[Noisebridge-discuss] Self Defense

[Rameen]

This makes sense to me. Although, I disagree that weapons necessitate a
"level,"  and that practicing sparring is not a legitimate self-defense
practice.

Krav Maga implements the use of weapons early on in training because it's
practical. If someone got violent at Noisebridge, it's likely they'd find a
nice heavy object to swing if they really wanted to cause harm. They also
teach basic sparring tactics, because it's likely someone will engage you in
that way if they are attempting to attack you.

Bruce, what you describe sound like Aikido and/or Jeet Kune Do. Both of
them, I believe, were developed, or hacked from other martial arts. People
studied and learned what existed, and changed it to optimize-- Aikido seems
to be very passive, but also assertive. There weren't any strikes or
attacks, and we only learned how to perform techniques by doing the move on
an "attacker," who would engage us. Being the attacker teaches and requires
knowledge of the technique for efficacy in defense and to help teach the
move.

Not everyone will want to study and maintain an attitude like yours, Bruce,
however effective in the long-term.
 I think people are more interested in beginning some learning. Is it so
terrible to want to learn some bits of martial arts here and there, like how
to manipulate certain types of attacks that are likely to occur, or use some
weapons to enable less skilled or outnumbered individuals to defend
themselves? In fact, if people are serious about self-defense, I'd recommend
carrying  pepper spray or the like (I'm interested in hearing about these
flashlights and other high tech weapons!)

As for learning at Noisebridge-- Aikido which I participated in involved
being thrown, which is a very practical and realistic way of stopping an
attack. It's pretty important to learn to roll on mats, and shouldn't
require anyone feeling pain.

It's possible to practice "listening" exercises as used in Tai Chi or
Aikido, like push-hands technique, without being thrown.
There are lots of basic stances and principles that can be discussed or
practiced.
But, I think these are not ideal ways to learn to seriously defend oneself.




On Fri, Apr 8, 2011 at 5:30 PM, Bruce Wolfe <brucewolfe.sf at gmail.com> wrote:

> I for one will not participate in a violence-centered approach to sharing
> self-defense. The primary principle of self-defense is learning how to avoid
> violence or neutralize. Not actually being offensive. Defense in this
> respect is more about being responsive.
>
> As for weapons, that is a much higher level of learning and should be
> introduced in a formal setting where experienced
> teachers/guides/instructors/trainers can be sure there is a safe setting and
> practice. Again, for the higher level experienced practitioners.
>
> Considering the responses I've gotten from this group, there is a dearth of
> experienced practitioners. I'm not saying there are none but more people who
> are new to it that want to learn.
>
> My interest in hacking martial arts is in the understanding of how to make
> the internal energy (qi/ch'i/ki) manifest to make external energy
> (jing/ching/ki) substantial. For everyone, the manifestation comes to them
> in different ways but the end result is more or less the same.
>
> Hacking of this is more about finding that internal process or feeling,
> sharing it and working on optimizing or making better ways to realize or
> manifest that process or feeling.
>
> Anything else, I am not very interested in. After 40 years of martial arts,
> rudimentary postures, techniques and repetitive practice is useless without
> an understanding of the higher levels of subtle energy work that is actually
> the beginning of practice for all traditional and classical martial arts
> practice.
>
> Ultimately, being very active and hard-workers you all are, wouldn't you be
> more interested in keeping your mind and bodies functional and able to work
> on your favorite tasks and projects?
>
> As my great great grandmaster said:
> Grandmaster Wang Xiang-Zhai (1885-1963)<http://neigong.net/2008/05/29/grandmaster-wang-xiang-zhai-1885-1963/>
>
> “All sorts of strengths originate in the void and nothingness, which can
> only be felt gradually by the tiny edges and corners of the body”.
>
> We must, first and foremost, avoid the use of clumsy force, in body and in
> mind. Using this force makes the qi stagnant.  When the qi is stagnant, the
> yi stops; when the yi stops, the spirit is broken.
> A small movement is better than a big movement,
> No movement is better than a small movement,
> Stillness is the mother of all movements.
> In quietude you are like a maiden
> In motion you are like a dragon.
> The mountains seem to fly when you apply your mind,
> The seas overflow when you apply your power.
>
> One should know that if one can take the time to practice martial arts, do
> it without any method, freely and slowly perceiving by intuition, the
> results will be great.
>
> To sum up, what cannot lead to comfort, happiness, and gaining strength
> does not deserve to be called martial art.
>
> In movement, slow excels over quick, be relaxed rather than impatient, the
> movement should be slight and the spirit full. When one wants to move one
> will stop, when one wants to stop one will move, furthermore, when moving
> one cannot help but stop, when stopped, one cannot help but move.
>
> Why move? Why be still?
> What are the results?
> What is the phenomenon in the middle of the process?
> Thus perceive by intuition, and you will be approaching the truth!
>
>
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>
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