Carl Cestari - EzineArticles.com Expert Author

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The Test
[Recreation-and-Sports:Martial-Arts] It really does NOT matter one iota what style, system, method, or technique you MAY wish to apply to your personal survival training. What DOES matter is, if "whatever" it is that you choose passes the above TEST.

What Can We Learn From What Has Already Been Done?
[Recreation-and-Sports:Martial-Arts] Pre-WWII Judo was a far different thing than what we see now. The Japanese in particular, being on a global war footing, practiced a type of Judo that has little in common with the "sport" of today.

Makiwara Training
[Recreation-and-Sports:Martial-Arts] Kimura Sensei had won the All Japan Karate Championship two years in a row. His technique was lightening fast, crisp, and decisive.

Combatives and Martial Arts
[Recreation-and-Sports:Martial-Arts] This is our last installment on "defining" the parameters of COMBATIVES. The point, I am sure, will be missed by some but it must be emphasized that this material is historical fact and is accurate in substance and detail. It is an objective view of combatives and NOT a subjective opinion or personal "definition" designed to fill an agenda of one sort or another.

COMBATIVES - A Rose by Any Other Name, Part 2
[Recreation-and-Sports:Martial-Arts] The advent of World War One (the war to END all wars) brought warfare into a new and foreboding era of man to man killing and slaughter. Air power, mechanized warfare, chemical warfare and the general widespread use of machine guns changed the face of battle almost completely.

COMBATIVES? Don't Tell Me - I Know What That Is! (Part 1)
[Recreation-and-Sports:Martial-Arts] "Combatives" from the root word COMBAT - "to fight in direct contact", "active fighting between enemies", "any fight or struggle". There is ONE singular glaring absence in the above definition. Notice it?

The Fallacy and the Myth
[Recreation-and-Sports:Martial-Arts] It's always amusing when "know it alls" dismiss certain methods out of hand as being useless or "unworkable". One "victim" of this line of thinking is the "cross arm" or "X" block (for lack of a better term). We often hear phrases like the "myth of the X block". Usually this catchy "hook" leads on to a diatribe condemning this technique in the strongest terms. Those who "know better" decry the "obvious" faults in this basic method and are more than anxious to point out the disastrous consequences awaiting anyone foolish enough to use it.

The Thumb Jab
[Recreation-and-Sports:Martial-Arts] I'm sure a lot of you remember the scene in the movie "The Presidio" were Sean Connery's character decimates the jackass in the bar with nothing more than his thumb! Some of you may remember Andy Adam's book on Ninjutsu highlighting Hatsumi. Several photos showed the intense conditioning of natural weapons including the 'boshiken" or thumb fist.

Break the Bones
[Recreation-and-Sports:Martial-Arts] "HONE O ORERU" is a Japanese term that translates literally as "BREAK THE BONES". It is an essential concept of true SHUGYO and a central theme of a true Budo Dojo. What this term means at it's essence has EVERYTHING to do with the forging of an iron will and a determined resolute SPIRIT. Hone O Oreru epitomizes the nature and purpose of true Budo as expressed in physical "keiko" or training.

It's Not a Matter of Who is Right
[Recreation-and-Sports:Martial-Arts] Almost EVERY "combatives" man of any note CAME from a combative sports background. Boxing, wrestling, judo. WEF and O'Neill (SIXTH DAN-Kodokan Judo-personal student of Uchijima Sensei, a NEWAZA LEGEND) are PRIME examples of this.

John Styers
[Recreation-and-Sports:Martial-Arts] Most people have only been exposed to John Styers work through the book "Cold Steel". It is important to remember that first and foremost this book outlines a BASIC course of close-combat instruction. The elements covered in this system include bayonet, knife, stick and unarmed combat. Styers developed this "system" for BASIC training.

Historical References to W E Fairbairn, E A Sykes AND Dermot "Pat" O'Neill
[Recreation-and-Sports:Martial-Arts] They learned the art of silent killing, perfected by W.E. Fairbairn, the legendary British Major, sometimes known as "Delicate Dan." Knife strokes taught, should be upward, from the testicles to the chin. The hand in a "tiger claw" position was most effective for gouging out eyes.

Fairbairn on the "Fairbairn Method"
[Recreation-and-Sports:Martial-Arts] "Prior to my association with the armed forces of Great Britain and the United States I served as Assistant Commissioner in Command of the Riot Squads of the Shanghai Municipal Police Command from 1925 to 1940. During this period, our force handled over 2000 riot calls of all types and descriptions, including shooting affrays, many of which were against armed robbers and kndnappers. In addition, the squads were responsible for the investigation and tracking down of vice-rings and narcotics smugglers."

Fronting and Martial Arts
[Recreation-and-Sports:Martial-Arts] "Fronting" - The dodge to get in close to you. The frontal assault, as opposed to the ambush.

The Dojo
[Recreation-and-Sports:Martial-Arts] At the "Dojo"(which it is), we train in grappling methods drawn from many different styles. Hard HARD training in throws, takedowns, joint locks, chokes, strangleholds, and varied submissions. We drill and drill and FIGHT.

I'm Soooo Confused
[Recreation-and-Sports:Martial-Arts] I was going to write about the BASICS of "practical unarmed combat". Things like a solid and productive core of strength training, development of real speed and power. Body conditioning and toughening, Stamina. A "never say die" iron will. You know "esoteric" stuff like that.

Content, Are We?
[Recreation-and-Sports:Martial-Arts] I asked a simple question at the last seminar: "How much has everyone improved in the year since we last got together?" I've practiced the same basics everyday for decades. Everyday Rain or shine.

Catholic Self Defense
[Recreation-and-Sports:Martial-Arts] Catholic, by definition, means universal or "broad minded". I could pull out STACKS of manuals, syllabuses, films, and related research material that cover an ENTIRE range of unarmed combat.

By-Rote Combinations
[Recreation-and-Sports:Martial-Arts] Do not believe that practicing "by rote" 1-2-3,etc. type "responses" to street attacks is a viable or particularly useful training exercise. Example: He does this, I do that. For attack A I use Defense A.

A Beginning History of Old School Jujitsu - Part 1
[Recreation-and-Sports:Martial-Arts] Over the next couple of day's I will writing an article of the history of Pre-WWII Japanese Jujitsu/Judo. I wasn't sure where to start, but here I am so let's get started. I'm going to start with H.

Personal Protection Skills for Children?
[Kids-and-Teens] I don't believe that ANY "physical" maneuvers or "techniques" are really worth teaching children. An EIGHT year old vs. A GROWN adult who is most likely a violent psychopath with a HISTORY of violent criminal behavior? I can't see it.

Basic Drills
[Recreation-and-Sports:Martial-Arts] We all have a good foundation in the basic blows and combinations. Think about adding the following drills to your basic syllabus. These can be trained as "stand alone" combinations OR worked into existing "Defendu" combinations either "before" or "after".