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Letter Re: Martial Arts Fact Versus Fiction
Mr. Rawles
I just found this blog after checking out Steve
Quayle's web site and links. I must say this discussion is a breath of
fresh air.
My experience is much different than many who have posted; I have little training
in the martial arts, and never been in the military. I don't even watch those
Ultimate Fighting shows.
I work with kids in state juvenile facility here on the West Coast of the US.
Most of the "residents" as
they are called are 14-20 years of age, and usually very aggressive and violent
gang members. Unlike adult corrections in my state, we don't carry weapons
of any kind including pepper spray. We wear street clothes and work in a average
ratio of 12 residents to one staff.
In other words I deal for eight hours a night with the most likely people you
would face in a survival situation. Most reading this live in an area where
these are the most likely assailants and unless your a hardcore survivalist
living in a tree these are the people that most reading this will face. Here
are some things I've learned - usually the hard way
1) Forget talking your way out of it. Once they have decided on violence talking
is only used to distract you or to manipulate you into believing you can talk
your way out of the situation. We are trained in verbal de-escalation skills
but experience also shows us that gangstas who are on a mission to raise their
status in the gang by "putting in work" will not listen to reason,
or pleas. Conditioning by the gangs to see violence as nothing more than a
tool or as a way of enforcing rules within the gang literally enables most
gang members to shut off a conscience or thought of potential consequences.
They in many cases may also be under the influence of various drugs that hinder
their reasoning ability. In other words don't bother talking if you want to
live.
2) Forget any martial art that wastes time on flying kicks and roundhouse punches.
Don't waste time learning how to use swords and throwing stars. As many have
stated before a system with equal parts grappling, punching, kicking, elbows,
knees, etc.
3) Learn to take assailants(s) out quickly. I noticed that many seem to be
fans of Ultimate Fighting and I'm not going to say its fake, but it is entertainment.
The fighters are great but lets be honest, the matches are intended to draw
ratings by selling the drama. I have no doubts that those same fighters without
the rules would be able to take out their opponents much quicker than they
do. You should do this as well. Don't play around or make unnecessary movements.
Don't stop and sermonize half way through giving a beating.
4) Finish the job. The idea that you should get your opponent down then run
away is pretty d**ned dumb. First you may have nowhere to run to, and nobody
to help you. You are better off once your opponent is down making sure they
don't get up on their own power for a long time. All I can say is do what your
God
given
conscience
deems necessary for you and your loved one's survival in such a situation
5) Awareness!, Awareness!, Awareness!
If a person, place, or situation makes those little hairs stand up there is
good reason for it. If your in a crowd always be aware of eye movements, body
movement. Also be aware that criminals/gang members never attack alone. Even
if they aren't joining in the attack they have accomplices serving as lookouts
to either tip them off or to distract. Be aware of where you are, and who is
around you at all times. Watch what those people do or say.
6) Learn to fight in close quarters. A dojo or a gym is great but have your
sparring partner and you fight within a small chalk circle for a while. Better
yet a medium sized walk in closet. Many well known street gangs that got their
starts in the California prison system (Sureños or 13s come to mind) created
fighting systems for both offense and defense in their cells. The "fighting
art" consists mostly of elbow, and knee strikes with some uppercut punches,
followed by takedowns. Is it any good? Ask any correctional officer who now
extracts these guys from cells using "stun shields", pepper spray
guns, and eight-man extraction teams. Fairly intelligent,
and motivated sparring partners can probably duplicate this style with a little
trial and error.
7) Don't waste your time getting into a punching contest. In most cases your
assailant is a more experienced fighter than you. They also have experience
taking a punch. How many punches have you taken lately Sugar Ray? Probably
not many, if any. Forget kicking too unless you have been trained how to do
it properly or when to do it. Sending a kick to someone's face like Chuck Norris
or Jean Claude Van Damme is cool in movies - especially after its been choreographed
and practiced for weeks, then filmed from the optimal angles. Its looks pretty
dumb when you do it though. It tends you get you beaten or dead as well. If
your assailant is on the ground a few well placed kicks to the mid-section,
groin, ribcage, neck, or face couldn't hurt however.
8) Go for the eyes or throat. Cut off the assailants sight and air. If more
than one assailant hit the first ones eyes, and take out the second ones breathing
ability. If three - eyes, eyes, air. Go for knees ankles, and feet if you do
kick. Avoid the groin since most men are genetically inbred to react to protect
their assets. If you can take the side of your foot and say run it into an
aggressors knee and then driving your leg, the results are quite surprising.
Same with the ankle.
9) Use any weapons available. This also means improvising weapons. I once was
charged by a young resident in our living units kitchen. I had a container
of ranch [salad] dressing in my hand which quickly made contact with his face
and most important - his eyes. Immobilize the assailant with whatever is available.
Another resident charged me on the floor, and I pulled his shirt up over his
head tight which blinded him and made it hard to swing on me. I have seen coins,
cans of chewing tobacco, coffee, and even a handful of hard candies thrown
into the face of an attacker to disorient. Knocking eyeglasses or hats off
can have similar effects.
10) Any fighting system that doesn't teach just basic arm bar takedowns, goosenecks,
and "Z" holds should be avoided. There is a reason these things are taught
to correctional officers, cops, and people like myself and its because they
are
easy to learn, easy to retain, and most important they work. With just a few
modifications these moves can be quickly turned from less than lethal to lethal
moves. Also learn moves that can be applied when your fine motor skills are
impaired. When the fight or flight syndrome kicks in finesse goes out the window,
and the more basic the better. If the take down has complex actions then forget
it you'll be too messed up thanks to your heart rate to attempt it.
11) Arm yourself. A knife is great, a gun is better. Train to use both and
practice often. Most important get into the mindset to use the weapon.
Just a few things I thought that I'd throw into to stir the pot. - C.T.
JWR Adds: I agree that high kicks and roundhouse kicks are
strictly "Hollywood" showmanship. Not only do they deliver less power, but
they also leave you vulnerable to being thrown off balance.
Unfortunately,
California's Nanny State mentality has led to enactment of laws
that have made
concealed
carry
of some
knives
a felony on the first offense, open carry of firearms--except when hunting--a
misdemeanor, and concealed carry of firearms either a misdemeanor or a felony
on the first offense, depending
on circumstances. It is very difficult to obtain a handgun concealed carry
permit
in most California
counties unless you are engaged in a business that requires you to regularly
carry cash or valuables.
Even "trunk" carry of firearms is effectively banned unless you
are on your way to or from a
shooting
range
or a hunting trip, or to or from a gunsmith's shop. To make matters worse,
local law enforcement and interpretation of these laws varies tremendously.
Sight of a citizen with a gun that wouldn't cause a sheriff's deputy to blink
an eye in Modoc County would be cause to call out a SWAT team
in Alameda County. California's complicated laws make effective self defense
outside of one's home quite difficult. Thankfully, California has
not
banned
canes, walking sticks, and umbrellas. So my advice to Californians is to concentrate
on stick fighting martial
arts. Train regularly and don't leave home without your cane! And if you
can, move out of California! Vote with your feet.
