One thing seriously gets on my nerves is all these so called,self-claiming knife "experts","masters" or "champions" and how they expect
people to buy into this garbage.
Truth of the matter is; there are only 2 type of "master" or what ever you want to call it,
1- They have NEVER been in a life threatening confrontation with a knife and trained soley in a dojo or 2-someone who just got lucky with a little skill at the most.
Although it is possible to defend yourself against a knife attack,staking claim to such titles is just pure moronic.

As I have said in a previous blog; people have a preconception of what they want to learn when joining a martial arts club or system.
Most of the time, it is to learn "Reality Based Self Defense"(RBSD) or some way of defending themselves on the streets. Some actually believe high kicking,fancy flipping tactics actually work. Any idea of how many of these guys are buried each year?
Unfortuantely, the media is the biggest propaganda machine ever created and even worse....people believe 98% of it.

Hype Vs. Substance ....or: preconceptions...
Submitted by damien on Wed, 04/30/2008 - 21:43.

A lot of people, when starting a martial art, be it beginner or experienced trying a new art, have a pre-conception of what they want to learn. The instructor has a pre-conception of how he wants to teach.
The key is finding a middle ground with both parties that each can work from.

Training with Tools...by Brian Vancise
Submitted by damien on Fri, 03/28/2008 - 19:56.

Ask yourself this when was the last time you cut a steak with your hand? When was the last time you hammered a nail with your fist? When was the last time you screwed in a screw with your finger nail. When did you last walk to work (if you live five minutes or more from work) and did not drive your car? When was the last time you failed to use a flash light in darkness to perform a task? The point I am trying to make is that we as humanís use tools all the time. This is an essential point to understand in your Martial Science growth.
Most predators will try to give themselves an edge. How will they do this? With surprise and also with a tool in hand to allow them to achieve dominance. Your Martial Science training needs to be tool based if you will function well in the real world. You need to know how to use projectile tools such as firearms, chemical tools such as OC, Mace, etc, vehicular tools like a car, (yes a car is a great tool) blunt tools such as a cane or a stick, bladed tools such as all the myriad different types of knives, flexible tools such as your belt, rolled up shirt, etc. So you can see that you need to be well versed in how to utilize tools to your advantage.
Ask yourself this question? If some predator violently attacks you or your loved ones with a knife would you rather have to deal with them with your bare hands or some tool such as a firearm, knife, stick, etc? The answer is pretty simple. We humans use tools for everything and that is an essential part of our nature and one of the reasons we are so successful on this planet. It should be no different in the Martial Sciences!

Utilize A Tool And Succeed!

Copyright Instinctive Response Training LLC 2008

Brian R. VanCise

Note: This Blog is opinion only and Instinctive Response Training LLC nor Brian R. VanCise is responsible for any third party actions taken.

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