Caveat: This article is mine and mine alone. I the author of this article assure you, the reader, that any of the opinions expressed here are my own and are a result of the way in which my meandering mind interprets a particular situation and/or concept. The views expressed here are solely those of the author in his private capacity and do not in any way represent the views of other martial arts and/or conflict/violence professionals or authors of source materials. It should be quite obvious that the sources I used herein have not approved, endorsed, embraced, friended, liked, tweeted or authorized this article. (Everything I think and write is true, within the limits of my knowledge and understanding.)
Seven things you must cover in a self-defense class (Rory Miller article):
• Legal and ethical aspects
• Violence Dynamics
• Avoidance, Escape and Evasion, and De-escalation (not fighting)
• Counter-assault (operant conditioning goes here, definitely)
• Breaking the freeze
• The fight itself
• Aftermath -- retaliation, medical, legal and psychological
Teaching Self Defense in Isshinryu?
I have been a proponent of the Isshinryu system for nigh on thirty-nine years. I believed in a traditional form of learning, practicing and teaching. I also believed that it was primo for self-defense. I was wrong on so many levels.
During my tenure in the Isshinryu system I have come to know the many variants studied in this singular martial community. Some through direct observation and experience while others through secondary sources, etc. This is my analysis through my filters of perception and assumption.
When I first came across the seven things that must be covered in self-defense training, i.e., the type that encompasses any and all forms of martial arts or martial art type models I realized that a lot of peoples assumptions, especially those in the Isshinryu system, were inaccurate or just plain incorrect.
First, item one of the seven, none of the Isshinryu’s programs I have witnessed, experienced or came to know be it any of the three main branches in the United States even comes close to teaching the legal and ethical aspects of self-defense. Most tend to teach the standard, “uke does this, you do this in response,” drills or kumite’s.
Second, item two of the seven, none of the Isshinryu’s programs I have witnessed, experienced or came to know be it any of the three main branches in the United States even comes close to teaching violence dynamics as I have come to understand through my references and studies.
Third, item three of the seven, none of the Isshinryu’s programs I have witnessed, experienced or came to know be it any of the three main branches in the United States even comes close to teaching “Avoidance, escape and evasion, and de-escalation.” Most of what I learned, experienced, etc., were actually strategies and tactics that would speed the process of judgement and sentencing toward jail time, etc. They teach fighting, fighting predominantly sport oriented.
Fourth, item four of the seven, none of the Isshinryu’s programs I have witnessed, experienced or came to know be it any of the three main branches in the United States even comes close to teaching counter-assault.
Fifth, item five of the seven, none of the Isshinryu’s programs I have witnessed, experienced or came to know be it any of the three main branches in the United States even comes close to teaching concerning the freeze or the OODA loop or the OO bounce, etc.
Sixth, item six of the seven, none of the Isshinryu’s programs I have witnessed, experienced or came to know be it any of the three main branches in the United States even comes close to teaching about the fight itself as it relates to those defining aspects of violence dynamics, i.e., social vs. asocial, etc. There is a huge assumption that what is trained is actually fighting and/or self-defense when in reality it is a sport oriented competitive mutually safe endeavor.
Seventh, item seven of the seven and probably the most important thing, none of the Isshinryu’s programs I have witnessed, experienced or came to know be it any of the three main branches in the United States even comes close to teaching about the before, during and especially the after of a fight/self-defense encounter. They don’t discuss let alone present, study or train to the possible retaliation, medical, legal and psychological ramifications to conflict that has physical violence attached.
You see, the experts feel strongly due to their knowledge, experience and ability toward conflict and violence, that these seven things must be a part of self-defense to teach self-defense.
Now, I have added number eight, i.e., RBT or Reality Based Training with all that entails like handling the effects of the adrenal flood, etc.
Eight, the eighth of the additional things you must cover and teach for it to be self defense, none of the Isshinryu’s programs I have witnessed, experienced or came to know be it any of the three main branches in the United States even comes close to teaching reality based training, drills or other reality based things necessary to handle and live through a violent situation/encounter.
Many will adamantly dispute this point of view and will vehemently spout out how they are practicing a system that is combative and relevant toward combat forms of fighting but fail to realize they also seldom teach and practice those distinctions, i.e., distinctions between combat, sport and civil self-defense let alone differences between citizen and police distinctions, etc.
Yes, Isshinryu just like almost all martial arts systems have a great deal to contribute toward self-defense or even combatives and sport competitions but they fail to make the distinctions and they fail to teach to those distinctions.
Even all the above in place if they are not addressing the distinctions in the self-defense model they are not teaching self-defense.
Yes, Isshinryu is practiced, trained and taught as a “Way” or “Traditional System” or “Classical System,” but those are not self-defense systems if they don’t have the seven (eight, my extra) things you need to know, understand and use to have self-defense and self-defense training.
Those aspects taught by these non-defensives systems all have benefits and even benefits toward defenses such as structure, posture, centeredness, etc. but to be self-defense they need a lot more.
If you want your Isshinryu or any martial system to be a self-defense system then there are changes that must be accepted, incorporated and trained to work.
Read Also: “Isshinryu and Self-Defense” http://mymartialselfdefensephilosophy.blogspot.com/2014/11/isshinryu-and-self-defense.html
Primary Bibliography of Self-Defense (Some titles have RBT drills included):
MacYoung, Marc. "In the Name of Self-Defense: What It Costs. When It’s Worth It." Marc MacYoung. 2014.
Miller, Rory Sgt. "Meditations of Violence: A Comparison of Martial Arts Training & Real World Violence" YMAA Publishing. 2008.
Secondary Bibliography of Self-Defense (Some titles have RBT drills included):
Ayoob, Massad. “Deadly Force: Understanding Your Right to Self-Defense”Gun Digest Books. Krouse Publications. Wisconsin. 2014.
Goleman, Daniel. "Emotional Intelligence: 10th Anniversary Edition [Kindle Edition]." Bantam. January 11, 2012.
Miller, Rory. "ConCom: Conflict Communications A New Paradigm in Conscious Communication." Amazon Digital Services, Inc. 2014.
Miller, Rory and Kane, Lawrence A. "Scaling Force: Dynamic Decision-making under Threat of Violence." YMAA Publisher. New Hampshire. 2012
Miller, Rory. "Force Decisions: A Citizen's Guide." YMAA Publications. NH. 2012.
Miller, Rory Sgt. "Facing Violence: Preparing for the Unexpected." YMAA Publishing. 2011.
Elgin, Suzette Haden, Ph.D. "More on the Gentle Art of Verbal Self-Defense." Prentice Hall. New Jersey. 1983.
Elgin, Suzette. "The Last Word on the Gentle Art of Verbal Self-Defense" Barnes & Noble. 1995
Morris, Desmond. “Manwatching: A Field Guide to Human Behavior.” Harry N. Abrams. April 1979.
MacYoung, Marc. “Writing Violence #1: Getting Shot.” NNSD. Amazon Digital. 2014.
MacYoung, Marc. “Writing Violence #2: Getting Stabbed.” NNSD. Amazon Digital. 2015.
Elgin, Suzette. "The Gentle Art of Verbal Self-Defense" Barnes & Noble. 1993.
Elgin, Suzette. "The Gentle Art of Written Self-Defense" MJF Books. 1997.
Maffetone, Philip Dr. “The Maffetone Method: The Holistic, Low-stress, No-Pain Way to Exceptional Fitness.” McGraw Hill, New York. 2000
Strong, Sanford. “Strong on Defense_ Survival Rules to Protect you and your Family from Crime.” Pocket Books. New York. 1996.
and more … see blog bibliography.
Jahn, C. R. “FTW Self Defense.” iUniverse. Amazon Digital Services. 2012
Jahn, C. R. “Hardcore Self Defense.” iUniverse. Amazon Digital Services. 2002.
Bibliography of RBT Drills (Some titles have RBT drills included):
MacYoung, Marc. "In the Name of Self-Defense: What It Costs. When It’s Worth It." Marc MacYoung. 2014.
MacYoung, Marc (Animal). “Taking It to the Street: Making Your Martial Art Street Effective.” Paladin Press. Boulder, Colorado. 1999.
MacYoung, Marc. "A Professional's Guide to Ending Violence Quickly: How Bouncers, Bodyguards, and Other Security Professionals Handle Ugly Situations." Paladin Press. Boulder, Colorado. 1996.
Miller, Rory. “Drills: Training for the Sudden Violence.” Amazon Digital Services, inc. Smashwords. 2011.
Quinn, Peyton. “Real Fighting: Adrenaline Stress Conditioning Through Scenario-Based Training.” Paladin Press. Amazon Digital Services, inc. 1996
My Blog Bibliography
Cornered Cat (Scratching Post): http://www.corneredcat.com/scratching-post/
Kodokan Boston: http://kodokanboston.org
Mario McKenna (Kowakan): http://www.kowakan.com
Mokuren Dojo: http://www.mokurendojo.com
McYoung’s Musings: http://macyoungsmusings.blogspot.com
Martial Views: http://www.martialviews.com
Shinseidokan Dojo: http://shinseidokandojo.blogspot.com
The Classi Budoka: https://classicbudoka.wordpress.com
Wim Demeere’s Blog: http://www.wimsblog.com
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