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Guest Post: Martial Arts For Survivalists
Submitted by Brandon Smith of Alt-Market blog,
Physical strength, endurance, flexibility, adaptability, and mental discipline are all attributes of a true survivor. Unfortunately, they are also attributes that are often neglected by the average survivalist. The popular assumption is that if you have sizable food storage and can shoot straight, you are ready to rock-and-roll. Reality has some harsh lessons for those with this mindset. The first and most important weapon in any prepper’s arsenal is his own body; strong, healthy, and well taken care of. If a person’s body is left to decay, no amount of gear is going to save them in the middle of a crisis situation…
Hand-to-hand combat training is sometimes treated with cynicism amongst preppers who have spent all their lives enraptured in the world of firearms. The common retort is “Why use my hands when I have my Glock…?” Indeed. Why should we? Perhaps because one day we may not have a weapon in our possession during a dangerous circumstance. Should a survivalist simply give up because he loses his gun or he runs out of ammunition? I think not.
The concept of survival in the midst of collapse and calamity is not necessarily dependent on having all the right tools at all the right times. Sometimes, you have to improvise, and the only tools you can always count on are your hands, and your (hopefully well oiled and attuned) brain. Martial Arts training hones and refines these assets to perfection, and also teaches the mind to deal with the stresses and fears associated with combat. In fact, 95% of success in martial arts revolves around learning to accept the idea of someone trying to kill you, so that you can move past the terror of the scenario and deal with it calmly and logically. Adrenaline, tunnel vision, and unchecked emotion are the true enemies in any fight. We defeat ourselves long before our assailants ever touch us.
Another concept within martial arts that I find fascinating is the philosophy of Bushido, which is often mistaken as a brand of Eastern religion. Instead, it is a kind of warrior’s code; a way of dealing with adversity in one’s life. Struggling with obstacles whether self created, or created by others, requires balance and the ability to take control of the problem and apply one’s own terms instead of the terms other people try to set for you. It is about leading the battle, instead of being led, while staying true to your conscience. In the end, we should feel no need to prove anything to anyone but ourselves. Traditional martial arts still contain elements of Bushido within their methodology, and I believe such practitioners are some of the few people left in the world who operate on a legitimate warrior’s code; something we desperately need in our culture today.
I have studied multiple forms of martial arts for over 26 years, and have found many methods that would work well for the worst survival situations, and plenty that would be utterly useless. When I started my training classes for Liberty Movement individuals and families in Northwest Montana, my idea was to combine all the strategies that I felt were intuitive, easy to learn, and quick to utilize. My goal was to help students to become physically capable of self defense within a very short period of time, without running slapdash over important factors like mental strength and intelligent application. I feel that the program has done very well so far. The following is a list of styles that I use in my curriculum...
Shotokan Karate: Shotokan is a Japanese martial art using movements derived from defense methods common in Okinawa and streamlined for easier application. At first glance, Shotokan seems stiff and impractical, but this is not the case. Shotokan training is extremely intense, and the sparring matches can be brutal. Deep stances and sharp strikes train the body to hold ground even against a larger opponent. Shotokan practitioners can take physical damage unlike any other style I have seen beyond perhaps Thai Kickboxing. As the student advances, the stiffness disappears, and their strikes become coldly logical and precise, almost like a killer robot…….no….seriously. Shotokan is a perfect foundation art for beginners in self defense. If they can handle this style, they can handle anything…
Thai Kickboxing: Thai is world famous for its fast devastating steamroller type strikes and the ability of its practitioners to take a hit and keep on going. For a crisis situation, it is imperative that the survivalist be capable of absorbing and moving past the pain of a fight. In the street, it may be a matter of life and death, or it may be a drunken adolescent brawl. In a SHTF scenario, it will ALWAYS be a matter of life and death. There is no such thing as a hand to hand fighter who can avoid every attack and come out unscathed. Plan on getting hit. With the heavy arm to leg blocks of Thai Kickboxing that act as a kind of self made brick wall, along with devastating leg sweeps and knee breaks, this artform is perfect for the dangerous possibilities of collapse.
Western Boxing: It’s not an Eastern martial art, but Western boxing teaches incredible punching power. Eastern martial arts focus on speed in order to inflict damage, but the bottom line is that Western boxers hit harder because they assert more body weight behind their punches; I have seen it, I have felt it, and I have dealt it. Of course, it is more important to learn speed and timing before learning to hit hard. The most powerful punches in the world are useless if all they do is sweep the air. Western boxing is an incomplete fighting system, but a fantastic addition to the survival martial artist’s repertoire.
Jiu Jitsu: Jiu Jitsu is a grappling martial art from Japan, though you wouldn’t know it by the way the Brazilians have commercialized and franchised it. Jiu Jitsu is indeed the flavor of the decade for self defense, and though I feel it has been way overhyped, it is an incredibly effective style for ground situations. That said, let’s be clear; Jiu Jitsu is actually a very limited fighting style, especially when you’re not in a cage and you are confronted with more than one attacker. Survivalists should learn grappling techniques so that they know how to defend against takedowns and return to their feet. In a real combat situation, you NEVER try to go to the ground on purpose. Multiple opponents will decimate you within seconds while you are trying to put a choke hold on the guy in front of you. Add a knife into the picture, and purposely jumping into close quarters with the intent to “grapple” will be a death sentence. Successful fighters will always combine Jiu Jitsu with other artforms in order to round out their abilities.
Hapkido: Hapkido in my view is the perfect antithesis to Jiu Jitsu and any other grappling art for that matter. It should be at the top of every survivalist’s list of fighting methods. Hapkido focuses on joint locks, joint breaks, using centrifugal force, pressure points, eye gouges, throat attacks, etc. Generally, it is very difficult for someone to grapple with you if you break their fingers, wrists, hyperextend their knee caps, or crush their wind pipe. One twisted wrist could put a dedicated grappler or wrestler completely out of commission, which is why you never see these methods used in the UFC. The fights would be over quickly, and the sport's flavor would be lost. Knowing how to counter grappling using grappling is fine, but knowing how to utterly disable a grappler is better. As a survivalist, it is important to learn both.
Eskrima / Kali: Filipino in origin, Eskrima and Kali revolve around stick and knife training, and some of the deadliest blade wielding martial artists on Earth are known to originate from these styles. The point of practicing the Filipino arts is not only to learn to attack with edged weapons, but also to defend against them. Knowing how armed assailants, trained and untrained, will move to harm you gives you a distinct edge. Understanding the motion of a knife strike allows the defender to create or close distance effectively, while timing arm and wrist locks to reduce cuts and control the knife hand before serious damage to your body is done.
Taekwondo: A Korean style, Taekwondo has received a bad rap over the past few years as an “ineffective” martial art, but usually this criticism comes from people who have never actually practiced it. Like Jiu Jitsu, it is a style limited to a very particular range of attacks and scenarios. Taekwondo focuses on kicks to the extreme. Sport Taekwondo is not a practical measure of the style’s use, and this is where its tainted reputation comes from. The truth is, Taekwondo has the fastest and in many cases the most devastating kicks in the world. The use of kicks depends on the mastery of the fighter. If he is fast, and precise, then his strikes will make his opponents feel like they’ve just been hit by an oversized utility van. If he is slow, and unfocused, he will be tackled to the ground like a rag doll and pummeled in an embarrassing manner. That said, one well placed kick can crush ribs, crack skulls, and knock an opponent into dreamland before he ever knew what hit him.
Jeet Kune Do: Created by the venerable Bruce Lee, Jeet Kune Do’s philosophy is to adopt what works, and set the rest aside. It is essentially a combination of the short range tactics of Wing Chun combined with the long range tactics of Japanese and Korean styles. Jeet Kune Do’s goal is to be a truly complete martial art, and so far, it has proven itself in this regard. If you can only practice one style of self defense, this should be it. Some people attribute the adaptation methodology in self defense to MMA, but really, it was Bruce Lee that pioneered the idea of studying multiple styles and modernizing martial arts. Because of his efforts, the offensive and defensive capabilities of Jeet Kune Do are astounding, and perfect for the survivalist delving into the world of hand-to-hand.
Ninjitsu: When I was a kid back in the 80’s, the ninja was the greatest thing since sliced bread. I think the allure of it was its simple mythology; if you could learn martial arts, and get your hands on a black mask, you could be a superhero. No need for radioactive spiders or genetic mutation. You were a man - in a mask - with badass fists of fury, and that’s it. Of course, the portrayal of ninjitsu has become so cartoonish that people today scarcely believe it is an actual martial art. In fact, it is, and a very deadly one. The brilliance of ninjitsu really dwells in its “think outside the box” mentality. There is a sort of cleverness and unpredictability to it that makes it so dangerous. Ninja’s in feudal Japan were assassins, but they were also the guerilla fighters of their age. The combat methods of ninjitsu revolve around surprise, and misdirection, which are factors that always work in the survivalist’s favor.
There is no way around it. The Martial Arts make a survivalist better at his job, which is to thrive in the very worst possible conditions. It’s not just about fighting; it is also about developing a fighting spirit. Beyond the utility of self defense, as survivalists we must strengthen our inner world as much as our outer shells. It takes time, and patience, and a willingness to struggle. Any person who masters a martial art has not only shown a dedication to his own physical prowess, but he has also proven he has a mental toughness that will carry him through any catastrophe. That kind of toughness is a rare commodity in America today, and when found, should be greatly valued and encouraged, especially by the Liberty Movement.
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I'm sure that Krav Maga can be very effective, but I don't much like the fact that you can't train those techniques at full strength. You can only gouge out someone's eyes twice, so how are you gonna practice that stuff?
My wife and I recently started Krav Maga training. She has MS and I'm a couch potato, so we're starting from point zero.
I wanted something for all those circumstances where I'm not walking around with a pistol at low ready - that would be 100% of the time. The "Best Defense Survival" show on cable demonstrated how having a gun in close quarters could be a disadvantage without proper hand to hand skills. Distance and time are required to draw a weapon from concealment and engage the perp. Krav seems to draw from all of the arts and uses that which is practical and useful. There is no such thing as a Krav Maga tournament - because it is street fighting - dirty, unfair, "asymmetrical", just like Sun Tsu would recommend. I've been the punching bag of a little girl and was amazed at what she could do with only 6 months training. 99% of us either can't or won't commit to the level of training you black belts and similar have already done. I commend you experts for what you have accomplished, but many or most of us cannot or will not. We'll never get to where you are. Again, drawing from that genius, Mikhail Kalashnikov, "the best is the enemy of the good".
Don't 'dis Krav because it is dirty fighting. It works. It can be learned relatively quickly. It integrates into using whatever weapons are at hand, including but not limited to firearms. And it fills in the gap from 1 foot to 21 feet before you have drawn your sidearm from concealment which averages 1.5 to 2.5 seconds for the vast majority of us mortals. Best of all, it teaches situational awareness and weaves in all sorts of fundamentals from the other martial arts.
We went and saw a MMA match at the Palms here in Las Vegas and can now better understand and appreciate what's going on. But much of what we're learning isn't allowed in the cage/ring. That should say something right there. The best technique is the one that works. The best gun is the one you have when you need it. The best fight is the one you manage to avoid or end in only a few "dirty" blows.
In closing, one of my sparing partners was wicked good with full strikes. Turns out he is an accomplished amateur boxer. No wonder he could knock the wind out of me even with the tombstone pads! Any skills you already have make you that much better if you integrate it with Krav. And, this is the training style picked by the IDF. We'll never see full on competitions in Krav Maga like the other disciplines, but that's just fine. And nothing says you cannot become an expert in multiple areas. It makes you just that much more effective if the SHTF.
Kinda like guns and caliber. Everyone has their favorite, but all are acceptable and encouraged.
'American' capacity to weave fantasy is impressive, even when accustomed to it.
'American' guy selling his pieces of advice as would work in survivalist conditions etc
The pang of specialization, one can assume.
Hopefully, 'american' economics is all about consumption. So while all these 'americans' are consuming resources on learning unproperly talents that would be never been put to use, the 'american' economics goal is achieved: they consume.
Fantasy is a powerful helper when it comes to spur consumption. One cause probably 'americans' cling so much to fantasy...
When it comes to martial arts I only know one move:
Sweep the leg.
Yours truly
Sensei Kreese
sweep the leg works well against an opponent with one leg
but what about an opponent with two legs?
Napoleon Dynamite: Well, nobody's going to go out with *me*!
Pedro: Have you asked anybody yet?
Napoleon Dynamite: No, but who would? I don't even have any good skills.
Pedro: What do you mean?
Napoleon Dynamite: You know, like nunchuku skills, bow hunting skills, computer hacking skills... Girls only want boyfriends who have great skills.
This has been a fun romp through fantasy land. "Here's what I'd do if video games were real...."
As for me, I'll be busy remaining inconspicuous while the streets run crimson with the blood of heroes.
Maybe starting with not being a beer-bellied fat old bastard with (merely) a gun would be useful. If you can't even run 50 meters in a battle, you could wind up on somebody's BBQ.
Classical martial arts can be used as the author notes for self defence, and as he says he has been doing them for 26 years, so he has trained a lot. For those that do not have that time to put into training, there are techniques that can be learned much more quickly, those are the military hand to hand combat techiques of Systema, Krav Maga and the US Marine L.I.N.E. training. I would also recommend courses on situatonal awareness and de-escalation, because it is much better to avoid a confrontation in the first place. In the same vein if you have a home that you wish to defend take a look at Defence In Depth techniques, which will help dissuade any would be attackers.
World War III - The First Private War in History
Those who won all battles shall lose the war. Bilderberg Group and the crimes against humanity.
In 1991, when George Bush senior attacked Iraq and tried to establish the New World Order, has actually provoked a World War. A war the human kind has never seen before; a world war that may not have had the provocative blood-letting of the previous wars, nevertheless its consequences were equally bad for all the peoples. A financial world war, the consequences of which may not have been dead or amputated men and ruins, but in any case they were equally disastrous for both the peoples and the environment.
http://eamb-ydrohoos.blogspot.com/2012/02/world-war-iii.html
Authored by PANAGIOTIS TRAIANOU
Great article. For those wanting to survive, here's my guidance:
1) Know your mind/spirit. If you don't understand the meaning, look for it. -> learn martial arts!
2) Know your body. What it is made of, and what are your physical limits. -> learn martial arts!
3) Know your environment, and how you can quickly and/or reliably adapt to it. -> there are some lessons from certain martial arts here, too...
But in the end, don't think that because you practiced for a time that it will help you in the end. You'll be ready for WHAT YOU PREPARE NOW.
If you wanna be a survivor dont bring your gun and fighting spirit. Talk to your neighburs and friends about how you can plan and act to avoid violence and cooperate i larger groups.
Surviving can be hard even without saber ratling.
The most important thing is endurance.
The second most important part is social skills.
My real advantage is running the soundtrack to Rocky as well as Everybody Was Kung Fu Fighting in my head in times of trouble -- big adrenaline rush is nature's way of turning me into something more, much more
Grew up in Detroit as the minority so I know how to blend in and survive (always carry a can of instant tan with me to this day)
Classic jiu-jitsu is not about grappling - it's about how to eliminate oponent, mostly it's about eliminating completly - that is - killing him. Of course it's not done in trainning, but this jiu-jitsu is trained to all special ops. And spec-ops are not lying on the ground - maybe oponent pushed there. Classic jiu-jitsu is about how to disarm oponnent from gun and be readu to shoot, or how to by defendfing your self from attacker with knife disarm opponent and slice him emidiatly so again - he is elmiminated. There is no much kicking and punching. Although you are trained to do that as well. It's about how to effectively eliminate/kill oponent wither by braking neck, back or choke, or slice with knife or remove gun and to be ready to shoot.
That is why it's actually inpratical for street fight because you don't want to go to jail, but it's 100% practical for spec-ops and survivals.
Too old for the pro's, that is why I carry a 45cal. derringer. You'll never see it coming. The surprise on your face will be precious. Next.
Jeezus fooking Kryest! (7) pages of comments posted by Testosterone-dripping, badass-killer, asskicking, immature teenagers having some sort of pissing contest. I have grown weary trying to fathom the depths of Greatness that populates the comments section of ZH.
No one can survive on their own, or even within a small group. It really does take a village.
A person alone with no network is doomed. Even if you are Bruce Lee and have a billion bullets, if you are alone you are doomed. And there is no point in surviving only to be alone.
Rewatch some of those video clips of the Rodney King Riots in Los Angeles and ask yourself if you honestly think an individual with exceptional martial arts skills would have been able to defend himself on the street in the face of an entire community against him?
There is nothing wrong with being skilled at self defense but it would be foolish to think there is no one out there better than you or that your skills are useful against a group of people. That is fantasy.
Furthermore, there is no point in trying to survive in a place where survival requires guns and martial arts skills. What kind of life will you enjoy in such a place even if you survive?
In nature, and throughout human history, the people who have survived are those willing to move somewhere else where there is less risk and more potential. The species that die out are those that cannot adapt to change. Those that can relocate and adapt to change thrive.
One of the presidential candidates, Romney, is a Mormon. This is a church that faced persecution from its inception and its followers moved west to new lands many times each time persecution became too much. Today they stand a chance to capture the presidency of the country that once sought their genocide. What would have happened to the Mormons if they decided rather than leave Missouri for Utah we buy a bunch of bullets and practice Thai Boxing and defend out homes here?
If I lived in the USA I would be thinking about where in or outside the country to move to, not which marital art is best for overcoming an entire community allied against me. And it would be a community I would be a part of, not someone living in a bunker or cave with a machine gun and fighting sticks.
P.S. I predict Romney will win the election; my Microsoft Word spell checker automatically capitalized his last name.
I think I want to learn welding. That way I can fabricate some armor for my balls and throat and protect against some of these Krav Maga guys. Kind of like Humongous in Road Warrior is the look I'm going for. Leading a ravenous horde will be much more fun that trying to live everyday like Survivor Man.
You left out Okinawan GOJU RYE which is a close combat martial art, simplistic basics, and extremely effective