Exploring practical self defense technique

as found in classical martial arts of all styles

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Exploring practical self defense technique

as found in classical martial arts of all styles

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I’ve run across a number of remarks calling for ‘aliveness’ in martial arts training.  People seem to throw the term around casually as if everybody agrees on what “aliveness” means.  After some additional reading and reflection I believe we are lacking an accurate definition of the term.  It is extremely important that our terms are clear to avoid misunderstanding and sloppy thinking. 

I believe that ‘aliveness’ must refer to a techniques efficacy in a given context.  In my thinking context is everything.  In one context a simple pop to the solar plexus will be all one needs.  In another context it will take every fiber of your being, every ounce of energy and every technique you know just to stay alive. In yet another context the problem is solved by leaving the area and going someplace safe. 

In one instance a palm extended toward a potential attacker followed by the word “Stop!” said loudly enough for everyone to hear will work perfectly; in that context the technique is ‘alive.  Try the same technique in another context and it is dead … and you’re injured or worse.  Therefore ‘aliveness’ is determined by context.

Some who are calling for‘aliveness’ seem to suggest that any technique that will not work against an all out attack –  such as a bull rushing,machete wielding, berserker ninja – is DEAD technique.  Yet in actual situations I’ve used very subtle techniques like finger locks, goose necks or the word “Don’t!” to put my– would be – attacker at a serious disadvantage … enough to dissuade them from continuing.  I’ve actually grabbed some by one of the nerve bundles under the arm with enough force to induce pain compliance.  They weren’t happy, but they stopped.  The technique didn’t feel very dead to me OR my opponent.

I’ve also noticed and intriguing tactic when discussing ‘alive’ and ‘dead’ techniques.  Often the person complaining about the technique will change the scenario in order to ‘prove’ the techniques ineffectiveness.   I’ve actually had someone tell me that a finger lock would not work because if the attacker’s intent was to cause real harm a simple finger lock wouldn’t stop him.  My answer was; true enough, but finger pointing is not the ballistic portion of an assault.  Finger pointing is a precursor to an assault, an intimidation tactic; and the perfect time to take pre-emptive action.  Secondly, if the attacker wanted to do me real harm, that’s what he’d be doing; then my choice of technique would change.  Changing the scenario to ‘prove’ a technique won’t work is false reasoning. It’s a straw man.  Once the scenario changes … the technique MUST change, it’s as simple as that.

Assault statistics tell us that even the implied use of force is enough to give some attackers second thoughts. OK … class, please take out the study from Florida State University professors Jongyeon Tark and Gary Kleck titled RESISTING CRIME: THE EFFECTS OF VICTIMACTION ON THE OUTCOMES OF CRIMES.  If you don’t have a copy, you need one; you’ll find it in the journal CRIMINOLOGY Volume Number 42 Number 4 2004 (call ‘em, it’s $7 or $8bucks if they fax it to you).  In it you will discover that almost any self protective strategy (except trying to talk your way out of trouble) will likely result in your surviving the encounter.  Don’t take my word for it, get a copy of the study and see for yourself.

So, what’s the deal?  People keep saying we have to have a clear understanding of how the world really is;all the while throwing scenarios at us that almost NEVER occur.  I understand ‘worst case scenario’ training and encourage it … how about some ‘most likely case scenario’ training? How about an escalating use of force continuum? That’s what we teach our students.

For the purposes of this article the term‘traditional’ will refer to the martial arts systems brought from Japan,Okinawa and later, China to the US after World War II.  The term ‘classical’ will refer to those systems in their complete (historical, original) form passed from family member to family member and master to student.

Following WWII many US servicemen were introduced to the martial arts of Japan and Okinawa.  Many who trained in karate were excited about it and naturally wanted to bring this wonderful new experience home.  Their instructors demanded they maintain the purity of the systems they were taught. Nothing could be changed, nothing could be added and nothing could be subtracted.  It was paramount that these traditional forms be adhered to in the strictest sense.

The American servicemen followed their master’s orders to the letter. But what these dedicated American karate-ka (karate students) didn’t know is they had been taught an incomplete and therefore, inferior form of karate…the form taught only to beginners or school children.

The Japanese weren’t about to give away a significant portion of their national identity to the enemy.  Some of the systems were family treasures passed only within the family group and guarded carefully.  No one in their right mind would give something that valuable to the enemy.

But American servicemen would pay good money to be taught karate. So, many instructors taught kids’ karate to servicemen who had no way of knowing better.

Protecting the ‘family’ treasure from outsiders was operative in China as well.  In both cultures xenophobia played a part in preventing the systems from being transmitted to outsiders in their entirety.

Beyond protecting family treasures is the problem that some teachers didn’t teach the complete art because they didn’t know the complete art. They had stopped their personal training and truncated their knowledge base.  They couldn’t pass on what they didn’t know.

This was exacerbated in Japan due to the war.  Many of Japans finest martial artists died in combat.  This created a vacuum that was filled, in part, by the ‘instant black belt’.  These were people who would train with a qualified instructor in the morning and teach the same technique to their students in the evening.

But that’s not all.  Quite a number of sensei purposely taught flawed technique that would make the student who attempted to employ it vulnerable.  This may have been done to protect the system from outsiders or to protect the instructor’s aura of invincibility (ego).

When the American karate-ka brought these traditional arts to the US, they had no way of knowing they weren’t teaching the complete systems. They taught what they had been taught, and did it well.

Sometime in the last 20 or30 years, a change began because the wisdom of the martial arts was being lost.  Some of the old masters in China and Japan were dying and taking their ‘secret’ techniques with them.  A few very forward thinking teachers began to share their treasures with the rest of the world.  It took a lot of courage to break with tradition but the break was necessary if the classical arts were to be preserved.

These techniques contain the keys to unlock the systems and bring martial arts around the world into the new millennium.  The master key is classical thought.  In classical thought a technique must function, it’s that simple. If it does not work we must ensure we have performed it correctly.  If the technique then works we add it to our knowledge base.  If it does not work we discard it and continue searching for a technique that will work. 

Functional techniques are readily available in book, video and seminar form, thoughtful study and reason should be employed as guides.  Sharing and comparing techniques with martial artists outside one’s own school or system will lead to additional insights and growth. Our minds must be open to seeing new possibilities in ancient arts.

This isn’t as easy as it sounds.  Challenging long held beliefs and traditions will put many on the defensive. People have a difficult time changing the structure of their thinking.  It’s jarring and upsetting in some cases.  Some egos will be bruised in the process.  But a bruised ego isn’t the worst fate a martial artist can suffer. The worst fate for a martial artist is to be found irrelevant.

The benefit of ‘Classical Martial Thought’ is functional martial arts systems that bring students to a deeper understanding of their art, themselves and their place in the universe.  We have been given an opportunity and a choice.  We can hold onto the traditional, incomplete systems taught since WWII or we can step back and allow the historical, functional, classical arts to inform and influence our practice and technique.  By stepping back we can move boldly into the future.

In closing, a poem;

Attend life within

Free the mind, accept the truth

Attend life without