Dear Mike,

Now, like me, you started training in traditional Karate (I train in Goju Ryu myself) from a young age, then to slowly progress to more street-worthy type systems, (well, I'm progressing a bit faster, but I don't get into all out street fights like you).

But, for me, I still think that from a self defense perspective- and I don't mean combat/street fighting; I mean just doing what you need to do to get away safely and not worry about ruining the other guys shit- (and might I say, I've been using that phrase liberally since finding your site), that many techniques from traditional karate and other arts are more effective for the average (smaller and weaker) person.

I believe this mainly because of the open hand strikes and concentration on vital points, (like the eyes, throat/neck, groin, knee joint, instep, etc.), which are easier, take less strength to injure, and don't require any type of body conditioning- compared to techniques used in Boxing, Muay Thai, Wrestling, etc... (I can't say Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, because I haven't been able to train in that yet).

Now, I understand that when you look at most of the training methods and strategies used in most traditional arts today- yes, they are generally out of date, inefficient, and impractical. But when it comes down to some of those techniques, I'd have to say that they're more suited for the average person.

Anyways, just wanted to hear your thoughts on this topic, and I don't mind you busting my balls for saying anything stupid...

- Toekneebun

***

Gooooooood motherfucking question, motherfucker!!!!

Now THIS is what Mike's Forum should be about!

Okay, first off, I really don't get into as many street fights as my stories might lead you to believe. The only recent one was the other Saturday night when Justin, Tim, and Chip mixed it up with those guys in the parking garage. Notice there, I didn't throw a single punch.

Most of my stories are from college, and I go out all the time without ruining someone's shit.

That being said, I do TRAIN to do as much, which can be applied to both fighting and self-defense. You see, the two are one in the same, for the objective is to subdue your opponent(s) without taking damage yourself. I may be a smartass, but I don't like to hurt people, and I HATE fighting.

WHAT?!?

Yep, you read that right. Fighting scares me to death; and, in most cases, I'd rather masturbate with a cheese grater than thrown down for real. But shit does indeed happen, and you've gotta train realistically to deal with it realistically.

Let's take a look, shall we?

Does size and strength matter? Yes, and in EVERY situation- especially a purely 'self-defense' one. Now, I'm defining 'self-defense' as defending yourself from an unprovoked attack; the motivation of your attacker, usually having to do with criminal intent, (i.e., taking your wallet, or raping your girlfriend, or just beating your ass for the sick fun of it). In these types of scenarios, traditional arts often fall short because they try to distinguish between fighting and defending.

Not smart, for the same set of attributes are required to prevail in both.

What ARE these attributes? Well, let's address 'em one by one:

1. Mindset/Attitude:

In my opinion, most fights are lost to fear. Somebody takes a swing at you, or jumps you from behind, and the "OH SHlT!!!" factor kicks into high gear. Unless you're a robot, there's a HUGE dump of adrenaline, and the cognitive thought process goes right out the window, replaced instead by the most basic and primal "fight or flight" mentality. This translates into the main advantage a predator has in a purely 'self-defense' scenario: SURPRISE...

I've been suckerpunched a few times myself, and in those cases where I prevailed, I did so because I've worked hard to ingrain certain autonomic motor skills. For example, when I get hit, and I'm not expecting it, I 'turtle up'. What's turtling up? Well, it's where I instinctively drop into a low stance, duck my chin, and pin my fists to my temples. My head is protected by my hands and forearms, my ribs are protected by my elbows, and my chin is ducked so that any direct punch I take to the face will hit my forehead.

For an easily accessible visual, watch a boxing match. When a boxer gets nailed, he turtles up, thus protecting himself from further shots while his mind has time to regroup. Boxer's also clinch, i.e., they hug their opponents close, but I'll get to that in a second.

Turtling up is a paramount self defense skill to develop, because once you have it, (and similar techniques), your chances of weathering the "OH SHlT!!!" factor are significantly increased.

Evolutionarily, you already have this tendency in your biological repertoire. Think about it, what happens when somebody tossing something at your face when you're not ready? Like, say, a baseball? Or a sausage biscuit? Your arms go up, (usually opened handed), your eyes shut, and your head turns away. This is often accompanied by backpedaling, and maybe even turning your back and cowering. Granted, you look like a total pussy, but the INSTINCT is there, and such can be cultivated and refined so that when the same thing happens, you take a more effective defensive posture.

The same neural factors come into play regardless- you've just gotta "tweak" them to be what you want them to be. THAT'S turtling up!

Turtling up develops naturally during hard contact sparring secessions, (as long as you have a descent teacher), but not everybody trains that way, so, if you wanna get it down, you might have to do it on your own.

Now, a lot of martial arts instructors I've known will tell you shit like this, but they don't ever seem to tell you exactly HOW to do it. As such, I'll give you a drill that should set you on your way. First off, you have to get a training partner you trust. Ego can't be a factor, for "tough guys" will try to test you way before you're ready, and that doesn't do anything but further ingrain the "bad" reactions. For example, even though I'd been a martial artist FOREVER, I trained six months with [Super Asskicker] before he let me do any hard sparring. Why? Because he knew it was better for me to learn the techniques first. If you start getting hit too soon, you can't handle the stress, and your techniques evolve out of necessity rather than precision, i.e., you develop sloppiness.

Okay, so you get a good training partner, (since you mentioned karate, Toekneebun, I'd recommend a lower rank that looks up to you. Perhaps a yellow or blue belt. Size or power is a non-issue here, but little guys are generally less apt to try and take your head off. Big guys are often too "macho"), and then find a pair of boxing gloves. Sixteen ounce or higher is good, since, with all that padding, you can take a good shot- even to the face- and NOT get hurt. You'll also need a mouth piece, because safety comes first in intelligent training.

Okay, since we're working solely from a self-defense perspective, have your training partner position himself in front of you, (distance doesn't matter). You will then close your eyes and just stand there. While you're standing there, blind, you need to force your mind to think about something besides getting hit. Consider the daffodil, if you will. Or perhaps that fine-as-shit girl in your karate class that doesn't wear a sports bra. Or maybe even her mother- whatever.

Then, randomly, your training partner will extend his glove and touch you on the nose with it, (just a forceful touch at first, that's all it takes). As soon as you feel the contact, turtle up. Take a step back (or forward) to orchestrate a good, balanced stance, bend slightly at the waist, pin your fists TO YOUR TEMPLES, nestle your chin to the top of your chest, and look up- all simultaneously.

You might wanna practice this without a stimulus a few times so that you have your stance down. Important points to remember include, again, having your fists on either side of your head, each TOUCHING its respective temple; keeping your elbows in, your stance low, and your chin down. I don't care what karate stance you learned before, do it my way, do it a boxer's way, and you'll be far better protected.

Now, when I say "look up", I mean look at your opponent's ABDOMEN or CHEST. Don't look into his eyes!

I know Mr. Miagi said, "Always look eye! Always look eye!"

BULLSHlT!!!

Don't you EVER look somebody in the eye! Your natural peripheral vision extends equidistantly above and below the point to which your eyes are fixed, so, if you're meeting someone's gaze, the entire upper half of your peripheral vision is wasted on the area above his head. Always look center mass; you can see more of your opponent that way. Plus, looking someone in the eye is a good way to psyche yourself out- in the bad sense.

The eyes are the windows of the soul, not to mention that studying someone's face makes them more "human" to you. NO! You're not fighting a human being, your fighting an object; an animated but inconsequential object that will cause you harm.

I don't know about you, but I find it difficult to hurt people, even assholes. The trick is not to think of them as "people"... just "things". Emotion is the great enemy, and the less you feel in a fight, the better.

I'm certainly not downplaying the individual value of your attacker, I'm just saying that you've gotta be all about business. Don't hate them. Don't love them. Don't make it personal. Stay indifferent. Do what you have to do to protect yourself, (nothing more), and then leave it behind.

D A M N!!! I really got off on a tangent there. Okay, regroup.

Again, as soon as you feel your training partner's glove touch your nose, turtle up. Be sure to FORCE your eyes open, because it's natural to wanna keep 'em shut tight.

And... That's the whole drill.

Of course, you wanna work your way up, having your training partner gradually start to hit you harder, and from different directions, (perhaps from the side, or even the back). It won't be pleasant, but it'll teach you an INVALUABLE self defense skill. In addition, make sure you turn INTO him. As soon as your eyes pop open, and you locate your training partner, push TOWARDS him if he's close, all the while remaining turtled up. The logic behind this is that you wanna close the distance so that your opponent has less room to generate power for his strikes.

When I'm in trouble, I instinctively do this, often putting my nose pretty much against the other guy's chest. He can wail away all he wants, (which an inexperienced fighter will do), but he's not hurting me, and I'm given valuable seconds to regroup and get my head back in the game.

One last point: When you turtle up and move in, keep looking straight ahead. Your chin is still pinned to your chest, but keep looking AT his center mass. Don't look down or you'll get caught with a knee. Oh, and if you open your eyes and your training partner is faraway, don't charge or chase him. There's no need. Just hang back and regroup.

Most attackers aren't gonna give you this opportunity, but I thought I'd mention it.

Okey dokey, once you've got it down, (and it might take a while, so don't get frustrated), you'll notice it coming out in your sparring. You know how there's that one sensei at the dojo that seems to always be catching you with a super fast backfist? Or a head high round kick? Well, good for him, but you turtle up, and his offense ends there. You'll also find that most karate guys freak out when you push into 'em. They're used to hanging back and scoring from a far, and crowding them really messes 'em up unless they're also grapplers, boxers, or clinch fighters.

Did I say "clinch"? Well, wouldn't ya know it, that leads me into my next point. If you start getting waylaid, GRAB SOMETHING!!! Again, take a lesson from boxers. When they get in trouble, they either turtle up, or TIE up. Grab an arm, perhaps a neck, shove your head into their chest, and hug 'em tight! This is where grappling begins for ground fighters, or "in fighting" with knees and elbows for Muay Thai guys, but you're unlikely to meet expert fighters on the street.

(Note: I don't recommend clinching unless you've got some experience with that position. True, you'll probably smother a guy all the same- thus negating his punches- but a big dude will start manhandling you, and you have to know how to grapple to deal with such.)

Coming full circle, the point of this BIBLE of information, is still attitude and mindset. You wanna develop your INSTINCTIVE reaction to an unprovoked/surprise attack, to be one that allows you time to regroup, time to weather the "OH SHlT!!!" factor. Once you've got your head back in the game, you can cognitively employ your other martial arts skills. Take my advice on this one, Toekneebun. I've seen more guys beaten by the initial shock of being attacked, (myself included), than by any other factor.

As such, let's move on to the second imperative:

2. Conditioning- This is a must, even for lazy bastards like me. I have the benefit of twenty four years of training, the last seven of them being in stuff that really works. As such, I can usually end things rather quickly. But I'm not Superman, and, if you've read the story, "The Parting of Ways", you know I'm just as vulnerable to being winded as anybody else. Most people- street fighters and criminals included- are not aerobics instructors, and they blow their wads rather quickly. Given the adrenaline dump on BOTH sides, if a fight/attack goes on for more than a minute or so, the winner is usually the guy that has the best stamina.

My brother Eric once said, "Fatigue makes cowards of brave men.", and I've never heard a truer statement.

(Well, except maybe, "Never jump on a bike with the seat missing". Ignore THAT one at your colonic peril!)

Base martial arts training in a good school three times or more a week is usually enough, but not always. Different activities require different kinds of stamina, and a street fight is the most exhausting endeavor one can engage in. I can kickbox for DAYS! But when I go to the mat and grapple with a giant like Justin, or a master like [Super Asskicker], I find myself huffing and puffing almost immediately. Some of it is fear, (i.e., the same adrenaline dump I experience in a fight), because I know either of 'em could seriously hurt me if they were trying to, and I HATE to lose. But a lot of it is lack of conditioning.

My brother Eric trains Brazilian Jiu-jitsu at one of Relson Gracie's dojos out in Arizona, and the last time we got together, I could hardly hang with him- even though I outweigh him by a good fifty pounds. You see, Eric grapples ALL THE FREAKING TIME!!! While I train a whole bunch of stuff, of which groundfighting composes only about half. My lifestyle is also somewhat self-destructive, while Eric doesn't drink or stay out all night trying to convince girls that I'm a "nice guy".

* snort * giggle *

Could I beat Eric in a street fight? I'll never know, because I love him so much that I would die first. But, hypothetically, if I had guess, I'd say no. Though he's a fearsome boxer, I'd RUIN HIS SHlT standing up. But, if the fight went to the ground, (as it inevitably does), I'd be f u c k e d!!! I'd gas out two minutes into it, and probably find myself on the receiving end of a choke or armbar. Despite my immense size and strength advantage, I would fall to a smaller opponent of equal (or even greater) skill, simply because my conditioning isn't what it would need to be.

Chock one up for the little guys!

A grappling match is totally different than a street fight, but the same certainty applies. If you wanna be able to defend yourself, Toekneebun, make sure you can go the distance. As that fatass poser Steven Segal once put it, "You never know how long the battle is going to be... You must remain forever ready".

By the way, Aikido sucks! I'm glad Gene Labelle choked Segal out on the set of that movie they did together. In my opinion, that pants-shitting wannabe had it coming. (P.S. His ex-wife Kelly from "Weird Science" was FINE!!!)

Moving on to a rant that will actually answer your question, Toekneebun...

3. Technique- If it won't work on a SERIOUSLY resisting opponent, it won't work. Traditional martial arts schools are notorious for teaching self-defense techniques that suck. They say, "Okay, if a guy grabs you this way, you defend like this."...

HORSESHlT!!!

When's the last time a six-foot, two hundred and thirty pound mugger grabbed you around the throat with both hands and just stood there choking you?

What was that...? NEVER?!? Yeah, there's a reason for that.

You have to train against realistic feeds to be able to defend against realistic feeds. Traditional proponents labor under the belief that an attacker attempts an initial attack and then freezes, as if his ability to adapt and re-direct is somehow less than yours: the defender. Unless the world is suddenly taken over by cyborgs, this will NEVER be true.

Combat- whether we're talking about mutual fighting, or pure self-defense- is chaotic and brutal and dynamic and unpredictable. You simply cannot train with an "if/then" mindset. SHlT DON'T HAPPEN THAT WAY!!! JESUS CHRIST!!!

No one comes up behind you and gets you in a bear hug for the simple sake of 'getting you in a bear hug'. If I get a m o t h e r f u c k e r in a bear hug, he's gonna be suplexed or slammed on his ass a half a second later. Likewise, people don't grab you in a headlock and just hold you there. No, they start punching you in the face with their other hand.

I can't teach you how to grapple in a post, Toekneebun, but I CAN give you a few pointers that have worked for me. The situational context will be general at best, but I'll try to tailor them to what I know about your experience, (pretty much karate, yeah?).

A) Victims are victims because they "look" like victims.

I don't care how big you are, whenever you go someplace- whether it's walking down the street, or going to your local bar- you better damn well ACT like you can handle yourself. If somebody tries to stare you down, you stare right back. You don't have to give 'em the "Descado Glare", but don't look away like a whipped dog. If looking somebody in the eye is a problem for you, look at their forehead. To them, the result is the same, yet you can personally retain the "objectivity" you need to keep emotion out of it. When somebody stares at you for no reason, they're usually probing you (subconsciously or not) for weaknesses. Give 'em a perceived weakness, and they'll feel safe in trying to exploit it. Give 'em nothing but "hard ass", or even indifference, and they'll almost always move on to another, easier target.

B) DON'T BE AN ASSHOLE!!!- If conversation ensues, be nice- but be firm. For example, if you pass somebody on the street, and they're giving you the "stink eye", I've found that a nonchalant, "What's up, man?", will put 'em off more times than not. By speaking first, you're beating them to the punch, mentally, and they'll probably reply in kind, (because they're socially programmed to), and keep walking.

I can't effectively teach this in a post either, for it's something you can only learn by understanding how people think. Personally, I use humor a lot of the time, but not everybody is a funny m o t h e r f u c k e r, so you have to cultivate your OWN personality traits.

C) Go with your instincts- Again, millennia of evolution has given us the ability to sense danger. I'm not talking about supernatural shit, here. I'm talking about a subconscious awareness of body language. Whether you realize it or not, you KNOW when somebody is out to do you harm, and it's better to err on the side of caution.

Hit first, hit hard, and hit to make a point.

If somebody starts talking shit to you, don't just stand there while they build up the courage to attack you- HIT 'EM!!!

When my current roommate was working as a bouncer, Kyle would often ask an unruly patron, "Whoa, man! Are you threatening me?", and as soon as they gave any indication to the affirmative, Kyle would unleash, usually punching the other mid-reply. As I've said, the primary weapon of a predator is surprise, and there's no shame in turning the tables. By prodding them to clearly state their intention to do you harm, they've pretty much opened themselves up to a defensive assbeating compliments of YOU. Unfortunately, given the state of the American Judicial System nowadays, establishing intent isn't enough to put you in the clear, so you've gotta tailor your response to the level of perceived threat.

Let's look at what I like to call, "First strike techniques."

The primary target in any life-or-death melee, is the eye. A lot of martial artists, particularly JKD and Kung Fu guys, advocate a raking sort of blow, like the "eagle claw", or the "tiger strike". That's all fine and dandy, but I say, if you have cause to go after the eyes- GO AFTER 'EM! You have but to extend your fingers, to turn a pedestrian boxer's jab into a fight-ending stab from which there is little chance of recovery.

Lemme' just say that I've never had cause to do this to somebody, as I've never felt so desperately outgunned that I had no choice but to take someone's sight, (or life, for that matter). Yet, I practice this technique perpetually. You just never know, boys and girls, and- again- I err on the side of caution.

I have access to a B.O.B., also called a Body Opponent Bag, which is manufactured by the Century corporation, and I've used it to cultivate my eye gouging skills. It's basically a water or sand filled base topped with a plastic human torso, and I mentally/physically go through scenarios where I shove my fingers into its molded "eyes". This training alone is certainly not sufficient, but the body mechanics of the strike are exactly like those of my jab, so I've gained a sizable measure of confidence over the last few years.

I don't wholeheartedly endorse this move because- unless you're a woman, or a really small guy- you WILL GO TO JAIL if the threat doesn't warrant the response, so think before you act. For those of us who're usually not fighting for our lives, my best recommendation is a leading straight punch to the nose, (or solar plexus, if you can generate the required power).

To practice, stand in front of a B.O.B., or a Slam Man, or a punching bag, or even a training partner with sufficient protective gear, and repeatedly unleash from a non belligerent position. Start with your hands by your sides, and then explode. The key is to turn your ankles, which, in-turn, torque your hips, which, in-turn, allows you to generate whole-body power. Think of it like an old west gunslinger brandishing a pistol. You have to get it down so that you can hit without preparation, WITH POWER, but without telegraphing the motion.

If you're worried about the latter, have a training partner hold a focus mitt gut-high or face-high, and then instruct him to move it as quickly as he can. If you can land the blow- whatever it is- before your training partner can jerk the mitt out of the way, you've got an effective technique.

One of my favorites is a "web hand" to the throat, which is where you hit a guy in the Adam's Apple with the bend between your thumb and index finger. A lot of martial arts instructors will dismiss this as a "killer" blow, but, believe me, you're not gonna collapse someone's windpipe unless you can hit like Mike Tyson.

Most of the other "First Strike Techniques" I practice have to do with grappling, so I won't elaborate on them here. As such, let's move on to my fourth and final attribute.

4. Skill- Skill is different from Technique, as it involves a host of high-level things like timing and balance and speed and kinesthetic perception. A house wife from Ohio can be taught to poke somebody in the eye, but only a skilled practitioner can deal with the amazing variety involved in a street fight or self defense situation. The only way to develop "skill", is to fight, and this includes full speed kickboxing, full speed grappling, and/or full speed application of self defense techniques. Since we're talking primarily about striking arts, (in reference to you, Toekneebun), it also involves training your strikes against "hard" targets.

There're a million guys that can do all kinds of fancy shit in the air, but you put something in front of 'em, and the game changes. NEVER hit against air. It gives you a totally unrealistic perspective of striking prowess. You should be hitting something EVERY TIME you throw a punch or kick. That way, you have a practical idea of what happens when you unleash with serious intent. Remember, physics dictates that every action has an equal and opposite reaction, and if you wanna learn how to strike something, (like a human body), you'd better damn sure practice with focus mitts or Thai pads or a blast shield.

Well, Toekneebun, that's about all the advice I can give you. I've written a lot, but it's not as complicated as it sounds. Whenever anyone (including myself) has asked my instructor, [Super Asskicker], what he would do in this self-defense situation or that, he's almost always replied, "Leading Straight Punch 'em in the nose!".

(To clarify, a Leading Straight Punch is a Jeet Kune Do technique, which is nothing more than a power jab off the lead hand- one that invokes hip torque to make it just as devastating as a traditional reverse punch, or a boxer's right cross.)

Keep it simple, direct, and explosive. The fancier you get, the more unrealistic you get, so stick to your simplest tools. If someone accosts you, don't play their game, don't let them talk- punch 'em in the nose, kick 'em in the balls, web hand 'em in the throat. You'll gain the upper hand as long as you don't hesitate; and, above all, KEEP YOUR HANDS UP!!!

Hope that helps,

-Mike