Where should your focus be? These days, people seem to use the term “self-defense” as a catch-all. It’s become so overused that it has lost its meaning. We can google “self-defense” and discover thousands of classes that claim to teach self-defense for women, children, grandparents and even dogs.This kind of instruction is important and valid, but it can miss the key concepts of self-protection, concepts that are designed to help you avoid conflict in the first place. People often discuss self-protection and self-defense as if they’re interchangeable. They are not. And the difference could help save someone’s life. As a mom, a daughter and someone who was kidnapped at a young age, I can say without a doubt that self-protection has kept me alive. Let me explain how. When should we rely on “self-defense” vs. “self-protection?” Let’s dig a little deeper into the meanings of the two terms and why it might be important to teach our loved ones and students the difference. Self: “A person’s essential being that distinguishes them from others, especially considered as the object of introspection or reflexive action” (Oxford Dictionary). When we are afraid, we become self-centered. All animals share this characteristic. It’s an important survival mechanism. What we do with this self-centeredness is key to our survival. Defense: “The action of defending from or resisting attack” (Oxford Dictionary) Defense often involves machines, tools, guns and tactics for defending one’s home — as in warfare. We can trace some forms of self-defense back to our hunter-gatherer ancestors. Protection: “The action of protecting, or the state of being protected. A person or thing that prevents someone or something from suffering harm or injury” (Oxford Dictionary) Here, the word “protection” invokes planning ahead, which can include preparing borders around one’s home, learning forms of self-defense in case they’re needed, understanding the attacker’s intention before he or she attacks, and ultimately avoiding conflict. As martial artists, we know that it takes years of practice to master self-defense moves. These can include pressure points, strikes, joint locks, kicks and weapons techniques. To know where to grip a joint, apply pressure on a nerve or execute an effective kick takes years of discipline. They require masterful teachers and embodied techniques. The purpose of these techniques is to fend off an attacker. They require knowledge of a skill set that understands which technique to execute when. For example, if you have developed your wrists and fingers to choke, you understand that you must be in close proximity to the attacker to execute such a technique with a chance of success. For the vast majority of the population, joint locks, pressure points, weapons, and hand and foot techniques are not in their toolbox. When one attempts to engage in self-defense without proper training, it can fail — and it might be too late to redirect the attacker at that point. On the other hand, every one of us can include forms of self-protection in our toolbox. For example, one of the most important techniques of modern self-protection is to know your surroundings. When you’re walking alone, are you aware of the space behind your body and to the sides? Do you ever pause to assess your surroundings? In Jungshin Fitness, we use the technique of directional-momentum sword training to teach the body and mind to maintain awareness of all elements of spatial distance (strengthening our proprioceptors). Other techniques that help train people in self-protection include the following: • Energy manners: How do you walk into crowds and engage with others? Are you invasive with your personality and energy? Do you allow your ki (internal energy) to spill over into the public domain? We can contain ourselves by making ourselves small or big depending on the situation. • Meditation: It aids in the ability of the brain (an organ) to react quickly if needed. When the mind is clear, the response can be immediate. • Good nutrition: A body weighed down with gluten and sugar causes the nervous system to be less aware than when the body runs efficiently with enough water, breath and healthy foods that support the internal organs. • Regular training in forms (kata): Kata are a type of “moving meditation” that keeps the mind focused, calm and aware in all directions. If I had not studied martial arts for 30 years, I would not feel comfortable with a choking technique as my go-to move for self-defensive. I would never want to get that close to an opponent. I still don’t! That is why I focus on self-protection. Knowing how to stay in my own zone and practicing the aforementioned techniques form the most important skill set you need to avoid conflict. The next time you’re rushing, shopping or getting the kids out of the house, see if you can apply a pause technique and notice how your surroundings respond. This small step in self-protection will have a huge impact. I hope incorporating these techniques into your practice contributes to your journey on the path to your best protected, but friendly, self. Be the warrior you are!

Intuition is always right in at least two important ways. It is always in response to something. It always has your best interest at heart. ­— Gavin de Becker When intuition grabs our attention to warn us of danger in our surroundings, it often feels like an alarm going off in our body. When danger is present, the sensation we feel, in the words of some people, is like an electric current that starts in the gut and radiates outward. Others have described the feeling as a chill running up the spine or a generalized lack of comfort. The commonality is a definite sense of unease, a nagging feeling that won't go away. There also might be a flash of insight or a sensation that comes to us, one that we never sought out. All this is indisputable evidence that our body is picking up information, much like radar does, and that this information needs to be examined by our awareness. It happens faster than our conscious mind can fathom. In a situation in which danger is present or attack is imminent, our intuition encourages us to recognize what's likely to be in store so we can make a choice to steer clear. By trusting our feelings early on, we learn that we can avoid danger later. In other words, intuition is our most important inner weapon. Built into our matrix, it's designed to lead us away from harm and toward what's inherently good for our well-being. When we take advantage of this foresight, we often can avoid an attack or a dangerous situation without having to get physical.The following are some questions that martial artists have asked me about intuition and its role in self-defense. CAN WE ALWAYS TRUST THE VOICE OF INTUITION? Yes, provided that we're in the present moment and not reacting on an emotional level. Remember that intuition is not worry or anxiety. We need to keep our emotions under control. We must recognize the alarm bell for what it is and take action by removing ourselves from the situation. We should never doubt a gut feeling that tells us that we aren't safe. If we feel uncomfortable or unsafe, we must not proceed. WHY DO WE OVERRIDE OUR INTUITION? In The Gift of Fear: And Other Survival Signals That Protect Us From Violence, Gavin de Becker writes, "Denial is a save-now, pay-later scheme." The warnings we get from our intuition can come at the most inconvenient times. We often get a flash of insight but have no evidence, so we start to second-guess ourselves. Maybe we're running late and get a signal that the route we're taking is dangerous, then see an option to take a detour. Do we choose the longer detour or chance it with the regular route? Maybe we're concerned about appearing rude to a stranger. It's common to feel guilty about being suspicious of another person, but when our gut tells us that there's something more here, we should at the very least pay attention. Maybe we're starting a relationship with a seemingly charming person but develop a nagging feeling about him or her. Our desire to be liked, to conform and to be validated by others can cloud our perception of reality, as well as our situational awareness. WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT TO FOLLOW OUR INTUITION? Intuition doesn't waste our time. Something important is being revealed to us. Following the guidance of our intuition can help us avoid abusers, con artists and predators. We also can avoid injury, rape and even death. Understanding our intuitive self gives us ultimate power over our lives and our well-being. So remember that the next time a "bad feeling" is gnawing at you, it's your intuition telling you that no matter how badly you might wish to talk yourself into a certain course of action, it's the wrong way to go. Ultimately, we must learn to stand with our intuition. Katherine de Boda is an Arizona-based martial artist and writer. 5 Ways to Build Your Intuition Intuition is just like any skill in that it has to be practiced to be strengthened. The following guidelines will help: 1. Get in tune with your body. Practice mind/body exercises that synchronize the breath with repetitive movement. These physical actions can calm the cognitive mind and open you up to your intuition. 2. Dedicate time every day to listening and focusing on awareness. Make an effort to listen to your gut instinct throughout the day so you can begin to recognize your intuitive guidance. 3. Practice "reading" people when you meet them. See what you can glean from them by sensing their energy and observing the subtleties of their behavior. 4. Meditate. Doing this regularly will help you recognize impulses that come from within. Know that intuition can speak through words, images or physical sensations. 5. Release your resistance. Don't rationalize your way out of an intuitive hunch. Using your cognitive mind to override the wisdom of your intuition can, in the worst-case scenario, put your life in danger. Instead, allow your cognitive mind to support your intuitive hunches and take decisive action.

Mental warfare is half of your fight game, yet many martial artists neglect this area of their training. In this second installment, we'll explore the secret to controlling the battleground of your mind and six advanced tactics to give you the edge in mental warfare, whether in the ring, on the street or in daily life. How to Win in Advance Choose in advance how you want to feel in any situation. Then, when you enter the situation, breathe and remind yourself to feel the way you chose to feel. Because you will have already prepared yourself for this situation, you'll be able to perform optimally. The mind is the ground where all battles are won or lost, and it is the only battleground that you have full control over from start to finish. The key is to know that you actually have control and then training yourself to control your mind through these exercises. First, practice controlling your mind during small challenges, such as when you get cut off in traffic or are attending family gatherings. Soon you'll find it's easier than you thought and you'll be able to use this power in any situation. Six Advanced Martial Arts Training Tactics Once you're familiar with controlling your mind and directing your feelings at will, you'll find it much easier to control the mind and direct the feelings of your opponent and others in general. Martial Arts Training Tactic No. 1 Do not be thrown off emotionally. Mental Attacks and attempts to defeat you will always start with an attack on your emotional balance. Remain rooted in objectivity. The samurai called this mushin, meaning mind no mind. Martial Arts Training Tactic No. 2 Confuse your opponent with a very slight smile, as if you know something he doesn't. This will instill doubt and fear in your opponent. Martial Arts Training Tactic No. 3 When faced with a mental assault, match and mirror your agitator's attitude and outlook. Become a fellow observer and a kindred spirit. Once you match his tempo, shift and strike with an attack of your own. Doing so will off-balance and weaken him. Martial Arts Training Tactic No. 4 Use body language that shows you're not looking for a fight but are willing and able to go there, if needed. Just like a dog smells fear and bites someone, bullies also smell strength and power and will either leave you alone or obey your commands. Be the person who radiates an energy that is naturally obeyed. Then people will follow you without even knowing why! Martial Arts Training Tactic No. 5 A fixated mind is a diseased mind. A fixated mind will miss the red light (the warning) and the green light (the opportunity). Keep your mind unhindered and you will intuitively spot the opening and defeat the enemy. Martial Arts Training Tactic No. 6 You're stronger than you think you are, you know more than you think you know and you can do more than you think you can. Allow yourself to flourish! (Author and trainer Scott Bolan's best-selling courses include "Mental Warfare Secrets," "Martial Mastery" and "Warrior Energetics." For more information, go to scottbolan.com .)

ONE Championship is gearing up for another massive night inside Lumpinee Boxing Stadium on Friday, September 22. ONE Friday Fights 34 will feature a main event that has been one of the most talked about matchups across all combat sports for nearly two years. ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion Rodtang Jitmuangnon will defend the gold against ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Champion Superlek Kiatmoo9 in a match for the ages. Outside of seeing the two stars dazzle under the spotlight, why else should you be tuned in to ONE’s latest magnificent martial arts offering? Here are four reasons to get excited for Rodtang vs. Superlek: 1. Flyweight Greats Go Head-To-Head Having the #1-ranked contender vie for the title is not an uncommon occurrence. It’s what the sport is all about. But having two athletes ranked atop the standings in two different sports is unique, and that is exactly where Rodtang and Superlek stand in the flyweight division. Rodtang is the Muay Thai king with Superlek chasing, and Superlek holds the kickboxing gold, with Rodtang taking up the top contender’s spot. With both men lighting up the highlight reel, this matchup is something special that fans are not used to seeing. It’s not a fly-by-night ranking with a new contender taking the top spot after the previous athlete faltered in their attempt for gold. These are the two best flyweights — period. Fans of any combat sport should be tuned in to watch this spectacular bout. The ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Championship matchup is something to behold. 2. It’s Finally Happening Rodtang and Superlek have always seemed to be destined to compete against one another. The first meeting looked like it could happen in the ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Grand Prix in the summer of 2022. Rodtang dropped out of the competition before the semifinals and the prospective final was washed away. Fast forward to March and ONE Fight Night 8. The two were scheduled to collide again. However, Rodtang bowed out due to injury. Following ONE Fight Night 8, Rodtang talked openly about wanting to compete against other athletes who were not Thai. After ONE Fight Night 10, “The Iron Man” claimed it was better for Thailand to have the two hold the Muay Thai and kickboxing titles. But through all the talk and speculation, the match fans truly wanted the most is finally here. Rodtang vs. Superlek is back on the books and ready to thrill audiences across the globe. 3. A Clash Of Styles When it comes to the action inside the ring on September 22, Rodtang vs. Superlek will also show the crowd an epic clash of styles. Rodtang is known for his constant aggression and willingness to exchange. While Superlek is certainly not opposed to coming forward, the two men do so in different ways. Rodtang sports a more boxing-based style known as Muay Mat. The challenger will bring a Muay Femur approach, using technique and intellect to break down his opponent. At ONE Friday Fights 34, the victor will likely be the one who can implement their game onto the other. Can the champion force Superlek to act uncharacteristically with his aggression, or will Superlek’s defense stifle the oncoming traffic from Rodtang? This is an answer that is eagerly anticipated with this matchup. 4. The First Chapter One of the most exciting prospects of this matchup is simply knowing it is only the beginning. Rodtang holds the ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Championship, but Superlek is the ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Champion. It stands to reason, with Rodtang as the #1-ranked contender, we will soon see the two compete for the kickboxing gold. And no matter the result of either match, there is a phenomenal possibility that we will see rematches in both sports. And let’s not forget how young both men are. Whoever ends up on the losing end has plenty of time to get back in contention for their rematch. This is not going to be the first and last time we see this extraordinary matchup of two generational athletes. It is only the beginning. ONE Friday Fights 34 airs live on Friday, September 22. The event airs across all ONE platforms at 8:30 a.m. ET/5:30 a.m. PT.

In this Black Belt exclusive, Hall of Famer Burton Richardson reveals five more ways in which you can benefit from adopting silat's open-hand self-defense tactics. In the first part of this post , Burton Richardson talks about the following silat self-defense principles: It's easier to de-escalate a situation with open hands. Open hands facilitate the use of more techniques. Open hands make it easier to catch kicks. It's easier to stop a weapon with open hands. Use of a physical-restraint technique requires open hands. In this part, he addresses five more. — Editor Silat Strategy No. 6: To parry an attack, the hands must be open. Blocking punches is fine if your only goal is to avoid getting hit. However, if your goal is to neutralize the source of those punches, the beauty of silat parrying becomes apparent. Why? Because when you parry, you can counterstrike at the same time. To execute a parry, your hands must be open. That's because you'll need to use a palm to divert that punch and thus create an opening for your counter. Yes, you'll need to spar a lot to fine-tune your timing, but once you do, you'll find that parrying affords you a higher level of defense than does blocking. Silat for the Street is the title of a new book from Black Belt Hall of Famer Burton Richardson and Black Belt magazine. Now you can learn the most functional silat techniques. Get more info here! Silat Strategy No. 7: Open hands foster a relaxed mind and body. If you want to move at maximum speed, you must be relaxed. If you want to flow, you must be relaxed. If you want your mind to be pliable and ready to perceive all threats, you must be relaxed. Having your hands open relaxes your mind. In contrast, closing them into fists tends to make your mind tight and your body tense. Because of this mind-body link, keeping your hands open is often the key to keeping yourself in a calm state that will optimize your overall fighting skill. Silat Strategy No. 8: Feinting is more effective with open hands. You may be thinking, How can this be? After all, feinting with a fist works very well, right? Yes, it does, but throwing an open hand as a feint presents your opponent with the perception that a larger weapon is incoming. That's because an open hand is larger than a closed fist. Because of that difference in perceived size, feinting with an open hand makes your adversary think the blow is closer and, therefore, more of a threat. For that reason, it's likely to elicit a bigger reaction, which is exactly what you want from your feint. Remember that the bigger the reaction you get from your opponent, the bigger the opening for you to take advantage of. Silat Strategy No. 9: Striking with open hands subjects the body to less danger. You're less likely to hurt your hand when making contact with a palm than with a fist. If you have any doubts, look up “boxer's fracture" online. You'll learn that it's one of the most common injuries in street fighting — and even in boxing and MMA matches, in which athletes have their hands taped and wrapped with gloves. Breaking a hand in an altercation likely will mean you can no longer strike with that hand or use it to grab your attacker. That's bad if you're a civilian. It's worse if you're a law-enforcement officer or military member because you might need to fend off a surprise attack before transitioning to a weapon. Silat Strategy No. 10: Training is simpler with open hands. I'm a big advocate of putting on helmets and gloves frequently to do safe sparring, but I also believe that you can safely spar with your open hands without all the gear. You'll want to wear a mouth guard and a cup to make sure face contact and groin strikes are options — remember that you're polishing your self-defense skills, not engaging in a combat sport — but you'll want to avoid wearing bulky boxing gloves. They'll prevent you from working on certain clinches and control techniques that require tactile sensitivity and the dexterity of an open hand. For this reason, it's best to do some of your sparring without gloves. Focus on being functional with your open hands. You'll find it's fun and a great way to develop more options in your arsenal. And in real-world situations that may involve violence, you want your mind to have access to as many options as possible.

Killer Instincts and Fighting Spirit To understand the core of martial arts is to remember the creation of this earth when God created all that is in existence today. Every living creature- be it human, animal, or insect- were all created with the instinct to protect and defend. For example, when the praying mantis is being attacked by another insect, the praying mantis fights for its life. After surviving an encounter, the praying mantis learns to depend on its defensive maneuvers. In martial arts, these survival instincts are brought into play to develop combative techniques to survive a deadly encounter. Over the decades, many systems have become popular for its combatives; such as JKD, BJJ, Akido and many others. One system that is becoming more and more popular for its combat effectiveness is wushu. Wushu originally was looked upon as a performing art with beautiful kata, weapons and fighting sets. One individual that has taken wushu beyond the performing side is Willie “THE BAM” Johnson. Johnson is a Maryland based wushu instructor with an extensive background in practical wushu techniques. He is America’s first male wushu triple crown champion and graduate of the Beijing Institute of Physical Fitness of China in 1985. For the last four years, Johnson has been teaching and promoting his wushu combat skills through professional law enforcement agencies. His wushu combat skill comes from 23 years of martial arts training and numerous deadly encounters in the streets. His techniques are taken from Kong Duk Kwon, Wing Chun, Judo Northern Shaolin Kung Fu, Street Fighting, Guji Bu, Wushu, Chin Na, boxing, and jail house combat. The techniques are simple but deadly- based on the principle of flowing in harmony with the universe. For example, if one takes you down with a hip throw you go in the open direction of the technique to make the opponent feel less in control and at his weakest point you strike out. This object of pushing when pulled and pulling when pushed. Johnson has survived many street encounters with and without weapons with his physical and mental combat skills. In the streets, the attacker’s only goal is to set and destroy. We must be aware of this. Johnson said "Effective techniques are important, but construction awareness of your surroundings is the first step. This day and age we are like soldiers in a war, so it’s important that we walk our post in a perfect manner always being alert. If you can’t prevent the encounter, then it’s time to have the courage and confidence to come out on top." Techniques are important, but inner spirit is what brings the technique alive. This is important in practice because the way you practice is the way you respond. "What I teach is effective because in my teen years I was the attacker and now I am on the other side as the defender. My wisdom gained through these experiences gives me the attackers mindset, attitude, and techniques." - Johnson This is what Willie “THE BAM” Johnson has brought to the wushu system, and as long as he lives by the 12 principles of his combat wushu system help book of honesty, open mindedness, willingness, patience, consistency, righteousness, unity, charity, sobriety, courage, self-denial and love he will continue to improve his martial way by controlling to prove that it is one of the most effective combat arts around today. Many people on the streets focus on the kill or be killed mindset. They idolize violent people as role models, such as the characters from Scar Face and Rambo . "You see I was one of those kids and thanks to God for my understanding I can teach others these principles to help them survive and become a good person with strong morals. The “killer instinct” can be used to hurt others for unjust reasons or to save our own life. The survival instinct is triggered when under great stress and allows someone untrained in fighting to save their own life in whatever way necessary. Everyone has this instinct of survival, but personal experiences have a lot more to do with the display of the killer instinct ." - Johnson We are all born with animalistic instincts, and if it wasn’t for God, we would be nothing more than animals. I know that many people may find this hard to believe but it’s true, there are many people out there that find joy in killing. Many have no control over what is referred to as the killer instinct... But what is the “killer instinct?” God created all human beings to have control over their lives. It is imperative to remember this. If not, they will use the killer instinct for wrong-doings. You may say what is the killer instinct? What are they talking about? It is an attitude and feeling of determination and confidence. A mindset that continuously feeds the words of never giving up, never give up. When being hit hard, you hit back harder. When being beat down, you stand back up.

In 2004 John Pellegrini was inducted into the Black Belt Hall of Fame as Instructor of the Year. Since then, it’s been tough to get in touch with him because his art, combat hapkido, has become one of the most sought-after systems in the world. That means the master is in demand from New York to California, from Afghanistan to Colombia. In this exclusive interview, John Pellegrini talks about the special aspects of his art that make it work so well for military personnel and law-enforcement officers. Black Belt: Why is combat hapkido so appealing to the military when many traditional martial arts are not? John Pellegrini: The word “traditional” probably answers the question. In traditional arts, a lot of attention is paid to posture, stance and movement. Everything is done in a way that reflects the traditions and essence of that art. Remember that all martial arts were designed for the battlefield, but it was the battlefield of 300, 500 or 1,000 years ago. There were different weapons and different rules of engagement. Since then, warfare has evolved, and the martial arts that accompany the warrior also must evolve to reflect the new terrain, missions, weapons, tactics, strategies and rules of engagement. So we have to evolve, too. In combat hapkido, we’ve stripped away a lot of the traditional trappings—such as the classical stances and positions. We’ve [kept] the core of the art because basically a joint lock is a joint lock; nobody’s going to reinvent it. We’ve stripped it down to emphasize close-quarters conflicts for modern battlefield environments, and we take into account that when [a soldier] strikes, joint-locks or takes somebody down, he’s going to have equipment on. Black Belt: Is there a lot of individual combat on the battlefield today? John Pellegrini: There’s still individual combat. However, the advantage soldiers have is that they’re rarely alone. They’re operating in groups. If someone comes out of a house and attacks you with a knife, there are other soldiers to cover, protect and help you. But what if you’re in a group of three out patrolling, and the other two get shot or step on a mine? Now you’re alone. That happens a lot in house clearing—there may be two or three soldiers, and one of them goes down and then a couple of people come out of the house. That’s when the close-quarters fighting begins. Black Belt: What role does an empty-hand martial art play when so many guns are present? John Pellegrini: People think that soldiers engage the enemy only with their weapons—that every time something happens, the soldier just fires his M-16 and solves the problem. Many times he does, but the mission of the Army nowadays has changed. They do a lot in an urban environment. It’s started to resemble law-enforcement functions. They walk down the street, patrolling open-air markets, or they go into houses to confiscate weapons. Yes, the weapon is the primary defense, but sometimes you’re at close quarters and the person comes from behind or gets right in your face, and it’s very difficult to use the weapon. There’s a second problem: You want to use your weapon, but there are women and children around. You have to be careful because of the bad public relations that can be generated for the United States. You have to have some hand-to-hand skills. I’m not saying that every soldier in the U.S. Army must become a black belt. All I’m saying is that they should get a minimum amount of skill. Take a course in combatives that gives you a few kicks, strikes, controlling techniques and pressure-point techniques so you can take somebody down without the use of your weapon. Black Belt: What should that “minimum amount of skill” include? John Pellegrini: I would like to see every troop learn at least a simplified version of what we do. We don’t kick to the head; we don’t jump and spin; we don’t do anything with big, wide circles. Everything is synthesized with a core of techniques that give them a fighting chance when they’re in close quarters. Black Belt: Which hand-to-hand combat techniques do you focus on for the military? John Pellegrini:The most important use for the hands is to make sure the attacker doesn’t grab your weapon. The second most important use is close-quarters blade defense. Somebody approaches you, maybe to ask for food or information—or maybe you’re interviewing the person—and all of a sudden he pulls out a knife. That’s why you need trapping techniques, basically redirecting the attack and immediately closing the gap and taking control of him. We teach a combination of techniques, like low-line kicking, strikes with the hands and joint-locking with the possible application of pressure points. That obviously doesn’t work all the time, depending on the clothing and other factors. We always encourage striking to the head because it contains the computer of the human body. You want to rattle and stun the computer and take away the vision of the attacker so he can’t see what’s going on. Then you can take him down easily. Black Belt: What if the other person is wearing a helmet or body armor? John Pellegrini: The people I taught in Afghanistan [said they] seldom encounter that. Even if the bad guys wear a helmet, their eyes and trachea are still available. You can target the face. Now, our people wear helmets all the time, and we encourage them to use them as weapons. Head-butting has a whole new meaning when you’re wearing a helmet. Our people also wear Kevlar body armor, but it covers them only up to a point. Their arms are still open, and they contain serious arteries, so they can still get slashed. The neck is somewhat covered, but it’s also open in places. The femoral artery is open, the groin is open—it’s not a complete set of armor like medieval knights wore. That brings up another point: A lot of military combatives courses are 90-percent ground survival. I’m appalled that some units learn Brazilian jiu-jitsu and are encouraged to fight on the ground. When you look at their training on base, they’re wearing shorts, gym shoes and T-shirts while they roll around and do ankle locks and armbars—and that’s beautiful. But do that on rocky terrain in Afghanistan with the soldier wearing 65 pounds of equipment, and it’s insane. Do we teach ground survival to the troops? Absolutely. As a matter of fact, several months ago, the 10th Mountain Division sent six of their team leaders here to Phoenix to spend a week with us and get certified as military ground-survival instructors. [They know they] can be pushed to the ground, fall or lose their balance, and if the guy gets on top of them with a knife, there could be a close-quarters struggle. But the idea is to immediately dislodge the person and recover the dominant standing position. It’s not about grappling and rolling on the ground. Black Belt: What kind of grappling techniques are effective in those situations? John Pellegrini: If you’re on the ground, you need to immediately strike hard. The head is the main target. Take out the eyes, the breathing apparatus, the throat, the nerve groups. Try to stun the person long enough, or hurt him as much as possible, so you can get up. If you find yourself on the ground, hopefully a couple of buddies will come to your aid, deploy their weapons and grab the person. Black Belt: Are there techniques you teach for disengaging from someone who may have jumped you from behind or surprised you from a doorway? John Pellegrini: Yes, they’re mostly sweeps and takedowns using what we call the balance-disruption system, [which is characterized by] taking away their balance, trapping their feet or doing some low-line sweeping. If they come from behind, you can do a hip throw, but it’s not a high throw like you’d see in a tournament. It’s not that easy to attack soldiers from behind because of what they carry on their backs. So if somebody comes from behind and tries to bear-hug or choke a soldier, there’s a big backpack between the soldier and the attacker. It’s not necessarily a smart move. Black Belt: Do you teach kicks? Are they restricted to low targets? John Pellegrini: We teach kicks to the groin—if it’s available at close quarters, you can employ your knee, shinbone or boot. But mostly we do kicks to targets that are even lower. There are several pressure points on the legs and in other areas that can instantly drop an attacker. We teach only four kicks to the military: the front kick, the side kick, the low-line roundhouse kick to the side of the leg and the scoop kick, which is used when you’re almost in a grappling situation and need to use the inside blade of your boot to rake the shin. With those four, you should be able to take care of any situation. Obviously, there are a couple of reasons we use only a few kicks and only extremely low-line. One of them is that 65 pounds of equipment. How long do you want to be off-balance on one leg? If you’re already in a clinch, the longer you stay on one leg, the sooner you’ll wind up on the ground. Our kicks are low-line, fast and directly to the leg area. The bad guys don’t wear armor on their legs. If you give them a hard kick to the leg, you can drop them. This is not taekwondo or even regular hapkido. The average soldier doesn’t have much flexibility or do stretching exercises every day like you do in the dojang. It’s insane to expect them to kick to the chest or face. The risk of having their leg grabbed and being taken down [is too great]. Black Belt: How do you handle knife and gun defense? John Pellegrini: Law-enforcement officers often ask us why they need to learn to take away a knife or handgun when they’re already armed and in a deadly-force situation, which means they can shoot the bad guy. The problem is, sometimes you’re in such close quarters and the person manages to close the gap and put a gun to your head. Understand that when the bad guy gets the gun, if he wants to kill you, he’ll pull the trigger. When he points a gun at your face, it means he wants to capture you. It’s a different environment for a soldier than it is for a civilian or law-enforcement officer. If you’re at close quarters and the person’s got a gun pointed at your face, you’d be insane to try to deploy your weapon. But you can employ your hands from a surrender posture and disarm him. Black Belt: Why might the military need empty-hand-versus-weapons skills? John Pellegrini: They’re not always going to have all that equipment and weapons. Just to give you an example, I got a call from the Pentagon about a year ago to train people attached to the Office of Naval Intelligence who were being deployed to Iraq. They were dressed in civilian clothes, and some of them had beards—they weren’t your regular troops, which is why they wanted empty-hand training. They explained that they may go into a village and extract people from their houses, then put them in a cave or a tent and interview them. In those interrogation scenarios, [often] they’re not allowed to carry weapons. So they go in and sit down with a translator. Sometimes the detainees go nuts or try to escape or overcome the interrogator. They don’t care if they die in the process because that was the idea to begin with—which is why we have suicide bombers. I was explaining to them what happens if the guy’s hiding a knife somewhere or if he grabs a pencil or rock. Isn’t it better if the soldier has some techniques to defend himself? He needs to put his hands up, deflect the attack, take the guy down quickly and be done with it. Granted, help will arrive within seconds, but at least he didn’t get killed or maimed. Black Belt: Are there any secret moves that you teach the military that you can’t reveal to civilians? John Pellegrini: Yes, but I don’t call them “secret.” There are no secrets. Everything has already been invented and shown. I refuse to teach certain techniques to civilians because they’re direct-kill techniques. I don’t think that civilians need to see them. You say, “Wait a minute, civilians can be in deadly situations, too.” Yes, and we teach as much as possible so they can defend themselves and escape. But what I’m talking about here is direct kill. That means that the technique is designed to do nothing else but kill the person by destroying the airway, the spine or a couple of other things. You’re going directly into a kill mode because maybe you’re faced with multiple attackers or weapons. You do your threat analysis and decide that you have to eliminate this person; you cannot just push him to the side, kick or punch him, or take him to the ground and put him in a joint lock. You need to eliminate him so you can face the next threat. It’s not that the techniques are different; they’re different in application. Black Belt: You were recently in Colombia, South America. What were you teaching there? John Pellegrini:Colombia has faced two problems for the past 30 years. One is the Marxist guerrilla movement. They do a lot of kidnappings and bombings, and they attack troops, police officers and civilians. The other problem is the drug cartels. Both of them engage the troops and the police. The guerrilla operations often take place in a jungle or a mountainous environment. They use different tactics, but once you start looking at the threats they face, you see that the threats aren’t much different from what our troops are facing in Afghanistan and Iraq. You employ your weapons first, but what happens if you’re in close quarters or an urban environment where women and children are running around? It’s good to know some hand-to-hand techniques. So, when we were asked to teach a counterterrorism unit of the Colombian air force, we taught them basically the same stuff we teach our military. They also needed to know how to [handle] political demonstrations when the crowd gets out of control. Obviously, they’re not going to fire an M-16 into the crowd. The second group we did there—policemen who worked in plain clothes—was interesting. They carry sidearms and provide security for diplomatic personnel. When the American ambassador or a visiting dignitary goes out, the first layer of protection is provided by the FBI, Secret Service and our own people, but there’s an outer circle of security provided by the Colombian police. These people have received little if any empty-hand training. They’ve been taught to shoot and do defensive driving, they take courses in executive protection and they’re good at their job, but during their training, close-quarters hand-to-hand combat wasn’t emphasized. They were extremely grateful that we taught them some good stuff. We did it at the American Embassy, one of the most well-protected in the world. Black Belt: In terms of brutality, how different is what you teach the military from what you teach law enforcement and civilians? John Pellegrini:When our troops are in a theater of operation, they’re at war and people are trying to kill them. It’s not like a bar fight or a street fight in which a juvenile tries to snatch your wallet. There are lethal situations in civilian life and certainly with police officers, but the brutality that war brings to the equation is different. It’s employed by the enemy; therefore, we have to respond with the same kind of brutality. On the battlefield, even if your life isn’t in danger, you’re struggling with somebody trying to hurt or capture you. You must use that brutality. You have a weapon, and you can hit him in the face with it. Imagine a police officer pistol-whipping somebody in a civilian setting; it wouldn’t go over very well. Even so, we live in a 24-hour news environment, and our soldiers have to limit the degree of brutality they use. Think about how hard that is: They have to be in survival mode every second, yet they also have to be aware of the possibility of doing something that will come back to haunt them. When you fight people who don’t wear uniforms—in Iraq and Afghanistan, the bad guys don’t have uniforms—you never know who’s who and who’s going to do what. That’s why, in the final analysis, what we do with our combat-hapkido training is simply give them one more tool for survival. We’re not trying to create super invincible warriors. We’re not trying to make them into martial arts experts and black belts. It’s an additional tool that might save a life and might prevent charges of brutality if a soldier can take the person down and control him instead of shooting him.

The world is a dangerous place. But you already know that. As a martial artist, you probably enjoy the physical fitness, the challenge and the camaraderie that is found in training martial arts. And beyond these benefits, you know that you will have a greater chance of preventing and escaping violence should it ever rear its ugly head. What else can you do to improve your odds of surviving a violent encounter? Well, some martial artists carry weapons; from tactical pens to pepper spray, from knives to firearms. Many responsible citizens equip themselves with weapons that fall inside the scope of their local laws. Knives are a common force multiplier carried by martial artists. So what should you carry? Well that is a personal choice and will also be influenced by your training, preference and local laws. Beyond your fists of fury, carrying a weapon can make sense if you have the proper training to accompany your proper tools. If you do decide to carry a weapon, what should you carry? There are many choices. Should you go with a deadly weapon like a firearm, knife or expandable baton? Is that even legal where you live? How about less-than-lethal alternatives like pepper spray, Kubuton (or pocket stick), Tactical flashlight? All are solid choices with the proper training. And what about other tools like a tactical pen or keychain alarm? We will be doing a deep dive into all these options in future articles. No matter what weapon you chose to go with, it is important to understand the risks and rewards of each the weapon. Let's consider the advantages and disadvantages of EDC (everyday carry) force multipliers. And please keep in mind that martial artists from our past often carried weapons. From kung fu to karate masters, many martial artists carried weapons when allowed (and sometimes not allowed) to do so. Benefits of carrying a weapon: Save lives: You never know when you may be called upon to save your life or those you love. In dangerous situations, it is not a bad idea to stack the deck in your favor and a weapon is designed to do just that. Think of your EDC weapon as a buddy hanging out with you who has your back. As the saying goes, "better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it." Act as a reminder: When carrying a weapon, it serves as a reminder that the world is not as safe as it may appear. There is much beauty in this world and unfortunately (as the yin/yang symbol reminds us), there is also much ugly and potentially evil roaming the streets. As martial artists, it is a given that we are alert to the potential for violence but life gets in the way. Sometimes we forget. Our weapon or self-defense tool can help nudge us back to alertness. Multi-tool: Some martial artists may carry knives. Indonesian and Filipino martial artists often do. And beyond stabbing, slashing and "defanging the snake," knives can serve a variety of purposes. As a utility tool, knives are excellent at piercing boxes, opening packages and cutting rope. There are also tactical pens and flashlights which are self-descriptive in their usage. Disadvantages of carrying a weapon: Lethality: Knives (and even tactical pens or flashlights) can become lethal in certain situations. If you ever have to save your life or those you love, you will have to explain your actions (multiple times) and using a deadly weapon makes it that much more complicated. It is also important to consider if you are financially and mentally ready for the aftermath of an encounter where deadly force is used. Weapons are a great responsibility and thus some martial artists may decide to refrain from carrying them. Weapons Reliance: We see this in the gun world often. Someone purchases a firearm and maybe even decides to carry one. They think somehow it is a magic wand that will take care of all their violent woes. It is not. To use any weapon properly, requires training in both the weapon and empty hands skills (found in martial arts). Remember, you are the weapon and your instrument is just a tool. Don't make your instrument the weapon, and you become the tool. Overconfidence: Having a force multiplier may also create a false sense of security. This may cause some to act in a foolhardy way in situations where avoidance or evasion is the prudent course of action. Friends and family may look at you as paranoid: Yes, this is a real thing and some people may even be offended by what you decide to carry for personal protection. There you have it; pros and cons of carrying a weapon. Let us know if we missed anything. Also, please share with us if you carry a weapon or not, and why. Many martial arts masters from the past carried weapons. Pictured here is the katana, famously carried by the samurai. About the Author: Dr. Conrad Bui has over 40 years of practice in the martial arts. He is a 5th degree black belt in tae kwon do, as well as advanced instructor rankings in silat, kuntao, ba gua, and kali. He currently coaches Muay Thai and Brazillian jiu jitsu at World Team USA in San Francisco. As a co-founder of Tiga Tactics, a consulting company for self-defense and combatives, he is passionate about sharing the benefits of martial arts to the world.

Part 1 In 1993, the Ultimate Fighting Championship heralded the dominance of mixed martial arts (MMA) in combat sports. Seemingly, eclipsing all other martial arts competitions, MMA has appeared as the last station of competitive martial arts programming. Is it time for something else? Enter Karate Combat. With its inception in 2018, Karate Combat is still a relatively new contender in the combat sports arena. For viewers that are seeking a more traditional stand-up contest, Karate Combat may be just what some fans have been looking for. With the completion of their exciting third season, which contained plenty of incredible martial arts action, it seemed like a good time to speak with Adam Kovacs COO and League President, and find out what the organization has in store for their next season and beyond. How is Karate Combat different from other combat sport programs? Karate Combat has changed the game. We've created a completely new professional sports league and reinvented production and presentation at the same time. Before Karate Combat, if you were watching professional combat sports you were watching boxing, kickboxing, or MMA. You'd see fights that took place in a ring or cage under one of a few rulesets and every organization using basically the same production methods. The only major difference between them was the name and the logo on the canvas. We've changed all that - you don't even need to see our logo on the screen to know that you're watching Karate Combat. From the production to the aesthetic to the actual fighting surface, everything is brand new and completely ours. It's very rare you see something truly original in sports these days and I think that's a large part of why we've had such a positive reaction from fans and such rapid growth. How did Karate Combat come about? I've been in karate all my life and I was on the Hungarian national team for many years, until my retirement from competition. I reached the top level in karate, but I was always conscious of the fact that as a karateka, you had no way to compete professionally unless you went to fight in a different sport like kickboxing or MMA. It always seemed strange to me, because statistically, karate is the world's most widely-practiced martial art; there's such a deep talent pool. Another thing I was aware of was that most casual fight fans don't love the grappling and clinching aspects of MMA and Muay Thai; it's quite boring to watch unless you have a fairly large degree of technical knowledge to understand what you're watching. On the other hand, one of the things I love about karate is the emphasis on timing and precision, getting in to land that perfect strike, and then getting out intact. I always thought it had the potential to be a very fan-friendly professional sport, so long as the fights were full contact and the rules were well-designed. By chance, that had also been noticed by some Wall Street investors. They had started looking into the fight-sport industry after seeing how the UFC had grown into one of the world's most valuable sports franchises. They saw this enormous martial art which was a household name all over the world yet didn't have a professional league. It was sort of a perfect storm: our paths crossed, and we found we had both been thinking about the same thing but from opposite directions. So between us, we were on the same page. We felt the three 'classic' combat sports - boxing, kickboxing, and MMA - left a large audience unserved. We began designing a new league, which eventually took shape as Karate Combat. What we've done is add a fourth pillar to the combat sports pantheon. Now, if you're a karateka or a traditional martial artist who has the desire and ability to turn professional, you don't have to go into kickboxing or MMA. You have a home here. And if you're a sports fan, Karate Combat is where you can see a whole new world of martial artists in full-contact fights which showcase the best of the art and don't get bogged down in grappling or clinching.

It's been reported that Nikolai Baranov, one of the last great sambo champions of the old Soviet Union where the sport was founded, passed away last week. Baranov, a two-time world champion, had been variously reported as being 70 or 71-years-old. From Nizhny Novgorod in Western Russia, Baranov began training in sambo as a teenager. Known for his groundwork, particularly his leg locks which earned him the nickname "Mr. Painful," Baranov won the world championships at 74 kg in 1979 and 1983. He also won the World Cup in 1980, as well European and Soviet national championships. Baranov would go on to become a successful coach counting among his students three world champions along with UFC 6 tournament winner Oleg Taktarov.

History has a flow; some characters are caught in the currents and carried along, while others fall into an eddy and are soon forgotten. Most karateka will recognize names like Gichin Funakoshi and Choki Motobu. Far fewer know anything about Yasuhiro Konishi — even though he was a pivotal figure in the development of karate in Japan and its evolution as a budo. Konishi (1893-1983) began training in the Muso Ryu of jujitsu at age 6. Shortly thereafter, he joined the Takeuchi Ryu, another school of jujitsu. Seven years later, he began training in kendo. He attended Keio University and became the university club's kendo coach. Konishi was a person who was utterly occupied by budo. One of the kendoka attending Keio University at the same time was Tsuneshige Arakaki, an Okinawan. At a party, he demonstrated a karate kata. Konishi was instantly intrigued. He began learning the art from Arakaki. After graduating , Konishi worked for a company for a short time, but in 1923, he opened his own dojo, called the Ryobu-Kan. There, he taught kendo and judo — and continued to learn karate. This was a fertile period for karate in Japan. In 1922 Funakoshi demonstrated the art at judo's Kodokan, which attracted considerable attention. In 1924 Funakoshi approached Konishi and asked about renting space in the Ryobu-Kan for training. At the same time, two other Okinawan karate experts, Motobu and Kenwa Mabuni, also came to the Ryobu-Kan, using it for their own training. Meanwhile, Konishi pursued his kendo practice, learning under Nakayama Hakudo, one of the luminaries in the sword art. Simultaneously, he worked with aikido founder Morihei Ueshiba, who encouraged him to create a karate kata that emphasized a formal system of footwork. Think about it: The most famous and accomplished martial artists in early 20th-century Japan were either training or teaching at Konishi's dojo — or they were tutoring him. It's fascinating to think about the energy and talent that existed in that small space. Additionally, in the early 1930s, boxer Tsuneo "Piston" Horiguchi came to Konishi to improve his skills. That same year, he won the featherweight boxing championship of Japan. One of Konishi's more interesting contributions to karate's early development had to do with the establishment of the art as a real form of combat. This was a period when karate schools were being encouraged by the Japanese government to formalize their organizations. Karate in Okinawa had always been taught in a very informal manner. The Japanese wanted names and specific curricula to keep things in order. Given the rising militarism and government control in Japan, the urge was to codify everything. In response, Konishi chose the name Shindo Jinen Ryu for his system. Characters for the second word are more commonly pronounced shizen, or "natural." Shindo refers to the "divine path" and was a clever choice by Konishi. Many schools of swordsmanship used this term in their names; it suggests a divine inspiration for the founding of the school and connects it with Shinto. By using it, Konishi implicitly linked his karate with ancient Japanese traditions, making it seem more familiar and worthy of respect. Konishi was also instrumental in gaining official recognition of karate within the influential Dai Nippon Butoku Kai. Using his position as a senior kendo instructor, he convinced the leaders of the Butoku Kai, who controlled all the modern budo in Japan, to include karate in their sponsorship. He was the first karateka to receive, in 1935, a title as a Butoku Kai ranked teacher. Despite the fact that Funakoshi, Mabuni and Motobu were his teachers, they would not receive this title until six years later. One of Konishi's more interesting contributions to karate's early development had to do with the establishment of the art as a real form of combat. Remember: There were hundreds of jujitsu schools all over Japan during the '20s and '30s. They fought among themselves, mostly to establish which school was the "best." Challenges were common and the competition fierce. So you can imagine how these schools reacted to a completely new fighting art coming onto the scene and trying to make a name for itself. When Funakoshi began publicly teaching karate, those challenges were numerous — and serious. Here's how it worked: You came to the dojo and requested a challenge. You would then face a senior student. Beat him and you had the right to face the teacher. Beat the teacher and you took the dojo sign as a trophy. Fortunately for Funakoshi, he had Yasuhiro Konishi and another senior student named Hidenori Otsuka, both of whom were eager to face these challengers. That they were successful did as much to solidify karate's reputation as its official recognition by the Butoku Kai. Finally , Konishi made a less dramatic but equally important contribution. He was an adherent of sekkotsu, a practice similar to chiropractic. He also had a thriving real-estate business. These afforded him the funding to keep up his dojo as a gathering spot for martial artists, and they allowed him to sponsor karate teachers. Motobu, for instance, had little money and did not speak Japanese well. It was Konishi who provided the funds for Motobu to stay in Japan and teach. After he died in 1983, Konishi's son took over the Ryobu-Kan. It remains a small but energetic karate system in Japan and has practitioners and teachers throughout the world. It's useful to look back at what Konishi did and how he did it. He was an accomplished fighter, a successful entrepreneur and a respected senior in the budo community. He's not as famous as other Japanese karateka, but he is a good model for those who want to pursue karate today. Dave Lowry has written Karate Way since 1986. For more information about his articles and books, visit blackbeltmag.com and type his name into the search box.

Every martial artist remembers a time when they witnessed a kick so masterful that it inspired them to train even more. Whether it was a famous martial artist, someone on TV, or at your local dojo, mastering difficult kicks that you saw someone else perform first have kept martial artists focused and goal-oriented for as long as martial arts have been around. We are listing the most difficult common kicks in martial arts, along with their challenges and techniques. How many have you mastered? Check out our list below. Start practicing your kicks now for free on Black Belt+. Spinning Hook Kick: The spinning hook kick requires excellent timing, balance, and coordination. It involves spinning 360 degrees while executing a hook kick with the rear leg. The challenge lies in maintaining control during the spin and accurately striking the target with the kicking leg. Proper hip rotation and precise timing are essential to generate power and accuracy. Flying Side Kick: The flying side kick is a spectacular and challenging technique that requires exceptional athleticism and coordination. It involves jumping into the air and extending the leg sideways to deliver a powerful kick. The difficulty lies in maintaining balance and control while airborne and accurately striking the target with speed and force. Axe Kick: The axe kick is a high-risk, high-reward technique commonly used in taekwondo. It involves raising the leg high in the air and driving the heel downward to strike the target vertically. This kick requires extreme flexibility, balance, and precise timing to generate maximum impact and avoid injury. Crescent Kick: The crescent kick is a versatile and difficult technique seen in various martial arts styles. It involves a sweeping motion of the leg in an arcing trajectory to strike the target with the blade of the foot. The challenge lies in maintaining balance and control while executing the circular motion and accurately hitting the desired target. 540 Kick: The 540 kick is an advanced spinning kick that requires exceptional athleticism, agility, and timing. It involves a 540-degree spin in the air while executing a mid-air kick with the kicking leg. This kick demands a combination of precise footwork, body control, and aerial awareness to execute effectively. Jumping Roundhouse Kick: The jumping roundhouse kick combines power, speed, and agility. It involves jumping off one leg and executing a roundhouse kick in mid-air with the other leg. The difficulty lies in coordinating the jumping motion, maintaining balance, and generating power while airborne. Switch Kick: The switch kick, also known as the switch roundhouse kick, is a deceptive technique used to surprise opponents. It involves quickly switching the stance and kicking with the rear leg. The challenge lies in seamlessly transitioning from one stance to another while maintaining balance and speed, making it difficult for the opponent to anticipate the kick. Flying Scissor Kick: The flying scissor kick is a dynamic and acrobatic technique commonly used in martial arts demonstrations. It involves leaping into the air, extending both legs in a scissor-like motion, and striking the target with one leg. This kick requires tremendous coordination, timing, and flexibility. Spinning Crescent Kick: The spinning crescent kick combines the spinning and crescent kick techniques. It involves rotating the body while executing a crescent kick with the rear leg. The difficulty lies in maintaining balance during the spin and precisely striking the target with the blade of the foot. Jumping Back Kick: The jumping back kick is a powerful technique that requires explosive force and accuracy. It involves jumping backwards and striking the target with the heel of the kicking leg. This kick demands excellent timing, coordination, and control to generate sufficient power and hit the target effectively. Did we miss any? Mastering these can take years of practice, flexibility training, and technique. Remember, it's important (and usually more efficient) to learn these kicks under the guidance of a qualified instructor to ensure proper form, prevent injuries, and progress safely. Black Belt+ is the biggest martial arts digital platform in history. From its rich history spanning over 60 years, the platform includes thousands of remastered instructional videos, martial arts movies, documentaries, and, of course, digital issues and articles from the iconic Black Belt Magazine .