Don't be emotional!

Your attitude and mind-set are very important in life and in combat.

Think about the emotions you would experience if you were attacked in violence.  How will you feel toward your attacker?  I know this may seem strange, but to be at your most effective and efficient performance, you should not feel anger, or any other powerful emotion.

It goes like this...

When you have an intense emotional reaction, you limit your bodily responses.  Tension takes over parts of your body as you try to appear bigger, stronger, more fierce (primal animal instinct).  When you are angry, your eyes narrow and you gain laser-focus on the target.  This is good in athletic competition, where one-on-one action is ensured. 

But on the street (as on the battlefield) you don't always know all the variables.  There may be others who will join in to attack you.  There may be weapons coming into play.  You need to have maximum flexibility and adaptability as you work to destroy the attacker.

The solution...

Do not think (or form an opinion) about the attacker.  He is not evil.  He is not anything.  He is simply in your way.  He stands between you and the rest of your life.  Do not assign value to anything the attacker does.  Just go through him into your future. 

When you are indifferent to the attacker, you can work freely through any attack.  The point is to give yourself as much of an advantage as possible. 

Take it! 

Key #2: Reflex Triggers

Key 2 of 7 From the Series, "7 Keys to Accelerated Defense"

Key #2: Reflex Triggers

We must learn to fight from varied positions.  Most attacks come as a surprise, and you will not be in your favorite stance when trouble finds you.  The training you engage in must prepare you to be aware and adapt.  Let me put it another way.  If you have to be stretched out and positioned in your style's fighting stance in order to protect yourself, your technique is probably not the most reliable defense.  Let's be real, okay?  Stay practical, and be prepared.

Almost all martial arts and defense training courses utilize set stances and attitudes in order to launch protective movements.  What I mean is that punches, kicks, blocks, etc. are all initiated from a ready stance which assumes you will be ready and waiting when an attack happens.  In many ways, this seems like a good starting point, providing balance and strength from which to begin defensive maneuvers.  The problem is that most real attacks do not begin with an attacker challenging you mono-o-mono. 

In real life, attackers always have an advantage of some kind.  Often the defender is surprised and caught off-guard, forcing an ad hoc response under sub-optimal conditions.  Because of this, it is vitally important to learn to launch defensive actions from the most common natural positions.  You will not have time to restart the attack after getting into your practiced positions.  This reality based approach will result in the discovery of the power behind fundamental human movement associated with reflex triggers.

Think about it.  Around the globe, people practice martial arts by situating their bodies in every variety of stance and position in order to build muscle memory and replace the body's natural reactions with "combat" reactions.  But if you are training in a dojo in a suburban area where the chance of being attacked is very unlikely, you are conditioning your body to respond under training stimulants.  When you go out into your world, you will think about work, family, and other responsibilities and place this "combat" response behind the pressing priorities of life.  If you are attacked walking to your car, you will not spring into a cat-stance or lop-sau in an automatic fashion.  No!  Most likely you will tense up, close your eyes, and flinch in the face of violence (just like most other people).  What happened to your training?

Let's answer this by posing another question.  What is the difference between a suburban black belt and a Marine serving in a combat zone?  Well lots!  But to make an over simplification even more extreme, let's talk about the mental states of these two characters.  Assume that they received the exact same hand-to-hand combat training.  What's the difference?  Before you get to far ahead of me, I'll tell you my opinion.  It’s mental state.  The situation (environment) will cause the person to receive information differently and thus affect the way the body reacts to perceived danger.  A Marine in a combat zone is focused and aware, looking for sources of danger with the acceptance of the use of violence to defeat violence.  Not so with our suburban black belt.  He does not anticipate trouble and thus will not maintain the survival mindset required for rapid response to danger. 

I know, you are thinking of several problems with my analogy.  Too bad.  You still have to deal with the fact that you are not walking around in a horse-stance, fists at the ready.  Instead, you are probably checking email, texting, searching for weather, stocks, and free cell phone apps while you try to feel for the right key to open your door.  Did you even notice the guy standing a little too close to the front of your car?

There are ways to increase your odds at successfully defending yourself, even when taken by surprise.  To understand the solution, we will look at two aspects that are essential to any real self-defense endeavor; natural reflexes and defense triggers.

Natural reflexes are hard-wired into your being.  These are predictable responses that you can come to understand and appreciate.  Another word for predictable is reliable!  Muggers, rapists, thugs, and the like have made your natural reflexes a course of study in order to use them against you.  But that can be turned for use in your favor as well.  You know how you will be approached.  The other elements of natural reflexes are speed and efficiency.  Wouldn't you agree that movements that are described as "reliable", "fast", and "efficient" will be useful in self-defense?  Isn't this the intent of martial arts training, to learn new reactions that have these very qualities?  You already have tools that will help you survive the most violent and aggressive attacks.  You just need to learn to use them as a spring board for defensive tactics.

Defense triggers occur at the point your brain catches up with your body's natural reflex.  You will feel the surge of emotion (stress over fight or flight) with adrenalin, fear, etc.  But you will move!  And the moment you realize that you have moved is the moment of the defense trigger.  This is the space between the reflex and the transition into defensive tactics.  Your training must begin with the construction of a bridge to martial implementation of your reflex reactions. 

Consider this: imagine you throw your hands up in front of your face as you see a punch aimed at your nose at the last instant.  Come on... just do it.  Throw your hands up in surprise, covering your face.  Okay, now relax your shoulders just a little (let them drop to a comfortable level) and make your hands into fists.  Ah!!!  You remind me of a boxer I once knew :)  The point is that there are many ways your body will react to various attacks, and the better you understand these reactions, the better you will be able to prepare for the worst.  You may throw your open hands out in front of you, twist and look away while raising your elbows, step back and lean away, etc.  Some of your reactions will place your elbows in perfect position for striking.  Others will allow you to parry or trap a strike.  Everyone is different, but your reflexes can lead to effective triggers for self-defense.

You might say that you will just be more careful, more aware.  Well I wish you well and hope nothing ever happens to you.  But what if?  No really, what if?

What if?!

You may disagree with me, but I think that you will definitely move when caught off-guard by an attack.  I think you will react by flinching and blinking and tensing up.  I think you will do this even if you practice martial arts.  I think this happens every day, and it's a real shame.  Martial arts and self-defense teachers do a good job of training students to compete in matches (in the old days they called these duels).  But most people do not go about their daily lives under heightened survival mindset conditions.  And today's criminals do not challenge you like a thug in a Kung-Fu movie.  No!  You will certainly react when attacked.  But have you truly prepared yourself to transition from Joe-six-pack to G.I. Joe? 

Make your training count and awaken your inner warrior.  Embrace the power of reflex triggers.

Stay safe,

Instructor Moore


Richard Moore teaches self-defense and martial arts in the Bay Area, CA.  For more information regarding training philosophies and events visit http://appliedfighter.com/

7 Keys To Accelerated Defense Training: (Key #1 of 7)

This posting presents the first in a series of 7 articles, covering the “7 Keys To Accelerated Defense Training”.  Don’t miss any of these practical discussions, sure to offer insights and concepts that will enhance your training.

The 7 Keys:

1.       Psyche

2.       Reflex Triggers

3.       Natural Movements

4.       Tension Management

5.       Sensitivity and Freedom

6.       Emotions (simulated)

7.       Realistic Drills

Key #1: Psyche

In this work, let’s define “psyche” as the health of a person's thoughts regarding their own ability.

You strike an enemy with the body (fist, etc.), but the greatest conflict of battle is fought in the mind, and the harshest war is waged in the heart.  A warrior’s most powerful weapon is his mind.  However, if a balanced psyche is lacking, the mind can be the greatest foe as well.  Many people train their body and neglect the mind.  If you don’t have a survival mindset, no technique will save you.

Such a mindset is not one of paranoia or violence.  The true warrior hopes for peace and responds to invasion and tyranny with crushing strength and swift power.  Never let anyone take away that which is essential to your spirit.  The warrior within can overcome enemies without, as long as he is free.

Accept the reality that when you must fight, you must win.  The only aim in a combat situation is to destroy the enemy.  Do not fight as a mere test, but develop an attitude of balance and a skill for justified defense.  When attacked, you mustn’t think of what you may lose, impending pain, etc.  Get mean and have primal intent to survive, fighting through the attacker. If you are attacked and you are consumed with emotions and thoughts of your family, career, life, or anything not directly focused on defeating the enemy, you have reduced your chances of survival.

At the highest level, we learn to fight so that we might not have to.  You may develop extraordinary skill, but always live in a way that serves your heart.  I personally hate to fight.  I don’t like hurting people.  It makes me feel bad.  But when attacked, my psyche is clear of the clutter of daily life, and my response is immediate and devastating.  When a violent criminal targets a person, that person has a very brief window of opportunity in which to remove the threat.  You have to decide ahead of time what you are willing to do in order to protect yourself.  Make sure you can live with the consequences of your actions.

Besides the matter of drawing a line regarding use of force, a person must know their limitations.  The problem is that too many people set limitations that are far too conservative.  Normal people have much more ability for self-defense than is commonly thought.  This is especially true in training.  I’ve seen students possessing great technical skill break down under a mild dose of psychological pressure.  I think it is best described as people feeling sorry for themselves.  As soon as a little unexpected discomfort is experienced, strong people will reach an internal limit.  This can be life-threatening in a street encounter with an aggressive attacker.  Find ways, in training, to push those limits out further.  Don’t feel sorry for yourself. 

The brain must assess and engage the body's reaction to any circumstance, and a violent attack introduces stresses and fears that can interrupt the normal operation of the neuromuscular response.  Tension can build to such a level that natural reactions are hampered.  You must have faith in yourself!  You must trust your reactions enough to let your body respond.  Your psyche must be settled if you are to survive.

The Applied Fighter training system utilizes natural reactions and reflexes as the starting point for hand-to-hand tactics.  Everyone, even people with absolutely no defense training, have reflexes.  You will move when attacked.  Personally I don’t see a lot of benefit in spending years to reprogram muscle memory.  Better to use realistic training to evoke emotional responses to analyze a student’s natural reaction to a violent attack.  That way, you can work from that point to develop devastating counters that will be totally reliable in real life. 

The result will be a balanced psyche and a confidence in one’s ability to defeat those who would cause bodily damage.

Stay safe,

Instructor Moore

"...KEEP YOUR ENEMIES CLOSER"

The saying goes, “keep your friends close, but keep your enemies closer.”  Such is the strategy of many engaged in politics or manipulation.  But this may serve us well in our effort to find ways to overcome violent attacks in martial arts and self-defense.

Distance is one of the most important, and most difficult, aspects of combat.  Much of a student’s time is spent mastering distance in fighting applications.  The difficulty comes in trying to maintain a certain distance, because that is the range at which a person’s training is effective.  But sometimes it is impossible to control a violent situation to that level.  Think back to the first time you saw the Ultimate Fighting Championship.  Fighters who tried to maintain striking distance did not fare so well against the grapplers back then.  To solve the problem, everyone and their brother began training in Jujitsu to supplement their striking. 

I’m a big believer in cross-training, having trained in Jujitsu and Sambo myself.  But I realize that sometimes there is not enough time to become proficient in another art in order to round out your toolbox.  More than that, it’s not necessary.  With some preparation and practice, you can learn to manipulate an opponent’s balance and base with subtle shifts in your body’s position.  The action of pulling away from an attacker, who is trying to pull you in or grab, will give him the advantage and further trap and prevent you from responding to the attack.  If you are pulled, for example, go with it.  The attacker will expect you to resist and pull away.  But when he pulls and finds you coming in with momentum, he will struggle to change his attack. 

There is a mental-psychological barrier that makes people feel uncomfortable in close proximity to others.  This is multiplied when that other person is bent on causing you bodily damage.  With the right training, you can quickly learn to use this strategy against common violent attacks. 

If you are at a distance where you are able to strike your opponent, the opponent can also strike you.  I know that seems too simple, but think about it.  If you can reach him, he can reach you.  Now you have to be the better striker (faster, stronger, more technical, etc.).  But if you are not the superior striker, you need to alter the position and distance.  Here is where it gets good.  Retreating only draws the attacker and you will struggle to get out, and stay out, of striking range.  But if you get close, really close, to the attacker and manipulate the position and body alignment, you can take the advantage and win. 

I personally believe you should stay on your feet whenever possible.  Sometimes there is no avoiding going to the ground.  But I know of at least two cases when going to the ground is a disadvantage, even if you are a superior grappler.  The first is the situation where the opponent may pull a knife out after you have hit the ground.  The second is the situation where the opponent’s friends will interfere and kick or stomp you while you struggle on the ground.  These scenarios will be covered in depth in subsequent articles, so here I merely mention them to make a point.  If you want to stay vertical while working very close to the enemy, you have to learn to use leverage and position to ultimate advantage. 

Let’s just cover one example situation to get your creative juices flowing.  Really there are no limits to the possibilities once you start to study this close work.  It can be a fun way to break up a training routine with some practical tactical practice.  Imagine an attacker grabs hold of your arms or wrists (in front of your body).  This is a common starting point for many self-defense techniques.  Many instructors teach students to twist or grab their own hand in order to release the grip of the opponent and pull the arm back.  In my opinion, this would infuriate an aggressive attacker.  The attacker is still standing at arm’s length and is now alert and angry.  If you cannot outrun them, you will soon be in the same hold or worse.  Now think about it from the perspective of the attacker.  You grab hold of your victim, knowing they will try to escape and probably pull away as hard as they can.  So as you grab, you anticipate the force and firm up your upper body, bracing with your legs.  You are ready to continue to try to grab (if they wiggle away) and may need to throw a punch or pull a knife to get them to comply (depending on how it goes).  In any event, you are ready for them to attempt to escape.

If you (the victim) pull away, you may be playing right into the hands of the violent criminal, reducing your chance of escape.  But if, instead you step in behind the attacker’s outside leg, pushing your arm the same direction he is pulling, you will find yourself very close to the attacker.  The advantage here is the position of your body relative to his.  The force of his pull (because there was little or no resistance) has thrown him off balance, your arm following his pull and continuing behind his back or behind and over his head has twisted him and given you leverage, and the step to his outside has placed you close enough to take out his knees and legs and far enough away from his strikes to be relatively safe. 

From this position there are endless options for bringing the attacker down hard, causing enough damage to prevent him from presenting a threat of bodily harm to you and your loved ones.  Two things to remember as you consider the many ways to implement this type of tactic:

1.       Work to keep your centerline straight (pelvis to hips to back) without bending.  Bending reduces your power by creating a point of leverage that can be used against you.

2.       Work to bend the opponent’s centerline or other joints.  If you can cause the opponent to over-extend, bend, twist, or generally break any straight line of a joint, you can use it to leverage them to the ground or to cause pain. 

When you are close, you have more weapons in proximity to your attacker.  You are safe from most strikes and having contact with the opponent allows you to feel movement and perceive strikes as they come.  But think about all the possibilities.  Imagine you are just outside the opponent’s punch; for example, close enough to bear hug from the side.  Your legs will be somewhere next to, between, or behind his legs.  You may be in a position to trip him with the simple bend of your knee.  Your elbows may be in position to strike or trap his body.  You may need an able instructor to help you experience the benefits of these ideas.  But please take time to consider the merits of being close to the enemy.

Not everyone will be comfortable with this.  Not everyone will see the value.  Some will scoff and say, “That would never work against me.”  Well if that’s you, I hope you continue to think that limited way, just in case I ever have to face you in combat.  Those with no imagination sometimes need to see before they believe.  With any luck, you will make it through life without ever having to defend yourself.  But if you do, I hope you have the tools you need to survive.  If it looks like danger is imminent and escape is uncertain, get mad and get close.  And don’t stop fighting until you eliminate the attacker’s ability to present a threat.

Applied Fighter is a practical defensive tactics training organization that promotes natural simple movements as foundational to effective self-defense.  Our service provides mobile training centers (we will bring the training to you), custom curriculum (design the best program for your needs), and private or group lessons (corporate, and private group sessions).  Let us help you awaken your inner warrior, and walk in power and confidence today.

Visit www.appliedfighter.com

Follow us on Twitter @ www.twitter.com/appliedfighter

Stay safe,

Instructor Moore

Scared Civilized: A State of Tolerance Toward Injustice

When I was a kid, I believed in the heroes I saw on television.  You know what I mean!  I didn't think there was a real Superman or Lone Ranger.  But I did believe that a person being mugged could yell for help and expect someone to show up.  Maybe that's why, when my close childhood friend would get picked on and jumped by multiple jerks, I had no reservations about trying to even the odds a little, regardless of the impending bruises.  But today, I am astonished at the level of tolerance for injustice in general.  Like the story of the “Good Samaritan” in the Bible, too many people excuse themselves from any duty to help others engaged in unjust conflict.  It wasn't always so.

This leads me to ask a few questions, and I hope you will take an honest look at your feelings on the subject.  It's important!

What is your attitude toward violence, fighting, aggression, defense, force?  Is there such a thing, in your mind, as justifiable war?  Is it okay for an individual to use violence to harm, maim, or even kill an armed attacker?  Eye for an eye—or--violence begets violence?  Is it uncivilized to engage in the forceful elimination of a criminal assault?  Is this objective and unchanging, or subjective and based on the details and circumstance?  Think about it—really think about it!

I was born in the mid 1970's and grew up with a bit of political correctness and anti-violence philosophy woven into my education and culture (don't worry, I'm feeling much better now).  My circumstances were further complicated by conflicting messages from my parents.  My mother told me NOT TO FIGHT!  But my father told me NOT TO LOSE!  That seemed simple enough.  If I don't fight I can't lose—or so I thought.  The problem was the fact that I found situations where following these rules became quite challenging.  So in order to reconcile my moral dilemma, I determined that I should only fight under two conditions:

    1.    No alternatives.  If someone literally punched me in the face, I would have no choice but to try not to get my you know what handed to me. 
    2.    Obligation to maintain justice.  Basically, I figured that if I were in a position to stop something tragic from happening to an innocent person, I could accept any punishment associated with my actions. 

I think these are reasonable guidelines and they served me well, keeping me out of too much trouble with a clear conscience for the most part.

Let me ask another question.  Who is responsible for the safety in your neighborhood or community?  I know you call the police once it's too late and something has happened.  But isn't it up to individuals and groups of individuals to determine what they will accept?  I have heard people talk about peace as if all you have to do is stop resisting criminals, improve economic conditions, and sit back and enjoy the peace.  That's insane!

Terrorists attack because of their ideology and hatred toward their targets.  Drug dealers and gang-bangers shoot people because they want to evoke fear in order to gain power and territory.  It doesn't matter if you refuse to stand up to violence.  It only takes one person with a personality disorder to perform one act of violence and there goes the peace.  There have always been people willing to hurt others for personal gain, and there always will be.  And peace loving, law-abiding citizens should not feel like monsters for wanting to restore order through the use of force.  Sometimes that's the only response that makes sense.

It is time to stop punishing the victims of violent crimes.  People must feel encouraged to defend themselves and protect their lives at all costs.  Have we already forgotten the lessons of the recent past?  Because of a general appeasement of Nazi policies targeting people group after people group in 1930's Germany, millions of Jews, Christians, and others suffered and/or died horribly.  The civilized world vowed, “Never Again!”.  But slowly, a trend toward hamstringing the public and programming society to view violence as bad has changed our behaviors. 

It is the duty of every individual to stand firm against injustice.  There is no contribution made to society by feigned sophistication and the promotion of blind peace, regardless of circumstance.  We cannot afford the type of wake up call that is probably required to change the tide.  If September 11, 2001 didn't convince you that evil is real and must be faced with grit and force, you may be a lost cause. 

Whole generations are coming up with the belief that, “FIGHTING IS BAD!”  Does it make you uncomfortable that I do not agree?  You see, I was raised with the philosophy that, “INJUSTICE IS BAD!”  It is a subtle difference, but an essential one.  Fighting is neither good nor bad.  It is an action, a behavior.  Injustice is an attitude, a concept, a system or intent that shapes the actions of people.  The ethics hinge on the purpose of the action.  Why are you fighting?  That's the issue.  There are times that require force be met with force.  This is self-evident.

Do not be scared to stand against injustice!

Do not be fooled by the loud-mouthed lunatics who want to label you for supporting personal defense!

Do not be afraid to tell people when you think their views are suicidal in application!

And if faced with a violent criminal bent on causing you personal bodily damage, do not hesitate to display a righteous (and violent) indignation at the assault.


Stay safe,

Instructor Moore

A Mind to Survive: How You Think Matters

You have heard people say that ideas have consequences.  I'm sure I don't have to work very hard to convince anyone of that truth.  But for some reason, when it comes to martial arts and self-defense, students are quick to follow their teachers into almost any path of development.  Of course, there are merits to following traditional methods of learning the basics and then progressing to higher levels of understanding.  But the way we train, and the way we prepare mentally, can have more impact on real-world results than the techniques we learn.  Ideas have consequences, and this truth has played out in politics, economics, and every other area of human experience.

On the street, where you will be when actually implementing martial arts skills, the way you think (psyche) will have consequences too.  You will be at a disadvantage from the start.  The attacker will have the element of surprise, greater strength, superior speed, or a higher level of ability; otherwise they would leave you alone.  And consider the change in circumstance caused by the presence of a weapon such as a knife or handgun.  The reaction your mind has under stress and the possibility of injury will determine, more than the step-by-step defense maneuvers you learned, whether or not you make it home.  I'm not trying to scare you, but you need to consider the reality of a violent attack and prepare to survive.

If you are attacked and you are worried about getting injured, what may come of your family if something were to go wrong, the possibility of being either in the hospital or jail, or anything else, you will probably not b at your best defensively.  You cannot worry about anything--it's distracting.  The enemy only needs a fraction of a second's hesitation to get the jump on you.  You cannot afford to let anything in your mind prevent you from doing everything in your power to overcome the attack and make it home safely.

You need to decide right now (before an emergency situation) what you are willing to do to another human being.  Some people refuse to use violence, even when faced with violence.  If that's you, that's fine.  But the heat of the moment is no time to be considering options and weighing your moral dilemma.  Think it through in all seriousness.  Would you hurt someone who is trying to hurt you?  Would you rather survive or behave in a civilized manner?  There are many ways to look at this, but you must determine what is consistent with your philosophy, your heart and soul.

Nobody can tell you how you will react under pressure.  No technique will just happen when you're scared.  No muscle memory will overcome your natural instinct to protect yourself.  So prepare for the worst and be happy when nothing happens.  Will you be in your favorite stance when violence strikes?  Will you be stretched out and warmed up?  Probably not.  You can become more aware of your surroundings and increase your chances.  But take steps to get your mind on the same page as your body.

Don't be fooled by the teachers making robots out of their students.  Everyone doesn't move the same.  Everyone doesn't react the same.  Train your body to respond to common attacks, but train your mind to be free of additional mental tension caused by stress.  Because how you think really matters.




Stay safe,

Instructor Moore