No Spec Work - Rewarding Creativity Properly

Violence is on the increase all over the world. Whenever a city reaches a population of one million people crime and particularly violent crime explodes. How adept are you at avoiding becoming a victim?

Below are ten topics. For each topic you will find four descriptions. Choose the description that best describes your attitude. If no description fits your lifestyle precisely just choose the closest one. Make a note of your answer A, B, C or D on a piece of paper so you can refer to it at the end of this article. Remember to be honest with your self-appraisal, otherwise this test will be meaningless for you.

Topic 1 - AWARENESS: - How aware are you of your surroundings?
A - sometimes
B - often
C - rarely
D - always

Topic 2 - WALKING: - Describe the general manner with which you walk.
A - normal gait
B - slowly or with frequent rests
C - dawdle along
D - rapidly with purpose

Topic 3 - FITNESS: - Describe your general fitness.
A - fit with a strong athletic appearance
B - overweight with little athletic ability
C - average fitness with normal appearance
D - infirm - require use of a cane, frame or wheelchair

Topic 4 - SELF DEFENSE: - Rate your understanding, knowledge or ability in self defense.

A - have no knowledge at all about self defense
B - have attended at least one self defense seminar that required some practical training
C - have trained for at least six months in a martial art (eg karate, kick boxing, boxing, aikido, ju jutsu)
D - have read some articles on self defense or a book on it

Topic 5 - ALCOHOL & DRUGS: - What is your attitude towards alcohol and drugs.
A - drink a lot and regularly take drugs
B - alcohol and mind-altering drugs are a way of life
C - rarely consume alcohol and never take mind-altering drugs
D - drink moderately and occasionally dabble in drugs

Topic 6 - ENVIRONMENT: - Choose your normal evening environment.
A - go out a bit - mostly to restaurants, movies and friends’ homes
B - party person - go out frequently
C - go out occasionally but normally stay home

D - party animal - consider night clubs, bars and saloons the place to be

Topic 7 - SITUATIONS: - What is your normal interaction with others on a daily basis?
A - I make rude and offensive comments and gestures when others deserve it
B - I can’t help myself - I often involve myself in the business of others
C - I just mind my own business
D - I will intervene if I feel a situation warrants it

Topic 8 - TRANSPORT: - What is your normal mode of transport?
A - usually it is my private vehicle
B - I usually catch a train
C - I normally catch a bus
D - taxi is my usual transport

Topic 9 - MONEY: - How much money do you normally carry?

A - only plastic cards and a small amount of cash
B - more than $500 on most occasions
C - up to $100 usually
D - several hundred dollars

Topic 10 - DRIVING: - Choose your normal driving attitude.
A - I always drive safely and show courtesy and patience to other road users
B - Some people just deserve the “fingers up” or a blast of the horn
C - I speed a little, am somewhat impatient and like to toot my horn
D - I regularly chastise others for their stupid mistakes

YOUR SCORECARD:

Mark your answers below and tally up the numbers to give a score.

Topic 1 - A = 7, B = 15, C = 0, D = 20.
Topic 2 - A = 6, B = 3, C = 1, D = 8.
Topic 3 - A = 10, B = 2, C = 6, D = 1.
Topic 4 - A = 1, B = 4, C = 6, D = 2.
Topic 5 - A = 2, B = 0, C = 15, D = 8.
Topic 6 - A = 8, B = 4, C = 10, D = 0.
Topic 7 - A = 0, B = 2, C = 12, D = 10.
Topic 8 - A = 8, B = 1, C = 2, D = 6.
Topic 9 - A = 4, B = 1, C = 3, D = 2.
Topic 10 - A = 7, B = 0, C = 5, D = 2.

Now check your score with the RESULTS TABLE below:

RESULTS TABLE:

85 to 100 - you have an excellent expectation of not becoming a victim.
75 to 84 - your chance of not becoming a victim is very good.

60 to 74 - you have a moderate chance of becoming a victim.
40 to 59 - your chances of becoming a victim are fairly high.
20 to 39 - you need take a look at your lifestyle and improve your personal safety.
5 to 19 - you definitely need to make some radical lifestyle changes NOW.

To learn more about self-defense you can visit the Motivation and Self Esteem website. Go to the “Zen Garden” page, scroll down and click on the articles in “Self-Defense Corner.”

This article comes with reprint rights providing no changes are made and the resource box below accompanies it.

About the author: Gary Simpson is the author of eight books covering a diverse range of subjects such as self esteem, affirmations, self defense, finance and much more. His articles appear all over the web. Gary’s email address is budo@iinet.net.au. Click here to go to his
Motivation & Self Esteem for Success website where you can receive his “Zenspirational Thoughts” plus an immediate FREE copy of his highly acclaimed, life-changing e-book “The Power of Choice.”

“Combatives” from the root word COMBAT - “to fight in direct contact”, “active fighting between enemies”, “any fight or struggle”.

Well, let’s see………………..There is ONE singular glaring absence in the above definition. Notice it? Absolutely NO mention of Fairbairn, Applegate, or Coach Hanley. No mention of Jiu-Jitsu, Boxing, Savate or any member of the Gracie family. No mention of World War Two, the Punic Wars or the Spartans. No mention of Juji-Gatame, a smashing overhand right, an edge of hand blow, or even a good old kick in the butt!

Get it? THERE ARE NO SPECIFICS that define what is or isn’t so-called “COMBATIVES”! So why do so many people feel such an overriding need to “define” combatives into a narrow scope of limited methodology? “I know what you do”…………………..”That Fairbairn stuff”. A month ago this same guy thought FAIRBAIRN was simply a decent suntan. “Yea, I base my combatives on Applegate”……………..six months ago this dude thought Applegate was the entrance to an orchard! Everybody’s an “expert”. At what exactly? I’m not sure even “they” really know.

I won’t presume to speak for ANYONE else that uses this term “combatives”. Actually I wouldn’t want to! All I can do is offer a CORRECT semantic observation and proffer my view on what encompasses my study, training and understanding of so-called “combatives”.

If you really do your research and homework you will see that even in manuals describing man to man combat that are CENTURIES old there exists a very COMPREHENSIVE survey and presentations of MANY forms of armed and unarmed combat. ALL in the same manuals! A vast array of weapon skills are shown and even the “unarmed” combat is a diverse mix of “techniques”. Before the use of London Prize Ring rules and the Marquis of Queensbury, “pugilists” used and relied on a great number of different grappling/striking/kicking and gouging methods. Ancient Greek Pankration was a combined system of “ALL POWERS” combat. The original Koryu Bujutsu of the Samurai included a comprehensive catalog of both armed and unarmed skills. The unarmed combatives of the Japanese Bushi also DIDN’T limit scope or method. Grappling was stressed when THAT was the best method of gaining tactical superiority. Striking, kicking and even BITING was resorted to when THAT was deemed the most appropriate method. The Chinese have ALWAYS maintained fully robust systems of combat that included all manner of striking, punching, kicking, throwing, strangling and joint-locking. Original Okinawan Te (Ti) included percussion methods as well as “tegumi” and “tuite”. Punch his lungs out if that did the job best. Kick his gonads out the top of his head if THAT worked best. Or grapple him into submission and control OR grapple him into a spine lock and neck break. Whatever was called for and whatever GOT THE JOB AT HAND DONE!

The 19th century saw many methods of “combined” self-defense systems develop in the West. The French combined elements of Chausson/Savate (Basque Zipota as well) with Boxe Anglaise, Parisian Lutte, and even the “new” Japanese Jiu-Jitsu. The British did the same. The “BARTITSU” of Barton-Wright is a classic example. In the US a number of “self-protection” methods became available to the public that combined methods from Boxing and Wrestling. EVEN before any “organized” systems were presented, men who “fought” even for “sport” used virtually ANY device to insure victory. Just read Elliot J. Gorn.

The Twentieth century saw even MORE “mixed” combat systems. It CERTAINLY didn’t take a Sherlock Holmes to figure out that in a REAL fight ANYTHING goes. Any and ALL manner of grappling, throttling, kicking, kneeing, butting, biting, punching, gouging, stomping and whatever other methods of mayhem could be employed were ALL “FAIR” when “fair” meant the difference between life or death. And it CERTAINLY didn’t just end at “unarmed” fighting! A “Gentleman” beset upon by a rough and tumble “footpad” on a lonely and desolate backstreet would feel perfectly JUSTIFIED in running said “footpad” thru and thru again with his sword cane or bashing his brains in with a “lifesaver”. Even when the highwayman wasn’t even armed with a lowly brickbat. What’s that old saying? All’s fair in love and war. Often it’s not a matter of who’s “right”, but simply who’s LEFT!

This IS “combatives” pure and simple. Whatever WORKS BEST at the time! A sort of “mixture” of varied fighting skills. HEY………………..wait a minute! A “mixed” fighting system? What a NOVEL IDEA!

Our next installment will look at “combatives” from the Russo-Japanese war and World War One thru to our “brandy new” millennium and all our new age “innovations”. Should be fun!

©2005 www.thetruthaboutselfdefense.com

Carl Cestari began his study of the martial arts with judo at the age of 7 under the direction of Yoshisada Yonezuka. During the past forty plus years Carl has dedicated his life to studying the martial arts, hand to hand combat systems, history and religion. What makes Carl unique is his combination of martial arts, law enforcement and military and real world experience. Carl has been exposed to a multitude of people with a wide variety experience. The following is a list of some of Carl’s ranks and honors.

Shinan (Founder) Tekkenryu jujutsu
Ryokudan (6th degree) Koshinkai Karate under John Burrelle
Godan (5th degree) Jujutsu under Clarke of the World Jujutsu Fedaration (now defunct)
Sandan (3rd degree) Nippon Kempo under Narabu Sada
Nidan (2nd degree) Judo under Masafumi Suzuki
Shodan (1st degree) Judo under Yoshisada Yonezuka
Shodan (1st degree) Shukokai Karate under Kimura, Kadachi and Yonezuka
Shodan (1st degree) Daitoryu Aikijujutsu
Instructors Certificate- Charles Nelson System of Self Defense under Charlie Nelson
http://www.thetruthaboutselfdefense.com