That which is vague is easy to dispel.
(Lao Tzu)
Martial arts
The genius of ancient
martial arts systems cannot be denied. They are
tried are tested. They have endured.
Whether or not they are viable in modern times is down to the school,
the teacher and the syllabus - rather than just the art itself.
A pragmatic self defence syllabus must take into account the century
we are living in.
Tai chi was codified into a self defence system over 400 years ago.
People fought in muddy fields and wore body armour. Low stances were
necessary for stability.
21st Century urban combat?
The 21st Century has different concerns to the 16th Century. We must allow for the realities of
the modern urban environment.
A self defence practitioner needs to be upright, agile, adaptive and
realistic. Your opponent will probably be armed and they will most likely
have friends.
Things change. Time moves on. Your art needs to be
a response to the needs of the present day.
Context
Does your martial art cater for the realities of self defence?
Are you learning to respond to multiple attackers?
Will your opponents be armed?
Do they carry knives or other improvised weapons?
What will you be wearing? What kind of footwear?
Be honest about what you are expecting to do with your art.
Is your art up to the needs of self defence?
Are you training the necessary
skills?
Fear
Fear needs to be addressed as well as competence under pressure.
You do not have to endure severe combat training in order to see how you
cope under duress.
It can be done safely and playfully. If this sounds improbable, look at
sport.
What matters is the core requirements:
Keeping a cool head
- no anger
- no upset
- no panic
Decisiveness
- action
- no dithering
- no getting ready/anticipating
- no worrying
Effectiveness
- does it work?
- are you able to follow it up?
- can you improvise, adapt and change?
You need to know
that the material works and have the confidence to use it when the situation
is unpredictable and confusing.
Striking
Learning to strike somebody and learning how to take a strike are essential.
Being hit can really mess you up.
Clever self defence tactics and techniques may fall to pieces when you are
actually taking hits.
It is imperative that you know how to relax and roll with the punch.
Developing your own striking ability is critical. Without it, you cannot
hope to defend yourself.
You need to make each blow count.
Range, timing, distance, accuracy and penetration must be practiced
relentlessly.
A bag or focus mitt is not the same as a person. You need to strike real
people.
Do not pull your punches. Let them land. Feel whether or not you are
receiving adverse feedback.
Learn to control your power, your commitment and your intent.
Punching thin air may train the body mechanics behind a strike but tells you
nothing about your ability.
Evading
Group dynamics and evasion
strategies cannot be codified into a step-by-step guide.
You must learn to go with the flow, responding and adapting to the needs of
the situation.
This takes patience and practice.
If you lose your composure, you lose everything.
You need to work with punches, kicks and grapples. It needs to be varied,
confusing, unsettling and unpredictable. A melee.
Principles
Tao Te Ching, The Art of War, The Book or
Five Rings and
I Ching all offer excellent principles.
These are what you need in self defence.
Scour your art for underlying precepts of body use, relationship and
strategy.
Do not expect to apply your art literally.
The tai chi postures teach all manner of things but you do not try and fight
with them literally.
Asking for it
Provocative behaviour will draw attention to yourself.
Wearing your martial arts costume, sweatshirt or lapel badge all call attention
to what you do.
Similarly, macho behaviour only demonstrates an inner weakness. An insecurity. Your fear.
Keep your skills quiet and subtle. Avoid being noticed.
Page created 25 October 2000