I recently conducted a personal protection seminar to a very select group of people from the International Baccalaureate in The Hague.
When people think of the words 'Personal Protection' they often think of Bodyguards, Pepper Spray, Personal Alarms or carrying some sort of Stun Gun. Well there is actually a lot that you can do before any of that. Personal Protection is about being your own bodyguard, and it all starts with AWARENESS.
Be aware of your own surroundings, be aware of you own environment, and be aware of your own personal space and comfort zone. After all you would not cross a road without being aware of what traffic is around you. We learned about Personal Protection from a very early age. I guess the old green cross code of looking and listening while crossing the road to school was one of the first forms of Personal Protection that we learned.
However since the introduction of the mobile/cell phone our awareness of our surroundings and environment have been narrowed into paying attention to the phone rather than your personal space and that makes it very easy for a predator to get closer to you in today's world.
That's why we have to get better at other skills in our Personal Protection toolbox. Skills like being able to avoid, escape and in some cases being able to deliver a firm physical response are a must have skill. It is much better to have something and not use it, that to need something that you don't have.
Personal Protection is not a beginner to black belt programme that takes several years to learn, but on the other hand it is not a crash course programme either. Think of other lessons in life, how many swimming lessons would it take to learn to swim? Just a couple of widths were not aiming for the 2020 Olympics or anything. Or how many piano lessons would it take to play something that everyone would instantly recognize? or say how many driving lessons would you need to safely drive a vehicle? Everyone is different but I would say if you have ten lessons in either of the above you would have a very good grasp on each skill.
Personal Protection is very much the same.
Above are a few pictures from from the recent IB Personnel Protection Seminar. Big Thank You to those who made it all possible.
Yes, in a moment of insanity (admittedly, one of many), I've decided to take several of my most popular personnel protection programs ... stir them together in a single pot ... and serve them up to you at one extremely tasty Ultimate Crash Course in Personnel Protection...and WHY would I do such a thing?
Well first of all because I can, but mainly because recent events over the last 18 months around the world have cemented my beliefs that true civilization is just an illusion, and it only works when people believe there are consequences for their actions!
So just what IS included here?
We begin with "Functional Jeet Kune Do" – Let’s not get this mixed up with Theatrical Jeet Kune Do, What you watched Bruce Lee do in the movies was not what I am teaching. High kicks are for Hollywood. We will stick with the core concept of simplicity, Direct and non classical approach.
Even through some of the books shops in Dubai have started putting books about the subject on the shelve I am not convinced that would give me the green light to directly advertise it, but I continued to teach the basics of the system under the COMBAT+ banner.
"The Self Defense Training System" – This WW11 Combative system has stood the test of time. Easy to learn, easy to remember and totally devastating to whoever is on the receiving end of it. I was fortunate enough to be with Damian Ross and Pete Barry in New Jersey in 2012 and got first class tuition on the most up to date guardian tactics used by Military, Law Enforcement, Correctional Offices and Private Security Contractors who are working in some of the most war torn areas of the world were simply this stuff has to absolutely work.
In my youth I learned both Karate & Jiu Jitsu to Black Belt level. There is very little in those two traditional martial arts that I would or could call upon in a violent assault in today’s world. Traditional Martial arts have not evolved; they were all developed before people used guns. All traditional martial arts advocate that the teach self defense, however the truth is they only teach a very small percentage of it, you may not be too familiar with the likes of Judo, Karate or Tae Kwon Do, But almost everyone has heard or seen boxing, sure boxing is a combat sport and also teaches you how to look after yourself … Until you are on the floor!
Now, this is my point. It only teaches a very small percentage of personnel protection. In my professional opinion as a qualified World Boxing Council Referee, boxers on the floor are waiting for me to say seven … eight … nine … YOU ARE OUT!
I certainly don’t want to disrespect traditional martial arts, they are still popular and they are very good for building confidence and self esteem and they get people active and many other great things, but total self protection is not one of them. If you are invited to fight in one of those combat sports there are rules and regulations to what you can and can’t do. Just remember the rules and regulations are not understood and respected by another person who attacks you in the street. "All you need is Brazilian Jiu Jitsu" – Until you meet someone who is a better BJJ Practitioner than you. Grappling is not ground fighting.
Grappling is a skill that involves subtle maneuvering and positioning. It requires years of practice and a lot of dedication to become proficient. Ground fighting entails doing whatever it takes as fast as you can do it to end the fight or at least to improve your position.
Never choose the ground. It limits your mobility, it limits your striking power and ability and it leaves you vulnerable for getting stomped by friends of your attacker. If you get on a mat with one of these guys one of two things will happen. Either it will take all of you to contain all of him, or it will take all of him to contain all of you. What it does not do is stop someone else from sticking a screw driver in one of your ears and out of the other (sorry if that a bit too graphic for you at this hour of the day) oh did I mention that the ground hurts? Broken bottles, debris, rocks, stumps and just the hard ground or concrete itself will wreak havoc on your body. No to mention concealed weapons that can be pulled and used from any grappling position.
When you’re in a fight, the clock is ticking. It is in your best interest to end the fight as soon as possible. Methods that teach you to wait and look for an opening are not tactically sound.
Listen, methods like wrestling, judo, BJJ and MMA are great sports and will help you in self defense if trained you simply remember that in a real street fight there is no referee, judge, or doctor looking out for your well being. Make no mistake, you're primary job when on the ground is to either get off the ground or end the fight immediately.
So here's the deal: I have limited space in the timetable for one on one, private tuition at my home, so first come first served. My Fee is €60 per hour. Call me for details
Day Time Number 06 18 50 26 58
Evening Number (After 6pm) 06 22 35 95 25
Group classes will start a week on Sunday (11th January 2015) @ Halo Wellness Center, Laan Van Poot 363, 2566 DA Den Haag (11am – 12:30pm)
Personal Protection Seminar for up to 20 delegates – Daley Rate €1,000/- plus travel & accommodation with two hot meals. What to know more? stephend@theselfdefenseco.com
Krav Maga: From Mean Street Self Defense To Strip Mall Martial Art.
By Damian Ross and William J Pehush of The Self Defense Company
In the beginning most martial arts styles start out of necessity of as a form of self defense that is simple and effective. However, over time things change and the original idea is becomes corrupted. Krav Maga started off as a rough and tumble form of street fighting, but like most arts; it has become "civilized". Like with other martial arts Krav Maga's own commercialization and popularity has become its downfall.
They say necessity is the mother of invention and there is no better example of this than in the world of self defense. Krav Maga was no different, it was born out of a need to keep the peace and survive the brutal streets of Bratislava, Krav Maga's founder, Imi Lichtenfield grew up on theses streets during harsh times. He knew what all street fighters know; combat sports aren't self defense. Trained to be a boxer, he learned that if you want to survive a fight, you have to go all out and take down your enemy hard and fast.
Imi Lichtenfield was born in 1910 in Hungry, but grew up in the city of Bratislava, Slovakia. He was a skilled athlete who excelled in gymnastics, boxing, and wrestling. He received his first self defense training from his father Samuel, a 30 year veteran of the local police force who had a reputation as tough, but fair man. Through his career, Samuel took down some of the city's toughest criminals. He taught other officers what he learned at his gym "Hercules." At the gym officers learned both how to fight and more importantly, how and when to apply force.
Though the world in 1930's Hungary things looked bleak. The prosperity after World War I gave way to global economic crisis and political upheaval. The banners of communism and fascism were flying around Europe and governments were powerless to stop armies of thugs from imposing their will on their communities. While most people know about the battles of World War II, the fighting really started in the streets. Before the Nazis over took the country, their militia groups and gangs began terrorizing Jews and anyone else they saw as an enemy.
To protect his community in Bratislava, Imi began fighting the thugs in the streets. He quickly became aware that combat sports like boxing were inefficient and almost useless in a street fight. In the boxing ring you never have to deal with more than one fighter or worry about someone picking up a broken bottle, but in a street fight that happens all the time. Imi learned fast and these real street fights would help him develop the principals of Krav Maga. As the street fights turned into full fledged war, Imi decided to escape to the Middle East, only to have a new fight on his hands.
Imi left Nazi occupied Slovenia in 1940 and in 1942 he arrived in Palestine where Jews were fighting to make Israel an independent state. The fighting was all about close combat and guerilla warfare. Imi shared what he knew with local paramilitary groups. At this time he was exposed to the British hand-to-hand combat system developed by police officer William Fairbairn and others. Fairbairn's system was a collection of simple techniques that could be used by both police officers and soldiers. Once again Imi learned well and when Israel became a nation he would spend the next 20 years teaching Krav Maga to the soldiers of the nation's defense force.
Eventually civilians began learning the combat martial art for their own protection, but as it became more commercialized, it stopped being a practical form of self defense and more like a "modern martial art". Krav Maga was first a philosophy that let a fighter deal with any situation. But it wasn't long before the method of training changed and people started training for specific situations.
In the beginning Lichtenfield knew first hand that to survive a street fight you need a primary set of techniques and strategies that can be applied to any situation. Imi Lichtenfield taught his students to do whatever was necessary to survive, not play games. There were no hand wraps or spandex. He understood that if you want to make it home you need to have a set of tools that will work anytime in any situation. In a street fight nothing is certain and even the best combatives training is only a starting point.
Don't think that if you have learned Krav Maga that you will be ready for anything, because it is only the beginning. If you want to win in a close combat situation you need to keep things simple and effective, so don't get bogged down by to much information.
Today popular Krav Maga has been described as from everything to a form of Judo to a Mixed Martial Art. It has left the street and taken on the roll of a martial art, using sporting techniques misapplied to self defense situation. Students wear hand wraps, boxing gloves, have belt ranks and are taught situation specific defense techniques, just like the ones taught in the vast majority of martial arts studios. The only thing separating popular Krav Maga from the rest of the pack is the name and the marketing. They have the story right, but the product is no different. Fortunately there are a few proponents of the old ways still about. I hope for their sake and the legacy of Imi Lichtenfeld, their voice is heard.
