bushido_man96

Thanks, Patrick. I hope it was helpful.

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. KarateForums.com member Liver Punch started a thread titled "Is 'how much force to use' the wrong question?" This led to a discussion regarding to use of force that extended to questions like "how much force is allowed?," and "how much force should one use?" While rehashing that great discussion is not the point of this article, that thread does serve to background as to the ideas I will bring forth here. What I gathered from the thread was the difference in ideas involving the use of force between law enforcement officers (LEOs) and civilian martial artists. I believe this stems from civilian martial arts instructors who teach techniques that can be lethal, and use blanket statements that over-generalize situations, such as, "if he threatens to kill you, you can defend your life with deadly force." While at times this may be valid, I think what is lacking is the fact that no situation is stagnant, and as a scenario changes, so can the force options available to the martial artist. Liver Punch described getting "tunnel vision" in regards to a practitioner wanting to test out certain skills, and if a practitioner doesn't have a flexible force continuum to rely on, then this tunnel vision can set in. That may lead to a martial artist making a decision that he or she may find tough to live with, or even end up putting them on the other end of the scenario in a court of law. I think one of the major factors behind what Liver Punch described in his thread as "tunnel vision" is the lack of a use of force continuum being taught to civilian martial artists. Law enforcement officers are more fortunate in this regard, as they are exposed to it in the beginning of their training. In addition, departments usually maintain some form of policies or guidelines in regards to use of force, and conduct specialized training in use of force scenarios. Many civilian martial arts instructors lack these models, and often times "defending one's life" is spoken of, but remains black and white. The goal of this article is to present some concepts that might be applied in the use of a force continuum for civilian martial artists. The Force Continuum I feel it is important from the outset to identify that a force continuum is a sliding scale upon which the person defending themselves will likely have to escalate or de-escalate in regards to how an incident unfolds. A common example of this is when an attacker is knocked to the ground. Kicking a downed man in the head can quickly turn bad for a defender, especially if the downed man is no longer a threat. The ability to identify and make these decisions is best honed through scenario training. The civilian martial artist is not likely to have the array of tools available to him that a law enforcement officer has, so I don't think it viable to simply adopt a law enforcement continuum. I won't be laying out a continuum model in this article, but I will lay out some guidelines that will hopefully demonstrate how and when to decide to escalate or de-escalate along a force continuum. The two big things to keep in mind when you make a force decision are justification and articulation. There will need to be a justifiable reason as to why you respond the way you do. Articulation is the tool that helps you put this justification into words, elaborating on why you responded the way you did, and what you responded to. More often than not, the civilian martial artist will have his hands and feet to work with, and perhaps nothing else. Many people do carry pocket knives, which could be a viable defense option if necessary. The increasing popularity of conceal and carry permits may also offer another option in defense. Something a person will almost always have available to use in self defense is their voice. Knowing what to say and how to say it can be just as important during self defense as knowing when and how to punch, kick and choke. Like anything in the martial arts, the skill of using verbal commands and phrases is something that must be trained regularly in order for the skill to be usable on the street. Yelling out commands such as, "leave me alone," "stop hitting me," or "put the knife down," can be very helpful in helping yourself identify threat levels, and helping in the justification for your actions later on. For the purpose of this article, I will use the above listed options in reference to the "scale" that the defender can slide up and down on. In regards to the scale, it is important to note that there is no hard and fast starting point or ending point that an incident must progress through. A self defense situation does not have to start with verbal commands and end with deadly force. Depending on the circumstances, the scenario may start out as being a deadly force situation. If this would end up being the case, then it is important to know that if the need to jump to the top of the scale and defend with deadly force is warranted, then to do so is justifiable. Totality of Circumstances This is a popular phrase in law enforcement circles, and is applicable to civilian self defense as well. As I alluded to earlier, not every situation is black and white, and there are variables that can cause escalation or de-escalation along the force continuum. Things like relative size/strength/age of the attacker in comparison to your own, gender difference, being outnumbered, any knowledge of training acquired by the attacker, fatigue or overall general health issues, and the environment can all impact what level of force you use. Being outnumbered with your back to a wall may constitute escalation in force, and likely a justifiable use of a weapon. A drunk, 115 pound female waving a broken beer bottle while stumbling and vomiting on herself may not present a lethal force threat at all. Being aware of the totality of the circumstances in a given situation can help in making proper force decisions. Here again I would advise that scenario training is the martial artist's best friend. There are three things to consider when evaluating what level of force to use: ability, opportunity and jeopardy. Does the attacker(s) have the ability to cause you severe bodily harm, or even death? Does the attacker(s) have the opportunity to do so? Are you in jeopardy of being harmed? In our outnumbered scenario, with our back to the wall, we can easily justify ability and opportunity by the attackers, and you can likely convey a sense of being in jeopardy at that time. However, with our drunken female friend (or ex-friend...), based on her inebriated state, honestly determining her opportunity or ability to cause harm must be taken into consideration, as well as what kind of jeopardy you feel you are in. True, she has a weapon, but if she is really falling down and vomiting, do you feel in jeopardy of being harmed? Perhaps not, but if you so choose to harm this person, can you justify it? Other Considerations When to use force is rarely difficult to identify. However, when to stop using force can be. Turning the switch off can be tough, but it has to be trained, too. A civilian martial artist doesn't want to cross that line and become the attacker. If a threat becomes neutralized, then it's time to re-evaluate force options. Can you safely escape or detain the attacker until help arrives? Do you feel safe doing so? Is there anyone else in the area that puts you in further danger? It is also important to realize that upon the culmination of a life-threatening event, the blood can boil. It is important to never use force as punishment or retribution. This is a sure way to turn the tables on yourself, going from victim to perpetrator, and all just to "teach them a lesson." Along similar lines, when weapons are brought into play, you want to be sure you can safely and effectively use them without putting the safety of other innocent people at risk, especially with a firearm. The final point I would like to touch on in regards to use of force is the ability to articulate why you did what you did in self defense. After the physical fight, there is always the probability that you will have to speak with the authorities about what happened. As I mentioned earlier, it is important to be able to justify your actions through competent articulation. Explain the feeling of fear you had. Describe the attacker's words and actions toward you. Describe how you tried to defuse the situation. If you pulled a weapon, explain why you felt the need to do so in regards to the attacker's actions. These skills can be honed by debriefing your training scenarios, and choosing proper vocabulary to describe actions taken. Conclusion I hope this article has presented some ideas and concepts for civilian martial artists, both students and instructors alike, to use in training scenarios in regards to various levels of force in self defense. In everything that a martial artist does during their studies, it's important for them to learn that just because one can fight, doesn't necessarily mean one should fight. By implementing the concepts of a force continuum, civilian martial artists can learn not only when it becomes necessary to act, but also how to act, and to what level it is necessary to go to.

Yeah, Alex, it was rep city for sure. But, I learned a ton. 7/11/2014 Police Krav Maga Instructor Course: Day 5, Test Day. Did a bit of weapon retention in the holster to start, then went right into review for the test. And we went hard. And fast. And intense. After a that, probably an hour or so of review, we took a break, then did the physe test. Lots of striking, combatives, self-defense, hand gun and long gun disarms and retention. Then, a final zig-zag drill, where the attacker would just call out with an attack at random, and you had to go, hard, fast, intense, with verbal commands. I was beat after 15 stations....mentally and physically exhausted...and I loved it! We finished with the written test, received our certificate, and that was it. Lots of fun, and recertification will be a blast, too! I took home so many bruises and bumps and scrapes from this training. I'm sure my department will love it, too!

I think there is something to that. However, being in good shape doesn't mean one's cholesterol isn't affected. That's the only thing I would caution on.

Welcome aboard! I look forward to hearing your take on things. How are finding Muay Thai transitioning with Wado Ryu?

7/10/2014 Police Krav Maga Instructor Course: Day 4, 8:00 am - 4:00 pm. Lots of review today. Chokes, handgun and longgun disarms and retentions, and combatives. Lots of reps, lots of moving. Test day is tomorrow.

I have done ukemi in Aikido, Combat Hapkido, and some in TKD. However, I don't think of it as one of the most important aspects of the Martial Arts. I think there are other sports, like tumbling, that teach it better. Aikidokas tend to get rather skilled at it, as a result of the energy they provide each other in order to flow with their techniques. I think having a good base in it is important and helpful, but not the most important aspect of the Martial Arts out there.

7/9/2014 Police Krav Maga Instructor Course: Day 3, 8:00 am - 4:40 pm. We reviewed choke defenses from all sides and angles, and went back into handgun disarms. Covered several angles, and even went to the floor with it. We also did handgun retention out of the holster, along with longgun disarms, and that was a blast. We finished with the zig-zag drill today, a nice way to top it off.

Welcome to KarateForums!

We practice the Chang Hon system of TKD forms. However, we don't have all 24 in our syllabus, and we have an extra form that our GM added as a high orange belt form. White belt: Chon Ji Orange belt: Dan Gun, Bo Chung Green belt: Do San, Won Hyo Blue belt: Yul Kok, Joong Gun Brown belt: Toi Gye, Hwa Rang, Choong Moo 1st Dan: Choong Moo (1st recommended), Kwang Gae 2nd Dan: Poe Eun (2nd recommended), Gae Baek 3rd Dan: Se Jong (3rd recommended), Yoo Sin 4th Dan: Choong Jang 5th Dan: need to check... 6th Dan: need to check... (I'm currently 4th Dan).

Kusotare and ps1 make good points here. He may be talented, but he needs to spend some time in the school, working alongside other students and becoming a part of the school. What is this guys goal? For you to test him to black belt, and then what? He leaves and opens his own club? Or leaves and forever tells others how he earned his rank? Some of this could come back on the reputation of your club, too. With all that said, its not uncommon to see someone graded up a bit if their level of skill and understanding warrants it. Understanding is the key. Good athletes can perform atheltic movements pretty well; its what they do. The understanding is the key. Make sure to evaluate that, for sure.

Nice video, Wastelander. Thanks for sharing those. Some nice applications there.

I tend to agree here. An accident shouldn't warrant a free shot like that, nor should it be encouraged by an instructor. I agree with ps1 here, that it is negligent on his part. With that said, the Martial Arts are, by there very nature, a contact activity. At some point in time, you will receive a little present like this again, and likely even from someone who has exhibited excellent control on a regular basis. The only response should be, "My, bad, you ok?" after the technique is finished. If they drop and cry, then stop your technique. Otherwise, finish it, and when you are done, mea culpa all you want. Otherwise, you get into a habit of stopping after you hurt someone; not a good habit. Winning nationals doesn't equal good instruction. There is more to being a good instructor than being a tournament winner. Being able to teach is a gift in and of itself, and not everyone can do it well. Now, I'm not saying he doesn't teach well, but if he tells you to take a shot back after an accident, it raises questions in my mind. Maybe he teaches well otherwise. But if this becomes the norm in training, then rue the day that you accidentally knick someone in the nuts....because who knows what's coming back at you, right? Just something to ponder.

7/8/2014 Police Krav Maga Instructor Course: Day 2, 8:00 am - 4:00 pm. We opened with some review on combatives, with a bunch of striking the bags. We reviewed the choke defenses from the day before, and also did some new ones, being choked from the front and pushed up against a wall, and from behind up against a wall. From there, we did being choked and pushed backwards from the front and behind, with no walls, just being pushed. We also got into handgun disarms today, a lot. From the front, from behind, from the side in different positions, held in left hand, right hand, with two hands, etc. All good, fun stuff, and all very similar. Lots of reps, and lots of fun.

Five boards is an awesome break. Good job!

Nice explanation of the rituals in your dojo. I especially like you lining up procedure, with lower ranks being beside the higher ranks. I have always been in classes where ranks line up with highest to the front right, and next highest to their left, and on back, so the lower ranks are in the back rows.

It is a good time. Our instructor is setting a pretty intense pace, and I have been worn out since day one. I am so sore from striking the bags, getting out of bed hurts. My shoulders and core are pretty worked over. And we do lots and lots of reps. One of the officers in the class today said he was counting strikes, and we did around 600. We also did a ton of reps today on choke defenses and disarms. Loads of fun!

Ok, let's take the headline out of it. I don't think anyone would think the winner lost honor by dominating an opponent. I seriously doubt much would have been said about it. I watched Mike Tyson absolutely destroy a guy named "Bonecrusher" Smith. They came out, Tyson put him down, end of fight. Totally dominated. No honor lost there in winning. Had this tap out not happened, and the fight went on, I really don't think anyone would be questioning the guys lack of honor for beating an opponent put in front of him.

7/7/2014 Police Krav Maga Instructor Course: Day 1, 8:00 am - 4:15 pm. What a blast! We started out with warmups every session, and we did lots of striking today. Punching, hammerfists, palm strikes, elbows, knee strikes, A-frame kicks (front kicks of a sort, striking mainly with the bottom area of the shin), and defensive front kicks, basically a stomping push kick to an oncoming attacker. We also did some striking while kneeling, and some kicking from being on our backs, getting up tactically. The standup isn't much different from the way we get up in base in the GRACIE system. Just an extra step, getting to a knee first, then standing. After the striking, we started putting things together. We would "attack the attacker" by moving in to strike, and work to a clinch position from the side, then striking with knees, and separating from the attacker by striking. After doing this, we went into standing choke defenses, and this clinch translated right into these defenses, as well. We covered front choke, side choke, rear choke, bar arm choke, and carotid chokes. Each move is basically the same, from different angles. These foundational concepts makes picking up the system very smooth. I've done very similar defenses for the front, side, and rear chokes in our DT club at the college, but there are just some tweaks enough to change it up. Training is pretty intense, and a lot of fun. At the end of the day, we did what the instructor called the "zig-zag drill." There were basically two lines of "attackers," and everyone was designated an attack to perform, or was holding a bag for the defender to strike. There are 16 in our class, so there were 15 stations to get through, combining all the striking and self-defense techniques we learned today. Good fun, and I was spent. I need to seriously reconsider my outside training routine. I'm woefully out of shape. I'm liking what I'm doing so far, and expect good things tomorrow, as well.

7/7/2014 Police Krav Maga Instructor Course: Day 1, 8:00 am - 4:15 pm. What a blast! We started out with warmups every session, and we did lots of striking today. Punching, hammerfists, palm strikes, elbows, knee strikes, A-frame kicks (front kicks of a sort, striking mainly with the bottom area of the shin), and defensive front kicks, basically a stomping push kick to an oncoming attacker. We also did some striking while kneeling, and some kicking from being on our backs, getting up tactically. The standup isn't much different from the way we get up in base in the GRACIE system. Just an extra step, getting to a knee first, then standing. After the striking, we started putting things together. We would "attack the attacker" by moving in to strike, and work to a clinch position from the side, then striking with knees, and separating from the attacker by striking. After doing this, we went into standing choke defenses, and this clinch translated right into these defenses, as well. We covered front choke, side choke, rear choke, bar arm choke, and carotid chokes. Each move is basically the same, from different angles. These foundational concepts makes picking up the system very smooth. I've done very similar defenses for the front, side, and rear chokes in our DT club at the college, but there are just some tweaks enough to change it up. Training is pretty intense, and a lot of fun. At the end of the day, we did what the instructor called the "zig-zag drill." There were basically two lines of "attackers," and everyone was designated an attack to perform, or was holding a bag for the defender to strike. There are 16 in our class, so there were 15 stations to get through, combining all the striking and self-defense techniques we learned today. Good fun, and I was spent. I need to seriously reconsider my outside training routine. I'm woefully out of shape. I'm liking what I'm doing so far, and expect good things tomorrow, as well.

I just finished day 1 of a Police Krav Maga instructor course. I am having a blast, too. We did a lot of striking today, combative stuff, and moved into self-defense against various chokes. I've got a nice looking handbook to go along with it, and will be thumbing through that as I go this week. The instructor, Mike Davis, really kept us moving today, and I am tired and will be sore tomorrow. I'll update here and there on this thread, and answer any questions anyone might have here. I'll be posting more of the content in the Martial Artists' Training Log thread. So far, lots of good training. There are some new concepts I haven't seen, as well as some familiar ones that are just slightly different. I think I will take a lot out of this course.

There is a lot of mention to Bushido here, "The Way of the Warrior." I think we need to be careful to compare what fighters in a ring do, and what warriors out there really do. I do agree that this fight should probably not have happened. Too much could have gone wrong. Of course, in MMA, it only takes one punch, too. Perhaps it should have been played out. As for beating the weak....this guy is a fighter, too. I don't think he's weak. Neither of them are. Weak people are the sheep that get attacked by the wolves on a daily basis. Neither of these guys are sheep. But, to the facts at hand. I'm not going to say that the fighter did the wrong thing. Its his choice, and I respect that.

There is great wisdom in your post! I've reread it many times - thank you! The line above sums it up perfectly as I share a very similar perspective with regard to MA. Interestingly, my approach to the same conclusion has been different. For reasons I won't bore you with I started in non-traditional MA and trained this way for many many years. It was not until recently that I switched to a traditional MA - again for reasons I won't bore you with. An unexpected result is that I believe that I have a strong appreciation for the traditional because of my non-traditional roots. And I'm really enjoying putting it all together. My journey in MA is far from over ( I HOPE! ) but if I had to do it all over again from the start I wouldn't change a thing because it's been an excellent approach FOR ME. In some respect one could say that there are many paths to take as a MA'ist, the important thing is to take the one that suits you. Thanks again for your most excellent post ! I think to experience both is a great thing, to see how each side does it. From their, its only natural that someone will fall to one side or the other. On the flip side of this, I think many "traditionalist" tend to have an aversion to change, or seeking anything different. It happens on both sides. Perhaps its loyalty to a style or instructor that causes this, but it does happen on the other end. Some "non-traditionalists" may view doing forms as a waste of time because they believe time could be better spent partner drilling or working some other aspects of self-defense. There are pros and cons to doing it both ways. The problem is that many times neither side takes the time to slow down and listen and learn from the other side. Bob, this is a great topic. Thank you for sharing your experience with us. In what ways did you experience this "aha" moment during your testing cycle?

Here is my personal experience with becoming an instructor. When I earned my first degree in the ATA, I began helping, and eventually became a trainee instructor. It was required to log 900 hours of assisting before qualifying for instructor certification camp. I met the requirements as a 2nd degree. A few years after getting certified, I took over the running of our academy. In hindsight, I was probably not mature enough at that time. But, the ATA did do a good job of preparing black belts to become instructors. I learned a lot about running and managing a class, and those lessons have stuck with me to this day. In the TTA, I reached the rank of certified instructor when I became a 3rd degree. I had been helping teach before that, and all the prior experience helped build what I became as an instructor. However, I don't think the TTA does nearly as good a job of training instructors, and reaching 3rd degree and being 21does not make an instructor.

7/3/2014 TKD Class: 6:00 - 7:10 pm. Taught again. Hit basics, lots of reps on their own forms, plus some review, one-steps, and some round robin sparring. 7:10 - 8:30 pm. Orientation with a new 10 year old student.