As a teacher of martial arts, how do you address the ultimate "question" asked by students... Can I survive?

"As a teacher of martial arts, how do you address the ultimate "question" asked by students... Can I survive?"

I'm a realist. My answer is, "maybe". Muay Thai specialist and author Chad Boykin describes martial arts as a seat belt: it makes you safer, but not safe. Given the number of variables that compose a self defense situation, it would be unfair to give a straight "yes" or even "no" answer. The answer is, we've given you the best tools at our disposal to help you come out of this in one piece. But some times, nothing you do will work. That's a fact.

"I have a student who is not ready to handle grappling. This means they are not ready for the intimate and close contact involved and would be traumatized by real efforts to choke them out or submit them."

Introduce them to it progressively. Have then pin their partner and just work pinning offense for a bit. Then work pinning escapes. Gradually introduce other elements like chokes and locks. Putting them in an offensive position not only gives them a sense of control, but by understanding the offensive techniques, they may be better able to avoid them when playing a defensive game.

It's a serious subject. It can't be taken lightly. Martial arts is about skill and ability. If you realize that you're helpless in a certain situation, then you know a weakness to pay attention to. The only way to deal with a knife attack is to learn how to defend against a knife. Same with a gun or even if someone is trying to strangulate you from behind with their bare hands or a cord of some kind... you have to learn your own weaknesses and fears then overcome them.

I greatly disagree with the sink or swim philosophy. If that attitude was used in learn to drive... everyone would be riding bikes, and even then...

To go about things delicately, the way I see it, is like lowering yourself into hot water. Slowly. Not everyone can start out at the same heat, either. Regardless of how the person responds to an idea, like grappling, everyone needs a boost into it. I've seen so many people afraid of things and completely unable to motivate themselves and some do need to be "gently forced", or "make them" want to.

If it's any other reason besides a fear (as in an imaginative reason as to why they dislike a particular situation, subject or activity or a compete disinterest), then I almost can't see the point in them even trying. It would be like a person who only likes war-type video games but has no interest in joining the military... now imagine trying to get that person to join you in a camping/hunting trip. The idea becomes better than the reality. It's not a fear, it's a lack of any interest. Not only that, the person believes it isn't going to do them any good to even try. That's why I say I can't see the point.

Tough one.

You approach the situation from the standpoint of using their fear as motivation for them. So they don't want close contact or to grapple? Ok, let me as your instructor show you some ways to counter the "grappler" - e.g, sprawling, or learning how to get to your feet after a takedown, etc.

I would tell them they have a legitimate fear and not downplay it. That is the same fear of MANY UFC fighters. Their strategy is to keep the fight on their feet.

Starting from this point - defense against the takedown - may open the student up and eliminate some fear. This may be an effective way to increase their comfort level and begin them to explore the grappling side more and close contact more.

John Brink

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) Black Belt - Dallas, TX

Impact Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

www.impactbjj.com

www.bigbiglife.com

I can not answer this as an instructor, but I can answer this as a student. Sometimes it is better to get what they fear the most out of the way first. It is good to let a student know exactly how vulnerable they are and explain to them that together you and him (or her) are going to correct this and make them stronger and more disciplined.

When I was a teenager the first few days at the boxing gym I thought I was hot stuff. When I sparred against expierenced guys and got a good taste of humiliation, I realized a few things. First, I sucked. Second, Im recieving the same training as these guys, so theoritically I have the potential to be as good as them. Third, glad that was in a ring and not on the outside.

My Drill Sergeant told us something when we started OSUT. Everyone fails and fails repeatedly. When we first try to walk we fall on our faces over and over again. Eventually after falling enough, we succeed and walk.

Failure can be a good thing it teaches you what not to do again.

If they're asking it's because they want to know. If they're smart enough to ask, they're probably smart enough to know.

For starters I make sure students understand there's always a "What if". What if he pulls down as opposed to pulling right. What if he has more muscle than the people in the dojo. What if he has a friend. Always a what if. The trick is to get basics drilled out over and over. Keep their basics solid and sharp. Most people fail at the "what if" because their basics are crap.

Also, practice SAFELY. Sometimes teachers feel they have to put the exact grapple on with the exact same pressure an attacker would. NO! Not at first. Build habits first. Before someone starts to put the pressure on me, I want to know what the technique is in theory. Is it totally real? No. But I can only die once and I need to practice this over and over. Later on, I might put a little more pressure on me. Up the stakes a little. By that time, I know what I'm suppose to do, so hopefully I won't get choked out.

Think of it this way. You don't start a person off learning to bat by throwing 100 mph fast balls and crazy curve balls at them and expecting them to hit and saying, "Well that's how the major leagues are going to be." No. You start out by showing them the basics. Then you gradually get faster pitches as they know better what to do.

One aikido shihan I particularly respect would sometimes - after demonstrating a basic technique - pick one of his senior students and show the class one or two advanced variations; sometimes these involve very non-formal, full-speed, and full-force attacks (something most aikidoka, sad to say, is a bit unfamiliar with.) But he also goes to great lengths to show how the focus of the basic technique he is making us practice comes into play when other, more nasty and unpleasant elements (weapons, surprise attacks, in-close grappling, multiple opponents, etc.) come into play. The key here, IMHO, is:

1. Being able to demonstrate that advanced training will sometimes be nasty and unpleasant

2. Being able to demonstrate that basic training will help them EVENTUALLY be ready for the more nasty and unpleasant things to come

3. Having a senior uke team that are able to help you demonstrate concept number 1 in a way that will also convince other students of number 2... You know, stuff like being able to maintain a calm and relaxed attitude after being choked, thrown extra hard, etc...

Ooooo very good...

I had one student come to me; she'd been a victim of an extremely violent sexual assault – pushed down in a parking lot late at night, choked, gagged, beaten, had a knife held to her, and raped.

We trained in the basics for a while before she told me all this, and I'd known that she had issues with too close of contact and weapons. I let it go for a while, then asked her what her worst fear was. She told me her story, and said that she felt powerless through the whole thing, but that the knife was the worst part, because she didn't know if she'd be alive or dead at the end of it.

Now, I collect training weapons. I have all sorts of training knives, and some look pretty realistic, so I took one of my more realistic ones out, had her go to the wall, went over some breathing, then held the knife to her throat. We worked a basic escape. Over and over and over. Then we took a break. When we went back, I surprised her, pushed her to the wall, pulled the knife, and without thinking she performed the technique, ran to the other side of the room while I picked myself up, and she just sunk down and started crying.

I put the knife away, walked over, helped her up, and we talked about it. I told her that we never know what we're capable of until we try. The fears we have are natural, and they're there to try to keep us safe. But that with just a little bit of training, we can learn effective ways to make that fear work for us, and improve our chances.

Now, this worked for her, and her training took on a very new life, and she grew more and more confident. Sadly, a short time later she took quite ill, and left training.

I think really you have to be able to judge your students, to push them to their breaking point and show them that they really can do it, and more. And if they can't, slow down, and try again later. Don't be afraid of pushing them, and don't be too gentle. Don't give them the excuse to not try. Make them seek your approval, and they'll push themselves harder.

One other thing, and this is my opinion: Don't train the idly curious. Let them fall by the wayside. Yes, they may need the training, but they'll never be ready for what they really need, and they'll never respect you for forcing them to learn it. Train in groups, pick the ones who appreciate the art for what it is, and train them. Let the curious learn what they can from what's left over until they develop true interest or leave.

You can't save everyone.

Hi ISDS

IMHO, the martial arts teacher should be effective in guiding students towards becoming solid practitioners with a strong mental/physical foundation and not to produce "Mcblack belts". I hope that you agree.

As a teacher do you reaffirm that martial arts is about improvement of self?; Facing FEARS head on, and OVERCOMING them by MOVING FORWARD through them, SLOWLY, INCH by INCH.

Not by giant leaps and bounds.

Becoming a better martial artist means being better at dealing with any situation in life; self defence or other.

Personally, I do not believe in exploring issues in a gentle manner or a traumatic one... But I do believe in the exploration of knowledge in a POSITIVE beneficial and not negative way.

Communicate with your students in an affirmative way. Listen to their perspective.

Be honest and give it to them straight.

They deserve it and it's the responsibility of a teacher.

Let them know your personal experiences in the subject, even if it makes you appear vulnerable (It builds a deeper trust...), and your honest professional opinion.

Let them know that you are just a guide on their martial arts journey and will support them in every way that you can... But ultimately, it's on them... If they want better chances of SURVIVAL, they have to take control/responsibility, work hard, and see to it that they are prepared. In essence, they must answer their own "what if..." question.

Offer them a positive solution(s) to overcome their obstacles.

Instead of a "sink or swim" mentality educate them, on the " learn to tread in shallow water before you learn to dog paddle out to deeper & breast stroke out to even deeper waters" philosophy. Conditioning is a gradual process after all.

Hopefully they are mature enough to decide what they want to do for themselves.

Hope that was helpful:)

The question can never be explained thoroughly because each question is of a different origin with of course a different look towards the out come.As a Sensi you have fulfilled your teachings now the student must choose their own fate.

It depends on the art. I taught TKD for 12 years and if someone asked me that (nobody ever did actually) with my experience now, I'd ask them if that's truly why they took marital arts and I would change their training., TKD is simply not focused on training students to deal with the pants wetting fear of a physical confrontation.

If they were in BJJ or something else, that is more part of their trianing.