Stress and Self Defense

They live calm lives with very little conflict in them. We do not live in the middle ages where most men did not die of old age or illness, they died from violence of some type.  And while our streets are still relatively safe, back in the days of the masters of old they were far from it. Men like Morihei Ueshiba and his teacher Sokaku Takeda spent time in wars. And these are not like the wars today. 

Please note I have great respect for the military. And war is war. But today this is not a way of existence for most. Especially in the Western Cultures. 

Stress and Self Defense

I have taught countless seminars and self defense classes. And my approach is not the same as any I have seen aside from a few. And this is because I do understand that some are capable of defending themselves and other are NOT.

Some will never be! And the late 90's idea of adrenaline stress training, suiting someone up like the Michelin man, having them hurl obscenities and attack the student is a JOKE. It does more harm than good. MUCH more HARM. You cannot take the same approach with a civilian as a military person. 

Stress and Self Defense

Stress and Self Defense, teach the student to be a good coward first!  Then you can teach them to fight, once they are confident they can run first. 

If a man has a phobia, lets say getting on an elevator.How do you help him? Day by day you move him closer to the doors of the elevator. He will never become unafraid, that is a lie. But in time he will become braver. Then one day he can use the elevator.

But today people believe the idea that there is instant anything. And martial arts training is NOT about a trophy, winning a fight, or a belt rank. It is a study of the self, and become a better well rounded GOOD person. The ability to defend one's self is a byproduct.

And the martial arts are arts of peace. Some are from the military, but most come from Buddhism were "doing no harm" is the highest purpose. 

Old Man's Martial Art - Stress and Self Defense

How many belts you can collect. 

it is about continuous learning, and developing in a way you can still be effective well into your old age. I wrote an article some time back called An Old Man's Martial Art: The Ageless Path of Budo. Perhaps give it a read. 

Stress and self defense, how do you properly handle it? Teach your students to escape first. No matter who they think they are. Ego is a terrible thing. And pride always goes before the fall.  Learning the art of escape also instills the value of life in people. And that is lacking today. Today's world is about money and things. Nothing wrong with either until they become the reason you live.

Stress and Self Defense, learn to be a good coward first.

Stress and Self Defense in Conclusion

I know because after almost 40 years full time I am always learning. And I love to share what I learn. Young people will do as they always do. They will ignore those who have come before them, assuming they in their youth have all the answers, when they do not even know the question.

I was asked recently how I remain so clam.  I meditate, and I train. The mind and the body. But not in convention ways. And people do not like that answer because it means work, not instant guaranteed results. 

Your training should teach you something very important. The is to "live through humility, by example."  Please consider this, and learn to be a good coward and train in the art of escape until you become calmer inside. 

Thank you for reading Stress and Self Defense.

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I hope you enjoyed this article on Stress and Self Defense.

Thank you for your time and have a wonderful day! Keep Learning!

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Al vostru în arte,
Mare Maestru Art Mason

I have coached with many other high level business people. And besides I have no issues, no wants. She should be picking my brain. 

But the same is true of the martial arts world, perhaps even more so. It is filled with experts who think they know everything. That is pretty impressive too! After almost 40 year I know how much I do not know, how much there is still to learn! 

Listen to your Elders!

Listen to your Elders

Our elders in the field have knowledge few ever tap into. My mother was the wisest person I ever knew and I would sit for hours listening to her. She passed in 2015 at 96. I still miss those talks.

And the masters of old in the martial arts are the same. They are a wealth of knowledge for us. But, do we really pay attention? When I watch the infighting within the different arts after the passing of the founder it becomes obvious little was learned by the student.

I know myself what I taught is the 80's is not what I taught in the 90's. And by the early 2000's it was different again!  Today in 2022 what I teach has evolved again. And what is the cause of the evolution? I listen to those who are my teachers who have more EXPERIENCE. 

Now this is not foolproof. I can think of many people older than me who are as dumb as a rock. But that does not mean I do not listen to them. Because I still may find some value within.  do you Listen to your Elders?

Listen to your Elders in Conclusion

Sharing my mothers final years with her, letting her pass at home rather than the jokes they call hospitals in the west was an experience I would never trade. 

And I learned from her till the moment she passed. And even today her words of wisdom are still with me. For those of you who studied with one of the these great masters of the arts.

Rather then bragging, boasting about it, perhaps reflect on what you learned?  Listen to your Elders, they are a wealth beyond measure to those who eyes and ears are open. 

Thank you for taking time to read Listen to your Elders.

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Thank you for taking time to read this article called Listen to your Elders. Also checkout our History of the Martial Arts page. Do you Listen to your Elders?

Thank you for your time and have a wonderful day! Keep Learning!

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Al vostru în arte,
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Martial Arts Belt Ranking System

The colored belt system in martial arts was created in the late 19th century by a man named Dr. Jigoro Kano, a Japanese man who is referred to as the "Founder of Modern Judo." The idea was to create a visible symbol of a student's progress and ranking, rewarding the best students with the honor of wearing a black belt. The purpose was for tournament competition. And it is still used today for this purpose.

The steady adoption of the belt ranking system by martial arts outside judo first occurred in 1924, when the martial artist considered the founder of modern karate, Gichin Funakoshi, awarded the first karate black belts.

Today even many modern business like Six Sigma have adapted this idea to show progress and excellence. 

Martial Arts Belt Ranking System

However as great as this system it there are inherent problems. And that problem stems from the EGOS of the many martial artists worldwide.

The other day I received a very politely worded email that asked very simply "who are you to give rank in Kyusho?" And I answered in kindness.  What I really wanted to say was "who are you to ask?" And that is the really important question.

Martial Arts rank is relative. It will vary from system to system and that is a good thing. We do not need ANY governing board for all of martial arts. Why? Because once something is governed it is destroyed by corruption. Government are the root cause of every issue in the world, economic, moral and social. Can you give one example that is not? 

Over the years I have met so many 10th Dan's who are sure they are the only legitimate ones. Stop taking yourselves so seriously! 

Stop taking things so seriously!

One of my favorites of the ego trips is the person who immediately tells me "I studied with so and so." Or I have study X number of years. Good for you, but it is meaningless. Because you studied with, as an example Hohan Soken, does not make you Hohan Soken.  Yet so many think it does.

I did answer the email with my credentials to teach. But I never discussed my rank. My rank is not who I am as my identity. I teach martial arts for a living. And yes I do mean for a living. This is how my family and I eat.  People come to learn from me if they like what I have to say and what I have to offer. That has nothing to do with rank. It has to do with knowledge. And if they do not like me or what I have to teach that is all good too! 

Martial Arts Belt Ranking System in Conclusion

I hope you enjoyed this article on Martial Arts Belt Ranking System.

Is your self image really that low? It is time to stop being so serious about these things. If you want to be serious about something be serious your training. About learning and growing personally.  That should be your only business.

I do not concern myself with other, nor am I interested in getting more rank. I want the knowledge, that is all. And I want to share the knowledge with those who are like minded. 

Thank you for your time and have a wonderful day! Keep Learning!

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Al vostru în arte,
Mare Maestru Art Mason

• What is the best kick, for self defense?
• What is the most powerful kick?
• Where are the best places to kick, an opponent?

Over the years, I have seen a lot of articles on the subject, addressing the questions above. The school of thought is actually quite deep, and the opinions are many:

• Kicking low is best
• Kicking high is risky
• Always kick the knees and groin
• If kicking the head, do so when guard is dropped
• Etc, etc.

Kicking and Self Defense

I love kicks. I practice them often. So I am not being biased when I say that kicking in self defense is a stupid thing done by stupid people, and if you get your ass handed to you, good.

That’s what you asked for, paid for, and prayed for. Enjoy it.

Folks, problem with self defense, taught in 99.9% of martial arts schools, is the endless focus and pursuit, on what kicks the most ass and causes the most damage.

 I can’t understand why in this day and age, the industry gets even stupider. So much is available to be witnessed now. Look at average professional fighters. 3 rounds, of 5 minutes, taking and giving every strike there is, over, and over again. “DUH……MMA has shown us what works, and what does not!”.

Oh my God, NO DUMMY!!! MMA (and I still do it because I like parts of it), has shown us that a determined person can take, and take, and take. In an altercation, you have time for that? 15 minutes of destruction? A billion chances for things to get worse?

Kicking and Self Defense

Flip side, you have martial arts schools teaching how to stomp on someone’s throat, or kick a person at the base of the skull, etc. So thug threatens your safety, and you go to jail for assault or manslaughter. That’s your idea of self defense. Cool.

We need to get back to understanding, that physical self defense has 3 levels:
1- Don’t be there
2- Get something between you and the attacker
3- If 1 and 2 fail, and you must engage, do quick, no bullshit things, to open a window to get back to 1 or 2.

Fight to escape, not to have a battle of skill, or destroy. You lose.

Next, we have to get back to understanding ranges of attack.
1- Close range (headbutt, clinch, throw, etc)
2- Mid range (punch, palm. Etc)
3- Long range (Kick)
4- Out of range (best!!)

Kicking and Self Defense

So back to the question on kicking in a self defense situation. If we look at the above, we have to come to understand:

• If I can kick, I am just about out of range.
• If I am just about out of range, I can either get out of there, or grab something nearby to place between me and thug
• If I can kick, I can place my leg and foot in a different direction, and use the limb to help me run.
• Kicking a solid object hurts, it hurts less to use the range to get out of there.
• Kicking triggers a response from thug. If my kick misses, I will most likely land in mid or close range to him now.

So, should kicking be used in self defense? My opinion, is that you can use it if you really need to, but should only use kicking to get out of range, or as a means to go back to levels 1 or 2 in a physical altercation.

Kicking and Self Defense, I think the kick should be low, and low risk, followed by a mad dash in the other direction. Ultimately, my opinion is that you should use that kicking foot/leg, as an opportunity to get out of there.

Kicking and Self Defense in Conclusion

Stay safe,
GM Dave DeGrouchie

Thank you for reading Kicking and Self Defense.

My thanks to our founder and dear old friend GM DeGrouchie for his contribution here today! And my thank for reading this article on Kicking and Self Defense. And remember to visit my History of the Martial Arts page. 

Thank you for your time and have a wonderful day! Keep Learning!

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Al vostru în arte,
Mare Maestru Art Mason

And I sold my Dojo to someone very close to me. Today she continues to operate. 

The reason? I was burnt out.  Not because of the belief there is no money to be made teaching Martial Arts, but I was burnt out on dealing with people. So I took business online where dealing with people was simple.

And I have enjoyed this process. However I will point out my personal training and development did not stop.

Wolfs Den Dojo

Everything in life goes full circle. And in 2018 my interest in the teachings of Kosho Ryu reemerged when I decided to release a course on Octagon training. In truth this knowledge was integrated into my root art in 2001 when I first began my formal training in Kosho under Shidoshi Buchan. 

Then in 2020 I hooked up with the 22nd Grand Master of the art Hanshi Bruce Juchnik and have been learning from him. This is reflected in courses I offer online like Kosho Core Concepts Series. 

Most of all I am taking this one step further. I am building a Dojo in the Mountains of Romania called the Wolfs Den Dojo. This will not be a commercial project but a private Dojo. I hope to break ground later this year.

The FOCUS and the teachings will be Kosho Shorei Ryu.

Wolfs Den Dojo in Conclusion

Something lacking in a society where lies are now consider to be virtue.

Also where history is taught and focused upon.  Learn more about the Wolf's Den Dojo from this LINK now. Bookmark the page also to get up to date on the project.

Thank you for reading about the  Den Dojo.

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Al vostru în arte,
Mare Maestru Art Mason

However we are living in a world today of chaos, imbalance and yes barbarianism.  Sadly much of the barbarianism is from the martial arts industry. Martial Arts and Responsibility is important!

Martial Arts and Responsibility. 

I am going to offer you something to read, which is an excerpt from my book Kosho Natural Laws of Motion.  This is a true story and something to ponder. 

Meeting Terry Lee / Nimr Hassan.

This took place at a seminar in Toronto in 2001.

However meeting Hassan, love him or hate him changed my direction. I was brutal in my training and my teaching. At this session Hassan demonstrated a rather odd block for a waza. This was what I call a “W” shaped block. And I am going to retell this because I hope to emphasize the importance of the lesson! We practiced this blocked in a pair, and then found a training partner and used this block to defend against 2 punches.

This was awkward but doable.

After this he instructed all of us that after the two blocks to do some technique from our style to finish the waza. For mine I hooked around the head, and broke the neck. Hassan walked around in silence watching everyone practice their techniques. He stopped at me and said “Excellent! Great form and movement.” I thanked him. He stopped everyone and asked me to show the groups. The groups was about 150 people. I happily demonstrated my technique.

Martial Arts and Responsibility - My demonstration

Hassan then queried me “what is the best and worse case scenario for damage in this situation?” I replied “broken neck with permanent paralysis, or death.”

Hassan then stated, “but Master Art, the man punched you unsuccessful twice and then you killed him.” This was the greatest GUT PUNCH I ever had in my then 18 years in the arts. It changed my direction in the martial arts, and my direction in life. Hassan committed a horrible crime, murder. But his attempts to atone for it had influence on at least one person. Me...

At dinner that night we sat together and he told me, confessed to me about the crime. He also exonerated James Mitose. Mitose had NO PART in the murder. He apologized to me for embarrassing me in front of all those people. But I thanked him for it.

Hassan is haunted by this past. He save me from this. His life was changed forever by not controlling an altercation. Martial Arts and Responsibility, we all have one. 

Martial Arts and Responsibilityn Conclusion

And I have heard a hundred times martial artist bragging about injuring the opponents. 

This is nothing to brag about, it is something to be ashamed of.  I too am guilty, but I try to always take the higher ground.

I released a book recently called Kosho Ryu Street Strategies: The Art of Escape.  Perhaps consider this. "In true self defense there is no body contact."

Thank you for reading Martial Arts and Responsibility.

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Thank you for taking time to read this article about Martial Arts and Responsibility. Also please visit my History of the Martial Arts page. 

Thank you for your time and have a wonderful day! Keep Learning!

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Al vostru în arte,
Mare Maestru Art Mason