…they’re just not up to par with what you want or need.

How can you get what you know you need without compromising quality and settling for what’s available or, even worse…

…not pursuing your goal at all?

Well, you have two choices, really…

…you can accept defeat or the fact that maybe your standards are too high and settle for what’s available, or…

…you can do what scores of very skilled practitioners have done before you. You can take advantage of the benefits of seminars and camps to get the knowledge you need from the best teachers there are.

Instead of “settling” and approaching your training with what amounts to a “victim’s mentality,” you can take control of the situation. Instead of whining, complaining, and making excuses – you can take action – one of the main traits of a warrior.

With all of the power and rich information pool of the internet today, it is impossible to NOT find what you’re looking for in the way of martial arts training. There are literally hundreds of seminars, from half-day workshops to full weekend events, and from one and two-day intensives to full-blown ninja training camps; and they’re all there for the students who are willing to plan a little more, focus a little more, and be ready to travel a little farther than everyone else who HAS “settled.”

Can you really learn martial arts and self-defense from seminar training only? I know it’s worked for me and many of the most proficient experts that I’m associated with. In fact, most of my training career, at least in the early days, was during a time when I was serving with the US Army and stationed in places like Korea and, what was then, West Germany.

Were there martial arts clubs and groups close-by? Absolutely.

But, I had a desire to not only train in the martial arts but, to train with the best. And so…

…I had no choice. I HAD to travel to get what I wanted and needed in the way of quality.

What I found was that I learned more during each training event because there was MORE TO learn. That was perfect for me because it gave me more than enough to work on in-between the martial arts seminars and Ninja Camps that I WAS able to attend. And, it also caused me to focus much more than the local students who were there.

Why?

I think it was because…

…they took their training for granted. Whereas I did not. Since I went through more in the way of time, effort and money to be there, I refused to let any of it slip by. As a result, I, and many of my friends who also traveled for training, developed our self-defense abilities much more fully – learning our martial art with much greater depth than many who had access to their teacher practically everyday.

Funny, really. Because it wasn’t until I became much more interested in the lives of warriors-past, that I realized that this method of training – traveling to one’s teacher to spend short, but intense, visits to gain the lessons for mastery, is exactly the same way many of the most famous warriors in history…

…became Legends!

In this article, I’ll describe how learning karate, judo, kung-fu, and other styles can help your child feel more confident, approach potentially threatening situations thoughtfully, and ultimately preserve his or her safety. While most parents would prefer not to think about their children needing to defend themselves against others, it is very real possibility.

A Persistent Threat

Long ago, children were seldom victimized or abducted; and it was practically unimaginable in small towns. Times have changed. In 2002, over 58,000 children were kidnapped by non-family members. What’s more, the number of cases reported in communities with sparse populations has escalated. In effect, every child, regardless of location, is susceptible to the threat of predators.

Young kids are also vulnerable to older children. They can easily – and without reasonable justification – become victims of bullying or physical abuse. Sometimes, the circumstances can swing wildly out of control, leading to injury or worse. Parents are understandably concerned and are becoming increasingly aware that they need to take preventative measures.

Kids’ Self-Defense Through Martial Arts

Kids martial arts classes are not designed to train children to fight. Instead, they focus on developing a number of mental and physical skills that provide lifelong value. Kids learn to concentrate more effectively and think more clearly. They also learn the value of respect and emotional restraint. The training will also include self-defense strategies that your child can use to ward off threats.

One of the most important elements in kids martial arts classes (in the context of self-defense) is the ability to disengage from situations that might lead to violent confrontation. In many cases, a child can find himself embroiled in circumstances that could have otherwise been avoided. Learning the martial arts can help a child identify and avoid those circumstances.

Styles Of Kids Martial Arts

Parents have a number of martial arts styles from which they can choose. Some styles, like karate, are more aggressive than others. For example, aikido focuses on techniques that help students disable an attacker without actually fighting them. It emphasizes throwing moves rather than striking. On the other hand, karate and kung-fu involve a number of striking tactics; both approach self-defense from a far more aggressive perspective. Judo, like aikido, stresses the development of physical and mental control; the style involves very few striking moves.

Finding A Dojo

Parents who are interested in exploring martial arts classes for their child should visit a few training facilities in their area. They should speak with the instructors and ask about each dojo’s respective philosophy. They should also observe a few classes to become familiar with each instructor’s training style. For example, one instructor might emphasize aggression while another stresses mental and emotional refinement. The style you and your child choose should be consistent with your values and goals.

Protecting Their Safety

In the end, your child needs to develop the necessary physical and mental discipline to help ensure their safety. That includes learning techniques of self-defense. It also involves learning how to approach potentially hostile circumstances thoughtfully with the goal of either diffusing or avoiding them. Kids martial arts classes are designed to train young people to develop these skills. If their safety is threatened, they should have the training and discipline to respond in the best possible manner.

In this article, we’ll explore the nature of violent crime in the context of how martial arts and self-defense converge. I’ll describe the mental game and the danger of emotions. I’ll also explain the core difference between defending yourself and fighting; many people think they’re doing the former when they’re actually doing the latter. Lastly, we’ll discuss how you can respond constructively to a threat of violence while controlling your environment.

The Mental Game Of Self-Defense

Suppose an attacker is coming toward you. Your instinct is to protect yourself. If you have studied karate, kung fu, or similar styles, you might be tempted to respond physically. Unfortunately, doing so can result in injury, death, or criminal charges in the event that you overreact and cause excessive harm to your attacker. This is the reason it is critical that you are mentally prepared to respond appropriately to a confrontation.

Your mindset plays a key role in remaining safe during a potentially violent situation. In fact, the manner in which you process your circumstances and calculate a response may represent the largest potential threat to your safety. Too often, emotions get in the way and lead to disastrous consequences.

Understanding The Danger Of Emotions

Anger and fear do more to escalate a confrontation than any other response. Emotions are the antithesis of logic. They often obfuscate the reality of a given threat, concealing possible paths toward a non-violent resolution.

It’s worth noting that few crimes of aggression (i.e. robbery, vandalism, etc.) are done with the goal of fighting. When someone robs you, they seldom want to fight. Martial arts students, prompted by fear or pride, will often react physically to an aggressive crime, which escalates the threat. It prompts a violent response from the robber or would-be attacker.

The Difference Between Fighting And Self-Defense

People fight for many reasons, though most of them can be categorized according to two primary triggers: to attain something or protect something. This can extend to private property, self-esteem, pride, or a vague sense of honor. These things have nothing to do with protecting yourself from physical harm.

Self-defense represents any action you take in order to protect your person. The problem is, many martial arts schools unwittingly encourage their students to use the style they are learning to “protect themselves” from criminals. There is a fine line between defending yourself from physical harm (a level to which few crimes need to escalate) and fighting. The former is defined by a preservation of personal safety. The latter represents combat.

A Constructive Response To A Threat Of Violence

First, shed your fear and anger. A threat of violence (for example, a firearm pointed at your chest) does not represent violence. Reacting to the threat because you are fearful or angry can lead to injury or death.

Second, don’t challenge the attacker unless it is likely that you are going to be harmed. If he is demanding your wallet, give it to him. If he wants your car, provide the keys. Regardless of how accomplished you are at aikido, Taekwondo, or judo, it is a rare situation that justifies using your martial arts as self-defense.

Third, provide your attacker with an exit strategy. If he feels cornered with no way out, he will react violently, often with deadly force.

There is a time and place for using martial arts as a tool for self-defense. However, the key to remaining safe in potentially violent circumstances is to recognize that such occasions are rare.

In both movies and martial arts classes, fights are pre-staged. This is an essential difference between what you see and what could happen in a real-life scenario. The moves are memorized step by step, with no room for variations or decision-making under pressure. If all of your training has been the memorization of specific moves, then you have not developed the critical skills required to fight back when you are actually being attacked. Your assailant will not move in ways that are easily predictable even if you have a martial arts background. A self defense situation will be chaotic and stressful, and your memorized moves won’t fit into your response in this situation.

Self defense training tends to coddle trainees. In a practice fight, your attacker won’t be coming at you with a knife or gun, and may not even be coming at you full force. In a real situation, you can’t expect your attacker to back off for any reason, even if you have already given up your wallet and cell phone and are on the ground. You must use everything you have to fight back if you want to escape a dangerous situation.

Pre-staged fights are emotionally sterile. You know what to expect and that the fight is coming. Even if you’re nervous before a martial arts competition, it could never compare to the nerves you will be facing if you are ever attacked. The reality is that you never have time in advance to prepare before you are attacked. Your heart will be racing and you may panic, forgetting everything you’ve learned. An attack is one of the most emotional situations you could ever find yourself in.

Even though self defense training might not realistically replicate a self defense situation, this doesn’t mean that the training is not valuable. When you are attacked, confidence is key. If you plan to undergo martial arts training as part of your personal defense strategy, make sure that it focuses on real-life scenarios, not step-by-step moves. In addition to martial arts moves, you should always make a secondary plan to protect yourself. Have pepper spray or a stun gun, for example. Remember that the “bad guy” will often come armed, and your martial arts moves will be no match for his preparations. If you really want to survive a real-life attack, martial arts training alone may not be enough.

Most people assume that if someone has their black belt or competes in martial arts competitions that they already know how to defend themselves, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth. Having a Black Belt in any martial art does not mean you’re ready to protect yourself in the real world.

Over the past three decades there have been a lot of changes in martial arts and self defense, but none as unfortunate and dangerous as right now. There’s always been the “my style of martial art is better than your martial art” debate, but the problem goes much deeper than that. The critical issue is not about what martial art or self defense system is best, it is how martial arts and combat sports are perceived as self defense.

Due to the increasing popularity of martial arts on TV, in movies, more and more people are becoming interested in the martial arts, but at the same time, more and more people becoming confused about the subject of self defense. Every form of traditional martial art and martial sport has their place. They both build character and get you in great shape, but can they save your life in an attempted rape or homicide?

The benefits of studying the martial arts are legendary. Traditional martial arts like Karate, Aikido, Kung fu and combat sports like Mixed Martial Arts, Judo, Wrestling, Tae Kwon Do, Thai Boxing, Boxing and Brazilian Jujitsu will all give you life long benefits and are worthy endeavors, but will they give you the self defense tools you need to survive an all out, knock down, drag-out street fight? Do you really have to spend years and countless dollars studying a martial art to learn only the essential, proven self defense?

There is no argument that martial arts and martial sports develop character and get you in shape, but when it comes to self defense, you’ll discover they fall drastically short under the stress of real combat.

Contrary to popular belief, a black belt in the martial arts has little to do with whether or not someone has the ability to protect themselves. This is not to say that the person wearing it can’t defend themselves against a real-world, street attacker.

But then, I would never say that a high school wrestler couldn’t defend themselves either!

The ability lies, not with the belt but, with the focus that went into getting it. If the person wearing a black belt has focused on sport martial arts all along, then the belt represents his or her proficiency in THAT area – not self protection.

Again, just as with the wrestler, this is not to say that they cannot defend themselves. It means that what they are studying and practicing – where they’ve set their priority – is not centered on self defense, but on winning a contest!

If you’re serious about mastering the ability to protect yourself against real world assailants – savagely attacking you with raw, animalistic brutality – then you must begin with awareness and clarity. Before you can do that, though, you must first shed the illusions and deluded beliefs, myths, and misconceptions that are getting talented black belt martial artists broken by street thugs every day.

Without this awareness – the clarity of understanding just what you’ll be up against inside a brutal attack scenario, as opposed to a rule-laden tournament – you risk not learning the lessons that will save your life.

Remember, in a real-world self defense situation, the only trophy you get for “winning” is the privilege to go home in one piece after it’s over!

Is it created as a sport art or a self defense art. If it is indeed intent for competition then it should in theory be able to compete against mixed martial arts in the octagon, but if the sport is created for self defense a lot of other rules apply.

I used to be one of the guys who used to bash sports like Wing Chun because I was in the MMA camp and as a national champion in wrestling I simply didn’t believe the whole “Our art won’t work as well in the octagon because it is created for the streets” mentality. That is until I actually decided to visit a Wing Chun club and try out my wresting and MMA skills against some of these so called street fighters.

The club I visited happened to have one of the best wing chun practitioners in Europe as head coach! I could immediately see that the guys who had trained for 1-4 years were no match for me and I would literally rag doll them to floor and just lay on them while controlling them and picking my shots.

I had my believes confirmed and was just on the way of going home until one of the trainers told me to come spar with him. I must mention that this was all done in a very friendly manner and there was no “he is an outsider lets smash him up mentality”. Even though I could throw this guy around and choke him out with a little bit of maneuvering I quickly realized that as a MMA guy I was used to taking the guy down and controlling him until I could transition into a position where I could finish the fight.

However as the guy demonstrated this left me vulnerable for a lot of things I had never tried before because of the fact that MMA is only sport based. I got jabbed in the eyes, got my ears pulled and even got fish hooked. It made me realize that on the street you want to finish the fight as fast as possible and can’t use the same strategy as an MMA fight.

She had her big flashy test…kicked the bag…sparred other girls (and a couple of guys that looked like girls!) with the foam booties and gloves on…did her kata with the appropriate “snap” in her movements…very nice.

Now, I’m not a complete jerk, so I let her have her moment. Congratulated her, hobnobbed with the karate “master”, and ate a piece of the sheet cake with little icing karate dudes on it….

That was until a couple of months later at a family graduation party when she began to tell all the girls how the type of “karate” she studies is great for fitness (ok), fun (ok), and self defense (BZZZZZ!).

I had stood what I could, but I couldn’t stands it no more…

I walked right up into the middle of the gaggling girls, singled her out and flat out asked her, “Tell me the truth…If a 225 pound man attacked and tried to rape and kill you, can you 100%, honestly say that you would know what to do? Could you save your own life?”

There was a deathly quiet pause as every single girl in the room visualized that horrible situation in their own minds. Then came the same answer I’ve heard from every single women martial artist I’ve ever met in my life who doesn’t train with us…

“Ummm…I guess not.”

Here in the United States there seems to be a government agency looking into just about every consumer industry in an effort to protect people from scammers, hucksters, and other assorted con men or corporate swindle.

Unfortunately, for women who are looking for a martial arts style that will provide them with a way to defend themselves, there is no government agency licensing or even looking into instructors or the proven effectiveness of the claims.

Therefore there is an over abundance of inexperienced, untrained, liars who claim they are teaching self-defense. These frauds will often teach a style that sounds and perhaps even looks good on the mat, but lacks any value in real combat.

Moreover, dealing with criminal rapist scum is no time for a woman to find out that her “training” was really just cardio kickboxing in disguise… So share the following information with a woman you care for.

Examining the profiles of rapists gives incite into a dangerous enemy.

The Power-assertive rapist considers himself manly and is the one most likely to commit date rapes. This type makes up 44% of rapists and will try to con a victim and gain her trust, but will have no problem using whatever level of physical force he needs to take control.

The Anger-retaliatory rapist hates women and will look to brutalize and punish them. He looks for targets of opportunity and will most likely beat you unconscious then commit rape. This animal makes up 33% of rapists and is easily enraged.

Power-reassurance rapists account for 21% of rapes and often spies on or stalks his victims since he lacks the confidence to have a normal relationship with women. In his twisted fantasy, he sees himself and the victim as lovers, and will force her to wear lingerie and kiss her while seeing the attack as lovemaking. However, using violence is not out of the question if it comes down to making a woman give in to his demands.

The Anger-excitation is the worst of the lot. A sexual sadist, this sick bastard only makes up 5% of all rapists. He has his attacks preplanned and victims can be women he knows or just spots haphazardly on the street. He derives sexual pleasure from inflicting pain and will tie up, gag and torture women for days on end. So vile is this creature that he will even film or photograph his victims so he can relive the attacks. He is the hardest to catch of the group because he usually kills his victims when he’s through.

During an attack your mind will be racing and you won’t be thinking clearing about what kind of rapist you are dealing with and what approach to take, but what all experts agree on is that a “properly trained” woman who fights back early DOUBLES their chance of escape…AGAINST ANY SIZE OR STRENGTH ATTACKER.

The Department of Justice reported that 93,934 women were forcibly raped in 2005 (They’re still calculating ’06)…These numbers are completely unacceptable as women can and should know how to defend themselves.

In Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, safety is listed right after breathing and eating. Personal protection is too important to be left to the police alone, or to depend on others for help.

Teaching and learning a martial art is ok as it has plenty of redeeming physical, cultural, social, & mental benefits. However, what people (especially women) need to understand, is that 99% of martial arts are NOT legitimate methods of self-defense.

I am only pointing out that traditional martial arts will seldom prepare most people to handle a true self-defense situation effectively. But I do not deny that some people do develop tremendous fighting ability from their study of martial systems.

But a self-defense program must teach more than the physicality of punching, kicking etc. True self-defense training must teach a person how to avoid the fight in the first place.

I also pointed outthat the real key to developing this avoidance ability is developing a knowledge and awareness of the mind and thinking of the human predators out there. Remember, these are precisely the ones most likely to assault you.

The predator

The most basic form of self-defense is flight: simply running away. When a person is faced with danger, fleeing the scene is often the best option, in order to reach help or the safety of other people. When flight is not an option (such as if an attacker has cornered someone cornered, or if there are no people nearby to lend aid), one must consider ways to defend oneself successfully. Setting aside the great danger posed by a lethal weapon such as a knife or gun, martial arts, pepper sprays, and stun guns are the remaining possibilities.

A martial art has the benefit of not requiring any equipment – the body becomes the weapon. However, the downside is that learning an effective martial art (such as karate or judo) requires a substantial investment of time beforehand, as well as a moderate amount of physical fitness. It also requires that the person being attacked is within arm’s length of an attacker, which could prove more dangerous if your assailant is armed.

The issue of distance is not so pressing with a canister of Red Pepper Spray, which can be effective at ranges up to 30 yards. However, a pepper spray can be easily overcome if the assailant is wearing any protection on the face, or if the aim is off. This problem with accuracy is not as important when considering a stun gun for personal defense. Most often applied in close quarters, weapons such as ZAP Stun Guns do not depend on physical fitness as a martial art does. Rather it delivers a sustained shock to an attacker and incapacitating them where as a martial arts strike may only cause mild injury.

For those uncomfortable with getting close to an attacker, some stun guns come with taser functionality, allowing a deterring shock to be delivered at a distance. In this sense, the versatility of a stun gun as a means of personal defense is a major plus.

When using any form of self defense always remember that your safety is the most important thing. Always seek help if you are in danger, and never let your self defense tools cause you to take unnecessary risks.