Thursday, October 29, 2009

Self Defense Training - 3 Critical Differences Between Martial Arts Training and a Real Attack!

Do you have martial arts experience? Have you taken a self defense training program or two, but know that there is a difference between what you've learned and a real fight?

I understand completely. Because, before I got this area of my life figured out, I was in the exact same place.

When I was a police officer, I and my fellow officers would joke that, when it came to our self-defense training, we were "graduates of Thursday's class at 3 o'clock!" And, police officer or not, we need to know that what we're getting from our self defense training will give us the necessary tools, and maybe more importantly - the confidence - for actually succeeding in a real-life violent attack!

Here's a self defense tip that I used to get what I needed: I looked at what I was learning and compared that with what I actually experienced in a self defense situation against real attackers. Then, and here's what you have to do as well...

I found teachers that could give me what I needed to survive!

But, how do you know if the self defense training you're getting is right?

Here are several differences between conventional martial arts training and most so-called self defense programs. If the self defense training that you're getting overly focuses on these elements... run!

1. Pre-staged training. Technique training is important, but if everything you're doing involves step-by-step, memorized strings of moves with no allowance for variations or drills for creative response and decision-making under pressure, then you are not developing the critical skills you'll need to survive! If you aren't learning to apply the skills your getting in a chaotic, free-response, and stressful way, then what you're doing is really not self defense training!

2. Coddling. While your self defense training should be relatively safe, your instructor should not be coddling you and telling you how great you are. He should also not have to deal with whining, complaining, or other nonsense about you're not wanting to do certain skills for whatever reason. You either want to be able to defend yourself against a brutal attacker who doesn't care about you, or you want to look good and show off!

3. Emotionally-sterile. One of the most important missing elements from most martial arts and self defense training courses is emotion. The reality is that, a self defense situation is a highly-charged - highly emotional experience. It is one of the most emotional situations you could ever find yourself in.

And yet, the majority of time in most training is spent on step-by-step training and theory - not learning how to operate under certain types of psycho-emotional stress - each type limiting your body in very specific ways!

If you really want to survive a real-life attack, then you must find a self defense training program that will give you the tools you will need! You must learn things you never wanted to know, do things most people don't want to have to do, and experience things that will scare you, unnerve you, and make you feel uncomfortable!

But then, you know what your other choice is, right? And he's waiting out there for you!

Is your self defense training giving you the security, skills, and confidence to survive? If you're serious about getting the techniques, tactics and strategies that work, then I want to help you.

Do you want to know how I do it? You can learn more about defending yourself with this strategy and others in this powerful course called, "Foundations of Self-Defense Mastery."

Get this Self Defense Training Course!

This powerful course outlines 6 phases of an effective self defense strategy and training outline that I recommend if you really want to be able to defend yourself against real-world, brutal attackers who want to beat, break or kill you. And the best part is that it's free when you subscribe to my online self defense training newsletter.

And don't forget to get your free self defense DVD: "Danger Prevention Tactics: Protecting Yourself Like A Pro". Click here to get your free self defense training course and self defense DVD and learn how to really protect yourself! http://www.warrior-concepts-online.com

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Know How to Defend Yourself Against a Bigger Attacker? 1 Secret Makes it Easier to Defend Yourself!

Do you want to able to defend yourself against a bigger, stronger attacker?

I know how you feel. I have always been short and, even though I have been involved in the martial arts and self defense since my teen years, when I became a police officer I found it nearly impossible to use what I learned in conventional martial arts against bigger attackers - let alone guys my own size!

I'm sure you can imagine just how confused and frustrated I was. All that time, effort, and training - for what? So I fully understand your own uncertainty at being able to defend yourself in a real self-defense street fight.

But, I have a secret for you... and here it is:

I learned what it takes to protect myself against a violent attacker who was bigger and stronger than me, and you can learn to defend yourself too!

Get this, almost 90% of attacks can be handled with basic skills because most attackers are opportunists. That means that if you make it difficult for them, they will go look for an easier target!

So, this is excellent news for you and I - especially since we want to know how to defend yourself quickly, easily and, more importantly, effectively! And, we can use this fact to our advantage.

I want you to think about a time when someone startled you or you were nervous or scared of something. Your body didn't charge in or stand still like an emotionless robot did it?

Typically, martial arts and self defense training classes that you could take to learn how to defend yourself take up this static positioning from which to defend. And I understand why. It's easy to learn the moves this way. But your body just doesn't work this way in a real-world, violent attack - especially when you're trying to defend yourself against someone bigger than you.

So instead, let's use this secret strategy from the martial art of ninjutsu - Japan's ancient Ninja - to defend yourself!

What is this secret? It's this:

Strategic Distancing

And, all strategic distancing is, is using proper distancing to control the attacker's ability to get at you while you're defending yourself. You can do this is by...

  • 1. Being too far away so the assailant has to make up the distance before his attacks will land, or...
  • 2. Getting in too close so that he doesn't have the room he needs to do what he's good at.

Warning: Do not neglect the above strategies! Be sure to take this critical, life-saving skill seriously and add it to your self defense training if you're serious about being able to defend yourself against a violent attacker who's larger than you.


Can you defend yourself against larger, stronger attackers? If you want to learn how to do this effectively then I want to help you. Do you want to know how I do it? You can learn more about defending yourself with this strategy and others in this powerful course called, "Foundations of Self-Defense Mastery."

Defend Yourself

This powerful course outlines 6 phases of an effective self defense strategy and training outline that I recommend if you really want to be able to defend yourself against real-world, brutal attackers who want to beat, break or kill you. And the best part is that it's free when you subscribe to my online newsletter.

And don't forget to get your free self defense dvd: "Danger Prevention Tactics: Protecting Yourself Like A Pro". Click here to get your free course and self defense dvd and learn how to really protect yourself! http://www.warrior-concepts-online.com

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Reality-Based Self-Defense: A Two-Fold Approach For Successful Personal Defense


by Jeffrey M. Miller
Director
Warrior Concepts Int'l, Inc

Many people, including karate and so-called self-defense teachers really aren't sure where to begin when it comes to mastering the ability for protecting yourself against a real-world violent attacker. This article takes a look at the two-fold approach that I suggest for clients who are serious about getting through a street attack.

To explore the common approach to martial arts and self-defense instruction, the typical approach appears to be to simply get a few of tricks and techniques, earn some cool-looking belt or maybe a certificate of some kind, and presto, you're set. Right?

If that's true, then why are so many trained individuals becoming victims to real attackers? Why, if this stuff works in the dojo or self-defense class, are their infalible skills failing miserably on the street, when dealing with real-world attacks thrown by serious, real-world assailant?

There are lots of possibilities but I think the primary one is that, for the most part, these classes are simply a case of the blind leading the blind. What that means is that individuals, who have no experience with dealing with violence, are attempting get something from self-defense instructors who, themselves, are lacking street experience at overcoming and winning real world attack situations.

So, what do you need to survive a real self-defense situation?

My own view on the whole self-defense learning curve, and what I teach my clients, is two fold.

Initially, be trained in as many options as possible so that you can react in different situations and against a variety of assailants.

Also, in the moment, when an attack is happening, the defender must be able to respond to and manage the violence itself - no matter where it comes from or what's behind it.

Like a double-edged sword, each side is critical if the practitioner is to be truly successful. The first part, your class training should arm you with not just tested skills, but an understanding of the critical principles and concepts that are being taught by the classroom models. In this way, you won't have to rely the taught techniques themselves, but you will be able to operate during the attack, not against a stylized attack but, against the actual assault your attacker is throwing at you. Several of these foundational ideas include:

    1) Shielding

    2) Strategic angling and positioning

    3) Timing and responsiveness

    4) Proper distance

    5) and others


The second is associated with attitude, or "heart." Regardless of how sure you are, or feel in class with your friends, peers, and junior students, what matters in a real self-defense situation is how you respond and deal with the pure, animalistic violence being thrown at you by a serious, angry, and violent human being who isn't pulling their punches and couldn't care less about your safety at all. Will you focus or freeze? The only thing that will matter is what no one else but you will do when that moment is on you.

Reminds me of the plane ride I found myself on to the tiny island of Grenada when I was in the Army several years ago. While I sat there, looking at the other side of the plane and reviewing what I would do when I was actually in a deadly combat zone (assuming we didn't get blown out of the sky first), I heard other guys farther back in the aircraft actually crying. Ironically, these were the same super-troopers who, during practice field exercises where we practiced our combat skills, ran around playing John Wayne and Steven Seagal, acting tough and telling everyone that they were ready to go to war right then and there. Well, here we were - heading for the real thing - and they were the least-prepared to deal with the intense reality of the situation.

Your training must make sure that you can deal with both his punches, kicks, cuts,or whatever the attack may be, and you must be able commit yourself to winning by dealing with the rage and raw brutality that is a natural part of combat. Two sides to the same coin. Both necessary for success.

So, examine what you've trusted up till now, and insure that you do so with the eyes of a critic, not a blind believer. See what's in the news. Ask some law enforcement or security professionals, bouncers, or even military personnel who have seen combat what you can expect to experience inside a actual self-defense situation with someone who wants to beat, break, or kill you. Then, all assumptions aside, begin to learn what you'll need to fill in the gaps to make sure that you'll come out on top, and not end up face down on the sidewalk!

Do you want to learn the attitudes, skills, and knowledge to master this part of your life? I have just completed my brand new online e-course to self-defense mastery, "Foundations of Self-Defense Mastery"

Download it free here: Self Defense Course

What if you could learn in hours, instead of months or years, more than the typical martial arts or self-protection student without all of the ritual, robotic kata, or military-like atmosphere? How? By mastering this simple, proven program for self defense success: www.warrior-concepts-online.com

Reserve your place now in my upcoming EDR Self-Defense Intensive Training Weekend - Nov. 14th - 15th, 2009. Here's the link to get all the details:

http://www.warrior-concepts-online.com/edr-self-defense-intensive.html

Jeffrey Miller coaches private students, organizations, and martial arts teachers how to not die or fall victim in a brutal attack situation. Mr. Miller says "If you really want to learn what you must know to be a self-defense expert, I can teach you how to master the skills necessary to successfully protect yourself against any attacker, guaranteed"