Nowadays punch-ups, physical aggression, and fatalities have become frighteningly
common in our modern civilised society. Violence permeates all aspects of our
stressful daily lives. Whether driving to work or merely going out for leisure,
we are constantly exposed to the threat of a violent confrontation or some unsolicited
violent assault. Conscious of these threats people are constantly searching
for ways and tools which will help them defend themselves, their loved ones
and their property.
During these past two decades we have experienced the evolvement of Self Protection into a Scientific System and Industry of its own. The Science of Self-Protection has evolved to cover aspects such as Threat Awareness, Threat Management, Threat Assessment, Psychology, Communication Skills and Tactics. Although actual combat techniques form an important element within the Self Protection value chain , these are the last and ultimate line of defence when all else has failed.
Although the majority of those who take up learning a Martial Art, do so in order to learn how to defend themselves, Self Protection does not only involve joint-locks, kicks and strikes. The individual who learns to control his emotions and avoids being provoked into a fight is also practicing Self-Protection.
As the Chief Instructor for the Bushido Ju-Jitsu Academy, with over 30 years of experience in Martial Arts, I shall be drawing on my experiences to cover the aspect of training in actual combat techniques as well as other important elements of Self-Protection.
First of all Self-Protection is not a hamburger or pizza that can be purchased from some fast food outlet. Effective Self-Protection cannot be learnt by attending a crash course consisting of fifteen two hourly sessions. Such lectures may teach students aspects of Self-Protection such as Threat Awareness or Threat Management but they most certainly will not teach a student how to deal with actual physical aggression. Self Protection is a long-term commitment that must be undertaken only after the student has carried out a sincere and serious physical and psychological assessment of him/herself. A little knowledge can be dangerous especially if the student is falsely conditioned to believe that he will be able to apply what he has learnt in the cosy, safe and controlled environment of the Dojo, under extreme conditions out in the street arena.
Personally I believe that Self-Protection is the cultivation and manifestation of one of our most primordial instincts. It is every human's instinct to ensure Self-Preservation and survival. It is the defence of our right to live and enjoy life. It is our determination to prevent others from oppressing or harming us.
Self-Protection is not a sport. Self-Protection is a way of life. If the Martial Art you practice is sports oriented and emphasises on competitions then you are not benefiting from the maximum core fighting and Martial Art concepts of your system. The same is true if the Martial Art you practice leans towards the spirtitual and esoteric aspect of the art.
Real hardcore fighters and brawlers do not give a hoot about how many trophies you have won, superfluous titles, Dan grades and wallpaper. In a pub or street confrontation there are no referees to enforce rules, no time limits, your aggressor/s will not let go or stop when you tap and no First Aid Team is going to come running to your side the moment you are injured and bleeding. Violence in these instances is vicious, merciless and at times fatal.
Students who are looking to take up learning a Martial Art for the sake of Self-Protection should opt for a system that is taught and practiced solely for this purpose. Unfortunately the wanton commercialisation of these noble Arts has caused the majority of the Martial Arts to become too sports oriented.
Being able to control and diffuse a situation before it degenerates is vital.
Your first option should always be to evade the threat. If your awareness drills are functioning then you should be aware of trouble as it mounts and take steps to avoid it. At times this may be accomplished by simply walking away or avoiding a heated argument. Avoiding trouble is not a sign of weakness but of maturity and commonsense
Remember Self Protection is first and foremost all about playing safe and negating threats rather than engaging in all out combat.
Defusing a situation requires good communication skills. You need to be able to talk to placate the prospective aggressor while at the same time not appearing to be meek or frightened. During this phase it is essential to be aware of your body language as this could transmit contradictory messages to what you are verbally communicating and trigger an attack.
Another option for dealing with a prospective aggressor is by Asserting yourself and Keeping your ground. This entails communicating that you are not an easy target and that you are not intimidated. Such an option always serves to deter bullies who prey on easy targets. However such an option is exposed to the risk that if a tough individual is involved you may actually end up in a fight. This option depends also on your psychological characteristics, those of the individual and your ability to assess the situation.
Fear is your worst enemy. Fear will instantly wipeout years of training and carefully drilled techniques. Everyone feels fear at one point or another, no matter how experienced or tough one may be. The difference lies in the ability and discipline to handle and control this factor rather than be overwhelmed by it. Fear is our natural reaction to a physical confrontation. Sweating, shaking, rubber limbs, increased pulse rate, are all reactions caused by fear. In such situations the body prepares for the fight or flight response by releasing adrenaline into the bloodstream. At this stage there is always the risk of either becoming paralysed and rooted to the spot or else panic and bolt.
Like animals, certain people will sense your fear and this will encourage them to launch their attack.
If you are not prepared for the adrenaline boost released into your bloodstream its effects may act against you. Actually adrenaline prepares the body either to fight or to beat a hasty retreat. Adrenaline makes your reflexes faster and temporarily increases both your strength and endurance.
During my years of teaching and practicing Ju-Jitsu as a system of Self Defence, experience has proven that it is no use learning techniques and their applications unless the student is progressively conditioned to physically and mentally withstand the rigors and demands of a physical violent encounter.
If you seriously need to learn how to defend yourself then you must build and condition your mind and body to withstand a certain amount of punishment and pain. If you engage in a physical encounter you must expect to get hit or injured, especially if set upon by multiple attackers. This is reality, if somebody is telling or teaching you otherwise, you will be better off taking some drama lessons. Conditioning and endurance will provide you with that extra edge to continue fighting and damage your adversaries even after you have been hit and are in pain.
If you want to learn how to inflict pain you must first experience and learn to withstand it yourself. Bear in mind that if you cannot cope with the controlled and limited pain experienced in the familiar environment of the Dojo, how can you expect to cope with the vicious damage and pain you may experience in a real life violent situation. Such conditioning provides the familiarity and confidence to assist you to control and overcome fear.
In the likelihood that you cannot eliminate your attacker quickly and a fight ensues, factors such as speed, skill, strength and stamina are always decisive.
As a rule the majority of bullies and brawlers do not dedicate time to keeping in shape or train in fighting techniques. Most of them rely on getting that notorious first punch, kick or head butt in and to finish you off with a barrage of punches and kicks.
Learning Ju-Jitsu at the Bushido Ju-Jitsu Academy provides the student with the distinct advantage of learning Ju- Jitsu solely for Self Protection and combat purposes. As a system Ju-Jitsu includes all aspects and tactics pertaining both to unarmed and armed combat. As a Martial Art (Bugei) Ju-Jitsu covers blocking, kicking, striking, throwing, ground fighting, joint-locks, strangles and chokes, pressure points, counters, tactics and the use of weapons. Ju-Jitsu taught at the Academy covers every conceivable form of aggression and situation even if the aggressor happens to be versed in Martial Arts techniques.
As each student progresses from the basics to higher levels he learns how to combine techniques and to flow from one movement to another. Students are also encouraged to excel at their favourite techniques.
Knowing how to make every strike count, especially when faced with multiple attackers, is an essential requisite of learning Self-Protection. This is of vital importance in the case of females and smaller, lighter built individuals. Students need to learn about weak anatomical targets that they should strike in order to disable their aggressor as quickly as possible. Here again it is important for the individual to carry out a sincere assessment of his/her morals.
All those who study and practice Martial Arts should be aware of the legal implications governing the use of force even in cases of Self-Protection. The use of force when defending oneself must reflect the level of the threat. If somebody pushes you and you react by dislocating his arm, you have obviously used excessive force and are liable to face criminal charges for grievous bodily harm.
However as the saying goes there are times when it is better to be judged by seven than to be carried by four.
If you have taken up training in a Martial Art for Self-Protection purposes, always train with that sole purpose in mind and do not be afraid to ask questions. Always take time to pause and assess what you are being taught and your own personal progress.
Finally I would like to share the following 6 golden rules pertaining to the practice of a Martial Art as a form of Self-Protection:
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For further information kindly contact:
Mr
John Sevasta, 3rd Dan Ju-Jitsu, 2nd Dan Judo,
116 Hobbejza Str, Zejtun ZTN04, Malta
Tel: 21 694 503, Mob: 79903016
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