Kaze Uta Budo Kai Forum Archive

You are so right on!.... Kyle, with your statements on awareness. I run several self defense seminars in the community during the year and you would be amazed at how many people are tuned out of their environment. Most people don't know they are being followed to their car or their home until it's too late. Yet following some simple awareness rituals or protocols will help you avoid becoming a victim or being isolated so that you become an easy target. The best self defense is not to be there....Thanks for your enriching comments...

Awareness is really the first line of defense. Preparedness doesn't mean much if you are caught unaware. Our training gives us a significantly higher chance of recovery if we are caught unaware than the average citizen; however, this doesn't mean we should amble through the world oblivious to what's going on around us. Distractions are commonplace -- cell phone, text messaging, etc. Focus on where you are, what's going on around you.

I have learned from the Gracies as well as from John Perkins that when you punch a black belt in the face he becomes a brown belt, you punch him in the face again he becomes a green belt and etc etc.... Trauma especially from a surprise attack will disorientate and demote and demoralize most trained martial artists....Training in the dojo for outside unexpected violence takes into account much more than techniques but instead a mindset of being able to turn on the survival mode from 0 to 100 in a moments' notice...to react not think...a good question to pose is in a surprise attack do you attack the attacker or do you evade and dodge? Many self defense gurus say the attacker does not expect an attack and will be short circuited if attacked.They also say if you step back and evade the attacker will gain momentum and continue their attack with more or accumulating energy. Understanding that circumstances can vary, where in general as a principle do you stand on this issue?
This is a question we must answer before an attack and be at peace with our decision. This is not something you want to sort out during an attack or worse yet after an attack.......

a little crude, but a useful "little ritual" -- when standing at a urinal, place one hand on the wall in front of your face to brace-- the normal usage position with two hands is quite vulnerable to a sudden predatory head shove into the very hard tiled wall--good to remember if you frequent bars and such

nick lowry wrote:a little crude, but a useful "little ritual" -- when standing at a urinal, place one hand on the wall in front of your face to brace-- the normal usage position with two hands is quite vulnerable to a sudden predatory head shove into the very hard tiled wall--good to remember if you frequent bars and such

Good advice, I like it.

Sounds goofy, but a loooooong time ago, after I watched the movie True Lies I became a lot more aware of using a urinal in public. To this day if there are people behind me waiting in line I stare at the silver/chrome flushing part and use it as a crappy mirror. If nobody is behind me I still look at it when I hear people walk behind me and then of course, if I hear someone walk in the restroom I just turn my head and make eye contact real quick then stare at my mirror till they have moved on.

Damn, that makes me sound paranoid! But I'm not, just doing my best to be conscious of my surroundings. Would hate to get caught slippin' while handling my business with my business out!!

Here's the scene from True Lies. What the don't show is him placing a cigarette pack on the sink pointed towards the urinal with a small camera in it that transmits images to his sunglasses. Wish I had one of those!

Another tip I got from a friend who was training in oshikiuchi (indoor/kneeling techniques from daito ryu): always slip a leg out of your hakama (or pants) when using the sit-down toilet or squatter, so you aren't hobbled when someone attacks you in that most inconvenient of times.

My corollary: always pick a place with really clean floors.