Sunday, 16 May 2010
Proven in Combat - You Can Learn Self Defense From a Video
It seems that for every person who tries to learn self defense by buying an instructional video there is at least one other who claims that it is impossible to learn to fight without actually attending a live class for months or years. Likewise, for every instructor who tapes his lessens and sells them on the web, there is at least one other who claims that it is not possible to learn anything without going to his school and attending his classes in person. I think it is time to set the record straight!
Like my training, all of my articles are based on reality, so let me use an example from real life to demonstrate how little "training" is necessary to effectively perform realistic close combat techniques. A little less than one year ago, I was sitting in a small bar with a friend of mine when two young men and a woman walked in. Having enough experience and training in recognizing threats, both my friend and I were immediately aware that one of two other men standing in another corner of the bar started showing signs of aggressiveness. He didn't do anything (yet!) but it was obvious that he was very agitated by the presence of the new customers and that it would probably translate into physical violence. His friend, the non-aggressive one, started making a sort of bowing movement and tapping his forehead and nose. The angry young man then walked up to one of the two men that entered the bar with the woman, grabbed him by his shoulder to get his attention and turn him around and, after he did so, smashed the poor guy's nose with his forehead!
From the first contact where he grabbed his victim's shoulder to the point where the other guy was laying on the ground with eyes watering and nose bleeding was at the absolute maximum two seconds. It turned out that the head butter was the ex-boyfriend of the girl that had entered the bar and wasn't ready for his ex- to have a new man in her life, which explains his sudden anger at their presence, but that's unimportant compared to the fact that the bowing movements that the other guy made were part of an extremely short training in close combat. He was giving a lessen in a new striking technique, the head butt!
The point that I'm trying to make is that he proved that it is definitely possible to learn self defense from a video! The fact of the matter is that a very effective technique for damaging another human being was effectively "taught" in a matter of seconds and was successfully used less than one minute later. The head butt "trainee" had no martial arts or combat sport experience, nor did he possess above-average physical fitness. The head butt "trainer" also had no formal training, he just spent enough time in seedy bars to see what works and what doesn't in real fights.
Did you grasp the significance of what I just wrote? One person saw a head butt used in a fight and remembered it, should he have to fight someday himself. His friend expressed the need to hurt someone and he showed it to him. He "saw" the technique being demonstrated, retained it in his mind and later "showed" it to his intoxicated friend, who was immediately able to use it, without training of any kind! Now couldn't they have done the same thing with a video? I mean, if the first guy had seen the head butt in an instructional video, wouldn't he have been able to understand it just as good, or even better, if the video instructor explained it while demonstrating? And if he showed it to his friend in the dark corner of a bar and his friend understood it, he could have explained it in front of a running camera, too.
The bottom line is that you need to be careful what you learn, not how. If a technique is simple enough to work in combat, it is simple enough to be learned from a video. If a technique is too complicated to be learned from a video, it is also too complicated to work in real combat. You would be far better off learning head butts, stomps to the legs, throat strikes and eye gouges from a video than spending years of daily training in a school with a trainer trying to tell you that jump-spinning-flying dragon kicks to the head will work when your back is to the wall.
Christopher "Bob" Roberts is an ex-soldier who relocated to Europe and now earns his living as a tactics and close-combat instructor for military, police and private security companies.
For more information about armed and unarmed self-protection, subscribe to his free newsletters at www.extreme-measures-institute.com and receive access to an exclusive video interview series, where he explains the fundamentals of truly effective self defense.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Christopher_Roberts
Like my training, all of my articles are based on reality, so let me use an example from real life to demonstrate how little "training" is necessary to effectively perform realistic close combat techniques. A little less than one year ago, I was sitting in a small bar with a friend of mine when two young men and a woman walked in. Having enough experience and training in recognizing threats, both my friend and I were immediately aware that one of two other men standing in another corner of the bar started showing signs of aggressiveness. He didn't do anything (yet!) but it was obvious that he was very agitated by the presence of the new customers and that it would probably translate into physical violence. His friend, the non-aggressive one, started making a sort of bowing movement and tapping his forehead and nose. The angry young man then walked up to one of the two men that entered the bar with the woman, grabbed him by his shoulder to get his attention and turn him around and, after he did so, smashed the poor guy's nose with his forehead!
From the first contact where he grabbed his victim's shoulder to the point where the other guy was laying on the ground with eyes watering and nose bleeding was at the absolute maximum two seconds. It turned out that the head butter was the ex-boyfriend of the girl that had entered the bar and wasn't ready for his ex- to have a new man in her life, which explains his sudden anger at their presence, but that's unimportant compared to the fact that the bowing movements that the other guy made were part of an extremely short training in close combat. He was giving a lessen in a new striking technique, the head butt!
The point that I'm trying to make is that he proved that it is definitely possible to learn self defense from a video! The fact of the matter is that a very effective technique for damaging another human being was effectively "taught" in a matter of seconds and was successfully used less than one minute later. The head butt "trainee" had no martial arts or combat sport experience, nor did he possess above-average physical fitness. The head butt "trainer" also had no formal training, he just spent enough time in seedy bars to see what works and what doesn't in real fights.
Did you grasp the significance of what I just wrote? One person saw a head butt used in a fight and remembered it, should he have to fight someday himself. His friend expressed the need to hurt someone and he showed it to him. He "saw" the technique being demonstrated, retained it in his mind and later "showed" it to his intoxicated friend, who was immediately able to use it, without training of any kind! Now couldn't they have done the same thing with a video? I mean, if the first guy had seen the head butt in an instructional video, wouldn't he have been able to understand it just as good, or even better, if the video instructor explained it while demonstrating? And if he showed it to his friend in the dark corner of a bar and his friend understood it, he could have explained it in front of a running camera, too.
The bottom line is that you need to be careful what you learn, not how. If a technique is simple enough to work in combat, it is simple enough to be learned from a video. If a technique is too complicated to be learned from a video, it is also too complicated to work in real combat. You would be far better off learning head butts, stomps to the legs, throat strikes and eye gouges from a video than spending years of daily training in a school with a trainer trying to tell you that jump-spinning-flying dragon kicks to the head will work when your back is to the wall.
Christopher "Bob" Roberts is an ex-soldier who relocated to Europe and now earns his living as a tactics and close-combat instructor for military, police and private security companies.
For more information about armed and unarmed self-protection, subscribe to his free newsletters at www.extreme-measures-institute.com and receive access to an exclusive video interview series, where he explains the fundamentals of truly effective self defense.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Christopher_Roberts
How and Where to Buy Martial Arts Supplies
It is a overwhelming experience to buy the right accessories and supplies for your chosen favorite art. No matter, what form of martial arts you are interested in, you can easily get matching and suitable arts supplies and uniforms. As a beginner if you have chosen these type of art, you need to decide what you'll need to get started. After you know what you have to buy, try identifying relevant and useful stores and manufacturing companies where you can find the best equipments for your use. You can find so many items to get started and get matching supplies that you won't find anywhere else. So, be careful and get the right equipments and supplies without spending too much out from your pockets.
Buying Martial Arts Uniforms:
Karate, judo, taekwondo, jujutsu, and other types of arts should be practiced after wearing a proper dress recommended for it. You can go to certified institutes or stores to get the original supplies. Some institutes sell off clothes and equipments that carry certain brand names, and often have limited sizes or styles. These particular styles are designed to meet users' needs to the best. In case, you need a special size or design, you can place your order which will be directly shipped to your doorstep in a promised period of time.
Before you start your shopping for martial arts uniforms, you should know what you're looking for and what your school requires in a uniform. Identify your precise size measurements to ensure comfort during training and practice.
please visit us at: Martial Arts Supplies and Martial Arts Equipments
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_Stylan
Buying Martial Arts Uniforms:
Karate, judo, taekwondo, jujutsu, and other types of arts should be practiced after wearing a proper dress recommended for it. You can go to certified institutes or stores to get the original supplies. Some institutes sell off clothes and equipments that carry certain brand names, and often have limited sizes or styles. These particular styles are designed to meet users' needs to the best. In case, you need a special size or design, you can place your order which will be directly shipped to your doorstep in a promised period of time.
Before you start your shopping for martial arts uniforms, you should know what you're looking for and what your school requires in a uniform. Identify your precise size measurements to ensure comfort during training and practice.
please visit us at: Martial Arts Supplies and Martial Arts Equipments
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_Stylan
Choosing a Martial Arts Class For an Adult
You've decided that it's time for a change and you want to use martial arts as the vehicle to move you along. But how do you choose the best martial art style, school or system for yourself? The first thing you need to do is ask yourself some questions: What do I want to gain from martial arts? What are my limitations? Am I looking for something for myself, or me and my children to do together? Let's look at these questions and some possible answers.
The question of what you hope to gain from martial arts is something only you can answer. If you want general fitness, better balance, some basic fighting skills, then the style of martial art is not really a problem. Almost all styles will give those things, and possibly more. This does not mean that all types of martial arts are the same, but the basic ideas of movement that capture the style of the art will, over time, make you more flexible, stronger and teach you some additional fighting skills beyond simple punching and kicking. Now if you have specific goals, such as learning a style of weapon technique, you would need to hunt down an instructor of that style. Or if you wanted a modern, practical self defense system, you need to locate a school that teaches that system.
What are my limitations? Once again a very personal set of conditions. If you have specific medical conditions, those can limit your training. I had a student who has Fibromyalgia, a nerve sensitivity condition that made it very hard to strike other students with any force. She did a lot of gentle movements and training with very light contact. She liked the style and so we modified the training so she could reap the benefits. Do you have physical or mental conditions? Once again these are questions that you need to answer honestly in order for your training to be enjoyable.
Training in martial art can be a family affair, a solo project, a social event or a combination of the three. While the answer to this is driven by what you hope to gain from your martial arts practice, the feel and attitude of the school will be the biggest factor in your ability to decide where you train. The gym, school or dojo you train at must fit the ideals and goals that you want to achieve, not what the trainer, teacher or instructor wants. The instructor is the guide on the journey to your goals, not driving force. You are the one who must push though the training to fore fill your goals (more on staying motivated in a late article).
Now this may seem like of a lot of introspection, but you need to ask yourself these questions to make sure you don't waste your time or money. If you can pull all of these factors together, and find the right program to fit your goals, you can start to unravel the wonderful fruits the study of martial arts can provide.
Louis Charron operates Close Combat and Fitness, LLC in Metairie, Louisiana, just outside of New Orleans. He teaches Krav Maga self defense and has developed the reality based system of self defense for children, Kids Maga. Louis Charron has formal training in Kung Fu, holds a 2nd Degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do and is a Certified Krav Maga Instructor. He monitors and runs the website http://www.closecombatandfitness.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Louis_Charron
The question of what you hope to gain from martial arts is something only you can answer. If you want general fitness, better balance, some basic fighting skills, then the style of martial art is not really a problem. Almost all styles will give those things, and possibly more. This does not mean that all types of martial arts are the same, but the basic ideas of movement that capture the style of the art will, over time, make you more flexible, stronger and teach you some additional fighting skills beyond simple punching and kicking. Now if you have specific goals, such as learning a style of weapon technique, you would need to hunt down an instructor of that style. Or if you wanted a modern, practical self defense system, you need to locate a school that teaches that system.
What are my limitations? Once again a very personal set of conditions. If you have specific medical conditions, those can limit your training. I had a student who has Fibromyalgia, a nerve sensitivity condition that made it very hard to strike other students with any force. She did a lot of gentle movements and training with very light contact. She liked the style and so we modified the training so she could reap the benefits. Do you have physical or mental conditions? Once again these are questions that you need to answer honestly in order for your training to be enjoyable.
Training in martial art can be a family affair, a solo project, a social event or a combination of the three. While the answer to this is driven by what you hope to gain from your martial arts practice, the feel and attitude of the school will be the biggest factor in your ability to decide where you train. The gym, school or dojo you train at must fit the ideals and goals that you want to achieve, not what the trainer, teacher or instructor wants. The instructor is the guide on the journey to your goals, not driving force. You are the one who must push though the training to fore fill your goals (more on staying motivated in a late article).
Now this may seem like of a lot of introspection, but you need to ask yourself these questions to make sure you don't waste your time or money. If you can pull all of these factors together, and find the right program to fit your goals, you can start to unravel the wonderful fruits the study of martial arts can provide.
Louis Charron operates Close Combat and Fitness, LLC in Metairie, Louisiana, just outside of New Orleans. He teaches Krav Maga self defense and has developed the reality based system of self defense for children, Kids Maga. Louis Charron has formal training in Kung Fu, holds a 2nd Degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do and is a Certified Krav Maga Instructor. He monitors and runs the website http://www.closecombatandfitness.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Louis_Charron
Get the Most From Martial Arts by Learning How to Choose the Best Self Defense Instructor
Although you may not realize it, there are numerous unqualified blackbelts and self defense teachers offering advice and disseminating information which could get you killed. Even worse, none of these people have ever been party to a life or death fight and therefore do not have credible or real experience with regard to fighting.
How to choose the best self defense instructor #1 - You ought to interview any martial arts or fighting teacher any time that you are considering taking a membership in the dojo. The process that you want to follow in talking to them should have as its purpose to discover what qualifies them to instruct you. Should their blackbelt in taekwondo have been obtained when they were fifteen and their experience is solely composed of sparring, then give them a pass.
How to choose the best self defense instructor #2 - Be certain that the class you are considering incorporates full contact sparring. It is important that you feel the pain when hit and become accustomed to the conditions when real fists and feet are trying to take you down. That is, you must obtain genuine experience in real combat conditions.
Ways to find the best self defense instructors #3 - Some mixed martial arts instructors do not comprehend the fact that there is a difference between being in the octagon and being on the streets. Should they indicate that their jiujutsu will protect you when you are on the ground, they are simply wrong. This is because you never want to go to the ground during a street fight. In all reality you will likely get stomped, stabbed or beat down by your opponent or his buddies.
How to choose the best self defense instructor #4 - Any respectable self defense instructor ought to be certified and to have received his training from a recognized expert of the art. You don't want to fall victim to the martial arts teachers that claim they are masters. Also, his instruction ought to be in fighting that is based in the real world. You do not want to get from his instruction just mere tactics for the "common attack" and no techniques that are founded in reality based fighting.
How to choose the best self defense instructor #5 - If he likes to be addressed as master, or alleges to be a family member of some group of master self defense instructors or martial arts experts, he is full of it. The majority of dojos are out to make money and should they fill their sales pitch with a bunch of hype, then you must understand that he simply wants your money and his instruction is no doubt worthless.
Selecting the correct self defense instructor is basic to your training and success in a real life fight. What you really want is an instructor who has had to use his skills in real street fights and won. What you do not want is stale information or instruction which has no reality on which it is built.
And please do not believe that aligning yourself with the highest priced dojo will protect you in a street attack either. Interview you potential teacher before you sign up!
Another thing I recommend is that you download my 2 free best self defense manuals here! Or if you are interested in a fool proof system showing you how to win any street fight fast and easily go here!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Steve_Gib
How to choose the best self defense instructor #1 - You ought to interview any martial arts or fighting teacher any time that you are considering taking a membership in the dojo. The process that you want to follow in talking to them should have as its purpose to discover what qualifies them to instruct you. Should their blackbelt in taekwondo have been obtained when they were fifteen and their experience is solely composed of sparring, then give them a pass.
How to choose the best self defense instructor #2 - Be certain that the class you are considering incorporates full contact sparring. It is important that you feel the pain when hit and become accustomed to the conditions when real fists and feet are trying to take you down. That is, you must obtain genuine experience in real combat conditions.
Ways to find the best self defense instructors #3 - Some mixed martial arts instructors do not comprehend the fact that there is a difference between being in the octagon and being on the streets. Should they indicate that their jiujutsu will protect you when you are on the ground, they are simply wrong. This is because you never want to go to the ground during a street fight. In all reality you will likely get stomped, stabbed or beat down by your opponent or his buddies.
How to choose the best self defense instructor #4 - Any respectable self defense instructor ought to be certified and to have received his training from a recognized expert of the art. You don't want to fall victim to the martial arts teachers that claim they are masters. Also, his instruction ought to be in fighting that is based in the real world. You do not want to get from his instruction just mere tactics for the "common attack" and no techniques that are founded in reality based fighting.
How to choose the best self defense instructor #5 - If he likes to be addressed as master, or alleges to be a family member of some group of master self defense instructors or martial arts experts, he is full of it. The majority of dojos are out to make money and should they fill their sales pitch with a bunch of hype, then you must understand that he simply wants your money and his instruction is no doubt worthless.
Selecting the correct self defense instructor is basic to your training and success in a real life fight. What you really want is an instructor who has had to use his skills in real street fights and won. What you do not want is stale information or instruction which has no reality on which it is built.
And please do not believe that aligning yourself with the highest priced dojo will protect you in a street attack either. Interview you potential teacher before you sign up!
Another thing I recommend is that you download my 2 free best self defense manuals here! Or if you are interested in a fool proof system showing you how to win any street fight fast and easily go here!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Steve_Gib
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