Teaching Martial Arts for Self Defence

Teaching Martial Arts for Self Defence

I hear and see a lot these days of various martial arts systems and organisation’s that claim to provide the “ultimate solution” for all of our self defence needs.  For those of us who are a little bit more worldly wise than your run of the mill “enthusiastic novice” there is normally an air of caution when it comes to engaging with groups such as these, this might have something to do with the direct debit instruction you might be asked to complete on attending your first class, or the “10 week course” that you are obligated to sign up for if you want to learn the basics before you can attend normal classes. It’s a sad but true fact that a lot of martial arts organisations see students as a source of income rather than someone with whom they can invest time and effort.

The truth is some martial arts are simply not as effective as we might think when it comes to training to defend ourselves in a real combat situation and in most cases seem to create a “false economy” that’s guaranteed to be nothing more than a fast means of relieving us of our hard earned cash and more importantly has the potential  to be a real eye opener for anyone who may be unfortunate enough to find themselves in a real violent confrontation, and suddenly finds out that everything they have worked hard to achieve in practise fails miserably when confronted with reality (or finding out that  “it doesn’t do what it says on the tin”).  

There are some misconceptions that a lot of these so called “martial arts/self defence experts” would like us to believe are the right reasons for adopting their systems as our own. Although some of the qualities mentioned (listed below) by those organisations may sound genuine and fit for purpose, they are a byproduct of training and not the primary objective for learning a martial art for self defence.

Misconception 1
The purpose of martial arts should be to build discipline and improve physical fitness enhancing individual strength, flexibility, balance, and cardio-respiratory fitness. Building personal courage, self confidence.

Wrong. The primary objective of a martial art should be to improve the combat-effectiveness of the individual, specifically, to teach the individual to become comfortable with the level of conflict required in a real-life self-preservation situation.

Misconception 2
Safety must be emphasised at all costs to the point of stressing no striking or only simulated strikes to vital points such as the head, neck and groin area. If you strike at all, you should stop short (pull your punches) to these vital areas so that you maintain safety above all else. Only "light blows" should be made to other areas.

Wrong. The primary focus of a true martial arts program should not be to prevent the maximum number of injuries during training but to prevent the maximum number of individual injuries during a real violent confrontation. Bumps and bruises do come with the territory when applying reality-based training, unless of course you want students to experience a false sense of security and misplaced confidence.  The only confidence worth obtaining in a true martial arts/self defence program is achieved through successfully employing combat-effective movement and technique.

Misconception 3
Most fights end up on the ground so ground-fighting should be where you place most of your emphasis.

No. This way of thinking is extremely flawed. The ground is the last place you want to be in a real-life situation. We aren't training for the UFC or a grappling tournament; we train for real-world success. Too many variables can happen to you on the ground on the street. For self-defence, preventing the maximum number of individual injuries is the goal. Therefore, knowing how to stay on your feet should be a much greater concern.

Misconception 4
Locks and holds are the best way of incapacitating an attacker.

False. Striking is entirely more effective in a realistic environment than holding or putting someone in a lock. Your goal in a realistic situation must be to incapacitate the attacker in the quickest way possible. Striking is much quicker, a lot simpler and has the potential to be much more devastating to an attacker.

Misconception 5
Training in kickboxing and/or wrestling will make me ready for the street.

Wrong again. Approaching a self-preservation situation with a sport mentality gives the individual a false sense of confidence. Training for realistic self-defense is much different than training for a rules-based combat sport.

 

Military Unarmed Combat training 

REASONS NOT  TO LEARN SELF DEFENCE

Excuse 1 – I’m too old!
This, you will normally hear from people in their middle years (30 – 40). Regardless of your age, you are never too old to learn self defence. In fact, seniors should definitely learn some self defence, even if it's only preventative skills. An attacker chooses someone who they feel will be an easy victim, which is exactly why seniors should partake in a class or course. If an 85 year old woman sticks her fingers in my eyes, it will still hurt and one of the things an attacker does not want is to get hurt.

Excuse 2 – It costs too much!
This is one excuse that can be quite frustrating. Let me start by saying that I can completely understand that people have financial challenges in this current climate. That being said, sometimes when I quote a price, people will say that they find it too expensive (, but will have no problem going out and spending a hundred pounds on dinner. If you knew that sometime in your life you would be attacked, how much would you be willing to invest in some basic self defence training? What if it was your child? I would guess that there might not be a limit. Now some people might get upset with me bringing their children into it, but there is nothing more important in this world than the safety of yourself and your family. The problem is that people are willing to gamble with the odds of being attacked instead of being proactive and learning some form of self defence as an insurance policy.

Excuse 3 – Look at me! why would anyone attack me?
This is an excuse normally heard from younger women to women in their senior years. There is still a feeling among many that only attractive people get attacked or sexually assaulted. Rape has nothing to do with what the person looks like. It is an act of being in power and controlling a person. There have been women of all ages, looks, etc attacked. Many women in to their 80′s have been attacked and sexually assaulted. Anyone is a potential victim. Regardless of your self esteem or your looks, it is important to learn self defence skills. An attacker looking to rob someone is not choosing you on how attractive you are, but rather, if you look like a good potential victim who is not confident or aware.

Excuse 4 – I am not strong enough to defend myself!
Guess what? The majority of the time you will not be as strong as your attacker. That is one of the reasons they picked you. There are not many attackers looking for a challenge. They want someone who appears to be weaker and vulnerable. This can actually work to your advantage. If someone chooses you as a victim, you can use that false sense of confidence they have to your advantage through the element of surprise. I always tell women that I would rather attack your stereotype hoodie than an angry mother who is fighting for their child. A mother has more to fight for because her reasons are far more personal.

Excuse 5 – I don’t have time!
Everyone leads busy lives these days and finding time can sometimes be a challenge. Some people might want to learn self defence, but can’t commit to ongoing classes or even to commit to one night a week. What you need to consider is the benefit of learning effective self defence skills that can be taught over a short period of time. Developing a skill set that can help protect your wellbeing and that of your family is always time well spent.

Whatever your excuse may be, don’t put off today what might save your life tomorrow.

The threat on the street is always present, don’t delay find a class and empower yourself now!

Don't become a victim of violent crime.

Self Defence training in Essex

Self Defence training in Essex

Palmers sports and fitness centre, Chadwell Road, Grays, Essex.

For further information ot to book a class contact 0770 2832430. 

Definitions of violence

Definition of violence

The intentional use of physical force or power, threatened or actual, against oneself, another person, or against a group that either results in or has a high likelihood of resulting in injury, death or psychological harm, the inclusion of the word ‘‘power,’’ in addition to the phrase "use of physical force," broadens the nature of a violent act and expands the conventional understanding of violence to include threats and intimidation. 

Thus, "the use of physical force or power" should be understood to include types of physical, sexual and psychological abuse.

This definition covers a broad range of outcomes – including psychological harm. This reflects a growing recognition of the need to include violence that does not necessarily result in injury or death, but that nonetheless poses a substantial burden on individuals and families and health care systems across the UK, and indeed worldwide. 

Many forms of violence against women, children and the elderly, for instance, can result in physical, psychological and social problems that do not necessarily lead to injury, disability or death. These consequences can be immediate, as well as latent, and can last for years after the initial abuse. Defining outcomes solely in terms of injury or death thus limits the understanding of the full impact of violence on individuals, communities and society at large.

Types of violence

Violence is divided into three categories according to characteristics of those committing the violent act:

·         Self-directed violence

·         Interpersonal violence

·         Collective violence

The nature of a violent act, can be categorised into the following three criteria:

·         Physical

·         Sexual

·         Psychological

This initial categorisation differentiates between violence a person inflicts upon himself or herself, violence inflicted by another individual or by a small group of individuals, and violence inflicted by larger groups, organised political groups, extremist groups and terrorist organisations. These three broad categories are each divided further to reflect more specific types of violence.

Self-directed violence

Self-directed violence is subdivided into suicidal behaviour and self-abuse. The former includes suicidal thoughts, attempted suicides – also called ‘‘deliberate self-injury/self harm’’. Self-abuse, in contrast, includes acts such as self-mutilation.

Interpersonal violence

Interpersonal violence is divided into three subcategories:

Domestic violence – violence largely between family members and intimate partners, usually, though not exclusively, taking place in the home. This group includes forms of violence such as child abuse, intimate partner violence and abuse of the elderly. 

Community violence – violence between individuals who are unrelated, and who may or may not know each other, generally taking place outside the home. This group includes youth violence, random acts of violence, rape or sexual assault by strangers, and violence in institutional settings such as schools, workplaces, prisons and nursing homes.

Sexual violence - is any sexual act, attempt to obtain a sexual act, unwanted sexual comments or advances, directed against a person’s sexuality using coercion, by any person regardless of their relationship to the victim, in any setting. It includes rape, which is defined as the physically forced or otherwise coerced sexual penetration.

Surveys based on reports from victims estimate that between 0.3 –11.5% of women reported experiencing sexual violence. Sexual violence has serious short- and long-term consequences on physical, mental, sexual and reproductive health for victims and for their children. Many of the risk factors for sexual violence are the same as Domestic violence. Risk factors specific to sexual violence include beliefs in family honour and sexual purity, the idea of male sexual entitlement and weak legislation/law for sexual violence.

Collective violence

Collective violence is subdivided into social, political and economic violence. Unlike the other two broad categories, the subcategories of collective violence suggest possible motives for violence committed by larger groups of individuals. Collective violence that is committed to advance a particular social agenda includes, for example, crimes of hate committed by organised groups, terrorist acts and mob violence. Political violence includes war and related violent conflicts.

Summation

Studies in a number of countries show that, for every homicide among young people age 10 to 24, 20 to 40 other young people receive hospital treatment for a violent injury.

Forms of violence such as child abuse and domestic violence are highly prevalent. Approximately 20% of women and 5–10% of men report being sexually abused as children, while 25–50% of all children report being physically abused. These studies have also found that between 15–71% of women reported experiencing physical and/or sexual violence by an intimate partner at some point in their lives.

Beyond deaths and injuries, highly prevalent forms of violence have serious life-long non-injury health consequences. Victims may engage in high-risk behaviours such as alcohol and substance misuse, in attempt to disengage or blank out the act of violence they have been a victim of, which in turn can contribute to life threatening disorders that may result in premature death.

Tactical response options and presence

When it comes to using force there are specific legal constraints placed upon citizens in a

self defence situation. It is very important to understand that when it comes to using force,
you will be held accountable, both criminally and civilly for your actions.

The number one legal issue when using force in a self defence situation will be, was the

amount of force used to defend yourself “reasonable” the word reasonable, however, will
mean different things to different people. What is a reasonable level of force to you may not
be a reasonable level of force to a judge and or jury.

Tactical Communication and Response Options brings the issue of reasonable force into a

set of steps which you, the police, and the courts can usually agree upon. Tactical Response Options provide a way wherein one can place any situation they find themselves in from non-violent to extremely violent and match it against a reasonable tactical response option which you may have to use in a self defence situation.

Presence

Your physical presence is in fact a tactical response option. Prior to any physical

confrontation, an assailant will usually size you up. If you are a person who keeps in good
physical shape, then the assailant will more than likely leave you alone and pick an easier
target. If, however, you look like an oil slick in a bag that could not fight their way out of a
wet paper bag, then you are a prime target for the street criminal. This is called “Presence”,
and if you have it you send a clear message to a possible attacker that says “Don’t mess
with me unless you’re willing to get hurt!

How many times have you looked at a person who you have never seen before and said “ I

would not want to mess with that guy” That is force presence, if you have this it will provide
you with an added edge on the street

MICK COUP LONDON SEMINAR JUNE 2012

MICK COUP LONDON SEMINAR JUNE 2012 C2: Core Combatives Unarmed Combat and Personal Security Training Course
COMBAT MANAGEMENT
Saturday 16th June 2012

Aim:
To present, explore and confirm the essential and fundamental (hard) skills, drills and emergency default tactics utilised within the C2 concept-model of personal protection.
Content:
• Combative Attitude & Strategy
• Offensive & Counter-Offensive Tactics
• Primary Striking Tools
• Secondary Striking Tools
• Support Skills

The seminar will focus on the development of simple, efficient and instinctive methods and applications of dynamic physical force that will dramatically increase an individual’s ability to survive personal attack.

Scope:
Training will primarily consist of the last resort physical (hard) skills that comprise effective combat management, and emphasis will be placed heavily on the development and utilisation of unarmed impact tools to neutralise a physical threat.

Dress & Equipment:
Comfortable training clothes, indoor non-marking footwear essential, ensure nothing is worn that might injure a training partner. Food and refreshments for a light lunch if required.


THREAT MANAGEMENT & CONTACT MANAGEMENT
Sunday 17th June 2012

Aim:
To present, explore and confirm methods of identifying and managing possible threats to personal safety, and protective tactics when in unavoidable contact with hostile individuals.

Content:
• Threat Awareness & Risk Recognition
• The Threat Management Cycle & Attack Process Analysis
• Personal Presence & Situational Control Methods
• Assault Indicator Identification & Force Justification Factors
• Active/Reactive Responses & Physical Intervention Tactics

The seminar will fully focus on the development of simple, capable and realistic protocols that assist in the identification, prediction and avoidance of individual danger. The application of reasonable and justifiable force as a means to neutralise an evident impending attack will be covered in-depth.

Scope:
Extensive combat management (hard) skills will not be addressed during this particular seminar, though they should be considered as last-resort options. Training will primarily consist of first-resort (soft) skills that focus on the effective awareness and assessment of personal danger resulting from contact with possible hostile individuals.

Dress & Equipment:
Comfortable training clothes, indoor non-marking footwear essential, ensure nothing is worn that might injure a training partner. Food and refreshments for a light lunch if required.

Instructor:

Mick Coup

With an extensive and varied background in a multitude of fighting systems, active military service and specialist security operations, Mick Coup provides expert tuition in Unarmed Combat and Personal Security based on his empirical knowledge of the realities of violence.
From working on high-level close protection and surveillance details, plus armed operations in high-risk environments, to providing and managing security for problematic entertainment venues for a wide range of domestic and international clients - Mick has had ample opportunity to confirm and validate the effectiveness of his methods, as have many of his previous and current students


Details:
 
When:   
Saturday 16th June – 10:00-16:00
Sunday 17th June – 11:00–16:00

Where:    
Sharpshooter House
Territorial Army Barracks
Mitcham Road
Croydon
CR0 3RU

7 mins walk from West Croydon station
Plenty of parking on-site

Cost if paid before May 4th:
£45 – one day
£70 – both days
Cost if paying after May 4th:
£50 – one day
£85 – both days

All payments must be in ADVANCE due to limited places. On arrival please call 0770 2832430 for access to the venue and parking.

Staying Crime Aware

Staying crime aware

Despite our best efforts to prevent crime, rates are not going down. Types of crimes being committed might vary from year to year but overall we’re at the same risk as we were fifteen years ago. The very best thing you can do to help yourself – and your family – is take the time to learn about your risks. Armed with knowledge about crime, you can take the right steps to prevent it.


For further information on crime and types of crime in your area check out the crime maps on this link:


 http://www.police.uk/

Stay Safe and check your six.


Dave Aiton

The Body's Response to a Physical Threat.

The Body’s response to a physical threat
Defense physiology is a term used to refer to the body’s reaction to potential harm and which causes changes in the body in response to a stress or threat. This response regulates what is commonly known as the “Fight or Flight response”(hyper arousal, or acute stress response). Catecholamine hormones, such as adrenaline or nor adrenaline, facilitate the immediate physical reactions associated with a preparation for violent muscular action. When the body executes the “Fight or Flight" response, the nervous system initiates, coordinates and directs specific changes in how the body is functioning preparing the body to deal with the threat. These include the following:


·                     Acceleration of heart and lung action.
·                     Paling or flushing, or alternating between both.
·                  Inhibition of stomach and upper-intestinal action to the point where digestion slows down or stops.
·                     General effect on the sphincters of the body.
·                     Constriction of blood vessels in many parts of the body.
·                     Liberation of nutrients (particularly fat and glucose) for muscular action.
·                     Dilation of blood vessels for muscles.
·                     Inhibition of the lachrymal gland (responsible for tear production) and salivation.
·                     Dilation of pupils (mydriasis).
·                     Relaxation of bladder.
·                     Auditory exclusion (loss of hearing).
·                     Tunnel vision (loss of peripheral vision).
·                     Acceleration of instantaneous reflexes.
·                     Shaking.

Fight or flight actions also have polarity - an individual can either fight or flee against something that is threatening, or fight for or fly towards somewhere safe. A threat from a violent assailant does not always result in immediate fight or flight. There may be a period of heightened awareness, during which we interpret behavioral signals from the person/situation posing the threat.

Signs such as paling, immobility, sounds, and body language communicate our status and intentions. There may be a sort of negotiation, after which fight or flight may ensue, but which result in nothing at all.


Behavioural manifestations of Fight or Flight
In the fight or flight response, fight is manifested in aggressive, combat behavior and flight is manifested by fleeing potentially threatening situations, such as being confronted by an assailant/predator. These responses are persistent, but fight and flight responses have assumed a wider range of behaviours. For example, the fight response may be manifested in angry, argumentative behavior, and the flight response may be manifested through social withdrawal, substance abuse, and even television viewing.


Males and females tend to deal with stressful situations differently. Males are more likely to respond to an emergency situation with aggression (fight), while females are more likely to flee (flight), turn to others for help, or attempt to defuse the situation – 'tend and befriend'. During stressful times, a mother is especially likely to show protective responses toward her offspring and affiliate with others for shared social responses to threat.


Negative effects of the stress response
The stress response halts or slows down various processes such as sexual responses and digestive systems to focus on the stressor situation and typically causes negative effects like constipation, anorexia, erectile dysfunction, difficulty urinating and difficulty maintaining sexual arousal. These are functions which are controlled by the parasympathetic nervous system and therefore suppressed by sympathetic arousal.


Prolonged stress responses may result in chronic suppression of the immune system, leaving the body open to infections. However, there is a short boost of the immune system shortly after the fight or flight response has been activated. This may be due to the body’s need to fight the infections in a wound that one may have received during physical or violent interaction. Stress responses are sometimes a result of mental disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder, in which the individual shows a stress response when remembering a past trauma, and panic disorder, in which the stress response is activated by the catastrophic misinterpretations of bodily sensations.

Adrenaline Rush

Adrenaline rush refers to an activity of the adrenal gland in a fight-or-flight response, when it is releasing adrenaline (epinephrine). When releasing adrenaline your body releases dopamine that acts as a natural pain killer. An adrenaline rush causes the muscles to perform respiration at an increased rate improving strength. It also works with the nervous system to interpret impulses that trigger selective glands that enhance performance and recovery.

Situational and Threat Awareness

Situational and Threat Awareness
In order to achieve and maintain a competent level of personal/self protection an understanding of the environment we function within is necessary. This provides us with awareness of potential dangers that might exist, whether within our surroundings or from the unwanted attention of other people. Self Protection is a natural ability that everyone has; some of us have developed this ability through a process of training and raising our awareness. This is achieved by understanding our personal security and what we can do to avoid and prevent violent confrontation and in the worst case scenario learning methods of self defence against that outcome.

Note: It is important that we train to be aware of our surroundings and the possibility of threats that we may encounter in our normal daily routine at home or in the workplace. Personal safety may be threatened in situations which could include the following combat indicators:

·           Shouting

·           A display of anger, agitation or threatening behaviour

·           Suspicious, evasive or other unusual behaviour

·           Actual threat of harm.

                                                                                               

British Military Self Defence training

British Military Self Defence classes at Palmers Sports and Leisure Centre, Grays, Essex. For further information or enquiries please contact 0770 2832430 or visit http://britishmilitaryselfdefence.com

Your Rights to Self Defence

The Legislation of Common Law and the use of force

Relevant Legislation:

Section Three (1) Criminal Law Act 1967:

“A person may use such force as is reasonable in the circumstances in the prevention of a crime, or in the effecting or assisting in the lawful arrest of offenders or suspected offenders unlawfully at large”.

Human Rights Act 1998

The Human Rights Act has two basic purposes:

1. The law of the European Convention on Human Rights (E.C.H.R.) and specifically the rights and freedoms set out in the convention will be actionable before the UK courts.

2. Courts and tribunals, public authorities and Government Ministers will have to act in a way that is “compatible” with the law of the Convention. Failure to do so may be unlawful, although not a criminal offence.

Use of Force and Human Rights

When making a determination as to whether the level of force used was lawful in any particular instance the courts will take cognisance of the articles under the E.C.H.R. The rights which are most likely to be directly interfered with in situations where force is used are:

1. Article Two: The right to life.

2. Article Three: Prohibition from torture, inhumane or degrading treatment.

3. Article Eight: The right to respect for private and family life.

Article Two: The Right to Life

Everyone’s right to life shall be protected by law. No one shall be deprived of his life Intentionally save in the execution of a sentence of a court following his conviction of a crime for which this penalty is provided by law. Deprivation of life shall not be regarded as inflicted in contravention of this article when it results from the use of force which is no more than absolutely necessary:

a. In defence of any person from unlawful violence.

b. In order to affect a lawful arrest or to prevent the escape of a person lawfully detained.

c. In action lawfully taken for the purpose of quelling a riot or insurrection.

Article Three: Prohibition from torture, inhumane or degrading treatment

The activities prohibited by article three were characterised by the European Court in Ireland v UK(1978) as:

Torture: Deliberate inhuman treatment causing very serious and cruel suffering.

Inhumane Treatment: Treatment that causes intense physical and mental suffering.

Degrading Treatment: Treatment that arouses in the victim a feeling of fear, anguish and inferiority capable of humiliating and debasing the victim and possibly breaking his or her physical or moral resistance.

Where extreme or excessive force is applied, or where the application of force is maintained for longer than necessary (even if its use is to achieve a lawful aim) this may amount to torture, inhumane or degrading treatment. This may include the unnecessary / prolonged use of ratchet handcuffs.

Article Eight: The right to respect for private and family life

1.  Everyone has the right to respect for his private and family life, his home and correspondence.

2. There shall be no interference by a public authority with the exercise of this right except
such as is in accordance with the law and is necessary in a democratic society in the 
interests of national security, public safety or the economic well-being of the country, for the
protection of health and morals, or for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others.

As can be seen from the above, Article Eight provides a qualified right which can be interfered with, providing one of the conditions in paragraph two applies. Article Eight is not just a right to privacy. It has been held to include respect for an Individual’s physical and moral integrity. For this reason, an assault may amount to a breach of Article Eight.

In relation to all the above articles the use of force must be based on an honestly held belief that it is absolutely necessary, this is perceived for good reason to be valid at the time. On each occasion in which force is used it should be reported how, why, when and to whom.

Common Law

Common law is the law as determined by legal cases that are heard before judges. “Precedence‟ is determined by the most recent decision taken by the highest court i.e. in the UK, the House of Lords.

“The common law has always recognised a person’s right to act in defence of themselves or others. If a person has to inflict violence on another in doing so such action is not unlawful as long as their actions are reasonable in the circumstances as they sees them. The test to be applied for self defence is that he/she acted reasonably in the circumstances as he/she honestly believed them to be in the defence of him/her or another.” The use of force must be based on an honestly held belief that it is necessary, which is perceived for good reasons to be valid at the time.