Black Belt Blog

Parents of College Bound Kids: How Prepared are They?

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 10:31:18 GMT

10tv News reported a rape at Ohio State University (see full story by clicking on the link below) on March 2nd 2010 where a woman had been leaving the McPherson Chemical Laboratory building and was attacked from behind. This makes seven reported rapes on campus since January 2009.

Self Defense training does not normally pop up on the College list of things to do and can easily get overlooked. Even if time is limited, some training is better than none. Even to know some preventative steps can make all the difference.

At Dynamic Self Defense we utilize the limited time students have to help train them basic, practical defense tactics without all the dazzle and complex maneuvers.

Whether its a one day session, to several standard classes, Dynamic Self Defense can meet any need. Contact us today for more information.

http://www.10tv.com/live/content/local/stories/2010/03/02/story-ohio-state-campus-crime.html?type=rss&cat=&sid=102

New Albany Middle School Bully Awareness Program Recommends Martial Arts

Mon, 02 Aug 2010 14:34:17 GMT

New Albany Middle School held an anti-bullying program back in January to make kids aware of the affects of bullying. The program centered around the story of a young girl that was driven to suicide after of years of bullying.

The sad part is that studies indicate that 1 out of 3 children will be bullied before graduating high school. The program made kids aware of the often untold cost of bullying and that different kids will respond differently.

As a solution to defend against a bully the presenter recommended that kids seek out a local martial art school for lessons. Specifically recommended was a self-defense program and it was mentioned that this would most likely require private lessons as most martial art schools don't teach just self-defense. He recommended that children learn how to "get an attacker in a submission hold on the ground in 5 moves."

While I would whole heartily agree with the presenter on the recommendation to participate in a self-defense curriculum, it was the specific recommendation of learning submission holds that concerns me.

Submission holds are very technical moves and are a lot harder to master than blocking and striking techniques. The issue is that moves that are mastered in a controlled setting (such as in a martial arts school) involve a willing participant. This participant often "goes easy" on the defender to minimize the risk of injury but also to provide the pace so that the student can learn the skill.

The problem is that when it comes to a submission, real attackers fight back.

It's very difficult for anyone, even a black belt, to execute a submission hold without creating an injury first. Real events never play out as they do in the classroom. Real bullying situations are random and chaotic. Bully's tend to be bigger and often stronger making it all the more difficult to execute a technical move much less a series of moves to gain a submission.

There is one other critical aspect of relying on just a submission to defend against a bully that was left out of the New Albany middle school presentation: Bullies come in packs.

Bullies rarely act alone. There is often a second or third orbiting participant around them. Assuming that a child is able to execute a submission on one bully what happens with the others as they see their buddy locked up on the ground? The same moves that lock the bully in submission also leave the defender tied up and open to more violent attacks by secondary attackers. In fact they now see the defending child as an easy target on the ground or with his or her hands busy doing other things.

At Dynamic Self-Defense we teach children that violence is rarely the answer. Violence can often be avoided. Bully's can be recognized and there are many non-violent options available to deal with them before a confrontation. However, in a violent confrontation, violence becomes the only answer. And a submission hold alone won't do much more than give your child a false sense of security.

I would invite you to schedule a time to visit our school right here in New Albany to meet our instructors and observe a class. Our entire training program is centered around self-defense. Children learn techniques that work in the random real world while gaining balance, respect and confidence at the same time. We train children in real world scenarios, make them come up with and solve real situations and they have a lot of fun doing it.

The Karate Kid: Fact or Fiction

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 13:01:00 GMT

The movie may have a good morale behind it but are the training and defensive tactics involved really practical?

Sparring is for sport… defense drills are for survival

Fri, 11 Jun 2010 17:13:22 GMT

Just today I noticed that a competing martial arts (Jiu Jitsu) school had posted a couple of bogus reviews on our Google Maps listing. While that’s a pretty childish thing for another school owner to do, I realize that it’s possible for other schools to somehow blame DSD for their lack of business success or think, wrongly, that we disrespect competitive martial arts.

There was one point made that I feel I need to address… The person claiming to have been at our school (they clearly were not) posted that, "I did a free lesson at this place. This school doesn’t spar. No preparation for a real world event can be complete without sparring.”

So let’s break this down…

What is sparring?

The dictionary defines sparring as: "boxing using fairly gentle blows instead of hitting your opponent hard, either when you are training or when you want to test how quickly your opponent reacts.”

By this definition we actually do spar… but in martial arts or boxing sparring is generally thought of as two opponents going at each other in some fair manner (free sparring). Either one could win. The objective could be for training or for competition – to get points or a submission.

So sparring typically refers to sport.

Survival in a self-defense situation has nothing to do with sport.

When we train at Dynamic Self Defense it’s not with a training dummy. In fact, we don’t even own one. We train with real people and we use safety gear because things can go wrong and occasionally there are injuries.

We call this "defense drills.”

When we learn a skill or practice a technique we tend to work one on one with a partner. Slower for lower ranks a bit more intense for those with more experience. But we don’t face off evenly. A self-defense situation isn’t a fair fight where two people duke it out to see who wins. It’s where one person (an attacker) wants to cause serious bodily harm to another (the defender).

Our training accounts for this dynamic… sport training does not.

We then take it up a notch… because attackers statistically come in numbers and often with weapons. Our "sparring” isn’t one on one… it’s two, three or even more on one. This is the type of training that not only builds spatial awareness and positioning… it very quickly drives home the point that one-on-one sparring has limited use in a self-defense situation.

Sparring has rules… self-defense does not.

According to the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation sport Jiu-Jitsu has clear rules. Competitors are disqualified for "biting, hair pulling, putting fingers into the eyes or nose of one’s opponent, intentionally seeking to injure genitalia or the use of fists, feet, knees, elbows, or heads with the intention to hurt or gain unfair advantage.”

Gaining an unfair advantage is what we are trained to do!

When a 235 pound man is on top of you pounding his fists into your face while his buddy circles, fighting fair isn’t an option that will keep you alive. In self-defense no option is off the table and the objective isn’t to get him to "tap out.” The objective is to turn him off… leave him unable to function. Only in this state is his threat truly neutralized.

If you want to learn martial arts as a sport we’re the wrong school. We suck at sport. However, if you want to gain the confidence that comes from knowing you can handle "the bigger guy” and even from knowing when you don’t have to, give us a call. We would love to have you come by and observe a class for yourself. You’ll be glad you did.

Why Dynamic Self Defense Is No Good For Tournaments

Sat, 05 Jun 2010 17:29:00 GMT

There are probably thousands of martial artists that are more graceful and fluid than I am. There are better kickers, faster punchers and better grapplers.

But none of this matters when it comes to self-defense…

When you come home to find three thugs inside your home cleaning out your possessions (as happened to my neighbors in The New Albany Country Club recently), how good you look performing your Kata is irrelevant.

At that point all that matters is that you survive the encounter.

Self defense isn’t just about fighting (it has a lot to do with awareness and preparation). But when it comes down to an only resort, it’s about reacting reflexively. And this takes more than just reading a book or watching a video.

Should you ever find yourself in a situation where you have to fight to survive, thinking about your next move isn’t something you want to rely on.

Just last night after a strenuous Dynamic Self Defense class in New Albany my wife called me to ask me to pick something up from the store. My mind had a hard time even comprehending what she was asking because I was too exhausted to think clearly about new instructions.

The funny thing is that just moments before I was simply reacting to random ground defense drills with guys aggressively trying to pin me. In this mode I was actually relaxed and found holes to exploit for self-defense. But the only reason I could do that – even after an hour long workout - was because I’ve done it a thousand times before.

And that’s the real secret to being good at anything… practice. If you practice looking good, performing fluid Kata’s or for winning tournaments, that’s what will come out when you are forced to fight for your life. Unfortunately that probably won’t cut it in terms of making sure you survive.

At Dynamic Self-Defense we train for one thing and one thing only… surviving a violent encounter. If you want to win a competition or just show off your athletic ability, we’re the wrong school for you. If on the other hand, you want to gain the confidence that you can indeed handle any typical modern violent encounter – regardless of your age or present state of fitness – give us a call to schedule a time to observe a class for yourself.

Can You Really Learn Self Defense From A DVD?

Thu, 25 Mar 2010 13:35:55 GMT

I was watching a few videos on YouTube the other day from people training in the style of Karate I used to train (Guju Ryu). One video in particular got me thinking that… you really can’t learn self defense from a video.

I’m not here to discredit other styles nor do I desire to critique every video I see. Some of what I learned in the past has a practical application and there are other styles I have great respect for. But honestly most of what I learned before Dynamic Self-Defense did not become practical until well into my DSD training.

When you watch a video, especially when it comes to traditional styles, you will often note that the defense to a technique thrown by an opponent can often become overly complex. In one video I watched two military guys demoing a Karate technique to block and counter a front jab. It was essentially a block and trap with a counter punch.

While the entire sequence looked impressive especially in near full speed it would be impractical in real life – especially in a combat scenario. The reason is simple…

It’s easy to block and counter when you know what the other guy is going to throw.

If you’ve ever watched an MMA match or one of the many "this martial art vs. that martial art” video’s you’ll notice that all the technical trapping and counter techniques fly right out the window. What you are left with resembles basic boxing and maybe basic grappling depending on what you are watching.

This is where it’s essential to understand the phases and purpose of training. When you train technique you need to work with a partner that’s clued in to the program. Otherwise someone is going to get hurt. In this mode your training partner gives you the opportunity to block, trap, counter, takedown or whatever you are working on. They don’t go too hard and they don’t mix it up.

This is where most traditional martial art training stays - basically in the theoretical state. Because you know what’s going to be thrown it’s easy to get complacent or fancy – working increasingly complex traps and counters. The problem is that this movie scripting doesn't even begin to work in the real world where the other guy has a brain and won’t play along with your plan.

When faced with a violent encounter you need to count on the fact that you will be at best half as good as on your average training day. You will instantly be under a level of stress that will push your limit. You will be in survival mode. In this state you will depend on your reflexes and the techniques you use will be the ones you trained 1000 times before. The closer your training is to simulate this environment the greater the odds that you will effective. This is where a DVD falls short. It provides you with no training environment and no expert feedback.

In Dynamic Self-Defense we don’t train complicated traditional techniques. What we train is as close to real life as it gets while still keeping a safe environment. In this controlled environment students first learn new techniques methodically but as skills and reflexes increase they learn to improvise based on the principles they have learned and the skills/reflexes they have developed. This type of training allows students to develop practical defense skills in a way that traditional martial arts simply cannot.

Schedule to preview a class at our New Albany, OH studio to see if our martial art is a fit for you. We are only 10 minutes away from Westerville, Gahanna, North East Columbus and Johnstown Ohio.

Is Cardio Kickboxing Dangerous?

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

With fitness clubs, community centers and even martial arts schools offering cardio kickboxing, it’s becoming one of the most popular workout routines around. But when it comes to self-defense it can be dangerous.

Cardio kickboxing is a great aerobic activity but many participants believe that they are learning something that has at least a little practicality. They believe that they are learning to punch and kick – techniques that could come in handy in a self-defense situation.

Nothing could be more misleading.

A typical cardio kickboxing class moves through typical martial arts techniques and even combinations. The moves are worked into swiftly executed combinations (for example: jab, cross punch, hook, uppercut, front kick). But as executed in this class setting they lack effectiveness in a real life situation and can even create injury in training.

The problems with cardio kickboxing…

Observing classes shows that participants execute techniques with a certain randomness – not under the eye of an expert. Routines often require the pulling of punches and the full extension (locking out) of joins. This robs even good looking techniques of power and increases the odds of injury to joints.

The focus of these classes is simply on the general movement. There is no focus on power, penetration or rotation. This training conditions the participant to throw techniques that deliver very little kinetic energy to their target and have little chance of creating an injury reaction.

As you train you will do. When faced with the sudden stress of a self-defense situation you will lose your ability to think your way through it. Your survival depends on your ability to react without thinking about the execution of a specific technique. Only a realistic training environment can condition you for this.

Dynamic Self-Defense provides all the intensity of a cardio kickboxing class yet delivers a safer training environment through biomechanically safe yet devastatingly effective techniques. And our realistic scenario training will condition your reaction for a real life self-defense situation. Intermediate and above DSD students, for example, know what it feels like to have someone holding them down, to face two or more attackers, or to face attackers with weapons. Once their morbid curiosity is satisfied they are free to train on their reaction – working on their knowledge of the principles, tools and targets of defense.

Call us today to schedule a time to observe a class so you can determine is Dynamic Self-Defense is the ideal fitness and self-protection program for you or your family.

Weapons of choice!

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Normally when the word "weapon" is used its normally referring to a gun, bat, pepper spray, stun gun, or any blunt object. But what you hardly ever hear though, is the word "weapon" being compared to a foot, fist, or elbow, yet these things inflict, if used correctly, massive damage like those weapons stated above but with more control and practicality.

A knife, gun, pepper spray, stun gun, or any blunt object can cause injury however they have the ability to be taken away from you and used against you. To me, the odds are not worth taking that chance when a properly placed fist to the throat causing a person to choke, gasping for air or an elbow to the jaw fracturing it, causing massive pain and discomfort would end the confrontation just the same and with faster, positive results! The point is people feel they have no sense of defense and resort to carrying items when they have weapons of their own attached to their body they could use. The problem is people just do not know how to use these "weapons of choice" and would rather seek a path of least resistance.

Dynamic Self Defense trains students to not only use what they have but to be able to implement it on a reaction stand point causing MASSIVE amounts of damage with every blow while receiving minimal to no damage on themselves REGARDLESS of the situation. Call, email, or stop by and check out what makes our Self Defense style so effective!

Nothing is going to happen to me. I'm ok here.

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

I watched a story on CNN talking about a missing girl being found dead and the Rapist\Murder responsible behind bars. The girl was found buried in a shallow grave along side a river bank no more than a few blocks from her abandoned vehicle. The story reports she had decided to go jogging along a familiar road by her home when she went missing. Unfortunately there have been many stories similar to this one about women being attacked while jogging.

I am all for exercise and one should be able to venture out into areas of choice to jog or run without being scared or nervous. However just like wanting to keep your weight down by taking proper steps, personal security should have the same mindset. By allowing a few moments of time to ensure a safe training regiment, the risk of becoming the next front page headline decreases dramatically.

Defense 1. Partner up! The number one best line of defense is to have someone come with you. Even having a dog by your side will make a predator think twice. If these options are not available to you, having a "walking stick or baton in your hand is better than nothing. Remember predators look for an easy target. Someone they can easily dominate without having to work for it.

Defense 2. Stay alert! Keep the headphones off! Head phones mute all surrounding sound and can be used to tie up the victim so the predator can work more easily. Also try and keep a good distance from tree lines and other areas where someone could surprise you.

Defense 3. Locations! I'm all for nature but real life is not what you see in movies or on post cards. Wooded areas, hills, back roads, and all heavily populated places with trees, bushes, and dense foliage are a predators lair. Most all attacks occur in these types of places. If you are unable to jog or run with a partner have another option available. Its just not worth taking the risk.

Defense 4. Know your limitations. I have been doing Self Defense training for nearly twenty years and I still do not over estimate anyone's abilities. Regardless of what you know or what you think you know, if you suspect a confrontation or your gut tells you to get away, DO SO!

Self Defense isn't just about blocking and responding to punches or kicks, its also on a preventive approach. By taking certain steps to ensure oneself from getting into potential confrontations is the best defense anyone can have!

When is It Ok To Strike?

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A Word From Mr. Mulhollen, Chief Instructor, New Albany School

Three 8th graders had approached one of my 6th grade students from behind as he was walking towards the school gym. My student had not noticed them coming up from behind and with no teacher in sight, the 8th graders decided to do a little physical bullying. One of the 8th graders pushed my student to the ground as they passed, and proceeded to taunt him while he was on the ground. My student immediately got to his feet and asked, "Why did you do that?” The 8th grader, who did the pushing, came right up to my student’s face saying, "what are you going to do about it?” My student, feeling threatened immediately replied with a knee strike to the gut and an elbow to the face! The other kids fled and my student ran away leaving the bully on the ground with a bloody nose.

Violence should never be a first response of action but sometimes it’s unavoidable. In the case above, the bullies did not let up causing my student to feel threatened. The response he had was valid given there might not have been another opportune moment for him to strike. What if my student decided to just stand there and the bully all of a sudden blind-sided him? Or what if one of the other bullies in the group jumped my student from behind?

The fact is you just don’t know that bullies won’t act on their threat – expressed or implied - and in my school, you train to not give up what you know for what you don’t. My student knew that he had an opportunity to strike when the bully approached him with his guard down, right up in his face; hence he took it. The techniques used were basic, practical and above all EFFECTIVE! The actions of my student were enough to diffuse the situation, control the fight, and be able to walk out of there with no damage to himself.

Violence is never pretty. Nobody ever wants to be in that type of situation but if it does happen shouldn’t you be prepared? Will you know what to do? Will what you know have a positive affect in your favor? Dynamic Self Defense can help... call or email now for details.

One Day of Crime In Columbus, Ohio

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

People often feel safe in their own city. But after a recent news story about a woman who was forced to withdraw cash from ATM machines by 3 armed criminals, I wondered what the real stats for Columbus Ohio are.

Looking up the Public Records at the Columbus Devision of Police website I found some startling facts. Just yesterday (Wednesday, Feb 3, 2010) there were 58 violent crimes reported.

The break down goes like this...

Rape/Sexual Assault - 2
Assault - 28
Aggravated Assault - 4
Robbery - 12
Menacing - 12

The terrible thing is that this appears to have been a pretty typical day in Columbus, OH. I checked a few other random days and came up with similar numbers. This means that if you live in Columbus you have a 1 in 40 chance of being the victim of a crime against you.

Can a self-defense course or martial arts help?

Most people live in an altered reality where they either believe that nothing will ever happen to them (or just refuse to consider it) or that they are powerless to do anything about it. Both cases are very dangerous if you happen to become a victim of crime.

The majority of assault cases listed on the CDP site were simple fights. Usually social arguments or jockeying for social position that escalated to blows. About 1 out 4 involved a weapon - most often a knife or a gun. Cases of robbery almost always involved a weapon where aggravated assault by definition involved the use of a deadly weapon. Only about 1 in 4 cases involved more than one suspect in the case of a serious assault.

Can a self-defense program make you safer?

That of course depends on what kind of program it is. The first course of action is noticing that there are indeed good and bad parts of town. Awareness, how you carry yourself all play into your chances of being a victim.

While it would be irresponsible for me to imply that a Dynamic Self-Defense student is invulnerable to attack. I can say that they are desensitized to having a gun shoved in their face or a knife to the throat. That's just another Friday night for us.

Being able to stay calm (or at least not panic and lose focus) when facing a violent situation means that you are able to assess the situation and know what options you truly have. This gives you the power to control the situation by either implementing the techniques you have learned, waiting for a better opportunity or by recognizing that the situation is not a threatening as it seems (most robbers for example simply want money, not attention). Key point you can act the moment you choose and not be a party in your own murder.

Funny thing is that by practicing practical self-defense and knowing you have the skill to defend yourself with lethal force if necessary changes the way you walk. You automatically become a less appealing target and better your odds of ever having to use what you learn.

I would invite you to schedule a time to stop by and observe a class for yourself. You'll see that we're just ordinary people that have fun training together.