The 5 s's

Regardless of what system or style you train in (as long as it has a combative base) I see 5 specific areas that you can improve upon to give yourself a better chance on the street.

1. Speed

Speed is always an advantage. There has been a lot of discussion over the years as how to (if at all) improve the speed that you can punch, strike or kick.

Like anything else practice will help but there are definitely some genetics at work here. It has to do with the amount of fast twitch or slow twitch muscles you have. Something you really can't change.

You can improve your technique for speed and that can be practiced and improved. The main thing you want to focus on is being relaxed as you strike. Let's use the straight punch as an example.

Make a very tight fist and with the other hand feel the muscles in the forearm, upper arm and shoulder. You will see that they are all quite tight. So one trick in punching or striking faster is trying to keep your hand relaxed until the moment of impact.

Think of keeping your hand closed but loose then snatch the fist tight at the very end. Use the mental metaphor of trying to catch a fly. Snapping your loose fist out quickly and then closing it quickly at the end.

Geoff Thompson, if you ever watched him, appears as if he never makes a fist when he hits.

You can sometimes hang a very light target and just work on trying to hit as quickly as possible not being concerned with power.

2. Strength

Do you have to be real strong to defend yourself on the street? No, not all, but it certainly can't hurt.

Having good core strength or strong legs or upper body (providing you aren't muscle bound and slow as molasses) can be a distinct advantage if you are attacked.

I am a big fan of static contraction training as it has proven to increase strength quickly and measurably. Read more about strength training in general and static contraction in particular.

3. Stamina

If you have not had the opportunity to watch a street fight that has gone longer than a minute or two then let me tell you how exhausting real fighting can be.

When the adrenaline starts pumping and a couple of people are going at it all out, major exhaustion usually hits within a minute or less. Sometimes within just a few seconds.

The better physical condition you are in aerobically, the better your chances of not running out of gas when you need it. On the other hand if it takes more than a minute to defend yourself and your attacker is exhausted you will have a distinct advantage.

4. Surprise

If you can surprise your attacker it can add greatly to your ability to defend. Using the submissive position gives the attacker the feeling that his threat level is zero. Since the hands are up in compliance, your weapons are close to his nearest target (usually the face, eyes, etc.).

We always teach our students to fain compliance if they feel it will buy them a few seconds to think and prepare for a preemptive attack.

Speaking of preemptive attacks, I truly believe in them if you feel the situation calls for it and certainly if there are multiple attackers.

5. Skill

There is no substitute for skill. In fact with proper skill you can overcome much of the deficits you have in the first four S's.

Proper training is essential. Practicing to 'wire in' the skills is also important. Mental imagery can work here as well. This is essential if you don't have a practice partner.

No first strike? Oh man!

Traditional martial arts teach us how to block. They drill block and counter, block and counter.

Many of the training drills are based on this principle. It is no wonder after training for a while we think in these terms. Block the attack.

Most of the self defense instructors in the country do not teach any traditional blocks at all. They teach their students to cover, stop hit, destroy the attacking weapon or pre-empt the attack with your own.

If your attacker is throwing a barrage of punches and kicks and you are back pedaling who is in command. Who is off balance and who is in control.

We need to gain the momentum from the start and attack immediately when the threat is there or just becoming evident. This way you get your attacker back on his heels taking elbows, knees, and whatever you have in your arsenal.

I said all that to say this; As karate states, “There is no first strike in karate” it does not say to let your self be struck first.

Take the initiative, being preemptive is the greatest defense that you can have if all else fails and the crap is about to hit the fan.

Kata is a good training method "IF"

1 - Each Kata is a stand-alone self-protection system.

It is often said that specific katas are for a specific purpose eg defence against a staff etc.However, katas were created to record the full range of fighting techniques and principles. When analysing your katas, be sure not to pigeonhole them and limit what you are looking for.

2 – All applications of the katas are designed to end the confrontation instantly.

There is a tendency for katas to be interpreted in an overly defensive way. Many interpretations would have every other movement applied as a block. Each and every movement of a kata should endeavour to end the fight there and then. This may meanthat the opponent is totally incapacitated (e.g. unconscious) or left in a very vulnerable position (eg on the floor whilst you are standing).

3 – All parts of a movement are significant.

It is vital that you examine the movements of the katas in their entirety if you are toeffectively understand their purpose. Hands are not placed on the hips or wound up before ‘blocking’ as a preparation for the following technique.

4 – Every kata move is designed for use in combat.

We often see movements of katas being explained as exercises to increase strength or improve balance. Certainly, kata is a good way to improve your physical condition, and certain moves do increase strength etc, but that is not their primary purpose. The primary purpose of every movement in a kata is to disable an opponent in combat.

5 – The angles at which the techniques are performed are important.

You are never changing angles simply to face a new opponent. In the vast majority of situations the opponent will be in front of you. The main exception being surpriseattacks, and by definition you won’t know they are coming until it is too late! The kata is telling you to position yourself at that angle in relation to the opponent. Being at the angle demonstrated by the kata will increase the effectiveness of the technique in question.

6 – The stances are a vital component of the techniques.

A key part of effective fighting is ensuring that you use your bodyweight when applying techniques. The stances illustrate the weight distribution and leg position to be utilised during that technique. Stances are never assumed because they look nice, or to strengthen legs, or to improve balance. Stances are taken because they put bodyweight into the technique or they help to unbalance the opponent.

7 – Real fights are sloppy affairs and the way the application is performed will reflect this.

The movement in the kata represents the ideal. However, real fights are very chaotic and hence you should not expect the movement to remain exactly the same as it appears in the kata. When applying the kata’s techniques your main concern should be the movement’s effectiveness. Visual appearance is irrelevant. The effect of the technique is all that matters.

8 – There is a need for skills at every range.

To be a competent martial artist you need skills at all ranges of combat. Katas are not just striking and blocking drills, they are records of the full range of combative methods. Within the katas, we not only find strikes, but also throws, takedowns, locks, chokes, strangles, holds etc. However, if you’ve only had exposure to striking methods, then that is all you will see in your katas.

9 – The likelihood of any attack must be considered.

In a self-protection situation, your assailant is very unlikely to behave like a martial artist in the dojo or the sporting environment. The ‘enemy’ in a self-defence situation will utilise vicious and simple methods, and it is these methods that we need to focus on in our self-defence training.

10 – Strikes should be aimed at anatomical weak points.

All the strikes in the katas should be aimed at suitable weak areas of the opponent’s anatomy. When analysing your katas you should have a clear idea of which area is under attack. Remember that the katas show the ideal movement. Real fights are intense and frantic affairs and the accurate placement of blows becomes extremely difficult once an altercation is underway.

11 – No kata techniques rely upon unpredictable actions from the opponent

A good interpretation or technique should require nothing from the opponent.True applications are not something you do with your partner, but something to do to an opponent.

12 – There are many effective applications for every movement.

You will often find that a movement in a kata will have more than one effective application. Every one of us is different. Everyone must use the katas in a way that works for them. We should all interpret and apply the katas in a way that complements our own strengths and weaknesses.

13 – All applications must be workable in real situations.

When looking at applications, ask yourself the following questions:

Could this technique be applied when under extreme stress?

Will it work against an uncooperative and possibly physically stronger attacker?

Is the application truly practical or am I settling for the first application I came across that seemed to fit the kata?

Is the technique for use against violent untrained attacks or predetermined karate techniques?

14 – Endeavour to understand the principles upon which the techniques are based.

A kata is essentially a record of a fighting system. When constructing the katas, it would make little sense to include every single technique in that system because the kata would become impracticably long. Try to understand that principles are much more important than techniques.

Wooden spears in the 21st Century

Let me start by saying all martial or combative systems are of value if they are taught with a martial or combative mindset.

As we look at some of the systems that may be reffered to as "traditional" we have to look at the method by which they are taught. With forms or kata playing a major part of these systems what is often lacking is the teaching of the practical applications of these movements within the kata/form. We can not expect students to actually have enough understanding or be able to actually use these techniques if we do not drill them in class. A simple explanation of "bunkai" is not going to do it. Unless we actually use these movements on a partner we can not expect to pull them off against a reisisting attacker.

So many times we will find a school and their sparring is no more than some controlled kick boxing. Where are the concepts of combat that are held in the kata? Where are the off balancing concepts? The angles that give one a superior position? So much has been filtered out and forgotten in another time. To learn to fight in a stressful situation you need to drill with some real resistance.

This type of martial/combat art is like fighting in the 21st century with a wooden spear. When it comes time to defend your self you will find your self at a great disadvantge.

De-Escalation

Effective de-escalation techniques feel abnormal. We are intuitively driven into “fight or flight” mode when scared. However, in de-escalation, we can do neither. We must appear centered and calm even when we are terrified. Therefore these techniques must be practiced before they are needed so that they can become “second nature”. When under stress, people tend to hold their breath or breathe shallowly. Practice slow, deep diaphragmatic breathing when confronted by stressful situations to decrease your own level of arousal. Also use positive affirmations or self-talk. It is a fact that our thoughts trigger emotions and are triggered by our communication with ourselves. Stay positive when under attack by maintaining a win-win attitude.

De-Escalation Techniques

Non-Verbal De-Escalation; It is said that approximately 65 percent of communication consists of non-verbal behaviors. Of the remaining 35 percent, inflection, pitch, and loudness account for more that 25 percent, while less that seven percent of communication has to do with what is actually said.

1. Appear calm, centered, and self-assured even if you don’t feel it. Your anxiety can make the client feel anxious and unsafe which can escalate aggression.

2. Maintain limited eye contact. Loss of eye contact may be interpreted as an expression of fear, lack of interest or regard, or rejection. Excessive eye contact may be interpreted as a threat or challenge.

3. Maintain a neutral facial expression. A calm, attentive expression reduces hostility.

4. Keep a relaxed and alert posture. Stand up straight with feet about shoulder width apart and weight evenly balanced. Avoid aggressive stances.

5. Minimize body movements such as excessive gesturing, pacing, fidgeting, or weight shifting. These are all indications of anxiety and will tend to increase agitation.

6. Position yourself for safety:

Never turn your back for any reason.Maintain a distance of at least two arms’ length between yourself and the agitated party. This will allow you reaction time from attacks such as grabs, strikes, and lunges. Angle your body about 45 degrees in relation to the individual. This stance not only reduces your target size in the event of an attack, but also prepares you to escape when necessary. Place your hands in front of your body in an open and relaxed position. This gesture appears non-threatening and positions your hands for blocking if the need arises. Avoid crossed arms, hands in the pockets, or arms behind the back since it can be interpreted as negative body language as well as putting you at tactical disadvantage if an attack occurs.