VIDEO: Cold Weather Hand to Hand Combat Training with Damian Ross, The Self Def...

Gi or no gi...bullshit. It's cold, you wear clothes. Unless you get attacked at the beach or in you sleep in the buff and have to fight naked (this did happen to me once and I do not recommend it, that's a long story and even a longer post).

Even a t-shirt is enough to grab and manipulate. You train for where you live, you train in what you wear. This time of year the northeast US it's freezing. There's ice on the ground and we are wearing clothing that not only can be grabbed, but restricts movement as well. Logic dictates that if you're serious about self defense, you need to prepare for the likely event that you will be attacked, outside, in the cold on the ice and snow. This is featured in module 1 of the Self Defense Training System

You need to practice in what you wear and hit something when your hands are cold. during my football days, when the temperature dropped, and you hit someone there was an extra sting to it. A tiny shot of pain over the normal violence of the game. The same holds true for close combat, especially hand to hand. Your hands will sting, your muscles will feel sluggish and you'll feel like your stuck in cement. It is a frustrating, awful feeling so you better get used to it. You better practice, even if it's just a few times, in the cold.

If you can't move your dummy outdoors or in your garage, use a pad or a pillow and duct tape it to something. Set it up where there is snow and ice on the ground. Practice your favorite combinations without any warm up and wearing your everyday clothing. When I wore a suit, I trained consistently in a suit. About once every few months. Not long, about a 1/4 of the time of a normal workout. This was just enough to mind set for the likely event that I would be protecting a client or working my day job.

While were at it, next time you're at work, which I'm sure the vast majority of you already do, imagine a live shooter scenario. Practice calling 9-1-1 and then look at the layout. Notice where the exits are, imagine f you were boxed in and had no where to go except through the shooter or, your just one of those people who would have to go all "Bill Badger" on the SOB. Whatever the case may be, you don't need to actually go through the movements and freak out all of your coworkers. But you can go through the scenario in your mind. It probably won't happen the way you imagine, it hardly ever does, but it sets a foundation for action and action saves lives.

Train Honestly,
Damian Ross, CEO The Self Defense Company

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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-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
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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
FREE Training Forum http://theselfdefenseco.madmooseforum.com/

VIDEO-Damian Ross, The Self Defense Company, Yawara Stick Combinations

This yawara stick combination comes from Module 11 of the Self Defense Training System titled "Old School weapons and Tactics". The yawara stick originated in Japanese jujutsu and reached it's peak in modern day popularity in the 1940's when it was used for police work. The stick itself can be made out of a variety of materials and have different end shapes varying from sharp and pointed to smooth and round. The stick is not illegal to carry and when made of wood is easy to transport. It is and EXTREMELY effective tool for focusing the power of your strikes and dramatically increases the penetration of damage into your target. Even strikes to the body, arms and legs are tremendously painful. The stick can also be used n grappling situations to create space and cause extreme pain to your target as seen in Module 11 of The Self Defense Training System.

This types of weapons are incredibly easy to obtain and carry. Even a close ASP baton can be used in this manner. Anything that is hard and a little larger than the width of your hand can be...oh, that didn't sound right. You know what I mean. You don't have to get all tactical to "make" one. They're cheap anyway, this one cost all of $10.00.

The next important point I want to stress is that the body mechanics for use of the weapon remain the same, this is true for all of the weapons used in the Self Defense Training System. This is deliberate by design since it is in efficient, impractical and ineffective to train different body mechanics for different weapons when under stress you can only recall a handful of gross motor skills. The SDTS in this way is modeled after Japanese Jujutsu. Where jujutsu and even judo were based on the sword, the Self Defense Training System is based on Module 1, Essential Self Defense . Once those core moves are mastered, it is easy to move through the program. This is what has been proven to work time and time again. Learning a basic skill set and adapting it to any situation is the method of training that has the highest success rate in the field. It doesn't matter if you're in calculus class or on the football field. It's the person who understands the basics and how to adapt the basics quickly and easily to each situation that wins the day.

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-Close Combat Stick Fighting Drill - Damian Ross, The Self Defense Company

This drill comes from Module 9 of the Self Defense Training System, "Weapons Offensive Tactics". In this clip, Self Defense Company CEO, Damian Ross demonstrates a simple yet devastating opening combination with the short stick or club.

n close combat it is much more effective to use the club with a two handed grip as seen in the video than what's normally taught. In fact, unless you are swinging a bat, axe handle or lead pipe, swinging the club is only advisable in a handful of situations. You don't need to be Rodney King to realize that there is not a lot of knock out power in swinging a night stick. Will it hurt, YES, will it eventually stop you, sure, but is it the most powerful and effective, absolutely not. Add to the equation that modern impact weapons designed for law enforcement lack any significant weight to supply enough knock down power. Weapons like the ASP are more designed for comfort instead of performance. Officers were tired of having to remove and replace their night sticks in their belts every time they entered and exited the cruiser.
Hey, I'm not saying they don't hurt, but when you're faced with a drug induced or emotionally disturbed person you are not gong to be happy.

There is a reason riot squads around the globe still use these types of two handed techniques, they work. Now they have even replaced the club with the riot shield (a little more humane) but the same combative movement and tactics none the less.

The reason two handed techniques work so well is simple, you can put more body weight and power behind the strike and the obvious reason is at close range t s impossible to swing the club at all. In Module 9 of the self defense training system we show you how to use the club in grabs, holds and even round situations. Nothing fancy, just what works.

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 Materialjavascript:void(0)
FREE Training Forum http://theselfdefenseco.madmooseforum.com/