Shivworks ECQC

If there were one course that EVERYONE who carries a handgun should take… this is it. Shivworks Extreme Close Quarters Concepts or ECQC for short, is a 2.5 day course where students learn how to access their pistol from entanglement or while engaged in a fight. On my publications page I have posted an article that I wrote for Tactics and Preparedness Magazine that details the specifics of this course, but its importance to the every day carrier can not be overstated.

Most who choose to carry a firearm for self-defense have very little training. The training that they do have is generally marksmanship training that has very little to do with the combative use of a pistol in a real violent encounter. This course specifically addresses how and when to access your pistol from an entanglement which I define as two parties connected in any way. Headlocks, shirt grabs, wrist grabs, bear hugs are all just a few examples of an entanglement. Fights are dynamic situations that happen very quickly, and almost every fight involves some example of an entanglement. If you carry a pistol for self-defense, it’s likely that in order to effectively use that pistol to defend yourself you will have to “earn the opportunity” to access your pistol. That’s where ECQC comes in. The 2.5 day course uses non lethal training pistols that fire a marking cartridge which allows the students to actually work through challenging scenarios where they may or may not need to introduce their pistol in order to defend themselves.

Short story is everyone who carries a pistol needs to attend this course or a course like it (there really aren’t many like it and I highly recommend seeking out Craig Douglas of Shivworks and taking the actual class before venturing out to try to find others who are trying to emulate Craig’s course). Carrying a pistol every day is a serious responsibility. Training at the range is necessary but its certainly not all you need to be “armed”. Training force on force, specifically in this fashion against real, live, actively resisting opponents will be an eye opener for most and the skills that you will walk away with are more than worth the price of admission. Get out and train!

Craig Douglas Shivworks EWO Course AAR

This past weekend (03/24-03/25/2018) I had the pleasure of attending Craig Douglas's Edged Weapons Overview course, hosted by Annette Evans at her facility Race Street Range in Upland PA. This course is a 2 day (not your typical 8 hour day) crash course in the use of and defense against edged weapons from entanglement. The course focuses on using basic wrestling techniques to defend against someone armed with a knife, as well as using the same techniques to earn the opportunity to access  your own knife (if you carry one). No prior training or experience is required to attend this training. We had people of all skill sets and background come and participate in the training and I assure you everyone walked away learning something. Craig is an incredible instructor with an incredibly refined delivery. He is clear and concise and leaves no room for misinterpretation. He provides simple instruction that everyone was able to follow and he ensured that everyone got their reps in so they could walk away with new functional skills at the end of the second day. No time was wasted and breaks were kept to a minimum. 

Day one started with introductions and a brief explanation of the criminal assault paradigm. From there we went into a block of instruction Craig calls MUC (Managing Unknown Contacts). MUC is  a block where you learn how to use your voice to deter someone from encroaching on your space. This block could easily be a two day course by itself, as verbal agility is something that takes quite a bit of practice and experience to refine. Craig recommended creating a "playlist" of phrases such as "back up" or "stop right there" so that when the time comes you are not searching for the right words. He also discussed the use of profanity and the difference between saying "back the fuck up" and "back up mother fucker". The second being more of an insult than an instruction. Having verbal agility is probably one of the most important and most neglected skills the self-defense minded individual should practice in my opinion. Its not sexy and no one enjoys practicing it, but in my experience my words have prevented more physical altercations than I can count. Going kinetic shouldn't be anyones plan A. 

After MUC we did some practical exercises working our new MUC skills while simultaneously emphasizing maintaining a high compressed fence (hands up in front of your face about where you would catch a ball), while circling to the outside of the advancing aggressor. Backing up into the unknown was discouraged as it could create a potential to trip and fall, or back you up into a secondary attacker. Circling into known territory allows you to maintain eyes on the threat while scanning for other potential threats simultaneously. 

The next block of instruction was the introduction of wrestling techniques that would serve as the delivery system for the rest of the material. We began by partnering up and performing the infamous mountain goat drill. This simple drill involves going forehead to forehead (Craig seems to have solved the mountain goat mark issue by having students place a boxing gloves between their heads) and driving forward, learning how to use your entire body to affect your opponent's posture. For those with little grappling experience this is an eye opening experience in and of itself. Craig then introduced us to 4 basic techniques to manage the clinch. Underhooks, overlooks, bicep ties and wrist ties were discussed and demonstrated as methods of control from the clinch or entanglement. The preferred technique being a undertook with your non dominant hand and a bicep tie with your dominant hand. This allows you to work the problem and have the ability to access your own tool with your dominant hand. These 4 simple techniques can be used to maintain control of an attacker or stop them from accessing a weapon. They can also be used to earn the opportunity to access your own weapon should you be carrying one. We did plenty of reps working these techniques and the forced partner switches kept us on our toes and forced us to try the techniques against people of all shapes and sizes. We also worked on using the split seatbelt position and the two on one position to control the weapon bearing limb of the bad guy. Both of these techniques are solid and repeatable under stress. For more on those take a course with Craig. 

Day one concluded around 730PM with a training evolution (EVO) involving one guy working his MUC skills against a bad guy equipped with a fist helmet and boxing gloves. The good guy's job was to cover, clinch and control the bad guys limbs before accessing his own weapon and using it to lawfully defend himself. It was a great drill to show you how difficult it can be to access your edged weapon while someone is tied up with you and trying to do you harm. Anyone who carries a knife for self-defense needs to participate in this style of training as it very quickly separates reality from fantasy. 

Day 2 began an hour earlier than day 1 as Craig had a wealth of knowledge to share with us and didn't want to leave anything unsaid. We began with a practical warm up where we essentially tied together all of the skills and techniques covered in day one at a flow pace. This got everyone moving and those of us who were sore from day 1 felt much better after the hour of flow work. Craig uses the term consensual, non competitive to describe this method of training. This means that both partners are working but at a building pace. In Jiu Jitsu this would commonly be referred to as a "flow match". This type of warm up is very practical and allows students to work on refining their newly learned skills while loosening up for the activities to come. 

After our practical warm up we learned two options for escaping the clinch and getting to our opponent's back. These techniques were the arm drag and the duck under. Both techniques are straight from wrestling and work very well for dealing with this type of problem. Next we worked on several "tie ups". These positions are essentially a plan B for when we are unable to get to the bad guys back and escape or access our own tool. The tie ups involve controlling both of the bad guys arms with one of yours (and your body positioning) so that you can access your own tool and use it to get the bad guy off of you. I had been doing something very similar but Craig was able to show me some additional detail that improved upon my existing technique for this problem. His attention to detail when it comes to body positioning is something that adds value to even the most experienced practitioners. I came into this course as a Krav Maga black belt and a Renzo Gracie BJJ brown belt so I'm not unfamiliar to grappling but Craig was able to give me some really good feedback and help me to improve my game in these positions. 

After working our escapes and tie ups we began to work with the knife in an offensive manner. Craig simplified all the knife grips into two categories. Thumb side (forward grip) and pinky side (reverse grip. Edge orientation was discussed briefly as both Craig and I prefer the edge in orientation, but the edge was secondary. Everything we worked involved stabbing first and slashing as a plan B. Craig favors a simple locked fist grip as it promotes the greatest possible retention when repeatedly stabbing the blade into the opponent. Several students deviated from this grip at times and many lost their blades on impact with the Fist helmets. We worked a few simple offensive techniques including a forward grip knife jab and a reverse grip knife jab. For both, Craig advocated a strong side foot forward to maximize the effective range of your blade. We worked these simple techniques to the face and neck as a "stay off me" technique. It is very difficult for a bad guy to attach to you when he has a blade being thrust at his face repeatedly. I found these simple techniques highly effective. 

Day 2 concluded with our final EVO in which we would tie up with a bad guy and attempt to access our blade before he does. Several seconds  later a second bad guy would be introduced into the mix and we would have to work to fight off both. I thoroughly enjoyed the EVO and found it more practical than any other knife training I have ever participated in. At the end of the day Craig conducted a "hot wash" where students were given an opportunity to discuss what they liked and what they didn't about the course. There were no real criticisms from the group, myself included which speaks very highly of Craig and his staff. I can't remember the last time I participated in training where I struggled to find words of criticism for the instructor, but with this course everything was so refined and well tested that I had none. Craig  also addressed each student individually and by name during this hot wash. He provided personalized feedback for each individual and genuinely thanked each and every one of us for our patronage. 

I have been in the self-defense world for over 18 years. During that time I have trained extensively in a variety of martial arts and firearms related courses. I became aware of Craig and the Shivworks collective many years ago and I have followed their work very closely ever since. They have heavily influenced my own training and teaching, and I was honored to finally get the privilege to train with Craig. I have not yet been to a course that included such a well thought out, well refined body of work. Craig's material comes from his own experiences with interpersonal violence. His willingness to throw out everything he thought he knew and start fresh speaks highly of his character. He is a man who much like me is just looking for the best way to solve problems. His ability to hold the attention of his students is incredible. The most experienced instructors could certainly learn a thing or two from Craig and his delivery. He is far from your stereotypical "tough guy" and he conducts himself like a gentlemen. His humility and character are admirable and I am proud to be able to call him a friend. If you are a serious student of self-defense and you are willing to get outside of your comfort zone and search for real answers to real problems, I strongly urge you to seek out and train with Craig. I am already signed up and ready to go to my next Shivworks course in October. I am very much looking forward to continuing my education and once again getting to spend some time with some incredible, like minded people. 

Lastly I'd like to say that while this is an overview of what was covered it certainly is not an exact list of everything that was taught. If you want to know more I would start with online resources readily available so you can see for yourself if this is something you might be interested in. If you decide to go and take a course search the internet for a list of course dates and locations. Craig teaches in 40 states and 11 countries so it shouldn't be hard to find one that meets your schedule. Ill close by saying that it took me years to finally get myself to a course. Life, finances and other obligations prevented me from traveling to train with Craig and when the opportunity arose for me to only drive an hour to get this training, I put everything else on hold to make sure I was able to get there. My only regret is I didn't do it sooner. Thank you once again to Annette Evans of Race Street Range for hosting this course, to my fellow students who made the experience enjoyable and memorable, and lastly to Craig for providing us with excellent instruction and even better conversation. Till we meet again......

Mindset: and its role in preventing school shootings

Mindset... If you are like me and you follow whats going on in the "tactical" community, you are probably tired of hearing the word mindset. Mindset is a term that is most commonly used to describe ones willingness to prepare for, respond to and use violence. It is how you view the world and what steps you take to prepare for the possibility of violence... or at least for purposes of this discussion it is. 

School shootings are becoming more and more commonplace. It seems like every time I open Facebook I am reading about another one. According to an article written by Greg Ellifritz of Active Response Training, since December 2016 there have been 71 school shootings. That number is substantially higher than most might have guessed. While it is still statistically unlikely your child will ever face something like that, the potential ramifications of being involved in such an incident are fatal. Its very unlikely that we will be involved in a school fire too but schools take numerous precautions to prevent and plan for this eventuality. Why are we not doing the same to prepare for violence?

Mindset. The mindset of the parents is that this will never happen to my child. The mindset of the teachers is we don't want to upset the parents. The mindset of the administration is that things like this don't happen in our area so why upset the parents and teachers by putting them through additional training to deal with situations like a school shooting. This mindset is the equivalent of burying your head in the sand and pretending the bad things around you don't really exist. Its irresponsible and irrational. What should be happening is a no nonsense study of the school shootings that have occurred in this country followed by a discussion on what we can to do prevent these from happening at our academic institution. Local law enforcement should be a part of this discussion as should private security professionals who specialize in active shooter/killer training and conducting site security assessments or threat assessments. Schools should bring in professionals who can show them where they are vulnerable and make suggestions as to how they can improve their security posture and response. Id be willing to bet there are quite a few business owners like myself who would be willing to provide such a service pro bono. After all my kids are attending these schools too right?

It all comes down to mindset. As I walk the halls of my son's school I see teachers, administrators and other school employees concerned with everything but violence. It seems like they are incapable of even thinking about what they would do if someone came in the school and attempted to do them harm. This manner of thinking has to go. It needs to change. As a professional educator you are not only responsible for educating our children, but for keeping them safe while they are in your custody. If you can't even protect yourself how are you going to protect my child? 

This isn't an attack on teachers or other school employees. This is a wake up call. This is plea for those working in the school environment to think outside the box about what they would do if...

Its time we have a serious discussion about school violence and what steps we are going to take to protect our children. The typical school procedures of locking students down in their classrooms is insufficient and in some cases grossly negligent. If you are concerned with your child's safety in their school I encourage you to speak to school administration and ask questions. It is my contention that you are unlikely to receive satisfactory responses to those questions. 

I want to open up a dialogue between law enforcement/security professionals and school administrators. Lets stop burying our heads in the sand and acting like such violence can't come to our little town. Instead, lets be grown ups and take the necessary steps to protect our children while they are at school. Stop pretending that locking students in the classroom is the best response to every type of threat that a school might see. Admit that you just don't know what you don't know. Bring in someone who specializes in this area and at least consider their advice. 

Mindset. Accept the world for what it is and prepare accordingly. Ignorance is not bliss, ignorance is irresponsible. 

Personality Matters

As a coach your job is to increase the capabilities of your students. This means creating a rapport with each individual student and learning how they learn best. Everyone is different and one explanation may not suit the entire class. Often times it is necessary to approach students individually and reword your original explanation. It is through these individual interactions that a rapport is built and the students learn. 

Some of the best coaches Ive ever had were ones who I would now refer to as my friends. The individual attention they gave me formed a bond that in most cases will never be broken. I knew that they had my best interest in mind and they knew just how to get me to learn whatever it was they were teaching. 

As a coach your personality matters. If you are not personable or approachable you are doing your students a disservice. There needs to be a certain level of comfort between coach and student in order for the student to learn. Adult learners in particular want to feel like they are part of the class. They need to be able to ask questions and be satisfied with the answers they are receiving. Talk to your students. Make sure they understand the why behind the how. Learn about what brings them to your class and what their goals are. Learn about any past experiences that they are comfortable sharing with you that may give you insight about why they are here and what they hope to accomplish. Build a rapport and a establish a friendly yet professional environment that fosters learning. And most importantly, remain approachable and humble. Always remember that with ability comes humility. 

-Adam

Why dialogue should be integrated into self-defense training

When we look at a violent encounter we can generally categorize them into one of two categories. The first is what is commonly referred to as the "ambush". This is a surprise attack that you did not see coming. Perhaps your general awareness was lacking or perhaps it was just unavoidable, but in this scenario the attacker got the jump on you and initiated the violent attack.  The second type of attack is what I would call a "confrontation gone wrong". A confrontation could start with a accidental bump or some type of eye contact but it almost always leads to dialogues between both parties. An argument at a bar that eventually leads to a fight, is a simple example of what we are talking about. When the attempts at diplomacy fail and the dialogue breaks down, the violence begins. This is how a very large percentage of fights start. 

Many schools of self-defense train a variety of techniques ranging from striking to grappling. Some schools even include training to deal with armed assailants or multiple bad guys, but very few schools incorporate dialogue into their training. Simulating the conversation that often takes place prior to the violence is a necessary component in self-defense training. It is during that conversation that we can pick up on pre attack indicators or cues that let us know danger is imminent. It is also during that conversation that we can work on utilizing our "fence" and controlling the space between us and the adversary. These are just two examples of things that we can work on in this type of scenario based training. Without the dialogue or the scenario we are just working isolated techniques. Techniques that are out of context and thus difficult for us to properly employ when the time comes. Context is everything when talking about self-defense. Context often dictates why we do what we do and how we justify it. Physical skills are important and should be a large part of any self-defense system, but the system is not comprehensive if it does not include scenario based training and dialogue. This key component is often overlooked by instructors who do not have life experience in violence. If you are training somewhere and have learned physical skills but still don't understand exactly how and where they fit into the big picture then come try a class with us. 

Is your instructor still learning ?

     Often I see instructors who have trained for many years and achieved  a high rank or belt in their system, stop training and focus solely on teaching. This creates a problem for the students because as time goes on eventually the material the instructor is teaching becomes dated and often less effective then newer material others are teaching. if you were a doctor and began practicing in 2006 and never read medical journals or conducted professional development in any way, it is likely that now in 2016 much of what you would be doing would be outdated and in some cases completely irrelevant. Self-Defense is very much like that. The way we learned to deal with threats in the 1950's may still work in a certain context but it is very likely that better more efficient ways have been developed. If you are too busy instructing to still be a student yourself then it is likely that you are failing your students by not providing them with the best and most current information available. 

     Krav Maga is the foundation of my self-defense program. Krav Maga is one of the biggest offenders of this "failure to evolve" in the self-defense community today. Many Krav Maga schools are still teaching the exact same curriculum that Imi used to train IDF soldiers back in the 1950's. And while its very possible that some of what they were teaching back then is still very applicable today, it is also very unlikely that all of what they were teaching is still applicable. A great example of this is found in Krav Maga's notorious 360 defenses. While you could certainly argue that 360's are still a valuable technique and do work I think it would be a better more sound argument that there are far better ways to deal with threats coming from the outside. Covers for example are a great way to deal with hook punches or punches coming from the outside. The idea that under critical stress I am going to get wrist to wrist contact with one hand, and simultaneously find the attackers chin with my other hand is not only unlikely its damn near impossible. Especially because most schools when practicing the 360's don't actually make contact with the striking hand. They make "simulated contact" either pulling the punch or punching past the target over the attackers shoulder. This means for every 360 defense you have practiced  you have practiced doing it wrong, or differently from how you expect yourself to do it in a critical incident. Unreasonable? Irresponsible? I think so. 

     360 defenses are certainly not the only technique that could use a little revamping or a complete overhaul in the Krav Maga system. There are many others but the purpose of this article is not to pick apart techniques but rather to encourage instructors to continue their education and professional development. As an instructor of anything I have a responsibility to my students to be as well informed, educated and trained in the subject matter I am teaching. This means staying current and dedicating a certain amount of my time to furthering my own knowledge. As you continue to train and read and learn through whatever means are available to you, it is likely that you will begin to question some of what you are currently teaching. This is a good thing. Constant assessment and revalidation is necessary to any good self-defense program. If you are not constantly looking for better ways to do the work you are lazy. I don't carry the same cell phone I carried 10 years ago. Why? Because many better, more capable, more efficient options are available. They can do more, have a better battery life, are lighter and smaller and genuinely more useful then their predecessors. If you are willing to upgrade your cell phone why would you not be willing to upgrade your tactics or techniques? If you are so invested in your techniques or so stuck in the doctrine that was taught to you then maybe you shouldn't be teaching others. Personally I am always looking to poke holes in what I teach and come up with new and better ways to deal with the problem. I find that it keeps me sharp and open minded and these are important qualities to look for in a professional educator or trainer. 

     You did the work to earn the rank and the title of instructor, but remember the road doesn't end there. It is just the beginning. Now you need to continue to push yourself and look at what other instructors are doing in this industry. See if it is better or worse then what you are currently teaching and why. Take classes. Read books. Watch videos. Talk to other professionals whom you respect. This open dialogue is how we evolve. It is how we find better ways to do the work that needs to be done. The end goal remains the same. Give your students the best material you can and the best chance to protect themselves from a violent attacker. If you are doing anything less I implore you to reconsider. Get out and train. Your life and the life of your students depend on it.

The need for contextual self-defense training

     For many adults, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai Kickboxing or Western Boxing have become their hobby and in turn their "go to" for self-defense should they find themselves in a violent encounter. These systems are great and the techniques taught in each of them make up a large portion of techniques needed in a fight. The problem however, is the context in which they are generally taught. Learning individual offensive and defensive techniques is certainly an important aspect of self-defense, but it is only one part of the overall training. Once a solid foundation in striking, defending and grappling has been established it is important to put training into the proper context. Developing specific scenarios and encouraging students to utilize dialogue during training, aids in preparing them for the realities of a violent encounter. Incorporating drills that involve more than one bad guy is also another important aspect of training for real life violent encounters, as is the addition of weapons or the possibility of weapons to the scenario. Quality self-defense training should involve a discussion and a comprehensive understanding of the problem or problems that you are likely to face.

     The way I see it there are two types of attacks that we are preparing for. First you have the ambush. The ambush is the attack you never saw coming, and maybe it came because you exercised poor awareness, or maybe it just wasn't your day, but it came and now your in the middle of it fighting to survive and escape. The ambush is the most difficult attack to prepare for because if we knew it was coming we simply wouldn't have been there. Solid defensive skills and the ability to switch from defense to offense quickly are most important in these types of attacks. The second type of attack is the argument or confrontation gone bad. It generally starts with some type of dialogue or a dirty look from someone that gives you some indication that you may be about to have a problem. This type of scenario is easier to deal with then the ambush because you have some time to assess the situation and make a decision as your response. Escape? Strike first? Verbally deescalate? These are just a  few of your options in this type of scenario. 

     If your training is not addressing and discussing these issues then you are likely less prepared then you may think for a real life violent encounter. Having physical skills like punching and kicking and grappling is great and it is absolutely a large part of self-defense, but it's certainly not all you need. Seek out qualify instruction and make sure your instructor knows more than just how to throw a proper punch or how to properly apply that triangle choke. Your life may depend on it. 

BJJ for Self-Defense

     Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is a widely growing sport/self-defense style here in the United States. BJJ was originally popularized here in the U.S. by the early Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) matches between Royce Gracie and others in the early nineties. The system of BJJ utilizes leverage and technique to give a smaller opponent the skills necessary to defeat someone larger and stronger. When  BJJ skill levels are similar, size and strength absolutely do matter, as they matter in a real life violent encounter. 

     BJJ is an excellent base system for those interested in learning how to defend themselves. Legitimate schools will give students the skills necessary to defeat bigger and stronger opponents, and students will achieve a greater level of fitness, and overall confidence as a byproduct. New students should focus on the basics as a beginner. Emphasis should be on learning the various positions and how to get out of inferior positions and achieve advantageous positions. Learning how to move your body on the ground, while in uncomfortable positions is a must in order to be successful in any type of ground encounter. Basic submissions will follow, but leave the X-guard and spider guard techniques alone until you have a good fundamental BJJ base. Those techniques certainly have merit, and can be used in a real life violent encounter (especially once we introduce weapons into the mix), but too often I see beginners trying to skip the fundamentals and work on the fancy stuff they see in competition like Abu Dhabi (ADCC), Eddie Bravo Invitational (EBI) or Metamoris. 

     New BJJ practitioners should train both with and without the GI (traditional uniform worn when practicing BJJ). The GI offers a different perspective and allows for the use of different grips, many of which can be utilized in a real life violent encounter if the attacker is wearing a jacket or heavy shirt. Training without the GI is also important as you can not rely on the bad guy wearing clothing that will replicate a GI. Having an understanding of how grips change, and techniques may need to be modified based on the clothing the attacker has on is a very important part of training in any form of grappling. 

     As you progress through  your BJJ training you should always place emphasis on achieving a superior position (relative to your goals at that moment). Though some would argue that guard is as much a strong offensive position as it is a defensive one, if you pull someone into your guard (you on your back with them in between your legs) in a nightclub environment it can become very problematic very quickly. While one on one guard might offer certain advantages, when you add additional people into the mix, staying on the ground on your back may no longer seem like a viable option. New students training in BJJ for self-defense should also always be thinking about striking while grappling. Most BJJ schools are not going to have students striking while they roll, however from a self-defense perspective, it is imperative to be thinking about when  you can be hit and when you can hit the attacker. 

     As your progress through your BJJ training and become more comfortable with the various positions, transitions, and basic submission skills, you should start to incorporate the use and defense of weapons into your training. Training to deal with an opponent who may be armed is vital, and most BJJ schools do not include curriculum that addresses this particular area.  There are many quality instructors who are specializing in dealing with this very area. I suggest you look into them, and get in a class, rather than leave a large gap in your protection skill set. BJJ is a great skill to have and in my opinion it is absolutely necessary for anyone serious about their self-defense skills. Seek out reputable, quality instruction and put your time in on the mats. There is no substitute for training and repetition. No shortcuts. Do the work and you will get the results you are looking for. See you on the mats!

-Adam 

Welcome

This company has been years in the making. For those who want to know more about me, please go to the "About Us" section and read up. In addition to all the law enforcement and military instruction I have also been training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) and Krav Maga for about 15 years now (on and off as sometimes life got in the way). My time on the mat training with some of the greatest people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting has shaped and molded my opinions on all things self defense. I have spent countless hours with close friends, learning through trial and error, about what works and what doesn't when it comes to the world of personal defense. I have had the pleasure (or misfortune depending on how you look at it) of being involved in hundreds, if not thousands of physical confrontations during my 15 plus years working in the nightclub industry, as well as my time working in law enforcement. Those experiences have shaped my current training in ways that only real life experiences can. The theoretical became empirical, and I now know where my training deficiencies lie and have adjusted fire accordingly. 

         I have learned that there are no substitutes for time on the mat and time spent in the gym. Bigger, stronger and faster absolutely matter. Anyone who told you differently lied to you. The techniques you see in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) are absolutely the foundation of any good self defense system. Knowing how to punch, kick, grapple and defend, are all vital skills when it comes to unarmed combat. Taking those skills a step further and learning to deal with armed assailants and multiple opponents are also necessary skills to incorporate into your training. BJJ is an excellent foundation and a great place to start. You cannot fake your way through BJJ like you can in certain traditional martial arts. You are challenged physically and mentally in every class. It is also a fantastic workout, so your are killing two birds with one stone by training in BJJ. I have trained at a Renzo Gracie affiliate for the majority of my adult life and I can honestly say that the only regret that I have is that I did not spend even more time on the mats. I have learned a great deal about myself and made life long friends during my time training BJJ, and to this day I continue to train as much as my schedule permits (not ever enough in my eyes). In addition to BJJ, you need to know how to hit. Boxing or Kickboxing are good places to start there. As always, thoroughly vet your instructors and make sure your money is being well spent. 

     Now that you know how to hit and how to roll, you need to think about the possibility that your opponent could be armed (edge weapon, impact weapon or firearm) and you need to seek out quality instruction that deals with those specific threats. This can be challenging as in my experience for every 10 instructors teaching this material, 9 have absolutely no idea what they are doing and have zero experience doing it in real life. There are a variety of quality instructors who travel the U.S. (and some abroad) who teach this material. Craig Douglass and Paul Sharp are two who come to mind immediately. Both of these guys have a tremendous amount of real world experience, and both have spent countless hours on the mat perfecting their craft. Krav Maga does a good job of dealing with the basics when it comes to dealing with armed opponents and multiples, but it is very difficult to find a legitimate Krav Maga school these days. Schools are rapidly popping up and fraudulent instructors are capitalizing on the new found popularity of the name Krav Maga. Ryan Hoover is one of the very few legitimate Krav Maga instructors out there, and he has done a great job of replacing outdated techniques with new and better ways to deal with various threats. 

     SSG is a small business that will focus on providing quality instruction to individuals or small groups in a variety of different areas. Self defense/combatives/self protection, or whatever else you would like to call it will be one of our major focuses. It is my belief that everyone has a fundamental responsibility to know how to protect themselves and their loved ones. The police are reactive and rarely there to prevent violence from happening. If you are unable to protect yourself and you are relying on the police or others to do it for you, then you are setting yourself up to fail. Seek out quality training. If not from us, then from someone who has the background and experience to give you the skills you really need. Be wary of those who are unable to demonstrate or articulate themselves when it comes to their backgrounds or techniques. Going to a school and practicing skills that are unrealistic are only going to give you a false sense of security and put you in even further danger. If you need help vetting a school near you, feel free to email me and I will be happy to help where I can. Until the next time, stay alert, stay sharp and stay alive. 

-Adam