Home Add to Favorite Contact Submit  
             29 March, 2024
 

    
Category:  Articles » Recreation & Sports » Martial Arts

 

"Kick Me Where It Counts" - A Critical Mistake in Martial Arts and Self-Defense Training

Popularity:
         Views: 1686
2007-05-08 10:32:30     
Article by Jeffrey Miller

During my recent visit to Japan for training, there was one overriding thing that I noticed about most of the black belts that I worked with. Now, if they were just having fun and aren't really looking to be able to defend themselves against a determined attacker should they ever face one, then okay. But, if they really are looking to be proficient and have the ability to control a situation, then they probably shouldn't be sending a clear and dangerous message to their attacker.

Before I tell you what debilitating flaw many of my fellow black belts were making, let me just say that, to watch Hatsumi-Sensei or any of the other Shihan "master instructors," one might very easily overlook this problem. They might overlook it because, well, it appears that the Masters are doing it too! And yet...

...they're not!

What many students, both Bujinkan and others, see when they train in Japan, is the teachers moving in such a way as to expose vital targets - targets that could be exploited by an experienced opponent. The attacker punches, kicks, or grabs, and the teacher drifts back with an extended arm as if to block. But, instead of taking up a structurally sound kamae, or position of safety, as depicted in books, videos, and the ancient texts, the teachers are in a posture that is way too square to provide any cover against follow up attacks.

And so, seeing this, students with no actual combat experience...

...copy it.

Now, copying the teacher's technique would not be bad, normally...

...if the student knew what they were looking at.

Instead, students simply watch the teacher move and take stock of the step-by-step pieces, with little-to-no-regard for important details that will determine whether or not that technique will work against an enraged attacker trying to hurt you. They forget that their training partner probably lacks not only the same combat experience they do, but also lacks the intention to actually hurt them if they make a mistake. After all...

...everyone is just there to have fun and earn some rank, right?

What is it that could be so deadly a sin that it would warrant an article? What could be so bad that, if left unchecked, could breed a sense of false security in one's technique and ability that will only be seen when a determined attacker takes advantage of it?

Before I answer that, let me ask you a question. The question might seem to be directed only at the guys but, I assure you, is just as relevant to women. The question is simple and straightforward. There is no trick answer or need to second-guess what I'm asking.

Ready?

"Would you knowingly and willingly stand close enough to your assailant, and in a convenient position, so as to allow him or her to kick you in the groin?" Or, as many of my friends and students might say, "...to kick you right where it counts?"

I didn't think so. And yet, time after time, I had to remind black belts - people that should know better or have been taught better - to reposition themselves because they were lined-up for me to do just that. And, if I saw that fatal flaw, you can bet that any opponent looking for a quick and easy win, would catch it too.

"But you're supposed to punch me next," was the answer I heard more often than not. "We're working on such-and-such a kata ("form" or "example") and I don't have to worry about that."

To which my reply was, "I don't care what form we're working on." Cold, I know. But the fact that you're working on a particular example, does not mean that you forget all of the essential lessons for staying safe. One kata does not contradict the need for proper positioning, distancing, and angling for safety against your attacker's next move.

"But he (the teacher) did it this way." To which I would have to admit, "kind of."

What the student sees is often only a close approximation of what the teacher is actually doing. That's why it's necessary to go through the class, learn the lesson, and then spend the next several days, weeks, or months, trying to figure it out. And this is no exception.

What the students were seeing was the teacher's body position. What they were missing was...

...the teacher's body position RELATIVE to the attacker. In short, they were missing the all-important element of proper distance.

It's true that the teachers were positioning themselves in, what beginner students are told are "sloppy kamae." But, at their level, they don't need "correct kamae" as taught to beginners, because they know how far to position themselves away from the assailant so that he or she can't easily reach them with their next attack.

So, where my training partners were exposing a vital target, the teachers were well out of range for such an attack. Same body position, vastly different results.

The point here is that, if you're training just to have fun and experience a taste of ancient warriorship, great. But, if you're looking to learn the lessons for survival from ancient warriors - lessons designed to save your life if you ever need them...

...then you MUST be critical in your examination of the lessons themselves.

You must get over your need to be right, or to look cool, or to show off what you've learned and make sure that you are focusing on what matters. Often that means that you find a training partner who wants to help you get better. He or she knows that doing that means not stroking your ego, but instead pointing out when you've left yourself open to an easy follow-up.

Because, if you don't, you just might find that the message you're sending to your attacker is...

"Hey! Kick me right where it counts!"

Jeffrey M. Miller is the founder and master instructor of Warrior Concepts International. A senior teacher in the Japanese warrior art of Ninjutsu, he specializes in teaching the ancient ways of self-protection and personal development lessons in a way that is easily understood and put to use by modern Western students and corporate clients. He offers classes, seminars, and camps in both ancient warrior skills, real-world self-protection, and corporate workplace violence.

Specialized in: Ninja Camps - Ninjutsu - Camp - Bujinkan Dojo - Warrior Concepts - Miller - Shidoshi - Warrior - Ninja
URL: http://www.warrior-concepts-online.com
Print article      Bookmark this page
Related Articles 
Pride Lightheavyweight and Middleweight Champ Calls Contract Insulting (Popularity: ): Dan Henderson managed to sum up the UFC's contract offer to Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou in one word. That word - insulting. Sokoudjou is coming off two stunning knockouts of top PRIDE Light Heavyweight fighters Ricardo Arona and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira. Both of these title contenders lasted a combined 2 minutes and 22 seconds in the ring with SokoudjouHenderson has been fielding contract offers for his Team Quest teammate due to ...
Heavy Striking Power (Popularity: ): The main striking power core of the Ancestor system employs Chong Lik (Heavy Power). Chong Lik can be classified as Soft as it relies on relaxation for its power generation. Others may know or refer to this type of power to as Dead Weight or Vibrating Power.The primary advantage of using Chong Lik is that strikes of considerable power can be generated with a relatively small swing or recoil of ...
The Legends of MMA (Popularity: ): Wouldn't it be great to turn back time? I'm tired of seeing older fighters past their prime, just looking for another payday. These guys are forced to fight guys ten or fifteen years younger than themselves. The most recent examples of this were the fights between Tito Ortiz and Ken Shamrock and the fight between Royce Gracie and Matt Hughes. We've also seen such mismatches as Tank Abbott vs Frank ...
The Legends of MMA (Popularity: ): Wouldn't it be great to turn back time? I'm tired of seeing older fighters past their prime, just looking for another payday. These guys are forced to fight guys ten or fifteen years younger than themselves. The most recent examples of this were the fights between Tito Ortiz and Ken Shamrock and the fight between Royce Gracie and Matt Hughes. We've also seen such mismatches as Tank Abbott vs Frank ...
The Legends of MMA (Popularity: ): Wouldn't it be great to turn back time? I'm tired of seeing older fighters past their prime, just looking for another payday. These guys are forced to fight guys ten or fifteen years younger than themselves. The most recent examples of this were the fights between Tito Ortiz and Ken Shamrock and the fight between Royce Gracie and Matt Hughes. We've also seen such mismatches as Tank Abbott vs Frank ...


Related Business 
Arkansas Martial Arts (Popularity: ): Arkansas Martial Arts has been teaching karate in Fayetteville, AR, since 1987. Arkansas Martial Arts is Northwest Arkansas' leading martial arts training center focused on the core values and discipline of martial arts in a fun, safe, and friendly atmosphere. Our Fayetteville martial arts facility is committed to providing martial art and self-defense programs that are both dynamic and empowering to students of all ages. Building confidence, attaining discipline, and ...
Agatsu Martial Arts and Self Defense (Popularity: ): Reality based martial arts and self defense training plus information on ROSS Canada. Articles, history, pictures, forum, links. Located in Montreal, Quebec.
OC Kickboxing and Martial Arts (Popularity: ): Martial arts cross-training center offering jeet kune do, muay thai, Brazilian jiu jitsu, savate, and kali-escrima-silat. OC Kickboxing is dedicated to staying on the cutting edge of self-defense, martial arts and fitness training. [Irvine, California, United States]
Premier Martial Arts LLC (Popularity: ): At Premier Martial Arts we have two locations. One in Schofield and the other in Wausau, where we teach a mixed martial arts, self defense blend of Taekwon-do, Ju Jitsu, Kobudo, Inayan Eskrima, Hopkido etc..so you can get well rounded training experience. Ages 3 1/2 to adult. Discounts for families.
Jax Martial Arts By Train4Combat, LLC (Popularity: ): The Jax Martial Arts 2,500 sqft. MMA Fitness Gym is operated in Jacksonville, FL by Train4Combat, LLC. We focus on "Functional Fun Fitness", and as Instructor Brian often says, "the fourth element is Family". The fundamental martial art disciplines taught at Jax Martial Arts include Filipino Martial Arts (Kali / Eskrima / Arnis), Jeet Kune Do (JKD), and Combat Submission Wrestling (CSW). We also offer Core Fitness and Mixed Martial ...
Martial arts Weapons (Popularity: ): Martial Arts Weapons: For many students the use of martial arts weapons is one of the most exciting parts of martial arts. In most martial arts forms training with weapons is an advanced subject, not attempted until students have mastered using their own bodies and have been trained to focus their strength and power. There is, however, some forms of martial arts where empty hand and weapons training take place ...
Wolfpack Martial Arts - Colorado Springs (Popularity: ): Martial arts, self-defense, and safety training for children and adults
Folsom Martial Arts Center - Folsom California (Popularity: ): Folsom's leading Martial Arts Center for Karate, Kick Boxing, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and adult self defense. Folsom Martial Arts Center offers: Kickboxing, Kids Karate, Thai-boxing, Boxing, Military Tactical Self Defense, Hapkido, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Doce Pares Eskrima, Korean Karate for residents in the Folsom, Roseville, Rocklin, El Dorado Hills, Cameron Pare, Orangevale, El Dorado County, Placer County and Sacramento County’s.
Martial Arts Equipment (Popularity: ): Pad-Up! martial arts equipment shop only stock quality martial arts equipment. Our customers centre their martial arts training around known brands such as Macho, Century and Discipline.Make sure you consider these important facts when shopping online for martial arts equipment.
simonniklaus.com (Popularity: ): My blog simonniklaus.com is all about fitness and martial arts. I'm a soldier from Switzerland and have been into lifting weights and training in martial arts my whole life. In my fitness posts, I will show you how to train safely, find the best equipment for your goals and body type, and how to stay motivated. In my martial arts and self-defense posts, I will show you which tools to ...