I wanted to follow up on Evan's previous blog post and expand on the comment I made to it. Lately I've found myself increasingly frustrated by close-minded instructors. Maybe it's because I've been fortunate to train in a martial arts style that prides itself on integrating concepts from multiple styles and constantly evolving itself. Or it could be from training with excellent instructors, like Masters Robert and Elizabeth. Whatever the reason, I firmly believe that an instructor who adopts a close-minded attitude does a disservice to his students. Nowhere are the consequences of this more severe than in the realm of self-defense.

As instructors we have a responsibility to present our students with concepts and techniques that are functional, relevant, and, most importantly, in the proper context. We should constantly evaluate the material we teach and adjust as necessary. Any system/style that fails to review its teachings on a regular basis runs the risk of becoming irrelevant, nonfunctional, and out of context. At NOVA Self Defense we have found ourselves reviewing drills and concepts after every class or seminar and discussing ways to modify them for a specific audience or improve their effectiveness.

Never let your ego or tradition prevent you from obtaining new knowledge. Cross-training is not just a way of getting a better workout. I recently read Bruce Clayton's book Shotokan's Secret. In the book he says "We must climb other mountains in order to see our own." To me this reflects the idea that training other styles / systems / sports / etc. will enhance your understanding of your primary training and provide new concepts with which to improve that training. He goes on to debunk several other myths or misperceptions about karate, including the idea that karate is empty-handed, that sparring trains you for combat, and that techniques must not be changed. (The original masters continually tweaked and changed the techniques and katas!) This book is a must read for any martial artist.

So I charge you with this. Never accept any self-defense training at face value. Always question the relevance and effectiveness of what is being presented. If something does not seem to make sense, don't assume you are just misunderstanding something. Question your instructors, look for alternative training to broaden your horizons. Climb those other mountains.

Last weekend Scott and I went down to Raleigh, NC to train with Masters Robert First and Elizabeth Roman at the Shiwa Dojo. They are both 6th degree black belts in Cuong Nhu, an in integrated martial arts style comprised of Shotokan Karate, boxing, judo, wing chun, aikido, vovinam, and tai chi.  They were my first introduction to the martial arts world and the path that has led me to where I am.  They are fantastic people that continuously improve their communities and they have a tremendous amount of knowledge about martial arts and self-defense.  Something that I really respect about their training is that they continuously evolve what they do.  In the combative training world, it's easy to get caught up in "we do XYZ this particular way, because that's how we've always done it."  Regardless of what type of training you do (weight training, self defense, martial arts, etc) it is important to ask the question, is this progressive or a routine?  Another thing I like about the way they train is how they articulate what it is they are working on.  If they are working on kata, they are clear that they are working on art and form, not combat.  If they are working on stick-training, they are clear as to what the goal is- learning the mechanics of certain strikes.  When we were working on Scott's black belt demo (a choreographed demonstration of attacks/techniques) multiple times I heard them say something along the lines of this isn't what you would actually do, we're just modifying it a bit so that your audience can see and understand what strike you just executed.  Some people advocate that training in a martial art can negatively affect your self-defense skills and abilities. I don't necessarily agree.  Martial arts training can provide you with desirable attributes and a good skill-set.  I think the bigger issue is martial arts instructors that either do not know the difference between martial arts and self-defense, or do not properly articulate the difference to their students. 

I try to stay away from forums where people post comments.  Mainly because they are negative and are full of arm-chair quarterbacks talking about what they "would do."  Recently in Arlington VA an attack hit close to home for many in a “safe” area. A 23 year old girl was attacked at knife point and raped while jogging in the evening a trail along Four Mile Run. This is a horrid event that nobody ever deserves to have happen.  I cannot even begin to explain how this makes my blood boil. Even the thought of this being a short distance from where I live makes me livid.

When reading about this, something else that really irked me was how others were commenting on the article.  People who have no experience or understanding of violence or how it happens should not give "advice" on what to do to defend yourself.

In the ever-extending comment list, a consensus was made that carrying a can of spray paint and a whistle was a good idea for a woman to defend herself from a knife attack. The logic was that the bad guy will not only run away, but will be “marked” for the police to identify. Seriously?  Other unknowing commenters affirmed that “making noise” using a whistle would make the attacker “less comfortable” in a rape scenario, so maybe he would flee.  There were other terrible ideas, but it will make my brain hurt even more if I repeat them here.  Rather than delving into how absurd these suggestions are, let’s look at them from a tactical standpoint:

If I decide:  Yes, I’m going to carry a whistle and spray paint can with me while I run.

Here are a few things to ponder:
When the knife attack is in-action, will my whistle already be readied at my lips?  
How will the whistle stop the attack that is already happening?  
Will my spray paint can be in-hand, finger on the button, oriented at the eye-level of the attacker?
It will, during the duration of my entire run? Hmm…  
Have I practiced spraying a person with spray paint at close range? Have I practiced at all? 
Is it raining out? 
Is the wind blowing?  
What if it gets in my eyes instead?
Have I practiced using/accessing my tools so while someone is trying to attack me (under stress)?

Now, here’s the kicker… lets substitute the absurd suggestions for more-desirable tools.  Maybe a knife, gun, pepper spray, or clubbing device.  Similar questions apply.  

Having a weapon/tool does not make you “safe” without training. You still need to know how to weather the ambush to get back into the fight and/or access what you are carrying.  Everyone wants a quick-fix.  Five minutes of browsing Amazon to purchase a self-defense weapon that will ease all of your worries.  The real issue is training and education. Get an understanding of awareness, learn how violent attacks happen, and how you can respond to defend yourself and get out of danger.  The way we train, using the S.P.E.A.R. System, can give you a VERY effective skill-set in a very short amount of time.