Who wants to be quoted in a magazine article ?

[Abbax8]

I recently received the OK from U.S. Catholic to submit a magazine article on the Morality of Self Defense. The idea came to me in light of the Trayvon Martin case. U.S. Catholic has a national distribution. They prefer articles which feature quotes from experts in the field.

I am developing the article with two broad discussions,one on self defense training in the Martial Arts and second the teaching of Catholic Church on self defense,its history and development.

I am developing a series of questions that would best be answered by either experienced Martial Art Instructors/practitioners and secondly by Law Enforcement Officers. Anyone who chooses to participate can answer all or just a few of the questions. Also if you wish to remain anonymous that is fine.

I will post the questions soon, I am puzzling over them a bit. Answers can be e-mailed to me at Abbax8@hotmail.com. Please put Magazine Article in the subject line.

Dennis

[gmtkd]

Count me in. I write a self defense newspaper column by the way and put many of my old columns on my blog which can be found at www.goldmedaltkd.com

Sorry to make such a shameless plug for my work, but this opportunity seemed too good to pass up.

If I can be of help to you in your article in anyway, let me know.

[Abbax8]

Marcy,

As a budding writer I understand. If we can help each other then so much the better.

I worked on the questions yesterday, there are 10 of them. Answer only what you want to. After I look over them one more time I'll post them here.

Dennis

[Abbax8]

Just to be clear to everyone. I have been given the OK to submit the article but no guarantee it will be published.
Jumping through one hoop at a time.

Dennis

[Abbax8]

Here are the questions I would like to use in the article. You may respond here or send me an p.m. or e-mail me at Abbax8@hotmail.com. PLease put magazine article in the subject line so I don't delete it by mistake.

Questions for U. S. Catholic Magazine

You do Not have to be Catholic to respond to this questionnaire.

1) Is there one technique in your opinion that is of prime importance to keep a person safe ?

2) What techniques do you stress when you teach self defense ?

3) What advice do you give to people regarding self defense ?

4) Do you talk about the welfare of the attacker in your teaching ?

5) Using 1, 2 3, etc with the highest number meaning the most lethal, how would you respond in the following situations: 1) a robbery attempt against you, 2) you are physically attacked. 3) a family member is physically attacked in your presence. 4) you see a child being attacked.

6) Does your personal religious beliefs affect the way you teach self defense ?

You may choose or decline to identify the faith you practice.


May I use your name and information you provided in the article ?

Thank You

Dennis

[CEB]

The questions on the Morality of Self-Defense when taken in light of the New Testament are difficult. Between 3 and 4 years ago I almost competely walked away from martial arts over these issues. But a priest and a friend who is a seminarian student believed I was misguided in my interpretations in what we are called to do by Christ. I am a layman, and not a very good one so I call upon the Church to set me straight.

I've been in 2 self defense situations. A robbery attempt and an assault. As far as techniques, thought processes, advice, yadda yadda yadda .... that all just goes out the window. I just went completely primal and got lucky. I would rather be lucky than good.

I don't teach self defense. I am not qualified to teach self defense. My teaching license in is Goju Ryu no self defense. I teach Karate and if those skills can serve as a means of self protection than great. My pet peeve are martial artist that go around teaching self defense like they are an expert in the field. Self Defense is A LOT MORE than techniques.

I was in an incident that involved things that went BOOM! A FTX gone bad. A interesting thing I learned is often the hard core guys break down like like babies and the average Joe that just wants to do his job, get paid and be able to afford school is a real warrior. Someone is either wired for survival or they aint. I don't think you can teach mean. At least in a civilian, at-will training environment. .... If everyone was allowed to leave basic training like a Karate dojo all the trainees would quit.

PS - I am not Roman Catholic, I don't want to inject any more confusion than I probably already have.

[sean_stonehart]

Sent.

[Abbax8]

Thanks Sean !

[Abbax8]

Ed,

Thanks for the input.

Dennis

[cejames]

You do Not have to be Catholic to respond to this questionnaire.

1) Is there one technique in your opinion that is of prime importance to keep a person safe ?

No, there is no "one" technique for anything you do be it a fight, combat, defense, or what ever. Each situation in a fight or attack is unique to that situation and that moment. Trying to peg anything down to just "one" is ok for learning but you must let go of the one to gain spontaneity and instinctual response to stimuli.

2) What techniques do you stress when you teach self defense ?

I don't stress techniques that bottles one down to "you do this" in response to someone "doing that." A formula for disaster, in my view, toward failure. I believe one should focus on violence and all that entails before even thinking of self defense then once you gain the knowledge seek out defense training that encompasses all that is violence to include most importantly the before, during and after violence - see Marc MacYoung and Rory Miller books, webs, blogs and seminars/training, etc.

3) What advice do you give to people regarding self defense ?

See answer to number two in addition I recommend a analysis of exposure in the daily lives and environment because the majority of humans will in all likelihood never get into a fight, combat or be attacked. I also advocate in addition to no. 2 above teaching the self-defense technique of "avoidance" so the likelihood of violent encounters is non-existent. Also, now that I am writing I would also, in light of avoidance training, first learn how to communicate, i.e. start with the Art of Verbal Self-Defense series and People Skills by Robert Bolton, Ph.D.

4) Do you talk about the welfare of the attacker in your teaching ?

Yes, it is imperative one balance out their training with first-aid but in reality the gaol of any encounter or conflict is to leave and find a safe zone. So, it may be no more than getting to a safe zone and calling the authorities such as police and emergency services.

5) Using 1, 2 3, etc with the highest number meaning the most lethal, how would you respond in the following situations: 1) a robbery attempt against you, 2) you are physically attacked. 3) a family member is physically attacked in your presence. 4) you see a child being attacked.

This is very dangerous assigning importance to an attack and a response. You need to know and understand force, force law, self-defense law and many, many other things because using the term lethality tends to set the wrong mind set. It is just not this simple, not now, not ever, no way, no how. Go back and research this aspect for this could lead to many repercussions to you, your family and your life cause it just ain't this simple - my humble opinion.

6) Does your personal religious beliefs affect the way you teach self defense ?

No, religion does not have a place in self-defense. Either you will use your tools or you won't. Now, your religious beliefs, your culture, your environment, your perceptions, and many other things should be considered before taking self-defense or using it to determine whether you are going to give yourself permission to take appropriate actions or not. If you set your mind-set or even try and think of this it will end up causing a freeze at minimum and the aftermath must be considered as to mental repercussions, etc. You cannot take appropriate actions in a combative violent situation with all these rules. It is hard enough finding balance with just the societal and legal requirements. Then if you are in a work that is professional, i.e. military, police, etc., it becomes even more critical ... as you can see, right or wrong, my meaning is "it ain't this simple."

You may choose or decline to identify the faith you practice.

I was born and raised as catholic.

May I use your name and information you provided in the article ?

Yes, but understand my only credentials are Marine Corps ten years and thirty-six years with thirty-three as black belt in Okinawan Isshinryu Karate Goshin-do.

Respectfully Submitted,

Charles J.

[Erik]

Hi Dennis,

Use if you like. I'm not an instructor but I've been a bouncer for a while and had to make some decisions that got me thinking about these kinds of questions. Maybe this helps?

Questions for U. S. Catholic Magazine

You do Not have to be Catholic to respond to this questionnaire.

1) Is there one technique in your opinion that is of prime importance to keep a person safe?

Other than paying attention to surroundings, the rear-naked choke from standing and several entries to it.

2) What techniques do you stress when you teach self defense?

Rear-naked choke from standing, eye poking.

3) What advice do you give to people regarding self defense?

Pay attention to your surroundings, mind who is paying attention to you, travel with friends and under lighting if you must go through a risky area.

Fight to disengage and escape as opposed to trying to defeat the opponent.

Also, based upon my experience in a variety of cities and countries, expect a crowd to stand and observe, maybe cheer, but not to help you.

4) Do you talk about the welfare of the attacker in your teaching?

In post-event debriefs, I do. I also have taken risks in a fight to try not to hurt my opponent, even when these risks could have resulted in me being injured. I have never hit or kicked anyone in a fight, strangely enough. This is because it causes injury as opposed to helping me (hopefully safely for both of us) control the opponent.

5) Using 1, 2 3, etc with the highest number meaning the most lethal, how would you respond in the following situations: 1) a robbery attempt against you, 2) you are physically attacked. 3) a family member is physically attacked in your presence. 4) you see a child being attacked.

Robbery - least lethal (at first, depends upon the details and how scared I am). First order of business is getting out of there in one piece which may mean I must demure (1).

However, if there is a weapon involved, I believe that the robber may actually use it, and I think I can disable the robber successfully, then causing non-trivial injury (3 on this scale) would not be out of the question. The reason for this is that the robber made the decision that someone would be hurt. All I did is see to it that the injury was ultimately self-inflicted.

Personal Assault - medium lethal (2). Thanks to BJJ and Judo, I have the option to "checkmate" an opponent with chokes and joint-locks as opposed to bludgeon them into a state where they can non longer fight.

Family Member - depends upon the circumstance, such as two four year-olds pushing each other vs. my old man or woman being slugged. Obviously, for the kids, the goal is not to injure either (1).

Conversely, if a fit, young adult is mauling my mom, dad, wife, etc., none of whom are confrontational or physically powerful people, I would be inclined to engage with a lot of force (3). The level of intensity in my response has more to do with knowing their personalities (not volatile or provocative people) than with a sense of loyalty.

A Kid - depends upon the attacker. If it's an adult I would seek to separate them and figure out what is really happening (1). I've seen enough misbehaving kids, some special-ed types, who needed to be physically controlled by a guardian. This can easily be misinterpreted.

On the other hand, a teenager vs. a kid would merit medium (2) violence with the goal to be separation of the parties as opposed to disabling someone. There is no excuse for a teen to assault a child but the teen is also still a kid, in a way.

6) Does your personal religious beliefs affect the way you teach self defense?

I cannot say for teaching but for the work-related fights I have had, then yes. Even though it is a very bad idea when it comes to my own survival, the welfare of the other guy(s) is always on my mind. I cannot help it.

I have even taken over fights from partners because I felt I could end the engagement with less injury to the opponent than my partner would cause (some of them have been very mean, though loyal people). I have choked out or pinned guys without insuring that their friends were a safe distance away. I could have thumped a head against the cement and gone to the next person but my instinct was to try to control them with both of our safety in mind.

Honestly, I am concerned about that moment on judgement day when I will have to explain decisions I have made regarding what I did to my brother (since we're all God's children, ultimately) who was clearly having a bad night out.

Thus far, I feel that I have tried to moderate use of force with mutual welfare in mind. I hope God agrees.

You may choose or decline to identify the faith you practice.

United Methodist Church.

May I use your name and information you provided in the article?

Sure.

[Abbax8]

Charles and Erik,

Thank You both for your replies.

Dennis

[Erik]

Please feel free to paraphrase. I wrote that like a 5th grader....

[CEB]

Something that feels potentially problematic is this concern over the welfare of your attacker and any sort of contolled use of force in an self-defense engagement.

You know, if the human knee joint was a weak as a lot "martial artist" seem to think it is we could not walk because our legs would under our own bodyweight. I think a lot of "Martial Artist" underestimate how difficult it can be to really really hurt someone.

My teacher was a cop and 8 of my fellow dojo seniors have been cops. We were pretty serious about our practice. No one ever stressed being overly concerned about your attackers well being in a survival mode situation.

Things Sensei always stressed was how to conduct yourself in a post event interview with the police. The effect of adrnealine on your body ( tunnel vision, focus, loss of fine motor skills etc.... ) and the effect of adrenaline on your enemy. Then we would do things like play bull in the ring and different drills to try to put you under the maximum stress possible in a dojo environment to try to invoke some sort of adrenaline rush and make you work through it while developing reactions to situations and scenarios.


One dirty trick Sensei would do in training every once in a while one of your partners would grab you on the shoulder from behind and offer you a handshake. Usually guys would instictively turn and punch the guy in the face .... Oops! Push ups. LOL

But we never taught "self-defense" per se. It was just Karate practice.

[Abbax8]

Ed,

Do not confuse the questions with what I would do in a self defense situation. I puzzled over the questions in light of the premise of the article, A Moral Perspective on Self Defense. I wanted to elicit answers from different people. It is turning into an enlightening experience.

Dennis

[gmtkd]

I'm going to think about my answers and email them tomorrow. The one about how my personal or religious beliefs effect my self-defense teaching is really spinning around in my head trying to sink in. That's the kind of thing that can affect a person without them realizing it.
I'm also wondering if I'm any good at using effect and affect correctly now.

[Eliz]

1) Is there one technique in your opinion that is of prime importance to keep a person safe ?

Situational awareness and sound judgment are probably the two most important techniques for personal safety and self defense.

2) What techniques do you stress when you teach self defense ?

I do not endorse a single technique above all others. It is natural for one to favor certain techniques over others so it is my obligation to teach my students as much as I can and let them find what works best for them.

3) What advice do you give to people regarding self defense ?

Self defense is as much mental as it is physical. Repetitively training the techniques is not enough. One has to be mentally prepared as well. Without the mental conditioning one may freeze like a deer in headlights or worse, over react to a relatively minor situation.

4) Do you talk about the welfare of the attacker in your teaching ?

Absolutely!
It is almost impossible for some to fathom that in becoming a victim, one also assumes a tremendous amount of responsibility for the situation.
As soon as one finds themself in a safe spot, they have to think about contacting the authorities, medical assistance if necessary, getting thoughts together to give a clear and detailed statement, and maintaining a safe control of the current situation.

5) Using 1, 2 3, etc with the highest number meaning the most lethal, how would you respond in the following situations: 1) a robbery attempt against you, 2) you are physically attacked. 3) a family member is physically attacked in your presence. 4) you see a child being attacked.

Hmmm, there could be a lot of variables that would determine the degree of force but, my very general response would be:
5-8, 5-8,8-10 8-10
6) Does your personal religious beliefs affect the way you teach self defense ?

I have never really thought about it. My initial thought is no, it does not affect the way I teach self defense.