To my surprise there are tons of so-called “self-defense” systems out there that emphasize closed-fist punching as the primary method of striking. There are even rape awareness programs geared toward women that teach the absurd idea of punching with a closed fist. In fact, during these classes the instructors will not only wear large protective suits but each female participant will be required to wear large protective gloves to keep the hands safe while practicing their punches. Am I the only one that sees a problem with this idea? What kind of instructor chooses to teach techniques that are more dangerous to the defender (intended victim) than the attacker? Obviously, only those with little real-life experience would teach such dangerous and ineffective techniques.

1. Punching is unnatural- Yes, there is some research that supports the use of the closed-fist as a striking implement. This goes without saying. Both primates and primitive man likely used their fists to resolve conflict and protect themselves. If we ask a child to strike a pad or some other object without showing them some special striking method we will see this primitive response in action. While a closed fist may be used, it will be performed in a natural and instinctive manner. The emphasis will be on what is commonly referred to as a hammerfist. This is the simple act of performing a large hammering motion with the fist while making contact with the soft portion of the hand just under the little finger. You most certainly will not see a typical boxing-style jab, cross, hook, or uppercut because these are unnatural movement patterns that require specialized training.
   
   
2. Punching poses risk of injury to user- The reality is that punching poses more of a risk for injury to the defender than the attacker. When I teach self-defense I focus on those techniques and tactics that statistically have the highest rate of success. While punching has been shown to work for some people some of the time, it's generally considered to be a low success technique because of the risks that it poses to the user. What many people, especially instructors tend to forget is that the bones of the hands are both smaller and less dense than the bones of the human skull? Why? Simply put, the bones of the hands are designed for movement and dexterity while the bones of the skull are designed to protect the human computer, the brain. When discussing this with my clients I often use the analogy of punching a bowling ball. I ask how many in attendance would be willing to punch a bowling ball with full force? Of course no one raises a hand. Punching the human skull with a closed-fist is no different. If the punching of a bowling ball makes little sense, how can anyone in good conscience promote the idea of punching the human skull in self-defense?
   
   
3. Punching requires years to master- Like many martial arts techniques, punching is a learned motor-skill that generally requires many months and even years to master. Once mastered there is still no guarantee that the user won't receive injury during the use of punches in self-defense. In fact, most people are aware that famous boxer, Mike Tyson broke his hand during a street altercation. If a highly trained boxer of Mike's caliber can't avoid injuring the hand while punching, what can we expect from average men and women with far less training? Keep in mind that the hands represent the ability to protect ourselves. Even if only one hand is injured, the ability to protect ourselves or our loved-ones is greatly diminished.
   
   
4. Hands require protection- Even if a person has mastered the art of punching the hands still require some kind of protection in order to reduce potential injury. This is why boxing gloves were invented. Before that, the old-time fighters would take steps to condition and toughen the hands to withstand the impact. Even in ancient times Roman Gladiators would wear protective gloves (gauntlets) to reduce hand injures during combat. So, in order to keep the hands well protected a person would essentially need to wear gloves 24 hours a day, just in case they happen to get attacked and need to punch. This obviously isn't practical or convenient.
   
   
5. Closed fists appear more aggressive- This goes without saying. If you see two people engaged in a physical altercation and one if punching the other into unconsciousness, what's your first general thought? If you are a reasonably civil person you will likely assume that the person executing the punches is the aggressor. Even if this was a legitimate self-defense situation, bystanders may see a different picture.

1. Open hand strikes are more natural- Unlike punching, the use of the open hand to push or drive things away from the human body is natural, instinctive and as old as man. Almost everyone can relate to using a simple pushing movement for everyday activities like opening doors, pushing grocery carts and lawn mowers, or even shoving the car off the road after it runs out of gas. By keeping the hand open we properly activate all of the muscles of the hand, arm and upper body that are designed for pushing. This not only makes the “open hand” more natural than punching but it also makes it a more powerful strike for average men and women who have little time or interest in learning to punch like a boxer. Because of the natural nature of this technique it is generally easy to teach and easy for most people to retain with very little training. 
    
2. Open hand striking appears less aggressive- Obviously the open hand strike appears far less aggressive than punching, especially to bystanders. If we see a situation that involves a series of powerful shoves or open hand slaps, we are less likely to automatically assume that the user is the aggressor. 
    
3. Open hands are safer for both parties- The very nature of “open hand” strikes makes them very effective. However, the same thing that makes them so effective also makes them safer, for both the intended victim and the attacker. Unlike punches that focus the strike into a smaller surface area of the first two knuckles, the open hand strike spreads the impact evenly out over the entire surface of the hand. This means that we can still use the same amount of power but because the impact is more evenly distributed it greatly reduces the chance of injuring our hands. It also greatly reduces the chance of injuring the facial bones of the attacker. Not only does this reduce potential injury but it increases the effectiveness of the strike. How so? Simple...when we make contact with the entire surface of our hand it spreads the impact energy out over a large area of facial skin. This can result in major stimulation of the facial nerves. When multiple facial nerves are stimulated at the same time it increases the potential for creating nervous system overload. The result of such an overload? A person can be knocked unconscious, obviously. So, not only does an open hand strike allow for a concussive knockout (the brain impacting the inside of the skull) but it also increases the potential for a nervous system knockout. All this is done without risking the small bones of the hands.
   
   
4. Open hands are easier to justify- Based on the above information we can see that not only are “open hand” techniques safer, more effective, and easier to use but they are more easy to defend in a court of law.

The next Warsaw, Indiana seminar is scheduled for Saturday January 19th from 12-3pm at Absolute Fitness Academy.

The topic to be covered will be "Defensive Knife". In a nutshell this is learning how to use a knife to save your life. This is not the typical knife dueling, or flashy martial techniques often passed off as tactical and practical. Due to the sensitive nature of the material it will be suitable for adults 18 and older.

To be covered: legalities of the defensive knife, fixed blades versus folders, standard grips, angles of attack, efficient fight-stopping targets, striking methods, inclusion of the empty hand, attribute-building exercises, self-defense scenarios, and more...

The cost for this intensive overview of the defensive knife will only be $25.

If you currently carry a knife for personal protection or have plans to start, this is an opportunity to learn how to use it effectively and efficiently.

Contact me to pre-register...

http://personalsafetyunlimited.net/seminars.html

Think you have a solid grasp of personal safety and self-defense? Test your knowledge with the Personal Safety Unlimited quizzes and crossword puzzles. More to come...

http://personalsafetyunlimited.net/quizzes.html

Women's Self-Defense course is scheduled for Saturday December 1st at Absolute Fitness Academy here in Warsaw, Indiana. 12pm to 3pm. Will cover awareness, escape, de-escalation, and physical self-defense. Includes practice against a padded assailant. The only program of this kind offered in the area. Download the flyer from the website for more details. Space is limited to the first 12 that pre-register. Contact me for details or to sign up. Suitable for young ladies 14 and older.

"Stranger-Danger" is an antiquated child safety program that needs to be thrown out and forgotten about. Find out why and what we should teach instead, read my article-

http://personalsafetyunlimited.net/article4.html

I have written about this before on my blog but it fits nicely in the category of "Self-Defense Blunders" so I feel it's worth repeating...

I have come across numerous instructors over the years that discourage their students from focusing on the groin as a viable self-defense target. Some claim that the groin is difficult to hit, while others claim it offers little in the way of results.

Now before I get into this topic let me emphasize that the groin should be considered as a secondary target. In other words, it's not a fight-stopping target but does have some value which I am about to explain.

First of all I do agree that "kicking" the groin isn't a good idea. The reason is simple...kicking generally leaves the intended victim standing on only one foot, which in turn compromises balance. Given the explosive and chaotic nature of assaults, compromised balance isn't a good thing.


Claim #1- small target

In reality when targeting the groin, we not only target the testicles but the entire groin / bladder/ pelvis region. On most people, the groin / bladder / pelvis region is generally the size of a soccer ball. Personally, I consider something the size of a soccer ball to be pretty large. However, these same instructors will go on to recommend targeting the femoral nerve on the inner thigh or something similar. While nerve strikes can be great, if they are hit properly, the problem is that we can't always hit them properly under the chaotic and stressful nature of combat. Why is that? Simple, because they are SMALL! So, in short they recommend targets that are smaller then the groin. Personally, I would choose the groin. Everyone knows good and well where the groin is. It's generally pretty easy to hit, especially in close quarters and in many cases it can be hit without visual confirmation.


Claim #2- men are prepared for a strike to this area

This is actually a misconception, especially in martial arts training. I remember my sister once attended a "self-defense " class conducted by a female Tae Kwon Do instructor. During the class the instructor tells the girls something to the effect of -

"never kick an attacker in the groin because...he will most likely be wearing a cup!"

To be blunt, that's the most absurd thing I have ever heard. Out of all of the years I spent studying sexual assaults on women I have yet to hear of one rapist wearing a cup to protect his groin. Most men who have endured wearing a cup in training know how uncomfortable and inconvenient those things are, especially for sexual situations.

Now, many instructors promote similar ideas, but as in the example above they are not realistic ideas. First off, most men aren't prepared to protect their groins because in most cases they don't believe there is a need to do so. Remember, predators choose victims that they believe won't offer resistance. That being the case, they are primarily in predator mode when they move in for an attack. In other words, defense is the last thing on their minds. Also, take into consideration that most contact sports like boxing and wrestling teach that strikes to the groin are illegal. This simply means that practitioners are conditioned to avoid targeting the groin and they are also conditioned to not worry about protecting this vital area. Also, if most attackers were prepared to protect their groins they wouldn't be so fast to expose this vital target during the act of sexual assault. So, to make this simple...most attackers are not prepared to protect their groins.


Claim #3- generally causes a flinch protection response

This is actually one of the points of effectively targeting the groin! In many cases instructors attempt to focus on the "one shot, one kill" philosophy. However, real altercations rarely go as planned and while it's possible to end an altercation with only one good shot, it's usually an exception to the norm. In other words, we should never rely on only one shot and hope that it creates a devastating effect. Instead we should attempt to overwhelm an attacker with multiple counters in order to effect them both physically and mentally, while attempting to make each counter as effective as possible.


While the groin is not considered a fight-stopping target it can be effective as a way to interrupt the OODA Loop, which can buy a split second to follow-up with more vicious tactics or to target more vital areas. In other words, when the attacker unconsciously flinches to protect the groin, this can create openings for other tactics. This is essentially Combat Strategy 101.


Claim #4- position of the groin doesn't often allow targeting this area

This may be true if we are talking about targeting the groin with kicks. However, if we think of other more sensible ways to target the groin, we quickly realize that in most real assault situations the groin is almost always within range of one of our tools. This is especially true during sexual assault situations. I have yet to hear about a sexual assault where the groin wasn't exposed in some fashion.
 

The truth is, the groin can be an effective target when used in combination with other vital areas and during potentially violent altercations. It should not be thought of as a "fight stopper" but it also should not be thrown out because some instructor doesn't understand when, where, and how to effectively target the area.


Take care and stay safe,
Steve Zorn, ICPS
www.personalsafetyunlimited.net

Halloween is just around the corner and it can one of the most festive and entertaining holidays of the year for the entire family. Trick-or-treating, costume parties and haunted houses all add to the fun of the Halloween weekend. However, the fun can quickly turn to disaster if parents and children choose to ignore dangerous people, places, and situations. Before sending your children out to enjoy the holiday activities take the time to talk with them about possible scenarios they may be forced to face and how to successfully resolve them. Below is a list of general safety tips to help keep children safe this Halloween.

While perusing the internet I stumbled onto a law enforcement website from here in Indiana that was promoting a women's self-defense class that they offer on a regular basis. The picture that was posted on the site immediately caught my attention. You can view the original pic on my Facebook page here- https://www.facebook.com/PersonalSafetyUnlimited

The picture shows a woman standing in a fighting stance with her hands up and and the fingers of her right hand gripping a set of keys with a key protruding from between each finger. The idea being that the intended victim will be able to fend off an attacker by driving the keys into vital targets while punching. It looks something like this...



Unfortunately this "keys between the fingers" technique has been taught for years by instructors that have little or no actual experience with the technique in question. They either read about it in some old self-defense book or magazine article or were taught the technique by some martial arts guru that also lacked any experience with the technique.

While this technique makes sense from a theoretical perspective it's never made much sense to me from a practical and tactical point-of-view. There are many issues with this such as safety, false confidence, etc. 

Let's talk safety- the reality is that if she punches with this technique she is more likely to suffer injury than her attacker. I heard a story years ago about this technique. A woman had taken a self-defense class and the instructor taught her to put her keys between her fingers as described and depicted in the photo I mentioned. She would do this as she approached her car in the dark parking lot after work, assuming it would keep her safe from harm. One winter night she put her keys in her fist and walked to her car. As she gripped her keys tightly in her fist and approached her car she suddenly found herself laying on the ground starring up at the night sky. She had slipped on a patch of ice and fell violently to the ground. As she fell, she reached out with her closed hands, as anyone would instinctively do to slow the fall. However, because she had her fist wrapped around her keys it caused severe injury to her hand and fingers. The point to remember is that this is no different than trying to use the same technique to strike out at the bowling-ball we call a head. The other thing this technique teaches is the bad habit of punching with a closed fist. Punching is great for boxers and MMA fighters but is not a recommended strategy for women (or men) wanting simple and effective self-defense. Sport fighters wear gloves for a reason and unfortunately without the gloves the hands are nowhere near as protected and don't fair well when impacting the human skull. Since the basic idea of self-defense is to develop the ability to protect ourselves while minimizing the injury potential, using techniques like punching or the "keys between the fingers" make absolutely no sense.

With that being said, using keys like this also requires 1) either placing the keys in the proper position BEFORE the attack or 2) taking those precious seconds to try to get the keys in place DURING the attack. In the first case it's just wasted time, in the second one it's a life-threatening mistake. The time that is being wasted on positioning the keys in between the fingers is time the intended-victim could be using to escape the situation. Also, we need to keep in mind that the bad guys are fully aware of simple tricks like this. They are even prepared for defensive use of pepper spray and firearms. While they will often choose their intended victim based on the likelihood of least resistance, they will still be on the lookout and ready for these things once they make the decision to attack. The obvious protrusion of the keys between the fingers will provide an early warning to the attacker. He will be prepared in advance to avoid that hand or to quickly overwhelm the intended-victim so that the keys are no longer an issue.

Let me be perfectly clear...I am not saying that using keys for self-defense is a bad thing. I am a huge proponent of the use of improvised items for personal protection, including keys. It's not the keys that are bad but the actual application as passed on by misinformed and misguided instructors. That said, allow me to describe a simpler, more effective and actually safer way to use keys for self-defense. Before I describe this let me emphasize that this may not be the ideal option, even if keys are in the hand and ready to go. However, if someone should choose to use their keys in self-defense they might as well have an appropriate tactic rather than the dangerous technique I have been discussing above.

The proper way to use keys in self-defense should you choose to do so...

1) Place a single key over the index finger while the remaining keys lay across the palm as shown below-





2) Curl the index finger around the Bow of the single key. This is the fat piece of the key that we hold onto. The rest of the fingers will curl around the remaining keys-






3) The thumb will lay across the Blade of the key with the thumb closer to the tip of the key than the index finger. This will form what is called a "pinch grip" that squeezes the key between the thumb and the index finger. A small portion of the tip of the key will extend out from the "pinch grip", around  1/4"-






While I broke this grip method down into several steps to give you the details, it's actually very simple and instinctive. In fact this is almost the same grip that we employ when trying to use the keys to unlock a door. The main difference is that we choke up a little more on the single key in order to improve the grip for striking. Also, keep in mind that this grip reduces the striking surface of the key but increases our ability to maintain our grip while making forceful contact of the intended target. It's not how much key surface we have that's important but how we actually use it that matters.

To strike with this grip, simply drive the tip of the key out into the preferred target in a piston-like fashion. Think of it as more of a jabbing movement then a punching movement. The targets would be the eyes and face. This technique should be thought as more of a quick distraction rather than a "fight-stopper". To get the best results, it should be used in combination with other empty-hand techniques and tactics. It should not be used alone except to create a quick opening to run away.

Remember, this has the potential to cause severe injury to eyes or face so please make sure the situation warrants such tactics before using. It's always a good idea to get hands-on training as well as learning about the legalities of using such tactics before you need them.

Take care and stay safe,
Steve Zorn, ICPS

There are tons of foolish techniques and tactics that are often promoted for self-defense by instructors that either don't realize their errors or they know and just don't care. I am going to start a regular posting here as well as on my Facebook page called "Self-Defense Blunders: Common Advice from the Ignorant and Misguided".

I have added another Warsaw seminar to the schedule for Saturday December 1st, 2012. The topic has yet to be determined but will it run from 12 noon to 3pm at Absolute Fitness Academy, Warsaw, IN.

I will post the topic once it has been decided. If you think you can make it and would like to see a particular topic, just send me an email request and I will see what I can do.

Take care and stay safe,
Steve Zorn, ICPS

In the previous post I bluntly talked about martial arts being different from self-defense but how can we actually determine if what we are being taught it real self-defense training? Many years ago I was training in a specific style of martial arts. I was lead to believe that I was learning "self-defense". However, after 4 longs years I realized that I was still unable to protect myself during moderately stressful belt tests. If I couldn't protect myself in a controlled environment how in the world would I be able to protect myself during a violent attack? To rectify this situation I spent the next 20 years learning as much as I could about crime, violence, and real assaults. In the process I came up with simple questions that helped me quickly determine if the training was geared to surviving real-world situations, or if it was just martial arts claiming to be "self-defense".

1) Does it require years of training in order to be effective under the stress of a real assault?
2) Does it emphasize sport-based skills- boxing and wrestling?
3) Is the training performed in some kind of uniform or common street clothes?
4) Are the skills equally applicable to men, women, and teens? Are they applicable to the elderly?
5) Are students required to wear protective gloves to protect the hands due to an emphasis on punching?
6) Does the training begin in a symmetrical match-fight scenario, aka dueling?
7) Does the training include education on the legal aspects of self-defense?
8) Are the movements based on unnatural skills that require thousands of reps to perfect?
9) Does the training emphasize attacks most likely to be seen on the street? Does it include defense against common weapons (guns, knives, clubs, etc.)? Does it include defense against multiple assailants?
10) Does the training include post-assault and pre-assault information or is it exclusively physical training?
11) Is the training exactly the same for law enforcement, military, and aware citizens?
12) Are skills practiced on static training partners or someone moving in a realistic and dynamic manner?
13) Have the skills been proven to work during real assaults or at least pressure-tested in a chaotic training environment?
14) Is the training based on techniques or concepts?
15) Does the training include the study of physiology and psychology of self-defense?
16) Does the training emphasize defense against unrealistic attacks like wrist grabs and martial arts-based punches / kicks?
17) Is there an emphasis on learning pressure points or other hard-to-hit or ineffective targets?
18) Is the system itself more important to the instructor than the end result?

I am sure I could come up with many more questions but these generally cover all of the basis rather well. The reality is that any effective self-defense system will be fairly easy to learn, easy to retain and easy to use effectively under stress. The movements will be based on natural and instinctive skills that have been proven to work successfully for survivors of real attacks, not complex techniques that require years to master. The training will be concept-based rather than technique-based and will be equally applicable to men, women, and teens regardless of age or athletic ability. Even elderly will be able to learn and use the skills effectively. It will require the wearing of common street clothes (or duty gear) and the material will be based on the specific needs of the intended audience. Law enforcement, military, and aware citizens all have different needs and the training will reflect this. It will be void of common sport-based skills like boxing and wrestling and instead will focus on skills designed to slow or stop the assault as efficiently as possible. The training will also include all aspects of non-physical skills to include awareness, physiology, psychology, pre-assault, post-assault, and common legal aspects of self-defense. There will be an emphasis on common realistic attacks performed in a dynamic manner during training. This will include defense against all types of weapons as well as multiple attackers. Little to no emphasis on stylized martial arts attacks (wrist grabs, punches, kicks, etc.). Simple but effective attack-stopping targets will be taught, no pressure points or hard-to-hit targets. The end result, the survival of the student will be more important than anything else.

This is the criteria I use to help me determine whether the training truly is "self-defense" or not. If self-defense is what you really seek feel free to use it as a guideline and it will keep you from being lead to believe something that just isn't true.

Stay safe,
Steve Zorn, ICPS

I have written about this topic numerous times over the years but it's something I have to keep bringing to the surface...

There are many martial arts schools and now MMA schools out there claiming to teach "self-defense". As I have said thousands of times over the years there is a HUGE difference between martial arts and self-defense. While some of these martial arts and MMA schools do include physical movements that might be applicable in self-defense, the majority of what they offer is not conducive to surviving potentially violent or life-threatening situations. Any instructor claiming otherwise is essentially out to make money, nothing more. The reality is that there are thousands of martial arts for a reason. Some focus on art, tradition, and culture while others tend to focus on fitness and aesthetics. There are also arts that emphasize the sport aspects such as MMA. The point is that even when a martial arts style or system includes several of these aspects, they still tend to specialize in one specific area. We all know that MMA is sport-based. Anything they do will be heavily influenced by the rules, regulations, and principles of sport competition. Most people are aware that Tae Kwon Do is heavily based on tradition as well as modern competition. While these two dramatically-different arts will be extremely valuable for those seeking sport-based training they have little to offer the average man or woman seeking to survive a violent assault. I am not picking on either of these arts but just using them to make an extremely important point...in order to effectively teach specific skills the system or training methodology should be geared specifically to the desired objective. If surviving modern violence is that objective then the system and instructor should specialize in this subject.

I always come back to the term "subject-matter expert". Someone that teaches sport martial arts would be a subject-matter expert on the topic of martial arts for sport competition. To be more specific, this person would be a subject-matter expert on the particular art that they have trained in. In other words, a Tae Kwon Do instructor may be an expert in regards to Tae Kwon Do and it's sporting applications but that wouldn't make him/her an expert at Mixed Martial Arts or all of things that go along with it. Also, the act of earning a black belt in any style or system of martial arts doesn't automatically turn the person into a subject-matter expert on this particular art. This generally requires going above and beyond the simple act of earning a belt and delving deeper into the complex details of "mastering" the knowledge and the skills of said art. Also, it's important to note that the act of training in martial arts alone doesn't automatically qualify anyone to teach "self-defense". On a similar note, law enforcement officers and soldiers aren't necessarily qualified to teach civilian self-defense either unless they have undergone extensive specialized training to do so. Keep in mind that those working in such fields have different options for dealing threats than the aware citizen.

That being said, would you go to a plastic surgeon to get treated for a common cold? Would you take your vehicle to a construction company to have the oil changed? Would you go to an Italian restaurant to order a cheeseburger? The point is obvious. If you want to gain the knowledge and skills to successfully survive a violent life-changing event be sure seek out a subject-matter expert that can provide said knowledge and skills. Don't risk your safety, your health, or your life by attending those martial arts schools that teach unrealistic sport-based or traditional skills claiming it's "self-defense".

Take care and stay safe,
Steve Zorn, ICPS

DATE: Saturday October 27th
TIME: 12 noon- 3:00pm 
LOCATION: Absolute Fitness Academy - Warsaw, Indiana
TOPIC: Counters to Common Attacks
COST: $25 per person

Only $15 for active Law Enforcement and Military personnel.

http://personalsafetyunlimited.net/seminars.html 

While perusing the internet I come across various website and videos promoting traditional grab release techniques and escape tactics for women and children. These sites claim that these complex techniques are easy to learn and easy to use. The instructors also claim that the participants will not be "roughed up" during training and won't have to learn how to fight back as escaping is better and safer.

Let me be perfectly clear regarding this subject...anyone promoting these techniques over other more viable tactics is simply trying to make money by telling people what they want to hear.

I agree that escaping is better and safer. The fact is that if a person is properly trained they should be able to successfully escape the majority of potentially bad situations BEFORE they are forced to physically protect themselves. Any solid self-defense system will emphasize awareness and prevention over physical self-defense. However, with that being said, those traditional escape and release techniques commonly promoted for self-defense are next to useless when a situation requires the use of physical force. These techniques are generally practiced in a controlled training environment against compliant training partners playing the role of bad guys. This is all fine and good, until the people that are taught these techniques are forced to try them under the chaotic conditions of an assault.

Attackers rarely just grab an intended victim and then stand there waiting for a release or escape to be performed. In fact, if there is a grab it's quickly followed by a violent strike or a quick shove or pull in an effort to move the victim to a nearby vehicle or a more secluded location. This generally happens so fast that any attempt to just pull away will be quickly defeated by aggressive motion. Also, if the attacker is adrenalized it will most likely be difficult to out-muscle his convulsive grip. There is nothing wrong with learning grab release techniques as long as they are placed in the proper perspective and as long as they are combined with vicious strikes, explosive body movements, and proper mental conditioning. However, effective counter-attacks alone will likely reduce the need for the common release techniques that are erroneously being promoted as methods of defense without having to "fight back".

Just my thoughts...

Steve Zorn, ICPS

Upcoming seminar-

DATE: Saturday September 22nd
TIME: 12 noon- 3:00pm 
LOCATION: Absolute Fitness Academy - Warsaw, Indiana
TOPIC: Self-Defense against Weapon Assaults (knife, gun, club, & more)
COST: $25 per person

Only $15 for active Law Enforcement and Military personnel.

http://personalsafetyunlimited.net/WASP-Seminar.pdf 

Many years ago I worked with a friend and training associate to create an edged weapon defense program for law enforcement officers. It was based on a knife defense program that I had been teaching for a few years and we called this law enforcement variation- S.A.B.E.R (Strategic Anti-Blade Engagement Response). A few months later I created a program that would address other weapon attacks to include- firearms, impact weapons, and improvised & makeshift tools. The 'Weapon Assault Survival Principles' or W.A.S.P. program was born.  W.A.S.P. is designed to teach participants how to successfully deal with various types of weapons assaults...

Defend against knife, club, gun, and improvised weapon attacks! Through the concept of "universal adaptation" learn how to use the very same skill-set to successfully deal with empty-hand attacks as well.

This unique program is based on simple gross-motor skills that are easy to learn, easy to retain, and easy to use under the stress of a real assault. No fancy or complex martial arts techniques, only effective life-saving skills!


Topics Include:
Ranges of Combat
Protective Body Positioning
Flinch Response Theories
Minimization of Wounds Theory
Dynamic Entries
Delivery System Dynamics
The 4-Step Response
Empty-Hand Tools
Most Effective Targets
Efficient Follow-Up
and much more...

The program is available to law enforcement, security personnel, and security-minded citizens.

Contact Personal Safety Unlimited for details.

When teaching combative skills I tend to follow the basic philosophy of 'weapons first'. In other words, we should always strive to maintain the tactical advantage by using modern and improvised tools when the situation warrants the use of such tools. One of the tools I like to promote is the tomahawk, a uniquely Americanized tool originally designed for utilitarian purposes as well as warfare.

A common question I get asked when discussing the tomahawk is "a tomahawk isn't practical to carry, so why teach a weapon that most of us don't own and that we are unlikely to have on us when it's needed for self-defense?" That's actually a good question. The tomahawk is a pretty unique tool and weapon and most people aren't likely to own one. That being the case, few of these people appreciate what a tomahawk has to offer in the way of practical application for self-defense. They don't recognize it's value or or it's need. I get that. However, there are people out there that own and utilize tomahawks for various utilitarian purposes. This can range from the weekend camper/hiker to the life-long hunter. The carrying of a tomahawk is even more common amongst US soldiers who carry them into battle. Although, the use of the tomahawk for self-defense is not limited to just these particular groups. Anyone that would like to have a simple but effective tool for personal protection should take a look at the tomahawk.

I agree that even if we own a tomahawk there is a chance that we won't have it on us when we need it most. While walking around the streets with a tomahawk strapped to our side isn't illegal, it would definitely be frowned upon. However, we need to look at the big picture. We could very easily find ourselves protecting our family in the confines of our own home. A firearm would be a suitable defensive choice in such a situation but it may not always be ideal. A tomahawk could fit this situation nicely if there is the potential to injure family or neighbors through friendly fire. A tomahawk can also be kept in a vehicle within arms reach if needed. So, while a tomahawk may not be the ideal tool to carry on our person, it makes an excellent tool for home and vehicle protection for those who prefer not to use firearms. It's also a very useful defensive tool for campers, hikers, and members of our armed forces.

However, tomahawk training is about more than the tomahawk itself, it's about the underlying concepts and principles that form the foundation of the training. I call one of these concepts "universal adaptation". In motor skill research this is similar to what's referred to as 'transference'. This is essentially taking a specific movement pattern and it's underlying body mechanics and applying them to another activity. In this case we take the movement patterns of the tomahawk and apply them to other similar tools like common hatchets and hammers as well as empty-hand techniques. In other words the skills we practice are not restricted to the tomahawk. This basic idea isn't new and it's found within many Filipino and Indonesian martial arts. The point is, we shouldn't get so caught up in the literal application of the weapon but instead focus on the concepts behind the training. It's these concepts that will save our lives, not the weapon.

So, if you have an interest in a relatively simple but effective self-defense tool, a tool that is strong, inexpensive and easily obtainable...look to the tomahawk.

Steve Zorn, ICPS

This was recently brought to my attention. http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18002220

There is likely more to this story than what is being told but this goes along with my previous post on the promotion of "the most lethal self-defense system in the world". I wasn't referring to this particular instructor when I posted those remarks but this proves one of my points. It's not whether or not an instructor teaches lethal force options or vicious techniques designed to injure. It's how they promote their systems that really matters. The more they promote the vicious and killing techniques to the  public the more negative attention they are going to receive.

Remember, there is so much more to real self-defense than the physical skills. In fact, if an instructor is doing his/her job properly their students will almost never be forced to use physical self-defense. Instructors should be emphasizing the more important components of awareness, avoidance, and prevention rather than the last-ditch survival tools. Learning to injure someone is the easy part but learning how to deal with or avoid potentially violent altercations before they escalate is the part we all need to work on.

Take care and stay safe,
Steve Zorn, ICPS

I am currently working to schedule a unique martial arts seminar to be held in the Warsaw, Indiana area on August 4 & 5, 2012. This event will feature several martial arts/self-defense instructors covering different topics. While this seminar will focus on techniques and tools that go beyond basic self-defense it will be suitable for anyone interested in martial arts or personal protection skills. Beginners are welcome and encouraged to attend.

Currently the topic line-up includes-

Essentials of the Fighting Tomahawk
Muay Thai for Street Defense
Fighting Bandanna  and Other Flexible Weapons
Trapping Skills for All Styles
and much more.

Details will be posted here and on my website as things solidify.

http://personalsafetyunlimited.net/seminars.html

Take care and stay safe,
Steve

I have been teaching the Kid Escape abduction prevention program for close to 10 years or so. It's one of the best programs of it's kind. I am now an official Kid Escape instructor for the northern Indiana area. Please feel free to contact me if you are in this area and would like to have a Kid Escape presentation conducted for your school or  youth group.

I frequently come across outlandish claims being made by self-proclaimed experts of self-defense. One such claim is that their system is "the most lethal self-defense system on the planet" or something similar. Why anyone would want to make such a claim is beyond me. Even if it were true (which it isn't) why would anyone brag about their self-defense program being lethal which contradicts the whole concept of "self-defense"? Obviously these experts don't understand their own intended audience. If they did, they would know that the majority of men and women that need and seek out self-defense training have little desire to hurt others and most have no interest in taking a human life. Therefore the act of marketing a program as "lethal" will increase the likelihood of turning away those people that likely need the training the most.


Now, to be clear...I am all for the application of lethal force during those situations where lethal force is both warranted and required to save lives. However, the entire training program should not be based exclusively on lethal force techniques because the reality is that 99% of the altercations a person may be forced to face will require less-than-lethal force. Even when a program includes potentially-lethal techniques it should not be promoted in such a way to lead people to believe that they will be forced to kill in self-defense which may go against their belief system. People should also not be lead to believe they will become some super-duper unstoppable killing machine which could ultimately lead to false confidence and undesirable consequences like engaging a threat when they should have run away.

The point is, any legitimate self-defense instructor will avoid marketing scams like this. If you come across one of these scams while looking for self-defense training do yourself a huge favor and keep looking.

Take care and stay safe!

Steve

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