Real World Self Defense Training - Are You Learning How To Win?

Are you serious about real-world self-defense training? Are you serious about learning how to win in a real attack against a larger, stronger attacker?

Perhaps you're already enrolled in a martial art or self-defense program. If you are, then I congratulate you on taking a critical step toward doing what most people never do. And that's actually taking responsibility for your own safety and the protection of those whom you care about.

If you haven't already enrolled in either a self-defense martial art, or non martial arts-based self-defense system, then my question is...

...What the hell are you waiting for?!

Remember that the nature of violence is that it's random - that means you don't know where, when, or how it's going to happen - and you don't know what it's going to look like. So, if you're the kind of person who spends most of your time surfing the Internet and filling up your hard drive with video clips, free ebooks, and articles like this one, but haven't yet taken the action necessary to actually have real skill, then reading another article, or watching another video is the last damned thing you need to be doing!

So, for the moment, I'm only going to be speaking to you if you actually have some training under your belt (pun intended!). I'm going to assume that if you're reading from this point on, you actually have some training experience to base your understanding of what I'm about to teach you.

Okay. That being said, I'm going to assume that you're ready for the next lesson. Which begins with me restating the questions...

"Are you engaged in real-world self-defense training?" And...

"Are you really learning how to win against a bigger, stronger, violent attacker who doesn't care about rules, fairness, or you're well-being?"

Be careful here, because ego is going to want to jump to the conclusion that, "Of course you are!" After all, if what you're doing wasn't right, you wouldn't be doing it. At least that's what ego's logic is.

But, the reality is that most students who believe they're enrolled in a self-defense martial art, or those studying one of those so called "ultimate-killer" self-defense courses being sold on the Internet today, are in fact "NOT" learning how to win against an enraged, fully-determined, street attacker.

They are however, learning to be overconfident, deluded, and unprepared.

And the reason for this is simply that they are trying to learn from someone - a martial arts teacher or self-defense instructor - who has absolutely no street experience in handling the kind of violence that you're going to have to deal with in an actual attack situation.

I understand that this is not something you may want hear, let alone believe. But that makes it no less true. In fact, at least 80% of those teaching self-defense or martial arts have no experience in using what they think they know in the real-world.

And, regardless of how much these instructors know, what color or number is behind their belts, or how many trophies they have displayed in their windows, without this real-world self-defense experience, they really can't help you very much at all.

And if you train with them - if you trust them - and if you put your life in their hands...

You're going to be in a situation where it's a case of the blind leading the blind.

But how do you know if what you're learning is designed for real-world self-defense? How do you know if you can trust the techniques, tactics, and strategies that you've been learning to work when you need them the most?

Well, instead of trying to force a point of view, I'm simply going to ask you a few questions that will allow you to determine, for yourself, whether you're on the right track are not. How does that sound?

So, regardless of whether ego wants to believe anything I say or not - regardless of how much ego wants to hold onto what it thinks it already knows, the answers to these questions will determine the truth.

Fair enough?

Self-Defense Program Assessment Questions:

1) Are you forced to conform to a set "style", or does your training leave room for variation, adaptation, and practical application?

2) Are you learning multiple options for handling the same types of attacks? Or is everything based on the same block-punch/kick (or whatever) formula?

3) Are you training to defend against the attacks that are the most common today, where you live; or are you learning to defend yourself against attacks from 13th, 14th, or 16th century Japan, China, or Korea?

4) Have you been taught things like "attacker psychology," "controlling distance," "controlling your attacker's perceptions," and the "effective use of timing, distancing, and angling?" Or, do you spend most of your time practicing step-by-step, mechanical techniques and the official kata of the style you're learning?

5) Does your system of self-defense or martial arts take into account the size and strength difference between you and your potential attacker? Or, are you always matched up based on size, gender, and/or belt color?

6) Are you learning how to use your different emotional states as the hardwired, defensive modes that they are? In other words, are you learning how to defend yourself from the different emotional response states that you might find yourself in when you're actually faced with real danger?

As you can see, my job is not to force you to believe in whatever it is the I'm teaching. My job is to teach you what I know about actually surviving a real-world attack against a bigger, stronger, and more violent attacker. And, later on, against multiple attackers, assailants armed with different weapons, and other advanced subjects.

If what you're already learning is doing that, then keep doing what you're doing. If it isn't, it's my job to suggest some other options.

But either way, you need understand that your safety and self defense is your responsibility. Not mine, or anyone else's.

It's my job to make sure that what I'm teaching you is time-tested and will work against a real attacker, during a real attack - not just in the classroom or dojo. And it's my responsibility to understand that you're placing your trust, and your life, in my hands until you're actually able to do this for yourself. That's all.

The real work is to be done by you. And that includes making sure that you're getting what you need. Because, as I said, your life depends on it.

So again, if you're really serious about learning real-world self-defense and learning how to survive - learning how to win - then you owe it to yourself to be honest when answering the above questions and to take the correct action, regardless of how it feels or what ego thinks. Period!

Effective self defense requires more than just a few "karate moves." It involves the ability to think strategically, and understand how to defend yourself with as little wear-and-tear on you as possible.

If you really want to know what most people don't know about how to master self defense and how to survive a real street attack, read my newest self defense book: "Fight Smarter - Not Harder!" It's available free at: http://www.warrior-concepts-online.com/street-fighting-self-defense-book.html

Jeffrey M. Miller is an internationally-known self defense expert. Each month he teaches literally thousands of students through live seminars, corporate training events, and his online self defense courses, the lessons to be able to survive in Today's often dangerous world.

Martial Arts & Self-Defense Training - Are You Learning to Defend Against the Right Attacks?

Every day, thousands of people take up the practice of self-defense and, within weeks drop out of those same programs. According to more than one survey of those who've dropped out, the primary reason is the lack of realistic self-defense training.

Lack of realistic self-defense training?

In a self-defense or martial arts program supposedly teaching self-protection skills?

How is this possible?

Maybe, as many instructors would claim, these students aren't in a position to know what is and what isn't viable self-defense training. After all, if they knew anything about street fighting self-defense, they wouldn't be in a class in the first place.

But, regardless of whether or not a student has had any prior training or even experience in having been attacked before, the average person knows what does and doesn't look real when it comes to violence. So, that argument doesn't hold up under scrutiny.

Others would say that these students just didn't give their programs enough time. But, how much is "enough" time, especially when we're training to be able to defend ourselves.

Other studies show that the average person "thinks" about taking martial arts or self-defense for about a year before actually taking action and enrolling in a program. A year!

Now, if these people have been thinking about self-defense at all, we can only assume that something - some concern - sparked their interest. Whether it was a particular news story, a close-call of their own, or just the knowledge that the area where they were living had changed and become more dangerous, the point is that, they felt they "needed" self-defense skills.

So, by the time they actually enroll in the classes, about a year has passed. During this year, at least two things have happened. First, they weren't attacked. A good thing, yes?

But second, they became exposed to the same news that said that they needed to get this part of their lives handled - BEFORE something DID happen. Until, one day, they make the decision to take action and actually enroll into a program.

So now, at this point, they're ready to get down to business. They know, or at least feel, that's it's only a matter of time before the odds shift and they find themselves being the target of some nut or criminal attacker. At this point, they want and need - results.

But, let's not forget that these people bring something else to their training - something more than just their:

wants and needs to be safe


desire to be able to handle themselves


hopes that they can actually do what's being taught

They bring...

...their past knowledge and experience. And they're just like you.

You've seen what real, modern attacks look like. You've probably watched a movie or two that had a fight that looked more like a slug-fest than a martial arts tournament. You might have seen a boxing match in your time, or remember the fights you saw in school, the bar, or wherever.

So, whether or not you've ever been in a fight or been attacked yourself, you know what a real one looks like. You know that a modern-day street thug, or your friend who had fifteen too-many for that matter, isn't going to attack you with a:

karate-punch


crane's beak, or...



tae kwon do kick to the head

Not to say that they won't because, as they say, "anything's possible." But, you know what, possible or not, it's more "probable" that, even if you're assailant knows some martial arts, in his anger he's going to throw a good old right-cross.

The point here is this...

Regardless of what style you're being presented with, you need to make sure that the first lessons you're being taught include defenses against:

hook punches


clothing grabs


body grabs
, and...

wrist grabs

You don't need to start with defending against a tae kwon do kick as a lead off, a karate-style punch from the hip, or a judo-style grab designed to control a 16th century Samurai and prevent him from grabbing his weapons. You need to begin with...

...those techniques that you're most likely to encounter should you be attacked...

...today...

...in the 21st century.

And, therein lies the problem - and the reason that people just like you are dropping out of martial arts and self-defense programs so soon after enrolling. They very quickly realize that they're learning an ancient, stylized martial system that has lost touch with the needs of students in Today's world.

This isn't a new problem though. I talk about the same thing happening to the founder of one of the self-defense systems that I inherited from my teacher. In one of my other articles, "All Martial Arts Were Not Created Equal - Exploring The Roots Of The Takagi-Yoshin Ryu of Jutaijutsu," I explain how this same thing was going on in 15th century Japan!

Regardless of whether or not this is a new problem, it is a problem.

But, you don't have to become another statistic - another in a long-line of disappointed, or incorrectly trained students who wrongly believe that what they've learned will actually work in a life-threatening self-defense situation.

If you're going to really be prepared to protect yourself, you must make sure that your martial arts or self-defense program is teaching to defend yourself against the right attacks - the attacks that you're going to have to defend against when you're attacked by a real assailant in today's world.

Jeffrey M. Miller is the founder and master instructor of Warrior Concepts International. A senior teacher in the Japanese warrior art of Ninjutsu, and a former federal police officer, undercover agent, private investigator, and bodyguard, he specializes in teaching the ancient ways of self-protection and personal development lessons in a way that is easily understood and put to use by modern Western students and corporate clients. Through his powerful programs, you will learn proven, time-tested lessons designed to help you create the life you've always dreamed of living, and the skills necessary for protecting that life from anything that might threaten it.

To learn more about real-world self-defense training and other subjects related to the martial arts, self-defense, personal development & self-improvement, visit his website at http://www.warrior-concepts-online.com - For more free tips, strategies, and lessons for making yourself more safe in this often unsafe world, don't forget to subscribe to his powerful and informative online newsletter.

Are You Learning The Right Lessons To Protect Yourself? The 3 Realms of Self Defense Training

To most people, self defense is all the same. Even to most instructors offering to teach you how to defend yourself, the implication is that there is only one way to do things. And yet, there are actually 3 very distinct approaches to this type of training and skill development. And, each approach is designed for very specific needs, threats, and even lifestyles.

This article outlines each of these three approaches and gives you a very important perspective on the topic of self defense. After you read every word in this lesson, you'll be better armed to know what you need or, if you are already training, if the training you're getting is right for you and your unique situation.

When I first introduce the idea that there is more than one approach to self defense training, many people think that I'm talking about martial arts "style." They think that I am about to advocate one person's program over another's. And, I guess I could take that route if the only thing I wanted to do was to sell you on the idea of doing things the way I think you should.

And, even though my experience at actually dealing with real-world violence tells me that you must be doing certain things right, it doesn't matter what "style" you practice - as long as you are doing THOSE things have been proven to give you the advantage and help you survive a real attack.

That being said, there are others who think that, when I broach this topic, that I am talking about things like the difference between self defense for men and women's self defense, or groundfighting vs., favoring weapons, etc.

But, what I'm really talking about are the three realms that you may find yourself in when you need self defense techniques to handle violence coming at you. These three realms are really about "why" you need self defense techniques, and to a great degree, what you will be "allowed" to do in your defense, or in the defense of someone else.

Here are the 3 Realms that I'm talking about:

1) Law Enforcement Officer - In this realm, you must be extremely aware of the "use-of-force" doctrine, as-well-as any other departmental policies and legal limitations which serve to restrict your actions. Also, since you "must" stay on the scene, and you can't run away like a civilian, you need to be very skilled at controlling a situation, and or the assailant, until backup arrives.

In addition to physical, hand-to-hand self defense techniques, training in this realm should also include use of verbal and body language skills, personality profiling, and threat assessment training to allow for greater control and de-escalation.

2) Executive Security / Bodyguard - This realm is "exactly opposite" that of the law enforcement officer. The the LEO is required to deal with the violent attacker, the bodyguard wants as little contact with the assailant as possible. The reason for this is that, the longer you are tied up with the aggressor, the longer the principle - the client paying you to protect them - is left unattended and exposed to other danger!

The roll of the bodyguard in a high-profile situation is to pass the attacker off to secondary, uniformed security, and get the principle as far away from that location as possible. Many are surprised to find out that self defense training in this realm also includes topics such as, how to wear a suit or tuxedo properly, etiquette, and even table manners like which fork to use. The reason for these things is to be able to blend in at high-class, social events so that potential attackers can't identify, and therefor "take out" security, before they move in on the real target(s).

3) Civilian / Military Combatant - While the soldier may indeed have limitations and regulations for engaging the enemy, the rule of thumb for hand-to-hand combat in the heat of the moment is...

...survive!

And this is the same for the private citizen. Because, like the soldier, the private citizen, including the LEOs and bodyguards when they aren't working, may have the law of self defense to adhere to, but...

...how you go about defending yourself isn't generally an issue.

Where the police officer cannot just punch someone in the face and get into a boxing match, or the bodyguard can't just tackle a would be assailant, without either of these two creating more serious problems for themselves...

...as a private citizen, you can punch, kick, grapple, bring a weapon into the fight, etc.

The point here is that you need to know that what you are doing is usable and appropriate for the realm in which you re most likely to need it. So, rather than buy into some guru's "punch-first and end the fight" theory, or enrolling in that mma groundfighting school down the street...

...you need to understand your needs, and the conditions that dictate what kind of self defense techniques you will need when and if you are required to defend yourself against a violent attack!

Effective self defense requires more than just a few "karate moves." It involves the ability to think strategically, and understand how to defend yourself with as little wear-and-tear on you as possible.

If you really want to know what most people don't know about how to master self defense and how to survive a real street attack, read my newest self defense book: "Fight Smarter - Not Harder!" It's available free at: http://www.warrior-concepts-online.com/street-fighting-self-defense-book.html

Jeffrey M. Miller is an internationally-known self defense expert. Each month he teaches literally thousands of students through live seminars, corporate training events, and his online self defense courses, the lessons to be able to survive in Today's often dangerous world.