What We Are Not
Here we will take a few moments to show you what we are NOT!
Since we have been teaching in Salem, there has been a rise in self-protection classes and instructors. A few of them know what they are doing, but a few are trying to be a copy of what I am doing. Most people that join these so called,” self-defense courses” realize after a few months that what they are learning is NOT what they wanted. For example, one program wants you to train like an "elite soldier.” While that may be fine for some, many others either do not want that, or can’t physical keep up with the course. Our Courses are for people, regardless of age, sex or experience level!
Here are the top four "self defense" programs offered in Marion County:
1. Traditional Martial Arts
Martial arts is excellent to study if what you want is to learn self-self-control, traditional fighting styles, fitness, and confidence. Depending on what art you select, martial arts teach you striking capabilities, joint locks, throws and grappling. When you know martial arts, you can defeat opponents by utilizing an assortment of hand strikes, kicks, knees, elbows, locks, and throws.
"Traditional Martial Arts are fun and rewarding, but they won’t prepare you for the challenge of a REAL street fight."
We Are Not Traditional Martial Arts!
2. Tae Kwon Do
Tae Kwon Do means "to strike or break with foot" and is the national sport of South Korea. Beginning in 1945, after the end of the occupation of Korea by Imperial Japan, new martial arts schools called "kwans" opened in Seoul.
These schools were established by Korean martial artists who had learned primarily from the Japanese during the Imperial occupation. Today, competitive Taekwondo is stand-up method of point fighting, and the world’s largest martial art by participation. It has been an Olympic sport since the 2000 games.
"Can't Tae Kwon Do be used to stop an attacker in the street?"
In theory, yes, but what if an attacker takes you to the ground? What if they have a weapon? Tae Kwon Do is a fun and challenging competitive sport, but it won’t prepare you for REAL STREET FIGHTS. In Tae Kwon Do, you are taught to fight other people using Taekwondo, playing by Taekwondo rules. In the streets, there are no rules! Your attacker will bite, gouge, spit or do whatever they have to harm you. Our system doesn't play by any rules, either!
We Are Not Tae Kwon Do!
3. Krav Maga
Krav Maga was created during wartime in the 1940’s, by the great Imi Lichtenfeld. While he did create Krav Maga, he did not create hand-to-hand combat. While serving in Africa, he was made an officer in the British Army. In order to qualify, training in the Army’s hand-to-hand combat system was MANDORTORY. Lichtenfeld incorporated this training into what later became part of Krav Maga’s arsenal.
He developed and refined his training in self-defense and hand-to-hand combat for the Israeli military, and Krav Maga was born. Today, you don’t have to go to Israel to learn this system. There are several versions of Krav Maga taught in America.
But which is authentic? Which is the best? Which is recognized by the IDF? (Israeli Defense Forces?) I’m quite sure they will each say, "there's is," but how will you truly know?
We Are Not Krav Maga!
4. Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)
Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is a mixture of boxing, traditional martial arts, Brazilian Jiu Jujitsu, Muay Thai, wrestling, and Judo. It is a full-contact fighting sport that utilizes both striking and grappling methods. The matches take place in a fenced-in octagonal ring, and can be won both standing or on the mat. The winner is decided by knock out or submission.
Originally promoted as a competition with few rules, the intention being to determine the most efficient form of fighting for real unarmed combat, MMA is very different from its beginnings.
While the competitions can be brutal, and the participants are trained to be very effective fighters, the rules of "the octagon" make MMA considerably different from even the most basic street encounters. The combatents are confined to the ring. Many moves are banned (eg. biting, groin strikes, eye gouges), there are no weapons, and there is a referee who will step in to stop the fight when warranted. Because of these constraints, MMA training is not considered an ideal form of self defense for the real world.
We Are Not Mixed Martial Arts!
