In the last few days, I have reflected on the Cleveland kidnapping case involving Ariel Castro and his three victims, Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight. Horrific details of the ten years of captivity in that hell hole of a house have been released. The three women have a long road to recovery physically, emotionally and, most importantly, psychologically. One thing that I have a difficult time wrapping my mind around is the depths to which Ariel Castro sank in his ten year treatment of these women.
Starting with the Book of Genesis, there long have been discussions regarding the nature of evil versus good. It has been the subject of many theological and philosophical treatises over the last several centuries. There is no doubt that the human species is capable of unspeakable evil and multiple episodes testify to the depravity that humans are capable of. On the opposite side of the coin, humans are capable of performing courageous acts (Oskar Schindler to name one) or living a life dedicated to the welfare of others, such as Mother Teresa.
Many societies have committed atrocities throughout history. Many examples abound. History is replete with serial killers and sick individuals who have had no regard for their fellow beings.
And yet, the Cleveland case gives one pause. The combination of the length of the captivity, the beatings, the depravity and the callousness of Ariel Castro almost makes one despair at the cruelty of others. What can drive an individual like him to commit such acts? There is no doubt that forensic psychologists will be studying this case for years.
While we grasp for answers in this particular case as well as others, there is no doubt that there are other Ariel Castros out there and that, alone, motivates me as a martial arts instructor to teach self defense.
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Thursday, May 9, 2013
Different Threats
This past week served as a reminder that different people face different kinds of threats. In light of this, martial arts do not necessarily cover the different kinds of threats that exist. For example, an 80 year old man is not likely to be a target of sexual violence to the degree that young women are.
While martial arts can equip one with physical skills to enable one to defend himself/herself, it is not the whole solution. Violence itself is a vast minefield due to its’ complexity and variations. The threat of sexual violence that women face is different from the violence faced by soccer hooligans for example.
Is it possible for a martial arts school to be able to address every form of violence? I don’t think so. Very rarely does a martial art school delve into the need for developing social skills, environmental and situational awareness, verbal de-escalation, and making the right life style choices. It doesn’t really matter how good your kata is if you persist into going dangerous areas. Does your awesome trapping skills mean anything if you bounce from one violent unhealthy relationship to the next violent unhealthy relationship? Or when you use “motherfucker” as part of your verbal de-escalation strategy? Or when you accept a ride from a charming stranger? Or if you work for a manipulative boss?
The past week is a pointed reminder that women face a very different kind of threat matrix than men do. Statistics show that sexual assaults against women in the US military has gone up in the last couple of years. The Jaycee Dugard, Elizabeth Smart, Natasha Kampusch and the Cleveland cases is a pointed reminder of the threats that women face from those who hold terrible twisted views of them. And let’s not forget Russell Williams who committed unspeakable crimes against his female victims here in Canada.
Bottom line, I do not think that martial arts schools, in general, do not adequately address the vast topic of the different kinds of violence that exist. Some may be very good at teaching the physical skills. In today’s world, far more than physical skills are needed and that is where martial arts schools are sorely lacking.
While martial arts can equip one with physical skills to enable one to defend himself/herself, it is not the whole solution. Violence itself is a vast minefield due to its’ complexity and variations. The threat of sexual violence that women face is different from the violence faced by soccer hooligans for example.
Is it possible for a martial arts school to be able to address every form of violence? I don’t think so. Very rarely does a martial art school delve into the need for developing social skills, environmental and situational awareness, verbal de-escalation, and making the right life style choices. It doesn’t really matter how good your kata is if you persist into going dangerous areas. Does your awesome trapping skills mean anything if you bounce from one violent unhealthy relationship to the next violent unhealthy relationship? Or when you use “motherfucker” as part of your verbal de-escalation strategy? Or when you accept a ride from a charming stranger? Or if you work for a manipulative boss?
The past week is a pointed reminder that women face a very different kind of threat matrix than men do. Statistics show that sexual assaults against women in the US military has gone up in the last couple of years. The Jaycee Dugard, Elizabeth Smart, Natasha Kampusch and the Cleveland cases is a pointed reminder of the threats that women face from those who hold terrible twisted views of them. And let’s not forget Russell Williams who committed unspeakable crimes against his female victims here in Canada.
Bottom line, I do not think that martial arts schools, in general, do not adequately address the vast topic of the different kinds of violence that exist. Some may be very good at teaching the physical skills. In today’s world, far more than physical skills are needed and that is where martial arts schools are sorely lacking.
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Naihanchi Shodan Application
I subscribe to an outstanding YouTube channel called "One Minute Bunkai." Just shortly after I posted the last entry on this kata, this channel uploaded a new video showcasing another neat application of one of the moves from this kata. I highly recommended this channel as the videos are short, sweet and to the point. Best of all, there is no dialogue involved!
I can see a fair bit of overlap between the applications and Filipino Martial Arts. This is a fascinating avenue for me to explore.
See the latest video below!
I can see a fair bit of overlap between the applications and Filipino Martial Arts. This is a fascinating avenue for me to explore.
See the latest video below!
Monday, May 6, 2013
Naihanchi Shodan as a Key?
Lately, due to George Dillman’s latest book “Pressure Point Fighting Secrets of Ryukyu Kempo” I have become increasingly interested in returning to one of my favorite katas from the past. Depending on the style, it has been called Naihanchi Shodan/Tekki Shodan/Chul Gi One. As Dillman’s book notes:
"The truth is that the three Naihanchi kata are so practical and effective that it takes ten years of study to exhaust thei cr concepts and knowledge (actually it takes a lifetime of study but ten years is a good start). Together, the three Naihanchi kata contain the secrets to pressure point fighting which can be used to quickly and effectively defeat an opponent."
I have to admit that, out of all the kata that I’ve done over the years, whether it be from Chung Do Kwan Tae Kwon Do, Kenpo Karate, or Modern Arnis, this particular kata is still my favorite. Somehow it speaks to me. I’ve learned bits and pieces of the applications of this simple kata over the years, although not in an entirely coherent way.
With the publication of Dillman’s book and the proliferation of Naihanchi/Tekki videos on YouTube, I have become more interested in the applications of the kata and the deeper aspects of it. At the beginning of this year, I decided to devote more energy to this kata and doing research in order to better understand it and perhaps better understand the other kata/forms that I’ve learned over the years.
Increasingly, I’ve come to the view that performing kata/forms without understanding the applications is absolutely useless. Unfortunately, there are a fair number of schools that teach kata as a series of moves and without a real deep understanding of the self defense applications of kata. Professor Presas used to say “It is all the same!” I’m sure that applies to this kata.
So, I will be focusing on Naihanchi Shodan and perhaps expand my research to Naihanchi Nidan and Sandan and cross reference it to my Modern Arnis background. In the meantime, here’s an excellent video clip:
"The truth is that the three Naihanchi kata are so practical and effective that it takes ten years of study to exhaust thei cr concepts and knowledge (actually it takes a lifetime of study but ten years is a good start). Together, the three Naihanchi kata contain the secrets to pressure point fighting which can be used to quickly and effectively defeat an opponent."
I have to admit that, out of all the kata that I’ve done over the years, whether it be from Chung Do Kwan Tae Kwon Do, Kenpo Karate, or Modern Arnis, this particular kata is still my favorite. Somehow it speaks to me. I’ve learned bits and pieces of the applications of this simple kata over the years, although not in an entirely coherent way.
With the publication of Dillman’s book and the proliferation of Naihanchi/Tekki videos on YouTube, I have become more interested in the applications of the kata and the deeper aspects of it. At the beginning of this year, I decided to devote more energy to this kata and doing research in order to better understand it and perhaps better understand the other kata/forms that I’ve learned over the years.
Increasingly, I’ve come to the view that performing kata/forms without understanding the applications is absolutely useless. Unfortunately, there are a fair number of schools that teach kata as a series of moves and without a real deep understanding of the self defense applications of kata. Professor Presas used to say “It is all the same!” I’m sure that applies to this kata.
So, I will be focusing on Naihanchi Shodan and perhaps expand my research to Naihanchi Nidan and Sandan and cross reference it to my Modern Arnis background. In the meantime, here’s an excellent video clip:
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Book Review: "Meditations on Violence" by Sgt. Rory Miller
It is perhaps fitting that I read this book in the midst of a week when the attention of the world was focused on the city of Boston and the horrific marathon bombings and the resultant massive manhunt. While Sgt. Miller does not focus on terror and terrorism per se, he does give insights into the mindset of people who think nothing of killing their fellow human beings. His description of predators in Chapter 4 of this book make for particularly fascinating reading.
The book covers more than just the topic of predators. It delves into the issue of martial arts and training as it relates to the real world based on his experiences. He brutally addresses the fact that the vast majority of martial arts school do not address the real world. Two quotes from his book come to mind:
"Here's a rule for life: You don't get to pick what kind of bad things happen to you. You may prepare all your life to take on a cannibalistic knife wielding sociopath. You may get stuck with a soccer riot. Or a road rage incident with a semi. Or a pickup full of baseball bat swinging drunks. Or nothing at all. You don't get to choose."
And
"Martial arts and martial artists often try to do it all. They teach self defense and sparring and streetfighting and fitness and personal development as if they were the same thing. They aren't even related.
Very, very different things get lumped under the general heading of "violence." Two boxers in a contest of strategy, strength, skill, and will. A drunken husband beating his wife. Two highschoolers punching it out in the parking lot. A mental health professional trying to hold down a schizophrenic so that a sedative can be administered. An officer walking into a robbery in progress finds himself in a shoot out. Soldiers entering a building in hostile territory. A rapist pushing in the partially open door of an apartment. An entry team preparing to serve a search warrant on a drug house with armed suspects. A Victorian era duel with small swords."
Given the above, is it any wonder that Sgt. Miller has a dim view of the marketing of the martial arts industry in general?
The topics that Sgt. Miller addresses in his book range from discussing the types of violence, predators, training, adapting martial arts to reality, and dealing with the psychological consequences of a violent incident.
While much of his book is based on his personal experiences as a corrections officer, he imparts great insights that may be universal and it would be a particular shame for a reader to ignore his advice regarding the gap between martial arts fantasy and the reality and how to adapt your training to be more realistic.
Indeed, the core topic of the book explores the differences between martial arts and the real world. Having been in the martial arts for 30 years, I have seen a fair share of myths, fantasies, unrealistic training methods, delusional beliefs, cult-like behavior and an obstinate refusal to evolve with the times. I have seen martial arts instructors teach material that is completely unworkable and rooted in fantasy. I have also seen martial arts instructors fail to evolve over a period of 30 years and thus refusing to acknowledge the changing reality of today's world. Sgt. Miller's experiences, as related in this book, tackles the gap between fantasy and reality head on.
I highly recommend this book as a part of any martial artist's library. On a side note, I should note that, while reading this book, I was struck by some overlap between Sgt. Miller's experiences and that of my wife, who is a social worker. The overlap concerns the types of people he has encountered and those that my wife has encountered in her job. There are some seriously screwed up people in this world. Thank god for law enforcement/correction officers like Sgt. Miller and for social workers like my wife.
The book covers more than just the topic of predators. It delves into the issue of martial arts and training as it relates to the real world based on his experiences. He brutally addresses the fact that the vast majority of martial arts school do not address the real world. Two quotes from his book come to mind:
"Here's a rule for life: You don't get to pick what kind of bad things happen to you. You may prepare all your life to take on a cannibalistic knife wielding sociopath. You may get stuck with a soccer riot. Or a road rage incident with a semi. Or a pickup full of baseball bat swinging drunks. Or nothing at all. You don't get to choose."
And
"Martial arts and martial artists often try to do it all. They teach self defense and sparring and streetfighting and fitness and personal development as if they were the same thing. They aren't even related.
Very, very different things get lumped under the general heading of "violence." Two boxers in a contest of strategy, strength, skill, and will. A drunken husband beating his wife. Two highschoolers punching it out in the parking lot. A mental health professional trying to hold down a schizophrenic so that a sedative can be administered. An officer walking into a robbery in progress finds himself in a shoot out. Soldiers entering a building in hostile territory. A rapist pushing in the partially open door of an apartment. An entry team preparing to serve a search warrant on a drug house with armed suspects. A Victorian era duel with small swords."
Given the above, is it any wonder that Sgt. Miller has a dim view of the marketing of the martial arts industry in general?
The topics that Sgt. Miller addresses in his book range from discussing the types of violence, predators, training, adapting martial arts to reality, and dealing with the psychological consequences of a violent incident.
While much of his book is based on his personal experiences as a corrections officer, he imparts great insights that may be universal and it would be a particular shame for a reader to ignore his advice regarding the gap between martial arts fantasy and the reality and how to adapt your training to be more realistic.
Indeed, the core topic of the book explores the differences between martial arts and the real world. Having been in the martial arts for 30 years, I have seen a fair share of myths, fantasies, unrealistic training methods, delusional beliefs, cult-like behavior and an obstinate refusal to evolve with the times. I have seen martial arts instructors teach material that is completely unworkable and rooted in fantasy. I have also seen martial arts instructors fail to evolve over a period of 30 years and thus refusing to acknowledge the changing reality of today's world. Sgt. Miller's experiences, as related in this book, tackles the gap between fantasy and reality head on.
I highly recommend this book as a part of any martial artist's library. On a side note, I should note that, while reading this book, I was struck by some overlap between Sgt. Miller's experiences and that of my wife, who is a social worker. The overlap concerns the types of people he has encountered and those that my wife has encountered in her job. There are some seriously screwed up people in this world. Thank god for law enforcement/correction officers like Sgt. Miller and for social workers like my wife.
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Book Review: Sonny Umpad's Eskrima
Recently, I used my gift card from the Chapters book store to purchase "Sonny Umpad's Eskrima: The Life and Teachings of a Filipino Martial Arts Master" by George M. Yore. This book was published by Blue Snake Books (www.bluesnakebooks.com).
For those who are not aware of who Maestro Sonny Umpad is, first see this video. Embedding has been disabled so you will have to click on the link below.
Video of Sonny Umpad
I first heard of Maestro Sonny Umpad when I attended one of Datu Kelly Worden's seminars several years ago. Since then, I had seen his name mentioned in various places on the Internet. Unfortunately, Maestro Sonny passed away at the age of 58 in August of 2006. He was born in Bogo, Cebu, Philippines and later in his life, settled in Northern California where he taught until his untimely death.
He created the style known as "Visayan Style Corto Kadena/Larga Mano Eskrima" and was best known for his emphasis on emphasizing the sword in the later part of his teaching career. The influences on his system were varied, ranging from Balintawak to Doce Pares, street experiences, training with Master Raymond Tobosa, Angel Cabales, Leo Giron, Max Pallen, and Gilbert Tenio. The book takes pains to point out that Maestro Sonny also drew on his students' martial arts experiences in order to develop new avenues of research into his system.
The book is divided into three parts. The first part is a biography of Maestro Umpad's life, beginning in the Philippines and covering his move to California. It discusses the seeds of his system and how he evolved over the years, in particular moving away from structured drills in favor of "random flow training." The book indicates that there are three distinct phases of Maestro Sonny's system, reflecting his ongoing research and evolution in the art of Eskrima. This should not be surprising as the great martial artists and teachers often evolve over the years as they refine their techniques, concepts, and philosophies. Two good examples of this are Professor Florendo Visitacion and Professor Remy Presas. One quick look at their careers from beginning to end would reveal considerable evolution in their respective arts.
The second part of this book is a collection of seven well written essays by various students of Maestro Sonny. These essays are reflections on their initial encounters with Maestro Sonny, their long and arduous training under him, their observations of his teaching and research methodology as well as explaining his martial philosophy. Collectively, they give a fascinating window into Maestro Sonny's deep martial intellect. The essays leave no doubt that he had a tremendous intellect and a probing mind that allowed him to deeply mine the art of Eskrima. As a result, his system "Visayan Style Corto Kadena/Larga Mano Eskrima" is a deep and wide ranging art encompassing the corto, medio, and larga ranges. It incorporated a considerable amount of footwork and, according to the writers, a wide ranging number of weapon and empty hand concepts.
The third part of the book is an attempt to show some pictorial examples of the system starting with the foundational 17 strikes of the system. Other expressions include solo baston vs. solo baston, solo baston vs. larga mano, larga mano vs. doblecada and edged tools. While there is no doubt in my mind that the authors did their best with their step by step pictures, it is my opinion that this section of the book does not do well. It is difficult, at times, to decipher the precise movements from one picture to the next. In this day and age of DVDs and YouTube, photographs of this kind may well be archaic. As noted in the last book review, Tuttle Publishing has apparently gone to a book/DVD format for some of their martial arts books. I recognize that it may be unfair to demand a DVD for a book that focuses less on "how to" than on Maestro Sonny's martial philosophy. In any case, I think that this section could use considerable improvement.
All in all, if you are into martial philosophy and want insights into Maestro Sonny's philosophical, research and teaching methodology, I highly recommend this book. If you are looking forward to the "how to" section, be warned that it is not in depth and the pictures are difficult to decipher. I look forward to re-reading this book several times for its' great insights but will skip the pictorial section.
For those who are not aware of who Maestro Sonny Umpad is, first see this video. Embedding has been disabled so you will have to click on the link below.
Video of Sonny Umpad
I first heard of Maestro Sonny Umpad when I attended one of Datu Kelly Worden's seminars several years ago. Since then, I had seen his name mentioned in various places on the Internet. Unfortunately, Maestro Sonny passed away at the age of 58 in August of 2006. He was born in Bogo, Cebu, Philippines and later in his life, settled in Northern California where he taught until his untimely death.
He created the style known as "Visayan Style Corto Kadena/Larga Mano Eskrima" and was best known for his emphasis on emphasizing the sword in the later part of his teaching career. The influences on his system were varied, ranging from Balintawak to Doce Pares, street experiences, training with Master Raymond Tobosa, Angel Cabales, Leo Giron, Max Pallen, and Gilbert Tenio. The book takes pains to point out that Maestro Sonny also drew on his students' martial arts experiences in order to develop new avenues of research into his system.
The book is divided into three parts. The first part is a biography of Maestro Umpad's life, beginning in the Philippines and covering his move to California. It discusses the seeds of his system and how he evolved over the years, in particular moving away from structured drills in favor of "random flow training." The book indicates that there are three distinct phases of Maestro Sonny's system, reflecting his ongoing research and evolution in the art of Eskrima. This should not be surprising as the great martial artists and teachers often evolve over the years as they refine their techniques, concepts, and philosophies. Two good examples of this are Professor Florendo Visitacion and Professor Remy Presas. One quick look at their careers from beginning to end would reveal considerable evolution in their respective arts.
The second part of this book is a collection of seven well written essays by various students of Maestro Sonny. These essays are reflections on their initial encounters with Maestro Sonny, their long and arduous training under him, their observations of his teaching and research methodology as well as explaining his martial philosophy. Collectively, they give a fascinating window into Maestro Sonny's deep martial intellect. The essays leave no doubt that he had a tremendous intellect and a probing mind that allowed him to deeply mine the art of Eskrima. As a result, his system "Visayan Style Corto Kadena/Larga Mano Eskrima" is a deep and wide ranging art encompassing the corto, medio, and larga ranges. It incorporated a considerable amount of footwork and, according to the writers, a wide ranging number of weapon and empty hand concepts.
The third part of the book is an attempt to show some pictorial examples of the system starting with the foundational 17 strikes of the system. Other expressions include solo baston vs. solo baston, solo baston vs. larga mano, larga mano vs. doblecada and edged tools. While there is no doubt in my mind that the authors did their best with their step by step pictures, it is my opinion that this section of the book does not do well. It is difficult, at times, to decipher the precise movements from one picture to the next. In this day and age of DVDs and YouTube, photographs of this kind may well be archaic. As noted in the last book review, Tuttle Publishing has apparently gone to a book/DVD format for some of their martial arts books. I recognize that it may be unfair to demand a DVD for a book that focuses less on "how to" than on Maestro Sonny's martial philosophy. In any case, I think that this section could use considerable improvement.
All in all, if you are into martial philosophy and want insights into Maestro Sonny's philosophical, research and teaching methodology, I highly recommend this book. If you are looking forward to the "how to" section, be warned that it is not in depth and the pictures are difficult to decipher. I look forward to re-reading this book several times for its' great insights but will skip the pictorial section.
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Deafness and Unprovoked Attacks
Last fall, a CCTV video of a horrifying unprovoked attack upon a teenage girl in London, England made the rounds on the Internet. Click on the link below to see the video. Fortunately, the teenage girl apparently has physically recovered from that seemingly random unprovoked attack. There is a good chance that she will be dealing with the psychological effects of this attack for a substantial period of time. There have been many discussions of this attack, mostly focusing on the randomness of this attack and the need to guard against this.
Unprovoked attack in London, England
From the perspective of a severely hearing impaired individual, I have some different concerns. While it is unclear from the video whether the teenage girl was listening to an iPod or some similar device which would render her unaware of her surroundings, there is no question that she was unaware of the impending attack. I wonder whether the outcome would have been any different if that girl had been deaf or severely hearing impaired. I don't think so.
Perhaps the victim was not as aware of her environment as she should have been. I have seen people who looked "out of place" in certain circumstances and have made a mental note to keep an eye on them while around them. Usually, I don't stick around long anyway. Environmental and situational environment are important to me. Setting that aside, would I have been able to hear this particular attacker come up behind me? More than likely not.
Another issue that I think about is the issue of verbal de-escalation. This may be a tricky issue as I may be dealing with someone whose voice I am not familiar with and may present some problems. I admit that I need to think further through this issue.
Unprovoked attack in London, England
From the perspective of a severely hearing impaired individual, I have some different concerns. While it is unclear from the video whether the teenage girl was listening to an iPod or some similar device which would render her unaware of her surroundings, there is no question that she was unaware of the impending attack. I wonder whether the outcome would have been any different if that girl had been deaf or severely hearing impaired. I don't think so.
Perhaps the victim was not as aware of her environment as she should have been. I have seen people who looked "out of place" in certain circumstances and have made a mental note to keep an eye on them while around them. Usually, I don't stick around long anyway. Environmental and situational environment are important to me. Setting that aside, would I have been able to hear this particular attacker come up behind me? More than likely not.
Another issue that I think about is the issue of verbal de-escalation. This may be a tricky issue as I may be dealing with someone whose voice I am not familiar with and may present some problems. I admit that I need to think further through this issue.
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