It is amazing how much the word ‘practical’, ‘effective’ or 'street self defence' is used to describe a certain Martial Art system. Yes, many fighting skills are practical and effective within realm of fighting, the question is how practical are these skills within modern society and against various types of attacks(ers) i.e. aggressive night club attack, skilful 'street' fighters, street thugs, road rage, trained criminals, terrorists, hi-jackers, rapists, home invasions to name only a few.
So how do you know which style/system or Martial Art is best for your needs? There are 3 distinct branches in the Martial Arts today:
Street Fighting is not just for the big and strong, but for anyone who is concerned about their personal protection. Our ladies are trained to deal with social and asocial violence.
Traditional Tai Chi
1. Traditional-based systems, such as Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Kung-fu etc. are ancient systems that adhere to ancient techniques and training methods. They typically wear uniforms, have a belt ranking system, and require their students to learn foreign customs, traditions and terminology. Found within these systems are fundamental self-defence principals, but they are not structured to teach students modern criminal, terrorism and violent crime situations such as bombings, armed robberies, drive-by shootings, stalking, car-jacking, gang violence, threat assessment, rapings etc. Click here to learn more about traditional Tai Chi for health and relaxation.
High Performance Mixed Martial Arts
2. Sport-based systems, such as Ju-Jitsu, Judo, Greco-Roman Wrestling, Western boxing etc. have their roots in traditional-based martial arts, but adhere to sporting rules in order to compete in various tournaments, sporting events, or even the Olympics. Like the traditional-base martial arts, viable self-defence techniques and training methods can be gleaned from sport-based systems as well, but also like the traditional-based systems they also lack many modern conflict solutions. Mixed Martial Arts or 'cage fighting' is one of the toughest tournaments known today.Click here to learn more about High Performance Mixed Martial Arts.
High Performance Street Fighting
3. Reality-based systems are those systems that teach the fundamental self-defence techniques that are found in both the traditional-based and sport-based systems, but go a step further by training specifically for modern conflict situations, and eliminating outdated techniques and training methods.
Although there are many systems today calling themselves “reality-based,” because they see themselves as training more realistically and have abandoned non-essential customs and traditions, few of them are actually “complete reality-based” systems. In other words, they lack Pre-Conflict and Post-Conflict training in their curriculum's and their Conflict training may be lacking simply because they have no real-world experience with criminals, abnormal, or terrorism.
Obviously a style can overlap from the one system to the next and visa versa. But, depending on your goal one needs to ensure you expose yourself to the correct system to achieve the best results.Does your current system or style educate and prepare you what to do and what not to do in social and asocial violence?
Morne undergoing tactical firearm training under the watchful eye of USA SWAT agent, Sgt Jim Wagner
The latest buzz word in the martial arts community is 'reality-based'. It is a police term, though never widely used in the law enforcement community, which refers to Realistic Conflict Rehearsal training. The term 'reality-based' was brought to light thanks to one of the world's leading reality based instructors, Sergeant Jim Wagner from the USA. Morné Swanepoel is personally trained and certified by Sgt. Jim Wagner who is a former soldier, corrections officer, street cop, SWAT officer, diplomatic bodyguard, and counterterrorist agent for the United States government after 9/11.
'Reality Based Personal Protection is training and survival skills based on modern day conflict situations that the practitioner is likely to encounter in their environment (their 'reality'), in accordance with the use-of-force continuum of that jurisdiction' - Sgt Jim Wagner
Street violence which can be directly related to the unlawful exercise of physical force is a reality which all of us live with on a daily basis. Training to protect oneself for street confrontations is very intense and quite different from training for competitions, even the No Holds Barred competitions that are very popular today. The Pavement arena is where there are no rules, where anything goes and where you can expect the unexpected.
'You will never rise to the level of your expectations. You fall to the level of your training. The way you train is the way your are going to fight/perform' - Morne Swanepoel -
This is however not just about fighting but also about exploring the 3 stages of a violent pavement arena, i.e. Pre Conflict, Conflict and Post Conflict. This will include but is not limited to avoidance techniques and tactics, personal security, self-defence and the law, how to recognize agitation in a hostile person and how to talk your way out of a bad situation. You will also be exposed to what to do after a conflict situation – citizens arrest methods, first aid, how to recognize an attacker again to assist the police and how to overcome post traumatic stress following a physical conflict.
If you are looking for a modern day Self Defence System which deals with Pre Conflict, Conflict and Post Conflict aspects of today's violent crime and social violence then this is the system for you. Morné Swanepoel's JKD High Performance Street Fighting is a unique blend of Reality Based Personal Protection High Performance Mixed Martial Arts training methods, techniques and tactics preparing you to survive the streets of today!
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