by Van Canna

This defensive mindset series is nothing more than a time honored exercise in intuition ,the development of skills in a systematic fashion to identify and predict potentially dangerous situations and to respond with the survival
instinct best suited to the threat whether it be fight or flight!! It has nothing to do with “OBSESSION” or teaching trough fear as it has been suggested !

In the “gift of fear” DR DeBecker described men’s internal EARLY WARNING SYSTEM , a mechanism in place long before we used language to help us discern friend from foe ! In the book the doctor argues that social conventions often work to cause us to deny danger until it is too late! !We also invite danger unwittingly by the subconscious projection of symbolism which is seen as a challenge to a certain cast of villains at large!

My intent here is to stretch out the usually mundane “awareness” concepts into a more perfect fabric blend of the survival equation , mental, physical, criminal and civil exposure !!

There is a very good tool in use by lethal force experts called “THE SURVIVAL TRIANGLE”. Picture an equilateral triangle with the words “””MIND SET””” written across it’s base; the words “”skill”” written along it’s left side and the words “””TACTICS””””” written along it’s right side!!!! This is the working blend you carry with you , should carry with you , in BRAIN LOCK fashion if you are really in thought of self preservation and if you PURPORT to teach SELF DEFENSE to your students!!

Out of the three components , mindset and tactics are more important than skill for lot’s of reasons, not the least of which being that, most often they keep you from having to fight in the first place. Winning does not necessarily mean physically beating your opponent!! It means being able to walk from harms way in one piece by identifying the threat, predicting the outcome, deciding and executing the survival action called for whether by avoidance ,
de-escalation, cunning , flight or , at the last resort ,THE VERY LAST, countervailing force!!When violence finally comes to you in spite of your best deterrence efforts, your response action better be launched the best it can be or you may not be around for the “debriefing”!!!

The denial factor, expounded by Doctor DeBecker, is responsible for our improper or non existent mindset and failure to even entertain a study of basic “WHAT IF” tactics which put us at ruinous disadvantage in a confrontation!!

The advantage of visualizing and analyzing the three concepts of mindset, skill and tactics through the experience of others, is an accepted standard of mind conditioning in the deadly serious business of lethal force application involving use of firearms!! While attending the lethal force institute [run by Massad Ayoob], there were a number of police officers who had killed felons in the line of duty and who were gently prodded by the teaching staff to share their capers with us so we could vicariously and effectively be touched by “FIRE”!!! The resultant triggered “chemical cocktail” was then enhanced by physically running full speed 100 yards to get us as close as possible to the hand shaking, hyperventilating ,mistake prone confused state of mind of real life encounters and, in this state, we were next put to work in tactical combat scenarios of cover and concealment, building clearing drills , shoot/no shoot decisions, reminding yourself to breathe while avoiding well thought out ambushes and testing your problem solving abilities under stress!

The episodes as related by Dave Moy and others [ especially the one in NY Chinatown] are perfect examples of SURVIVAL TACTICS , one of the component of the survival triangle enumerated above!! NO !! The immersion into this forum’s mindset principles does not predispose someone to more violence; quite the contrary, it will program a rational survival attitude while promoting the will to employ your karate tools if and when absolutely necessary and tactically feasible !!

Van Canna

By: Dave Sargent, San Jose, CA

The ability, or lack thereof, by karate practitioners to survive in a real life street fighting confrontation has been discussed on this web site as well as in numerous magazine articles and other media. While the debate goes on, I think it would be safe to say that our practice in Uechi-ryu, Shohei-ryu, and other disciplines is, at the least, better than no preparation at all. Instructors in the fighting arts can impart some basic mindset fundamentals to their students that will help in the event a self defense situation arises, and a physical confrontation is inevitable.

One of our biggest assets in the dojo or on the street is body conditioning. Done properly, the conditioning builds strong bones and tough limbs that can withstand abuse which would put many people down. It is unlikely that most of us would initiate an attack, so it is safe to say that you may be struck by an attacker before you realize the need to defend yourself. An asset here is our Sanchin stance. Unlike other karate stances, our Sanchin stance doesn’t look confrontational. In fact, most would not even notice that you are in a karate stance at all. A perfect Sanchin stance isn’t required; just something close which has good centering and allows for quick movement. The initial stages of a confrontation usually involve a verbal exchange, and during this phase it is important to have your hands in a useful position and still not look confrontational. Having your hands at your side is inviting disaster, so you should have your hands up. With your hands in a near closed gate position (like at the end of Sanchin kata), you are positioned to have some success at blocking a head strike by an antagonist, and from that position you can throw a hard jab to his face very quickly. Furthermore, such a person would probably notice that your hands in that position would limit his attack options, and he may decide not to attack in which case a physical incident my not ensue at all. Such posturing and an air of confidence may be the best self defense in situations where simply
walking away isn’t an option.

Some useful skills for street fighting situations can be acquired with dojo practice if you keep your mind set on combat applications. You need to learn to punch hard. The punch should extend toward the target with instantanous acceleration from any location, and at impact full focus and follow through will apply the maximum force of the punch. A heavy bag is useful for this practice. Punch the bag from 6 to 10 inches away, and in time you may find that you can strike it almost as hard as with a fully cocked punch. Unlike tournament tag, self defense requires hard penetrating punches, and the heavy bag is the place to develop these. Sanchin kata thrusting also helps if properly done. The thrust should be connected through the hip to the rear heel and the floor, and it should be done from relaxed to fully focused at it’s terminal point. If your focus is done with the proper snap, you will feel a tingle on the skin of the buttocks and perhaps the back of your shoulder. Forget high kicks. A toe kick with a hard shoe to the nerves on the inside of the upper leg can be as effective as a groin kick, and, in a very serious situation, taking out the opponents knee will immobilize him for a long time. The normally benevolent karateka in such situations needs to become more fierce than the opponent(s) he/she is facing. There are no unfair techniques. Consider biting, gouging, scratching, head butting, and hair pulling just to name a few. The fiercest person will usually prevail.

Currently there is a lot of discussion about the value of free fighting for the black belt test and in the dojo as it relates to street self defense. I agree that dojo sparring and street fighting are totally different, but again free fighting in the dojo is better than nothing. Many years ago, my original sensei, Carl Chrappa, would insist if we got hurt during free fighting that we continue sparring for a short time. In the dojo the tendency is to stop and attend to the injury, but the street makes no such concessions. I recommend to my students, as did Carl, that students use an accidental punch to their face or other minor injury as a call to increased (controlled) fighting intensity. These
accidents seldom happen, but when they do, take advantage of the mishap to develop a survival mindset. In the street if you are attacked and hit, be assured that you will be hit again unless you shake it off and muster all of your abilities to defend yourself.

Prearranged sparring drills done in the dojo are also useful if done with the proper mindset, and the skills learned can be acquired with relative safety. Once the movements of the drill are learned reasonably well insist that your partner throw real punches and kicks with realistic distancing. Don’t insult your partner with techniques that
he/she doesn’t even need to block. The kumite should be realistic, and if you miss a block you should feel your partners controlled punch. The intensity and control with these drills should increase with time and skill. The mindset involves becoming aware of how each strike and block can be done most effectively. The drills we do
are intended to be a safe exercises, and strikes are usually not done directly to the head. A slight upward redirection of a chest punch results in a punch to the jaw. An elbow strike can be done to the heart or raised slightly to the face. At the end of Don Kumite it is usual to strike the right shoulder of the attacker just before attacking the knee for the take down. The shoulder strike could just as well be moved to the jaw, or neck, or become an elbow to the face. If one sets their mind to observe these and other possibilities, it is likely that the more effective technique would be used in a self defense situation. One excellent way to do the kumite drills is to demonstrate each movement of the series in ultra slow motion using face punches and other extreme techniques. Then repeat the series at high speed and focus directing techniques toward less lethal targets. (i.e. Lower the face punches to the chest.)

Instructors and advanced students should make new karateka aware of the real implications of the techniques present in our kata and kumite. Just practicing kata for the art of kata doesn’t develop a complete karateka. We all need to be aware of the implications of the martial side of the martial art, and developing a subconscious combative mindset is necessary for wholeness in ones practice.

by Charles Roberts

This idea is used to show a new student how to place their hands while doing HojoUndo.

Take a bungee cord that is about 26″ in length, 5″ hard plastic tube, about 2″ heat shrink and fasteners for the bungee cord.

Place the plastic tube over the bungee cord and create one big circle with the fasteners.

Place the fasteners within the plastic tube.

Now create two circles as shown with the fasteners and then place the heat shrink over the 6″ circle and move the 6″ circle above your elbow. Now place your hand in the 2″ circle with the hard plastic on your finger tips, palm side.

The way the idea works is as follows:
1. You place your forearm in the big hole; where the device is over your elbow.
2. Place your hand in the other hole; so your palm is facing out forwards.

This will hold your hands at 90 degrees and help in
strengthening your wrist.

by JOHN THURSTON

Some Possible Cross training benefits for Uechi-Rya Karate from Chinese Martial Arts.
I have studied Uechi Karate with moderate success since 1977. It has been said many times that its strength is in it’s simplicity, which seems correct.
Yet hidden in the stances and positions is a depth of strength that only the most natural athlete student or the most diligent and dedicated can discern.
I have also studied certain “Chinese” arts or internal arts which have similar but differently expressed principles to the kata we study every week.
These are:
The Iron Shirt Chi Kung (chi work) of Mantak Chia, The Tai Chi Kung I by Mantak Chia and the Yang Long Form Tai Chi, traditional Yang Family system.
One is generally not allowed to study the Tai Chi Chi Kung without having first been introduced to the Iron Shirt Chi Kung.
What is the basic focus of the Iron Shirt Chi Kung and how does it relate to Uechi Karate or, indeed, any martial art?
This can be summed up in one word: “rooting”. Establishing and perfecting the connection to the earth effectively increases the ability of the student to transfer power to an opponent.
The Iron Shirt Philosophy does not, at first glance, appear different from that of Sanchin.
The goals, in part, of Sanchin are : 1. to create, through position, a protective shell for the internal organs of the body from external attack.; 2. to establish a connection to the earth, from which power can be transferred to the point of the body which are blocking or attacking; 3. to cultivate the proper posture for both health and self defense; 4. to train the student to control his body and breathing in order to promote the attainment of the other goals.
The goals mentioned “overlap” each other. It is not really possible to explain where one begins and the next ends in a definitive way.
Like Sanchin, the Iron Shirt is simple in appearance, it is: “assume the position” and establish in so doing correct posture, which will also serve to protect. Like Yoga it has several positions, each of which, should one desire, can be used to enhance a meditative state of mind.
The starting stance for the “Iron Shirt Chi Kung” is called “Embracing the Tree”.
This “Chi Kung” or “power/spirit work” is not one that is studied while moving anything beyond the “Chi” within oneself and, of course, breathing. It is much like working on kata without actually changing stance or position. In this sense, it is analogous to Uechi Karate’s study of breathing, posture and focus in the various positions of “Kamae” (ready/paused) positions.
The breathing is dissimilar to that which we are familiar in Uechi Karate, in that the student/practitioner mentally breaths “TO” the part of the body one wishes. Several points of focus in the body are taught as particularly important. I won’t attempt to list them at this time.
For an instructive lesson, start in a “horse stance” only slightly wider than the parallel stance we utilize in “closed gate position”.
In the Tai Chi Kung I, identical technologies of Posture are utilized. In the Iron Shirt, breathing skills can be utilized to direct the bodies “attention” itself in a circular flow.
The basis of the initial elements of both arts is so simple as to give rise to considerable skepticism.
“Stand Up Straight”. It follows, then that your Uechi Stance strength will be enhanced examining how this is explained in these arts, however briefly.
To practice embracing the tree, one:
Places one’s feet slightly farther apart than in the “Closed Gate” stance, Straightens up the body by keeping the body in a line with the top of the head, Presses/expresses back the C-7 vertebrae and brings the chin slightly down, Distributes weight over the entire foot.
Opens the groin area slightly by gently spiraling the legs outwards to create a tension (gently) without actually allowing the feet to move, or the knees to point outwards.
Sinks the center of the chest slightly, thus crating a “roundness” to the back when viewed from above. This connects the scapula to the lattisimus muscles of the back. If the chest is “flat” or pressed forward, the connection is not made. This is similar to same way that the “round arm” in a Wa Uke block will collapse if bent to far at the elbow, simply because is no longer rounded. .
This is not to say a bent arm elbow block cannot be used in very close quarters, but it is not so used in the blocking system in which we have trained.
To open continue opening the stance:
Raise the hands and arms to form a circle which should be at about Sanchin height. The arms should be relaxed, with tension only caused by the gentle rolling of the muscles and tendons of the legs to create the connection to the ground. Even if you think your legs are tight and strong, you are not “connected” to the ground maximally without this gentle rotating effect.
Do not “close off the armpits” as this destroys the circular structure you have been striving for.
Lift the “sacrum” (the triangular piece of bone at the base of the spine) by rolling or drawing towards your center as thought you had a “tail, but do not let this “throw” your upper body rearwards, as this also destroys your connection to the ground.
Once the stance is open, without creating the incorrect type of “tension”, and can be tested as in Kamae.
Have somebody “press” gently (straight back and not downwards). As he presses do not “tighten up”.
If you feel you are too easily uprooted, don’t bend your knees too much, but feel yourself and let yourself sink and straighten by focusing on the points we have discussed.
The purpose of the exercise, or any variant which you may choose, is to enhance your own awareness of your body and it’s ability to “root” itself (“tap the chi?) to the earth.
BE WARNED, this does not immediately translate into stronger Sanchins, but the practice will do so over time, or so I believe.
An immediate structural hint makes itself apparent in the Iron Shirt “Embracing the Tree” form. Students will recall the many different ways that we were taught to perform the “Seichin” movement, taken from the Kata Sanseirui. At the end of the movement the rear side hand is engaged in what is surmised to be a “catch”. This hand position also should be virtually identical to the position from which, as beginners, was taught to us as the starting position for a “Wa-Uke” block and strike sequence. In the Embracing the Tree” Posture the arms are kept rounded, the shoulders do not rise up, and the hands gently rotate outwards until a connection can be felt in the tendon structure running to the shoulders.
If this structural point is not cross trained into your Karate (Seichin circling block and the “beginners” start for the Wa-Uke) the innermost hand cannot catch anything, not does it provide any protection to the practitioner. It (and I have seen this literally hundreds of times) either flops limply on top of the blocking forward hand, or gets “squared off” at the shoulder and elbow, and is weak for another reason; not being “round”.
Hopefully this will prove helpful to you.

Respectfully submitted:
JOHN THURSTON

Recommended:
Reading: The Inner Structure of Tai Chi Iron Shirt Chi Kung I

By Sensei Jay Salhanick – 5th dan

The following paper is for all martial artists, not solely for the Uechi-Ryu practitioner. It is my intent to go beyond the realm of just Uechi-Ryu. I wish to explore a more detailed understanding and development of ones own karate. I have always had the thirst to learn more about Uechi-Ryu, other martial arts styles, and self-defense in general. I have learned over the years from, Master George Mattson (9th dan), and my Sensei: Robert J. Campbell – (7th Dan) an OPEN MIND…….. Or, as my sensei calls it……OPEN GATE!

Many years ago I discovered during my training, that it was much more important for me, to develop self-defense techniques that REALLY WORK, then…..How many turns are in the first Sanchin kata. At my dojo the Traditional Uechi-Ryu Karate Institute in Boston. I teach two versions of karate. I refer to them as, Dojo Karate and Street Karate. This is not a new concept to many of the old instructors at the “Mattson Academy Of Boston” under Sensei George Mattson. The two names dojo karate and street karate may sound confusing to many students. As time passes they learn the differences very quickly. I will explain these key differences, later on in this paper.

In retrospect, the first time I started to think about the differences between what I did in the dojo, and what I would do on the street, goes back many years. I started my training in Uechi-Ryu back in 1968, at the Mattson Academy of Karate. Located in Boston Ma. I remember back in the very early 70’s, we had a weekly sparring class, held on Thursday evenings. The instructors of that class, are names many people in and out of the Uechi-Ryu world will recognize. Names such as: Robert Campbell, Arthur Rebesa, Van Canna, Jimmy Maloney, Clearance Von Wilder, Ed Huff. The class was by today’s standards, “A TOTAL BLOOD BATH.”

We at the Mattson Academy in Boston, were doing full contact karate, before it became fashionable. If it was done today, the court system would be full of martial art related lawsuits. Many nights I would walk out of the dojo with, black eyes, bloody noise, banged up ribs, and once a dislocated shoulder. PLEASE, do not get me wrong, I do not advocate this type of training any longer. At the time it was the standard way of doing things. But above all, I learned how to defend myself. At first I tried using techniques direct from my katas (Dojo Karate), as well as my two person sets. It did not take long for me to find myself, flat on my ass, on the VERY HARD wooden floor. That is when I first started to analyze and develop self-defense strategies (Street Karate), that I could use, to SURVIVE THE CLASS.

This type of class was as close to a real attack on the street, as one could get. We wore no protective equipment (Not Invented Yet). Their was only one speed, FULL CONTACT. At this point in my training I started to develop my first real rudimentary understanding of real self-defense (Street Karate). The second major turning point in my self-defense process came while I was a member of the United States Marine Corp. It was at this stage of my training. While I was practicing, and teaching Hand To Hand combat in the U.S.M.C. That I really started to understand what real self-defense was all about. It was in the understanding of the following philosophy, which I might add, is the same philosophy found on the streets today. That is the understanding of, Kill or be Killed.

To survive a real attack, one must realize and understand that each attacker is different. The following paragraphs explain how I learned to adapt a self-defense philosophy that worked. I also explain how I evaluate, analyze, and most

important of all synthesize self-defense techniques that worked for me. As time passed I learned from my sensei that fighting each one of these men was a totally different experience. Sensei taught me how to “READ” and evaluate each attacker.

For example, Sensie himself, Bob Campbell is 6′ 4″ tall, with great reach. He also was a (Super Smart Fighter). For matter of fact, Bob Campbell is the finest fighter I have ever seen in all my 29 years of training. Then we had Jimmy Maloney, and Arthur Rabesa. These men are very deceiving, they may be of average height, but they are built like refrigerators, and they are that strong. And to make matters worse, all the instructors were fearless. They had no fear of being hit. Jim Maloney and Arthur Rabesa are both Very Strong and Aggressive Fighters. Van Canna, and Ed Huff were not only strong and aggressive, they were also thinking fighters. they looked for any weakness they could find.

In reading these fighters, sensei taught me how to find there strong points. It was from Bob Campbell, Van Canna, and Ed Huff that I learned how to read my opponent. It was from Jimmy Maloney and Arthur Rebesa that I learned to be aggressive and ferocious. It was From Clearance Von Wilder, that I learned how to utilize my own personal capabilities. Clearance is 6’4 and a very big and SUPER STRONG man. But he moved with such grace and fluidness, it was like watching a dancer. I saw Clearance using every thing he had going for him, That is when I also started to use what I had going natural for me. Such as my size and strength. In teaching my students to defended themselves I try to stress their strong points, and downplay their week points. I teach them how to read an opponent, and size up a potentially dangerous situation. The following are some of the guide lines I teach my students in surviving an attack on the street. Real self-defense is much more then learning a few simple kicks and yells. Self-Defense is more of a state of mind. It is the way you think while walking down the street. It is the way you act, dress, and walk. Self-Defense is awareness of your surroundings, assertiveness, verbal confrontation skills, and how to remain in control. The only way you will survive a real and serious street confrontation is to understand the following. Karate alone will not give you the tools you will need to survive the attack. Successful fighting skills require that you not only have a good fighting sense, but also the ability to be, effective in the delivery of your techniques.

To be very aggressive, and to understand that your opponent is really trying to hurt you. This is not a dojo sparring match. THIS IS WHERE MOST MARTIAL ARTISTS MISS THE MARK…… They forget! they are no longer in the dojo. Welcome, to the real world. These martial artists get caught up in the false belief that, just because they are wearing a black belt they know how to fight. Many karate students have never learned the difference between the exaction of a technique, Vs the real application of the technique. Also, no one has taught them:

The “RULES OF THE STREET”! ……… Rule number one, (most important of all)

1. THERE ARE NO RULES IN A STREET ATTACK, DO WHAT EVER IT TAKES TO WIN. WHAT YOU WIN, IS NOT A TROPHY, BUT YOUR LIFE………….

2. NEVER PLAY FAIR, THEIR IS NO SUCH THING AS A FAIR FIGHT.

3. NEVER BELIEVE ANYTHING YOUR ATTACKER SAYS

4. . BE FEROCIOUS AND AGGRESSIVE

5. CONTROL THE FIGHT, IF YOU CAN

6. EVALUATE………… THEN DESTROY YOUR ATTACKER

7. USE ANYTHING AT YOUR DISPOSAL TO HURT YOUR ATTACKER.

8. DO WHAT EVER IT TAKES TO WIN

9. YELL FIRE…..(THE WORD FIRE, DRAWS MORE ATTENTION THEN…HELP)

10. AGAIN…………..THERE ARE NO RULES ON THE STREET

Many people, as well as other instructors disagree with what I have said. That is their right. I am not saying, I am right, and they are wrong….. What I am saying is, I have been in more then a few street fights, as well as some tough situations while I was in the USMC. I have learned from personal experience what works, and more importantly, what does not work. One major aspect I have learned in real self-defense very fast was, that once you put your attacker down, “Do not think its over”. All they are going to do is get up and come at you again.

NOTE:

THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED IN THE ABOVE ARTICLE, ARE THE SOLE BELIEF OF THE AUTHOR, SENSEI JAY SALHANICK. I DO NOT ADVOCATE THAT ANYONE FOLLOW THE ABOVE BELIEF. I AM ONLY EXPRESSING A SELF-DEFENSE PHILOSOPHY THAT I HAVE FOUND TO WORK FOR ME.

I hope you find one that works for you…………… Its a dangerous world.

by Van Canna

In addition to martial study,I have had experience in investigating and preparing in the defense of self defense cases in my work.Further, along with Jim Maloney,I attended classes at lethal force institute under the tutelage of Massad Ayoob and John Farnam, noted deadly force combat teachers,and found the lessons learned of great impact upon martial arts applications.In addition I have survived a few serious encounters of my own as well as witnessing a number of others which bear out the many conclusions I have espoused over time re violent confrontations.

Those I will share with you as time moves on,but plase understand that I am not an ultimate expert in defensive combat;there is really no such person as there are no guarantees of winning over and over due to the variables of each encounter.

In order to logically assimilate the various concepts components of defensive mindset and trigger you must first learn to successfully visualize yourself in a real survival engagement.Most people have a distorted sense of what is really involved simply because it has not yet “happened” to them and they fantasize thru the armor of the martial arts controlled experience.

Mull this in your head as a start:
Most of us are not violent people and we go out of our way to avoid ugly situations. In the dojo you are thought that your only excuse for defensive combat is if you are about to fall prey to grave bodily harm and have no way out. Suddenly you find yourself over this threshold in astonishment and neck deep in a startled,surprised,isolated state of mind,and as you start to recoil and hyperventilate under the kick of the “chemical cocktail” triggered by the primal brain ,you first conscious impulse will be one of denial and bargain.This internal downshifting of gears immediately cedes the initial advantage to your adversary and, it is indeed within these microseconds of time that many victims are hurt or killed .

In a flash it dawns on you you are in the dreaded “trap” you may have nowhere to run or tactically you should not run,there is no help nearby, there is no way back,and you’re about to test your mettle in an ugly,hard and brutal uncontrolled hand to hand battle with an unknown unpredictable mean enemy,perhaps a habitual thug who enjoys “busting” people up.At the same time multiple opponents may appear,improvised or real weapons may materialize and physical blows will be preceded by obscene and loud verbal assault to demoralize you and achieve psychological dominance.

As in a nightmare ,all your conscious karate responses seem to vanish in thin air,your brain dulles up but retains the perception of potential crippling injury and helplessnes at the hands of your bad ass assaillant.

Although we can prepare for this moment by cultivating mindset trigger of the most devastating defensive action we are capable of,there are no guarantees we will prevail with our empty hands when we consider that even after taking multiple hits by .45 caliber pistol bullets some adrenalized,hopped up thugs were not stopped in time before they had a chance to kill or maim.

Okay, with this in mind,let’s stimulate discussion on ways to deal with the negatives of violent confrontations but please use simple modern approaches without quoting the philosophies of the various martial arts.We want students at all levels to understand and be able to participate in comfort.

Regards,
Van Canna

by Van Canna

Much has been written about fear and how immobilizing it can be in the extreme even if you are not a combatant but only an accidental witness.[picture the horror of observing someone being knifed to death as i did at age 16].why is it so? Here is something of interest i read a long time ago:the child is thought to roll over and be submissive usually bullied by his parents not because they were right but because they are in a stronger position[the implied threat is something bad will happen if the child stands up for himself]. This awe of retribution carries into adult life and is rationalized into many other forms of insidious fears of getting hurt,punishment,and deprivation if we dare stand up for ourselves. Equally interesting i read that we are preconditioned to grow up with that critical little voice inside your head that controls your independence and engenders self doubt. The upshot of all this being that a person is not truly capable of self defense until he/she adopts the mindset that right or wrong his/her spirit will not be transgressed upon and projects determination to fight to the death over values held sacred. not too many of us are capable of this range of commitment and so,lacking the ferocious mindset for combat along with total disregard for personal injury and social consequences,victorious potentially lethal struggle is pretty much an open question. The problem is compounded by dojo legal restraints in today’s world calling for “polite fighting” sparring practice making this whole business of “martial arts” not very believable at large as very useful for self defense in the eyes of many people i have talked to over the long haul. It has been written that fighting is dirty business and the niceties we observe in the dojo will get the “snot” beaten out of us in a real fight,and that is why so many “black belts” get their ass kicked the first time they cross a determined street fighter.

Any comments?

Van Canna

by Van Canna

one of the strongest motivations of a martial arts student is self preservation.In spite of their classical dojo practice,when in a violent confrontation and in the convulsive grip of the fight or flight reflex,students are bewildered by the turn of events,agonize over their response actions and unforeseen consequences and present themselves back to their senseis for answers. once i read a martial arts critique stating that the trouble with most karate schools today is that they teach students just enough to get them killed in a real fight,i.e.they teach all the “never fail” moves without providing an understanding of the psychophyisical manifestations of the fear response which kicks in from the primal brain (brain stem}. most teachers also have a poor understanding of fighitng tactics,with the results that students react wrongly and run when they should fight and fight when they should “take a flight”. It might help to keep in mind that today’s “fights” bear their unique set of hurdles and consequences (armed opponents,criminal prosecution,civil litigation, financial ruin)and these variables have a profound subliminal impact on your defensive resolve. as time permits and if you show an interest out there i will define and analyze in great detail these threshold issues.As a primer i suggest you read my “self defense for life” in the web articles section.

Van Canna

by Joe Bellone

There are many teachers of martial arts that like to talk about internal power and chi as something fantastic and mysterious (especially in the west) this is usually the result of misunderstanding (on the part of the teacher) or outright deceit (because it’s good for business). The term “internal,” as in internal martial arts, is often misunderstood. The term “internal” refers to working with our inherent and inborn strengths under the direction of the mind. Any higher level martial art, regardless of style, that works with natural strengths and uses mental (internal) energy most efficiently to produce the most effective movement can be considered internal.
Human beings are physical beings and are subject to laws of physics: mass, energy, gravity. Our bodies are constructed a certain way, our minds produce energy, and we are under the influence of gravity all the time. Teachers of internal arts talk about using chi instead of muscle force, that no strength is necessary for one’s power, that power comes from amassed chi. This sounds wonderful and mystical, and the vast majority of people enjoy believing this type of thing, but without the use of muscular force we would not be able to get out of bed in the morning. The externally observable result of movement (force) is always a result of muscle movement in the body and the key to internal power is “how” the body is moved.
Many mistaken ideas about internal power came about because of the misunderstanding of the mind/body connection. Looking back in history, it can be seen that the large majority of famous martial artists came from similar backgrounds. The typical pattern was for individuals to be from a rural farming community, starting martial arts in a Shaolin based or “village” style art, then moving on to an “internal” art. Typically, practitioners in the United States today grow up in the cities where they have relatively little physically activity, get a job where they sit at a desk all day, and practice martial arts twice a week at a local school. They then wonder why they have a difficult time developing “internal power.” It must be because they haven’t amassed enough Chi.
“Internal power” comes from a refinement of trained strength which has been built upon by adhering to principles of natural body structure over a period of time. One of the problems today is that practitioners are trying to jump straight into the performance of forms which are specifically to refine martial arts skills and polish “trained strength” without having any strength or skill to begin with. This is why it is imperative for a Uechi/Shohei-ryu practitioner to practice Sanchin Kata all the time. This pattern is necessary for obtaining basic strengths and skills as the foundation for the study of forms and exercises, which work to refine those basic skills.
Martial techniques are based on conditioned patterns of movement and the trained sensitivity (both through sight and feel) which allow applying the right technique at the right time. Conditioned patterns of movement are practiced through repeated practice (Kata or Kumite). There is no way to internalize specific patterns without physical practice. The axiom, “practice doesn’t make perfect, perfect practice makes perfect” holds true for any martial skill. The question becomes how does one practice “perfectly,” or at least maximize the time spent in practice?” The answer, in part, is through the awareness of a unified mind and body, where the mind controls the physical action. This is referred to in the martial classics as “using the intent and not force.”
Using the appropriate muscles without excessive tension is the key to efficient movement, regardless of any task. Where does one start to develop efficient movement using the correct muscles and without excessive tension? It starts with adhering to the principles in correct postural alignment. By beginning with “awareness”(mind) of postural alignment we can maintain a state of balance and relaxation providing feedback to our mind and body in a kinesthetic sense. During motion, the only way to move and consistently monitor and maintain balance and relaxation is to lead the movements of the body with the intent (which is another way of describing the awareness of a unified mind and body). You “will” it done and it is done. This is the source of internal power and movement without effort.
Internal power is the result of the body’s natural, intrinsic strengths that can be brought fully into play (things as mechanical advantage, alignment, the natural elasticity of tissue, body mass, stretch reflex, etc). The whole process is under mental direction. The mind doesn’t “control” as much as “inhibit” incorrect alignment or tension. At higher levels of training, reservoirs of the subconscious may be brought under conscious control. This is the same mental and physical state that produces internal power that is also conducive to good health. It is through the release of stress and relaxing the body and mind that allows the body to function optimally.

Copyright 1997 Joe Bellone
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