Boxing

Boxing who hasn't heard of it?
It's a really effective martial art and the basics aren't too hard.
The only downside is you need force to be able to use it effectively.
Since a attacker won't get scared from little, cute punches
If you live in Mexico go for this art since Mexico is a really good place to learn boxing.

Those clips are from a real competition you won't have to participate in those but if you like you can.

Muay thai

As the name suggests this art's orgin is found in Thailand
Muay thai also known as thai boxing.
It involves striking, kicking, kneeing and elbow strikes.
I will tell you a story about muay thai since it is a story and I haven't witnessed it myself I can't be sure if it's true.
A long time ago king was kept prisoner. If he could beat the country's srongest warrior he was free to go.
The king won that fight with muay boran(old muay thai), muay thai is a safer version of muay boran.
In muay boran you could use headbutts as well.
But you better not try headbutting someone it might cause brain damage.
You shouldn't use the high kicks in self defence either, since it might bring you of balance if that happens you might fall and that's something you don't want to do.

Jiu jitsu

Jiu jitsu a martial art with its orgin in Japan.
It involves: strinking, kicking, throwing, grappling and joint locks.
Its an effective martial art because it involves all things you do while fighting.
You can defend yourself both standing and on the ground.
The Brazillian variant of jiu jistu(Brazillian jiu jitsu) is almost pure grappling, I don't really like it for self defence because the ground is the latest place you want to be while fighting on the streets especially when you fight multiple opponents.
A good thing is you won't require much power to make joint locks.

Krav maga

A self defence system used by the Isreali military.
Its based on self defence you can kick someone in the nuts, attack their eyes and things like that.
A great part is that nothing is forbidden(of course you can't kill or injure your training partner).
Just like on the streets there are no rules which is great.

Philippine martial arts

This are martial arts like eskrima and kali.
Phileppino martial arts use sticks knifes and bare hands, So if you dont have any weapons or don't have the time to take them out(the weapons).
You can still use your hands.


I still have some tips so keep reading for the tips.
-You rather want a good teacher than a good martial art.
-In a self defence situation running away is always the best solution, you won't be a coward if you run away you just outsmart the persons attacking you.
-Enjoy it, there is a chance you never have to use your martial art in a self defence situation.
-If you dont like the outfits they wear in the videos you should still join since the training outfits are different.
-If you want to know if your gym/dojo/dojang is good look if they are part of some organisation like the country's boxing federation.
-If you want to take up more than 1 martial art there is no one stopping you from doing so!

Javanese Kingdom prepared big buffalo for the fighting whereas West Sumatera people used small buffalo calf. Before the contest, West Sumatera people trained the buffalo calf, which still needed milk from its mother. They weaned the calf from sucking the milk from its mother in order to make it needy for its mother presence.

On the day of contest, people gathered on the field to see the buffalo fighting. Both of buffalos were ready to fight. Secretly, West Sumatra secret agent brought the buffalo calf's mother behind the Javanese buffalo in the crowd of Javanese soldiers. The contest began. The small Sumatera buffalo calf saw its mother. It became so needy and ran fast to its mother. Because the calf was small, it was able to run through the space between Javanese buffalo's leg and the blades on the tips of its horns tore the big Javanese buffalo's stomach. Javanese buffalo died and West Sumatera buffalo calf won.

West Sumatera people were able to defend their country. To remember that winning time, they named their country “Minang Kabau.”Minang means “win.” Kabau means “Buffalo.” So, they called their country the land of winning buffalo.

This legend has also influenced their traditional martial art, called Silat. The technique of ducking or taking lower position to defeat the enemy also adopted the story of the calf. In Silat from Minang Kabau, they use this exotic technique to attack enemy's balance and vital points. We can see this technique in some Minang's style, such as, Harimauan, Silek Tuo Minang, and Starlak style.

In Setia Hati, a Silat organization from Java, there were many beautiful ducking techniques adopted from Minang style. Its opening movement is taken from Minang's silat style and philosophy because, Master Suro Diwiryo, the 1st Grand Master of Setia Hati, also learned Silat from Minang, West Sumatera.

Fighting with fists is scary, but it is no shame to be scared; fear is cause by adrenalin, which is chemical produce by you body to induce "fight or flight reflex". When fight start, you body is do some maths and come to automatic decision whether you survive best by fight like Samurai or run like Ninja. If you choose to run, then run good and fast; big trouble for you if you stand there full of fear but doing nothing. Adrenalin will help you run fast, but it also help you fight good. Sifu is not here to tell you about how to run; Sifu here talk about how to fight, how to win, how to kick anyone ass.

Remember first rule of all fight; you opponent is full of adrenalin too. You opponent is not Terminator or some kinda superman; he is just normal guy, maybe bigger than you but so what? He is still only flesh and blood, full of squishy organs; he is feel pain and fear just like you. Right when you are deciding whether to put up you fists or take to you toes, you opponent is thinking the exact same thing. He is looking for you fear to see if he can win; if you are angry and ready to fight, no matter how big he is, you opponent will question whether fighting you is a good idea.

Attitude

It is all a question of attitude Laui; it not matter if you are big muscle guy full of kickboxing lessons or small woman attack by big strange man, you attitude is the only thing that counts for shit in a fight. The correct attitude, the mind-set that will win you almost any fight, is that you opponent is take him life in him hands when he mess with you. If you are worry about hurt you enemy, he will kick the crap out of you. If you quite content to put you opponent in hospital, then you are already on the way to winning even before the first punch is thrown.

The First Punch

This is all-important moment, Laui. If you can, take the initiative and punch you opponent right in the face just as hard as you can; ball up you fist good and tight, put you weight behind it and assert you self! Smack, right in the face, let him know you mean business. Many Laui will back off after one good smack in the face, even if they not badly hurt. If you are girl, this is no time to be feminine because a slap in the face will not do, and some men actually like being slapped; punch him, girly Laui, punch him right in the face and call him bastard. If you are good at punch, pick you best target and go for it; if you are not know how to punch, go for the nose and the top of the lip. The nose is soft and easily broken, while the jaw is the single bone of the human body and very hard to break; a big man can take a crack on the jaw, but no amount of steroids will toughen up you nose.

It is possible opponent hit you first, but that is still not the end of you fight! Pick you self up off the floor and square right up to him again, even if you nose is busted and you cannot see for the blood and tears; get right back in you opponent's face and grin through the blood like a rabid wolf. Most Laui who start fight have only one good punch in them; there is good chance that you opponent will turn white and run when his first punch is not enough to stop you.

The Actual Fight

Assuming the first punch is not the end of it (and remember that most fight last between five and ten seconds), now is when it gets nasty. You and you opponent are really get it on now, with grappling and punching and crashing about through the furniture. Now it is too late for fear, Laui; now you are gladiator, now you are Samurai, now you are fight for you life, so give it bloody laldy! ('Laldy' is Scottish word, mean "go completely berserk") That right Laui; now is no time to be squeamish or think about moral dimension. You opponent is certainly not worry about morality; he is too busy grabbing you in headlock and trying to punch you face and balls. Now is time for dirty fighting, so stick you thumb in his eye. This will stop anyone; no matter how big he is or how hard him biceps, eyeballs are always soft, so stick you thumb in good and wiggle it. If you cannot get at his eyes, grab him by the balls; do not be squeamish, Laui, just grab, squeeze and pull. While you are squish you opponents eyes and balls, belabour him with punches. Hit him in balls, hit him in the face, not one punch or two but many; rain you fists upon him even if you are half his size. If you opponent is big, you may not be able to actually injure him, but you mere ferocity will give him fear; as soon as he begins to retreat, redouble you assault! Lay into him like living punch bag, get stuck right in there with you fists, screaming and swearing and telling him is a dead man, he is going home in ambulance and will from now on be drinking him lunch through a straw.

Finishing The Fight

Human body is strange; in some ways, it is like a tank, able to take amazing amount of punishment. On the other hand, human body also like cut-crystal vase; very easily damaged. Man can survive fall from plane or die from fall out of bed; it all depend where he is hit. Punching alone will not win fight; you ever watch a boxing match, Laui, watch how long it go on? Try to fight a big man like this and eventually strength and endurance will win over spirit and aggression. Purpose of berserk punching frenzy is only to gain a moment's advantage in which to strike you opponent down. When you can, wrap you arm around opponent's neck and squeeze. If you cannot get him like this, bust him in the balls like you are launching a rocket into space; blast you knee or you shin or you fist (or baseball bat, pool cue, hockey stick, whatever) right into his nut-sack and smack him bollocks up behind him teeth. Maybe you cannot hit the balls because you opponent is cover up against you punches; that is okay, just bash him over the head instead. Consider clap you hands on opponent's ears like maybe you see in kung-fu film; do it hard and punch you opponent face right after just to be sure. Whatever you do, do it hard and damn well mean it; Sifu is assuming it is opponent who start fight and you are defending you self, so hit hard with Sifu's blessing.

If you opponent go down, kick him before he can get up. Only now should you consider morality or reasonable force; if someone attack you and you are able to get him on the floor, it perfectly fine to kick him once or twice to keep him there. Restrain yourself to one good kick in the teeth or balls, maybe a couple of good kicks in the ribs, but do not become yourself the aggressor and kick you helpless victim to death. Once he is down and not about to get up, you have won and the fight is over, so stop kicking. With that in mind, remember to kick just as hard as you can; if you opponent get up now, he will be really serious mad and try to kill you in earnest, so kick him hard and then run for it.

After the Fight

It is very strange thing about police, Laui, that they always assume winner of fight was the man who started it. Do not stand over you opponent beating you chest in victory, but instead scarper pronto; the police will not congratulate you for winning the fight, but arrest you (yes, Sifu know it crazy, but that is what happens). Even if you are in the right, maybe you opponent was mugger or rapist, get the hell away from the scene just as fast as you can. If you opponent is not getting up anytime soon and there is no one around, go through his pockets. If he was mugger, he may have other people's wallets which you can either return to rightful owners or keep as you fair due for removing mugging scum from streets; he will at very least have him own wallet, which you can use to report him anonymously to the police.

As soon as you are away from fight scene, go home or go to pub and have a stiff drink, maybe smoke cigarette to calm down. You maybe shake or cry or even throw up; that is all adrenaline and nothing to worry about. As soon as you are calm, check for blood and injuries. If you are bleeding or in serious pain, call an ambulance. No matter how good a fighter you are, you will get knocked around in a scrap, so check you self out. Assuming you are only bashed up and slightly cut, get in bath or shower and clean off, then have another drink. If you can, have sex with you partner; all that adrenaline will make you feel like victorious lion of fighting and sex. If victory sex is not on the cards, find a friend or relative to give you a hug. If you have flashbacks, nightmares, insomnia or symptoms of craziness, get counseling ASAP.

Sifu's Summary

1. Either give the first punch and mean it, or else take the first punch and get right up off the floor.
2. Go berserk and fight dirty; forget normal morality and get seriously violent.
3. Shout, swear, roar, threaten and scream; this will make you look and feel like dangerous nutter.
4. Injure your opponent. It might seem obvious, Laui, but to win you must cause your enemy serious harm.
5. Run. When fight is over, run for it; the police are rarely on the winner's side.
6. Look after you self, Laui. Find a safe place and apply first aid. Get counselling if you need it.

That right Laui; there is no such thing as block. Concept of block arise from misunderstanding of first western Laui to learn Martial Arts, particularly Karate. Sifu say again; there is no such thing as block. First Laui to learn Karate were American soldier after WWII; them learn from Japanese PoW Karate Masters, but them not understand Japanese language or fact that masters withhold certain knowledge for to maintain advantage over Western enemy.

Methods of block taught in Japanese and Korean style will not work in fight; you can stand there blocking all day Laui, and sooner or later opponent punch will get through. To use block for purpose you were taught is to engage in contest of speed and skill with opponent; where there is contest, there is chance that you can lose. Many Sensei and teachers in West do not include footwork, dodge or slip in defense training; them only teach and train block. Matter of common sense Laui; when man punch you, get out of the way. If you stand on spot and block, chance much greater you will be hit. In real fight, opponent throw punch from very close, much closer than normal training range and much too close to easily block.

In Kung-Fu, blocking technique always include dodge and strike as well; Sifu have had many Laui argue that there is block, that blocking alone will work and keep him safe. Many Laui very soon after sitting on floor nursing busted lip; blocking alone does not work because purpose of technique is misunderstood.

WHAT BLOCKS ARE FOR:

Purpose of block is to attack; movement described as block is always usable as attack. Rising Block is punch to face and forearm in throat, push opponent back and generate painful friction burn. Same apply with downwards block, which are often combine with low stand to punch opponent in balls or hip. For proof, Karate Laui should examine Ryukyu-Kempo, which say this exact thing and use block to attack nerve points in opponent arm.

IMPORTANCE OF RANGE:

Major issue with Laui blocking ideas is range. Most Laui classes train at medium to long range for effective punch and kick. Real fighting is take place at close range, room only for hook punch and grapple. What is characteristic of most block? Most block is use circular hooking motion like close-range punch. Inside block is very good sly punch to opponent ribs, outside block is hammer-fist or forearm strike to opponent temple, rib or elbow; inside-outside block use by Goju-Ryu and some other Karate style is hook punch to face or shrug beneath opponent arm and punch to chest. Laui who refuse to accept this is deny himself huge arsenal of hooking punches, forearm and elbow strikes already provided by existing style. It not necessary train new blocks here; it only necessary understand new application for technique already known.

Use block to attack opponent arm as you close range; use block when you already too close for straight punch or kick. Some Laui who fight in competition might say this is cheat, but real fight is not competition, Laui; man in bar not use tournament rules, him hit you with ashtray and grab you by throat, him stick cigarette up you nose, him fight real dirty. Real fight take place at close range because most man not trained fighter; him overcome fear and rush straight in, use weight and strength, not technique. Him not good puncher; him can’t hit moving target well, so him grab and hold you still before pile on fists. Range use in most training is to stop opponent grab you, but it don’t stop him try; to maintain range you must retreat always, compromise you own attack and confidence. So do not retreat, but close and use blocks as they were meant; for attack.

DODGING, FOOTWORK AND SLIPPING:

Dodge punch or kick is simple as get out of way; art of footwork make dodge easier, eventually become what boxer call ‘slip’. In Japanese Martial Art, ‘slip’ is call ‘Tai-sabaki’; most Laui with good teacher should have hear this term before, so you can see Sifu is not contradict you, only redirect understanding. Tai-sabaki is long word and hard to spell, so Sifu use boxing term Slip instead; it the same thing. Slip is to use body to deflect attack; allow opponent to hit you, but turn you body minutely so fist or foot glance off without harm. This is most easy practice on punches to chest and body; train with partner and use rotation of torso on axis of spine to deflect attack.

In real fight, slip and dodge are you first line of defense; block comes later, to deflect enemy off him line of attack and to strike incoming punch or kick. Sifu think it pretty obvious really; if opponent punch and you block, then him punch again. If opponent punch and you dodge, get close, position you self to side or behind him with footwork and use block for hurt arm and get wrist lock, then fight over pretty quickly.

ARGUMENTS OF STYLE:

Many Laui tied up with idea of ‘style’; they say, “That not my style,” or “We don’t do that in my school.” All talk like this is bullshit, Laui; no one style is complete defensive system and no fight ever abide by rules of fair. All style change and evolve through time; just so, all student evolve and change through learning. To lose through ignorance is one thing, Laui, but to lose because you reject new understanding is plain stupid. Even if you do not use new technique, understand that others do and then not obey rules of you style. Taekwondo man will kick, boxer will punch and Jujitsu man will wrestle, but the fighter who does all three well has a huge advantage. Likewise, Kendo man very good with sword, one man use staff or nunchuks, but true Kobudo master familiar with many weapons, not just him favorite.

The World Shall Hear From Me Again!]]> Mon, 14 May 2007 08:26:28 PST http://www.sportales.com/Martial-Arts/Sifu-Dansac-Explains-Advanced-Knife-Defense.28123 Hello Laui, nihao! My name Sifu Dansac, I am Kung Fu Master. Recently, many Laui read Sifu Dansac teachings on unarmed knife defense, bar fighting and escape from mugger. In those lesson, Sifu explain self-defense points practical for everyone, no matter size or level of training. Today, Sifu go into more depth for benefit of martial arts student and serious practitioner.

TAKE BASICS AS READ

Okay, so what are basics of unarmed knife defence? Basics are enemy with knife, try to kill you. Important remember right from off-set that man try to kill you is bad man; when you fear for you life, you have right to use extreme force. Sifu will explain legalities of extreme force and other deep Martial Arts issue.

EXTREME FORCE

Reasonable force is legal term, define in law to mean ‘minimum necessary force’; generally, this interpret to mean as much force as is need to repel attacker. Law not expect you to win; law expect you to survive and escape. Therefore, things Sifu will discuss in article only applicable when opponent is try to kill you and there is no way for escape except kill him first.

STEP 1: OVERCOME FEAR

Fear of knife is major problem; to overcome, Laui must be familiar with weapons and associate dangers. Best way overcome fear of knife is train with sword. Sifu say train, not carry; carry sword is illegal. It most important train you body, because read article not enough. Even if you memory good, recall Sifu advice in emergency, it not matter what you mind remember; you body must also remember and know what to do. Only way to teach body is to train.

If you are experienced Martial Artist, maybe even black belt, go ahead and get shinai (bamboo Kendo sword), then get friend and garden. It bad idea train even bamboo sword in street or front yard; police not like that sort of thing. It also bad train indoors with weapon, especially in house, so train outside in secure location such as own garden.

Proper equipment also essential; use proper shinai, which are cheap and safe. Whack friend with shinai, him only bruise. Whack him with stick, even cheap broom handle, you maybe break a bone. Shinai also not break; improvise wooden sword can break and become sharp-tip improvise spear; Sifu cannot stress enough, use proper shinai.

For best training to overcome fear, Laui should not us protective equipment. Kendo armour very expensive and reduce physical fear in training. Whole point of exercise is to feel fear in safe environment, feel shinai connect and what it like be hit; Laui learn quickest when training is real as possible. Nervous Laui may consider gum-shield and eye-goggle when use shinai, but Sifu think this make for lazy Laui.

If you are not black belt or very confident of your training, do not train shinai without supervision; it okay for black belts whack each other with sticks, they can take it and trust each other not do something stupid. Other student should have additional person look out for safety while train with shinai.

It not necessary be any good at sword fight; it only necessary for Laui to experience intensity of sword-fighting adrenaline. Once you have experience this, adrenaline of fear from knife much less, more familiar and easier to handle.

STEP 2: DISARMING ENEMY

Now you are brave, used to fight opponent with long reach and quick sword; knife is small and quick, but not nearly so scary as sword. Sword have what is called ‘defensive line’; this is solid barrier of sword edge between you and opponent. It not necessary him hit you, only interpose defensive line of sword in you path. Knife does not have defensive line; it is small, and opponent must present weapon in attack to do you harm. Obviously, if you are stupid and run straight onto knife, you in trouble; do not be reckless, but attack you opponent secure in knowledge that you can disarm man with sword, so knife much less scary.

Basic principle of sword fighting is to deal with weapon, then opponent arm, then opponent body. Same principle apply with knife; first, evade knife and seize opponent wrist. Do not seize hold of knife! It is possible grab knife by flat of blade, but very dangerous to try; intensive training and much luck needed to succeed. Seize opponent wrist and apply wrist lock. It not matter which wrist lock; only necessary cause opponent pain and occupy knife from attack again. If you familiar with nerve points, apply with wrist lock to increase opponent pain-compliance.

Do not concentrate on wrist lock at all; make grab, apply pain and immediately attack opponent arm. If possible, strike to elbow joint before apply shoulder-hold or arm-lock. Between wrist lock and shoulder-hold, experienced martial artist should find enough options to break opponent arm. Less experience Laui should only try restrain enemy; you are not done defend you self yet.

When you have knife and opponent arm restrained, hopefully broken, put enemy down hard. Stomp out him knee, sweep him foot, hip throw him, anything; wrestle him down by broken arm if you have to. Again, do not concentrate on take down; try easiest option, hurt opponent if him resist, but do immediately onto final stage of beating enemy senseless. If him arm is broken and he is down on floor, kick him in balls and face to end fight. If him is on feet, restrain and bruise but still feeling tasty, punch him in ribs, punch him in face, punch him until him drop. Allow you wrist lock and shoulder-hold to change as opponent struggles; let him squirm about, keep changing what you do, but never stop hit him until him on the floor and defeated.

PRINCIPLES:

Principle at work is to relax; fighting tense is not effective. If man swim tense, him will sink. If him box tense, him will lose. Tense man fall off bicycle, tense man never win at tennis. Why therefore should all Laui tense when in fight? It not good sense, Laui. Relax, be confident in you training. If you training not include prepare you for fear, then you training is too soft, Laui. It is easy think of what opponent can do to you with knife, but not often considered what trained fist can do to mugger face. Mugger’s nose is no tougher than ordinary nose; him balls just as small and sensitive, him elbow and knee joints work just like anyone else and snap just the same way.

KNOW YOU ENEMY:

Most important is that mugger also feel pain and fear; he is not invincible, he is not super man genetically engineer to be unbeatable mugging-machine. Him not unthinking predator; him is human being with thoughts and morality; him is think all the time about what him do and what other people is think. Him is live in fear of police and discovery; him got a lot to be afraid of and only knife to protect himself. Last thing mugger want is victim up in him face, giving it large and shouting odds, kick him in balls and wrestle for knife. Knife is mugger’s only protection; him will think about knife even when you are kick him in the nuts or poke his eye.

Understand thoughts in mugger head and understand you own fear. That right, Laui; know you enemy and know you self; understand that enemy fear is greater than yours and you will not fear him at all. You do not need knife; you are Martial Artist, you are practise Kung-Fu, so why you fear this little man who need little knife to feel big and brave? Take him knife away, break him arm, stomp him knee and punch him face; kick him balls and call him bad names while him cry at you feet; this is attitude of Martial Artist to dirty mugger who is human cockroach unworthy to walks streets use by decent people. For mugger, you should have only contempt; where there is contempt, there can be no fear; where there is no fear, there Laui will find victory.

The World Shall Hear From Me Again!]]> Mon, 14 May 2007 08:26:27 PST http://www.sportales.com/Martial-Arts/Sifu-Dansac-Explains-Nerve-Points.28122 WHAT ARE PRESSURE POINTS ?

Many Laui confuse by question; pressure point is location on human body highly vulnerable to pain-compliance and other technique. What most Laui mean by ‘pressure point’ is ‘nerve strike’, which is Martial Arts method of attacking nerves and nervous system of human body. Term ‘Pressure Point’ is misleading top layman; Sifu will explain...

All Nerve Points are pressure points, but not all pressure points are nerves; sides of knees and elbows are pressure points, tip of nose, eyeball, filtrum (that is middle of top lip), finger joint, kneecap, floating rib, these are all pressure points. These places on body are sensitive and vulnerable to attack from punch or kick, strike with object or any other impact. Hitting these sensitive place magnify force and effectiveness of attack; knife-hand to jaw do very little against strong man, but knife-hand to filtrum, just beneath nose, can knock him flat, maybe unconscious or even dead. Finger tips do very little to ribcage, but even squeezing pressure of fingers on floating ribs can cause pain in opponent organs; thumb in eye agonizing for opponent, potentially blind or even kill him.

Nerve Points are relate to human nervous system; much more complicate than pressure points. Nerves are like little wires run all through human body, from tip of finger and toe to base of skull. Nerves are like roads carry information all around the body. Prick you finger, nerves send signal like motorbike courier to brain, tell you to flinch and say ‘ow’; when you pick up object or snap fingers, do anything at all, nerves carry message like taxi driver from brain to hand or foot.

Human spine is like motor-way (that is what UK Laui call ‘freeway’); spine is like multi-lane road carry trucks and commuters very fast. All nerves connect at some point to the spine; this is way injury to spine can leave Laui paralyze, prevent information travel via damaged nerves.

NERVES - THE BASICS

Nerve Points are place on human body where little wire-like nerve is accessible to physical attack. Take a look at you hand right now; look at first knuckle of thumb and knuckle of index finger. Between these two knuckle, in fleshy flexible part of thumb, is nerve point. Take you thumb and index finger of other hand and feel for nerve; it will feel like sensitive strand among muscles and tendons. Press down and in towards wrist, feel the pain; it not hurt much, but this is only example. Grip on that part offhand will immobilize fingers in fight; strike there will cause hand to relax and go numb. Explore you own forearm from this nerve point; all nerves run from origin point (in this case base of thumb) all the way to spine. Nerve we are examine now is one of three in arm; attempt to trace course of nerves in arm up to shoulder. You will know when you find them, because they are sensitive to squash with thumb or finger.

Now, pinch nerves in fight not what it all about. Nerves are always there, so understanding of nerves and anatomy of arm make wrist lock more painful and effective; strikes to nerve points cause numbness and spasms. Buy good book on Dim-Mak, acupuncture, or massage; all these have diagram of nerves. Study and experiment to discover paths of nerves in human body. Simply to know will help you Martial Arts understanding; all forms and kata contain nerve strikes which you will discover when you apply new study to old technique.

DIM-MAK

Dim-Mak is Kung-Fu style deal exclusive with nerves. Once student understand what and where nerves are, it become possible make combination strikes like in computer game. You see Laui, you spine consist of many interchange points, like on- and off- ramp on freeway. Where one nerve enter spine, another nerve leave; pain-traffic from nerves in hand will pass normal traffic in nerves from heart and parts of body that use same interchange on freeway/spine. Nerve already discuss, nerve in hand and arm, connect to spine at same interchange as nerves from heart.

Why this important? Because road traffic analogy still goes on; each nerve can take only certain charge of pain, or certain amount of traffic; excessive signals from nerves can overload interchange point and generate feedback elsewhere in body. Striking multiple nerve points increases traffic; enough traffic to heart-nerve interchange will cause feedback to opponent heart, cause it to skip a beat or stop altogether. Same principle apply to al organs; there is master in China who specialize in striking ‘nausea points’; these are only nerve points that connect to spine at same level as bowels and stomach. Simply put, nerve strikes to right spots on lower body can cause opponent butt to pucker or even cut loose with contents of him intestines.

KYUSHUJUTSU

Kyushu-jutsu is Japanese style of nerve-point striking; it is known to many style, but most popular and practise specifically by Ninja. In words of one Ninja Sifu know, “Kyushu-Jutsu is the art of poking your opponent into submission.”

Kyushu-jutsu strikes very painful, make man think him badly injure when really just hurting; Ninja use nerve strikes make opponent flinch, be distracted and afraid. Ninja also use Kyushu-jutsu knowledge to increase pain of joint-lock, increase opponent compliance and whimpering.

EXPLODING THE MYTHS

Biggest myth about nerve points is that they do not exist at all; Sifu have heard this from Martial Artist who should know better. Just because you do not know or understand something does not mean it is wrong or imaginary, Laui; Martial Arts theory of nerve points accord both with Chinese and conventional Western medicine. Nerve-strike combinations from Dim-Mak have been test in Western labs by scientists and martial artists together; them have test on rats using electrode to replicate pain signal along nerve, them have test on martial artists and volunteers; if there are no nerve points, then all doctors in whole world since beginning of history are totally wrong about way human body work.

Second myth is that there is ‘death point’ like on TV: make no mistake Laui, there are Dim-Mak strikes can make man dead just like in Kill Bill, but there is no special strike kill a man in one touch leaving no bruise. If there was, people would occasionally find it by accident and drop dead; it not make sense for human body to evolve off-switch like robot.

There are pressure points (not nerve points) where man can die instantly if hit hard enough. This is common sense; it not necessary cut a man head off to kill him; a needle inserted in one of dozen spots on throat is fatal; precise crushing blow to windpipe is potential one-hit kill, but it is not nerve point! Some vertebrae on spine are deadly pressure points, but you must strike hard and very precise; hard enough to break bone and precise to hit specific right vertebrae. All this is common sense and Sifu is not tell you anything you could not work out for you self; myths surrounding Nerve and pressure points are all pretty dumb.

All Laui need understand is that nerve points are base on science and there is no magic or trick involve; with sufficient knowledge and training, Laui can make these techniques work and make opponent literally shit his pants.

SIFU SAY:

Sifu Dansac call you for what you are; you are cheap advert pretend to be real person. You are plastic man, you are corporate whore; you bend over and take it, Laui, right in your corporate ass.

If Sifu wrong, you will tell him so, but you message read like advert; you are take the Kung-Fu piss with your taekwondo.

Sifu have no more to say to you; you are unworthy to take part in ninja revolution, you are steep in capitalist dogma. Sifu bin you here and now, before you even apply to Yellow Lotus Secret World Domination Society; you not good enough, Laui; Sifu report you as spam!

ISAMAN SAY:

I find your take on my introduction message very interesting. I was just asking if you'd be interested in checking into a health and wellness program. I am not just in taekwondo but that seems to be the universal art for most people I know. I have studied kempo, hapkido, Hick's manipulation, taekwondo, Brazilian jui jitsu, and of course kung fu. What I learned from my martial arts training is that you not only need to train your muscle memory, spirit, and mind.....but you must also get stronger in body as well by eating right. I did not mean any disrespect by sending you the message and friend request. I just wanted to share with you something that has helped me with developing body.

SIFU SAY:

Oh, yeah sure, Laui. Sifu fool by that one; you just mention brilliant product because you think it so cool. For sure, and Sifu was born yesterday in pocket of him daddy clown trousers. Try saying that three times fast, Laui, and then tell Sifu about your physical dexterity and fitness and brilliant product. Sifu not believe a word of it; you be try sell him magic beans next. How gullible you think people are?

Hah, Sifu deride you martial arts with your talk of muscle memory; martial art all about warrior spirit and chi, otherwise little old Chinese man never beat fit young fighter; it's all about chi, Laui! You have no chi, you have only sit-ups and fitness regime. Capoeria better than you; Capoeria at least got rhythm. Sifu recognize you politeness for groveling apology and accept plea for forgiveness. Sifu maybe consider you for Yellow Lotus World Domination Secret Society. Sifu set you a test, see if you are worthy become ninja; tell Sifu something about chi that he did not know.

ISAMAN SAY:

If you think I am trying to sell you some "magical" solution to help you get super powers, you are wrong. You read into my messages too far. I can show you how the product works by breaking it down scientifically but I doubt that you would understand it. As far as my background in the martial arts, I have an extensive one because I was once a police officer. I know what chi is. It is the energy derived from the spirit. I understand more than you think I do. The little old man can defeat the young strong man due to his will to win the fight. It is not the size of the person that matters but the size of the person's will to win that decides the fight. This will comes from the person's inner spirit, therefore chi is responsible. Check into "dark matter" you will get a much better understanding of this energy if you understand physics. Maybe I should be the Sifu and you the Laui....?

SIFU SAY:

Actually, Sifu do understand physics. Sifu see you physics and raise you metaphysics; Chi is concept originate with Indian Yogi, as prove by Sanskrit writings. Sanskrit still common language of meditation across entire Oriental world, inform all area of philosophical thought.

You confusion regarding Chi is linguistic, Laui. What you describe is Japanese concept of Kimei, fighting or warrior spirit, not Chi. Chi is one of many energies recognize by system originating in Yoga and used today by Kung-Fu, Pa-Gua Chang, Tai Chi and Ninjutsu, among others. Incidentally, concept of Chi is also recognize in Celtic and Norse mythology, suggesting it exist also in Occidental Martial arts no longer practice today.

Try that on for size; who the Laui now, eh?

ISAMAN SAY:

Ok, you got me. I do understand that chi is a concept of the universal/natural energy. But, doesn't that idea sound a bit "magical" to you? It is like saying ghosts exist without actually seeing one first hand. In the long run, it is all electrical........

SIFU FINALLY SAY:

Hah! Please Laui, excuse Sifu for a moment while him dance victory jig on table and beat him chest like Ninja ape.

Is chi magical, or the same as electricity? No; electricity, heat, kinetic force, sound, these all are scientifically measurable energies within the human body. Heat is friction and body temperature, kinetic force is the impact of a punch; sound exist on multiple levels within the body, from the vibration of individual nerves to the Ki'ai. Electricity exists as the micro-charge of human thought or a pain signal from nerve to brain. From this perspective, Laui, Chi must exist as a scientific energy in its own right. If all of the above are existing energies, and kimei the spiritual energy, then what is chi?

In Sanskrit, corresponding word for chi is prana; in Gaelic, same word is gwei; all three mean 'breath'. From scientific viewpoint therefore, chi is energy released by body process of breathing. All this stuff is back up by science and kung-fu wisdom; check out 'Tai-Chi Classics' for all about chi, read good book on yoga for energies of human body, then compare with kung-fu theory.

So no, it not magic, Laui; Sifu defeat you by knowledge!

Sifu hope all Laui enjoy reading fierce debate on nature of chi; The World Shall Hear From Me Again!!!

Mugging is street crime, violent robbery in public place, usually perform by gang on total stranger. History tell us mugging been criminal career choice for years, hundreds of years. Wherever there is city and people, there is mugging. Mugging most often take form of ambush, sudden surround by gang and demand for money, sometimes at point of knife or gun. Mugging very distressing experience, make you feel helpless and scared for long time after.

What is a mugger?

Mugger is scum. Mugger is human cockroach, with no justification for what him do. Sifu Dansac believe that sometimes what is morally right and what is actual legal not always agree, but there is no grey-area for mugger to hide in; unprovoked attack on total stranger for personal gain of mugger is evil and wrong. One day, Sifu discover student in him class was misuse Martial Arts for mugging purpose; Sifu beat bad student and throw him out, explain in great detail what is station of mugger in karmic moral hierarchy. Mugger is slime unwelcome in Martial Arts class; mugger is persona non gratis mucho extreme.

How to deal with mugger

Mugger operate in gang like pack of dirty hyena; three mugger pick on one person, five mugger pick on two. No such thing as fair fight where mugger is concerned, no such thing as rules or normal behavior. First most important understand is that mugger not give a damn about normal thing like morality; him really will stab you. There is no point reason with mugger; him is already totally unreasonable. Treat him like drunk or angry dog, without bother try to talk him down. Only use for talk in mugging is to delay inevitable; these people have surround you, Laui, them have threaten and demand, them not go away now just because you are nice. Talk to mugger, try to disrupt teamwork of group. Mugger not train or organise; if them take time to make threat for money, try to confuse them. Talk, say funny thing, act crazy, do something make them think.

Most muggers are stupid

That’s right Laui; most muggers more dumb than dog. Average income from mugging very low, dangers very high, hours long. Clever criminal would do something safe, with short hours and high return. Man must be pretty dumb if best crime him concoct is mugging. Whatever other advantage held by mugger, strength and size, weapon and friends, surprise and ambush, it is safe bet you are smarter than him.

Use smarts; delay mugger if possible by talk, let him think him can get what him wants without endanger himself. Remember, no one like be hurt, Laui. Mugger pick fights him can win; big mugger pick on little guy, big gang pick on small group, never other way around.

Mugger is not Superhero

Mugger is normal human person; him have normal consideration of personal safety; believe it or not, Laui, mugger is carry knife for self defence. That right Laui; not only is mugger stupid, him is also scared too. Adrenaline is chemical make both anger and fear in human body; anger and fear really same thing. Mugger will always have adrenaline when him attack you; victim always have adrenaline because him scared. It is fear will make mugger stab or shoot you; but why is mugger afraid? Obviously because him is human being with nerves and organs and sensitive balls; him is not Terminator, him is not Superman; him is not made of metal and feel no pain, so you can hurt him.

If mugger have knife, most important is to deal with knife. Read and study Sifu Dansac lesson ‘How to Deal With Knife’. In brief, obvious you avoid blade, obvious need serious intent when attack mugger. In detail, Sifu consider strategy for deal with multiple opponent in darkened alley.

Attack Biggest Mugger

Attack most dangerous enemy first, usually biggest mugger or man with knife. First, him is imminent danger; it is no good attack little mugger on side if big mugger still stab you. Attack big mugger; him is ringleader. Rest of gang follow him lead, rely on him for intimidate you and take biggest part in fight. Attack him first, show you not afraid, turn you fear into anger. If you can deal with biggest mugger, you can deal with him smaller friends. You will know that and them will know that; you will feel brave and angry, them will feel scared and confuse. Attack biggest mugger; punch him in the face. No strategy, no cleverness; punch him right in the face. Training and practice give you techniques for use in fight; Sifu not explain them here. Punch biggest mugger in face. Then punch him in balls, punch him in face again, stomp on him foot, get behind him and pummel kidneys, kick him in knee, beat him severely. Attack biggest mugger maximum ferocity; destroy him, Laui!

Attack Second Mugger

If biggest mugger defeated, him fellow muggers lose heart. This is dangerous moment; muggers either run or attack you all at once. If muggers have knives, this is where them use; big mugger down and him knife out of play, other muggers scared and possibly armed too. Now any muggers who have them will pull knives; others arm themselves with bottle or brick.

Try to attack smallest mugger; attack nearest mugger, but if have choice, get little one now. Big mugger is down, but there still at least two of them left. Little mugger is smaller opponent, not so strong; easy to deal with quick. Punch him in face, slam him against wall, hurt him and make him cry. If three muggers at start, only one mugger left now; one on one is fair fight, Laui, and this mugger just watch you flatten him two mates. If more than one mugger left, run Laui! Now is the moment; run for it! Even if you take out two, there still two or more left, you should run. Beaten muggers slow to follow you, remaining muggers choose between chase dangerous man and help them beaten friends.

Run Away

When you run, Laui, remember you training; you are martial artist, you are fit and strong, you can outrun lazy mugger who spend stolen money on cigarette and fast food. You are in better shape than drug-addict mugger; you can run further and faster than him. If you are not strong in confidence as martial artist, maybe you lazy in training or only just begin, run anyway; you have added speed of fear, while mugger has only hesitation after see what happen to him friends. So run, Laui; run to safety, run to main street where there are lights and people.

Stand and Fight

You run; muggers chase you. All muggers run at different speed; if them catch you, them not all arrive at once. No matter how many mugger still standing, now them come one by one. Two mugger should already be very sorry them try; even if them join chase, them hesitate to attack you. You have psychological advantage. If you hear mugger catching you, stop and turn, attack him and knock him down. Kick him head in before rest of gang catch up, then run away again. Keep this up until you safe, either escape from gang or beat them all senseless.

Compensation Claim

Sifu not sure about other countries, reckon it vary all over the world. Whatever case, find out about compensation for after you get mugged, that way maybe you get paid and take something good out of horrible experience. If you mugger is caught by Police, sue him for damages too, take him to civil court, make him pay big money. Remember always that evil mugger is blood-sucking leech on bottom of society; Martial Artist contribute to society by fight mugger and sue him, so it is community action that starve bottom-feeding leech mugger and make him job of drink society blood harder and less profitable.

Join Sifu again to elucidate mysterious questions of Martial Arts and Oriental mystery. The World Shall Hear From Me Ag

Ancient Samurai wisdom teach that sword will one day ask for blood; man who carry sword inevitably called upon to use it. Same principle apply to knife, which is really only very small sword. Man who carry knife only maximize chances that knife become involved in fight. Sifu repeat first most important rule; never carry knife, even for self-defense. Far better study unarmed combat and learn to handle knife in training, so know how to react when faced with knife-wield enemy.

Do not be fool by Sifu manner of speak, Laui. Wise student will see through Ninja illusion cast by Sifu style; today him speak on matter of life and death.

First step understand how to deal with knife is understand most common ways knife is use and held. Observe how enemy hold knife is best clue to him fighting skill and method of attack. Three ways most prevalent; reverse grip in fist, fencing or sabre grip with fingers, and reverse sabre-grip with knife fold back along enemy forearm.

First Method: Reverse fist grip

This is sign of inexperience knife-fighter. This grip favour savage downwards thrust from above, aimed at you head and neck. This is simple attack made dangerous by aggression of enemy; man who attack like this is not think clearly, focus solely on cause injury and not on him own defence.

You best defence is dodge and get close while block high; trip him ankle, kick him knee, stomp on him foot while you lift and dump him on floor.

Second Method: Fencing or Sabre Grip

This is where man grip knife like sword, using fingers for fine manipulation. Knife hold like this is very fast and present knife as barrier to protect you assailant from counter-attack. This grip favour by man who want you to think him expert knife-fighter. Man who hold knife like this will rely on knife to keep you scared.

Wait for committed attack but do not expect opponent to lunge forward strong like in Dojo or on TV; real knife-fighter very fast, retract knife like striking cobra. If stand in front, very difficult grab opponent knife-arm. From side or behind, grab opponent arm very easy.

Third Method: Reverse Folding Grip

This is where knife is held in palm, folded back along forearm to hide length or even presence of knife. This is grip use in prison knife-fight or by special forces soldier trained to kill; man who use knife like this is most dangerous and intend you serious harm. This is most advance and dangerous way to hold knife, most versatile, most fast, most difficult to disarm. To survive encounter where knife is held like this, you must have no mercy; attack you enemy with full force and aggression, destroy him in blink of eye, or you opponent will surely win.

Only way to block third method of holding knife is to stand extreme close range; this sound counter-intuitive, but close up you can more easily restrain and control opponent arm. Also, this method hold knife allow opponent get very close before attack; knife not always visible until too late. Fortunately, this grip also make easy to apply wrist lock if only you can get hold of attacking arm; as Sifu say before, easiest to grab arm from side or rear, hardest from straight on in front.

Now, Sifu explain method of defend against knife. There is no set technique for deal with knife; opponent may attack in one of million ways, so no one block or counter method will suffice. Best to follow three-step strategy and react appropriate to opponent as fight unfold. Rely on technique you already know. If you not train martial arts, rely on instincts and common sense; martial arts is way of nature, so intuitive response usually best.

Sifu Three Step Strategy:

1. Avoid Knife: Might sound obvious, but is most important especial for Martial Artist. Martial Artist not always train avoid incoming attack; many style teach block and counter, not value footwork and dodge. Most important rule of all is step out of path of knife. You see knife coming, you move. Pivot body, step to side. Training will improve reaction, but basic principle is to avoid knife and move to opponent side or rear where knife less dangerous. Again, basic common sense often not taught in Dojo; directly in front of opponent is most dangerous place to stand. Stand to side or behind opponent much safer; you can hit him but him can't hit you; you can see him, but not so easy him to see you or what you do.
2. Attack Opponent: Again, might seem pretty damn obvious to some Laui, but sometimes obvious thing need spelling out. Do not become engross with try to disarm or dispose of knife. Knife not really issue of danger; real danger is opponent holding knife, not knife in him hand. Once you have initiate attack, opponent will naturally rely on knife for him own protection; if you think on weapon, you will make contest with opponent in which him have distinct advantage of holding knife. Important not ignore knife, but equal important not concentrate on weapon to detriment of attack enemy.
3. Use Sense of Touch: Often said "Hand is faster than eye". This is true because sense of touch is react quicker than sense of sight. Do not be afraid lay hold of opponent, get close to him, use whole body to fight. Attack strong, but hold light; while you wrestle for knife, you cannot effective punch and kick. Answer is do not wrestle; hold light, use sense of touch to always know where knife is and where to move you body to be safe.

Three step strategy only work if all steps employ together; dodge, attack and sense of touch combine for total attack on opponent.

Total Attack:

Most important defeat opponent is to wage total attack; no hesitate, no mercy, no consideration for man who use knife in fight. Him have no consideration or care for you; quite the opposite, Laui. Only way to win is to throw out concepts of normal behave and unleash maximum aggressive attack.

Avoid knife, step close by opponent side and attack knife-wielding arm. Disorient enemy by step to side or rear, distract by gentle grip on knife, defeat by thorough application of violence. Use simple technique, sharp punch and low kick, attack vulnerable areas that are easy to hit; sides of lowest ribs easy to break, kidneys and small of back very sensitive, neck and throat have many nerves and joints easy to strike; opponent knee is weakest part of leg, step on foot is very effective unbalance enemy; eyes and gonads always soft, no matter how big and hard are enemy muscles.

Also important to shout and swear; aggressive sound make aggressive face, increase adrenaline in you body, frighten enemy by make him think you total psycho. Dominate opponent body and mind, dominate him physical space; this is no time consider opponent feelings or human rights. Once you have safe position at opponent side or rear, once you have gentle control of knife, beat opponent to floor and kick him into hospital; teach him serious mistake in choose to attack you, teach him be afraid ever attack anyone else for the rest of his life.

Consolidate Victory:

Okay, so now we have opponent disarmed on floor and whimpering, but fight is not over. If opponent is alone, kick knife far away or pick up and put in pocket, toss knife over wall, do anything get rid of knife before opponent recover and then run as fast as you can. Do not stand and beat chest like victorious ape; Police not look kindly on you. Run from scene and call Police from safe location.

Multiple Opponents:

If opponent has friends who also want kill you, they may be arm with knife too. Do not pick up first opponent knife for own defence; remember law of reasonable force; while opponent have knife and want to kill you, you entitle use any force necessary, even kill him in return. Once opponent defeat and disarm, you no longer legal use lethal force. Where opponent have friends on scene of fight, Sifu suggest you give knife back to defeated opponent by stab him in thigh, leave knife behind. Knife in thigh not instant lethal; death from bleeding occur only when knife is removed. While knife is in thigh, opponent cannot possibly chase or fight you. While knife is in him thigh, him friends got bigger problem than you; first opponent badly need hospital care.

Question of Morality:

Remember, Political Correctness totally unimportant when fight to preserve your life; normal morality totally unimportant . Only important that you defeat opponent and live to run away. Always call Police after fight, but only when you are safe from danger; go home, go to pub or bar, go to hospital if you hurt, call Police from there. Common conception is that mugger is invincible; Police very unlikely believe that you can be winner of fight without you be criminal aggressor.

Conclusion:

Some Laui may think Sifu advice vicious and nasty. Truth is, real fighting always vicious and nasty; only way to win is forget normal behaviour and do whatever is necessary without any hesitate. After fight, go back to normal civilised way of behave. Also do not ignore effects of shock and adrenaline; if you are injure, you may only realise once fight is over; adrenaline is powerful painkiller, make you feel invincible for very short time. When adrenaline stop, you maybe feel sick or very frightened; this is normal, Laui, and not mean you are coward for feel fear. More concern is injury you may not notice at time; after fight, check self out for be sure you okay. If you are uninjured, shock still serious issue that need attention. Best cure is hot drink in safe environment, give self time to relax and recover from horrible experience of fight, maybe think about get counselling or talk to close friend.

Finally, remember that even best lesson on-line or in book is no substitute for real training. Sifu advice maybe highlight points you never consider, but self-defence is learned skill best improve by training; if you serious learn how defend against knife, go to good class and practice with serious mind.

Join Sifu again to elucidate mysterious questions of Martial Arts and Oriental mystery.

The World Shall Hear From Me Again!

Criticism: What two viewpoints do you think you're referring to? "Telegraphed" vs. "non-telegraphed"? Do you really believe that there are systems out there where "telegraphed" is something they strive towards?

Response: Of course no one strives for telegraphing, nor did I ever say anyone did. You have misunderstood the point of the article.

Criticism: The "big movements" you describe with knife defenses are more often than not the result of people teaching the knife without any real background in the weapon.

Response: Sometimes this is the case, other times not. When the techniques come from systems which were developed in times of violent conflict or otherwise for battlefield use, as you find for example with a number of Chinese, Southeast Asian, Indonesian, and Philipino arts, you cannot automatically assume the developers of these systems didn't know what they were doing. You have to look a little more deeply into why they may have come up with the particular training methods/techniques they did, rather than simply assume they are useless because they don't look like whatever your idea of "realistic" is on the surface. You have to look at the situation from the point of view of an instructor who understands how a student learns movement, develops understanding and perception, and engrains reflex, and how these processes progress over time. Not all arts are geared toward attempting to make a fighter battle-ready in just a few months. Often times (depending on the particular system) they are oriented toward producing a much more in-depth level of understanding of the sort which can take a number of years for the trainee to reach. There are no shortcuts to this. Many "classical" weapon techniques, regardless of the weapon used, are not assumed to be applied as exact responses to exact attacks, but instead are intended to give the fighter a set of principle-based tools which can come into play as a situation develops, with any moment-to-moment modifications necessary. It takes time for the trainee to develop to the point of spontaneously responding effectively according to principles rather than according to specific techniques. The rule "begin large, refine small" very much applies, and is an intentional and effective approach to long-term training.

Criticism: In some cases it starts when people intentionally expand the range in a demonstration in order to give the audience a better view, but never makes it clear that nobody in their right mind would fight that way.

Response: Generally speaking, public demonstrations are not meant to convey advanced levels of skill, but are instead largely meant to appeal to potential beginning students, and therefore must be done in a way in which the untrained observer can see the weapons and as much of what is being done with them as possible. In this sense, demonstration techniques are much like movie-fight choreography. This is obviously the opposite of how a highly-skilled fighter would approach real fighting, where you do not want your opponent(s) to be able to easily track with your moves or see exactly where your weapon is. When you begin, you have to start from the level of understanding and perception you have as a beginner. Thereafter, things become more and more refined as the trainee's hands-on understanding of the underlying principles deepens. This holds true regardless of whether the training involves weapons or not. For an effective demonstration, you have to play to the audience's level of understanding. If you play to a level that is too far over their heads, you will lose their attention. Of course, it is possible that if the demonstrator takes his own demonstration-level technical presentation too seriously, he can end up in error and may not be teaching effective skills. However, this sort of issue is not what I was intending to address in the article.

Criticism: In other cases it comes from people watching movies. In still other cases, it comes from people who's only "training" with the knife is what they assume will happen based on what they're doing with a practice knife; in which case what they're doing tends to be less about fighting and more about playing a game of "don't get touched by the training knife" - the difference is subtle but important.

Response: There are likely cases where all of these are true. I never said everyone trains in a realistic or practical manner. I thought it was clear in the article that I was addressing the origin of some of the larger movements that occur in handed-down "classical" techniques, instead of those developed in recent times by people who may have questionable knowledge of what they are doing or who do not fully understand the aim of "classical" training methods.

Criticism: Your assumption that the average untrained knifer will attack with broad, long range movements because they see it on movies is simply unfounded.

Response: I was only using that as an example of how some people might have their perceptions of knife fighting influenced by what they see in movies. I never said or implied it was any sort of blanket assumption regarding the "average" untrained knifer. It is best to completely throw out any preconception of what a so-called "average" knifer will do because there is really no way to know ahead of time exactly what will be thrown at you in what manner. The attack could literally take any conceivable form. This is in fact one of the main points I was trying to convey in the article.

Criticism: And frankly, in this sort of area if you're going to pass yourself off as an expert of some kind (and publishing articles on a website means that is what you are doing) then you ought to make some effort to be sure that what you are saying is at least valid.

Response: I have made no claims about myself, and writing an article is no more a "claim" to be an expert than the criticisms of someone who has apparently not read the article carefully enough or has otherwise misunderstood the aim of the points that were made. Anyone can read what I am saying and assess for themselves whether they think I know anything about what I am talking about, and I have no problem with that. I could just as easily say that if you are criticising my points in public, that is at least as much a de facto claim to your own supposed expertise as my publishing the article you have criticised.

Criticism: I would pull my gun on a knife attacker. [This in various forms has so far been the most common criticism directed at this article.]

Response: OK, if the knife attacker pulls his knife out and lets you see it from a distance which allows you to pull out your gun and shoot him before he reaches you with that knife, this might indeed work. Or it might not. However, if the knifer is already in range before you have any idea he has a knife or that an attack is about to take place, you might be stabbed before you can even reach for your gun. It is also possible that your gunshot, even if it hits him before he reaches you (and this is a big "if" considering the much greater percentage of misses than hits in a typical gun fight), may not stop his attack at all. There have been many cases where even multiple gunshot wounds failed to slow an attacker down, much less stop him, even if the attacker died from the gunshot wounds after the attack was over. A realistic survival orientation must allow for this possibility, since to assume otherwise could well be fatal. In addition, statistics reveal that a higher percentage of knife wounds result in death than gunshot wounds largely due to the more prevalent bleed-out factor with knife wounds, so if he stabs you once and you shoot him once, he may well have more chance of surviving than you. It is even possible that you could shoot him six times while he stabs you once, and you could still be the one who dies while he survives. Having a gun and being ready and able to use it is naturally good from a survival standpoint, but since it can never be a guarantee of any sort regarding the outcome of an unpredictable situation, it is absolutely vital to avoid a complacent attitude simply based on having a gun.

"Is UFC Fighting Realistic?" criticisms and responses:

Criticism: By your logic a professional basketball player would be easily beaten by ghetto ball players who do their thing on glass-strewn inner-city courts, and who are good at fouling their opponent.

Response: I never said a survival fighter could easily beat a professional sport fighter; in fact I pointed out that an experienced sport fighter could in fact do well in a street fight, and there are those who have. Others have not. You have obviously missed the point, because equating it to a street basketball player beating a pro basketball player doesn't apply in the slightest. Applying a survival-fighting attitude to a street basketball approach would entail tactics that altogether reject the sport goal of making baskets as completely irrelevant and instead would be more in line with exiting the basketball court as quickly as possible before the pro sport guys could score any points. The pro sport guy and the street survival guy are not in any way competing for the same goal; in fact their goals are completely different.

Criticism: I'm aware of Alex Gong - victim of a freak accident coupled with bad judgement. It had nothing to do with skill or technique or even fighting prowess. After all, a baby can poke his finger in your eye.

Response: No, it didn't have anything to do with fighting prowess per se, but it did have everything to do with survival prowess. Because of this, Gong's situation actually proves my point very well. Because the sport fighter had not adequately trained in the kind of mental and tactical outlook that a survival fighter needs, this is exactly why he was shot. As a sport fighter, he spent loads of time training with the attitude of going after the opponent and beating him. However, this kind of response got him killed on the street. An example of a survival-oriented response would have been to let the other motorist go and report the incident to the police afterward.

Criticism: As you know sport fighting is derived from 'Vale Tudo' which is no-holds barred fighting. Though terrain and environment is a factor, the effect of such factors is mediated since both combatants are positively or negatively affected by it.

Response: You cannot count on this since it is the attacker who chooses the ground the attack takes place on, instead of it being agreed to by both parties beforehand as in a sport fight of any kind. The attacker may know every inch of his territory, whereas the defender may not. The attacker may already have mapped out in his mind how he can use the local environmental factors to his advantage in his attack. Even if this is not the case and both opponents are equally at risk from these factors, this will not guarantee that the defender will not be the one who trips over the curb, or who falls with his kidney impacting the sharp corner of the desk, or whatever. Other things being equal, the fighter who is the most environmentally aware, and whose environmental awareness effectively engages first, is going to have the advantage. Training in a way which specifically includes engraining this kind of awareness to the level of effective reflex can provide an edge over an opponent who hasn't so trained. Remember the old boxing adage: "The way you train is the way you'll fight".

Criticism: The fighting experience of the sport fighter will trump most other factors.

Response: If this were reliably true, Alex Gong would still be alive. It only has to fail to trump one single factor one time for the pro fighter to get killed, as Gong more than amply demonstrated. This is not a lesson to ignore.

Criticism: In the case of multiple opponents, no fighting art is preparatory for a coordinated attack.

Response: On the contrary, there are arts that do train for this. There have been times in the history of certain countries where this particular training development became a necessity.

Criticism: Here attributes may be the deciding factor and we know that sport fighting develops the right attributes.

Response: Sport fighting does not develop all the relevant attributes for survival, as proven by Alex Gong's example. Possessing the right mental outlook for the situation at hand is an extremely important attribute. In addition, the simple fact is that for widely varying reasons not everyone can put in the kind of training a pro sport fighter engages in, so they by necessity have to develop a different balance of attributes than a pro fighter does.

Criticism: I can teach a sport fighter to be aware of environmental and supplimentary factors in a single seminar. However it takes years to teach an RBSD fighter how to really fight.

Response: You mean it takes years to teach a survival fighter how to successfully sport fight. Well, it generally takes years to teach anyone how to successfully sport fight. And yes, you can make a sport fighter aware of survival fighting factors, but unless such tactics and attitudes become as engrained as their sport-fighting tactics and attitudes, it is unlikely that they will become effective reflexes, and this could well end up being a deciding factor.

Criticism: So you're saying that MMA guys should train more outside and get used to curbs and trash?

Response: If their goal is survival fighting, yes, whether they're specifically into MMA or not. If you're used to dealing with survival-relevant factors in training, they will be less likely to hinder you in a real situation.

Criticism: I don't think it will affect their training that much, after all, they're still capable of rational thought and of improvisation, just like any of the Reality Based Self-defense (RBSD) guys.

Response: It's not always about rational thought and improvisation because an attack may not leave you time for that. You may only have time for sheer reflex to save your life in the initial moment of a surprise attack, and for this you need to already have the right reflexes (mental and physical) for the job so you don't have to "switch gears" in order to respond differently than what your years of training have specifically targetted. Remember that a sport fighter gains points by aggressively and relentlessly going after his opponent, whereas the goal of survival fighting frequently aims at just the opposite: getting away from the opponent asap so you have the best chance of surviving. It doesn't matter at all if your opponent is far superior to you in physical skill, conditioning, or aggressiveness if you're not there for him to score on.

Criticism: The Pro BB'er is going to beat the streetball guy no matter what the venue, inside, outside, environmental aspects or not.

Response: Only if the streetball guy stays in the court and tries to compete with him. That is exactly the opposite of the approach of a survival fighter.

Criticism: Same with the MMA guy who actually fights. Should the MMA guy or pro fighter find a deficiency in 'environmental factors' or in point of view they could train that up in a matter of days.

Response: It takes more than a "matter of days" to engrain reflexes effectively, and this is true for mental reflexes as well as physical ones. Any experienced martial artist, indeed anyone significantly involved in any sport, should know this first-hand.

Criticism: The 'street fighter' is going to have to spend years getting up to speed with the profighter's ability to actually fight. Fighting is 70% aggression and conditioning, though, so if either is lacking in these they're in for a long night. ;-)

Response: Survival fighting is only about actual fighting during moments when fighting itself is unavoidable. Do you really think a pro sport fighter who has had ten years of sport-fight training, and then has had a few days of "survival awareness" training, is going to have better street-survival skills/reflexes than someone who has had five years of true survival-oriented training? Pit them against each other and allow them to proceed according to their respective training goals, and the sport fighter may well get nowhere because the survival fighter may simply not be there long enough. The sport fighter is trained to go for a clearly defined win over the opponent, whereas the survival fighter only has to survive the situation no matter how he accomplishes it. The sport fighter can only be assured of winning if the survival fighter tries to compete with him at his own game. Meanwhile, all the survival fighter has to concentrate on to "win" is to end up still intact. The mentality is completely different, and the survival fighter will know that if he goes toe-to-toe with the pro fighter there is a good chance he may be trashed in a very short time, so he will resourcefully do anything and everything to avoid it, which opens up all kinds of possibilities that the pro fighter may either be unaware of or otherwise less inclined to seriously consider or act on for various reasons than the survival-trained fighter. Therefore from a survival viewpoint, if the survival fighter gets away without any direct contact being made at all, however he manages it, he has accomplished his objective at the highest possible level.