This Is Not Self-Defense

“We often fall into the trap of simply trying a technique harder, rather than recognizing that it is a poorly chosen tool for the task at hand.” ~ Chris Matakas

“Unarmed hand to hand fighting does not change through the ages; only the name changes, and it has only one rule: do it first, do it fast, do it dirtiest.” ~ Robert A. Heinlein

If you have no choice, and you cannot escape safely, don’t be afraid to get close to your opponent. Close the distance, take control. It is important to practice this so your movement is the minimum necessary to complete its task. Large exaggerated movements have no place in self-defense.

How you train is how you will respond in a stressful situation. Teachers have bad habits, those bad habits can mean the difference between life and death for his students. If you screw things up in the dojo, it’s your ego. If you screw things up in self-defense, it could be your life.

Train hard, yes; but train right. “It’s better to be a weapon than to just have a weapon.” ??

? Photo credit: Shaolin Cultural Center Spain.