Around 2014 I broke my right ulna quite badly in a training accident. I had emergency surgery, and my right arm was useless in training for the next 6 months. And yet, by the time I got back to boxing, I had improved tremendously in sparring despite not having sparred at all for 6 months. Many people asked me how I continued to improve and were surprised when the answer was ‘I trained by myself a lot’.
One of the best things about martial arts training is that, especially early on, we lose often. Whether that’s doing scenarios, whether that’s sparring, rolling, randori, etc., the fact that we lose helps us develop resilience, analyse our performance and get better over time.
That being said, if we lose over and over again, it can be a real hit to motivation and become so frustrating that we may stop training altogether.
At the same time, if you are only training in an environment where you win every single time, your training is probably unrealistic – whether that’s for self defence or combat sports. Developing the perception that you will always win can lead to developing a big ego or false confidence in your skills that can put you at risk.
We need to find a balance between winning and losing that will encourage us to grow, show us are weaknesses and motivate us to get better. So how do we do that?
Adrenaline is one of the realities of self-defence. If you have never experienced violence, you are 100% guaranteed to be adrenalized if something happens. And even if you are very experienced in dealing with violence you are likely to experience adrenal dump – you are just likely to manage it much better.
There are a couple of factors that are not discussed as often when talking about adrenaline:
1. The level of adrenaline you are experiencing
2. The effects of adrenaline on other people (attackers, people you are protecting, bystanders, first responders)
3. The root cause behind the adrenaline
These are crucial pieces to understanding what kind of situation you are dealing with, whether it can be avoided or de-escalated and how far things might go if it deteriorates into a physical confrontation.
Read on to find out why!
Let’s start with something you (hopefully) already know. Combat sports and self-defence are not the same thing.
If you think they are, then I recommend you read this. If you still don’t believe me, then you should probably stop reading here.
At the same time, there is so much that self-defence practitioners can learn from combat sports! You can read more about this here. Again, if you still don’t believe me then you should probably stop reading here.
So, if you are still reading then hopefully, we are on the same page. So, let’s talk about some of the training methods that are useful for both, how they cross over, and at a great structure and toolkit for your training.
Ready? Read on!
In the first three parts of this series, we looked at some interesting characters you might train with (here are parts one, two and three). In part four (read it here), we looked at some fo the interesting teachers you might come across when training in the martial arts.
Let’s look at a few more grandiose grandmasters, tapped teachers and lunatic leaders in the martial arts!
My usual disclaimer: This is not directed at you. Yeah, you. This is stuff that I’ve seen and experienced and, at times, have also been. Enjoy!
In The Many Faces of the Dojo series (here are the links to parts one, two and three) we got to meet some of the interesting people who we train with. They are the people we train with each week. They enrich our experiences, make us laugh and sometimes also get on our nerves, all of which are parts of training!
But what about the people who actually teach the classes?
Today we are going to meet some of the insane instructors, surreal senseis and crazy coaches you may encounter on your martial arts journey.
Modern Warrior Alliance International gathering for 2018 comes to Australia Perth 16-18 November.
After previous events in Israel and Africa, MWA is happening in Perth and Brisbane this November. Join us for 3 days of intensive training in Krav Maga and related arts with the top martial artists in the world and take part in our internationally accredited grading. Trainers details and brief schedule is below.
More info will be added as details become available.
Trainers:
- Professor Michael P Belzer, 9th Dan (USA)
- GM Meredith Gold (USA)
- Dr Gavriel Schneider, 7th Dan
- Noah Greenstone, 6th Dan
- World Champion Oliver Olsen
Schedule and information:
Perth 16-18 November
Brisbane 23-25 November
General schedule (open to everyone) limited spaces (40 Max)
Seminars + Grading - $375
- Women’s Self Defence Course Add-on or stand alone $75.
- with Instructor Course Add On $495
Friday - Day 1
17h30 meet and greet
6-9PM Workshops Session 1:
• Grappling Skills
• Standup Skills
• Krav Maga Ground Skills
Saturday - Day 2
9AM-12PM Workshops Session 2:
• Warmups and Stretches
• Striking Skills
• Joint Locks
• Throws & Takedowns
• Krav Maga Integration
45 minute Lunch Break
12:45 - 3:45PM Workshops Session 3:
• Weapons Defences
• Weapons Use
• Realistic Scenario Training
Sunday - Day 3:
• 8:30AM-12PM Gendai Krav Maga Grading
• 12-1:30PM Donn Draeger history review with Prof Michael Belzer (lunch during the presentation)
• 2PM Rank Presentations & Closing Ceremony
Monday - Day 4:
• Optional Women’s Self Defence Workshop with GM Meredith Gold 5:30-8:30pm - $75 (only 12 spaces available)
BOOK NOW - SECURE PAYMENTS VIA PAYPAL
for more information please ring us on 08 9389 9489
Instructor Profiles
Professor Michael Belzer, 9th Dan
Michael Belzer is one of the 2018 Modern Warrior Alliance Instructors that will be attending in November in both Brisbane and Perth.
Michael Belzer is a lifelong martial artist who began his training at the age of nine. Focusing predominantly on Danzan Ryu jujutsu (currently 9th degree black belt), kali/escrima and Shindo Muso Ryu Jojutsu, he’s trained in Japan, Malaysia and the Philippines and had the good fortune to study with the “best of the best”, including Sensei Donn F. Draeger, Prof. Wally Jay and Guro Dan Inosanto.
When Mike was introduced to the ASST method in 1989, he the felt that the realistic scenarios and full force striking provided the “missing link” in traditional martial arts training. He’s been wearing the armored assailant gear ever since, having worked with Impact Personal Safety, RMCAT and Project Blind Ambition. Mike has also served as a consultant to the Los Angeles Police Department’s Arrest and Control Unit as part of their Civilian Martial Arts Advisory Panel (CMAAP).
GM Meredith Gold
Meredith Gold has been teaching Adrenal Stress Scenario Training (ASST) programs since 1992, having worked with the Impact Personal Safety organization in Los Angeles, as well as Peyton Quinn’s Rocky Mountain Combat Applications Training (RMCAT) in Colorado. Since 2000 Meredith and her husband Michael Belzer have been teaching their R-A-W Power program.
Meredith’s primary focus has always been teaching self defense and empowerment skills to previously untrained women, teens and kids, but she has also been instrumental in bringing awareness of this training method to the martial arts community. A contributing editor for Black Belt Magazine for 5 years, Meredith was inducted into their Hall of Fame in 2003, naming her their “Woman of the Year”.
Meredith also became a certified holistic health and nutrition coach in 2008, receiving her training at The Institute for Integrative Nutrition in NYC. The more she learned about eating for health and longevity, the more Meredith recognized the similarities between nutrition and self defense skills. She was determined to find a way to combine these two areas she was so passionate about into one idea that would approach nutrition from a proactive and, at times, even defensive point of view. In 2012 Meredith expanded her services to include her self defense-based nutrition program called “The Kung Food Way” - www.thekungfoodway.com
Dr Gavriel Schneider
Master Gavriel Schneider began his martial arts training in the early 1980s beginning with Shotokan and then Goju Ryu Karate. In the late 1980s he was introduced to Sensei Vernon Rosenberg and began training under him in Koga Ryu Ninjitsu. When the migration to the Gendai Ryu style happened in the early 1990s Gavriel received his first black belt in the system in 1992 and began teaching the system. Whilst teaching under the Gendai system, Gavriel began training in Taekwondo under Master James Lee (8th Dan). Under Master Lee, Gavriel became a member of the South African Taekwondo team, fighting in numerous regional events as well as representing South Africa in the Taekwondo World Cup in 1997. During 1993-94 Gavriel also cross trained with a wide variety of other martial arts practitioners including Grandmaster Mickey Davidow.
In 1996, Gavriel then travelled to Israel and received the great privilege of becoming a live-in student of Hisardut Grandmaster Soke Dennis Hanover. Gavriel trained and taught in the main school in Herzliya full time (between 6-12 hours a day) during most of 1996 and was graded 1st Dan in DSJJ / Hisardut in the middle of 1996 and 2nd Dan at the end of the same year. During this time Gavriel also spent time at the main Israeli army physical fitness and self-defence training base at Wingate and was exposed to Military Krav Maga and also underwent intensive firearm training with pistol and submachine gun and received certification as an international practical shooter from the Israel Shooting Association. He has trained numerous military, policing, specialise security, royalty and mayoral protection teams over the years in both security skills and Defensive Tactics. Gavriel began deploying operationally as a Bodyguard/Close Protection Officer in 1997 and to date has protected Presidents, other senior level government officials and numerous celebrities and senior corporate executives. He continued to train under Dr Dennis Hanover during Dr Hanover’s numerous trips back to South Africa and made almost annual trips back to Israel.
Gavriel was awarded a 6th Dan from Dr Hanover in 2005 as well as being awarded a 6th Dan in Ninjitsu from GM Ashida Kim. He has also been a black belt full contact champion in the DSJJ championships and silver medal winner in the masters (above 5th Dan) open division. Gavriel was inducted into the South African Martial arts hall of fame in 2004 and received the ultimate honour of being included and inducted into the Israeli museum of martial arts history in 2010.
Sensei Noah Greenstone
Noah Greenstone began martial arts in Los Angeles in 1973, training Danzan Ryu Jujitsu and Judo. After receiving a black belt in 1985 he trained at the Inosanto Academy in Los Angeles. His instructors include notable US martial artists like Professor Michael Belzer, Cliff Stewart, Larry Hartsell, Hawkins Cheung, Professor Wally Jay, Shihan Sig Kufferath and others.
Noah spent the 1990s in Japan, training under the 11th and 12th headmasters of an ancient Japanese Samurai system where he extensively trained Jujutsu, Kenjutsu, Iaijutsu, Bojutsu and Naginata. During this time he also trained in Judo. He has participated seven times in the Zen Nippon Kobudo Renmei Embu Taikai sponsored by the Japanese government at the Dai Nippon Budokan and other key Japanese martial arts venues.
His experience also includes Filipino stick / knife / empty hand training with multiple masters, Indonesian Pencak Silat as well as Archery under the teachings of the late great Francis Peeler. In 2016 he was presented with a 6th Dan by UKMF Headmaster Yaron Hanover 9th Dan and Gendai Ryu Soke Dr Gavriel Schneider.
World Champion Oliver Olsen
Oliver 'The Outlaw' Olsen has been training in Muay Thai for most of his life, and comes from a family of fighters - with his cousins all having fought for national Muay Thai championship titles. Oli trained extensively in Thailand, and is well known for his long and successful career as a Muay Thai fighter, which includes 6 state titles, 2 Australian titles and a World Championship title. He also has extensive experience as a top level coach and personal trainer, and has coached many state and Australian National champions.
BOOK NOW - SECURE PAYMENTS VIA PAYPAL
for more information please ring us on 08 9389 9489
Date: Saturday 18 August 2018
Time: 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
FREE - but CLICK HERE to book now to avoid missing out!
We'll be holding demos and giving away free trials, great giveaways and heaps of special offers, and we'll have a couple of food trucks to make sure you can have a tasty, healthy bite too!
If you ever wanted to try a class, this is your chance! Free participation, cool demos, prizes and more.
Schedule for demos and participation:
- 10:30am - Kids Martial Arts
- 11:00am - Kickboxing / Filipino Martial Arts
- 11:30am - Japanese Jujutsu / Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
- 12:00pm - Krav Maga / Wrestling
- 12:30pm - Japanese Weapons / Yoga
FREE - but spaces are limited.
CLICK HERE to book now
There has been a lot of discussion recently on the effectiveness of and need for situational awareness. I believe that simply put, environmental and situational awareness are probably the most effective tools that we, as individuals, have for predicting violent attacks and keeping ourselves safe.
Yet this is not always a popular view. Here is an interesting article on this topic.
In this piece we’ll explore some of the common mistakes people make with regards to situational awareness, as well as why they make them. Before I go on, I’d like to ask you sit down and take 10 minutes and read this all the way through. If nothing else, there’s a cool story at the end.
Fighters and martial artists always talk about ‘heart’, or warrior spirit.
It is an unquantifiable quality. Natural for some people, and not natural for others.
It is the ability to keep fighting - to even fight more fiercely - even though you know the battle may have been lost. The ability to stare pain, or defeat, or fear right in the eye – which really means staring into the proverbial mirror – and say, sometimes quietly and sometimes in a loud voice, that you will not stop fighting.
Simply put, it is the strength of character to not give up even though you may want to.
This is a short, true story about heart. I hope it brings you some hope.