sensei8

It's the old saying... A black belt in one style/dojo is a green belt in another!! Standards, imho, are valid only within the style/school/governing body. There's such a wide variety, pin-pointing to an overall standard is impossible. Why? Because styles, schools, and governing bodies, at times, can't agree on the most basic of things let alone the complexity of rank standards. Everyone wants to the the Chief and no one wants to be the Indian...to use a well known saying.

I've heard it said before by many that grapplers can't jam techniques while on the ground, and to that I continue to say....grapplers are jamming techniques all day long, and you showed it by jamming the triangle effectively, as it should be. In Shindokan, our guard pass is quite similar at each of the phases that you demonstrated in your video. Btw, EXCELLENT video, as always. I do wish, at times that you'd show the application normal speed, either at the beginning or the end of your videos, even though your video is for learning the nuances of said application/technique. You're an excellent instructor, through and through. Btw, I think I've asked this of you before, but, what camera do you use? Thanks for sharing, Alex!!

Also, Brian, when you and I trained together, do you remember that I had you train with drill #4?? We used the pad from a Wavemaster to facilitate the drill. You caught onto it quite fast, which didn't surprise me because your "Aha" light came on quickly, and stayed on. I was impressed!!

I noticed this as I finished reading your drills, and I agree with you completely. When I train with in DT sessions, I always teach not to go backwards. Too much bad can happen. Very good article, Bob, I enjoyed reading it. I like the details on the use of space. In DT club, we tell the students that there are two things we do with space; we make it, or we take it away. I see the same with your words here. Excellent stuff, Bob! Thanks, Brian!! And yes, we have to be the one to manage the space and not our opponent. If we allow the opponent to manage any given space, then we're fighting their game, and not ours.

Yes, I see what you're saying. I speak about spears/tackles that are waist or lower. Football tackles, up high, we treat them not as a spear/tackle, but more as a "rush/blitz". Still, transitioning off-line, as we are trained to do so in Shindokan, is how we address anyone who's 'bumrushing'...strikes and the like are our preferred tactics PROVIDING the element are favored while transitioning off-line as a counter. Any kicks we might consider are aimed waist down to upset the base. Again, I've great confidence in tactics taught in Shindokan and of myself, but nothing is guaranteed because any strange thing can happen.

Solid post, especially the bold type above!!

An after thought... Just how many instructors are going to report their CI and/or the school to their states labor board? I don't think many, and actually, I don't think any will at all. Why? I believe that their needs and their wants to remain as a student of that CI will not allow that to happen. I believe that they should report them to their states labor board because what's against the law is exactly that...it's against the law and needs to be addressed in the courts. Imagine what the landscape of how a school selects its instructors will look like should instructors bring suits to their CI/School...I can imagine it would look very different.

I did say, all of my instructors ARE PAID, and they're paid with a payroll check, like any other employee would be. I pay them to teach, and they pay me to teach them; after all, they're also my students. And I don't swap or barter because I just don't; either is a separate thing on separate ledgers. Yes, I don't pay my assistants, and that's because... ...because they're not TEACHING!! They're assisting, mainly me, after all, I'm the CI, or their assisting one of my instructors. I'm on the floor 90% of the time, unless I'm at the Hombu!!

While the spear/tackle can be effective, it's, like every MA technique known on the planet, not a guarantee each and every time. Parameters are way to askew in the tackle/spear to say that it's effective each and every attempt. Having said that, I'm a firm believer in the sprawl as a counter to the tackle/spear. I've seen, and I've controlled the volume released in any given spear/tackle. But, if the sprawl isn't properly managed, it's just another MA technique that's subjected to failure; the sprawl's ineffective and the proponent of the sprawl will be simply just ran over by a well planted tackle/spear. I'm a proponent of striking, and that's Shindokan, after all, we're 85% hands. I believe in transitional movements through and through. Going off-line, at the very last moment, striking targets without any prejudice and ambiguity, nor any reservation! I've written an KF article titled, "Close Range Space Management" that speaks toward transitioning from one space to another. In that transitioning, one must allow opponent to become totally committed to their attack before transitioning to another space; and if I'm not there, then neither is the tackle/spear. Timing and focus, while using ones hands to deflect opponents motion; takes nerves of steel to NOT move until the very last second, to draw opponent in. Nonetheless, counter strikes against the tackle/spear can leave one very open and vulnerable if one isn't right on target. Also, if one's caught totally surprised, then enjoy the ride to the ground, and regroup there, if possible. Fakes and feints are just that, and if the fake and feint helps them close the distance so that you can be tackled, then I say, transition off-line, if it's still a possibility. Like I said, nothing in the MA is guaranteed, and even the most experienced can be caught off guard and driven to the ground by anyone. I believe wholeheartedly in transitioning off-line and sprawling as a counter to the tackle/spear. I've done it, and this is what Shindokan teaches...transitioning to gain the upper-hand.

To the bold type above... Absolutely!! Everything depends on Mizu No Kokoro and Tsuki No Kokoro, and to lack these, then emotions take over, and that's not good.

Nice topic, thank you for starting it!! I voted: Yes! INTERNSHIP!! Any internship may or may not be paid, and for the most, they're temporary. This is the loophole that many MA instructors have seem to have grasped quite well. Past, present, and future!! Instructors pay their "internships" by exchanging services, aka, lessons for classes they attend as a student of the CI. No employment is ever guaranteed to an "internship", unlike a trainee would be. Attaching the label of "internship" upon said instructors, is that loophole that's legal. For the most, these type of "internships" within a MA school would be a work experience internship because they're doing everything that the CI does whenever they open their own school, if they choose to. No instructor should EVER be held to a servitude of any capacity to any CI!! It's a voluntary relationship between both and all parties. A CI can try to dictate times that an instructor MUST be at the school, but that's not possible because of outside responsibilities, like school and other employment obligations. Remember the word: servitude!! It goes a long way, and NO CI owns anybody in and out of the school. No matter what label capacity is affixed upon said individual. Funny, how many of us have taught as "part of upper Kyu and lower Dan requirements for testing cycle requirements" for absolutely free. Again, the loophole is internship, and while it seems wrong and illegal, it's not challenged in any courts that I've ever read about! I taught for "free" under the supervision of Soke and Dai-Soke for many years, but never gave it much thought for one reason or another. To assist is not the same as teaching. To teach is to impart information, and to assist, is to help said information of the teacher to be understood. The assistant is under the CI, and in that, the CI dictates what their assistants are to help with and how. My instructors are paid, AND they're my students as well!! I've NO internships of any shape, way, and/or form because I want to keep the ratio of instructors to students low; too many chiefs and no Indians, so to speak. For me, I just don't need nor do I desire, a lot of instructors. BB's, yes, I've my share of BB's, but not all BB's can teach/assist, and they never should!! My JBB's aren't instructors, they assist from time to time, but not as often as one might think because parents dictate the comings and goings of any and all JBB's under my authority as the CI. However, that's limited because I'm not the parent or guardian, I'm just the CI, and nothing more!!

Seems to be a very effective tactic in MMA/UFC and the like. Why do you think that this is true??

Very solid post!!

ok

Sorry...but I didn't see that fight!!

Why weren't they prepared with needed materials for the promotion? No excuse, imho!!

Makawara training HAS to be worked up to; can't just start there! The denser the heavy bag, the better. Mess up on technique, these training tools will let give you feedback immediately. Posture, and the like must be proper. Otherwise, any training tool isn't going to help in any shape, way, and/or form.

Compliant techniques is what I'd use. They're not going to produce dramatic injuries to those who a compliant technique is being applied to. One of the easiest, imho, is called the "Bump". You walk up to said individual from behind and bump them with your body. At that moment, their arms will open. It is then that your arms go up and over their arms, wrapping them up with your palms up and high against their shoulders while your keeping them tight to your body. Then, step backward with your dominate leg, drop to that knee, and then turn towards the ground. You're on top. None of you are hurt. That means, don't slam them to the ground. Keep a lot of your body on top of them, but not so much that you're suffocating them, do it fast and through, but not abusive!! Said person's not going anywhere until you let them up. Hopefully, I've provided something of use. If not, I've missed the question(s) all together.

Imho... Be much more aggressive than any opponent/attacker!! Anyone can win the lottery, but not anyone can win a fight. Be aggressive at all times!!

Can Police Krav Maga be used in LEO's working in the USA? Different countries might mean different laws; allowed different tactics!

Also, you'll notice in the drills, the space, #3, isn't used, if at all. That's because in Shindokan, we're taught to avoid going backward, intentionally or unintentionally. We transition in any forward motion as opposed to any backward motion. Any backward transition/motion can cause one to trip over themselves more readily than anything forward.

This post was originally published as an article in a dedicated KarateForums.com Articles section, which is no longer online. After the section was closed, this article was most to the most appropriate forum in our community. The walls are closing in! They'll change constantly due to you and your opponent, but close range space management requires fortitude that's not lacking. Not all martial artists have the nerve or the inclination to engage in combat in close ranges. It takes experience, knowledge and courage to remain collected and driven before an unswerving opponent. However, these spaces must be controlled by you if you're to achieve effectiveness; therefore, success against any close range situation. Proximity given is proximity taken. You must control the center and the spaces that you occupy, whether it's by your own design or by the maneuvering your opponent. Space management is a torrent tornado that seeks out its next target wherever it may or may not be. Its next victim is sought after in the complacent mindset of those who carelessly transition to and fro in a haphazard fashion. Immediate Spaces Immediate spaces can be found in five immediate areas initially; whereas, there is a sixth space that might not be immediately obvious. It's the space that's on the outer rim. This sixth space, in my humble opinion, is chosen by your opponent(s) as a safe haven for their burning retreat as you press forward. You must always remember that this sixth space can be a trap; to lure you out of your comfort zone. Angling directly, as well as indirectly within the center space, all the while your opponent remains unbalanced, while you achieve transitional movements to recapture the center. However, these spaces aren't constant and/or immediate, nor are they long lasting. These spaces appear as fast, if not even faster, as they disappear, without warning. Close range space management can erode into the abyss, to never be seen again. And by then, it is way too late. Using the diverging radial diagram below to illustrate those manageable spaces, we can see many things that must be controlled. It's the center, as indicated below by "YOU," that must manage spaces 1, 2, 3 and 4. Beside those spaces, one will have to also manage the center - the "YOU." http://www.karateforums.com/articleimg/diverging-radial-diagram-manageable-spaces.png Controlling the center, at all times, is important in one's beginning and middle game. It's not until the end game that the center is no longer necessary; yet it still must be controlled, if only for one brief moment. The center moves to where the battle being waged. As your opponent attacks, you begin to purposefully venture out into one of those four spaces, dependent on what the situation demands and requires of you. I must increase and decrease incessantly, separately as well as independently, while being a proponent of steadfast footwork as I weave, dodge, avoid, entrap, control, defend, deflect and/or attack/counter-attack. Peripersonal Space As defined by Wikipedia, peripersonal space "is that space within reach of any limb of an individual. Thus to be "within-arm's length" is to be within one's peripersonal space." This describes the four spaces that surround you continuously as you seek to abate your opponent's close range space management in the favor of your own. Harmonize, yes, but not so much where one forgets why they're in said space to begin with. Harmonizing with your opponents own flow is a beautiful thing when done correctly. One mistake by you, and the harmonious tone you're trying to balance, becomes destructive as the walls of your managed space crumble before you. It's a fine line to thread, to say the least, but worthy of your efforts. The fight or flight space is the area that's surrounding you. Should that precious space become disturbed by any possible threat, no matter its size, that act will cause you to heighten your senses. This means that, for just that infinitesimal time, your senses might be quite overwhelmed with an undeniable desire to escape. This is normal. It is in that blink of an eye that you'll have to decide if you will remain in that given space or if you will escape into a more advantageous space. Nonetheless, all space must be defined, no matter whom is occupying that particular space. Therefore, the immediate proximity of transitions towards and away from one another become clearer as the attack/defense becomes more immediate. The peripersonal space is the space that must be observed and served well while engaging an opponent in close range. There's a propinquity that arises between the space that's being managed at that very moment and the space that's in waiting just before you enter a new space. As my opponent moves, I either occupy one of the spaces that surround my opponent and me or I intercept said intentions and execute the appropriate responses to manage both the space and my opponent. I become sensitive to the most infinitesimal movement within the space because two can't occupy the same space at the same time; one has to give into the other someway and/or somehow. For example: my opponent has advanced towards me with a meaningful attack. I move to one of the four spaces to avoid the attack because my opponent and I can't be in the same spot. If I maintain my ground in my center space, I deny my attacker that space by forcing my attacker to one of the other spaces because I've now suspended any positive forward motion/movement. I then leave the center space to execute my counter-attack; however, I'm going to be in another space as it unfolds. Thus one thing, then another and so on and so forth until my opponent yields. These checks and balances are a game of guile and determination. Who is stronger? Wiser? Who possesses the required knowledge and experience to see the battle to its conclusion? More importantly, who's got luck on their side? Ashi sabaki - footwork - and all that's required and involved within it, is the core in close range space management. Footwork, in my opinion, is an operational methodology; otherwise, one can't shift from, for example, the center to 1 back to center, then back to 3 without effective footwork. Footwork allows one to be in the right space at the right time. Without footwork, it's quite impossible to execute your technique and avoid an attack. You need to make your footwork smooth while not causing any backward momentum. Your foot actions must remain under your body - meaning that your body does not give away the strategies that your feet are executing. Remember, the two combatants are trying to outwit, outlast and outplay for the upper hand over the rich commodity of real estate. They own their chess pieces in such a manner that the assured victor will receive their deserved reward. Yet, to the loser of this battle, they shall be imprisoned and cast aside without having ever won any fruitful space. A plot of land is all that it is to the layperson, but to a martial artist, it's territorial, and it must be had. Kime/focus stands on the fence with many governing bodies as well as many martial artists - not just the karateka. I believe that I must put every drop of my focus into that which I'm executing at the given moment because you can only get what you put in. I don't believe that I should remain tensed throughout my technique(s), but I should be relaxed and calm. Just a split second before contact with the target, I tense, but then immediately relax. The calmness returns until the next time that I decide it's necessary to do so. In that, if properly executed, my power curve will not be affected; therefore, my power will not be arrested. I also believe that I should go through said target, protecting myself at all times. Focus your every molecule; as close range space management will be a pre-requisite of you at all times. Avoid any complacency, which can only welcome failure within the finest elements of close range space management. Keep moving, keep it tight, create openings, angle in and out, slip and slide, close by denying, open by deflecting, and keep it simple. Extrapersonal Space The text cycle diagram below illustrates the space that's controlled by your opponent; as it should be, but not for long. If one was to place the previous diagram above directly inside of the text cycle diagram below, you'd have an understanding as to what the sixth space refers to. Trying to manage the spaces in the extreme outer perimeter forces you away from the center space, and this center space is everything. It shouldn't be taken lightly at all. http://www.karateforums.com/articleimg/text-cycle-diagram-space-controlled-by-opponent.png Pulling from Wikipedia once more, extrapersonal space is "the space that occurs outside the reach of an individual." This space, the extreme outer perimeter, occurs when your opponent voluntarily moves out of your reach. Now you've got a choice to make. One, you can hold your ground within your established center space, waiting for your opponent to re-engage with you. Two, you can bring the fight to your opponent, establishing a new center space to manage. Either way, a decision must be made, and it must be made expeditiously and without reservation. Should you bring the fight to your opponent, be aware that you're risking an entrance into your opponent's center space. You're the intruder now. That said, either decision has the potential to be correct. Proactive decisions are made for the betterment of one's survival. Your needs and desires must be greater than those of your opponent while the game is afoot. All spaces are manageable; however, all spaces are reactionary. React specifically as your opponent and yourself enter and leave any space. You want to cause your opponent's actions to be set in motion by what you're directing through your premeditated intents. Tuite Application Let's walk through a tuite application - one that white belts in Shindokan learn. As my opponent attempts to grasp one of my wrists, I ever so slightly alter my orientation within my current space. By doing so, I've created temporary distance. To compensate for my movements, my opponent must now leave that space to attempt the grasp once again. But not so fast! I can allow the grasp or I can deny it, and in that, I can still remain in the current space. If I deny, I'll choose to re-establish a new center space to draw my opponent in. If I allow, we will remain in our respective spaces for the moment. While my wrist is in my opponent's grasp, I transition to an adjacent space sharply. This should cause my opponent to be off-center within their current space. At this very instant, I redirect sharply back to my previous space, and as my opponent is drawn out of said space, and into my space, I rotate the hand of my grasped wrist so that I now have my opponent's wrist. This is followed by a drop to my outside knee while turning my hips in and away from the center of my current space. I continue this motion directing my hand to the floor. At the same time, I place my other hand upon the elbow of that same side - thus, forcing my opponent to become prostrated before me. The one space that my opponent started at isn't of any concern with that particular tuite application. Therefore, I only had to manage two spaces. Ideally, the less spaces that one has to manage, the better. But sometimes, each and every space within the peripersonal space must be managed until the conclusion. Drills Here are a few close range space management drills. Always allow your partner to commit to their attack completely. You will only move to another space at the very last second; no sooner. Timing is important to these drills, as it is to most drills in the martial arts! Keep it all tight, staying as close as you can to your partner. Don't do any wide transitions to avoid your partners reach. Maintain balance and posture during all drills! You both start in a fighting stance. Increase the speed and the tempo as you desire. Mix your attacks up as to conceal your intent so that you're not telegraphing. However, don't do anything new until the confidence increases. When that confidence increases, always remember to not become complacent. http://www.karateforums.com/articleimg/diverging-radial-diagram-manageable-spaces.png Drill #1: Partner starts in space #1. You start in center space ("YOU" in the diagram). Your partner will attempt to touch your right shoulder while stepping towards you with their left hand. At the very last second, you'll transition to either space #2 or #4. Drill #2: Starting positions will be the same as in drill #1, with one exception. Your partner will advance towards you while trying to touch your opposite shoulder with the same hand. At the very last second, you'll transition to either space #2 or #4. Drill #3: Starting positions will be the same as in drill #1, with one exception. Have your partner advance towards you, trying to push you backwards out of your center space. You transition to either space #2 or #4. While it's not a preferred option, you can also transition directly to space #3, for just a brief moment before you then transition to spaces #2 or #4. Drill #4: Starting positions will be the same as in drill #1, with one exception. Your partner will advance towards you and touch you in your head or chest. You'll not move until the very last second, and when you do, you'll transition to space #1. If you keep your body close and tight into your partner, as you perform your footwork, this will allow you to circle behind your partner. In other words, you'll end up facing your partner, who's now in the center space. In my stumbling way with the written words, I hope that I've adequately explained this concept, so that it can be appreciated by all levels of knowledge and experience. Close range space management is a viable and effective manner of tuite. Besides tuite, this concept can be used in self defense, sparring and more. Spaces still exist, no matter the situations; therefore, this model can transfer effectively into many martial arts scenarios.

Congrats...well done!

Some very excellent posts by Wado Heretic and Kusotare; chock full of tidbits that should satisfy any MAists palette of MA history and the like. Thanks to both of you!!

A very solid article; I thank you for it. As someone who's full-time job is teaching and operating a dojo, as well as being Kaicho [President] of the SKKA, I can say that you've hit each and every nail right on their separate heads. Whether I agree with every point or not, isn't as important as knowing what one might be expecting and/or facing in operating a school of the MA; this, your article, has done that quite thoroughly.