Uncontrolled Violence

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Uncontrolled violence in training is unacceptable and prohibited...

However, it (violence) must be fully appreciated and acknowledged in both physical and psychological modes in order to attempt to combat it. The training we do means that eventually it will become practical and sometimes rugged, and so at the moment we keep it for adults (over 18) only.

Like everyone else, we have a duty and an obligation to make sure that each novice that joins us becomes aware of the routines and conventions that make practice as safe as possible whilst maintaining realism.

Etiquette, warm-up exercises, how to fall down safely, and  body and position management is taught initially.

The kyu syllabus is designed to give each student a reasonable basic range of tools to learn and examples to use against a variety of attacks. 

It is a truncated form of the material the instructors were exposed to - much has been discarded as impractical in it's present form when the opponent can also retaliate with 'no rules' applied i.e. fighting. Much has been modified in the light of being shown detail that magnifies the effect and stays within the principles.

Sometimes less is more when the fine motor skills collapse under stress and the reflex instincts have to kick in!

Concepts are promoted rather countless solutions to endless combinations and ' what if...' scenarios.

There is no sparring as is generally seen in martial arts -  in practicing self protection the students take turn to experience being be the 'attacker' and then the 'victim'. The escalation and level of contact is mutually agreed between each set of practicing partners. Escape to safety is the paramount objective.

Male and female students usually train in similar techniques except when there is obvious differences in physiology and strength. Generally we all work to the weakest point and the same response!

The teaching is loosely based on the old premise (which I have politically modified..):

Give a man (or a woman) a fish and you feed that person for that day.
Teach them how to fish - and he or she can feed themself for a lifetime.

The skills must eventually be honed, and adopted, and adapted to become the individual's and match that individual's physique and talents - not just be a cloned art to be performed exactly like the teacher, and his teacher before him!

For a realistic approach to self protection generally and impact and body movement in self defense for the UK market - you can't do better than Peter Consterdine, Geoff Thompson and the British Combat Association. Acknowledgement must be given to Vince Morris and The Institute for Kyusho-Jutsu Research. One of my best books is Vince's "Kyusho Secrets" 2nd edition which seems to be difficult to get now. George Dillman of Dillman Karate International for his pioneering work along with Rick Moneymaker and Tom Muncy of the Dragon Society International in investigating pressure points in karate.  I have been on these guys seminars and got most of their books and videos - you can also get them here at the Books page. 

Malcolm Keith
 Chief Instructor
 Yoshiki Goshinjutsu