must be taught
to reapond and counter. The Probations guys are going
into the homes of adult gang members who the SWAT teams
had to come and arrest in the first place. They are
in ultra close proximity and in the bad guys environment.
The YA guys babysit the worst of society's youth. I
was recently told of a counselor who was attacked by
two 18 year olds trying to kill him with an improvised
shank. They punctured the can of OC spray on his hip
just before help arrived, close call. Advanced medium
and close range knife is important in the "Totality
of the Circumstances!" You cannot be a long range knife
fighter and be prepared for the reality of real world
weapons violence. You must learn you best options at
all ranges and train them. We have nothing but time,
we should use it wisely.
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