jmaccauley

Having attended literally scores of training programs over the years, I’m rarely surprised at some of the material being passed out as “new.” O.K., I feel pretty sure that there are very few things out there that can qualify as new when it comes to training in self defense or defensive tactics. There are many improvements that can be made in the delivery of training and that is what this article is about.
I remember a martial arts instructor who told our class that there was an infinite number of attacks and defenses available. This was an attempt to remind us that we can get complacent when presuming that a particular stance meant that a certain technique was about to be thrown our way. Headfakes, misdirection thrusts, hitch kicks…all designed to get us to over commit are common in the sports arena. Feints and parries are used to create an opening for the real attack. This same instructor would tell us to read the body language and not react to a “fake.” It occurred to me then, and still does, that it would be impossible to distiquish between a well designed feint and an actual attack. Remember, I said a well designed one, not an amateurish and half hearted stutter. Especially if there are an “infinite number of attacks available to our opponent.
Realistically, there aren’t that many attacks. A limb or appendage is either thrust at you or swung at you. Add in the occasional clinch or tackle and you’ve narrowed the “infinite” list down to a manageable number. This automatically reduces the number of defenses I have to master or memorize. I can block, parry, trap and counter. Hardly an infinite number of responses.
I suppose if I wanted to keep you coming back to my school to learn the next series of attack/response techniques I would need to remind you of the unlimited supply of combinations available often. If I told you to work with what you have and respond to what presents itself, you would feel shortchanged. All of this leads us to the Conditioned Response Theory of self defense. When he does this, you do this. That is called a “drill,” not a response to an attack. What if he doesn’t do it the way you drilled? Well, you modify it on the fly. Ever watch a short statured person try a shoulder throw on a very tall opponent with long arms? Sure, you can modify it and maybe make it work, but perhaps that is an inappropriate technique for you. It was based on a drill, not the reality you were presented. Perhaps a foot sweep would be more appropriate, but only if you understood that a sweep is not necessarily dependent on the opponent being a certain size. How about ground fighting techniques? Do you start from the Guard/Mount position? Great for “drills” but is it applicable to a street encounter where the bad guy doesn’t know what a “Mount” is?
As I stated earlier, there are few new techniques, but new ways to teach. Train to respond to a thrusting or swinging limb or appendage. Practice responding to a tackle or clinch and do these while in awkward positions, such as on the ground, leaning against a wall, extremely close quarters or even while sitting. You will find that there aren’t many modifications to the techniques necessary, but your responses will become more automatic and reflexive. Why? Because you will own them. They are your responses, based on your knowledge, skills and abilities. Try to eliminate the disparities that you might face and keep your responses simple.
I recently watched an instructor embarrass himself by teaching a technique to a class, only to find that it didn’t work on one of his students. He quickly recovered and explained that he would do it differently with someone like that. Well, if that’s true, why did you try it only to find that you had to change after it failed. That would have been disasterous if it occurred in a real attack.
If you are an instructor, don’t be afraid to point out the weaknesses in a technique, even if it’s your favorite. Remember, it’s not your best technique that will help you win, it’s the one thats worse for your opponent.

johnp

I agree, though i view from it a different angle.

If i have ten guys in front of me and i show them a technique then i would hope to get ten versions of that technique, none of them are wrong.
As everyone is different, hieght, wieght, length of limb etc each person should have there own variation of techniques.

I also look at how people are built, some techniques will work for one person but will be no good for another, though i do get them to practice the technique for some months before they can say "this is no good for me" and they can bin it. Though they may just need to bastardise it to their body form.

more later