In the philosophical teachings which form the foundation for the Ninja Warrior’s lifeways, there is a principle known as the ‘law of interdependence.’ This so-called ‘law’ is not a must-do rule which one must follow, nor is it to be confused with dependence or co-dependence as it is seen today where one or more individuals who cannot or choose not to provide for themselves, lean on and ‘depend’ on the work and resources of another for the fulfillment of their needs. Rather, the law of interdependence is something that is to be recognized as a basic ‘truth’ in the world.

Much like the law of gravity or cause and effect, it is something that is ‘going-on,’ always, regardless of whether we ‘believe’ in it or not. In fact, contrary to our need to believe that we are what we are, this principle in action shows us that we are more like others than we know.

Unlike the law of gravity, however, which is difficult to understand and explain; interdependence is relatively easy to explain. Let’s use a simple analogy to understand this ‘goings-on.’ We’ll use something simple, like a Whopper. No, I’m not being paid to endorse a food franchise and you can feel free to substitute this item for any of a thousand others. But, for our purposes, it will do.

Now, most people would agree to the connection between themselves and all of the individuals working in the restaurant at the moment you visited and placed your order for the sandwich. Someone took your order; another was busy making the product; and others made sure it found its way to a tray or bag and ultimately into your hand. In this simple view, there is an interdependent connection between you - the person who ‘wants’ the sandwich, and those who are making sure that you get it.

Of course, seen from the viewpoint of any worker, they are mutually dependent on you, and many others throughout a day, wanting and willing to pay for a sandwich so that they can get a paycheck at the end of the week. For you: no restaurant - no sandwich. For them: no customers, no restaurant, no paycheck.

But, in the words of the enigmatic guru "Morphius" from the popular movie, "The Matrix", if you really want to see "how deep the rabbit hole goes," we can look much more closely at that simple sandwich.

Let’s begin with the wrapper. It wasn’t made there at the restaurant. It was delivered, probably by truck. Which means what? Well, where do you want to start? Driver? Truck dealership who sold it to Burger King? Truck manufacturer? Trailer manufacturer? Get the idea?

For now, let’s stay with the driver and truck remaining associated with the restaurant. But, already we’re talking about more than just the employees working in the restaurant, aren’t we. Many, if not all of them have families which will benefit from their paycheck in some way just as the company is benefiting from their desire or willingness to do the job they’re doing.

The wrapper itself is paper which now extends our connection to people working in the logging and paper production industries and their families. The ink does the same along those lines; and so on throughout the rest of the parts of the sandwich like the burger, vegetables, and so on.

"What’s the point?", I can hear you asking. "How does this relate to personal development, martial arts, self-defense or my life?" After all, aren’t we different than a sandwich?

I don’t think it’s the answer that will drive the point home as much as a question: If a burger can be made up of the materials, effort, energy, intention and connections of so many that it almost touches the lives of every other person on the planet - how can we believe that we, as so-called ‘individuals,’ can be any different? After all, haven’t each one of us been influenced, positively or negatively, by other people, places, and situations that caused us to believe, act, and engage the world the way we do?

Can you imagine how different you would be had those influences been different or not there at all? Just think about what motivated you to take up martial arts training. Regardless of whether it was for self-defense, the allure of Asian culture, or soemthing else - you were first exposed to those ‘other things’ - giving you your reason to take up the arts. The saying goes, "no (wo)man is an island," and it’s true. No matter how much we would like to be an ‘individual,’ we are nonetheless, tied to every other human being on the face of the planet - if by no other means than the water we drink and the air we breath. The law of interdependence teaches us to recognize the value in all things and to treat everything as though it were ‘me.’ Only then can one be sure that we are not acting in an egotistical, self-serving way that will harm, alienate, or hinder ourselves or others.

What does this have to do with our training? It is the person who recognizes and acts knowing that this is true who builds his or her world rather than isolating themselves as important and in contrast with everything and everyone else that is seen as ‘obviously’ of lesser value. It is the ego who must be "right" and "righteous" that needs to attack others - to fight for ‘right.’

There is an old saying that goes: "the truest measure of a person’s character is in the way he or she treats those least important to them." Once we understand, and can ’see’, how our every thought, word, and action acts upon the world, we can take control of the process and decide to build a character that takes responsibility for the way it affects others. No longer will we act out of a state of disconnection and isolation, but move purposefully through our world with compassion and disciplined action.

We have a choice. We can be ‘nice’ to others because it’s proper manners to do so, because we expect to get something from them, or because we have to live with them. Or, we can treat others with respect and honor because we recognize that we are already connected to them in some way already.

Jeffrey M. Miller is the founder and master instructor of Warrior Concepts International. A senior teacher in the Japanese warrior art of Ninjutsu, 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 their martial arts training, his students and clients learn proven, time-tested lessons designed to help them create the life they’ve always dreamed of living, and the skills necessary for protecting that life from anything that might threaten it. To learn more about life skills and other subjects related to the martial arts, self-defense, personal development & self-improvement, visit his website at http://www.warrior-concepts-online.com To subscribe to his online newsletter, go to http://www.warrior-concepts-online.com/newsletter-subscribe-self-defense.html

Something for our shooting "enthusiasts" -

PRELIMINARY STATEMENT

Background:

"Prior to my association with the armed forces of Great Britain and the United States I served as Assistant Commissioner in Command of the Riot Squads of the Shanghai Municipal Police Command from 1925 to 1940. During this period, our force handled over 2000 riot calls of all types and descriptions, including shooting affrays, many of which were against armed robbers and kndnappers. In addition, the squads were responsible for the investigation and tracking down of vice-rings and narcotics smugglers."……….

"…….The art of close contact fighting includes fighting with and without knives; firing of a pistol under every conceivable condition and at every possible position likely to be met in actual combat during day or night………."

MYSTERY RANGES-

"In order to create simulated combat conditions for training purposes, I planned and supervised the erection of indoor mystery ranges at Areas B-2, A-3, E and F. These ranges were originally developed by me in connection with police work in China and were first used in military training in the courses given to the British Commandos and the British Army. In the mystery ranges a simulation was affected of actual battle noises, conditions under which shooting affrays occur, especially in house to house combat. The training included methods of entering closed and locked doors, methods of bursting open such doors, methods of using trap doors, methods of roof top figthing and firing on moving and possibly concealed targets. Under varying degrees of light, darkness, and shadows, plus the introduction of sound effects, moving objects, and various alarming surprises, an opportunity is afforded to test the moral fibre of the student and to develop his courage and capacity for self control."

"The course consists of practical war methods of shooting with the one-hand gun, in which any man of average intelligence can be taught to draw, load fire and hit his opponent within a second."

"This is not a new fangled idea, but a proven method which has been in use in the far-east since 1919, against some of the most dsperate criminals in the world - men who were, (in most cases), known killers, who preferred always to shoot it out, rather than being captured and finishing up in front of a firing squad, etc….."

"All affrays were on the run - up and down stairways, over roofs, down cobbled alleyways, or in very crowded streets. Ninety percent of the shooting was in the dark and the majority of hits were within four yards. Some of the police were killed by being shot in the back at a matter of inches distance only."

"Students should be informed that the average shoting with the one-hand gun is over, so far as they will be concerned, in a very few seconds. There will no time to reload. If there first shot takes longer than a third of a second to fire, they will not be the one to tell the newspaper about it. It is literally a matter of the quick and the dead - so they can take their choice."

Pretty comprehensive sounding to me.

Instead of attempting to define and/or qualify Fairbairn’s thoughts and methodology ad nauseam, it’s best to let him tell it!

Again, the above quotes sum it all up.

Copyright 2003 www.thetruthaboutselfdefense.com ©

Carl Cestari began his study of the martial arts with judo at the age of 7 under the direction of Yoshisada Yonezuka. During the past forty plus years Carl has dedicated his life to studying the martial arts, hand to hand combat systems, history and religion. What makes Carl unique is his combination of martial arts, law enforcement and military and real world experience. Carl has been exposed to a multitude of people with a wide variety experience. The following is a list of some of Carl’s ranks and honors. Shinan (Founder) Tekkenryu jujutsu Ryokudan (6th degree) Koshinkai Karate under John Burrelle Godan (5th degree) Jujutsu under Clarke of the World Jujutsu Fedaration (now defunct) Sandan (3rd degree) Nippon Kempo under Narabu Sada Nidan (2nd degree) Judo under Masafumi Suzuki Shodan (1st degree) Judo under Yoshisada Yonezuka Shodan (1st degree) Shukokai Karate under Kimura, Kadachi and Yonezuka Shodan (1st degree) Daitoryu Aikijujutsu Instructors Certificate- Charles Nelson System of Self Defense under Charlie Nelson http://www.thetruthaboutselfdefense.com

We all have a good foundation in the basic blows and combinations.

Think about adding the following drills to your basic syllabus.

These can be trained as "stand alone" combinations OR worked into existing "Defendu" combinations either "before" or "after".

1. HARD left lead to chin (mental foramen) HARD overhand right to chin (opposite side) then: HARD upward right knee to fork.

Repeat punching combo. Then: Side step with right leg (out and to the right 45 degree) LEFT knee to fork.

2. HARD left to chin. HARD right to solar-plexus.

Then the knee smashes as above.

3. HARD left to SOLAR-PLEXUS. HARD right to chin.

Then the knee smashes as above.

4. HARD left to solar-plexus. HARD right to SOLAR-PLEXUS.

Then the knee smashes as above.

Basically it’s a series of drills to train the TWO most fundamental punches to head and body, followed by a knee smash to the nuts, practicing with either knee.

Give it a try.

NO BITCHING about "hurting" your hands! NO "Nancy" boys (or girls) allowed here!

________________________________________

Now try this:

For the sake of the drill "visualize" an attacker moving in with a straight left lead right to your snot-box.

What realistic possibilities exist:

1. Side step IN to your LEFT and 45 degrees.

2. Side step DIRECTLY to YOUR left.

3. Side step BACK to LEFT at 45 degrees.

4. STEP directly to the REAR.

Any of these FOUR "inside" shifts/footwork maneuvers will allow you to avoid/evade the straight left and COUNTER from the OPEN or INSIDE line (his right/your left).

EACH of these sidestep/back step maneuvers HAS both advantages and disadvantages. Depending on environment-obstacles and/or multiple assailants, etc. EACH can be useful if NOT the only choice possible. FIGURE THIS OUT!

Now add the FOUR basic combinations. You NOW have TWENTY-FOUR drills to use and abuse. TWO HARD PUNCHES - A KNEE or KICK to the NUTS and FOUR footwork maneuvers and YOU have enough material to LAST FOR MONTHS or daily training.

AND THIS is only for YOUR LEFT SIDE!

SOOOOOOOOOO………How do we train this and REALLY LEARN from it:

Face your main striking tool (Bob, Spar Pro, Heavy bag). VISUALIZE the STRAIGHT LEFT LEAD and THE BODY POSITION of your IMAGINARY attacker. The bag now becomes THAT assailant - Left hand snaking out to crush your - LEFT foot forward, BODY turned to a 45 degree.

OK? Get IT?

NOW practice sidestepping as above and then IMMEDIATELY countering. EACH FOOTWORK pattern will allow you (or FORCE you) to make adjustments in order to close in and HIT with POWER, speed, accuracy and BALANCE. WORK THIS!!!!!!!! Your common sense and BODY will TEACH YOU THE BEST WAY to do THIS!

NEXT………………………Place an OBSTACLE like a chair at various points to YOUR left or the bags right. This represents either a REAL obstacle OR a SECOND adversary.

NOW, figure OUT which BODY maneuver will GET YOU OUT of DODGE and still ALLOW for a HARD and FAST while GIVING the "second" opponent the LEAST chance of successfully attacking OR how you would have to move to AVOID a REAL WORLD obstacle.

And this is JUST the beginning! Imagine how GOOD you will become if you TRAIN EACH INDIVIDUAL technique like this!

Make a COMPLETE study of a KNEE smash, edge of hand, chin-jab, tiger-claw, side boot kick, groin kick, elbows, punches, and on and on! Master each INDIVDUAL attack covering ALL OPTIONS both left and right sides and LEFT and RIGHT body shifting!

THEN start with combinations!

Just think of the SKILL, SPEED, POWER and MASTERY you will acquire over EACH attack method, and THEN consider how well you’ll move with your combinations!

This is what we worked on yesterday at Ralph’s.

Like I always say……………YOU are YOUR BEST TEACHER!

Get something REALLY GOOD to HIT. Attach a rope or belt or anything that you can SEIZE HARD and YANK with your left hand. Now take your right fist and PUNCH AS HARD, AS FAST, AS POWERFULLY as YOU CAN REPEATEDLY. FASTER and HARDER. WITH AS MUCH INTENSE EMOTION, ANGER, RAGE, HATE, FURY, VENOM, FEROCITY and KILLING INSTINCT as you CAN!

Copyright 2003 www.thetruthaboutselfdefense.com ©

Carl Cestari began his study of the martial arts with judo at the age of 7 under the direction of Yoshisada Yonezuka. During the past forty plus years Carl has dedicated his life to studying the martial arts, hand to hand combat systems, history and religion. He is continually improving himself through his studies. What makes Carl unique is his combination of martial arts, law enforcement, military and real world experience. Carl has been exposed to a multitude of people with a wide variety experience. Below is a list of some of Carl’s ranks and honors.

Shinan (Founder)Tekkenryu jujutsu

Ryokudan (6th degree)

Koshinkai Karate under John Burrelle

Godan (5th degree)Jujutsu under Clarke of the World Jujutsu Fedaration (now defunct)

Sandan (3rd degree)Nippon Kempo under Narabu Sada

Nidan (2nd degree)Judo under Masafumi Suzuki

Shodan (1st degree)Judo under Yoshisada Yonezuka

Shodan (1st degree)Shukokai Karate under Kimura, Kadachi and Yonezuka

Shodan (1st degree)Daitoryu Aikijujutsu

Instructors Certificate-Charles Nelson System of Self Defense under Charlie Nelson

”Tokio Hirano (1922-1993) 8th Dan The Man Who Revolutionized Judo” By Jim Chen, M.D . and Theodore Chen

Hirano 7th Dan At Age 42

Tokio Hirano (5’5”, 75 kg), obtained Godan (5th dan) at age 19, is perhaps the greatest Judo technician of all time. He is probably the best known Japanese Judoka in Europe. In 1952, Hirano went to teach Judo in Europe. Within six years, he had accumulated over 4,300 wins. In order to promote Judo, Hirano would fight all black belts in the city where he taught Judo. In November 1954, in Mannheim, Germany, Hirano scored all ippons (knock out) in 34 minutes against 54 black belt opponents (1-3 dan).Traditional nage-waza (throwing techniques) were taught in the following sequence: kumu (gripping), tsukuru (the entry and proper fitting of your body into position taken just before the movement required for completion of your throwing technique), kakeru (completing), and nageru (throwing).Hirano revolutionized the order to tsukuru, kumu, kakeru and nageru. This is the current European style Judo. This is a proven method to defeat bigger opponents, as demonstrated by Hirano’s stunning success. Wilhelm Ruska (Holland) 192 cm, 115 kg, was his most accomplished student. Ruska was the world heavyweight champion in 1967 and 1971 and runner up in 1969 (open weight). Wilhelm was the dual gold medalist in heavy and open weight class at the 1972 Munich Olympics. Win Against European Wrestling Champion

Hirano throwing Artz

In the spring of 1955, Hirano went to teach in Amsterdam, Holland. He was challenged by Peter Artz (four time European free style wrestling heavy weight champion). Hirano agreed to both a Judo and wrestling fight. Each match was for ten minutes. The wrestling match would be decided by pinning the back for ten seconds. The Judo match would decided by a clean throw. At the start of the wrestling match, Hirano was able to throw Artz several times, but was unable to pin him due to perspiration (they fought without a Judo gi). About six minutes into the fight, Hirano made a Kiai (yell). He jumped and grabbed Artz’s head and threw him with a koshi-guruma (Head lock or Hip wheel throw), pinned him with kesa-gatame (Scarf Hold) for ten seconds; winning the wrestling match. In the Judo match, there was no contest. Within 30 seconds Hirano threw Artz cleanly with ippon seoinage (Shoulder throw).

Fourteen Wins At Kodokan - 1941

Hirano, age 19 During Judo’s one hundred year history, the easiest way to get a rank promotion from Kodokan was to take part in the Ko-Haku Shiai (red-white team competition) which was held twice a year (Spring and Fall). By winning with 5 ippons one could receive a one dan promotion the same day. Hirano was born on August 6th, 1922 in Hyogo prefecture (near Kobe), Japan. Hirano obtained his first black belt by winning 22 ippons with osoto-gari. He graduated from Hei-an high school as 3rd dan, later he was recertified by Kodokan as 4th dan. He moved to Takushoku university in April 1941 under the recommendation of his Sensei Fukushima. During his seven months training at Takushoku University, he did nothing but newaza. Hardly did he have a chance to practice tachi-waza (throwing techniques).

Hirano Trains with Fukushima 9th dan

On October 19, 1941, Hirano participated in the Ko-haku shiai. That morning he received a bag of several persimmons, a gift from Wushijima Sensei. During the training session, Wushijima was so fierceful that everybody was afraid of him. On the other hand he was so kind and thoughtful, almost like a tender loving father. Hirano was very grateful for the teaching and kindness from Wushijima Sensei. He swore to do the best in the Ko-haku Shiai. Hirano defeated a Kodokan record 14 opponents. All of his opponents were 4th dan, and were defeated with ippon seoinage, juji gatame (arm lock), kamishiho-gatame (upper four corner pin), tai-otoshi (body drop), ouchi-gari (small inner leg reap), tsurikomi-goshi (lifting hip throw) or osoto-gari (Big outer leg reap). He fought to a draw with his 15th opponent. All Japan Collegiate Judo Championship 1941-42

On October 31, 1941 , Hirano participated in the All Japan Collegiate Judo Championship. In the fourth round he won by tsurikomi-goshi, fifth round by tai-otoshi; and sixth round by juji-gatame. His final opponent was Yasuichi Matsumoto (187 cm, 90 kg, All Japan Champion in 1948, famous for Tenri style osoto-gari) . Matsumoto attacked Hirano with osoto-gari. Hirano countered with osoto-gari and tai-otoshi. Neither scored a point when time was up. Hirano managed to throw Matsumoto immediately during the overtime with seoi-nage (both should throw) to obtain his first major title. All of the matches after the fourth round to final were decided by Ippon. Techniques used included osoto-gari, uchi-mata (inner thigh throw), tai-otoshi, seoi-nage, tsurikomi-goshi, hane-goshi (spring hip throw) and juji-gatame. It was an amazingly high quality competition. The following year, Hirano took the title again with five ippons. In the semi-finals, he had a tough fight against Okubo (182 cm,104 kg) 5th dan. Hirano managed to throw him with seoi-nage and scored a wazaari (half point). In the final match, Hirano defeated Tsunoda with osoto-gari. In 1943 Hirano met Okubo again at the Judo Championship 5th dan division, sponsored by The Department of Imperial Affairs. Like their previous match, no points were scored for the first seven minutes. During the overtime, Hirano eventually won by ippon with an ouchi-gari and seoinage combination.

Third National Athletic Judo Championship - 1947

Hirano took part in the individual championship held on November 2, 1947. Kimura , Ishikawa (champion in 1948, ‘49), Hirosei (champion in 1943) and Matsumoto decided not to compete in this meet and allow one of the rookies to win the major title. How gracious they were. Nevertheless, Yoshimatsu (champion in 1952, ‘53 and ‘55) and Daigo (champion in ‘51, ‘56) were among the contenders. In the third round Hirano won by seoi-nage. In the semi-finals he won by tai-otoshi. His final opponent was Hadori (170 cm, 95kg, famous for tsurikomi-goshi and kouchi-gari). Hadori defeated Daigo by ura-nage (back arch throw) at the semi-finals. Hadori proved to be a formidable fighter. Hadori attacked with tsurikomi-goshi, and seoi-nage while Hirano applied his osoto-gari and tai-otoshi with no result. With time running out, Hirano managed to score a wazaari with osoto-gari, thus winning the championship.

Jigoku Kego - Hell Training with Wushijima

In high school, Hirano practiced Judo six hours a day and would randori for two hours. Between 8:30pm and 11pm at Yoshikatakai Ziku, he would randori against 3-4 th dan opponents from Bushen (Academy of Martial Arts). Every night he slept around 1:00am.The following morning he awoke at 5:30am and repeated the routine again. He started with one hundred and fifty push-ups, then jogged and sprinted for 2km, and finished with 40 minutes of randori.Hard training paid off even though he was small and inexperienced as a 2nd dan. Every so often he was able to throw 3rd and 4th dan opponents from Bushen. When Hirano moved to Tokyo and trained under Wushijima Sensei (Wushijima 9th dan, two time All Japan champion) at Takushoku University, he finally realized what Jigoku Kego really was! It consisted of five minutes of warm-ups, 3-4 hours of continuous Ne Waza. This was "Hell Training!” It was considered disgraceful to surrender while being choked. As a result, a typical scene at Takushoku Dojo was 4-5 people passed out, unconscious from chokes. While Hirano was a student in Takushoku University, he went to the Metropolitan police dojo to practice. In 3 hours of continuous randori, he had accumulated approx 500 ippons on 60 black belts. Pre-WWII Judoka felt that a winning or losing was not a matter of talent but rather that of hard training. “Attack Till Your Heart Stop Beating” was Wushijima Sensei’s Motto Hirano obtained his first black belt by winning 22 ippons, at the high school team competition at the National athletic championship held on November 3, 1939. In the semifinals, Hirano and his opponent fell from the 2 meter high stage to the ground. Despite the doctor’s orders to stop, Hirano refused to forfeit. The match was fought to a draw. In the final match Hirano faced a 4th dan opponent. Again the match ended with a draw, following the match, Hirano passed out. The doctor later determined that Hirano had a dislocated left shoulder and two broken ribs. Hirano possessed this fighting spirit even before Wushijima’s hell training.Judo was not a sport to those pre WWII Judoka. It was more of a Samurai duel. In order to win the shiai, vigorous training was absolutely necessary. Five hundred push ups, randori 6 hours, plus tachi-ki-wuchikomi (repetition against a tree) was a common training regiment for success. Training was so intense enough that Hirano once dreamt of collapsing the tallest building with his osoto-gari.

Hirano trains Ruska

Ruska once asked Hirano the key to strong Judo. Hirano replied that there was no such medicine. Hirano advised Ruska to train for hand grip power whenever possible, stair climbing and hip strengthening. Ten days before the 1967 world Judo championships, Hirano practiced with Ruska. Hirano felt that Ruska’s tachi–waza was only second class (Pre WWII Japanese standard). Ruska’s newaza was fifth class. At that time Hirano was able to apply choke or osaekomi (pinning) very easily. When Ruska won the heavy weight champion title, Hirano was very happy that his student was so successful. On the other hand, he was very sad that Japanese Judo had declined to a level he could not imagine.

Judo World Loses Two Giants Kimura And Hirano In 1993

Wushijima sensei nurtured and trained two Judo great, Masahiko Kimura and Tokio Hirano. Unfortunately Kimura died on April 18, 1993.Tokio Hirano returned to Japan in 1966 after Judo touring in Europe for 15 years. He later returned to Europe to conduct annual Judo clinics. Even at the age of 60, he practiced ne-waza with 20 years old varsity students. The great legendary technician died of cancer of liver on July 26, 1993. Through his two books, thousands of students, and memory of those incredible fights, this great legend will live forever. Hirano’s trademark throw was a leaping tai-otoshi

Change is inevitable. Growth is optional.

Copyright 2003 www.thetruthaboutselfdefense.com ©

Damian Ross is the owner of Zenshin and instructor of Tekkenryu jujutsu and Kodokan Judo. He started competing in the combative sport of wrestling in 1975 at the age of 7 and began his study of Asian martial arts with Moo Duk Kwan Tae Kwon Do at the age of 16 in 1984. In 1989, Shinan Cestari gave a seminar at Sensei Ross’s dojo. Sensei Ross has trained under Shinan Cestari’s direction ever since. In addition to Tekkenryu Jujutsu, Judo and Tae Kwon Do, Sensei Ross has also studied Bando. Sensei Ross continues his study of Judo under the direction of 8th degree black belt Yoshisada Yonezuka and Tekkenryu Jujutsu under it’s founder, Carl Cestari. Below are is a list of some of his title ranks Yodan (fourth degree black belt) Tekkenryu Jujutsu under Carl Cestari Shodan (First degree black belt) Kodokan Judo under Yoshisada Yonezuka Varsity Wrestling Lehigh University under Thad Turner 2nd Degree Black Belt Tae Kwon Do http://www.thetruthaboutselfdefense.com

Over the next couple of day’s I will writing an article of the history of Pre-WWII Japanese Jujitsu/Judo. I wasn’t sure where to start, but here I am so let’s get started.

I’m going to start with H. Irving Hancock, who in the early 1900’s wrote several books on the history of Japanese physical training & Jujitsu. I will start with his book Japanese Physical Training written in 1903.

"Subsequently he studied in Nagasaki, under Inouye San, instructor of Jiu-jitsu in the police department of that city".

This was the first time I heard of Inouye. Now if we look at Hancock’s other book Jiu-jitsu Combat Tricks written a year later in 1904:

"Exponents of the Tenjin School of jiu-jitsu have developed in all its possible perfection a style of stopping the boxer’s blow that cannot be surpassed for neatness of execution, effectiveness and swiftness. It is a feat that applies only to stopping a left-hand blow by the boxer."

Before leaving this book, the reason for the above two quotes are:

1.) The mentioning of Inouye, the jujitsu instructor of the Nagasaki police dept.

2.) The mention of the system "Tenjin/Tenshin"

Later you will see where I’m going with this.

Another quote that is very interesting.

"In Japan the full course in jiu-jitsu requires four years time".

That seems very reasonable, as I have read that it takes about 15 years to receive a Menkyo Kaiden in Tenjin Shinyo Ryu today. The question is, why so long? I don’t have 15 years to devote to one art.

At this point I would like to bring up another old book on jiu-jitsu, "THE YABE SCHOOL OF JIU JITSU" written in 1904 by Yae Kichi Yabe. In Yabe’s book he mentions that the system is based on that of "Tenshin". Also in this book is the phase "Vital Touches" used to describe Atemi or "Ate"!

Professor John J. O’Brien states that he received his diploma in Jiu Jitsu in 1905 from the Governor of Nagasaki. O’Brien spent ten years as Inspector of Police in Nagasaki. He was responsible for introducing Presiedent Teddy Roosevelt to Jiu Jitsu as well as instructing Colonel A.J. Drexel Biddle.

Next we move on to Col. Risher W. Thornberry. Thornberry wrote several books on jujitsu from 1905 to 1933. In his first jujitsu book written in 1905, the first page is very interesting. It shows a picture of Prof. Kishoku Inouye, "Instructor to the Nagasaki Police". At the top of the page it reads, "Jiu-jitsu - As taught by Prof. Inouye to over 2,000 Officers and Soldiers now at the front line." Reference to the Russo/Japanese war.

This book was written only a year or two after Hancock’s book. They both mention Inouye & Tenshin. A definite connection is beginning to develop.

An interesting quote from Thornberry’s book,

"Jiu-jitsu has a weapon in the form of "atemi, or vital touches", which may be administered with the thumb, the clenched hand, the elbows, the tows, the edge of the hand, or even with the head." Again, the reason for mentioning this quote is the use of the word "Vital touches".

Research shows that Thornberry actively taught jiu-jitsu. One of Thornberry’s students was Samuel R. Linck. Linck went on to publish a book in 1943 called "COMBAT JIU JITSU". An excellent book. Linck studied under Thornberry in Los Angeles for a number of years. Linck received a "Master Diploma" from Thornberry in "Tenshin Ryu" dated May 6th, 1935.

In Linck’s book he offers a brief history of jiu-jitsu.

"These forms of the art were closely guarded and only taught to the samurai or warrior class, the group now known as the Black Dragon Society".

Linck taught a man by the name George Tate. Linck and Tate taught a jiu-jitsu class in Los Angeles. Later on, Tate succeeded Linck as instructor and continued to teach and train in Jiu-jitsu. Tate went on to become the jiu-jitsu instructor for the Los Angeles police department and later conducted class at the L.A. Judo Club.

Copyright 2003 www.thetruthaboutselfdefense.com ©

Carl Cestari began his study of the martial arts with judo at the age of 7 under the direction of Yoshisada Yonezuka. During the past forty plus years Carl has dedicated his life to studying the martial arts, hand to hand combat systems, history and religion. He is continually improving himself through his studies. What makes Carl unique is his combination of martial arts, law enforcement, military and real world experience. Carl has been exposed to a multitude of people with a wide variety experience. The following is a list of some of Carl’s ranks and honors.

Shinan (Founder) Tekkenryu jujutsu

Ryokudan (6th degree) Koshinkai Karate under John Burrelle

Godan (5th degree) Jujutsu under Clarke of the World Jujutsu Fedaration (now defunct)

Sandan (3rd degree) Nippon Kempo under Narabu Sada

Nidan (2nd degree) Judo under Masafumi Suzuki

Shodan (1st degree) Judo under Yoshisada Yonezuka

Shodan (1st degree) Shukokai Karate under Kimura, Kadachi and Yonezuka

Shodan (1st degree) Daitoryu Aikijujutsu

Instructors Certificate- Charles Nelson System of Self Defense under Charlie Nelson

FROM THE BOOK: "PIERCING THE REICH"
AUTHOR: JOSEPH E. PERSICO

They learned the art of silent killing, perfected by W.E. Fairbairn, the legendary British Major, sometimes known as "Delicate Dan." Knife strokes taught, should be upward, from the testicles to the chin. The hand in a "tiger claw" position was most effective for gouging out eyes. A single sheet of newspaper, they learned, could become a crude dagger. Fold the paper to approximately six inches by two inches. Then fold it diagonally to form a sharp point at one end. Drive the pointed end hard into the stomach or under the jaw, just behind the chin.

FROM THE BOOK: "BEHIND JAPANESE LINES"
AUTHOR: RICHARD DUNLOP

British Major Dan Fairbairn, who had been chief of police in Shanghai before the Japanese capture of the city, taught the Fairbairn method of assault and murder. His course was not restricted to Camp X but later given at OSS camps in the United States. All of us who were taught by Major Fairbairn soon realized that he had an honest dislike for anything that smacked of decency in fighting.

"To him, there were no rules in staying alive. He taught us to enter a fight with one idea; to kill an opponent quickly and efficiently," said Ray Peers.

Fairbairn had invented a stiletto as precise as a surgeon’s scalpel. He wielded it with a flashing, slashing vigor that invariably proved fatal to an opponent.

"Why is it so long and thin?" I asked him one day in a question period during my own course of instruction. "It doesn’t have a cutting edge." "It doesn’t leave any marks on the body," he replied. "Scarcely more than a tiny drop of blood."

Fairbairn taught his trainees to fire anything from a pistol to a BAR at close quarters, by aiming with the body. In unarmed combat he overcame one hulking trainee after another. With a wry smile the wiry major would admonish his bruised and bleeding students, "Don’t let anybody lead you down the garden path."

FROM THE BOOK: "THE FIRST COMMANDO KNIVES"
AUTHOR: PROF. KELLY YEATON, LT. COL. SAMUEL S. YEATON (USMC)
AND COL. REX APPLEGATE

On January 24th, 1933, he wrote me:
"This man Fairbairn is beyond the shadow of a doubt the greatest of "the greatest of them all." I’ve had about 12 hours of conferences with him and done a couple of hour’s work on the mats. His stuff is not jiu-jitsu or judo - he gave us an exhibition of judo using five men, two third-degree black belts, two second, and one first, to prove it. He uses some of their falls and a few holds, but not more than about 20% of it and most with variations. It’s not Chinese boxing, of which 80% is mere ritual. It’s a collection of all the known methods of dirty fighting and it will beat them all. He knows it will, he’s done it. Judo is to clean on every hold a judo man’s eyes and testicles are vulnerable. But it is awful fast; still, it’s not as fast as boxing. We proved that, and to the Japanese, at that. Given men of equal speed, it’s the man who is not surprised by the others method of attack who will win. We put Sam Taxis [the third Sam] who boxes featherweight now against a third degree judo man [the punches not to be delivered and the throws not to be carried out] and it was a draw. But we had a man hold up his hand as a target and Sammy Taxis put a one-two on it while a man stood beside the hand and tried to grab his hands. All they got was his necktie. The remarkable thing about Fairbairn is that although he damn near does know it all, he doesn’t seem to think he does. If you’ve got an idea, he’ll not only listen to you and point out what’s wrong, if anything, but he’ll admit if it’s new to him and as good as or better than his own current methods."

One of the motivating causes for the interest in the fighting knife was the discovery that even Fairbairn ("The Greatest of Them all") had no real defense against a knife in the hands of trained fighters. We knew a number of ways of disarming men with pistols, some of them relatively safe. Even trying to disarm a person with a knife is dangerous, unless the person attacks with the dramatic "assassin’s stab" holding the knife like an ice-pick overhead. For that kind of stupidity there is a clear and positive response, fortunately. But even for the Paris "Apache’s" style coming in low, with the knife edge upward and aiming at the guts, Fairbairn had only two suggestions

A. RUN

B. "With a lighting-like kick of either foot, kick him in the testicles or stomach."

But when my brother asked him to demonstrate this move, "Willie never even got up from his desk he just said, ‘You missed the phrase lighting-like I don’t do lighting-like any more.’"

FROM THE BOOK: "SOE ASSIGNMENT"
AUTHOR: DONALD HAMILTON HILL

"Another or our distinguished instructors was a tall spare man - who looked like a bishop - with steel-rimmed spectacles, a soft voice and wrists of iron. He was Captain Bill Sykes - formerly of the Shanghai Police - and he taught unarmed combat and quick shooting reactions such as how to kill four people in a room whilst falling down on the ground near the door lintel to make oneself a difficult target. His methods of unarmed combat and silent killing were such that many were able in the years to come to save themselves entirely owing to his instructions. The Germans in 1942 published a pamphlet, which portrayed his methods, and used it in neutral countries to enlist sympathy against the diabolical British. ‘Our man’ in Lisbon picked up one or two and sent them to me for comment with a request for a UK posting, and training with Bill Sykes."

CAPTAIN PETER MASON, A RETIRED BRITISH INTELLIGENCE OFFICER, NOW LIVING IN CANADA WRITES:

"So, E.A. Sykes had far more of an interesting career in the Far East, than just being a volunteer special sergeant attached to the sniper squad of the Shanghai Municipal Police! "As to any ‘yarns,’ I only recall two stunts that he performed, and both involved the Government .45 auto. The first was demonstrated with a proved empty Colt’s auto. To illustrate how pushing a prisoner along with a .45 will push back the slide and perhaps disconnect the firing mechanism, should the prisoner know his pistols (!) allowing him to wipe the handgun aside, etc., etc. "And the other example, which I saw demonstrated, was after we did the combat pistol course, and all were felling rather over-confident with the knock-down power of the issued Colt cartridge, Bill called a greatcoat-clad sergeant over to stand at the fifty-yard target backstop. The ‘target’ stood with feet about thirty inches apart, hands in overcoat pockets, and holding the garment away from his body. A loaded ‘Thompson’ was set at repetition fire mode, and Bill tapped-off single shots that struck the center of the man’s coat. At each shot I saw his coat ‘flick’ and I, like everybody present, assumed that the bullets just hit the multi-layers of cloth and dropped to the earth. Our greatcoats were double breasted heavy woolen material, with a same cloth lining, plus a heavy-weave horse hair-like spacer, so that’s six layers. But to this day I wouldn’t want to try it!

NANCY FORWARD (SOE) (CODE NAME "WHITE MOUSE") WHO WAS FAMOUS FOR HER WORK WITH THE FRENCH MARQUIS, IS ONE OFTHE FEW SOE AGENTS STILL LIVING. SHE WRITES:

"I have already told you that Sykes was the instructor who taught me ’silent killing,’ amongst other things. Poor Sykes was forgotten like many other people in Great Britain, and elsewhere. My impression of Sykes was very favorable and I would have liked to have known him better. I was the only female in our class and I remember that whenever he addressed me, or gave me an order, his tone of voice was not so ‘crisp’ - to coin a common old phrase - ‘a thorough gent!’ I have always regretted that I was unable to thank him for all the things he taught me."

BILL PILKINGTON, WHO WAS ONE OF THE FIRST CLOSE COMBAT INSTRUCTORS TRAINED BY FAIRBAIRN AND SYKES FOR DUTY WITH THE HOME GUARD, STILL LIVING IN ENGLAND, WRITES:

"Of course, we must remember that in 1939-45 there were still some ‘deadheads’ in our forces, officers who had not advanced professionally in civil life, and when called to service life, they were reluctant to acknowledge they were ‘behind’ in knowledge. "This was one of the aspects with both Fairbairn and Sykes; they both openly criticized the Top Brass, for ‘Dog in the Bloody Manger’ attitude. These comments were, in my hearing, openly said to Staff Officers, by both Fairbairn and Sykes. And they were quite right, the ‘Old Guard’ of Whitehall Wafflers who had slept soundly from 1918 to 1939, failed to appreciate how advanced other nations were, compared to Britain, but the worst part was the Old Guard were reluctant to allow others who had kept abreast of the times to circulate their knowledge. Obviously, this was to protect their image. This may well have some bearing on the lack of written work available today, much has been deliberately destroyed out of jealousy."

ANOTHER LETTER BY PILKINGTON DATED OCTOBER 10, 1995. HE WRITES:

"Following the disaster of the Norwegian campaign, and then Dunkirk in 1940, Britain anticipated that Hitler would invade. Desperate measures were called for, because there was little left in the way of arms or ammunition, also the nation had suffered a blow to its spirit. "The Local Defense volunteer Force became, officially, the Home Guard, a body of willing but untrained men, mostly ex-servicemen from the 1914-18 war. In desperation the Government of the day called in two officers from the Shanghai Municipal Police. These were Captain W.E. Fairbairn and Captain E.A. Sykes. "I was introduced to these officers because I had already qualified in Jujutsu to a Brown Belt. Also I was about the only man who had been taught Kendo and Indian Lathi. Captain Fairbairn explained he intended to train a dozen men to become instructors in killing tactics, who would then go out to teach other men to become instructors in the Police, Home Guard, and Civil Defense Corps. These would become the defense of Britain in the event of the invasion. "I found that Captain Fairbairn was very much in charge. Captain Sykes had equal authority, and great ability. He was the finest rifle shot I have ever seen, as well as being very good with the .45 Colt 1911 Automatic pistol. Both officers were very skilled in unarmed combat also, Fairbairn was obviously the master of various disciplines and the first team of 12 potential instructors, including me, soon learned to respect both our tutors. "Captain Fairbairn was very strict, he insisted that the training he gave aimed at perfection. In retrospect, I feel both officers gave us all very good ability to impart knowledge to others. "Captain Fairbairn was a hard man, so was Sykes [now called Bill Sykes, but most certainly NOT to his face] but he had a lot more patience. They were two different men, of course. ‘Bill Sykes looked like a village person, round faced, he had a mild look, unlike Fairbairn who looked hard, despite white hair, horned rimmed glasses giving him the look of a schoolmaster. Bill Sykes was friendly, but never familiar, he would be a bad man to cross. Once or twice he did show temper, but then only for a few moments. "We all learned Fairbairn was married, but we never learned if Sykes was. Apart from his disclosing that before joining the police, he had been a representative for Remington Arms and Ammunition organization, we learned little about him. He did have medal ribbons on his tunic, as did Fairbairn, but I never tried to remember what these were for. "Sykes had a very good knowledge of Martial Arts, and like Fairbairn, he was physically very powerful, and a good boxer. In knife fighting, both Fairbairn and Sykes were excellent. I thought Fairbairn was the better of the two, he was a Master of the blade. Sykes was always relaxed, his moon face was pleasant but you never knew what was on his mind. He was full of surprises in training. "I did teach a few hundred people the killing arts, and I am grateful for the training I experienced with Fairbairn and Sykes, they were really masters of their craft.

FROM THE BOOK: "MAQUIS - THE ACCOUNT OF A FRENCH-AMERICAN OPERTIVE" AUTHOR: GEORGE MILLER

Such training in these schools had saved his radio operator, he told me. When his circuit got "blown" the Gestapo had captured his operator, a young Frenchman. They searched him, but failed to find the small automatic hidden in a special holster. [Note: a Colt .380 in a crotch holster] The pistol following the rule of his master was ready cocked and at "safe." When they had handcuffed him they took him away in a car. There were three Germans in the car. One beside him in the back seat. The radio operator had never fired a pistol except in England at the school where he had been taught like us to snap shoot at cardboard targets. He was afraid that he would miss. But he was more afraid of what would happen when he arrived where they were taking him. Despite his manacles he opened his buttons, pushed down the "safe" lever on his [gun] and brought it to the point where it would draw freely. A glance around, he held his breath, drew, and fired as he had been taught. "Bang-bang." Two holes sprang red in the back of the driver’s neck. The car overturned. He shot the other two.

ELSEWHERE MILLER RECORDS:

We were taught to use the forward-crouching stance and the quick, snap shooting method. Some of us got so accurate with the pistols that we were like King George V knocking down driven grouse. The French-American danced. His legs were tense and springy, but above the waist, except for his straight right arm, his body was loosely balanced. As the targets popped up, or darted from one screened side of the range to the other, his stiff arm leaped to the horizontal and the automatic, a blue, shining continuation of his arm, spoke "crack-crack," and again "crack-crack."

FROM THE BOOK: "AMATEUR AGENT" AUTHOR: EWAN BUTLER. EWAN BUTLER, AN SOE AGENT, RECALLES HIS TRAINING AT THE HANDS OF E.A. SYKES. BULTER GIVES A PARTICULARLY GOOD ACCOUNT OF THE SOE ASSAULT COURSE AT ARISAIG, JUST WEST OF LOCHAILORT:

This system involved what was called the "battle crouch position." The gunman crouched slightly, held the pistol in line with the center of his body. Soon is became a second forefinger to him. After several periods on a more or less orthodox range, the students were shown quite an elaborate little village, which lay at the foot of a steep bluff. At the top of the cliff a soldier stood beside a set of levers, which looked somewhat like those in a railway signal-box. The village, we were informed, was full of Germans. It was our business to kill them all. We were given two Colt .45 automatics, already loaded and two spare clips of ammunition apiece. Then, one by one, we were to attack each house in turn. The door of the first house sprang open in response to a brisk kick, and the signalman on the top of the bluff went into action. The houses were fully furnished and fully occupied. No sooner had a dummy, impelled by wires, leaped out of bed to tackle the intruder and been shot for his pains, than a trapdoor opened, "men" emerged from beneath tables, bottles and chairs came hurtling disconcertingly at the gunman’s head. Pistols blazing, one dispatched, as one hoped, all the occupants of the first house, and dashed to the second, where a fresh set of hazards presented itself. By the time I had gone through five houses in a matter of forty-five seconds or so, and had been told that I had scored a creditable number of hits, I was inclined to feel quite pleased with myself. Then came the chilling thought that the dummies, however lifelike their movements, had not been armed.

Copyright 2003 www.thetruthaboutselfdefense.com ©

Carl Cestari began his study of the martial arts with judo at the age of 7 under the direction of Yoshisada Yonezuka. During the past forty plus years Carl has dedicated his life to studying the martial arts, hand to hand combat systems, history and religion. What makes Carl unique is his combination of martial arts, law enforcement and military and real world experience. Carl has been exposed to a multitude of people with a wide variety experience. The following is a list of some of Carl’s ranks and honors.

Shinan (Founder) Tekkenryu jujutsu Ryokudan (6th degree) Koshinkai Karate under John Burrelle Godan (5th degree) Jujutsu under Clarke of the World Jujutsu Fedaration (now defunct) Sandan (3rd degree) Nippon Kempo under Narabu Sada Nidan (2nd degree) Judo under Masafumi Suzuki Shodan (1st degree) Judo under Yoshisada Yonezuka Shodan (1st degree) Shukokai Karate under Kimura, Kadachi and Yonezuka Shodan (1st degree) Daitoryu Aikijujutsu Instructors Certificate- Charles Nelson System of Self Defense under Charlie Nelson

http://www.thetruthaboutselfdefense.com

It’s a question that we went back and forth with for awhile ourselves many moons ago. The "how" and "why" of our conclusions may be of some interest. Whether or not anyone agrees with them, well at the least you’ll fully understand the basis for them.

The question is this:

Why does Fairbairn stress the straight thumb in line with the barrel, even for one handed shooting?

Years ago when we first began our attempt to sort out the mechanics, methods and reasoning behind this type of shooting we had the exact same question! It really is an excellent question.

We need a little history here. When a group of us started to "experiement" with this method of shooting we had all been indoctrinated and trained in one or both of the prevailing "practical" shooting methods extant. One being the "cutting edge method" of the time, that owing to Jeff Cooper and the methods being taught at Gunsite. The other being the fairly standard FBI clone known as the "Practical Pistol Course". Most police recruit training of this period emphasized the PPC tactical course of fire over any other method, including the much touted "Weaver". Full sight alignment, "positive" grip with a two-hand "isoceles", barricade firing with both single and double action(most departments carried wheel guns) all done at varying distancesand various battery firing positions. The only time ANYTHING approaching "instinct" shooting was even mentioed was at the six foot range distance when passing commentary went something like……."Maybe you won’t be able to get the gun all the way up, so……………"

This was the prevailing situation at that time for those interested in "combat" or "practical" shooting either by vocation or hobby. To make matters worse, MOST if not all "civilian" instruction STILL was based on the old "Olympic" style of competitve target work.

Now REMEMBER this was at a time when specially trained units like ESU or SWAT were still in their infancy! And William Shatner’s ONLY claim to fame was as Captain Kirk. When cops went on a job they were fully expected to handle it. ONLY the most EXTREME situations were responded to by "something" resembling a special tactics unit. At BEST most departments had only a semi-organized squad of "hats and bats", and that was it. So the street cop responded to EVERY type of call and was FULLY expected to handle whatever emergency arose.

So that gamut runs from Bank alarms, to convenience store robberies, to building, warehouse and residential searches, from alleyways and stairwells to rooftops and basements. Sometimes you creep and sometimes you run. Sometimes you know there’s a potential threat, sometimes it just leaps out at you. Sometimes there is plenty of light(good and bad), sometimes just a dim streetlight near an alleyway that YOU have to clean out. Sometimes, and more often than not, there is NO real light, just dark. And shadows!

Search a warehouse for a suspect and you may get shot from a distance, from behind cover or concealment. Search an apartment building or private residence for a suspect and you may get shot from "sneezing" distance. You may see the threat and "prepare’ yourself, or maybe the threat just SPRINGS out at you. Maybe the badguy is in front of you, maybe he’s lurking and creeping just there behind you.

Maybe it’s a car stop gone bad. Maybe it’s a "nut" who approaches YOU while you’re in a patrol unit sipping coffee and shooting the shit with your partner. Maybe you’re off duty.

The point is this: In the real world ANYTHING can and probably WILL happen. As bad as it gets, is about as BAD as it WILL GET.

Now add THIS: Will you be wounded, injured, or in someway incapacitated, less than at optimum ability. Will you be firing your duty weapon, or will you be using your "back up" or has the shit degenerated to the degree that you have to use your last ditch "hide out" piece. I’ve known situations where an officer has HAD to grab and use one of the "downed" perps weapons, to save his wounded partners life. What POSITION will you be in when all hell breaks loose? Maybe you CAN’T run for cover, maybe there is NO cover. You can do everything RIGHT and still die, and you can do everything WRONG and survive. Life’s kinda crazy that way.

The obvious part of this, at least to an open-minded and "thinking" individual is that it IS impossible to train and/or prepare for EVERY situation, every contingency. Can’t BE DONE.

What CAN be done is to figure out what method or system of training will GIVE YOU the BEST all around overall preparation for survival.

The "PPC" wasn’t the answer, and neither was Copper’s "Modern Pistolcraft". Something was missing.

A round about way to answer a single question, huh? Well without understanding the genesis or the seed that all of this begins with and the "base" of experience that FORCED certain questions to be asked and answered the whole point will be missed. The "straw man" arguements will flair up, and the whole "thing" will turn into a pile of shit. And NO one will learn a goddamn thing.

The group of men that formed the core of our "cadre" so to speak were mostly cops drawn together initially by interests in other areas than firearms. Most I had met thru my martial arts training, some were from the "iron" pit(what a shithole, I loved it), some we met at competitive "practical" matches. We had at one time or another guys from local, state, and federal agencies. A tremendous amount of experience and the desire to really "train" was the bond(not the shaker joints and sundries). A rare quality for cops in those days.

So we weren’t stumbling in the dark here. We had the access, time, opportunity and means(most of us were single and making a pretty good payday) to really travel, and train. And….get in a whole helluva lot of range time. There was one point where at any given time I had several 5 gallon pails filled with spent brass in my trunk waiting for their weekly drop off at my buddy who was a reloading fanatic. With no real responsibilty in life you can live PRETTY LARGE(right Boyoo?).

Frank Behlert(remember him?) still had his old shop on Lehigh Ave. in Union. That was a great hub of activity and a great place to meet all sorts of interesting characters. It was also one of the first places that really took an actice role in pushing the "practical" shooting matches in the metro area.

Now when some street "cherries" or FNG’s get out of the academy and hit the streets they clam up tighter than an asshole in a bath house. Sometimes it is good to just shut up and keep your eyes and ears open. But by the same token, if you don’t ask you don’t learn. So when ever a dicey situation arose I would always "debrief"(sometimes that took on a WHOLE ‘nother meaning) myself and sort out what went "good", what went "bad", what could have been done better and what could have hit the fan. If I needed to question something I did. Still do.

Alot of the older cops were really playing the old "salty dawg". 30 years and a wake up and the papers were in and off to Florida they went. Probably to drop dead of heart failure in a year. Life sucks and then you die, or life sucks, you relocate to Florida and THEN you die. Doesn’t matter, end result the same.

Still these guys were a TREMENDOUS source of knowledge. On a whole RANGE of "police" related subjects. Most, if not all of these men were combat vets of WWII or Korea. So when I had a question I asked. If my screwy facial expression betrayed my disbelief at the answer, I usually heard the following refrain(if I had a dime……), "Listen wet nose, that’s the square, the real deal, just remember I got more time in the shithouse than you have on the road"……followed invariably by……."So just shut up and learn". Well as things go, I never did learn to shut up, but I did learn.

"They teach you what they teach in the academy ’cause they got to"…………………………"The street has it’s own rules, and only the street really knows what the hell those are". Rule # 1 - CYA. Rule # 2 - Never EVER forget rule # 1.

So where does this lead us? Well, this attitude between what is "percieved" as real and what really is REAL caused us to constantly question, examine, and re-examine everything we were "taught" to do against everything we "really" DID.

The bulbs really began flashing when we got hold of a copy of "Kill or Get Killed" followed by "Shooting to Live". At first we all, myself included, looked at these old pictures, drawings and "dust covered" verbiage as absolutely outdated, "know what I did during the BIG ONE……………" bullshit! But "Get Tough" had my sincere interest. One of those old timers I mentioned had been a US Navy "landing force" instructor during the "BIG ONE". I had seen him in action for real, unflitered "Lucky Strike" hanging out the side if his mouth and wreaking holy havoc on some young "puffy chested" bucks. It was a thing of beauty! I on the other was "fighting" these guys and looked like I was "rode hard and put away wet".

Something didn’t add up. The methods my tour sargeant used WERE right out of "Get Tough", even how he handled a "nightstick" and BOY he did that with relish(remember NO ONE knew what a camcorder was!). Maybe there was something to this "Farburn" guy. I mean, up to this point "Fairbairn" was a good tan we got during "I & I" down at LBI. And "Applegate"? Sheeet, that was the entrance to an orchard, right?

So then we ACTUALLY started READING these texts. Really trying to keep an open mind. After ALL if "Guru" Jeff said it was so, well damn youngin’ IT’S SO!

Now here’s the "bitch" in the whole thing…………Pretty much EVERY reason WEF and Colonel Rex GAVE for the validity of the methods(THEY ARE DIFFERENT BOYS & GIRLS) were exactly what we all knew were "missing" from the "practical" shooting we were doing. The difference in a nutshell……."How you are SUPPOSSED to do it, and how you REALLY do IT".

Yes, if I have the "drop" on a suspected badman, like on a hinky title 39 stop when YOU KNOW the shit is just hanging in front of that fan READY to go SPLAT all over everyone, then YES, ALL the "rules" get followed. If I had to arrest a suspect on a felony warrany or who was a known "A & D" then yes……ALL the rules got followed. In those situations assessing, finding and moving to real "cover"(as opposed to just concealment) was viable, actually anything else was STUPID. If that was NOT an option then covering the skel from a stable picture perfect "Weaver" or "isoceles" with positive sight alignment and all things neat and tidy was the way to go. ANYTHING else would have been STUPID.

BUT……………….then there were those multitude of OTHER TIMES.

SEE there is a HUGE difference between having "IT" your way, playing your "game", ACTING by your rules and being forced to "REACT" to someone else’s "gamebook". You get forced into playing the other guy’s game and you’re probably gonna lose. Especially when the rules change constantly.

So let’s answer this "job" together. Straight up and no bullshit. You’re working the graveyard tour mid-week. From your experience you figure that this tour on this day is usually pretty quiet. So it’s around 3:00 am, you have made your "beat" rounds, done your shift reports, answered a few calls, shitcanned them and now need a little "resting of the eyes". You coop up. Oh YEA, it’s winter time. Snow, ice, and it’s bone chilling cold out. Just as you find that "comfortable" position and settle in the radio goes bananas. Two seperate confirmed alarms at a warehouse that has been hit several times before. OFF to the races you GO!

No siren, just the overheads, a couple of blocks away you go "silent". You make a cursory pass in the unit and spot the probable position of enrty (an open window, in JANUARY). Maybe. Maybe these guys followed the "rules" and immediately left a second avenue of escape available to them. Maybe you get a back up unit, maybe you don’t. Doesn’t matter, you gotta roll with punches and you got a JOB to do. The warehouse is HUGE, completely dark, multi-level with more "nooks and crannies" than a Thomas’s muffin. And it’s BEEN months since YOU answered a call here (or maybe never) so the layout is NOT "fresh" in your mind.

You approach the window cautiously and realize that the snowy, slushy, muddy ground beneath has a distinct set of LARGE boot prints, NO, wait, TWO sets of distinct footprints. Let’s see………okay the window has been jimmied. Pretty secure industrial window. These pry marks were done by something pretty big and pretty sharp. Keep that in mind.

Enough bullshit, time to go into the "party".

Let’s stop for a moment and take stock of our situation:

1. NO light, either inside(if we could even find them) or OUTSIDE. 2. At least two potential threats. 3. Unknown area of operation. Little if any idea of how the joint is layed out. 4. At least one perp is armed with something big, and sharp. At the LEAST. 5. Have other officers to worry about. 6. Cold as a sonofabitch. Stiff, wearing winter uniform, can’t move all that well. Adrenalin pumping like a MOTHER. 7. Why didn’t I become a dentist like Mama wanted?

So you go IN. Your partner or your back up takes the "shit catcher" position at the rear, you handle the "flush". C’mon now, in you GO……………………………..

I know what I’ve done in those situation, I know what OTHERS have done in those situations, and I KNOW how we were TRAINED to do it, and MOST importantly, I know how it was REALLY handled. Here’s the "rub"…………pretty much everything WEF states in Shooting to Live is EXACTLY what I have seen, and experienced BOTH in my OWN actions and those of others. ALL well trained, diligent and "good" cops, knew their business. AND this was before we EVER heard of these methods or researched these sources.

SEE………………………THIS was the MISSING link that we all KNEW, but COULDN’T really pin down. This was IT. You can forget the "stats", the "percents", ignore the over SIX decades of emprical knowledge from agencies all over the WORLD including the FBI, the DOJ, and virtually every major department throughout the free world( not even to mention a worldwide conflagration then went on FOR years). Forget all of that. I KNOW what my "instinct" was and what was the "instinct" of a host of others in similar situations. Does that make it RIGHT or WRONG? Does it matter? It is what it is. Kinda like death and taxes, or at least death. You can talk up a storm about it, still is what it is.

Okay. So, comparing what I knew to be relevant in my experience and having seen first hand, as well as thru various first person accounts, the reasoning that WEF outlined as WELL as the method of use and mode of INSTRUCTION made a great deal of sense to me, as well as others whose opinions I had grown to respect. What we HAD experienced was IN that little old manual.

The task NOW was to do more research and to make these methods come alive. That meant studying as much material as we could find on this topic, and then understanding it and perfecting it.

BUT, you may ask, what about the "instinct" part. Didn’t you KNOW this already? Yes, we did KNOW how many(certainly not all) individuals will react when placed in sudden life and death emergency situations. The JOB was to rip this method apart, find any flaws, find any strengths, and to make it fully our own. ONLY then, once we really KNEW what the hell we were doing(and talking about), could we DECIDE if it offered any REAL solutions to us. ANYTHING less than FULLY studying, inculcating and UNDERSTANDING the method would constitute INTELLECTUAL FRAUD in terms of any real incisive and HONEST comparison with any other "method".

How the hell do you judge something without that mind-set.

During this period(mid to late 70’s) there were a growing number of "experts" entering the field. Cooper first and foremost, then names like Taylor, Farnam, Ayoob, and many others. For the most part, all "towed" the party line. Weaver was IT. Everything else was outdated, outmoded and "old" fashioned. Well, at this point I started collecting EVERYTHING I could about shooting. Everything. From the oldest manuals and books to the most up to date. Magazine upon magazine, and of course continued ACTUAL training. What I was constantly learning was really eye opening.

Studying McGivern, Hatcher, Roper, Nichols, Weston, Gaylord, Askins, Jordan, "old" works by Copper, and so many other men and other sources like Leatherneck and the Infantry Journal, old issues of the American Rifleman was astonishing. My research collection has NEVER stopped growing. I don’t "stop" learning, but more on that later.

The only contemporary voice getting a little play in the popular gun journals was Brad Steiner. Much of what he wrote reflected what I had known to be true based on MY experience. There really WAS a gap and a need for methods that dealt specifically with CLOSE QUARTERS GUN BATTLES. The only really close quarters method being bantered about at this time was the "speed rock". Steiner’s contemporary articles were very interesting and he stirred alot of resentment and controversy.

I remember one slam made aginst Steiner and John McSweeny by Mas Ayoob. It concerned the use of a mirror to check and adjust firing poistion, alignment and so forth. This was a method advocated by MANY "old timers" as a tried and true way of DAILY practice away from the range. Easy. Simple. No "brainer". Everyone has a mirror. Made perfect sense to me. And it WORKED. Great! Well, Ayoob likened this to "mental" masturbation. I’m not really one to mince words, it’s usually(not always) better to just speak plainly. I couldn’t help but wonder what the reaction of men like Paul Weston of the NYPD(who advocated this mirror training highly) or "Jelly" Bryce would have been to that comment. I also pondered what Brad Steiner’s reaction, and perhaps more SO, John McSweeny’s reaction would have been to Mr. Ayoob had he made that comment nose to nose instead of in print. Basically, what Ayoob was saying, thinly veiled as it was, was, you’re a "jerk off".

Where were we? Oh YEA…………………………………………………….

What to do with ALL of this information, both new and "old". Well, logically the thing to do was to look at the most basic problems presented by any situation and BUILD from there.

Easy enough. Right? Well, actually no………………………………..

First thing we did was to DEFINE the terms that we would use. When so and so said this, made this statement, what did he REALLY mean? When Shooter A talks about this to Shooter B are they REALLY understanding the terms being USED. Or is one party ASSUMING he knows what a certain phrase or descriptive term means. Damn, w’re back to that logical foundation jammy again. Let’s see…………….I stop some guy on the street and tell him in NO uncertain terms that I LOVE his wife, and always will. As a matter of fact, I have loved her for years. The man may be pretty shocked, he would have a right to be, maybe even take a swing at me. But, if we defined what was really said, well, the situation changes. The guy’s wife is MY sister. And yes, I love her deeply, always have, and always will. Before any honest up front dialogue seeks to edify we should make sure we’re on the same page. That was job 1. As I said anything less is intellectual fraud.

So we did a thorough job of defining the terms we used and what they meant.

Now we ruthlessly went about tearing apart everything on both sides of the hill.

What does the REALITY of the street teach us, and how do we find REAL useful solutions to those problems presented.

AND, here’s the REAL catch………………………….how does all of this tie in to the LEAST common denominator. In other words what is the MOST basic overall approach to these problems, taking into account first and foremost the least in ability, skill, experience and knowledge. If we can begin to build on that, then we have something really worthwhile.

So here are the "problems":

1. Visibility. Perfect to zero.

2. Extreme close range sudden violence. Unprepared. Reactive. Prepared. Active.

3. Enagaging adversaries at varying distances and/or heights/360 degrees. Close/medium/long range. Effective transition. Active and reactive.

4. Ability to manuever and fire.

5. Ability to effect fire on a moving target.

6. Ability to fire from dis-advantage or awkward positions.

7. Ability to fire from cover and/or concealment. Two different tactical problems.

8. Ability to fire with both hands. Tandem-strong and weak. Single-strong and weak.

9. Ability to fire when vision is impaired.

10. Ability to transition from weapon to weapon.

11. Emergency reloading and malfunction clearing.

12. The MUST DO shot.

We did NOT address specific tactical problems. This list was designed for the MOST basic overall components facing every type of "shooter" regardless of "job" specificity. A six three 200lb. police tactical officer could face these "problems" in the same way that a 5 foot five 100lb. housewife may have to. Sounds silly? Think about it.

How we put together the syllabus-

No forced or awkward positions or manuevers. Everything based to the GREATEST extent possible on gross motor skill, natural body dynamics, and "instinctive" action/reaction. takes into account next to worst case scenario and works from there(worst case being you’re already dead).

The entire system should be as seamless as possible. One component dovetailing with another. Not just a "grouping" of techniques independent of one another. As general as possible to cover the greatest number of contingencies. Weak offhand shooting is composed of the EXACT same mechanics as TWO HANDED braced firing. The fundamentals are EASILY retainable and apply throughout the entire shooting system. The grip on the draw is the same grip for firing. The grip when running, climbing, jumping is the same for drawing and firing. The grip when prone is the same when kneeling is the same whenusing braced barricade, is the same when using the "pop out" and fire. This is a bad thing under the stress of real world violence?

The system? That we have to be another long winded thread(if I survive this one). But for many of you, it won’t be what you think or what you have "pidgeonholed".

FINALLY……………………………..the GRIP!

Okay. First. Re-read all these parts over again. Really put some effort into understanding what is being said here.

Fairbairn admonishes us to extend the thumb along the "slide release"(for clarification). Mentions it several times. WE DON’T teach that grip as part of the basic syllabus. We practiced it alot and some liked it and some did not. BUT that’s NOT the issue here.

The grip as advocated by WEF is particular to the weapon shown, NOT to WEF. Many gunners of the period in many different manuals and sources advocate the same grip for THAT weapon. For the .45 ACP. It was almost de rigueur. Did it help some achieve the standards for it that WEF set forth, MOST certainly. For others it was a far less successful venture. Some improved with practice, others did not.

Now we have to find out why? Colonel Applegate had HIS answer and we had ours(more on that later) BUT still we wanted to understand why WEF advocated it and what we might have been missing.

First we have to remember that "Shooting to Live" was written in it’s original form(we have the manual) as a manual for the SMP. An organized UNIFORM police agency. "Shooting to live" is an expanded version of the original SMP manual. Why is that important? Because the SMP, like most agencies issued a specific "duty" weapon. A standard pistol. That was the .45 ACP. But that wasn’t all! The .380 ACP was ALSO issued and for a VERY pertinent reason. The use of the thumb extended grip advocated for the .45 ACP had more to do with the DESIGN of the weapon than with anything else. The angle between grip and barrel is such that a full "convulsive"(there’s that term again) grip with thumb wrapped DOWN will effect the horizontal barrel to floor alignment that is so important to ALL forms of accurate shooting. MORE so in the method taught by WEF. The thumb extension helped seat the weapon from backstrap to muzzle in a "better" way for THAT gun. A full "fisted’ grip tended to drop the muzzle DOWN. Also, WEF had fairly large hands and a great grip. He also realized this and adjusted accordingly. Officer’s with smaller hands who could NOT adjust or use the .45 ACP were issued the smaller .380 ACP. Now notice the line drawing on pg. 19 of STL. These drawings were made directly from still photos. Look at how far the thumb is extended in the picture. I have fairly normal size hands and a fair grip, and my thumb doesn’t come near to that position. I am certainly NOT alone in this problem. WEF recignized it too, THAT is why he issued smaller pistols for some officers.

Again, this manual was done before the second world war and done with the STANDARD issue .45 ACP or .380 ACP in mind as a UNIFORM piece of ordinance. WEF use of the extended thumb index was also obvious in his method of firing both the M1 A1 carbine and the Thompson sub-machin gun. He liked this method.

Colonel Applegate had different ideas. His duties exposed him to a VAST number of handguns that WOULD be used in combat in varying countries. From the Luger to the Walther, from a Colt revolver to an automatic, from a Browning to a Mauser. Applegate sought A SINGLE method of battle firing that was applicable to ANY handgun, anywhere in the world. THIS is why Colonel Applegate advocated the "point shoulder" locked wrist, convulsive grip method. That system alone would allow anyone to grab ANY handgun and be able to fire with effect(his words-Man Killing Accuracy). Since each design had a different angle between handle and muzzle, differing weight, balance, muzzle length, sight aperture and so on he devised a singular method to ADAPT to a GREAT number of handguns. That is GENIUS! So on this point I disagree with WEF’s approach. How about all the other shootists? Like Bill Jordan. Look at his grip, about as tight fisted and convulsive as you can get. And he is one of many that took a differing approach from what is shown in STL. All I want to do is keep it to the MOST basic FIRST. MOST BASIC FIRST. MOST BASIC FIRST! M O S T B A S I C F I R S T !

Was Applegate completely HAPPY with what he taught during WWII. NO, he wasn’t. He told us personally that he would have taught FULLY sighted fire FIRST, then "point shoulder" if he had to do it again. YEP! NOTHING is written in stone!

There are other SOLID reasons behind the differences between WEF and Applegate, as well as others extant during this time. But, hell all that’s in the past. Who cares, right?

Okey dokey. Back to WEF and the extended thumb. NOW…….try this…………even if you like the extended thumb for your .45 replace that auto with another auto, large/medium/small frame. How’s the "feel", bet you adjust with each differing piece.

Now grab a wheel gun. Try it WITH THAT! Hmmmmmmm…..how’s that working out? No, not the Model 29 S&W, the small frame two inch……try that. Well I don’t see HOW that extended thumb grip works AT ALL with a revolver. Not for double action most certainly!

SO now what? How about this………..You carry a primary duty weapon that is a large frame auto. Okay. You also carry a small frame "snubby" on your ankle….the "just in case" gun. And, maybe a Beretta .25 as your "oh SHIT" gonna be late for dinner piece. THREE different guns, three DIFFERENT grips and THREE differing "feels". Or look down the firing line at people who are looking to YOU for instruction. All shapes and sizes, all different in so many ways, and probably all preferring a different handgun. Damn, you HAVE to find the most fundamental starting point.

My answer? A strong, natural and (dare I say it) convulsive grip. The same GRIP you have used since INFANCY to hold and use tools and objects, to make a fist, to lift weights, etc. etc.

Opposable thumb. Simple. This is THE most basic action possible. Everyone can do it. Everyone understands IT. And it is APPLICABLE across the board for a GREAT variety of hand types, builds, disabilities and WEAPONS. It can be used for any size autoloader or any size wheel gun.

NOW!!!!! READ THIS………………………..Did I EVER SAY IT WAS THE ONLY OR BEST METHOD? NO, I did NOT! I only said it was the MOST basic!

What I did say was that it was the most basic, simple, accessible GRIP to USE as a FOUNDATION. Get something SOLID under your belt NOW, then work towards whatever method and/or goal you wish. AND all the MORE power to you!

My philosophy in a nutshell: I could teach you very effective techniques that would take a bit of time to master. But along with that I can teach you something you can USE right now when you leave here and cross that deserted parking lot. Master BASICS first and then the sky’s the limit. Even WEF said given more time he would have taught different methods. Ernie Cates when he set up the USMC close combat program with Nakabyashi choose his basics carefully. he told me that rule one was: The part of the hand with NO hair is the palm! At it’s core that’s all I’m saying.

I’m sure I’ve missed some salient points (combat draw and some other issues), but I’ve wasted a whole day on this and I’m pretty wasted by now. I did my best to offer sound reasoning. That’s all I can do. This line of thought can be applied to just about anything, certainly all aspects of armed and unarmed close-combat.

Copyright 2003 www.thetruthaboutselfdefense.com ©

Carl Cestari began his study of the martial arts with judo at the age of 7 under the direction of Yoshisada Yonezuka. During the past forty plus years Carl has dedicated his life to studying the martial arts, hand to hand combat systems, history and religion. He is continually improving himself through his studies. What makes Carl unique is his combination of martial arts, law enforcement, military and real world experience. Carl has been exposed to a multitude of people with a wide variety experience. The following is a list of some of Carl’s ranks and honors.

Shinan (Founder) Tekkenryu jujutsu

Ryokudan (6th degree) Koshinkai Karate under John Burrelle

Godan (5th degree) Jujutsu under Clarke of the World Jujutsu Fedaration (now defunct)

Sandan (3rd degree) Nippon Kempo under Narabu Sada

Nidan (2nd degree) Judo under Masafumi Suzuki

Shodan (1st degree) Judo under Yoshisada Yonezuka

Shodan (1st degree) Shukokai Karate under Kimura, Kadachi and Yonezuka

Shodan (1st degree) Daitoryu Aikijujutsu

Instructors Certificate- Charles Nelson System of Self Defense under Charlie Nelson

If you are outside the world of law enforcement, chances are you haven’t had much “hands on” work with stun guns. Stun guns are as popular today as they have ever been and with the newer smaller packages like cell phone/stun guns, their popularity continues to grow. But before you deploy a stun gun, there are a few misconceptions you may not know about.

1. All stun guns are created equal. Not true. Don’t waste your time with anything under 300,000 volts. It will lack the impact that you need to get any affect on your target. Plus the chances of penetrating thick clothing are slim. Unfortunately, most popular size stung guns fall under the 300,000 volt bench mark.

2. All you have to do is touch the attacker anywhere on his body for the stun gun to work. In fact, most directions will tell you to attack the extremities of your assailant. In order to get the result you need you should stun the target in the same areas that you would strike them. Neck, face, genitals, inner thighs. These targets will give you the maximum effect you want.

3. The stun gun will work instantly. False. You will need to hold the stun gun on the target and drive it into the surface for, in some cases, several seconds. Let me tell you, five seconds will be an eternity. Prepare yourself now for what will happen.

4. The attacker will be incapacitated. Remember Rodney King? Not every one will fall over even if they’re shocked for an extended period of time. Not all of us are created equal. Some have different pain thresholds, may be under the influence or may be a emotionally disturbed person (EDP). You never know. So plan for the worst and hope for the best. But never expect ANYTHING you do to end the fight.

Should you throw your stun gun away? No way, but know that it is just a tool to help you survive. When a criminal sees the stun gun and even hears it, he may just start jumping around like his pants are on fire with out you even touching him. Great, knock him out or escape- the stung gun did its job. Look at pepper spray, stun guns, personal alarms are all excellent tools, but don’t expect them to take the assailant out. Expect the minimum. They will afford you a distraction that will allow you to inflict more damage on the target or escape.

The problem is that people, especially in law enforcement, become too dependent on these tools. They are just that, tools to make your task easier. The majority of the time, a shot of pepper spray or a taser will do the job. Personally, I want to go home all of the time, not a majority of the time. But its up to you, do you want to be alive 70% of the time of 99% of the time. I don’t know about you but you’re not keeping me away from my family, no matter who you are. I am going to bite, kick, scrape and use any and everything to get me home to my family. How about you? What did you do today that will make you stay alive? Nothing, I’m already training.

Everyday, on my way to the office, I am training my grip. Every opportunity I can, I train.

Picture your enemy, in prison, on the corner, wherever. Put a face to him. When wresting legend Dan Gable used to train, he would picture his opponent practicing. He would get up in the middle of the night and do calisthenics because he was certain his opponent was sleeping. When Judo Kimura heard that his opponents trained 3 hours a day, he trained 6. When they went to 6, he trained for 9. It’s up to you, but training is a habit, just like anything else. It starts small and then grows. Pick up the heavier load. Walk the long way around, take the stairs- it’s a start.

I’ll ask you again “What did you do today?” Like Vince Lombardi said, "Winning is not a sometime thing; it’s an all the time thing. You don’t win once in a while; you don’t do things right once in a while; you do them right all the time. Winning is a habit. Unfortunately, so is losing. There is no room for second place. There is only one place in my game, and that’s first place.”

The only place for you is first place- Surviving.

PS. I know I started talking about stun guns, but what the heck- it’s all about training.

©2005 http://www.thetruthaboutselfdefense.com

Damian Ross is the owner of Zenshin and instructor of Tekkenryu jujutsu and Kodokan Judo. He started competing in the combative sport of wrestling in 1975 at the age of 7 and began his study of Asian martial arts with Moo Duk Kwan Tae Kwon Do at the age of 16 in 1984. In 1989, Shinan Cestari gave a seminar at Sensei Ross’s dojo. Sensei Ross has trained under Shinan Cestari’s direction ever since.

In addition to Tekkenryu Jujutsu, Judo and Tae Kwon Do, Sensei Ross has also studied Bando. Sensei Ross continues his study of Judo under the direction of 8th degree black belt Yoshisada Yonezuka and Tekkenryu Jujutsu under it’s founder, Carl Cestari. Below are is a list of some of his title ranks:

Yodan (fourth degree black belt) Tekkenryu Jujutsu under Carl Cestari
Shodan (First degree black belt) Kodokan Judo under Yoshisada Yonezuka
Varsity Wrestling Lehigh University under Thad Turner
2nd Degree Black Belt Tae Kwon Do

http://www.thetruthaboutselfdefense.com

Frequently, I get asked about certifications, systems or methods. We made a decision a long time ago of purposely staying away from things like this.

Obviously, it’s a no-brainer, money maker and it’s not that I don’t want to make money; but our purpose was to give you real training on the real stuff. Certifications and acronyms lead to a false sense of security and there’s a fine line between sense of accomplishment and sense of security.

Personally, no matter how many black belts and “certifications” I have- I can always find people 10 feet outside my dojo who could care less. That and 5 bucks can get you a venti, no caff, half caff, caramel mochachinno deluxe, no whip of course.

I may be beating a dead horse….. but its about the TRAINING. Training and practice is what counts. Now ITS NOT YOUR FAULT that you search for this stuff. You have been conditioned with certifications, acronyms black belt clubs and all that. The only thing that’s good for is padding your resume. We “ain’t” about that. If you want something to hang on your wall- buy a mirror and take a long hard look in it. If you like what you see and you are true to your training – that’s what matters.

We have been thinking of “naming” the system. Carl thought of this, I didn’t. It’s going to be called:

Fierce Unarmed Combat Karate Instinctive Training.

You figure it out.

Copyright 2003 www.thetruthaboutselfdefense.com ©

Damian Ross is the owner of Zenshin and instructor of Tekkenryu jujutsu and Kodokan Judo. He started competing in the combative sport of wrestling in 1975 at the age of 7 and began his study of Asian martial arts with Moo Duk Kwan Tae Kwon Do at the age of 16 in 1984. In 1989, Shinan Cestari gave a seminar at Sensei Ross’s dojo. Sensei Ross has trained under Shinan Cestari’s direction ever since. In addition to Tekkenryu Jujutsu, Judo and Tae Kwon Do, Sensei Ross has also studied Bando. Sensei Ross continues his study of Judo under the direction of 8th degree black belt Yoshisada Yonezuka and Tekkenryu Jujutsu under it’s founder, Carl Cestari. Below are is a list of some of his title ranks Yodan (fourth degree black belt) Tekkenryu Jujutsu under Carl Cestari Shodan (First degree black belt) Kodokan Judo under Yoshisada Yonezuka Varsity Wrestling Lehigh University under Thad Turner 2nd Degree Black Belt Tae Kwon Do

Most people have only been exposed to John Styers work through the book "Cold Steel".

It is important to remember that first and foremost this book outlines a BASIC course of close-combat instruction. The elements covered in this system include bayonet, knife, stick and unarmed combat. Styers developed this "system" for BASIC training.

The framework of all of these methods remains CONSISTENT through out. The fundamentals for employing the bayonet, knife, unarmed combat and even the stick work are ALL the same.

Note in particular the "stance" used for the bayonet, the knife, and for unarmed engagement. SAME stance. The "body" mechanics involved in all the methods presented are at their core foundation ALL similar. This in itself shows "genius".

What we see in "Cold Steel" is NOT the STYERS method! It is a "system" that STYERS developed for use in BASIC training. John Styers was a man of both great knowledge and SKILL in a number of man to man combatives.

Those who knew Styers personally have told us about his vast interest, knowledge and proven skill in a number of close-combat methods. From the "French" style of bayonet fighting, to "Russian" knife fighting, to boxing, wrestling, jiujitsu, and of course "dirty" fighting.

As concerns the STYERS knife work as shown in "Cold Steel" it must also be considered that this was but a SMALL part of Styers overall skill and ability in KNIFE FIGHTING. Again this was a system of BASIC TRAINING!

Other sources show this quite demonstrably. The man was a MASTER of bladework.

Now the knife sytem taught in "Cold Steel" is excellent. The "problems" that are often cited by others has FAR MORE to do with a lack of understanding in the tactics and techniques as "they" present them, than it does any practical faults in STYERS method.

ON TO THE METHOD……………………………….

First, Styers was training men for battlefield COMBAT! NOT for a "duel". He assumed(rightly so) that in the so-called "fog" of war men will revert to pure "animal" instinct and move right in for the "kill". Think about this! During the frenzy of real combat you and your enemy are REDUCED to fighting with knives. Men are killing and being killed ALL AROUND YOU. YOUR natural instinct for SURVIVAL will seize you by the throat. You will grip that knife as strongly(your LIFE NOW depends on THIS ONE WEAPON) as possible and MOVE RIGHT IN FOR THE KILL!(WASTE ANY TIME and someone else is going to KILL YOU) You are NOT going to "spar" or "duel", you ARE going to KILL, survive and move on to your next threat or objective. Styers KNEW what real "kill or be killed" combat was like. He realized that MOST men in this dire situation will instinctively SEIZE their knife either in an "overhand" or "ice-pick" grip or an "underhanded" type "hammergrip". They will ATTACK with a determined KILLING intent. THAT IS THE BASIS for the Styers method!

Now the "elements" of Styers method rest on BODY position, ARM position, and KNIFE position.

Here is where so many "experts" go right OFF TRACK. Forget any "technique", thrust, slash or "whatever". WITHOUT the FOUNDATION of proper BODY, ARM, and KNIFE position all the "technique" in the world is MEANINGLESS!

Without a REAL understanding of Styers FUNDAMENTAL tactic and what MUST be done to make it EFFECTIVE, all THIS becomes NO MORE than two guys trying to cut and stab each other. THIS IS NOT what Styers envisioned.

On to the "meat & potatoes":

1. Stance-

Whether you assume the "Styers" position from a "classic" fencer’s pose, as Styers demonstrates(for continuity) or simply advance(lead leg) retreat(real leg) one pace, as long as your UPPER torso remains square and you body rests "springlike" on your legs you’re doing OK. BALANCE must be rested on your center point and the rear heel RAISED. Toes and KNEES pointed FORWARD!

KEY POINT: Body SQUARED. Torso ERECT. Chin PULLED IN. BALANCE centered. Rear HEEL RAISED.

2. Arm Position-

Gripping the KNIFE: Blade vertical to ground. Thumb EXTENDED down backstrap. Slight upward CANT or "cocking" of blade.

Weapon bearing hand and arm: Pulled IN. Upper arm slightly BACK from vertical. Elbow tucked into, not away from side. LOWER ARM raised on a plane EVEN with opponents THROAT/EYES. Weapon hand SHOULD NOT break the latreral plane of the upper torso! THIS IS KEY!

Offhand hand: Pulled in just like weapon bearing hand.

COMMON ERRORS:

Wrong foot placement.

Leanining over or into the opponent.

Chin/Head THRUST out.

WEAPON HAND EXTENDED and/or SPLAYED OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Read THAT AGAIN!

Knife LEVEL with ground and NOT POINTED at opponents EYES/THROAT!

Offhand SPLAYED out to side.

Now the WHY’S that make this method succeed or FAIL.

First, try this experiment(THIS IS SOMETHING YOU MUST DO). Don’t even talk about this "method" if you HAVE NOT honestly followed this example:

Grab a REAL SHARP FIGHTING KNIFE. EXTEND IT at FULL arm’s length with shoulder "twisted" in for added reach.

Tell your training partner to DISTANCE himself from the weapon to a RANGE where he feels at a combatively "SAFE" range. Have someone measure that distance.

PULL your weapon arm in to a 3/4 extension and repeat. Have someone measure that distance.

PULL in FURTHER to a half bent 90 degree position and repeat.

NOW pull the weapon back to the hip and do it all again.

COMPARE the measurements at each "distance". MOST people will REMAIN quite consistent in the ACTUAL "measured" distance of safety from tip of weapon. THEY will ALMOST always MOVE in as YOUR arm moves back, BUT the "measured" distance remains very close between ALL the given positions.

THAT is the KEY to Styers.

Extend your arm and knife all the way OUT. Your partner maintains that critical safety zone FROM the tip of your very real and sharp blade. COULD YOU cut or thrust him EASILY from that position? Not really. A committed BODY lunge or step is about all you could do to close the "gap". Too slow.

NOW-Pull that arm ALL the way in so that it barely breaks the lateral plane of the body. AGAIN, your training partner will have a DEFINITE tendency to MAINTAIN the measured distance of the safety zone, but HE will MOVE in. The actual measured distance between him and the tip will vary little. HIS safety zone is STILL his safety zone.

What HAS changed is your ABILITY to REACH HIM in the fastest most NON telegraphed manner.

FROM the PULLED IN arm position, SQUARED TORSO, and BALANCED stance you can execute the most rapid, cobra-like attacks or counter-attacks with a great amount of RANGE.

ANY position OTHER than this one, taken by your enemy WILL put him at a SERIOUS dis-advantage. He will almost ALWAYS be offering YOU something, whereas YOU will be offering NOTHING.

His range and speed will be effected by HIS position. Your range and speed will be ENHANCED by YOURS.

IMPORTANCE of BLADE POSITION: Keep that blade tip POINTED at the angle stated. WHY? At that angle it is MUCH more difficult for the opponent to gauge the size and length of your blade. May seem like a MINOR "point", but in a real KNIFE fight I’ll USE anything that MAY give me an edge.

TECHNIQUE:

ALL you REALLY need is a thrust, a snap-slash(DO NOT use the back snap cut with this!), a "stop-hit", and the "hand-cut". The step over and stab is also useful.

If "In-Quartata and Passata-soto" are NOT comfortable for you, DON’T use them! Since BOTH of these moves are MEANT as "defensive" counter-attacks against an OVERLY committed assault they are NOT mandatory.

The FIVE moves stated above are MORE than enough. PRACTICE THEM moving forward, backward and flanking left and right. I personally DO NOT train the "back" snap cut on the "snap-slash" because I know of an incident in a real fight where the knife was dislodged from the grip on the "return" when the target reflexively pulled his shoulder up after taking the first slash across the right temple and eyes. This is the story I have heard so I won’t comment further.

TARGETS: As far as "targets" go……………well the BEST real world advice I can offer is just GO for FLESH! If you see skin, GO FOR IT!

Fingers, hands, wrists, throat/neck and face. The "step over and stab" SHOULD be saved for the coup d’ grace.

John Styer’s influence was really BROUGHT to bear AFTER WWII. His methods were developed during the Korean War era, long after his discharge from the USMC.

AND……………………His job as a FLAG salesman is what brought him into contact with military bases and servicemen ACROSS the country!

There are more anecdotes and more info but this is enough for now.

I always get a "kick" when guys dismiss different methods and/or ideas out of hand. Then when I ask them to "show me", they get the WHOLE GODDAMN thing WRONG! Of course it looks like SHIT. BECAUSE YOU"RE DOING IT LIKE SHIT!

Ok, hope some of you got some useful insight.

Copyright 2003 http://www.thetruthaboutselfdefense.com ©

Carl Cestari began his study of the martial arts with judo at the age of 7 under the direction of Yoshisada Yonezuka. During the past forty plus years Carl has dedicated his life to studying the martial arts, hand to hand combat systems, history and religion. What makes Carl unique is his combination of martial arts, law enforcement and military and real world experience. Carl has been exposed to a multitude of people with a wide variety experience. The following is a list of some of Carl’s ranks and honors:

Shinan (Founder) Tekkenryu jujutsu
Ryokudan (6th degree) Koshinkai Karate under John Burrelle
Godan (5th degree) Jujutsu under Clarke of the World Jujutsu Fedaration (now defunct)
Sandan (3rd degree) Nippon Kempo under Narabu Sada
Nidan (2nd degree) Judo under Masafumi Suzuki
Shodan (1st degree) Judo under Yoshisada Yonezuka
Shodan (1st degree) Shukokai Karate under Kimura, Kadachi and Yonezuka
Shodan (1st degree) Daitoryu Aikijujutsu
Instructors Certificate- Charles Nelson System of Self Defense under Charlie Nelson

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