Pathless Road

Tactical Self-Defense Using Personal Weapons Part Two

2011-11-30T17:24:00.000-08:00

Way back in July of this year, I wrote about the proper mindset in carrying and actually using a self-defense weapon, such as a gun. This month, I had a chance to evaluate the way regular proficiency firing is generally conducted. While there are improvements, program designers have not yet totally veered away from making a distinction between sports-shooting and real-world tactical self-defense use of handguns.

While it would really help a shooter zero-in on his target at 25 meters, program designers must conscientiously point out that practicing to shoot at that distance may engender a bad mindset. Which is that in a perceived threat scenario you can fire away long range. I've always lobbied for real-world training. Public endangerment should therefore be considered. The farther away you are from your target the possibility of hitting innocent bystanders increases. This is a self-defense scenario not a combat zone simulation. You will be simulating everyday situation where you might be walking on a street or riding a public utility vehicle. Therefore, you won't be sniping at your perceived enemy.

The better design for a self-defense course involving handguns, for example, would be to be geared up in your office clothes, with your regular bags and accessories. It is important that you have a regular and few bags and receptacles to use. Drawing your self-defense weapon from such repositories must be practiced. The less count you can do it, the better. Familiarity with your weapon is a must, which includes the condition it is in when you carry it with you. For safety and to avoid legal hassles we have always encouraged a "condition 2" for everyday home-to-office-to-home scenario, i.e., no chamber load but with magazine in if it is a pistol and one empty round prior to an armed slot (depending on the rotation) if it is a revolver. (Provided of course, that your gun has the proper license and legal documentation and that you are legally allowed to carry it outside your residence)

One must be able to draw his weapon from awkward positions and to be safety conscious at all times. And again, proper mindset and discernment must be involved. Adrenalin rush can and will paralyze you from responding if your emotional training is inadequate. You can go into shock at the sight of violence and threat. Therefore a training module must incorporate this psychological component.

Remember, Rambo is a fictitious movie character.

Tactical Self-Defense Using Personal Weapons

2011-07-02T23:02:00.000-07:00

Somewhere in this blog, I have written about the nature of muggings and the difference between soldiers and civilians in their native environments. What is important is that muggings and violent incidents are premeditated at least on the part of the predators. Victims are lured to "kill zones" and predators will have the advantage of having their weapons drawn and loaded.

The common and dangerous mindset is that it is going to be like the western movies were protagonists have a face-off, both counting to ten to see who draws the fastest. It does not happen that way. Street predators does not count to ten. They just shoot when you are in their "kill zones".

A gun in your pouch or side-holster (depending on which country you belong), like any other weapon is only as good as when it is already drawn and ready to use. And as I have written before, you don't walk around to the mall with your .45 in your hand like a psycho. In a civil society you tuck away your weapon and hide it in your bag or where ever it is legal to carry it in your person.

Thus, predators (who do not operate under the rules and customs of civil society) will have miles of tactical advantage over you. You are like a chicken being led by bread crumbs to a trap. If you are not prepared, you will be dinner.

Therefore, owning a gun or a knife, or whatever, does not automatically guaranty your safety and security. It will take a combination of mindset, training and planning to make it work. Mindset involves awareness of where you are, the social demographics, legal solutions, availability of law enforcement services and most of all your emotional maturity to deal with violent scenarios. Training must involve real world scenarios. As I have written before, gun sports are different from self-defense training. And, to empahsize it more, training must involve emotional preparation, a cultivation of a functional "flight or fight" mode of awareness. Planning rounds up your safety preparations by identifying your route, routine and emergency or contingency plans.

The use of weapons, goes beyond technical know-how. Beyond hitting the bulls-eye. It is about discernment of the consequences of pulling the trigger and living with the scars.

Firearms Training for Bodyguards

2011-06-25T18:53:00.000-07:00

A lot of security companies spend an amount of money training their operatives in what they deem as the proficient use of issued firearms coupled with refresher courses on VIP handling.

While VIP training has evolved by leaps and bounds, prompted by the ever-adapting terrorist modus operandi, gun training remained under the shadow of gun sports. Operatives are subjected to sports competition style gun proficiency.

There is nothing wrong with that approach as long as you are actually competing in gun sports. But totally dangerous if you confuse your sports skills with efficiency in gun use under VIP protection.

In most gun sports, the competitor is trained to fire their guns under time pressure and accurate target hitting but little on hostile element discernment, tactical judgement, and teamwork under hostile situation. Paper targets don't hit back and using all your ammunition in a short span of time is a recipe for disaster.

The time element in the use of firearms under hostile situation is dependent upon the variables present. How you move as a team must be factored in. Your communication and command support must also be factored in.

Training creates habits. Habits you cultivate such as emptying your clip under a minute may materialize under real-world situations, leaving you without bullets when you needed it most. Lack of discernment of living targets exposes you t0 legal issues in your day job.

In the real world it's not about how many bullets you pump or how fast you draw, it's about whether each shot counts and most importantly, are those shots necessary.

The element of bystanders, buildings, vehicles, etc. must be carefully considered. The use of firearms must therefore involve an acute sense of judgement and not just wanton machismo.

Blog Rethink

2011-06-25T18:42:00.000-07:00

This blog started out as a martial arts forum a couple of years ago and just recently has become my venue for photographic musings, which is confusing for the readers, and mostly to me. So, I decided to give it some focus.

Starting today, all art stuff will go to my other blog (you know where it is) and Stranger-in-a-Strangeland will be like the Whole Earth Catalog, dedicated to alternative lifestyle, self-improvement and more coffee breaks.

A Challenge to the Left

2011-02-13T15:05:00.000-08:00

The unrest in the Arab world has left political analysts groping for meaningful data in their research work. What was celebrated in the Philippines in 1986 as the EDSA revolution has been a template for spontaneous peaceful uprising among the populace sans Left or Right leadership and most glaringly, without the component of an armed struggle.

A lot has been said about society reaching a certain critical mass triggering such far-reaching political event. Leftists organizations were quick to support the uprising in Egypt but clueless on its variables. The Left and the Right tried to take the leadership of the uprising but unable to inject their agenda.

Curiously, in EDSA 1986, the Left tried to wrestle the leadership of that uprising and was left out in the "spoils of war". Later it was deemed that the strategy and tactics employed were defective. They admitted that they misunderstood the factors involved, the culprit -- the election boycott. But is that factor the sole cause of the Leftist blunder? Supposing they supported Cory Aquino then, would that have ensured political dominance? In the recent 2010 presidential elections, the Left was left in the dust again by supporting another candidate instead of President Noynoy Aquino III. Clearly the Philippine Left was been reading the wrong signs.

In Egypt, Socialists grappled on how to take the lead also. Ultimately, the spontaneous nature of the uprising took care of itself and brought it's own conclusion. This turn of historical event is quite disconcerting to the Left which has always assumed that revolutions are led, albeit, forced into birth by concerted action.

Society it seems is more dynamic than any organized political force, whether religious or political. No amount of government control, whether by theocratic or authoritarian clique, has the assurance of continued rule. Ultimately, individual choices somehow reach a certain level where their resonance is united into a singular voice, devoid of a clear political agenda and only fueled by each individual's want to be freed from the "matrix".

Notes in Enrolling in Self-defense Schools

2010-10-16T05:55:00.000-07:00

One starting his path in martial arts and self-defense must know some important things first. Are you studying said arts for purposes of cultural heritage preservation? Or are you studying it for self-defense? The older martial arts are based on the combat experiences of their founders in the context of the social milieu of their respective times. The old senseis of Aikijujutsu worked with swords, spears and shurikens because during their time that was permitted and was actually used in battle. In the 21st century if you carry around swords on your way to the office you will find yourself with a lot of explaining to do in the nearest police precinct. Even with shorter blades you still would be liable for carrying a deadly weapon if such items were found in your person.

Schools who teach students how to use blades without emphasizing its legal consequences are putting the latter on probable jail time. The study of self-defense must put into consideration the legal aspect of the training. Use of "deadly force" must be thoroughly justified and use of "reasonable force" must pass the requirements outlined by law and ordinances. States differ in their definition of "self-defense" and therefore one must be literate on what is required of you in your locality.

With the same considerations, one cannot just use guns on people you perceive to be threatening you. All acts must fall on what the law says as "self-defense".

Another type of school that is counter-productive are the ones that add elaborate, baroque techniques that is not based on actual combat experience. These are the techniques added just to pad the curriculum and have the students pay more for tuition. Usually these suspect techniques actually looks nice on the dojo, with flowing, graceful movements. But if actually used on the streets would do more harm than good to its practitioners.

Studying self-defense must have at its foundation real-world sensibilities. The curriculum must include practical threat management, tactical avoidance, conflict de-escalation and tactical conflict resolution with emphasis on legal considerations. The students' attributes must be trained to handle "adrenaline dump" and shock avoidance. The students must also learn how to trouble shoot crisis situations.

Conflict Resolution: A Note from Wayaan

2010-10-04T23:43:00.000-07:00

When de-escalation in conflict resolution fails the only thing to do once you have sufficiently covered your centerline is to relentlessly attack your opponent with unwavering intent and will. Only those with full resolve has a better chance of survival. The one who back-tracks or have moments of indecision gets way-laid. But (and that is a big "but"), always remember once you engage in violence you have equal chances of being mortally wounded. At least, you go down kicking and hollering.

Damian Ross' 8 Rules of Self-Defense

2010-10-02T21:55:00.001-07:00

Let me quote here verbatim Damian Ross' Eight Rules of Self-defense. The following notes is very helpful in choosing the best self-defense system you want to train in. It's no-nonsense and takes you to the nitty-gritty of it:

1. Your assailant is armed.
Even though you may not see a weapon, doesn't mean one doesn't exist. In low light conditions that punch may be a stab, how can you tell the difference? According to the Department of Justice Uniform Crime Report, in over 80% of criminals arrested in connection to a violent crime a weapon was present. You need to react in a way that takes armed and unarmed situations into consideration 100% of the time with the same technique.

2. Your assailant has intent and is capable of causing you harm.
Don't hope that your attacker is not going to hurt you. Most predators will try to take EVERYTHING they can if given the chance. Never trust your attacker, no matter how persuasive they may be. Once you "let them in the door" you're life is on their hands. In addition, most criminals are repeat offender, nearly 85% of them have spent some time in the criminal justice system.

You need to know exactly how to protect yourself against even the most hardened criminal.

3. There are multiple attackers.
Your attacker wants to stack the odds in his favor. More times than not he will have help. Unfortunately you won't know they have accomplices until it's too late. You're attacker is smart, cunning and will do whatever it takes to win- you should do the same.

Everyone should know how to defend themselves against multiple attackers.

4. You will be attacked when you're alone, injured, sick, or older.

Criminals like predators attack targets of opportunity. If you appear to be weak or distracted, you have a greater chance of being assaulted. You must prepare yourself for those times when you' re not at your best. Techniques that require great strength and coordination won't do you any good when you're not at your peak.

The most effective techniques don't require a lot of skill, training, strength or athletic ability.

5. Your attacker will be larger and stronger than you.
Tigers don't eat other tigers. They choose smaller and weaker animals. Chances are your attacker will be larger and stronger than you. Professional athletes don't get mugged, women and elderly people do. You need a method that will enable you to defeat a much larger, stronger, more skilled adversary.

How could a 120 pound woman knock a 220 pound man out cold?

6. You will be attacked in the worst possible environment.
The training room is nice, but its not reality. Outside there is pavement, rocks, tree stumps, snow, ice and sand. No matter where you are, inside or out, you can't walk 10 feet in any direction without bumping or tripping over something. You must be able to move in a way that takes any and every possible environment into consideration.

7. The fight is never over!
Don't assume because he's down, he's out. After the initial confrontation, when your adrenaline subsides, you are most vulnerable. While you're admiring your handy work, he may be securing a weapon or his friends could be closing in. You must train in a way that prepares you to keep focus through the down time after the initial assault.

8. You will miss, a lot!
The problem with martial arts training is that you are lead to believe every shot is a kill shot, a broken bone or a knock out. While this can happen, there is a great chance you will slip, your attacker will slip and you will miss. It is imperative that you train with the attitude of "keep fighting until the threat has stopped".

You should always keep going until the threat no longer exists. It doesn't stop at a point or a tap out. Yes, you will be able to knock someone out with one blow (you learn that in the first module). But your training will prepare you to keep going, even when you miss.

Some Thoughts on the Kris Sword

2010-09-27T15:40:00.000-07:00

The kris as a weapon has been the fixture and emblem of Filipino Martial Arts but what is not mentioned often is that original production of this edged weapon came from Java, Indonesia. It has reached the Philippine islands through Sulu and the Muslim populated tribes of Southern Philippines. The blades found in Luzon were from Muslim settlements also. In modern times (American period to present), there are no known reproduction centers that would approximate the quality and the cultural design of the pre-Spanish and early Spanish era blades.

Copies of the original designs proliferate in the Philippines but the steel quality or the metallurgy is not even comparable to those found in Java, Sumatra. The original has this damascene blade which is missing in the local copies made from discarded steel, much like the steel made into balisong knives in Batangas.

The kris is a Malay heritage. And "Filipino" not being a race but a political term must not be affixed to the identification of the said sword. Indeed ancient samples can be found throughout the islands but this came about through trade from the Indonesian archipelago to the Southern Philippines and the Muslim settlements in Luzon like Seludong or Maynila. It was never reproduced in considerable quantities after colonization by Spain and America. The center for the technology in creating the finer kris swords had always been Java.

We only connect the kris to the Philippines because the Muslim tribes, having cultural and racial connection to Borneo and Sumatra, imported this type of sword and was the weapon of choice of its warrior class.

It is interesting also to note that Sulu was never conquered by Spain and was not part of the Philippine islands. It was an independent Sultanate during Spanish colonial times. Originally when the US gave the Philippines its independence, Sulu was not part in the original document and only in the revision of that declaration was the Sultanate included.

This is the bone of contention of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in claiming their statehood in the South. This fact has been raised by the late MILF Chief Hashim Salamat to then US President George W. Bush and was the raison d'etre of the US -backed autonomy declaration of the MILF.

Suffice to say that given these historical considerations, the kris is a Malay cultural emblem and should be appropriately identified with Java and the tribes of Southern Philippines and not with the Tagalogs and other ethnic denominations in Luzon and Central Visayas.

Ancient History Offers Clues to Roots of Filipino Martial Arts

2010-09-27T01:59:00.001-07:00

The Philippines as a country or as a distinct culture was severed from its umbilical ties to the rest of Southeast Asia when it was colonized by Spain. The Laguna Copper Plate offers hints on the connections of Tondo (the ancient Kingdom of Tundun) with the rest of the Malay archipelago. Manila, which was Seludong in ancient times was founded by Bruneian aristocracy after challenging Tondo as a center of trade with China.

Here is an article in Wikipedia concerning Maynila (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Maynila)

This shows how the islands that is now the Philippines was basically inhabited by a largely Malay population. Filipino therefore is not a race but only a modern political term denoting citizenship to the country.

Therefore, when we refer to Filipino Martial Arts we cannot refer to the term "Filipino" as a cultural term or as a martial term acknowledging ancient lineage. The term "Filipino" was first used to refer to Spaniards born in the islands and not to the natives. The natives were referred to as "Indios". The political term "Filipino" referring to the natives started during the American period when all citizens to the islands were identified as such.

The then Sultanates in the area that is now Manila had ties with Brunei, Sulu and Indonesia and were populated by Muslims. Their rulers used the titles Sultan or Rajahs. The non-Muslim State of Tundun have Lakandula as title for their own aristocracy and "Gat" being the title of those belonging to the royal clan. The title "Gat" is now used as title to eminent historical figures such as Gat Jose Rizal and Gat Andres Bonifacio. "Gat" is a Tagalog term also and was not used in the Visayan region.

Because these ancient city-states had cultural and trade ties with the Malay heartland and even China it is safe to say that ancient martial systems were a confluence of Malay, Chinese and even Indian character.

Here's another interesting article: (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Tondo)

The Kingdom of Tundun itself was an Indianized State, using its calendar, number system and a writing derived from the Dravidian script. The Laguna Copperplate reflect this fact and we can assume that native military arts would have trickled down to this part of the islands.

In ancient times the Philippine islands was not one contiguous political state but actually composed of independent mini-states called "barangays" or a federation of these barangays such as Tundun and Namayan. There were no "Filipinos" at that time. As mentioned earlier, "Filipino" was used only during the Spanish era when the islands was named after Felipe of Spain.

Filipino Martial Arts therefore is a modern nomenclature. But it has roots in ancient Malay, Indian and Chinese martial arts.

Kinaadman Gapiraan

2010-09-23T21:25:00.000-07:00

Here are some photos from our Kinaadman Gapiraan phase. The movements have close resemblance to Wayaan responses but only in terms of delivery and leverage.

Wayaan Training

2010-09-23T20:28:00.000-07:00

For the Basic Level in Wayaan training there are two tests, the physical attributes evaluation and the emotional and mental attributes examination.

People have different levels of athleticism. Some are quicker than others. Some are stronger than others. Some are tall and some short. In Wayaan we train you for what you are. We do not try to make something from which you are not. Rather we help you discover your best attributes and train it to its potential. There are no set forms or katas. There are even no techniques to memorize! We only show the basic tools every human body have.

There are also no belt ranking. You earn your real "blackbelt" in life.

Merino Escrima, Kinaadman and Wayaan

2010-09-21T22:47:00.000-07:00

All through-out this blog you would find references to Merino Escrima, Kinaadman and Wayaan. And perhaps you would ask which really is the art I teach and train in. To clarify this please note that Merino Escrima was among the martial arts I trained in when I was younger. It is a martial arts tradition from the town of Pambujan, Northern Samar. Actually, our forebears did not name it as such, only that they practiced a form of fencing.

The Merino name got attached to it since its last grandmaster was the late Don Licerio Merino and as homage to him his last students referred to his teachings as Merino Escrima or Licerio Merino Escrima. Don Licerio Merino was a former Chief of Police of the town and is also a Jujitsu practitioner before the Second World War. He studied escrima further when he went to Cebu and is a contemporary of the famous Canete brothers. Merino Escrima is a short ranged bladed art as taught to us but there are indications that Don Licerio's father and grandfather practiced a longer ranged fencing style as some of the old drills reflect this.

Since Merino Escrima is a fencing art, and as a by-product of also having studied Aikido, Modern Arnis, Judo and a host of other related arts, it was appropriate then to consolidate and streamline the lessons into what had become Kinaadman. Kinaadman itself evolved with the input of Guro Rodicius Saccuan into Kinaadman Gapiraan to which archival videos are posted in this blog.

With Guro Saccuan we tried to distill all combatives into Kinaadman Gapiraan with considerations on legal and law enforcement requirements. However, exposure to the research materials of Damian Ross and Marc "Animal" MacYoung encouraged us to further streamline our methodology wherein you can study our system from one week to one month and be functional in threat management. Thus was borne Waya-an. a combination of the words "waya", Ilocano for free or none and "daan" meaning path. In short Waya-an means pathless road.

Waya-an therefore is the latest stage in my development as a martial artist and as a threat manager. As we go on our individual journeys we discover our potentials and improve ourselves. This is the goal and the central theme of Waya-an, the development of the students through their own journey of discovery.

Filipino Martial Arts Myths

2010-09-20T19:18:00.000-07:00

Historical research show that the term "arnis" is of fairly recent usage. In fact, before the boom in the early 70s, the term was not used in the Visayas and Mindanao. Escrima was the word for it in those regions. My instructors never said lets practice arnis but escrima. All the old folks in my barrio alone refer to it as escrima.

The earliest known book on the matter "Mga Karunungan sa Larong Arnis" by Don Placido Yambao published in 1957 is the oldest known work to use the term. Definitely during the American period and the earlier Spanish administration the term Eskrima was used instead.

But is Arnis and Escrima the same? The old masters and practioners in the Visayas and Mindanao refer to their art as a form of fencing. They trained with flat sticks simulating fencing swords for the lack of available training epees. They never refer to it as a cane fighting art. The cane fighting aspect got into popular attention only during the rise of the Modern Arnis school which concentrated on using sticks and as the focal point of techniques and not as a simulation of swords.

But people also point to the fact of stick fighting tournaments during the American period as proof of authenticity of Arnis. However, we must note that these tournaments were only the poor man's version of the fencing tournaments of the illustrados.

All the old methodology used fencing terms, specifically Spanish fencing terms like "largo", "corto" and "medio". Escrima is actually a corruption of the Spanish "esgrima" meaning fencing. The Spanish fencing style La Verdadera Destreza was very popular during those times as opposed to the Italian and English schools. All the drills came from fencing. The positioning and the angular and circular footwork all came from Spanish fencing.

In the 70s Modern Arnis emulated the Karate katas and called its version "sayaw". The success of Modern Arnis urged the other schools to adopt similar methodologies but this does not erase the fact that this is a modern creation rather than being rooted in actual tradition.

The stick technology developed later. At the beginning of the 20th century at the earliest. So you have the sinawali method, etc. The Philippine islands did not develop a sword culture. Being tied to the Malay archipelago by culture and race, the islands were never a center for sword development. The best Kris samples came from Java and Borneo. Most bladed weapons in the Philippine islands were of cheap farm tools like the bolo. We did not develop the sword metallurgy we see in China, Japan and India. The myth of the Filipino sword is in fact just that, a myth. The cultural center in ancient times was Java and Sumatra and the Philippine islands being a sort of a remote province or vassal of Bornean oligarchy. So you will read accounts of Bornean Datus having vacations in Tundun and Taal, etc. The baybayin was a derivative of the Javanese Dravidian script.

Writers propagating the myths of Filipino Martial Arts overlook the glaring fact that the tribes in the Philippine islands did not develop the sophistication of martial systems in China, Japan and India.

So what is the authentic Filipino martial art? I would say to this that we should look into our cultural roots to answer this question. If we connect ourselves to our Malay roots then there is no ancient Filipino martial arts, but we share common heritage in Pencak Silat, and other Malay martial systems. What about arnis? If we detach it from the myth that it is ancient and accept its modern pedigree then yes, we can call it at that. As a political term, Filipino, applies to the American period up to our independence from which time "Arnis" as a cane fighting art developed into what is now today.

So is Arnis a legitimate martial arts? My answer is no. As a sport yes. It does not have martial roots unlike Escrima. Escrima being a derivative of fencing and is actually fencing is the legitimate martial art.

I remember my Esgrima instructor in my barrio years ago after he saw me doing sinawali movements. He said laughing, "why are you doing those twirling stuff?",simultaneously whacking my head and rapping my hand in one smooth fencing thrust and slash. Later on I learned La Verdadera Destreza and learned the secret to the old Eskrimador technique of thrusting their canes in broken rhythm -- a basic fencing movement.

Notes on children and home defense

2010-09-20T18:08:00.000-07:00

Violence is a traumatic, life altering experience. Whether you are the victim, the victor or you just survive it, it changes a person forever. -- Marc "Animal" MacYoung

I recently had a discussion with friends about obliging kids resolve security threats. One argument is that kids should be taught how to use weaponry to thwart home intrusion. I was horrified with this suggestion of course. I remember Marc "Animal" MacYoung's opinion on this. The effect of violence on the affected parties is something one should consider more deeply especially its consequences. Violence leaves behind mental trauma that remains with you for the rest of your life.

I remember an uncle who was an Eskrimador who had several death fights and survived them all. Common myth would say he would have been a hardened fellow emotionally. He would appear to be so. Stoic in the midst of fights. Yet I personally know that on unguarded moments he would wake up abruptly from having recurring nightmares. He would wake up with sweat all over feeling himself if his wounds were real. For the rest of his life he battled his inner demons. I have met others who would feel uncomfortable if he can not relieve the "action". This is what we call Post-traumatic Stress Syndrome or in local parlance "war-shock". Having inflicted mortal damage to another human being scars you deeply than you'll ever know.

This is the reason we call actual combat "point-of-no-return" because once you have involved yourself in it there is no turning back. You can not simply wipe the slate clean. You are marked for life. You can recognize this in the eyes of those who had "action". I remember a good friend of mine who was somehow changed after "doing" it. No longer did I see the innocence and the joie de vivre in his face.

Going back to the suggestion of involving kids, think of the million reasons we oppose child soldiers. For the same reasons I oppose kids having to use guns on fellow human beings. The psychological effect is too devastating for their young minds.

Avoid Being a Douchebag

2010-09-20T15:26:00.000-07:00

Spaghetti westerns and "make-my-day" Hollywood movies have made many a douchebag. I have talked with many self-styled machos how they are going to shoot just anybody entering their homes without invitation or how they are going to shoot between the eyes anyone who attempts robbery or physical violence on their persons a la wild wild west.

It is unfortunate that people rely on movie stereotypes for their self-defense education. Misconceptions that could either put more harm on their butts or land them in jail. I shudder at the possible consequences of guys with tucked-in guns (actually displaying they have guns). Nevermind if these douchebags accidentally shoot their feet. I am worried about innocent bystanders.

I have written several blogs regarding this subject from different perspectives. Readers can go over the past articles if they want more information. I find it necessary to write about self-defense because there is a need for a practical approach to it.

Filipinos having copied the gun culture of the Americans have this juvenile fixation on guns. I am amused to hear them intentionally making the gun-metal noises on their firearms for everyone in the room to hear.

Any weapon for self-defense is more effective if undetected. Have you seen an assassin advertising his guns to the public? Have you read about the news of people having their guns taken away from them? Those who actually use weapons effectively do not brandish their weapons. Showing them gives the enemy opportunity to size you up. Remember the Viet Cong? They observed American soldiers and their weaponry a couple of years before launching their first campaign.

Guns give you macho confidence which does not necessarily translate to effective self-defense. So is a gun good for self-defense? Yes and no. It depends upon your training and how you use it. Or any weapon for that matter, be it knives or pepper sprays. I have a lady colleague who carries around a "veinte-nueve" secretly and in one occasion was able to draw the weapon so fast it surprised would-be assailants.

Weapons should be carried to your advantage and not put you in more trouble. From a legal point of view you can not just shoot anybody based on your perception. You can not do a "preemptive strike" without legal liability. You can not just shoot away in public without the possibility of hitting bystanders.

Muggings and robberies are not duels where you square off with an enemy. Assailants strike under conditions they perceive beneficial to their cause. As I have written before, they are actually "ambushes" by nature.

Are you trained in weapons retention? You should be unless you want your weapon taken away from you and used to kill you. Possessing a weapon is not the end all be all. One must be proficient enough to use it.

Buying a gun does not automatically make you a warrior, worse you can be a douchebag in a body-bag.

Conflict Resolution

2010-09-20T06:08:00.000-07:00

Awhile back I have mentioned that self-defense involves threat management. This entails managing all possible causes of threats and physical risk involving conflict. But it is also a fact that there are variables that you can not predict or information that are unknown at some point in time resulting to open hostility or conflict. Let's just say shit happened. What will you do then?

Forget about this martial art being better than that, this system being more powerful than whatever. Many practitioners have discovered that in real life this is not so. Everything is situational.

In Wayaan we consider only the following in effective conflict resolution. The first response should be "de-escalation". There is no point in being macho. A lot of macho guys end up dead anyway. We can de-escalate a conflict situation through verbal and body language techniques. Most parties to a conflict actually do not want to get hurt. So if one walks away, the other sighs for relief (albeit secretly). But hey, everybody lives.

But going back to the hypothetical question what if shit happens? In Wayaan we resolve such open hostility with "Agos", "Buhos" and "Unos". These are guidelines of course. Outlining the proper mental attitude towards conflict. Technically, all responses to conflict must be determined by leverage, momentum, intent, mental and physical fitness.

Agos would entail leverage. Being able to flow with your opponent is doing. Breaking his rhythm and his timing. Buhos would entail momentum, occupying space and controlling it. Unos, the most demanding and difficult stage in combatives, would entail one's intent to inflict damage, pain and relentless brutality. The three guidelines would be anchored by how ready you are mentally and physically.

Going into the Unos stage is difficult since we as humans abhor violence. At the Unos stage you are determined to tear apart your opponent. You are intent to rip him into shreds and end the conflict there and now.

Self-defense Awareness

2010-09-20T02:31:00.000-07:00

Self-defense is a mindset. It starts as a certain level of consciousness. We actually train to have this kind of consciousness at all times. In fact, the physical aspect is secondary. Physical attributes deteriorate as we age, and unless we suffer from some mental incapacity , our minds remains sharp longer than our bodies.

Self-defense awareness is an awareness of the probable effects of your physical interaction, decision and location. Essentially, this is what constitutes personal threat management. This consciousness also involves our acute inventory of our defensive tools. We know what we can and can not do.

This awareness comes from the constant assessment of the abovementioned elements and we prepare for the inevitable using the current level and availability of resources. It is akin to how a guerilla thinks and we respond very much like a guerilla.

We always assume that the adversary would be much stronger and bigger. We respond with the guerilla tactics of surprise and unorthodox counters.

I have always wondered how the old Eskrimadors were able to fend off younger assailants using only their canes. I learned that they were able to do these amazing things because of their awareness and their tactics.

Economy of movement prevented them from exhausting their energy immediately. Hitting vital points instead of beating around the bush. And relentless aggression carried the day for them.

We thus cultivate this warrior spirit, emulate the old eskrimadors and aspire to be as efficient as they were.

Self-defense Sensibilities

2010-09-20T01:36:00.000-07:00

Martial arts and modern self-defense systems when effective share commonalities. Traditional martial arts during the time it was actually practiced (and not in a dojo or DVD) were functional. The samurai practiced his sword techniques and actually fought with it. Aikijujitsu was practiced as part of the samurai's hand-to-hand martial skill in case he loses his sword in battle and actually utilized it in actual combat. The point is, traditional martial arts were not far removed from the actual social milieu it was borne in. Unlike, at present when you practice sword techniques without any possibility of using it in an actual fight in the modern sense. Practically speaking, it had become inappropriate because of modern sensibilities. You do not carry around shurikens (unless you're Steve Jobs) just in case. A pepper spray perhaps or a collapsible baton would be more pragmatic.

I am not saying we should not study Iado (sword art) for cultural preservation. What I am saying is that we should not confuse functional self-defense with studying arts of the past as a means of cultural link and heritage conservation.

Modern times have peculiar security requirements. You have to deal with muggers with guns, knives, etc. including random acts of violence like the Mumbai attack. You have to deal with the legal system and the law enforcement institutions. As we have always advised students, you can not just shoot anybody without legal consequences.

Self-defense in the modern context is thus a very challenging area of study. There is a lot of consideration going into what is the proper mindset, weaponry, lifestyle and a gamut of societal obligations.

The Muay Thai Clinch

2010-09-20T00:07:00.000-07:00

One necessary addition to the training drills in Wayaan is the incorporation of the Muay Thai clinch. Learning to control the head and neck of your opponent provides you opportunities to dig in knee and elbow strikes with a more defensive body dynamics.

However, it must be noted that such clinch technique is transitory in nature and not an end in itself. It must be viewed in relation to the current bodily position of the fighters. Such clinches can be countered by Judo and Aikijujutsu techniques.

Wayaan 2010

2010-01-31T05:39:00.000-08:00

2009 was eventful only on the first quarter in terms of self-defense methodology research. It was almost a year without regular training. Although with Wayaan, the basics stay with you. Like learning how to ride a bicycle. Once you get it it's "there". Like learning how to swim, once your body discovers how to maneuver in the water, off you go.

We designed Wayaan to be a practical tool. One you can use "out of the box". In our day and age, we do not have the luxury to spend years in "samadhi" training. Of course, it takes health and fitness to execute most of the mechanics. But the mentality behind it is what you explore however old you are or whatever physiological state you are in. Unless of course you no longer have control of your mental faculties -- that's the only limitation.

2010 is the start of a reinvigorated Wayaan.

Another Lesson Learned

2009-08-24T02:39:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago my cell phone got snatched near the stoplight after the Delpan bridge. The window of the van I was riding was rolled down and I was holding my phone on my lap. In a split second, just when I turned around to talk to my companions, the snatcher grabbed my phone(without even touching any part of my hand or arm!) through the rolled-down window.

I could have made a pursuit right there and then but I remembered my lessons in guerilla tactics. The snatcher was operating in his "own" terrain. He had prefigured where to run (he ran weaving through cars and lampposts). Most likely like in other cases, there would be blocking forces along the route he went into. Even if I would have been armed, the odds would not favor me as I do not know or have "visuals" of his accomplices. If I had been armed, I would not have been able to fire my weapon without accidentally hitting bystanders and cars. By all accounts, I was in ambush ground. The right response, which I did take, was to get away from the ambush site by all means.

Weighing the cost of the phone to that of possible complications including legal responsibilities, I realized my inaction was the best response.

The lessons learned here are that always close car windows and lock its doors while passing through crime-infested areas (if you really have to pass through, like I do). Second, one must realize if it's a death and life situation or merely a matter of losing a replaceable thing. Nothing is more precious than life, and that means including your assailant.

Simulations in Training

2009-05-23T06:26:00.000-07:00

I was able to watch some clips from the Philippine National Police showcasing anti-assault techniques. The videos show similar drills with our own Waya-an methodology. I just envy their gear and equipment. It is much easier to conduct drills with the full-body armor that they have. It would give the student more spontaneous and less inhibited response to simulated assault.

But we can again conclude that the only way to train is to simulate actual street encounters. If we can replcate not only the physical aspect of it but also the mental and emotional factors then we can produce a trained efficient response to encounters of the ugly kind.

The First Fourteen: Wayaan Class Graduation 2008

2009-01-01T20:17:00.000-08:00

From August of 2008, we initiated the first formal curriculum of the Waya-an Self-defense Method. Waaya-an is an off-shoot of the Kinaadman Combatives System which was more on combatives and threat neutralization for professionals. We felt that there was a need for a set of instructions for ordinary civilians with an awareness of the legal implications of street violence and conflict.

Based on the Kinaadman Combatives concept of using as much natural movement and economy of motion, we designed a curriculum that has no techniques to memorize except drills to bring out the natural reaction and response preference of students. Most important of which is mental toughness and problem-solving.

Our initial class comprised of underprivileged kids prone to abuse and violence. We believed that these are the individuals who need most to learn our system of self-defense and self-actualization. Out of the 37 students who started the training in August, 14 completed the Basic Course and graduated on December 14, 2008. One special student, Sr. Alem Coching, is already under advance tuition and is a candidate for instructorship.

This year, 2009, we hope to continue teaching street kids and those who need empowerment. Those who graduated from the Basic Course will go on to study the first advance level. The second advance level would be for apprentice intructors and the third and last level would be for instructorship. Muscle jocks need not apply.

Guns in self-defense 2

2008-11-11T18:17:00.000-08:00

We no longer live in lawless times when we need to have a six-gun on our hips while going to the saloon. In a non-war situation, civilians, especially in the Philippines, are not encouraged to carry firearms in their persons. Only authorized law enforcement agents can do so. Even soldiers outside conflict areas like Metro Manila can not just strut their M-16 on the streets of Tondo. In the same vein the PNP has reiterated why it can not grant the request of the MMDA to have their traffic enforcers carry firearms. More guns on the street means more crimes, for the simple reason that a gun has no other use but to kill.

As I have often said here in this blog, you can not draw your weapon faster than your assailant. The idea that you will be able to recognize an ambush with spare time and therefore have enough seconds to draw and shoot it out with your attackers is a myth. Ask the hundreds of assasins or the Sparow Unit members who have gunned down armed police and military personnel in the 80s and they will tell you this to be true. In urban partisan war the element of ambush is used. As I have said in another blog post, the only effective way to prepare for an ambush is to have your own weapon already drawn. But this is not possible in a civilized society. You cannot walk around with your gun in your hand.

So if you cannot draw your gun efficiently all the time why carry it? A gun in a holster is slow and a gun in a handbag is much slower. THe holdupper would have pointed and shot already before you can draw yours from your clutch bag. A lot of off-duty policemen and other weapon carrying individuals were disarmed because of this. Their useless weapons taken away by assailants who used surprise and cunning.

There is a much cheaper and more effective way to protect yourself. Use common sense.

keep a low-conflict lifestyle, avoid conflicts
be friendly
keep away from bad neighborhood
keep away from dimly-lit areas
assess the area where you parked your car.
always keep your car doors locked
always have your homes secured appropriately
learn threat management
learn street-smart self-defense
learn survival techniques
be ordinary, blend with the crowd
keep it simple!

Agos

2008-11-06T02:48:00.000-08:00

When we engage in physical conflict resolution (meaning duking it out with the bad guys), everything we do is transitory in nature. All strikes, trappings, immobilizations, throws, locks, etc. are not goals in themselves, but are responses "in time". They are reactions to a particluar stimulus. Therefore they are not premeditated nor are they the "end" we seek in conflict resolution.

The goal in self-defense is to deescalate the conflict situation or to find an escape route. We react with relentless aggression not to neutralize the attacker (that is the goal of combatives) but to immediately create a situation where the attack against us is halted and the opprotunity to flee is created.

So when a trapping opportunity comes it is not because we planned it but because the situation presented itself. We might use a throw not because we want to display our Judo skills but because it so happened that your body position made it the best option.

The interaction between you and your attacker is fleeting. It is a series of events randomly appearing. Agos therefore is about exploiting these transitory events to find an opening for you to extract yourself from threat.

Guns in self-defense

2008-10-21T18:37:00.000-07:00

You don't need an atom bomb to flush out a single rat in your kitchen. There is such a thing as an overkill. Weapons need to be managed for safety and for deployment. The bigger the firepower the higher the maintenance and safety quotient. The law of entropy states that things tend to get sloppy as the situation gets complicated. For home defense we must deal with these variables:

perceived threat
management considerations vis a vis perceived threat
safety considerations vis a vis location of weapon and place of deployment

So if the perceived threat is a single rat, you don't nuke 'em and blow up your own house. We are exaggerating the example here to drive the point that efficiency and economics are tied together. If a rolled-up newspaper is enough to stop an annoying cockroach why shoot it?

Many weapons are designed for the battlefield rather than for home defense. A weapons buyer must clearly understand which weapon fits his purpose unless he is a gun collector. Nevertheless, a gun collector must fully understand the safety considerations, as will be discuseed later.

So do you really have to buy a Tec-9 or an UZI for your home? With children running around, that would be courting disaster. Part of the management considerations are the legal implications of your weapon based on the laws of you locality. In the Philippines, you can still end up with a charge of homicide based on the circumstances. You can't just shoot and claim self-defense even if it happened inside your home. In some countries these cases are appreciated differently. Remember the Korean student who got shotgunned by the father of his classmate when he visited their home? The shooter was acquitted based on the principle of "castle-keep". But such common law jurisprudence does not apply in other countries like the Philippines.

For the home if you are not a gangster or something, with a normal threat of a possible theft or robbery, then you might need a simple and reliable weapon. A weapon that can be deployed with relative safety and designed for such common crimes.

A home-based weapon or a personal weapon must be concealable, easy to deploy and reliable. A .38 caliber snub-nose is a very logical choice. It does not jam. It's drawback for the home is that once loaded it is very easy to fire. A pistol can jam if not properly maintained or if not properly loaded and cocked. The ammunition also plays an important part. Afterall it is the one that actually kills. Choosing a good ammo is a necessity. For pistols, the .45 has been tried and tested to deliver. It is very easy to maintain like the revolver. Other calibers may be suited for you to buy but it must suit your hand and personality. So before buying try gripping it for comfort. If it is too heavy for you why buy it?

A lot of people buy full-sized pistols or revolvers for self-defense but these weapons are not designed for self-defense but rather for police work or combat duties. Thus, they are not easily concealable and would require an outside holster to properly carry in the person.

For self-defense therefore it must be compact enough to hide. You cannot display your weapon as if it were the wild wild west. Assasins and firearms snatchers can easily disarm you if you parade it like you were John Wayne (if you can draw it easily from your holster, it means the snatcher can draw it easily too).

At home weapons must be separated from their ammos. It is better to remove the firing pin of the weapon when not in use. They must be stored securely with only you knowing the combination. If you intend to use it on a burglar, it means that you intend to commit homicide. Security for the home must not start on your weapon but on other more sensible variables like the height of your fence, the locks you put, the alarms you installed, the security mindset of your household, etc. Your weapon must only be your last resort (that is why there is such a thing as a panic room). Remember a homicidal burglar who enters your home enters it with the element of surprise so it is very unlikely that you will be able to deploy your weapon exactly as he enters your abode. It is not a cowboy duel so stop the macho myth. Accept the fact that when shit happens you won't be able to draw your weapon (unless you carry it around your house like a paranoid Billy the Kid).

There is a reason why security companies sell burglar alarms, CCTV cameras, and other gadgets and not just guns. Guns are proximity tools. As I have mentioned before, when you have to use it it means the burglar or the intruder is already near you. Why was he able to pass through your gate, your door, your garage, your window or any other entrance? Perhaps you might need to buy a better lock, a new door or a new latch to your window than resort to buying a gun. If the gun is the best anti-burglar option security companies would just be selling firearms only.

Security therefore is not that simple. You need a complete security survey or evaluation of your home. Is your fence the right height? Is your househelp becoming too friendly with your next-door gardener? Do you live in a gang-infested neighborhood? Things like these must be considered. The gun is not a magic pill. You will also need some training to use it properly.

If you have that enough money to ever need security, then hire security guards (the rich do!). If you are subject to grave threats hire bodyguards (the rich do!).

Battlefield conditions versus street threat

2008-10-17T01:17:00.000-07:00

Another reason why the study of self-defense is so frustrating is the fact that a law-abiding, peace-loving citizen is expected to act civilized and expect civility from other people in street situations. This translates to a relaxed emotional state while being dangerously exposed to possible threats. You have your psychic defenses down because you expect to be treated kindly and with respect. This is a false and dangerous assumption.

A soldier on foot patrol, on the other hand, is expecting to be ambushed and therefore has his weapon deployed and ready. His eyes are keen, observing the minutest detail of the sorroundings trying to pick out hidden enemies. At the slightest provocation he can unleash hell on anybody.

If a civilian acts like a soldier he faces possible law suits, worse even get a ticket to the death chamber. The courts use the term "use of reasonable force" and "use of deadly force" to differentiate justified self-defense from manslaughter or homicide.

A mugging is actually an ambush and soldiers know how to deal with ambushes by having their firearms and ordnances ready. But a civilian on the other hand cannot just deploy his knife or gun. The mugger will always therefore be one step ahead. The fastest, most-coordinated, athlete will have a response time of at least 2 seconds to a simulated attack. So if the house-weary housewife who is thinking about bills to pay, etc. goes into an alley she becomes easy prey. Her dulled awareness hardly notices the guy in the shadows. With no weapons deployed and a baggage of a spaced-out mind she is literally cold turkey.

Street smarts requires soldier-like perception and battlefield heuristics. So what do we have to do? We need to balance legal parameters with life and death choices. And its a thinline between deadly force and reasonable force. If a guy enters your safety zone with a drawn knife you can not be expected to be half-hearted about it. You respond with equal brutality. Anyway, when you are dead the courts can't bring your life back.

As we often say in this blog, efficient threat management lessens your chances to encounters of the ugly kind. Don't act macho and tempt fate by going to dark alleys and crime-infested neighborhoods. Blend with the crowd and appear common. Avoid conflicts and deescalate macho situations. But if you are caught in a place not of your own making be ready to show the stuff you are made of. Make them pay for messing up with you.

KNIFE SURVIVAL 2.0

2008-10-03T02:33:00.000-07:00

What happens when two boxers face each other like Pacquiao and Eric Morales? Both will score a hit against each other. The longer the bout the mutual hits increase in percentage. Imagine if both had knives? The same statistics stands, but with horrific effects.

It has been said that when two skilled samurais face each other, both of them will be dead. Indeed, duelling has this probability down pat. In duelling, being faced squarely against each other leaves both protagonists susceptible to each other's attacks.

Lessening your mortality rate factor therefore relies on your ability to avoid being a frontal target. Some call it avoiding the "centerline". You might have seen Pacquiao shooting from the side, totally avoiding a frontal strike from his opponent. That is essentially the tactical solution.

In Kali, practitioners are trained to locate themselves in "safety zones", i.e., the peripheral side where the weaponed hand has not launched an attack or where the weapon has been "spent".

In Waya-an Combatives, we train ourselves to maneuver to the sides or the rear to avoid the enemy's centerline attack at the same time protecting our own centerline from counter-attack.

KNIFE SURVIVAL 101

2008-10-02T22:37:00.000-07:00

To a lot of martial artists, self-defense specialists and street-fighters, knife encounters represent their most feared challenge. The superiority of a gun in a street mugging is an accepted fact but the potential devastation of a knife is so distinct its terror quotient is unrivaled in close quarters combat. A gun is unidirectional. Its advantage is in distance. But its unidirectional character is more manageable in close quarters than a knife. A knife will cut you from any angle conceivable. It can travel at 95 miles per hour like a baseball fast ball. In close quarters the knife has its advantages over a handgun.

In muggings the knife is so fearsome, the most macho dude can cower like a bullied grade schooler and the most muscled gym freak can be reduced to a crying wimp. A lot of dojo trained martial artists lost their lives to a street knife fighter. Facing the knife is indeed one of the greatest enigmas in self-defense studies.

We must thoroughly understand the nature of the knife and how it is wielded before we can entertain how to defend against it.

The knife does not need much power to inflict damage. Mere contact with its edge and point is enough. It moves in all the possible angles where the arms of the wielder can go. It can come from a curved thrust like a Kali knife lunge.

Having to face the knife is basically enterring the point-of-no-return. It is enterring "deathground". Sun Tzu once said that on "death ground fight!". So if you engage a knife wielder you are basically in the area of combatives and not in a low level threat situation.

A lot has failed against the knife because they engage the knife fighter with a mere self-defensive mentality. Second, one does not engage weapons with an empty-hands approach. As much as possible, you must try to equalize the situation by deploying your own weapon. In fact, always try to stack the odds in your favor. If he pulls a gun, you pull a cannon, if he pulls a cannon, you nuke 'em!

When a samurai uses jujitsu aganst a sword, it is because he lost his weapon and is hoping against hope to disarm his opponent to equalize the situation. A samurai would always prefer to have his sword.

Let us remember, in a knife encounter we employ empty hand techniques as a means to deploy our own weapon or to disarm the wielder before an attack can be effectively launched. But given a choice we must use weapons againsts weapons. We must use metsuboshi techniques to distract the knife fighter so we can deploy our own knives.

However, a knife encounter sitation must be avoided at all times, unless you are a soldier commanded to search and destroy the enemy.

Your threat management must be effecient enough to prevent you from getting into such situations.

Once you are in an "ambush site" like dark alleys, crime-prone areas, etc. a knife attacker will not show his knife at a distance. You will be introduced to his weapon at close proximity. If that happens that means your threat management has failed you and you are now in deep shit.

Once you enterred the point-of-no-return, only one comes out alive. In some cases no one comes out at all!

Threat Awareness

2008-09-06T06:40:00.000-07:00

The problem of anticipating situations lend to superficial solutions. A student once asked what is the best solution if a knife has been put near your neck while you were asleep. I tried my best how to answer it as appropriately as possible. Real problem-solving must utilize the scientific method of identifying all variables to a given phenomena and evaluate and analyze the end result. In the question given, a self-defense trainer must get their students to realize the other variables aside from the fact of the knife and the "victim" being prone and asleep.

What other variables could there be? We must realize that all phenomena is the result of processes. What led to the knife pointing are a series of events and factors. Was the door to the room locked before the "victim" slept? Does it have a spare key? Is the attacker known to the victim and has access to the room? Variables such as these could lead to the said incident. Therefore avoiding such occurrence will rely on the negation of these variables.

Rather than concentrate on how to thwart the knife attack, an ounce of prevention goes a long way. Indeed, personal threat awareness is the essence of an efficient self-defense system. You defeat the core concepts of Waya-an if after training you enter a dark-lit alley because you are self-assured you can handle any kind of mugging.

Threat awareness, tactical avoidance and tactical contingency response are necessary components of a self-defense system, not just physical attributes and counter-conflict training.

However, we must also realize that social demography plays a role on individual security. The poor cannot afford to have a panic room, much less a real house. The poor lives in crime infested inner cities, and so on and so forth. Trainers therefore must understand the social aspect of the curriculum. To a kid whose parents can hire bodyguards and one who lives in the slums with an abusive stepfather requires different approaches to methodology.

Self-defense: Important Notes

2008-09-03T06:47:00.000-07:00

A lot of martial arts schools and self-defense dojos now offer personalized training as compared to some years ago when the curriculum was much the same with a 300 lbs. guy and a 95 lbs. lady. The change in curricula came in when students and even blackbelts were geating beaten on the streets. Instructors realized that a lot has not been working as planned.

One of the basic realizations in methodology is that there is no one medicine to cure all self-defense infirmities. A 300 lbs guy who can bench press a truck does not need very much tutoring than a weakling 100 lbs. geek. You do not train a 7 year old kid how to punch his way out of a possible kidnapping. It is not only useless but also inane. Even if taught well to be aggressive and ferocious, he will not be able to generate a level of power that can inflict substantial pain to his aggressor. In the streets, Goliath has a certain advantage. A mouse, even with all the "unos" he can muster simply has little chance of winning a over a bored full-sized cat.

So for kids below 12, especially asians with their smaller built, must be taught character and the "spirit" to problem-solve threat situations. A mouse survives not by pitting strength and power against a cat but by "tactical avoidance". The mouse scouts for predators before he goes foraging. He has an escape route. He nestles himself in inaccesible lairs.

One excellent way to survive threat situations is by cooperation. Kids must be taught how to work as a team. A flea is insignificant but as an army it is mighty. Just ask the dog next to you. Siblings and friends must be taught how to work together.

Tactical avoidance means ensuring kids that they know basic safety measures such as locking doors and not talking to strangers, etc. Another concept is tactical contingency reaction which means kids must know how to seek help, such as memorizing emergency numbers.

Character development entails building confidence and resolve. It entails empowerment phsychologically, emotionally and physically.

Adults and parents thus must be supportive and nurturing. The real self-defense response for children must come from their adult guardians. It is the responsibility of adults to protect children.

Self-defense: No Formula Written in Stone

2008-09-01T05:49:00.000-07:00

Sunday, August 31, 2008, we entered into our third session in Waya-an Self-defense. It was attended by the older students. We were greatly impressed by how fast the students were internalizing the lessons.

From the start we were always reminding them that there will be no particular techniques to memorize and it will be all up to each individuals' strength and preference. Indeed, one student was devastating with her straight thrust palm-heel strike and another was proficient with her elbows.

Bihan Agni, the nun who has been training with us from day one, showed remarkable "unos" qualities. A few more drills simulating multiple attackers and knife awareness and she will be ready for the combatives phase of Waya-an.

We are impressed that in three sessions the older students have grasped the core lesson of Waya-an. Supposedly at least seven sessions are needed for them to reach a functional level. With these development, it is highly probable they can graduate from the self-defense course by December of this year.

What made them impressive is their innate understanding that there is no formula to it. That it is all about ferocity and aggression and the "will" to survive the improbable odds. Perhaps we the instructors are the ones who need to train under them and find out what gives them such "spirit".

I am excited to go into the fourth session. We have lined-up ground-work drills and a review of countering multiple attackers. I am very sure we will have surprises again.

Kinaadman Gapiraan

2008-08-10T22:41:00.000-07:00

Before Waya-an we were practicing concepts from Kinaadman Gapiraan which was a combatives-based fighting system, until we realized the need to develop a purely self-defensive methodology with considerations on the legal implications of the use of deadly force.

In Waya-an we differentiated the Self-defense response from Combatives to clarify and satisfy the legal requirements in the appropriate defense for the individual or stranger.

The responses in Kinaadman Gapiraan were typical martial arts techniques which we have done away with under Waya-an -- opting instead for natural gross motor reactions.

Younglings in Training

2008-08-10T20:03:00.000-07:00

The second Waya-an Self-defense session at Don Bosco was a revelation, with at least four students identified as possible candidates for advance training. The rest, with a little more perseverance can also reach their full potential.

We have started situation simulation drills that require the students to use their basic defense tools -- the slap, palm-heel strike, in-step kick, side kick, elbow and knee strikes.

Critical to the drills is to develop "flow" which we call "agos" in order to execute "buhos" or the "shock and awe" aspect of counter-attack. Hopefully, the students' will develop "fighting spirit" or "unos" to give them efficiency and determination to survive any threat situation.

Self-defense as a State of Being

2008-08-04T20:09:00.000-07:00

If you have time to go over the hundreds of self-defense systems and martial arts schools on the internet, you will find out that the trend nowadays is to train gross motor skills as opposed to "techniques" that require fine motor skills. Another common observation is the element of aggression and relentless ferocity in the reaction of victims of assualts as the determining factor for success or failure.

We in the Waya-an Self-defense system agree with these observations. Much more than the skills learned. The person's "will" and "character" determines his survivability rate. After all you can not choose your mugger. Most likely and more often the predator would be bigger and stronger. At the same time you can not choose your physical attributes. You are born with it. So if you are born on the lean side what are your chances against a steroid junkie towering over you?

So given that the odds against you will be unfavorable all that is left is your determination to survive. I love watching movies about underdogs like "the Replacements", the "Mighty Ducks", "Semi-Pro", etc. These movies gives you the idea that maybe, just maybe the geek gets to win in the end. Well, in real life, we remember Willis Reed of the New York Knicks playing in the championship with a knee injury. Or in the more dramatic fashion, the soldier who parachuted behind enemy lines in Vietnam who had to literally crawl his way back to safety. Or the the legendary 300 -- need I say more.

In both reel and real life what makes a winner and survivor is the one who "wills" his survival. One should never give up life just like that, Death should pry it from your hands!

Younglings at Don Bosco

2008-08-03T18:39:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, Sunday, 3rd of August we introduced the Waya-an Self Defense Module to the Bosconian kids under the care of the Salesian Sisters. The kids were between the ages 13 and 19. Marginalized and needing a lot of morale boosting.

The Waya-an is an off-shoot of years of martial arts exposure and personal encounters. In structure and appearance it would resemble the Ki Chuan Do, Keysi Fighting Method, Damian Ross System and the Mixed Martial Arts schools in the United States.

The Waya-an espouses the teaching concept of developing natural body reactions and movements as self-defense solutions. Thus, there are no techniques to memorize. No movements to train from point A to point B.

Waya-an Self Defense Module therefore does not teach "self-defense" from a martial arts perspective but from kinesthetics. Waya-an does not teach "fighting", unlike other systems where students go into "sparring" drills or where they are made to "square-off" against each other. The Waya-an drills are simulated muggings and assaults where the students "problem-solve" their way out of conflict situations and find an escape route.

Waya-an is a pragmatic system where drills are designed to produce results in days and weeks instead of months or years.

The Bosconian kids are the first students of the Waya-an Self-defense Method. It is the founders' fervent wish and hope that Waya-an will be able to contribute to the "younglings" life experience and survival skills development.