Ugly Red Dummy- Ground Fighting, Damian Ross, The Self Defense Company

One of the SDTS Legion Members suggested that I try to take advantage of the Ugly Red Dummy's tendency to fall down (when it's not weighted down of course). He said I could knock him down and perform the SDTS Ground and Pound from Module 3 of the SDTS.

The drill we're starting with comes from Module 3 of the SDTS: Ground Fighting for Keeps. In this situation you're knocked down and your assailant is standing over you. There could be 100 different ways how you got here but all that matters is that you have the wherewith all to defend yourself.

Your goal in this position is to get on your feet, it's not to end the fight. If you can, it's a bonus but it is best to create some space to enable you to get to your feet OR if you injure or distract him enough you may be able to take him down from this position in the manner shown. Granted, if you do injure him, you may even just want to get to your feet and finish the job.

Try not to be enamored by the technique. Martial artists and self defense experts tend to think that every technique they teach will work 100% of the time against 100% of the attackers in the world. This is obviously false. In this situation for example, I would much rather be the guy standing. When I train, I'm not thinking "I have him now!!" while I lay on the ground in trash and broken bottles only to have his buddies come up from behind and kick my skull in. I'm really thinking "HOLY S#!T!! I've got to get on my feet and if he comes near me I'm going to hurt that SOB anyway I can!!!"

Never, ever choose the ground or grappling. You wind up in grappling and ground scenarios by accident, not by choice. Personally, I've been on the mat for over 30 years. I have won more wrestling and judo contests than I care to remember and I would NEVER choose the ground or choose to grapple in a street fight. The only time I would if it tactically gave me the advantage to do more vicious and violent things to my attacker. A number of years ago when I was a young man I happened to get into a situation where I was fighting in a crowd. While I took down the guy who squared off with me without a problem, his buddies didn't like it so much and took turns teeing off on my head and back. In this situation I was lucky the police showed up or I probably wouldn't be writing this article today.

Always assume your attacker is armed and has friends. I've seen a drunk high school kid get knocked into a coma because someone didn't like the fact that his buddy was getting thrashed, so he decided to put a steel toe Redwing boot into his brain. Don't be stupid, use common sense. If you're not fighting in a controlled environment you're depending on the kindness and sobriety of others.

Getting back to the drill...

This was actually pretty cool and I was never able to train a transition and go full bore before. When you train the SDTS Ground and Pound (or any ground and pound) unless your training on a dummy, you have to be careful and not injure your partner since the force of your strikes are reinforced by gravity. The Ugly Red Dummy allowed me to go from a standing target to a prone target while maintaining intensity. I could never do this with a training partner. And before you start posting and saying "I can do this with a partner holding pads or in a redman suit" I'm going to stop you and tell you you hit like a toddler and should be embarrassed. If you hit with any amount of real force against a pad that is in front of someone's face, you're going to smash their hands into said face. So please save your breath. The only way to do this with a partner is to pull your punches and that is something I don't have time for. we are not sparring we are destroying what's in front of us.

Next time we'll take our Ugly Red friend from the standing position to the ground (Yay!).


Train Smarter, Not Harder,
Damian Ross, CEO The Self Defense Company


Damian Ross is CEO of the Self Defense Company and developer of The Self Defense Training System, the most lethal and effective self defense system in the world, The Guardian Defensive Tactics Police Combatives Program, 60 minute Self Defense and the Family Safe Program. Mr. Ross also founded the Self Defense Instructor Program that helps people develop their self defense careers from the ground up. Mr. Ross is originally from Ridgewood, NJ where he was a High School Hall of Fame Athlete in football and wrestling as well as a varsity wrestling coach. He then went on to Lehigh University where he was a varsity wrestler and football player. Mr. Ross has 3 black belts, 4th Degree in Tekkenryu Jujutsu, 2nd Degree in Judo, 2nd Degree in Tae Kwon Do. In addition to his martial arts experience, Mr; Ross spent 8 years in the professional security and personal protection business. He is internationally recognized as one of the foremost authorities in reality based self defense.

VIDEO- Ugly Red Dummy Tough Test Part 1

Hitting and kicking the snot out of this thing isn't going to damage it one bit, so I had to seriously up the ante to see what punishment this thing can take. For starters I pulled out my custom made suburito. It weighs about 12 pounds and was used by samurai to develop power in their cuts. I use it in a similar manner but specifically for developing power in my Judo throws. The idea being that since the throws are based on the cutting motion of the katana, there may be some training benefit. In fact the majority of samurai body motions were based on the katana for the same reason that all the techniques (armed and unarmed) in the SDTS (Self Defense Training System) are based on the same primary muscle movements. The skill sets you learn in module 1 remain constant through out the program. By using the same gross motor functions we can accelerate your learning and increase your proficiency. This way you don't have to learn a completely new skill set with every new weapon or situation like the majority of martial arts and self defense systems require. Repeated gross motor skills are the best and most efficient way to train and learn...where was I, oh, beating the crap out of our ugly red friend.

In order to see how much abuse our boy can take, I pulled out the suburito and went to town. I have to say he didn't bend or budge one bit. Those shots would have sent the BOB across the room and shattered his little plastic base. I was even more surprised at the amount of abuse the legs can take. They didn't crack or budge at all. Not even a sound. I think it's safe to say that if you can bend or break this thing, you don't need any self defense training...you need to be tagged and released back into the wild.

Train Smarter, Not Harder,
Damian Ross, CEO The Self Defense Company


Damian Ross is CEO of the Self Defense Company and developer of The Self Defense Training System, the most lethal and effective self defense system in the world, The Guardian Defensive Tactics Police Combatives Program, 60 minute Self Defense and the Family Safe Program. Mr. Ross also founded the Self Defense Instructor Program that helps people develop their self defense careers from the ground up. Mr. Ross is originally from Ridgewood, NJ where he was a High School Hall of Fame Athlete in football and wrestling as well as a varsity wrestling coach. He then went on to Lehigh University where he was a varsity wrestler and football player. Mr. Ross has 3 black belts, 4th Degree in Tekkenryu Jujutsu, 2nd Degree in Judo, 2nd Degree in Tae Kwon Do. In addition to his martial arts experience, Mr; Ross spent 8 years in the professional security and personal protection business. He is internationally recognized as one of the foremost authorities in reality based self defense.

VIDEO- The Ugly Red Dummy 2- Knock Down Test, Damian Ross, The Self Defense Company

At first look, between the mounting platforms and the weight of the dummy, it looks like a stiff fart could knock it over and I was correct. Not about the fart thing, that didn't work, but it didn't take a whole lot of power to take him off his feet. Fortunately I had a quick fix that didn't require any drilling or permanent mounting solution. It was fast, easy and above all cheap.

To secure him in place I took 3, 45 pound (20.45 Kilo) plates and placed them over the base. Then training got a whole lot more fun! I mean, it was awesome. In the clip I use a combination from SDTS Module 2 Advanced strikes and to be honest, it felt amazing. Following up with a knee to the nuts was the icing on the cake. In the past, the Ugly Red Dummy would have saved me a lot of time and aggravation in the old Training Center. You could line a few of these up along the wall and instead of putting plates on the bases, just remove the suction cups and simply bolt them to a sub-floor or to a piece 4X8, 3/4" plywood. I only used the weights in this clip to show a non-permanent solution.

The performance and function of The Ugly Red Dummy were better than expected. Since I had to step on something on the ground reminded me to focus on my footwork from Module 1. It also served as a distraction. You must train for any situation and that includes ground surface. If you slip or stumble, you need to stay focused on your attack and ignore the distraction. That split second lapse in your attack maybe all the guy needs to gain the advantage. Look around you right now, you probably can't go 10 feet in any direction without running into an object or change in elevation. Dojo's and gyms are nice, but they're not the real world. In the world we wear shoes, sneakers and boots. In the world there is glass, rocks, trash and furniture. The world is a harsh and unforgiving place. Funny, I just told my 6 year old son that. Oh well, life sucks, get a helmet, moving forward...

The movement on the dummy is another positive. You're target is not going to stay still. You're going to miss, hit bone, or worse. The motion of the dummy was enough to keep me honest, but not so much that it was unrealistic and got in the way of the session.

Today, the Ugly Red Dummy passed his first serious test. Like I said, he's not perfect but for $500 and some weights you can pick up off of ebay (I saw some on Craig's List for $35.00) so not a big investment there. Like I said, it's not perfect but is it worth it? So far, I say yes, but I ain't done by a long shot...

Train Smarter, Not Harder,
Damian Ross, CEO The Self Defense Company


Damian Ross is CEO of the Self Defense Company and developer of The Self Defense Training System, the most lethal and effective self defense system in the world, The Guardian Defensive Tactics Police Combatives Program, 60 minute Self Defense and the Family Safe Program. Mr. Ross also founded the Self Defense Instructor Program that helps people develop their self defense careers from the ground up. Mr. Ross is originally from Ridgewood, NJ where he was a High School Hall of Fame Athlete in football and wrestling as well as a varsity wrestling coach. He then went on to Lehigh University where he was a varsity wrestler and football player. Mr. Ross has 3 black belts, 4th Degree in Tekkenryu Jujutsu, 2nd Degree in Judo, 2nd Degree in Tae Kwon Do. In addition to his martial arts experience, Mr; Ross spent 8 years in the professional security and personal protection business. He is internationally recognized as one of the foremost authorities in reality based self defense.

VIDEO- Combat Chokes vs. Sport Chokes- Damian Ross, The Self Defense Company

The first time I even heard of a strangle. I was about 13 when Hulk Hogan choked out comedian and Law and Order star Richard Belzer when Belzer laid claim that pro wrestling was fake. Watching Belzer get knocked cold from the sleeper hold was all it took, I wanted more.

Getting choked and learning to choke for the first time is a surreal experience. The controlled power of being able to strangle someone until they pass out is intoxicating to say the least. On the flip side being choked sucks. The claustrophobia, the ears ringing and the out of body experience of being put to sleep and getting 10 seconds of REM are off-putting at best.

In the beginning, I thought I knew how to choke. I put on the hold and in a few seconds my partner would tap. When I was choked, I did the same. That was until I started training in combatives.

British Judo Great and World Champion Neil Adams once said, "...you haven't been strangled until you shit yourself mate." For years I really didn't understand this. I though that getting someone to tap was god enough and getting someone to tap in competition was even better, but that was only the half of it. My combatives training that would eventually lead to The Self Defense Training System brought my strangle skills to a whole new and frightening level.

Most people think they know how to strangle and technically I guess they do. They can put on a hold and get someone to tap or pass out. This usually takes several seconds in practice or competition which is fine, but against a person who's fighting for their life, that turns into forever. Forever is not an option.

I prefer more efficient means of strangulation. Believe it or not, I'm a little lazy and the thought of wasting energy and time doesn't appeal to me. This method of combat strangles is detailed in The Self Defense Training System. This system involves several different technical points that can be applied across the board to all strangles.

The first involves the point of contact as demonstrated in the video above. While it's common to see the elbow of the choking aligned with the chin and contact on both sides of the neck with the bicep and the forearm, you will discover that this creates gaps between your target's neck surface and your choke. Like a noose, you want to have 360 degree contact around the neck and throat. To do this requires you to move the elbow back and initial contact with your wrist on the thumb side. NOTE: The purpose of the seated position above is to demonstrate the strangle grip and not full execution. Full execution involves the use of gravity, body weight, your legs and core which I will describe later.

This new point of contact gives you some critical benefits. First, it's extremely painful on the throat. This may be mistaken as a throat crush, which it can be but your target will be passed out for the blood strangle well before you can crush the trachea. The pain will distract him while you set the rest of your body position. A lot of times in competition an opponent will tap just from this pain. The other benefit of this grip is that you trigger the gag reflex when you start to rotate your wrist up into position. This will cause your target to convulse, allowing you even deeper penetration on the choke.

The Devil is in the Details

The choke grip is only the conduit. The real strangle comes from gravity (ether using your weight or his weight), your legs and your core, depending on your position. For example, the rear strangle(s) above may involve rocking him back and compressing his spine while you lean your weight directly onto the strangle (Module 12 of the SDTS). You could also be on your feet and have him in a guillotine or front strangle and by "lifting him" instead of just squeezing him (module 3 and 12 of the SDTS)you will increase pressure and effectiveness of the strangle exponentially. You may also be in the mount and use your body weight in conjunction with legs and core to apply the choke (modules 3 and 12 of the SDTS).

Another little secret is breathing. Inhaling while you're strangling helps fill in the gaps and increase pressure. The inhale expands your chest and aids in filling in the gaps and creating more pressure.

when you're training chokes, the tap should be instant. Because in reality that instant will turn into seconds and seconds is all you have.

Train Honestly,
Damian Ross, CEO The Self Defense Company

www.selfdefensecompany.com Corporate Center
www.theselfdefenseco.com World's Most Lethal Self Defense
www.legaluseofforce.com Police Combatives Training
www.familysafeprogram.com Keep Your Family Safe
www.teachselfdefense.com Turn Your Passion into Profits
www.60minuteselfdefense.com Self Defense for Everyone
www.myselfdefenseresource.com Free Resource Material
FREE Training Forum http://theselfdefenseco.madmooseforum.com/

The "Quick Fix" for Self Defense

The Self Defense Training System has been called the "quick fix" of martial arts. I'm assuming by traditional martial artists since when you post "anonymously" I really can only assume.

NOT AN SDTS MEMBER (though he probably would be if he knew what he was getting into)

First off, The Self Defense Training System (SDTS) isn't martial arts. It's not a sport or cultural exploration. There are not any forms to learn or uniforms to wear. There isn't a required time period or number of lessons. There aren't any sporting techniques or complicated movements. Quite simply, it's tactics and techniques that can be mastered in the shortest amount of time and recalled under extreme stress. It should go without saying that the methods are designed so that you inflict the most damage to your target while incurring the least amount of injury to yourself.

So, is it a "Quick Fix". I say HELL YES IT IS. It also happens to be the ONLY FIX, the quick fix is the correct fix. The alternative...the long fix is not really a viable self defense alternative at all.

Listen, before I start ruffling feathers, martial arts has it's place. Fitness, character building, community building and self confidence and you can get those benefits from martial arts or any other sport activity under the right coaching. The only thing martial arts provides that sports don't is a chance for the below average and average participant to receive proper instruction since sport coaches tend to focus on the better athletes. Plus, as an adult, there really aren't too many activities other than yoga, pilates and martial arts.

The SDTS isn't pilates and it isn't martial arts. So that begs the question:

Why do martial artists still sipping the kool-aide hate me so much?

It's simple, if I'm right (which I am), then the self defense benefit claimed by martial arts is done like dinner. After MMA they climbed on the self defense band wagon and started saying what we've been saying for years "MMA is a demanding combat sport, not self defense." This is true, but memorizing pre-arranged dance moves and sparring in plastic booties isn't self defense either.

If you're a smart martial artists, you know the difference. But if you're claiming that you teach sport, self defense, grappling, mma and traditional martial arts you're a snake oil salesman (which I have been accused of). The average martial artist trains between 2 and 5 hours per week. Listen, you can't do all that in that limited amount of time. It would be like trying to be a painter, carpenter, engineer and architect. There just aren't enough hours in the day.

To run a successful martial arts school you need students enrolled longer. On the back end you will find testing fees, contracts, private lessons and upsells into other programs. The more complicated it is, the longer you will have to stay. The longer you stay, the more you spend.

Don't get me wrong, if you're enjoying your martial arts experience and you think it's worth it, great- who am I to tell you what you enjoy. But if you think that you have to spend 5 years and thousands of dollars to learn how to protect yourself....you're sadly mistaken.

All you need is the will to survive, something to hit and the proper instruction. Most people training in the SDTS see results in a month. After about a year...you're good to go. Two years to become an instructor. Like I mentioned before, no fancy moves, sport sparring, kata's or forms frees up A LOT OF TIME!

Hell is takes a soldier 6 weeks of basic training to get in shape and learn how to shoot a weapon. Let's say basic training is 12 hours a day (I'm including chow time), That's about 432 hours. If you did 6 hours per week (1 hour a day for 6 days a week) you would see similar results in 18 months. This includes any physical training as well. So in a year and a half you could learn how to kick ass and be in boot camp style shape. But no, your local martial arts guy brags that it takes someone 5 years to know what you're doing. Hell, lawyers take less time (insert lawyer joke here).

Let's roll the clock back a bit on traditional karate. In it's infancy, Okinawan Karate was primarily two techniques (reverse punch and front kick). Sure there are more techniques but your primary focus was on these two techniques. You did a ton of hand conditioning, makiwara training and over all physical fitness. The goal was ikken hitsatsu (one strike, one kill). The purpose was to develop those skills to the point that you destroyed everything you hit. Sparring contests were extremely boring by today's standards where two combatants would stalk each other until the perfect moment to strike. This mind set and method came directly from came from the samurai way of dueling.

Those two techniques could then be adapted to any combat situation. Is the answer to combat that simple? The truth is yes it is. When you're training for combat you only care about one thing: what works. It was later that martial arts became commercialized. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, it's just the way things are. By the time Karate hit the US, it was already WAY OVER HYPED thanks to WWII and the prowess and folklore of the Japanese soldier. Westerners played no small part in perpetuating that hype and in some cases, making it more brutal than it was in previous years. But unfortunately you can't earn a living being brutal. In reality only a small percentage of people are willing to subject themselves to rigorous training. And even those people are prone to injury.

The modern business model for martial arts studios includes a lot of aerobic and kickboxing activity coupled with calisthenics. This is all fine, but very little is focused on self defense or even the building of those skills. Most fighting skills are centered around sparring that has little to do with actual street fighting. MMA is even more convoluted since the time is split between striking, grappling and submissions. The fact is even at 5 hours per week, you will never be able to be seriously proficient at any of those skills for several years. Grappling is by far the hardest to master (ever wonder why the vast majority of MMA studs are elite wrestlers?).

What is called self defense by martial artists is a series of unconnected, choreographed movements that are based on the action = reaction principle. That means, he does this, I do that. If laws of physics teach you anything is that Action s always faster than Reaction. So if you think some guy is going to grab your throat and wait for you to do something...good luck with that.

The SDTS is not a reaction based system of self defense. It's position and distance based, just like firearms. It does not contain a huge quantity of techniques to master. It's funny, years ago I remember receiving a return from a woman who said, this is very repetitive. My answer was simply...No Shit. I know, not very corporate of me, but then again, I ditched the suit and tie a long time ago.

Listen, it's simple, it's quick and it only takes between 8 to 14 months to become awesome. Physical conditioning not withstanding. FACT: the better in shape you are, the better chance you have to survive but if your time is limited would you rather learn to beat the piss out of someone or do 20 minutes on the treadmill?

Quick fix, yes it is, but IT IS A FIX IF NOT THE ONLY FIX. Listen, I could have given you martial arts repackaged with a cool name, but I didn't. Why didn't I just give you karate, FMA, Judo or AIKI JUJUTSU, BJJ, Wrestling, TKD or an MMA style program to cash in on what's already popular. I'm clearly qualified to do so. I could put out anything I want. The reason I didn't is simple, this is what works and it's not that complicated. Anyone who tells you you need to spend several years training to become proficient in self defense (not martial arts or sports) is either trying to get your money or has not idea what they are talking about.

Here's Your Quick Fix CLICK HERE

Until next time, Train Honestly,
Damian Ross, CEO The Self Defense Company

www.selfdefensecompany.com Corporate Center
www.theselfdefenseco.com World's Most Lethal Self Defense
www.legaluseofforce.com Police Combatives Training
www.familysafeprogram.com Keep Your Family Safe
www.teachselfdefense.com Turn Your Passion into Profits
www.60minuteselfdefense.com Self Defense for Everyone
www.myselfdefenseresource.com Free Resource Material
FREE Training Forum http://theselfdefenseco.madmooseforum.com/

Win $1000 from the Self Defense Company Contest Submissions!! (So far)

The following are the latest video submissions for the 2010 Where's Your Dojo contest!! The person who submits the winning video will receive $1000 from the Self Defense Company. We're going to crown the winner in January 2011.

For details on how you can get your gnarled hands on $1000 US go to the "Wheres Your Dojo" Contest Page HERE



This submission is from LtCol Darren Poesel of the USMC. He is training servicemen, woman and contractors with The Self Defense Training System in Kabul. At present, Darren in back in the sandbox again. God speed and come home safe Colonel.



This contest submission is from Vince Veloso training in the Self Defense Training System in New Jersey. Vince is a longtime martial artists and SDTS practitioner as well as a kick ass jazz musician.



This is Josef Prochazka from the Czech Republic. He's another longtime Self Defense Training System Practitioner who put together a small training group at his home.

Finally...a teaser from Gunther:



Gunther is a BIG fan of The Self Defense Training System. He lives on a farm in South Africa where he trains and speaks his mind....a lot (just look at his facebook posts on the SDC fan page). He's been with the SDTS for about a year and to tell the truth, between the simplicity and ease of use of the SDTS and the intensity and desire that Gunther trains with, it looks like he's been doing it for years. We should have his "official submission in a few days.

YOU WILL CHOOSE THE WINNER!!!

Voting will go like this, once all of the videos are in (the goal is 50 total or mid to late January) we will make an announcement to go to facebook and like your favorite videos. The one with the most likes at the end of a weeks time wins.

It's that simple.

If you think you can do better than what you see here, grab a camera (or even your phone) and put something together that's 1 to 4 minutes in length that demonstrates how you train and what the Self Defense Training System has done for you.

For Details go to the WHERES YOUR DOJO? Contest page HERE. The link is http://www.selfdefensecompany.com/contests.asp

I look forward to seeing your submission.
Until next time, Train Honestly,
Damian Ross, CEO The Self Defense Company

www.selfdefensecompany.com Corporate Center
www.theselfdefenseco.com World's Most Lethal Self Defense
www.legaluseofforce.com Police Combatives Training
www.familysafeprogram.com Keep Your Family Safe
www.teachselfdefense.com Turn Your Passion into Profits
www.60minuteselfdefense.com Self Defense for Everyone
www.myselfdefenseresource.com Free Resource Material
FREE Training Forum http://theselfdefenseco.madmooseforum.com/

VIDEO-Improvised Black Jack- Damian Ross, The Self Defense Company

http://www.theselfdefenseco.com/module11.asp
Self Defense Training System, Module 11 "Old School Weapons and Tactics" Preview

This clip was inspired by Module 11 of the Self Defense Training System titled "Old School Weapons and Tactics". In this clip Damian Ross of The Self Defense Company converts a few simple household items into a devastating impact weapon. Using a simple bandanna and a weighted object, in this case some steel nuts or a weight from a balloon display, you can have an incredibly effective impact weapon. We have used used everything from fishing weights, loose change to ball bearings and it all works well.
Sure you can do this many other items like a sock for example. But it's a lot easier to explain why your carrying a bandanna easier than it is a sock. If you're in law enforcement it's a good idea to store this type of thinking in the back of your head.

Most times the best weapons aren't even weapons at all. In Module 8 of the SDTS "Weapons Defense" we show you a plethora (thank you "Three Amigos") of weapons that you can pick up at your local hardware store. It doesn't have to be "combat certified" to do severe damage. Any number of hand tools are extremely lethal if used in the correct manner. This is something to keep in mind when you're thinking of home defense. A lot of people will go through great lengths to secrete various weapons throughout their homes. This s fine, but many times they will pass perfectly good tools to get to the one they've hidden. One exercise you can do is when you walk into a room, look for something that can be used as a weapon. Mark it's location and imagine how that weapon could be implemented. It's real simple and takes only seconds.

There are many states and countries that outlaw certain types of weapons. If you live in a place that outlaws pepper spray, wasp and hornet repellent makes a great substitute. The point is, restricting weapons NEVER stops men from dong evil to one another. For every new law, the criminal has figured out 10 ways around it. Remember the "Club". That device that locked your car's steering wheel into position? It took the car jacking world 5 seconds to figure out that if you cut the car's steering wheel with a hack saw, the club popped right off.

Where there is a will, there is a way. It works for booth good and evil.

Damian Ross, CEO The Self Defense Company

www.selfdefensecompany.com Corporate Center
www.theselfdefenseco.com World's Most Lethal Self Defense
www.legaluseofforce.com Police Combatives Training
www.familysafeprogram.com Keep Your Family Safe
www.teachselfdefense.com Turn Your Passion into Profits
www.60minuteselfdefense.com Self Defense for Everyone
www.myselfdefenseresource.com Free Resource Material
FREE Training Forum http://theselfdefenseco.madmooseforum.com/

VIDEO-Damian Ross, The Self Defense Company - Elbow Conditioning

This elbow conditioning drill comes from Module 6 of the Self Defense Training System called "Body Conditioning". This type of training has been used by almost every culture who has systemized method of empty hand combat. Over the years it was safer and easier to give combatants protective equipment, but in the real world you're not afforded that luxury, so you better prepare your body's natural weapons for the harsh environment of real world self defense. In Module 6, Damian shows you how to condition every (and we mean EVERY) part of your body to withstand the abuse of hitting and being hit.

You should be aware that this type of conditioning is the most overlooked type of conditioning in all the martial arts and self defense. The reason is simple: it hurts and if it's done incorrectly will cause severe injury. In module 6 of The Self Defense Training System you will be taken through a progression of drills that when done correctly will yield incredible results.

Enough of the sales pitch, forgive me, I've been writing ads all morning and it's embedded in my brain. Normal conditioning happens when you spar, grapple and train with your dummy, but to really take it to the next level, you want to start getting into this extreme conditioning. BTW, I know the word extreme is played out, but it's the best way to describe this training.

I should also mention that when you hit bricks, wood and iron, something happens to you psychologically that makes hitting flesh, bone and muscle not so intimidating.

Until next time, Train Honestly,


Damian Ross, CEO The Self Defense Company

www.selfdefensecompany.com Corporate Center
www.theselfdefenseco.com World's Most Lethal Self Defense
www.legaluseofforce.com Police Combatives Training
www.familysafeprogram.com Keep Your Family Safe
www.teachselfdefense.com Turn Your Passion into Profits
www.60minuteselfdefense.com Self Defense for Everyone
www.myselfdefenseresource.com Free Resource Material
FREE Training Forum http://theselfdefenseco.madmooseforum.com/

Damian Ross VIDEO: The SDTS Ground and Pound

The REAL combative "ground and pound". The ground and pound in MMA and ground and pound in the real world are a little different. In this clip Damian Ross of The Self Defense Company shows you what to avoid in a real life ground and pound scenario from Module 3 of the Self Defense Training System "Ground fighting for keeps.

The first problem with MMA ground and pound is simple, you have gloves, wraps and a soft mat beneath you. In MMA a straight punch is protected while in the street your unprotected fist can hit bone, ground or the hard concrete shattering knuckles and breaking wrists. To avoid this you want to condition your hands to deliver the strikes, use parts of your hands that can handle abuse like the edge of your hand or the heel and finally delver your strikes in more of an arcing trajectory. The edge of hand and hammer fist do this naturally while the heel of hand and fore fist must be trained a bit.

The other issue with the MMA ground and pound is that in the ring and in practice, you are trained to stop before your opponent is knocked out. This is done for safety reasons (as it should be) but you may literally "punch your self out" or punch yourself tired before your target is no longer a threat. With the combative or Self Defense Training System (SDTS) ground and pound you will train to move your target's cover and expose the real knock out targets before you get too exhausted. Because every one who's been there will tell you, your adrenaline will drain your energy in seconds, not minutes. You need to get your target under control, as fast as possible. Multiple threats and the real chance of your target being armed are your primary concerns. The longer the fight lasts, the worse it is for you.

I should mention that the preferred method for finishing a downed target is with your feet. But due to the realities of what really happens, it is hard to get past the impulse to mount your enemy and finish him the old school yard way.

Until next time, Train Honestly,


Damian Ross, CEO The Self Defense Company

www.selfdefensecompany.com Corporate Center
www.theselfdefenseco.com World's Most Lethal Self Defense
www.legaluseofforce.com Police Combatives Training
www.familysafeprogram.com Keep Your Family Safe
www.teachselfdefense.com Turn Your Passion into Profits
www.60minuteselfdefense.com Self Defense for Everyone
www.myselfdefenseresource.com Free Resource Material
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Damian Ross VIDEO- The Self Defense Company Black Jack Billy Club combination 1

Up until the early 80's the black jack billy club was a favorite among law enforcement and bad guys alike. it's easily carried, concealed and incredibly brutal. The construction is simple, a lead weight welded to a spring and wrapped in leather. You can pick them up for less than $20.00 and is a personal favorite. The Black Jack is featured in Module 11 of the Self Defense Training System titled "Old School Weapons and Tactics". .

Is it effective? It works like magic. No joke, the black jack is like black belt in a bottle. It is scary how much damage it inflicts. Even when you ht non-lethal targets areas like the arms or hands the pain is excruciating. When you need to get someone's attention a quick flick on their wrist will be enough to buckle the average man's knees. So please use extreme caution when working with the black jack.

Years ago when I first started training with the black jack, I took it to my work out area and started using it on the training dummy. As I got warmed up, my workout got a little more intense, so much in fact that the black jack bounced off of the rubbery surface of the training dummy and cracked yours truly in the head. When came to my senses, my head was throbbing. I picked myself up off the floor, dusted off and realized two things. First, the black jack is no joke. Even off a deflected strike t had enough juice to put me down. Second, you must train with your weapon on a target that you can hit, stab or shoot. Imagine if that was in the real world and I clocked myself in the head. I would be as dead as Elvis. Training with live blades, impact weapons and firearms on realistic targets trains you to position your body in a particular way in relation to the weapon. Especially with edged weapons and impact weapons. The trajectory of the stab or strike changes slightly with the prospect of getting any sort of blow back from the weapon. You be come extremely aware of this with knives and other edged weapons.

If you're gong to carry a weapon, any weapon from pepper spray to firearms, it is foolish that you don't at least try it a few times to understand how it works and feels. Don't make the first time you use t when your life is on the line, because, at the risk of sounding corny, it could be your last.

Until next time, Train Honestly,


Damian Ross, CEO The Self Defense Company

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Sorry to Burst Your Bubble...

I received a comment on the Double Forearm Shiver video regarding my previous training and experience for the reason why the techniques I execute look as polished as they do. The person who sent the comment was respectful and well meaning so I will treat him with the utmost respect because his assumption is one that most martial artists make.

His comment is as follows:
Sir,
Although I agree that traditional martial arts training does not prepare for real world attacks, they are an important element of it.

Your ability to bring out the best of your close combat techniques are mainly due to talent and skills acquired in your prev martial arts training. Your execution of throws, submissions and heck even the "chop" are all neatly done, and one can tell your training before it.

I started with close combat training and moved on to krav maga and now traditional martial arts. It is just good to explore all areas.

Thiam Yeng

Thiam,
What your seeing has little or nothing to do with my past training and more and everything to do with athleticism and my current training. Many martial artists miss this point and tend to justify what they teach as a reason for my proficiency in The Self Defense Training System. First of all, let's get one thing straight, I developed and founded the Self Defense Training System and if I don't look good doing it, we have a problem. If Tony Bennett can't sing "I Left My Heart In San Francisco" there's a problem. Second I have been training people in this method for over 12 years and counting. You can even see some of them on the SDC Youtube Channel.

The Self Defense Training System is not a martial art. It is a defensive tactics training program. It's purpose is to train anyone to be the best prepared for real world self defense in the shortest amount of time. Anything else in gravy. It is clear you have chosen to make martial arts a hobby and possibly a lifestyle choice. That's great, but it's not essential for self defense.

What will save you in the street is 10% physical, 90% mental (I have an email blast from one of our Instructors, LtCol Darren Poesel USMC going out in a few minutes). The problem martial artists face regarding self defense are a few.

First and foremost, the business model for martial arts demands that customers stay involved as long as possible. In order to do that, more and more techniques are added to extend student involvement. Sport and competition are also used as a means of extending student enrollment but not as much as you think since a very small percentage (in my 9 years of running schools, less than 10% of students ever competed).

The second issue is that the techniques are there, but lost in the volumes of other techniques you are forced to learn. In Tae Kwon Do for example you learn volumes of technique, yet in sparring you may only use 5 or 6. And they are usually the same techniques everybody else is using. What separates the good from the bad are speed, power, timing and instinct...ATHLETICISM combined with good training guidance and GREAT TRAINING PARTNERS. The techniques are the tools, what makes a champion a champion is the aforementioned factors plus....ATTITUDE!!! On the elite levels of sport it's 10% physical 90% mental.

Look Thiam, at the end of the day the reason my chops look so good is because I've done about 10,000 of them in my life time. If you want to be good at something, you train it and practice it. If I want to be good at soccer, I don't practice basketball. If you ant to be good at self defense you train in The Self Defense Training System , not a traditional martial art or anything else. If you want to be proficient in close quarters combat, focus on those skills and spend the other time running and lifting weights. I have literally trained thousands of people in this manner of the last two decades and it's always been the same: Some people have a natural gift, some need to work harder at it. But unlike sports and martial arts, anyone with the desire can learn to protect themselves. It's basic and natural, not convoluted and complex.

Thanks for your comment, and as always Train honestly,
Damian Ross, CEO The Self Defense Company

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VIDEO- How to Develop Core Throwing Power, Damian Ross of The Self Defense Company

This installment of "This Old Ass Kicker" (working title). Hell, I have to name these things something and it has to have a hook. I digress... this clip is an exercise from Module 10 Combat Throws and Take Downs. Before I start, I want to say something about "Throwing" in the street. It's an extra. Knocking a man cold with a strike is clearly the most efficient and easiest way to knock someone's "dick in the dirt". A knock out blow happens in a fraction of second while submissions take seconds and even a minute until the guy's out cold. Longer if you want him to stay that way. Getting someone to tap in the dojo is FAR EASIER than putting someone to sleep in the street. But if you look to further your study of self defense, submissions, throws and take downs give you some options. Especially if you are in law enforcement or security where you are required to apprehend a target. In the civilian world, special circumstances not withstanding, there's little need for submissions or take downs since according to law, you should be fighting for your life or looking to escape.

Though I must admit, throwing someone in competition or in the real world is pretty cool. There's nothing like taking another human body and hurling it through the air and when that body out weighs you by 50 to 100 pounds it's extremely exciting. I remember years ago, my Yonezuka Sensei, then 69 years old, was watching practice when a student who looked all of 300 pounds was looking for a partner. Yonezuka (Yone) suggested to one of the ranked players (a 220 pounder) to go with the 300 pound giant. The 220 pounder said no, that he was hurt ans didn't want to risk injury. Yone's reaction was priceless. At 180 and almost twice the 220 fighter's age, he got on the mat with the 300 pounder and launched him with ippon seionage. He might as well have just called the 220 pounder a pussy.

One of the exercises Yone had my do to develop that single shoulder throw was this weight sled pull. we feature this drill (and may others) in Module 10 of The Self Defense Training System.

The throws you use for combat are limited and simple. Sport has expanded the development of throws where the object is to get your opponent down on a matted surface and gain a dominant position with little regard for going to the ground yourself. The perfect combat throw takes your target to the ground while you remain on your feet. In Module 10 of The Self Defense Training System we go through the do's and don'ts of which throws to use and why. More important we show you which throws to avoid and for what reason.

For example, a double leg take down is a great technique for MMA and wrestling but not your first option for the street. First of all, it has a huge potential to put you underneath your target. In wrestling and in MMA, many time the opponent sprawls and buries your face in the mat. Rubbing your face, elbows and knees on the mat stinks, but smashing them on the concrete just plain sucks. Also, it automatically limits your mobility and forces you to be locked up with one single target for an extended period of time. You must always assume your target has friends. I had an experience where I took a guy down and was about to apply the old ground and pound when a few of his buddies did not like how the fight was going. The next thing I knew I was getting pummeled with kicks and punches. I was lucky to get out of there intact, I was glad to see the police.

Lesson learned. Hey, shit happens and yes, sometimes you do end up in some hairy situations but you never choose them. Never choose the ground, never put yourself in a bad position intentionally. In The Self Defense Training System you have a set of protocol that ingrains the tactics in your technique. There is a strict protocol to follow regarding the hierarchy of technique.

The following list is based on effectiveness, ease of use and time in training to be mastered.
1. Firearms
2. Edged weapons
3. Impact weapons
4. Sprays and foams (for escape)
5. Alarms (for escape)
6. Strikes
7. Take downs
8. Strangles
9. Joint submissions/dislocations
10. Throws

What the difference between a throw and a take down? A throw requires more hip movement and technique while a take down does not. In Module 10 of The Self Defense Training System you will see throws like the single side shoulder throw and the hip throw as well as take downs like the hockey take down and the bulldog take down.
Take downs are a lot easier to master as you can see from the list above.

In law enforcement where a group must subdue one, the take downs are your only option and throws are simply out of the question.

Train as much as you can, but keep your priorities straight. Look at the above list and move forward when you can do the previous skills proficiently.

Until next time, Train Honestly,
Damian Ross, CEO The Self Defense Company

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What if you shoot him...and he keeps coming!!

What if you empty you're gun in him and he keeps on coming? This was the main topic of conversation on my interview with right wing, conservative talk show host Pat Campbell.

Pat is a firearms enthusiast but realized the inherent issues with depending 100% on a firearm. They misfire, you miss and even if you hit your target like the officer did on the blog post "A gun and pepper spray couldn't stop him!.

This HUGE misconception is that you shoot him, he falls over. We can thank Hollywood for creating this fantasy which I have personally reenacted in my backyard as a kid about 1,000 times. You get shot, you die instantly. You can also file that one next to, car hits something, car blows up.

A firearm is only part of the answer and is a tool meant to be used in a complete personal defense package. The answer obviously starts with self defense and self defense begins with having a plan. The criminals have a plan. A good street fighter has a plan or more to the point a method he uses to distract you, hurt you and get what he wants from you. You better have a plan and a line in the sand.

The line in the sand

When is the time to fight. Tactically this issue is simple. We detail that in Module 1 of The Self Defense Training System. . Morally that decision is up to you. Do you fight over a dime, or do you give up your wallet? The law also leaves this decision up to you. You have the right to protect yourself when you feel your life is endangered and the person threatening you has the means and has indicated intent (check local laws, I'm not a lawyer I only send their kids to college).

You decide what's worth fighting for, I only supply you with the means and the tactical GREEN LIGHT.

What Pat loves about the program is that it was exactly what it claimed to be "The most lethal self defense in the world." It's no a martial art, only the lethal methods and tactics. It's true that you can find the techniques in a lot of martial arts. Even the new Marine Martial Arts program has a lot of the methods of The SDTS. The problem is three fold.

First problem, you have to learn so much other crap that these methods get lost in the sauce. It's like going to a football coach to learn how to block and tackle and he starts teaching you zone coverage defense in 3rd and long situations. All you need is what works in the street, what you get is all the sport and ceremony.

The second problem, which is a HUGE one but not so easily noticed are the tactics. Martial arts teach specific self defense (multiple or single attackers), armed and unarmed defense, a wrist grab or a shoulder grab. The list goes on and on and you are forced to react differently to specific situations. Further more methods that teach you to block a specific punch or kick ARE NOT COMBAT WORTHY!
Action is faster than reaction. If you have the time to determine whether the attack is a punch or a kick and then can tell your hand to move faster than a punch in progress then you're fighting one of the slowest fighters in the world or your name is Barry Allen. If you've ever been in a real fight, there is only one thing you want to do: end it as quickly as possible. Which brings us to the third problem...

There is no such thing as a second chance or "escalating force" once use of force has been determined. Every situation has the potential to be lethal it is up to you to control the situation as fast as possible and by whatever means needed. After you feel the threat is neutralized (the guy and his buddies are gone, you're gone or he's out for the count) you stop. No need for theatrics, just train to stop.

The problem with self defense, especially The Self Defense Training System?
It's not a pill, it's not a magic button, it's a simple solution that requires a little effort on your part. The attraction of the firearm is that it's the be all, end all. While it is a deterrent and an efficient means of personal protection it is jut another tool, no the be all end all. You still need to put your target down and a lot of time a firearm isn't enough. If you think you're going to plug in a dvd, read the manuals and make a few forum posts then go out and take on the world, well, this is not the program for you. But if you want to know what your best bet is when it comes to self defense, without all the bells and whistles of martial arts, the start the Self Defense Training System NOW before you really need it.


LISTEN TO THE INTERVIEW on Pat Campbell's Show HERE

Pat Campbell, Morning talk show host who knows the deal when it comes to saving your bacon


Until next time, Train Honestly,
Damian Ross

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Career Criminal Brought to Justice with The Self Defense Training System

Stephen Lee Wise Jr., the latest scumbag to be brought to justice by a Self Defense Training System member.

I just received this email and I had to blog about it.

Mr. Ross,
I recently had an experience that I would like to share with you.
Perhaps you could share it with your other students and give my any advice if this happens in the future.

I along with my partner who is approximately 5'5" and weighs approximately 160 pounds were recently was involved in an arrest of a violent subject and I used some of the techniques I learned from The Self Defense Company.

I am 5'7" and weigh about 213 pounds. The weather was bad, there was a steady rain and it had been raining all day so the ground was wet and slippery. The fight was on a sidewalk with grass and concrete on a very well traveled road. The bad guy was 6' tall, weighed between 280 and 300 pounds and under the influence of illegal drugs.To make a long story short I grabbed the bad guy to arrest him, he resisted and we fell to the ground with the bad guys body weight on top of me.

I found myself unable to get my legs wrapped tightly around his waist and put him in the guard and along with the rain and wet ground made it easy for the bad guy to break the hold. I immediately and don't really know how cause it happened so fast I managed to climb on the bad guys back and he easily threw me off his back. I don't know how I did it but I was able to get the bad guy on his stomach and I was able to wrap my legs around his waist, extend and lock out my legs on the ground forming a base while attempt to hold the bad guy down with my upper body weight till my back up arrived. The bad guy was able to get to his hands and knees several times but I was able to keep my body weight on him while on the ground. Then the bad guy attempted to remove my weapon from my holster and I immediately applied a choke hold from Module 3 of the Self Defense Training System. He did not get my gun.

To finish the story I was able to keep him on the ground with my feet firmly planted and applying my body weight from moves I learned from you and The Self Defense Training System and I want to say they along with my partner and never quit attitude kept me from getting seriously hurt. I only sustained a couple sore ribs and a lower back strain. The bad guy was also tased several times and that had no effect. Just the training I learned from The Self Defense Company and my sheer will, determination and heart kept me from getting seriously hurt.

I just wanted to say "Thank you",
Lawrence Bloomfield
Maryland, USA

Thanks Larry and I'm just glad you're safe.


Before I continue, I changed this person's name even though they gave me the green light. All this guy needs is some Defense Attorney googling his name and finding him talking about it on line. No sense in creating a situation that can easily be avoided.

I have two initial reactions to emails that I get from people who have saved themselves from serious harm or worse while using The Self Defense Training System. The first is, thank GOD this person is safe, the second is, I'm going to sell a lot of videos. Maybe not in that order, but you get my drift. Sorry, I'm honest to a fault sometimes and well- what's the point of putting up some bullshit facade. I love the fact that the good guys win and the bad guys get choked out. I love the fact that I earn a living enabling people to do this. NO, I am not a violent person, but I'll be damned if I know something that can help you and if you think the price is right, well we're good to go. If not, no hard feelings and I'll see ya when I see ya. Hell, everyone from Bruce Lee, Ed Parker to Billy Blanks sells what they think will work. I can only imagine Bruce's website if he were still alive today...oh wait, there is one and it gets about 20,000 visits per month.

Anyway, in this case, Larry was able to save his bacon (no pun intended) when the chips were down. For Law Enforcement defensive tactics pose a unique problem since since they have to detain someone. In the civilian world it's more "all or noting". You escape or you fight all out. Cops have had the rules ingrained in their brains for so long that when the shit does hit the fan, they don't react in the best interest of their own survival. Fortunately, we get to train them and one by one we're correcting that issue.

Larry actually wanted me to "Monday Morning Quarterback" what happened. My initial reaction was "Why?, you're alive, your partner's alive and the bad guy has a headache sitting in lock up?. But as we got into it, he really wanted to do it faster, better and safer next time so we talked a bit and squared away what he needed to work on.

Look, I'm just going to tell you this, when it's on, it's on and you've got to do whatever you can to end it as fast as you can. In this case, this scumbag was going for his gun. Thank God Larry was prepared.

If you want to READ the article of this incident GO HERE NOW

Until next time...Train Honestly,
Damian Ross

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VIDEO: The Three Count Chop Drill with Damian Ross of The Self Defense Company

The Three Count Chop Drill comes from The Self Defense Training System Module 1, Essential Self Defense. In this clip, Self Defense Company CEO Damian Ross demonstrates how to develop hand speed, power and hand toughness with the vertical and horizontal edge of hand strikes.

The purpose of the drill is to hit your target as hard and as fast as you can while maintaining the correct position (chin down, elbow up) in between your strikes. The greatest benefit from this drill is that it trains you instinctive and convulsive pattern of combative movement. This is extremely important and one of the main reasons the Self Defense Training System works. It trains you in these combative patterns so when you are under stress you flip the switch and react. And you react not just with one technique, but a series of techniques and footwork that will maximize damage to your target and minimize injury to yourself.

Keep it real and train honestly,

Damian Ross

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VIDEO: Extreme Close Range Training with Damian Ross and The Self Defense Training System

DON'T TRAIN TO WAIT!!!
This drill comes from Module 4 of the Self Defense Training System: Defense Vs. Mugs and Holds. Where the vast majority of martial arts and self defense system teach you to wait for the grab and focus on the specific attack, The Self Defense Training System trains you to react instinctively based on distance and position NOT specific attack. The most common mistakes that will get you killed are training to wait and focusing on the specific attack.

Take the wrist grab for example. This particular attack makes me laugh, it's the first defense people teach and yet I've never seen or heard of anyone being taken out by a wrist grab. Anyway, typically you stand in front of your training partner and let the other person grab your wrist. The deadly mistake you're making is waiting for the attack when you're enemy is so close to you. You really only have two choices: attack balls out or escape...balls out. DON'T WAIT!!! What if it's not a wrist grab, what it it's a stab or a punch? Which brings us to problem number 2. Specific defenses.

How do you know if it's a wrist grab or a punch. In the dojo with a willing partner, being able to determine the attack may seem to work, but in a parking lot at 3 am with low light conditions you will not be able to recall the correct response for specific attacks. This has everything to do with physiology NOT how wonderful and talented you are. You SNS (Sympathetic nervous System) does not allow this to happen. Only gross motor movements and primary skill recall. Plus, the initial grab preempts the REAL attack. That shirt grab s followed by a headbutt or a punch. No sense wasting your time with the initial attack unless it disrupts your balance.

You only and best option is to train in instinctive and convulsive skill sets that allow you to engage your target based on position and distance and not specific, individual attacks. This is what has been proved to work period. The above drill is an assault from the rear. You sense the threat and you react to the threat. It doesn't matter if he's about to bear hug you, stab you, grab your hair...who cares, you're not waiting. Listen, you have the right to protect yourself if you feel you assailant has intent and means (check your local laws). That doesn't mean wait until he starts beatng the snot out of you.

NOTE: As a general rule of self defense you should exhaust all options before engaging in use of force. While people feel the uniformed compulsion to make the "why don't you run away" statement after every video post (God bless the internet) I must respond with there are situations where you have no other option or you job forces you to deal with violence. I have too much respect for time by wasting it on an assumption that most intelligent people make. When you make these statements it reveals you as a neophyte in the self defense world. Moving forward, just assume you haven't any other options and move forward from there.

Until Next Time, Train Honestly,

Damian Ross

www.selfdefensecompany.com Corporate Center
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VIDEO- Making him "TAP" is not good enough, Damian Ross, The Self Defense Company

The "TAP" is only the beginning. In competition the object is submission, in close combat and self defense, the object is to incapacitate your target or stop the threat. Most of the times in the dojo, your training partner will tap when they feel the uncomfortable pain on their trachea or begin to feel a little claustrophobic. Unfortunately this happens well before they start to pass out (ears ringing, REM sleep and muscles twitch). And passing out happens well before any asphyxiation occurs. In MODULE 3 of the Self Defense Training System, Ground Fighting for Keeps we show you how to train to go way beyond the tap with the combat application of the strangle. This drill is one of the many we use to develop this skill in Module 3.

Traditionally in Judo we were taught to never tap on a strangle. You fought until well...you couldn't. This did two things. First it taught you what you could endure and how long you could last when you were being strangled. On the flip side, it taught you how to really strangle.

Joint locks are a completely different animal. While you will wake up from a choke (well if he stops: note to self, when the feet go flat...let go), you may not recover from a torn ligament, dislocation or hyper-extension that results when a joint lock is fully applied. In a blog post coming up I'll show you how in module 3 we train joint locks at 100%.

In training you must take great care in not damaging your training partner. Recklessness could end his career and you will eventually run out of partners. Don't be a "dojo hero". Give up the arm or leg lock even if it's close. What's the point of fighting in practice- it's just your ego. Tap and start again. Conversely if you have a joint lock and the guy is fighting it, let it go before he gets hurt. The more people who want to work out with you the better you will become. Don't be the a-hole everyone avoids. There is always one or two, but don't worry, they don't last very long. If no one wants to work out with you, you could be that guy.

A note on submissions: they are a secondary technique in the world of close combat and self defense. In the Self Defense Training System we detail how and why you may be in a situation to use them, but make no mistake, in the world of hand to hand combat they're inefficient and require a lot more effort and training to become proficient. It's far easier to knock someone cold with a strike than it is to strangle or dislocate an joint. Plus a lot of the sport submissions are not applicable to the street as detailed in the SDTS.

Striking is by far your best bet. It's the most efficient, fastest and most effective means of taking out a target. Submissions became popular because they're easier to control in practice. You can't strike full contact in practice, it causes too much damage on the body over time. Anyone who says they "train full contact, 100% of the time" is either lying, doesn't know what full contact is or hits like a toddler.

Submissions give you real pain, most people in the martial arts world (outside judo, wrestling, shoot fighting and BJJ) have never felt that type of pain and power since most martial arts devolved into a form of cardio kick boxing. Submissions can be controlled and a winner can be determined in a 100% live scenario with little injury when compared to full on striking systems like boxing and Muy Thai.

Ground fighting became even MORE popular because there's even less chance of injury and it requires very little room to work out when compared to judo and wrestling where most injuries occur in the standing position and the most movement occurs in the standing position as well this requires more room. More room equals more real estate and higher overhead. From a business stand point a style like BJJ is a no-brainer: it gives students an excellent workout, provides them with real feedback, it puts them in a 100% live situation that let's them feel full resistance and it requires little equipment (a mat with gi optional).

WOW, now that was a tangent...where was I? Strangling for self defense, striking is more efficient but if your vocation or the situation requires you to do it, you must go far beyond the tap and this type of training in one of the few solutions. Imagine what this drill will do for your submissions in the dojo? I tell you this, if you do this 3 times a week for a month, people will start to tap as soon as they feel you set the choke.

Until Next Time, Train Honestly,

Damian Ross

www.selfdefensecompany.com Corporate Center
www.theselfdefenseco.com World's Most Lethal Self Defense
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VIDEO- A gun and pepper spray couldn't stop him!

I don't care if you train in a Self Defense Company program or not, but please do something. A gun is not enough, pepper spray is not enough they are just tools, sometimes they work, sometimes they don't. Sometimes you can access them, sometimes you can't. One fact remains: in order to be completely prepared to deal with violence you need to take a well rounded approach to your training. Even if you don't train in hand to hand combat, the least you should do is be in shape.

Years ago I ran an ad that asked one simple question: Could you save your own life? Then I continued to ask: How fast and how far can you run if you were chased (or chasing someone?)? Could you pull yourself out of a burning car? Escape from a burning building? Scale a 5 foot fence? Can you protect yourself against an assault?

The purpose is to take stock of your mental and physical readiness. Ask yourself these questions and be completely honest with yourself. What if your child and loved one were in danger and you had to swim/run/climb to rescue them? Could you do it?

Most people THINK they can, but very few actually can. I would get people in the Training Center who looked in good shape but didn't last through warm ups. In reality, you might be good for a few seconds but when your adrenaline and hormones kick in you're going to be sapped of energy in seconds (How much power do you think the officer in the video had in his strikes?).

Imagine being in a state of mind where you are so exhausted you can't even think let alone move. This is why it is imperative that you be in some type of physical condition and use tactics that will end the fight as soon as possible.

The cop in this video was lucky. The cop in this video was NOT prepared to deal with this guy. It is not his fault, it's his training. He has been trained to believe that if you use a firearm you will stop the attack. We know that unless you hit specific target areas, the only way your target will die is loss of blood. In most cases the target will not feel the gunshot or the knife wound and continue to be an extremely dangerous and even more violent subject.

There are two mindsets to use when you prepare for violence:
1. Think everything you do will work.
2. Think everything you do will fail.

A lot of firearms and martial arts training teaches you to believe that every shot is a kill and every strike is a knock out. This type of thinking will get you killed. In reality, you miss, get tired and Murphy's law rules. Once a situation gets "tactical" you need to end it as fast as possible by whatever means necessary. Anything less puts your life in danger. This thinking is not extremist, just logical.

Lucky for this cop he survived and the bad guys were brought to justice. I bet this officer found himself back in the gym a few days later.

Until next time, Train Honestly,
Damian Ross

www.selfdefensecompany.com Corporate Center
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VIDEO: Knife Training with Damian Ross and The Self Defense Training System

Self Defense Training System (SDTS) Knife Training with Damian Ross

Would you practice batting and never hit a ball? Would you practice golf and never strike a ball? Of course not. Then why do self proclaimed knife fighters and edged weapons experts continue to stab the air and play tag with rubber knives and magic markers? While knife sparring is fun activities and will develop a competitive edge, it doesn't prepare you for plunging a knife into a living, breathing, human being. Hey, I know it may sound brutal, but what the hell do you think combat knives are made for? Fighting is not clean. It's messy, painful and caustic. Fighting with a knife is even more so. If you're serious about what it takes, you've come to the right place.

In the real world, when you stab a body it has flesh, bone, muscle, ligaments and blood. It's going to be extremely difficult to keep a grip on your weapon. A lot of martial artists hold the knife like it's a paint brush with little thought as to where that blade is going. Chances are your local butcher has more experience and practical knowldge than your local martial arts/knife expert.

When you stab something living, the flesh will actually close around the knife, create suction around the blade and literally hold it in the body so withdrawing the weapon is a problem. Prisoners have been known to literally lash the blade to their hands with bed sheets and soak it in water to create an impact weapon as well as a way of ensuring the knife doesn't leave their hand until the job is done. The point is, in a real fight, it's going to be tough to hang on to the blade so you better do two things: train your grip and practice stabbing something that will give you realistic feedback.

In the past I have stabbed the family roast, a leg of lamb, water jugs and foam. While raw meat adds to the realism, it gets expensive, it's messy and will make you unpopular around dinner time. By far the cheapest and neatest target is good, old fashioned cardboard.

Cardboard gives you some realistic resistance, you can find it easily and it can be attached to anything with just a little duct tape (now 1002 uses). I like attaching it to the training dummy like we do in Module 9 of the Self Defense Training System titled "Weapons Offensive Tactics". This way you can practice striking and stabbing with the weapon for more effective training.

But before we continue I need to mention something regarding the realty of all this stuff. I do this not to shock you, but I want you to think about this logically and compare it to what is generally taught as knife fighting. Yes, the complicated flipping and twirling crap you see all over the internet.
First of all, let's get one thing straight. You are not pulling any of that fancy shit off. In a real assault, attempted rape or homicide your body experiences "HORMONE INDUCED HEART RATE" or FEAR. This causes the debilitating effects of combat stress that have been recognized for centuries. Phenomenon such as tunnel vision, auditory exclusion, the loss of fine and complex motor control, irrational behavior, and the inability to think clearly have all been observed as byproducts of combat stress. Even though these phenomena have been observed and documented for hundreds of years, very little research has been conducted to understand why combat stress deteriorates performance. The simple fact remains: we know this happens so we prepare for the reality of only being able to perform a few simple movements under combat stress. Listen, you can believe me, scientific research, the military and police OR you can believe the elderly Asian gentlemen in the fancy pajamas. For more on the subject of the psychology of combat you can start HERE. and I'll see you in a year.

Back to training.

As far as what type of cuts do the most damage, ask any Emergency Medical Tech or Emergency Room Doctor, Nurse or Medic. Slashes cause superficial wounds, thrusts or stabs cause mortal wounds. When you penetrate the body you pierce the organs. This will you get the desired result. The greater and more frequent the stabs, the faster the target will bleed out. Other than a direct stab to the Hypothalamus, the only way someone will die from a knife or a gun wound is loss of blood or blood asphyxiation depending on the location of the wound. The short of it is, fast fancy slashes look nice but have little or no stopping power. Let me put it to you this way, if you are only going to be able to recall a handful of gross motor skills under stress would you you better make them count. If your life is in danger and you're in a situation that forces you to use a weapon to defend your life, why would you screw around with anything else?

The most important thing to do is grip the hell out of the knife and plunge it into the vitals of your target as fast and as often as you can. Who cares if he puts his hands up or is foolish enough to try to block it or grab it. When trained correctly, no one should be able to "take the knife away". At least no one that I trained.

Think about this logically and put yourself in a situation where your best option was to run that SOB through, what frame of mind would you be in? Imagine the worst and then multiply it by 10. Fighting for your life is not a game and should not be treated as such.

To learn more about Module 9 WEAPONS OFFENSIVE TACTICS CLICK HERE

Until next time, Train Honestly,
Damian Ross

www.selfdefensecompany.com Corporate Center
www.theselfdefenseco.com World's Most Lethal Self Defense
www.legaluseofforce.com Police Combatives Training
www.familysafeprogram.com Keep Your Family Safe
www.teachselfdefense.com Turn Your Passion into Profits
www.60minuteselfdefense.com Self Defense for Everyone
www.myselfdefenseresource.com Free Resource Material
FREE Training Forum http://theselfdefenseco.madmooseforum.com/