2010 March | Lethal Street Self Defense

Basic Karate Moves

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Mar 252010

Fred P Nichols asked:

Okinawan martial arts are comprised of punches, strikes, blocks, and kicks to make the entire human body a weapon. These techniques are combined with evasive footwork maneuvers and joint locks to create a hand-to-hand or hand-to-weapon combat method of basic self defense, also called Karate.

When starting Karate a student learns the basic rigid linear movements to strengthen and condition the body. As a student progresses they learn to achieve an advantage over an opponent by implementing and combining linear and circular techniques from basic Karate moves. Here’s a SECRET about Karate not many practitioners know. All these basic Karate moves can be sorted into basic segments:

1. Long Strike
2. Short Strike
3. Single Strike
4. Multiple Strikes
5. Soft Strikes
6. Hard Strikes

Any combination of these segments creates separate styles. For instance combining short strike with multiple strikes combines extremely well with soft strikes making the style similar to one branch of Shorin-Ryu Karate. Within Shorin-Ryu there are several branches that embody many combinations of the basic segments.

Karate is more than mere self defense. Karate builds physical and inner strength by coordination of mind and body. For some of you who would like to know, inner strength is defined as finding your authentic self allowing you to achieve peak performance in all aspects of life. As with any martial art, Karate is only as good as the individual or student practicing the art of Karate.

Physical strength is gained by the discipline and willpower to push oneself beyond present physical barriers. Once the student exceeds these limitations, not only is physical strength improved, but other benefits are gained, as well. Improved reactions, coordination, balance, and increase energy level to name a few. This in itself makes Karate an excellent addition to any athlete’s regimented training.

The unification of mind and body changes a Karate student’s attitude towards many beliefs and fears. It, also, eliminates negative emotions of helplessness, powerlessness, and vulnerability and teaches perseverance. In essence a student is transformed from weak to strong individuals with a positive set of core values.

Combat Karate is only as effective as the practitioner executing the technique. Improper training and incompetent instructors have given Combat Karate a bad reputation by the lack of knowledge in the proper execution of techniques. A high number of martial artists have been shown basic techniques incorrectly and practiced like this for years without knowing any different. Once the martial artist is in an actual physical conflict they find out their techniques are ineffective for the confrontation.

The reason most martial artist lack understanding of basic Karate moves is master instructors kept certain elements of the techniques secret for centuries. They feared these techniques would get into the wrong hands. Plus they were too dangerous to practice. These secret techniques were only available to students of sound mind and judgment, as well kept within families for combat self defense advantages.

Understanding is critical in executing proper Karate punching techniques. Anyone can throw a punch. But not everyone can execute a proper punch while stepping. With some practice a Karate practitioner can move 4 to 6 feet across the floor in a fraction of a second to strike a would-be assailant.

Training and understanding of basic Karate moves, a student, no matter how big they are, whether male or female, can deliver one of the most explosive and devastating Karate strikes to any attacker rendering them incapacitated.

hand to hand combat

Self Defense - The Act of Protecting One's Self

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Mar 152010

Ken LaMance asked:

Self defense is the act of protecting one’s self against physical force or the immediate threat of force. It can justify conduct which would otherwise give rise to criminal or civil liability. It can operate as a defense to virtually any criminal or civil wrong which involves the use or threat of physical force, such as assault, battery, and homicide.

To successfully argue self defense in a trial for homicide, the defendant must show that he or she acted with a genuine belief that they were in danger of death or severe bodily harm, that their conduct was necessary to prevent that harm, and that a reasonable person in the same situation would have had the same belief, and acted in a similar manner.

There are 2 basic types of self defense in a murder trial: perfect and imperfect. Self defense is perfect when the actor truly believed that they were in danger of death or grave bodily harm and that belief was reasonable. This requires the court to look at the defendant’s mental state (did they honestly believe that they were in danger?) and the surrounding circumstances (given the facts, was that belief reasonable?).

For example, suppose Al pulls out a gun and begins firing into a crowd. Bob, who happened to be in the line of fire, pulls out his own gun and shoots Al, killing him. Bob has acted in perfect self defense: he truly believed that he was threatened with death or severe bodily harm, and that belief was reasonable under the circumstances (he was being shot at, after all). If Bob were charged with murder, and he successfully proved the above facts, he would be completely exonerated.

Imperfect self defense is when a person acts with an honest belief that they are in immediate danger of death or severe bodily injury, but, given the facts, that belief was not reasonable. This does not completely exonerate the defendant, but if it is shown, it can reduce first-degree murder to voluntary manslaughter, a less severe crime.

Changing the above example slightly, suppose that Al pulls out a water pistol, and begins shooting it into the crowd. Bob honestly believes that the water pistol is filled with poison, and anybody who is sprayed with it will die, but he has no reasonable basis for this belief – he’s just paranoid. Acting on this belief, he shoots and kills Al. If Bob is charged with murder, he will be able to argue imperfect self defense, and if he proves the facts as stated above, he will not be convicted of first-degree murder, but of voluntary manslaughter.

To successfully prove self defense, one must also show that the amount of force they used was reasonable. Lethal force is only reasonable when the actor is threatened with death or severe bodily harm. If lesser harm is threatened, less force is justified. So, if Al runs toward Bob screaming that he’s going to beat Bob up, but there is no indication that he is going to try to kill Bob, Bob may only repel Al’s attack with the minimum amount of force necessary to protect himself, and no more. In such a case, Bob would probably not be justified in shooting Al, but he would be justified in using pepper spray to incapacitate him while he escapes, or using some other non-lethal force to defend himself.

In many states, a person must first attempt to escape the danger before resorting to physical force. This adds another requirement for a successful showing of self defense: escape was impossible. Some states, however, allow a person to stand his or her ground.

In the majority of states that require a person to first attempt to escape, there is an exception for a person who is attacked in his or her own home. Known as the “castle doctrine” (based on the idea that one’s home is his castle, and he should not be required to retreat from it, rather than defend it). However, the other rules associated with self defense are basically the same when it occurs in the actor’s own home: there must be an honest and reasonable belief about a threat of serious harm.

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Martial Arts - Krav Maga

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Mar 132010

Michael Russell asked:

Many martial arts focus on one range of fighting and some of the more diverse martial arts may incorporate two ranges of fighting. The ultimate goal of any martial art is to instil both the skills and the confidence in its students in order for them to be able to defend themselves in a real life situation. No other martial art does this as effectively as the Israeli system of defensive tactics knows as Krav Maga. Krav Maga which is a martial art that incorporates all ranges of fighting was created in Israel in the year 1948 by a man named Imi Lichtenfeld.

During the time period that Krav Maga was created, the Israelis were still under British rule and had to find a way to defend themselves, without bearing arms. In its infancy this martial art was one of the most brutal hand to hand combat systems as it was created to train the military for World War II as well as training the Israeli civilians for anti-terrorism defense. In 1964 Imi Lichtenfeld retired as a soldier and started to adapt the martial art for normal every day use for civilians. The association of Krav Maga was created in 1975 by Imi Lichtenfeld and his most accomplished students.

The advantage Krav Maga has over other martial arts is that not only is it extremely adaptable, it is also constantly evolving. Whatever real world scenarios that may occur, Krav Maga finds realistic defenses for them. Most martial arts (especially traditional ones) tend to teach rigid curriculums that aren’t up for discussion or change while Krav Maga encourages its students to find creative ways to use the techniques and even incorporates new lessons learned from real life encounters. Krav Maga is not a sport! It is a complete fighting system that was created for street attacks. There are no rules and students are taught to use anything in their arsenal to be able to defend themselves. This would include pressure points and vulnerable areas such as the eyes, temples, throat, back of the neck and groin. This martial art focuses on training its students in a repetitious manner as they hope to instil the instincts needed to survive a street attack. Cardiovascular and callisthenic training is incorporated into each training session, as being physically fit is a necessity. The focus of this art is to counter hard and fast. The faster you can attack your opponent the better your chances of surprising them. Most martial arts have both specialized weapons defense and training while Krav Maga teaches its students to use everyday ordinary objects as weapons. The point is how often does a person get attacked in the streets and have a set of nun chucks or a staff to defend themselves with?

When a martial art teaches you to both throw and defend against punches and kicks, teaches you joint locks and ground defense, as well as takedowns and weapons training, it is hard for anyone to use any other words then “complete system” to describe it. The world we’re living in is getting progressively more dangerous and many of the traditional martial arts, while great for exercise and pleasure, are not used to such extreme conditions. Krav Maga should be the martial art of choice for anyone looking for a highly effective system to defend themselves.

krav maga

Self Defense Basics - Why Everyone Should Know Them

Self Defense Street Fight No Responses »

Mar 042010

Jack Krohn asked:

For many years now I have been a strong advocate of school-age children learning some basic self-defense techniques. Some basic techniques are taught at an early age and reinforced periodically they will form a firm foundation for a self defense program that will last a lifetime.

The fact is knowing and practicing some street fighting techniques AKA ‘Jeet Kune Do’ will keep you out of 95 percent of all street confrontations. It also builds enormous self-confidence in your ability to defend yourself. This affects the way you walk and the way you carry yourself also known as body language which sends a message to would-be assailants that you are not to be messed with.

One of the theories of this style of defense is that you should do whatever you have to do to defend yourself regardless of technique. People who use it believe that the best defense is a strong offense. In most assault situations, the last thing an assailant expects is resistance from his victim.

It is a philosophy and a hybrid system of fighting founded by Bruce Lee over 40 years ago. It uses direct and straightforward movements based on a combination of fighting systems. Some people call it a “style without a style.” It is basically an openhanded system that works on the use of different tools for different particular situations from kicking, punching and grappling.

It is one of the most successful self-defense techniques ever developed because it is easy to use and easy to learn. It is a perfect learning tool for beginner men and women to either learn by themselves, with their friends in a group or as a family unit. What a great way to spend time with your family.

So get going and start learning some basic self defense techniques today.

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