Reality Based Combatives & Reality Based Self Defense Issue5

Volume 1 Issue 5 09/08/08

WWW.DARKGIFTCOMBAT.COM September 08, 2008

Houston Premier Reality Based Martial Arts & Combative Fitness & Nutrition Facility.

Your monthly guide to Combative Techniques, Tactical Airsoft, MilSim and Combative Fitness & Nutrition.

D.G.C.F.S. Gross Motor Skill Set We again have some GREAT guest writers in this issue and we are excited that they have agreed to write for us.

Mr.& Mrs. Traylor Owner & Founders of D.G.C.F.S. System.

Inside D.G.C.F.S. Gross motor skills Mike’s Fitness Corner Coming events Taken it To the street Gross motor skills Ready to carry a knife Airsoft products N.F.O.C.A. Are You In A Sport Art And Don't Know It A Warrior's Path IKE & the aftermath Links to good places

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OK, Now D.G.C.F.S. Syllabus is an ever evolving growing adapting combative science. What makes D.G.C.F.S. so different from T.M.A., M.M.A. is that we look at combat not as sport or self perfection “but perfection in combat” although we do not exclude self perfection it is just a by product just as a black belt is, WE are a R.B.M.A. training center a BLACK BELT for us is a by product. Teaching you to SURIVIE is the GOAL. D.G.C.F.S. starts from the very essences of FEAR & PRIDE, Why? Fear & Pride is your enemy. 1) Fear that adrenaline dump that gets you when you are scared or startled. You know that FLINCH, That gross motor movements that the human body naturally reverts to in a panic induced state. That heart pounding reaction to what is happening or about to happen. 2) Pride is a high or inordinate opinion of one's own dignity, importance, merit, or superiority, whether as cherished in the mind or as displayed in bearing, conduct, etc. I have trained with Martial Arts Instructors, Masters, and Combat Instructors that some times fall in to that category. IF you think you know it all or IF you do not want to see the TRUTH, PRIDE before the fall. Those 2 things Ladies and Gentleman can stop you from growing as a person and a Martial Artiest and Combat Instructor. D.G.C.F.S. starts your training with simple gross motor techniques, but what are Gross motor skills - well simply they are large-muscle groups like squads, hams, biceps and triceps ect. In fact, they are enhanced by the affects of fear and stress. There fore it makes total sense to rely on gross motor skills when a selfdefense response is needed and can be applied under stressful st circumstances. The 1 level in the Gross Motor Skill set we teach at D.G.C.F.S. is the FLINCH Drills, These flinch drills work from our PASS AGGRESSIVE stance. It counters punching and tackles and teaches how to handle the ADRENALINE DUMP. Our hands start in the surrender position palms facing out and fingers up. To the untrained eye it looks like you give and you do not want a problem. This is also good for eyewitnesses to help IF you go to court “That is anther article” In this position you are giving the assailant visual cues that you are not aggressive, but the whole time you are ready to open a can of whoop ass “which is not resalable” Since your hands are up you can protect against any punches that are coming at you or IF they try to tackle you. CONTINUED on page 6 Page1

WWW.FIT2FIGHTGYM.COM

HERE'S MY TOP 10 WAYS TO GET FIT 2 FIGHT! 1. EAT EVERY 2-3 HOURS Eating small meals throughout the day will help speed up your metabolism. You should be eating 5-7 meals per day. 2. AVOID PROCESSED FOODS Try to stick to whole natural foods. If you can pull it out of the ground, pull it off of a tree, or it used to swim, moo, or fly chances are its natural! 3. CHOOSE THE RIGHT TYPE OF CARBS Complex carbs: Whole wheat Pasta, Sweet Potatoes, Basmati white rice or Brown rice, Potatoes, Other root vegetables, Wholemeal breads, Granary bread, Brown bread, Bagel, Wholegrain cereals, High fiber breakfast cereals, Porridge oats, All bran, Wheetabix, Shredded wheat,Cassava, Corn, Yam, Oatcakes, Peas, Beans, Lentils. Mr. Morales Owner of Fit 2 Fight Simple carbs: Apples, Blackberries, Blackcurrants, Cherries, Cranberries, Grapefruit, Gym Co-Founder of R.E.A.C.T. Kiwi, Lemon, Melon, Oranges, Peach, Pear, Plum,Raspberries, Strawberries. System. Instructor in Hand to 4. DRINK 100oz. OF WATER PER DAY; AS WELL AS, APPLE CIDER VINEGAR TWO Hand Combat at D.G.C.F.S. CAPFULS IN THE MORNING. Inside D.G.C.F.S. One of the liver's duties is to pick up the slack for the kidneys, which need plenty of water to work properly. If the kidneys are water-deprived, the liver has to do their work Inside D.G.C.F.S. along with its own,lowering its total productivity. It then can't metabolize fat as Gross motor skills 1 quickly or efficiently as it could when the kidneys were pulling their own weight. If you Mike’s Fitness Corner 2 Coming events 4 allow this to happen, not only are you being unfair to your liver, but you're also setting Taken it To the street 5 yourself up to store fat. Avoid Sodas, fruit juice, and Alcohol if you are trying to lose fat. Gross motor skills 6 5. Increase your intake of high-fiber foods and whole grains This will help you feel Ready to carry a knife 7 satisfied and food cravings go away! Good food choices include: (1) vegetables, beans Airsoft products 8 N.F.O.C.A. 9 and fruit. Note: although fruit contains fruit-sugar, it comes wrapped in fiber which Are You In A Sport Art makes it perfectly acceptable when eaten in the form of whole fruit. Fruit juice has a And Don't Know It 10 higher GI-value because it contains very little fiber but all of the sugar. (2) whole grain A Warrior's Path 12 cereals, such as oats,rye, basmati or brown rice, pasta and whole wheat breads/bread IKE & the aftermath 13 Links to good places 14 snacks. 6. WATCH YOUR SODIUM INTAKE Lowering your sodium intake will help you expel excess water and help you look less bloated. Foods to avoid include: Frozen prepared meals. Canned entrees and soups. Snack crackers and chips. Cured meats. Seasonings high in salt. Foods eaten out. Fast food and Chinese food can be very high in sodium. Always read labels! 7. WEIGHT TRAINING 3-5 TIMES PER WEEK You will speed up your metabolism by gaining muscle! You really can change the shape of your body. You can tighten up your body, improve your posture, and become stronger. (on a side note) I have a lot of female clients who are afraid of bulking up. Believe me it is a lot easier to lose fat than it is to gain muscle! The reason why women think they bulk up is because they start building muscle without losing fat. You have to change your eating habits in order to lose fat. It can not be done by exercise alone! 8. CARDIOVASCULAR EXERCISE 3-5 TIMES PER WEEK This will significantly help you burn fat if done properly. You do not have to sprint on the treadmill to lose fat! When you are pushing yourself to the limit and getting your heart rate way up you are actually burning glycogen or (sugar) If you want to pull from your fat cells try walking on the treadmill. Here is the formula for finding out what your personal heart rate target is: 220-your age = X X multiplied by 65%-70%= your target heart rate EXAMPLE 220-25yrs= 195 195 x 65%-70%= 126-136 So if you are 25 years old your heart rate should be between 126 and 136. You can either buy a heart rate monitor at any sporting goods store or some machines will monitor your heart rate for you.

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9. GET AT LEAST 8 HOURS OF SLEEP PER NIGHT! How Sleep Loss Affects Weight Loss 1. Hormone function affects the way fat cells respond to the food we eat. Cortisol is a hormone that is commonly released in response to physical or emotional stress. When we are deprived of sleep, cortisol is released at an increased level and makes us feel hungry even if we are full. As a result, people who continue to lose sleep on a regular basis will tend to experience hunger even when they have had an adequate amount of food. 2. Sleep loss results in less deep sleep, the kind that restores our energy levels. Losing deep sleep hours decreases growth hormone levels. Growth hormone is a protein that helps regulate the bodys proportions of fat and muscle in adults. With less growth hormone, we reduce the ability to lose fat and grow muscle. 3. With a loss of sleep, your body may not be able to metabolize carbohydrates as well, which leads to an increased storage of fats and higher levels of blood sugar. Excess blood sugar can lead to insulin resistance. Insulin resistance means that the body has trouble disposing of glucose in the liver and other tissues. It is a trigger for serious health problems such as obesity, cardiovascular diseases and type II diabetes. 4. A lack of sleep goes hand in hand with a lack of energy not a new concept, but perhaps youve grown used to your daily levels of energy and dont notice that you could gain more. Not only do we accomplish less with less sleep, we also dont burn as many calories. The bodys reaction is to hoard calories as fat, making our weight loss goals more difficult than they need to be. Sleep is starting to sound pretty important now, isnt it? 10. STAY MOTIVATED! Easier said than done right? Here are some helpful hints: Hire a Combative Fitness Coach/Personal Fitness Trainer Like ME Find a friend to work out with Clean out the junk food from your refrigerator and cupboards Write down everything you eat (food journal) Take measurements and weigh every three weeks Find activities you enjoy-playing sports, walking the dog, hiking, surfing, etc. Find a gym with really hot guys/girls LOL no seriously it works! Take photos of yourself to track your progress Positive self talk I can do this Meditation (helps calm the mind) Reading Fitness books and Magazines Coming and visiting my website many times for new articles HTTP://www.Fit2Fight.com and sign-up for my online personal training GET FIT! STAY FIT! Mr. Mike A. Morales (832) 373-4030

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Coming Events Date T.B.D. Mr. & Mrs. Traylor will be hold a private seminar for Dinner of the Month Club, Inc. a women’s self defense class Date T.B.D. Ray Dionaldo F.C.S. Filipino Combat Systems seminar at D.G.C.F.S facility 12-5pm Date T.B.D. Mr & Mrs. Traylor, with Instructors and Apprentice Instructors, are going to California to train with PAUL VUNAK and get certified as apprentice Instructors and Mr. Traylor Full “C.E.I.” Certified. COMING SOON (Date TBD) Field survival, combat, and tactical training (Weapons and hand to hand). 150 acre woodland training facility. Airsoft exercises and live-fire shooting range training. (survival skills, escape and evasion, ambush/counter ambush, field recon and fire tactics, field hand to hand and weapon combat.) February 28 – March 1 ‘09 Hock Close Quarter Combatives Seminar.

Events flyer

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By Clint Bodungen

You’ve heard the saying, “Everyone has a plan until you get hit.” It happens to everybody. You can have a 10th degree black belt in 10 different arts but if you get into a real fight on the street or on the battlefield, none of the techniques you’ve learned seem to look the same or may not work altogether. In fact, a bystander may not even be able to tell you are a martial artist at all because pretty much all technique is out the window. What happens to us on the street during a fight is a natural reaction that has been happening to humans since our first cave fight. In an effort for survival, the human body will shut down all but the essential functions to survive. What this means is that if you are confronted with a seriously threatening or life threatening situation, your body’s ability to do anything but fight back will be diminished. And when I say fight back, I mean fight back in the most primitive form; gross motor skills and cave man like flailing. When your heart beat reaches a certain level and adrenaline is surging through your body, you start to get tunnel vision, you experience loss of hearing, and complex motor skills become nearly impossible. Therefore, so too are complex martial arts movements and techniques. So does this mean that technique training is useless? Can we learn to fight Mr. Bodungen Co-Founder of effectively on the street using technique and not resort to a slug fest? Do you remember A.R.C.. Instructor in Hand to your first roller coaster ride? I do… and I about lost my stomach. I clinched my teeth, Hand Combat at D.G.C.F.S. held on, and could barely stand it until it was all over. However, what happened after Inside D.G.C.F.S. that? The second ride wasn’t so bad. The third was even easier. By the time I had a few rides under my belt I could barely feel the G-forces anymore. So what happened? Gross motor skills 1 My body adapted. It adapted to these natural human physiologically reactions. Fighter Mike’s Fitness Corner 2 pilots not only overcome the same physiological reactions caused by even more intense Coming events 4 forces and stresses, they learn to perform highly complex actions. Starting to see where Taken it To the street 5 I’m going with this? With proper training, one can learn to adapt to, and over come, the Gross motor skills 6 Ready to carry a knife 7 stresses we encounter during a real street fight or life threatening attack. But, the key Airsoft products 8 word is “proper” training. You can have all the training techniques down perfect for years N.F.O.C.A. 9 and years but if you will still fall victim to the same crippling human physiological Are You In A Sport Art reactions if you are not training properly. So how do we train to overcome this? Well, if And Don't Know It 10 A Warrior's Path 12 getting hit causes this reaction on the street, you have to get hit in the training studio… IKE & the aftermath 13 again, and again, and again, and again, until your body adapts and gets used to the idea Links to good places 14 and action of getting hit. You may be saying, “But we spar all the time.” Sparring is not training for the street. Sparring is training for points and sport. In order for your body to adapt, you must simulate a real street fight or attack. You must have an “attacker” not a sparring partner. Does that fighter pilot just perform a limited set of controlled actions in a simulator to be battle ready? No, he also goes all out in life-like battle simulations up in the air against opponents simulating the enemy over and over again. Your training must be the same. Your attacker must come at you with the force and malicious intent that a real street attacker would instead of “pop shotting” you, attacking and retreating, and picking shots like a sport fighter. You can, and should, even start off in full pads and work your way up in intensity and eventually less protection. Do drills that get used to the feeling of taking a hit. Learn to keep your vision while taking a hit and being attacked. Put yourself in stressful training situations. Do drills that force you to keep your concentration while being attacked. Do drills that simulate an ambush. Put yourself in situations that make you nervous. If you become complacent, step it up or change the routine to something that stimulates nervous response and duress. This is known as pain and stress inoculation. This is the type of training that will force your body to adapt to those types of stressful environments and perform at a level like never before. Just remember, in order to perform effectively in a stressful environment or situation, you must train in that environment. If you want to learn to fight in the cage or score points, go spar. If you want to learn to fight effectively in a real life street fight, train like you are in a street fight! Next month I will go over these drills in more detail. Until then, train hard and train real!

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Continued from page 1 In the passive aggressive stance not only are you able to protect yourself but attack at the same time. This way you can engage your opponent as he or she attacks you. You can Eye gouge, punch, elbow ect..ect.. This is basic level 1 in the gross motor skill set. Failure to Flinch meaning you some what freeze or miss your attack line. Then you will go to PRIMAL: They are 3 levels in Primal that I teach, COVER/PROTECT and COUNTER STRIKE and then ESCAPE. This covers from the stand up position to ground combatives It trains the students' minds as well as bodies to the idea of being "attacked" and works towards minimizing the ill effects of the body under a real life, stress induced attack or physical altercation just like the FLINCH DRILLS. In level 1 of Primal you are put through a combative situation where you are only allowed to cover and protect yourself. Up against a wall and open area. Standing up and on your back somewhat pined. The Idea is to protect yourself while punches are being thrown at you. Level 2 you try to counter strike when an opening is available, I.E. “punch, elbows, knees or kicks”, again you on the wall then open area and on your back. Level 3 we add anther person for a total of 2 people attacking you plus having to go through levels 1 & 2 and trying to escape. At level 3 we also introduce elbow destruction. From there we now go to A.R.C. Action Reaction Continuum. A.R.C. has 3 levels it teaches the student how to Engage, Control, Take down, and Terminate the attack. This is also done with several scenarios. This is just a small portion of what we teach in the GROSS MOTOR skill set. I did not go into great detail as it would take up a lot of pages. D.G.C.F.S. is an evolutionary system and as such we will never be behind the learning curve. We strive to make sure that D.G.C.F.S. is on the cutting edge of training and equipment so that we can deliver the best up to date techniques, training and facility. This is just the basic level in D.G.C.F.S. the way D.G.C.F.S. breaks it down looks like this. 1) Gross Motor skill set “3 level” 2) Intermediate motor skills “3 levels” 3) Advance motor skill sets “3 levels” This is also done in the 4 ranges of combat, KICKING, BOXING, TRAPPING, And GRAPPLING” Weapons are also added in level 3. Weapons are “most common” in today’s society 1) body 2) Knife 3) Stick 4) Gun or a variation of those weapons. I hope this small bit of information on what we teach helps you understand who we are and what we do. Mr.Traylor

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Are You Ready T0 Carry A Knife? Actively carrying a knife for personal protection is a big step for any practitioner. Some of us give it more thought than others, but all of us should give the choice serious consideration. The choice to carry a knife can have many serious implications. As responsible self defense practitioners we must consider the legal, ethical, technical, and mental implications of defensive carry. Let's take a look at each.

THE TECHNICAL First off, lets consider the technical implications of knife carry. It is very important that if you carry a knife for self defense, you must be versed in its use. There was a student at my school who would regularly come in and view the knives for sale. Several times he asked me about carrying one for self defense. My advice to him was not to even consider carrying one until he had logged some more training hours. In addition he would have to be prepared for all of the other implications as well. Stories are abundant of people who have drawn a knife in defense only to have it taken from them and used against them. A self defense practitioner must feel comfortable with the mechanics of knife use and defense. A practitioner should have a firm grasp of basic knife use, as well as weapon retention, before making this decision. This particular student trained for about six months before finally buying his carry knife.

THE LEGAL "It’s better to be tried by twelve than lowered by six". This is a common answer in martial arts schools around the country whenever a student asks about the legality of a physical technique or its repercussions. Unfortunately cool clichés won’t help protect a person if they have used their knife in error. It is infinitely important that students be abreast of alllocal, and federal laws as they pertain to self defense. I also recommend that students seek out a course on "Use of Force" which will help practitioners to understand what level of defensive force is legally appropriate for various criminal assaults. It is very important to be informed in this respect. Remember that in any Self defense situation you will potentially have to survive two assaults; the first on the street and the second in the court room. An additional consideration for instructors is the potential for ‘vicarious liability’, the legal responsibility for what one has taught a student during professional instruction. In short, the principle of vicarious liability holds that teaching a student something which is illegal or irresponsible can make the instructor liable for both criminal and civil remedies, and vicarious liability can follow an instructor for an unlimited time. Teach a student to do something illegal, and you may find yourself in court with him twenty years down the road answering to a jury.

THE MENTAL Using a knife in defense or combat is serious business. The use of a knife in combat is a highly violent situation. Most people have an aversion to violence. Some of us are more adept at violence than others. For those who have grown up in rough neighborhoods, worked high risk jobs or seen war, violence may be viewed as a necessary evil for survival. Others who are more removed from violence may tend to shy away from it. When considering carrying a knife for self defense one must consider the level of violence they are willing to embrace. Some people will never be able to mentally run someone through with a knife. I have a student who has trained knife fighting for close to a year. He is competent in the basics and could no doubt use a knife with success in a self defense situation. This particular student however will not carry a knife. He is honest with himself. He knows that he is unwilling to cut or stab someone else even in defense. He wisely does not carry because such a block would only lead to hesitation, which would put the criminal assailant in a position of advantage. Violence also has serious mental repercussions. Unless you are a sociopath, maiming or killing another individual is likely to rest heavily on your psyche. It is not uncommon for people who have survived or partaken in violent situations to suffer from a number of psychological after effects. Depression, Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome, and Anxiety are just a few of the problems which can manifest. All of this should be taken into account.

THE ETHICAL As we stated above the knife is an tool of violence. A Blade is by design a killing tool, a lethal force option. It should not be thought of in any other way. We as responsible citizens must make the ethical decision to carry a blade. We must know up front when we carry a knife that if it comes into play it may be used to kill. Killing, even in self defense, is truly an ethical dilemma .Killing is often in direct opposition to many ethical belief systems both religious and secular.

CONCLUSION All in all it is extremely important that anyone who plans on carrying a knife for self defense consider all that we have mentioned today. The decision to carry a knife should never be an impulsive one, but one made with carefully consideration after much preparation. Only by doing so can the self defense practitioner truly add an effective tool to their arsenal. About the author: Mr. Vargas is a recognized subject matter expert on Edged weapons and Edged Weapon Defense. A certified instructor of historical Apache Knife Combat, Law Enforcement and Military Knife Survival Systems.

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AIRSOFT PRODUCTS

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NATIONAL FEDERATION OF COMBATIVE ARTS (N.F.O.C.A.)

The NATIONAL FEDERATION OF COMBATIVE ARTS (N.F.O.C.A.) is a nonpolitical, Reality Based Combative Martial Arts, Military Close Combat, Personal Safety, Defensive Tactics and Self -Defense, education and verification of individuals, organizations established to support all combat oriented martial artists or Combat qualified Instructors. The N.F.O.C.A. is an organization comprised Of Instructors, Students, and Supporters of real world Reality Based Martial Arts and Military Close Combat, self protection skills. The N.F.O.C.A. draws its membership from civilian, martial arts and self defense practitioners, Law Enforcement and Military personnel. The N.F.O.C.A is one of the premiere Combative, Reality Based Martial Arts Federation in the world, with members across the US and abroad. N.F.O.C.A. mission is to help individuals and organization and founders of systems to get additional training, certification in Reality Based Combative Martial Arts, Military Close Combat, Personal Safety, Defensive Tactics and Self Defense. We are here to encourage growth of Reality Based Martial Arts, Military Close Combat, Personal Safety, Defensive Tactics and Self Defense. We are a very rare BREED of COMBAT QUALIFIED INSTRUCTORS and as such we must make sure that we have checks and balances. Our Goal is to lead the way in the pursuit of excellence in Military Close Combat and Reality Based Martial Arts. Our membership follows the evolution of combat, a path that carries with it a great responsibility to ensure victory in battle. As a group of close combat leaders, N.F.O.C.A. foster a united and combined effort to ensure only the best of military close combat and reality based martial arts instructors lead the way. The Prerequisite of a N.F.O.C.A. Instructor All military close combat instructors and reality based martial arts instructors should have a resume that includes verification of their attending and completing exponent and instructor courses. Depending on country, service, and unit, proof of qualification, rank, and status will vary, but there will always be a paper trail and a record of service in relation to instructor of reality based martial arts and/or close combat qualifications and service. Martial arts, combat sports or general sports qualifications records and achievements are not relevant considerations but they may be considered. The position and role of a N.F.O.C.A. is to be confident and qualified in the reality based martial arts science of close combat. This just a small bit of information on the GREAT federation. If you wish to be apart visit.

http://www.nfoca.com NOTE: it is very hard to get in this federation

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Are You In A Sport Art And Don't Know It? by Paul Green It has come to my attention recently looking through the internet and doing research as I normally do that we have a big problem in our field today. It's not so much a new problem as it is a problem that has gotten progressively worse over time and is now at an all time high. I feel that we have too many people trying to put around peg in a square hole. The problem I am speaking of is people trying to pass off MMA training alone as self defense, defensive tactics, or even combatives. Before I get started I want you to understand that I'm not saying that MMA is bad or doesn't work on the street. The people that do this stuff are very talented and very tough. I trained in it for 3 years myself. So it's not that it's bad it's just that it's different. MMA and street fighting have alot in common for sure. Alot of the techniques are the same and we can learn alot from each other, but it's the differences that define what they are and which one is appropriate for what your trying to accomplish. So here are a few breakdowns

1. The Myth of the Duel This one is huge! This may be the single biggest problem I see in martial arts training everywhere. You see it in every dojo. Two guys walk to the center and bow then have some kind of sparring session under controlled conditions. The problem is that it is highly unrealistic and fights don't really happen that way. In the street it goes far beyond physical. Their were probably a hundred things that led to that first blow being thrown and none of them are being covered by this training. Real fights could happen anywhere at any time with no warning. You could be arguing with someone and they just swing no matter if your ready or not. You don't get to watch film of their other attacks before yours happens and get to build a strategy. You don't get to know that the area is gonna be well lit and that you can always see the guy. You don't get coaches that you've paid thousands of dollars to yell advice. You don't get a guarantee that his friends won't jump in. You don't get a guarantee that he doesn't have a knife or a gun. You don't get sponsors to pay for your training so you can use 3 to 6 months to train for the attack and be in the best shape of your life, and maybe biggest of all you don't get rules so if your dying you can just tap and make it all go away. Having this awareness changes the way you think about situations because it has to and it should affect your training. In our field it's important to have training for interview positions, surprise attacks, attacks from a sitting position, and other odd positions you could be attacked from. Sure I've been to parties where two guys decided to step outside and go at it over something. So yes you need training for that too but you need training for alot more as well.

2. Groundfighting Oh good god! I see the stuff that's out there and I just cringe. I'll bypass the technical flaws I see and just talk about the situation itself. I think everyone should know some ground fighting and some grappling it's very important for your arsenal I myself have a 5th dan in Japanese jujitsu. In my years I've also gotten to train with Royce Gracie, Renzo Gracie, and Helio Soneca among others. I was even a heavyweight champion for the state of alabama in 1999 in submission grappling(btw...Roll Tide!). I don't say this to brag I just want the reader to know I'm not speaking from a position of ignorance. There's alot of good things to learn in ground fighting. I teach a sweet de la riva sweep for if you get knocked down and the guy is standing. However there's alot of bad things out there too that may be great for the octagon but bad for the street. Yes it's true that roughly 80 percent of all fights go to the ground, but they don't lay there 30 minutes looking for an armbar. If you find yourself on your back during a streetfight get up as quick as possible. Since we are talking about statistics it should be noted that 40 percent of all fights involve multiple attackers and 50 percent of that has weapons. This also applies to the guys that think it's a good idea to shoot in on a guy and do some good old ground and pound once they get him on the ground for awhile. So if your on top or bottom regardless you need to realize that there's probably at least a 20 percent chance you'll be killed if you stay there for any prolonged amount of time whatsoever and at least a 40 percent shot you'll be maimed in some way. Plus if the police get there and find out you held someone on their back defenseless while you beat the crap out of them there's probably a 100 percent chance your going to jail. The reason being is that it isn't a sport, it's different. If you find yourself on the ground top or bottom do what you gotta do to get up. If it's grabbing nuts, ripping ears, poking eyes, so be it and if you spend a couple nights in the county jail I bet it'll still be better than being maimed or dying. Sport ground techniques could get you killed or seriously hurt I can't stress that enough. I'm not gonna name names but I will tell this to illustrate my point. A couple years ago I was having dinner with a couple big name BJJ guys(no they aren't the ones I mentioned above). One of them was talking about how they don't feel comfortable in their own self defense aspects. He told this story about how he and another guy went into a bar in brazil and got into an argument with two drag queens. These two queens started throwing bottles and beat the living hell outta them. I was really shocked since both these guys were world champions. But they got beat up by two guys in a dress. Sports are sports and the street is the street. This isn't saying all ground fighters and wrestlers aren't tough street fighters I wouldn't want to run into Randy Couture or BJ Penn in a dark alley any time soon.

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3. The Fallout In the cage if you beat a guy the worst thing is maybe you give them a rematch so you go back and train and have at it again it's nothing really personal. In the street everything is personal so the intensity level is higher. The worst things about fighting I've seen never actually happened during the fight they happened afterward. It's the fallout that ultimately makes it worth while to just avoid the thing all together. To illustrate this point I'll tell you another unfortunately true story from my own life. Years ago I was in a bar with some friends a little after 2 am shooting a game of pool after I'd just got done with a security job I was working for someone. The place wasn't really full yet the other bars didn't close til 2 am so people were still kinda on their way. These two guys in the middle of the bar got into it over something and one guy punched the other one and knocked him to the ground. Their bouncers grabbed him and through him out. The other guy picked himself up off the floor and went back to the bar drinking.... huge mistake. a few hours went by and the place got packed and we were sitting up at the bar. I noticed behind me that guy guy had been thrown out earlier had just got let back in. I thought that was kinda messed up that he was even allowed back in but figured there must be a reason for it maybe they called each other on cell phones afterward and worked it out, who knows. So anyway, the guy that got knocked down walks over to him behind us. My friend saw the 38 long nose but I never did I only heard the shot which was deafening right behind my head. The next thing I know all hell has broken loose and the guy's ear is laying between one of my friends and myself and I remember holding my ears stumbling trying not to step on it. Fights were breaking out everywhere and chairs were flying out the door. The guy is bleeding bad from the side of his head and runs outside where the other guy goes after him with the gun. The bartender pulls a pistol and jumps the bar and one of my friends grabs him but he doesn't get the gun. The bartender points the gun at my friends head and starts cursing. I ended up stepping between the gun and my friend to try to diffuse the homicide that was about to take place. Thank god the bartender didn't want to pull that trigger anymore than we wanted to get shot. He runs outside and pistol whips a guy and I end up having to put two of my friends on the ground to keep them from running out into the line of fire because they panicked. It was a huge mess that never had to happen there. These people would have never been put in danger if the guy who had been knocked down earlier had just left right afterwards. The sad thing is though that when it's that personal it probably wouldn't have been over for him anyway it just would have taken place somewhere else on another day. Cops, Security, Bodyguards, and civilians with a death wish have to deal with this all the time, but not in the octagon. Awareness is huge and can never be overstated and there's a lot to be said for good old fashioned common sense as well. In the field of defensive tactics, combatives, or other types of personal protection training we have to find answers for these problems and sport fighters don't, it's a completely different thing and really needs to be recognized as such. I wish it was just about whuppin' some butt but it isn't. In conclusion street violence happens quick and without warning. In America it's getting much worse than it used to be so the training has to stay above the curve. The violence on our streets doesn't look like someone tapping or holding a trophy it looks more like this: I personally love to watch MMA on PPV and if you do that stuff I think it's great but please recognize that it's a sport because people that may be your students don't know any different they think it's all the same. If you want to be a cage fighter then that's awesome please do so because it's alot of fun but please don't tell people your teaching street fighting when you aren't. I thank everyone for reading this I hope everyone understand that this was not written to offend or pass judgment but to inform I actually think cage fighting can be a good part of training because with it you'll find out quickly what works and what doesn't so it'll be harder to fool you with the weird mysticism stuff some people pass off as martial arts these days it's just that there needs to be more training than just whuppin ass. Paul Green is the chief instructor for Stonewall Tactical Inc, and Shinkara Warrior Combatives.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Paul Green has been involved in martial arts since the age of 4. He holds several black belts and instructor certifications. He was the 1999 Alabama Grappling Circuit Heavyweight Champion before leaving sport arts He has also trained at Tom Brown Jr's Tracker School in Wilderness Survival. Mr. Green is also the founder of the Stonewall Tactical System. This system has recently been tested in the field by security professionals, with great results; specifically, in the areas of disarming, extracting people from violent groups, and crowd control. The unarmed combatives of this art draw from street modified versions of Muay Thai, Catch wrestling, Western Boxing, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, JKD Concepts as well as WWII.

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Warrior's path Sometimes I wonder why people are put in our paths be it by our own will or fate. It is in these times that you must pay close attention to the lesson's being taught, not only what is being told, but looking outside the box or better put, hovering out and above the box! In that lie's the truth of the situation, looking beyond what is and isn't shown. Like a good magician he show's you what you should see but never what you HAVE to see. This is were true insight begins and the doors open in way's not sensed before, you begin to appreciate the finer thing's in life, searching for meaning in the soul. The people that are or have passed in your life take a big toll on the mind and heart when thought's of what one's own life is and has been or what greater thing's are to come. The lessons or words taken from those people form what is your own "make up". We are all the same people no matter the color, but what makes us unique is the life we lead and the gift we can share openly with others. Take into consideration that there is mindless babble out there, but when you truly sit down and think of the past and the present the thought's formed in your own mind, it is a movie only written for you by you with the influence of the information that has been logged into our "Memory Banks". These thing's make up fighter's and what they perceive to be "there own warrior spirit". So when you think that you have learned all there is to learn, empty your cup cause you don't know anything. Remember the more you know the less you remember. Ha Oh and age takes it's toll and you must learn to adapt to the ever current situation of age. Hope it make's sense, sometimes chit just needs to get out.

Professor Eric Bentzen Founder of DARK GIFT CONCEPTS

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Hurricane IKE Ike hit the Houston & Galveston with such devastating Force that 3 weeks plus a lot folks still do not have POWER! Here is a picture of a part of Galveston. We “my wife & I“ are SO GREATFUL that none of our student were harmed during the storm and its after math. We took some damage both at our home and studio but we are blessed it could have been much worse. During this trying times I am so glad that most people kept their heads and stay clam but We did hear of fights and weapons being pulled BUT for the most part all is ok. During the last week we have had an increase of people inquiring about our class, I think people got a reality check, Left in the DARK with only themselves to protect their family and belongings. Police had their hands full as the city was thrown in to DARKNESS. We all were ready for IKE or so we thought!! No power or water SURIVILE skills became most essential.

Most of us left the city cause of lack of power, as we drove out I saw just how BAD the damage really was, I was taken back, trying to get information was a task. I had to go to the Rio Grand valley to get information on what was going on in HOUSTON and Galveston. So far only 35 people are confirmed dead due to Ike, 35 to many in my opinion as I am sure it could have been prevented, But That number is low as I am so sure that it could have been much much worse!! We all NOW have to tie our BOOTS and get to work and help all those that need it. We must over come this devastation and show that Texas can take it and keep going. Show the NATION what Houston is made of. If any one needs help please FEEL FREE to contact D.G.C.F.S. our student and the Traylor family will help where we can!!! Lets all pull together for a fast healthy recover So we can face economical uncertainty. We must stand firm in our belief and pull together as a nation not as REPUBLICAN or DEMOCRAT but as a NATION of smart patriotic Americans. The future is in our hands and only we can change it.

LINKS to GOOD Places

Stonewall Tactical defense

R.E.A.C.T System U.S. Special Forces, Pro Football, College, Police, Soccer Moms ect… Combative Conditioning and Re-qualification

Dark Gift Combat Fighting System www.darkgiftcombat.com

www.cidgcorp.com

Dark Gift Concepts

Sifu Eric Bentzen

DEFENSIVE ARTS CHICAGO

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