| A major pivoting point in my ninjutsu martial arts | | | | ..for whoever is knowledgeable of, and in control of it |
| learning process happened when I realized that there | | | | in the fight! |
| was something more going on than just the punching, | | | | What it means is this; if you know how to use this |
| kicking, and what-not, that makes up conventional | | | | scientific application and make it the logic behind your |
| martial arts and self-defense training. In fact, once I | | | | strategic use of your skills and techniques, then you |
| saw it happening, my mind shifted away from the | | | | will probably win. If you don't and your assailant does, |
| typical orientation toward this "style" or that, and | | | | you will lose. |
| started looking beyond the techniques themselves | | | | So, what are these key moments or critical phases? |
| to... | | | | They are... |
| ..what was being "done" by each move in a technique | | | | 1) Your ability to assess your situation and |
| string. | | | | understand what the assailant is doing or attempting |
| The question I began to ask was, "what's the logic | | | | to do to you. |
| behind the moves?" And, "why are the moves where | | | | 2) Your defense against his incoming attacks. This is |
| they are in this particular string?" | | | | your ability to neutralize the effect that his attacks |
| And THAT is what the book, "Controlling the Fight: | | | | were to have on you. |
| The 5 Keys of Effective Self-Defense Strategy," is all | | | | 3) How you unbalance him in a way that prevents |
| about. | | | | your assailant from going on with his own strategy |
| It's about understanding and recognizing the keys, or | | | | and literally puts him in a position of weakness. |
| bridges, between one phase... | | | | 4) The actual counter-attack that you use to knock |
| ..one strategic moment... | | | | him back or take him to the ground. This is the phase |
| ..in a self-defense situation, and another. | | | | where you actually take the fight to him. |
| It's about controlling the "pieces" of a fight-scenario | | | | 5) Your ability to assess the effect that your |
| that must be strategically managed in the correct | | | | technique has had on your assailant and what your |
| order, and at the correct time, if you are to be | | | | next move (escape, restrain him, or prepare for |
| successful. | | | | another barrage of attacks) should be. |
| What are these critical moments within the flow of | | | | In my attempt to learn how to really be successful |
| the fight? Let me first tell you what they're NOT. | | | | at defending myself and others, I was lucky enough |
| They are not... | | | | to find some teachers who could point the way |
| ..when you're fist makes contact with the surface of | | | | towards many of these answers. Unfortunately (or |
| your assailant's body... | | | | fortunately, as this caused me to have to really |
| ..when you lock his joints to immobilize him and | | | | look), we're not talking about the step-by-step |
| prevent him from continuing to fight... | | | | mechanics of the "style" here, as these can be |
| ..when you take up your "way-cool" stance... | | | | taught by practically anyone to almost anyone else. |
| ..the way with which you've been taught to hold your | | | | What we ARE talking about is something that cannot |
| weapon, or... | | | | be seen unless you know what you're looking for. It's |
| ..a hundred other "things" that most books, videos, | | | | invisible to the naked eye but there nonetheless. |
| and schools of martial arts and self-defense focus | | | | Just know this. Each of these critical moments - |
| almost exclusively on. | | | | these keys - is an important, no crucial, element in |
| But, they are not NOT these things either. If you | | | | any overall defense strategy. But, where the book |
| don't understand what I'm trying to point out here, | | | | "The Karate-Myth" focused on the big-picture |
| you won't see it. | | | | defense strategy that lead from General Awareness |
| Confused? Don't be. | | | | to Actually having to Deal with the Attacker |
| The point here is that, behind any move or technique | | | | (remember?), what I'm talking about here is the |
| itself - the punch, lock, throw, etc. - there is a | | | | little-picture strategy of phase 6 - "dealing with the |
| "reason" that THAT particular technique is being done | | | | attack." |
| at THAT way, and at THAT particular time. There is | | | | Where an overall general self-defense strategy is |
| something that the technique is either doing 'for' us | | | | ultimately designed to "avoid" dangerous situations |
| or 'to' our attacker that gains, maintains, or | | | | altogether; this life-saving knowledge is all about |
| accentuates our control of the situation. In short... | | | | effectively and efficiently handling one one you find |
| ..there is something that makes a particular technique | | | | yourself in it. |
| RIGHT and APPROPRIATE for any given moment... | | | | And, when the "rubber-meets-the-road," so-to-speak... |
| ..and completely WRONG for another. | | | | ..it doesn't matter how many way-cool techniques |
| And, make no mistake here. We are talking about a | | | | you know, so much as... |
| scientific application of principles that work, and have | | | | ..what you can "do" with them. |
| worked for centuries. And, this science works... | | | | |