The Best Self-Defense Strategy - The 6 Phases of a Perfect Self-Defense Plan
Contrary to popular belief, there is a big difference between a fight and a self-defense situation. While both may look the same on a physical, combative level, the reason that each participant is there is very different. As a general rule, a fight is a contest involving two or more willing participants, all trying to "win" or prove that they are "right." A self-defense situation, on the other hand, may involve more than one willing participant but, they are all on the SAME side! The defender in a self-protection encounter is the unwilling target of an attack launched by another who is trying to take something from her. ...


Suggestions for Getting the Best Martial Arts Training - Attending Ninja Camps and Seminars
One of the many things that can stop someone with a heartfelt desire to study authentic martial arts under a qualified teacher is... ...the teacher or program is nowhere near where they live. I can certainly relate to the distance that one must travel to get the training you want. I, for one, have always made it a point that, if I wanted something of value, I was willing to do whatever it took to get THAT thing. In the early days of my training in the martial art of Ninjutsu, I had to travel great distances, especially during my time with the US Army while stationed in such places as North Carolina and the then West Germany. ...


Self-Defense Within Martial Arts Training Demands a Real-World Perspective
This story is being offered in response to a request made by my teacher, Soke (Grand Master) Masaaki Hatsumi, during a recent training visit to Japan. During one of the training sessions, Soke was suggesting that everyone, regardless of rank, should make it a point to talk to those with actual combat experience and to learn from these people. The point was, if you do not know what a real fight is like, you will not be able to train properly for an authentic situation. I was asked to share some of my experience in dealing with an attack and the following story came to mind. ...


Reality-Based Self-Defense Training - 19 Principles That Will Save Your Life
When it comes to your personal protection, the program you choose to study, the way you train, and the person who teaches you, all determine how well, and even IF, you will be successful in a real-world self-defense encounter. When seeking out a defensive tactics program, you must remember that you're not shopping for a piece of furniture where, if it doesn't work out for you, you can take it back. A self-defense situation is also very different from the safety of a karate tournament. There is no "fair-play" and no referee to insure that each participant adheres to the rules. ...


Reality-Based Self-Defense 19 Principles You Must Know for Surviving a Real-World Street Attack
Real-world self-defense is a very serious matter. And while you can have a lot of fun during practice sessions, you must remember that you are not training for a sport or tournament match, where the only thing on the line is a shiny trophy or a new martial art belt. The following set of principles should be considered and taken to heart. They should be burned into your memory and made a part of your practice and study. And, they should be used as a guide to make sure that the program you're studying and the person you've chosen to teach you how to not die in a real-world situation, is right for the job. ...


Emotion-Based Defensive Response - A Non-Traditional Martial Arts Approach to Self-Defense
When discussing self-defense training, we really need to be discussing more than just learning some tricks and techniques for dodging punches or escaping locks and holds. Why then, are most instructors content with stopping at, and most students satisfied with learning, self-defense in a vaccuum? Well, I have my own beliefs, mostly involving the fact that most have never been in a real-world self-preservation situation with an assailant out to do maximum damage with any technique or weapon they choose. ...


Desire to Begin Martial Arts Training - What's Stopping You?
Everyday, hundreds and perhaps thousands of men and women think about taking martial arts lessons. I know because I hear from them constantly, either by way of email, phone, or in letters mailed to the academy. The vast majority are, more-often-than not, trapped in this "thinking about it" stage and will never take that next, most important step to making it happen. And, it's sad really. While the reasons vary as to why each person wants to involve themselves in the martial arts... 1. Self-defense. ...


DESHI-IRI - 'Becoming a Student of an authentic Ninpo Warrior Martial Arts Teacher'
In 1979, Soke Masaaki Hatsumi, grandmaster of the nine martial traditions that make up the core training of the Warrior Concepts Mastery Programs, wrote a book entitled Mono-no-Mikata, Kangae-Kata ["Ways of Seeing, Ways of Thinking."] In it, he wrote a section called Deshi-iri which, translated from Japanese, means "Becoming a Student" or, more literally, "Entering an Apprenticeship." I'm sure that many of you have noticed that, in my articles, I write more about mental aspects than anything else. ...


DECISIVENESS - Single-Minded Commitment to Greatness - The Keys to Martial Arts Life Mastery 5
I remember talking to one of my teachers once about the traits of a master leader. And though we discussed many topics, traits and themes - attitudinal qualities like "caring," "trust," "being a role model;" and skills like "management," "study," etc. - 'the' trait that lay at the center, or formed the foundation for all of these others was: Decisiveness - the simple ability to make a decision. Though all of the other traits were and are important in the overall character of a leader, at the heart it all lay the willingness and, yes, "decision," to be or do those other things. ...


Can You Really Learn Martial Arts and Self-Defense From Seminar Training Only
What do you do when, you want to pursue the study of the martial arts or learn real-world self-defense and there are no schools near where you live? What do you do even if there are martial arts schools or self-defense classes being offered in your local area but... ...they're just not up to par with what you want or need. How can you get what you know you need without compromising quality and settling for what's available or, even worse... ...not pursuing your goal at all? Well, you have two choices, really. ...