FAQ

Q: What is the difference between martial arts and self-defense?

A: The majority of martial arts are comprised of various components including history, philosophy, religion, tradition, and other aspects of training which have little to do with real-world personal protection. Self-defense generally tends to focus only on the physical and mental aspects of surviving life-or-death altercations, without spending years learning material that isn't needed.

Q: How long does it take to learn real self-defense?

A: Unlike most martial arts systems, self-defense can usually be learned in a relatively short period of time. As an example, some self-defense systems can be learned in just a few hours of hands-on training. However, once the material has been learned the student will still need to practice in order to use the material effectively in a real-world situation. There are no short-cuts that replace regular practice.

Q: What exactly is "mind-set" and how does it relate to self-defense?

A: The "Mind-set" is a term popularized in police circles that is used to represent the mental preparation to dealing with physical attacks. Simply put, it is having the willingness and determination to do whatever it takes to survive a life-or-death altercation. In self-defense, "mind-set" is far more important than physical techniques.

Q: Am I too old to learn self-defense?

A: No, you are never too old to learn how to protect yourself. Self-defense is about your survival, regardless of age. Remember, self-defense is different than martial arts, where age can sometimes be a factor in performance.

Q: What is "adrenal response" and what does it have to do with self-defense?

A: The "adrenal response" is more commonly known as the "fight or flight response". It is a physiological reaction that the body goes through when it is exposed to high levels of stress. Self-defense situations can cause such a reaction. Students of self-defense should be familiar with the "adrenal response" and how it might adversely effect their ability to protect themselves.

Q: Is self-defense different for men and women?

A: There is a common misconception that women's self-defense training should be different from the training that men receive. The truth is that basic survival self-defense programs should be essentially the same for both men and women. The only difference between a men's course and a women's course is that the women's course may include additional ground-defense material based on the statistics of attempted rapes and the common rape positions. However, the underlying basics will remain the same.

Q: Do you address the legalities of using self-defense skills?

A: Absolutely! Understanding the legal, moral, and ethical aspects of using your self-defense skills is a must. Those things, along with awareness / avoidance / prevention, and mind-set are the most important aspects of learning to protect yourselves and your families.

Q: Is it true that reality-based self-defense programs use scare tactics?

A: In truth, the topic of self-defense can be scary to many people regardless of the training methods used. However, my experience has shown that using reality-based training helps to drastically increase the student's confidence and empowers them far beyond anything found in more traditional programs.