When it comes to defending targets against an opponent's attacks, especially punching attacks, a martial art student focusing on real-world\effective self-defense must be careful that you're not overlooking one. While this particular target may be virtually invisible to most attackers, not to mention martial arts students and instructors, facing a skilled attacker who knows how to exploit this weakness can have you on the losing end with a broken arm, if not more, when everything is said and doneit's all over.
What is this target?
And how can the bad guy get to this target and you end up with a broken arm, or close to it, as a bare minimum?
Before I answer that question, here's one for you.
Have you ever seen a boxer's stance? Have you ever watched boxers move around during a match?
I'm sure you have.
Now, where are their arms?
Up. Right?
And they do it for cover - to protect their heads and faces from being pummeled by their opponent's fists, right?
Of course.
One more question.
Have you ever seen pictures or film footage of one of the old-style fighters? You know, like Joe Lewis, or even those before his time? Have you ever seen how boxers stood back then, or positioned their arms...before boxing gloves were used?
If you haven't, you really should do some research so you can understand what I'm talking about. Especially if you're serious about being able to survive against an assailant who's serious about beating, breaking, or even killing you.
To get to the point, I'll tell you a little about the old school, bare-knuckle fighters. Even those who used gloves, didn't have the kind of padding that we do today. So, they held their arms and fists in very different positions than today's fighters.
Why?
Because they knew that holding your arms up and out in front of your attacker's fists, would get them beaten. They also knew that if their arms were hit while in this position, that they also stood the chance of punching themselves in the face with their own knuckles!
What does this have to do with you learning self-defense. Simple. Because many teachers are teaching their students to fight or defend themselves with their arms in this modern boxer position.
"So," you might be saying, "what's the problem?"
The problem is that not understanding why something is done, or why it's effective in one context, can lead you to think that it works all the time. And, especially in the realm of self defense and not-dying at the hands of some crazy maniac, this is certainly true.
The reason that modern boxers can hold their arms the way they do is precisely because of their gloves. Sport martial artists fighting in competitions can get away with this also. It's because the opponent's knuckles are covered with padding that protects your arms. So, these fighters never go for the arms as a target. They know that it's pointless.
But, without the gloves, the knuckles can deal a lot of damage to the narrow bones of your forearm. Something that's just not an issue in in a sport fight.
The point here is that, if you're studying martial arts to win trophies or to get belts, do whatever style you want and all the luck to you. However, if you're trying to develop the ability to protect yourself against a brutal assailant who will do anything to brutalize you, there are certain mistakes you can't afford to make.
So, regardless of what you've been taught, avoid holding your arms vertically or at least turned with the broad back of the forearm out and use distance to keep the bad guy from going after your arms. After all, it's going to be very difficult to throw your own punches with arms that have been beaten or even broken because you put them out there for him to beat on.
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Jeffrey Miller is an internationally known self-defense expert. He is the creator of the powerful EDR: Non-Martial Arts Defensive Training System and teaches individuals, security professionals, companies, and organizations how to be more safe in Today's often unsafe world. Go to his web site at => www.warrior-concepts-online.com
Showing posts with label karate. Show all posts
Showing posts with label karate. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Sunday, August 17, 2008
The Unseen Value of Martial Arts Training - A Lesson From Ben Franklin
During one of my recent trips to Japan for training with Bujinkan Grandmaster, Masaaki Hatsumi, one of the themes he touched upon in class was in the value of our training. And, how much like a good investment, the longer we participated, the more value we received.
Ironically, most students who come in to the academy, as with most things in their life, are looking for "quick results." Or, more to the point, a "quick fix." They say they're looking for self-defense and the ability to protect themselves from the ever-growing threat of danger in our world. But, what they're really looking for is a greater feeling of confidence. And, once they start to feel like they can handle themselves, which is usually after learning a couple of techniques well...
...they quit!
Soke ("head-of-lineage") Hatsumi, my teacher and the grand master of the Bujinkan Dojo, reminded us that...
..."there is a huge difference between "feeling" like you can handle yourself, and the ability to actually do it."
He said that most students are not willing to put enough time, effort, or energy to really understand what it feels like to live a life where, not only are they able to deal with danger should it happen to them, but that they don't have to worry about attackers appearing at all!
It's amazing, but true. As I have climbed the ladder in both rank and skill, there is one thing that I've noticed above all else. And that is...
...the greater my skill, the less I've had to use it for self-protection!
As a 12th degree Black Belt, I can't tell you how long it's been since I've had to deal with the threat of someone wanting to do me harm. And this is not limited to a physical assault, but extends into every area of my life.
I can hear many ask, "Why bother training at all, if you never have to use your skills for self-defense anyway?"
"Why bother at all? Why not just take your chances?"
While these questions sound logical, they are asked from the viewpoint of convenience. And, as we all know, what sounds good in theory, is often the furthest thing from reality.
The reason we train is twofold:
First, we train to realize that ideal life where we won't have to worry about danger because, even if it did occur, we knew we could handle it. And,...
Second, we're not there yet and may need to protect ourselves along the way to attaining our goal!
Benjamin Franklin, one of the acknowledged Founding Fathers of this great nation, once said, "They that are on their guard and appear ready to receive their adversaries, are in much less danger of being attacked than the supine, secure and negligent."
The truth is, the longer we train and the better we develop our skills, the safer we will be. This is true both of our self-defense techniques as well as our personal development skills.
In fact, I believe that it is precisely those traits and qualities that the martial arts have helped me to nurture, grow, and develop - traits like confidence, discipline, respect, commitment, and a host of others - that actually act as my shield against most attackers. It is these more than any physical skill that communicates to others that I am a confident, powerful person in control of his world, that determines who will want to connect with me, and for what reason.
Why learn the often-violent methods associated with the martial arts then, if all I had to do was to develop those inner qualities that keep me safe? Again, same reason as I mentioned before...
...until I do, I am at-risk from those forces that would seek to harm me.
Ironic, isn't it?
We come to self-defense training to be ready and able to protect ourselves from harm and, at the same time, are preparing ourselves for a day when few would ever want to. Because it is precisely our ability to handle ourselves, that creates the end result. Not the other way around.
Be careful. Only looking at the obvious parts of training will cause you to miss the big picture and the unseen value that it holds for you, and the rest of your Life!
Get more free articles like this one at www.warrior-concepts-online.com/articles.html
Also...
You can now subscribe to my new podcast radio show called "KUDEN". You can read more about it and the upcoming web-based seminars that I'll be offering by scrolling down a bit to the prior post with that information. Please note that, due to technical difficulties, the release dates had to be changed from what's listed in the original announcement. I just recorded the first show and it goes live on Wednesday, August 20th, 2008!
Other no-cost training resources:
Are you subscribed to my self-defense and ninja training newsletter? If not, you probably haven't received the free gift that you get when you subscribe. What is it?
It's a 7-part ecourse called, Foundations of Self-Defense Mastery" and it's my gift to you for becoming a member of WCI's growing group of online students and teachers. At this point, we have over 6,000 members and growing!
The newsletter itself is a fantastic way to keep informed and add to your knowledge and training database about topics like learning self-defense, online ninja training, women's self-defense, and even tips for parents on child safety. Add to that, this free course and the other books, videos, and live training programs offered through WCI, and you've got a one-stop place for all your self-defense, martial arts, and Ninja Training needs!
Alright. Enough of telling you why you're crazy if you haven't subscribed. Here's the link to get the newsletter and the free ecourse: Learn Self-Defense!
Until next time.
Peace, Happiness, and Success!
Shidoshi Miller
Ironically, most students who come in to the academy, as with most things in their life, are looking for "quick results." Or, more to the point, a "quick fix." They say they're looking for self-defense and the ability to protect themselves from the ever-growing threat of danger in our world. But, what they're really looking for is a greater feeling of confidence. And, once they start to feel like they can handle themselves, which is usually after learning a couple of techniques well...
...they quit!
Soke ("head-of-lineage") Hatsumi, my teacher and the grand master of the Bujinkan Dojo, reminded us that...
..."there is a huge difference between "feeling" like you can handle yourself, and the ability to actually do it."
He said that most students are not willing to put enough time, effort, or energy to really understand what it feels like to live a life where, not only are they able to deal with danger should it happen to them, but that they don't have to worry about attackers appearing at all!
It's amazing, but true. As I have climbed the ladder in both rank and skill, there is one thing that I've noticed above all else. And that is...
...the greater my skill, the less I've had to use it for self-protection!
As a 12th degree Black Belt, I can't tell you how long it's been since I've had to deal with the threat of someone wanting to do me harm. And this is not limited to a physical assault, but extends into every area of my life.
I can hear many ask, "Why bother training at all, if you never have to use your skills for self-defense anyway?"
"Why bother at all? Why not just take your chances?"
While these questions sound logical, they are asked from the viewpoint of convenience. And, as we all know, what sounds good in theory, is often the furthest thing from reality.
The reason we train is twofold:
First, we train to realize that ideal life where we won't have to worry about danger because, even if it did occur, we knew we could handle it. And,...
Second, we're not there yet and may need to protect ourselves along the way to attaining our goal!
Benjamin Franklin, one of the acknowledged Founding Fathers of this great nation, once said, "They that are on their guard and appear ready to receive their adversaries, are in much less danger of being attacked than the supine, secure and negligent."
The truth is, the longer we train and the better we develop our skills, the safer we will be. This is true both of our self-defense techniques as well as our personal development skills.
In fact, I believe that it is precisely those traits and qualities that the martial arts have helped me to nurture, grow, and develop - traits like confidence, discipline, respect, commitment, and a host of others - that actually act as my shield against most attackers. It is these more than any physical skill that communicates to others that I am a confident, powerful person in control of his world, that determines who will want to connect with me, and for what reason.
Why learn the often-violent methods associated with the martial arts then, if all I had to do was to develop those inner qualities that keep me safe? Again, same reason as I mentioned before...
...until I do, I am at-risk from those forces that would seek to harm me.
Ironic, isn't it?
We come to self-defense training to be ready and able to protect ourselves from harm and, at the same time, are preparing ourselves for a day when few would ever want to. Because it is precisely our ability to handle ourselves, that creates the end result. Not the other way around.
Be careful. Only looking at the obvious parts of training will cause you to miss the big picture and the unseen value that it holds for you, and the rest of your Life!
Get more free articles like this one at www.warrior-concepts-online.com/articles.html
Also...
You can now subscribe to my new podcast radio show called "KUDEN". You can read more about it and the upcoming web-based seminars that I'll be offering by scrolling down a bit to the prior post with that information. Please note that, due to technical difficulties, the release dates had to be changed from what's listed in the original announcement. I just recorded the first show and it goes live on Wednesday, August 20th, 2008!
Other no-cost training resources:
Are you subscribed to my self-defense and ninja training newsletter? If not, you probably haven't received the free gift that you get when you subscribe. What is it?
It's a 7-part ecourse called, Foundations of Self-Defense Mastery" and it's my gift to you for becoming a member of WCI's growing group of online students and teachers. At this point, we have over 6,000 members and growing!
The newsletter itself is a fantastic way to keep informed and add to your knowledge and training database about topics like learning self-defense, online ninja training, women's self-defense, and even tips for parents on child safety. Add to that, this free course and the other books, videos, and live training programs offered through WCI, and you've got a one-stop place for all your self-defense, martial arts, and Ninja Training needs!
Alright. Enough of telling you why you're crazy if you haven't subscribed. Here's the link to get the newsletter and the free ecourse: Learn Self-Defense!
Until next time.
Peace, Happiness, and Success!
Shidoshi Miller
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