So, this is a thing now

Post Violence Dynamics brain dump

As I previously mentioned the Vio Dy seminar was a blast again this year.  One of the reasons I go through all the work of putting something like that together every year is it always blows my mind.

So again, this blog will primarily be a brain dump of sorts to get the thoughts in my head on “paper” before I forget them.  Allowing me to further develop them throughout the year.

So where to start?...

ODIN

Yeah, that is a real thing now.  It has evolved from me getting grown ass folks to play G.I.Joe and Super Heroes with me in to a real brick and mortar / blood and bone entity.

We have card carrying members

We have active ongoing operations

I have a need to provide services I boasted I could accomplish.

So now I am in a place that looks a lot like – holy shit how am I going to pull this off?

Like eating an elephant, one bite at a time.

First bite - What is ODIN?

•             Operational

•             Disciplines

•             Instructional

•             Network

O.D.I.N. is the code name for the world's daring, highly trained special mission force.

An independent international intelligence service

Its purpose: to develop human potential.

Recruiting and training operatives to use their inherent abilities to defend human freedom.

 

O.D.I.N. training can provide the means to become more than what you are

To become the hero you are meant to be

People are wired to learn through play.  As we get older we get “too cool” to play anymore and learning becomes a chore.  Exercise stops being fun and becomes work.

ODIN / Super hero training is a way to be active and play again. 

It is a fun way to develop yourself, and help others.  It is in no way an actual independent international inelegance service hiding as a training program or a game.  Because that would be ridiculous.

What are our goals?

Things I have stated on this blog that am I trying to accomplish:

• Re-establish physical culture in American youth
• Improve the level of and availability of training for professional force users.
• Help individuals become more selfactualized - who they want to be.  Not so much for their personal vanity but more so for the betterment of society.
• In this way you are able to perfect yourself and contribute something of value to the world. This is the final goal of Judo discipline
• - Jigoro Kano
• “Strong people are harder to kill than weak people and more useful in general.”
• - Mark Rippetoe

If it was easy someone else would have done it already

What is our purpose?

• To do good

ODIN will provide the means to become more than what you are.  To become the hero you are meant to be, so that you can be of service to others

How am I going to pull that off?

Well, I have a substantial to do list, and honestly I will need help. 

What to look for in the not too distant future (also note any one with expertise in any of the following fields willing to donate said expertise any help would be appreciated)

ODIN website:

• ·         Learn through play
• ·         Distance learning
• ·         Splinter Cells
• ·         Operations

k
o

Again most of this (blog) is broad strokes, throwing spaghetti at the wall type deal.  Getting my ideas down so that when I talk with people that know what the hell they are doing I can explain what I would like to make happen.

Learn through play

ODIN evolved from games I played when I was in college…

See Kato Cato experiment – http://practicalbudo.blogspot.com/2010/11/kato-cato-experiment.html

And playing Ninjas and Spy Girl with my daughters.  “Spy Girl” is what we called the television show Alias

The premise of ODIN is whatever name is on your driver’s license, pass port, student id etc…, that is just your cover.  You are (insert cool code name here) who is actually an agent of ODIN deep undercover.

How does this work through the web site?

I would like to set up a role playing type of game of a sort.  The twist being, you are the character you are playing, and the goal is to “level up” that character into who you want to be.

How much time / effort does someone spend leveling up a character in a video game or even a table top D&D type game because it is fun?

If ODIN is fun enough can that transfer to leveling up one’s self?

I am currently working on developing and coopting tests to set baseline attribute scores.

• Strength
• Intelligence
• Dexterity
• Constitution (Toughness / Heart / Game)
• Wisdom (Common Sense / Life Experience)
• Charisma (Social Skills)

 

Ideally these tests will be fun / play as well.  Like the which Star Wars character are you type quiz people take on Face Book to kill time.

http://www.zimbio.com/quiz/Ukldm8Pi5Ub/Star+Wars+Character

But more like this
http://www.kevinhaw.com/add_quiz.php

Instead of data mining to sell you shit you don’t need or set you up for identity theft, these quizzes will help you get an objective look at yourself.  Allowing you to see what victim profiles you may fit into, what your strengths are, and where you could use improvement.

I am also currently working on ways players can earn experience points by working on areas that need improvement.
 

I’d like a phone app that connects to, gains info from other apps.  For example let’s say physical fitness is an area you need improvement on.  My fitness pal is a great app that tracks your work outs.  I’d like to be able to link that app to the game so you get so many points for working out.

Here is an advertisement for a work out game on Xbox one...
Add some fun to your fitness routine - Tired of going to the gym and repeating the same old boring workout routine? Shape Up is the game that proves working out and having fun is possible. It features unique and entertaining 90-second challenges that transform the chore of exercise into a good ol' time. You might even find yourself looking forward to your next cardio blast or circuit training session.

Something along those lines.  Making training fun, a game.  No matter what area you are working on improving

Also in RPG’s skills are different from attributes.  What skills do you have?  What skills do you want?

How do you become:

James Bond

Jack Bauer

John Wick

Batman

Operational Disciplines (Skills)

Fire Arms

Edged Weapons
Blunt weapons

Urban Survival

Wilderness Survival

Understanding Force Law

Violence Dynamics

Conflict Strategy

Avoidance

Escape / Evade

De-escalation

Fundamental Combatives

• ·         Structure / Power Generation
• ·         Joints Locks / Breaks  
• ·         Counter Assault   
• ·         Striking  
• ·         Take Downs   
• ·         Ground Skills       
• ·         High End Use of Force          

1^st Aid

·         Self Care

·         Buddy Care

EVOC – Emergency Vehicle Operations Course (Driving Skills)

Scuba Diving

Flying

Sky Diving

Rappelling

Interview / Interrogation

Investigation

Asset Recruitment

Computer Skills

Code / Cipher Skills

Leadership

Operation Development

Training Development

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

Operational disciplines can be scary subject matter.  There be dragons here.

How do you convince those that are afraid and risk averse, that risk can be enjoyed, and skills learned that will help one navigate uncertainty.

Sadly, the people that need this most tend to be the least likely people to seek it out.
The 250 lb. former linebacker gets a kick out of learning to be Jason Bourne.
However, the 120lb sophomore co-ed is the one that is on nearly every single victim profile.  She is the one that needs Bourne's skills.

How do you get her to train in scary things?  To face her dragons?

 

How do you sell the idea in the first place. That it's a good idea at all ... especially to those that are just waiting for society to become safe?
"Why should I train?, men should be trained not to rape"

 

Provide a safe environment to expose yourself to scary things.
Establish that what we are providing is in no way blaming the victims of crime for not having this type of training or for night fighting back.
 

You can have all the training in the world and you still may become a victim of crime.
 

I like to compare it to swimming, even the best swimmers occasionally drown.

However, in an emergency, that swim training can tip the odds in their favor.

No one calls swim lessons or competitive swimming drown victim blaming.

Everyone is afraid of the water until the learn to dog paddle.

Swimming is fun

Learning about awareness is not about being afraid or that danger lurks everywhere

A lot of people (women particularly) don't like to even consider it as it makes the world seem more threatening.
 

ODIN makes awareness a game, if you pretend to be a spy it isn't as scary

fake it until you make it

If you play the game enough that it becomes a habit you have ingrained operator skills

Those ingrained skills send off subtle not to be fucked with, find easier prey elsewhere vibes that pros and assholes will pick up on.  Removing people from victim profiles

 

ODIN is fun

 

Be the best you.  Not everyone has a need or a desire to be Batman.  There are lots of very cool characters in the Batman books without whom the Bat could never exist.

Not everyone wants to be Batman so in order for ODIN to be fun for everybody, and to benefit from different skill sets and points of view ODIN (the game) has to have different character classes.

Just as every Marine is a rifleman 1^st then what ever job they are assigned, all ODIN agents will work to improve and gain new Operational Skills while benefiting society with the other skill sets they already have.

Examples of other character classes / ODIN branches may include

ODIN Scientific Branch

Scientific Branch skills may include

Research

Web Design/ Development

Game Development

App Development

Equipment Development (Q stuff)

ODIN Artistic Branch

Skills may include

Logo Design

T-shirt Design

Poster Design

Clothing Design

Watch Making

Jewelry Design

Furniture Design

Wood Working

·        Training Weapons

Knife Making

As the game evolves and more people play I’m sure more character classes will develop.  I want everybody willing to contribute their skills to do good to have the opportunity to do so. 

[Anyone who has game playing (DM) experience and or computer skills that could help me develop this please contact me in the messages]

Distance learning

Once a month I put on Super Hero training for the Hamline University Martial Arts Club in St. Paul covering a broad spectrum of Operational Disciplines throughout the academic year.

 

Physical Skills                                                                                                  

• Physical Agility Testing                                            
• Structure / Power Generation      
• Principles of Joints Locks                 
• Counter Assault                                                                 
• Principles of Striking  
• Biomechanics of Throwing                                                                                                   
• Fundamental Ground Movement
• High End Use of Force

 

Academic Topics                                         

• Introduction to Operational Disciplines
• State Statutes and understanding force law
• Violence Dynamics 1 – Social Violence    
• Violence Dynamics 2 – Asocial Violence    
• Conflict Strategy 1 – Avoidance
• Conflict Strategy 2 – Escape / Evade 
•  Verbal skills – De-escalation   
• Verbal Skills deterring asocial violence

 

 

We have been having a lot of fun, we have been learning through play and I have been figuring out ways to provide elements of this experience through the  website.

• Video of Academic Lectures
• Power Point Presentations
• Self-training exercises and drills
• Work outs
• E-books
• Lesson plans

The N in ODIN is Network right?

Batman traveled the world to train with experts in many disciplines.

On the site I would like to have at least some basic intro level material on all the Operational Disciplines previously listed.
 

I have tapped some guys already, and or if you are reading this and I know you have skills in a particular area expect a message / phone call soon.

I also feel this can be a great opportunity to drive business to people I know are excellent but are relatively unknown.

Which if I may say so myself is an excellent transition to…

Splinter Cells

A couple of goals / ideas I have with this

1) Those previously mentioned unknowns.  This sounds arrogant as I type it but I’d like to have some sort of stamp of approval for folks I know are legit and I can confidently send people their way to learn quality skills.  Like a subtle logo on their website or something.

People that know the logo will know.  The uninitiated will not.  Also shows those in the know that there are active agents in that area.  Mission capable agents (more to follow)

...But we are initiated aren't we Bruce... 

 



 

2) For folks that live nowhere near anyone listed in 1).  Splinter cells can be groups of people doing the distance learning programs together.  They are a way to develop study groups.  These groups can then host training opportunities and we can send Instructors to them.
We can develop instructors in these areas.

Teaching

Training

Conditioning

Play

Always return to play

Part of the mission statement is to do good.

How does one go about doing that?

How is that play?

Do good

On the way to the airport with Rory Miller we had a conversation.  That talk planted the seed of how I could make this happen.

We were talking about guys that dress up in Super Hero costumes.  For the most part they seek out opportunities to be seen in their outfits.  Halloween only comes once a year.  There are only so many comic cons or free comic day events they can go to.  Sometimes in order to be like heroes they will dress up and give sandwiches or first aid to the homeless.

 

Sometimes even pros play this game. 

Helping people to be seen is one thing.

 

I'd like to offer another

 

Helping people from the shadows.

 

Learning through play, make helping people play, learn while helping people...without being seen

 

I'd like to make part of the game earning xp (and other rewards) for successful completion of altruistic operations, and developing such operations (creating opportunities for Operatives to use their skills to help others)

 

Good deeds done dirt cheap

The O – Team

If you need help..If you have a problem... if no one else can help... and if you can find them... maybe you can hire... The O-Team.

Ideally we will be able to set something up like the TV show "Stingray"

 

On the show, Ray, who lives in Southern California, devotes his time to helping those who are in trouble. His background is shadowy; all that is known about him is that he advertises surreptitiously in newspapers, ostensibly offering a "'65 black Stingray, for Barter Only To Right Party" and including a telephone number (555-7687). Those wishing to enlist his services, presumably having learned the ad’s real meaning by word of mouth, can call him for help.

Ray does not charge money for his help. Instead, he extracts a "favor" from his client in advance that the client will repay Ray in the future by performing this favor, perhaps easy, perhaps difficult, upon Ray’s request. This favor must be given by the client. The favor can involve the current case on which he is working, or a future case.
 

Some day, and that day may never come, I will call upon you to do a service for me. But until that day, consider this justice a gift on my daughter's wedding day.

— Don Corleone, The Godfather

Sound Cool?  I think so

I imagine something like this once we are up and running.  One guy wants to earn xp designing an op.  So he gets a flyer advertising  volunteer services placed in the Sunday newsletter of a local church.  Some grandma goes to a page on the site and fills out the request form.  Or calls a number and someone else does the web stuff because computers might scare grandma.  Either way the parameters of the mission are set, and we get to know some things about grandma.  For the sake of explanation lets say she needs her lawn raked and tree removed.  We also learn that she enjoys knitting and is part of a knitting circle that meets Thursdays from 3-5pm.

So guy goes to the website and sends out the Bat signal:
Need Operatives in the greater Minneapolis area for lawn care and tree removal next Thursday from  3-5.  If special skills were required it could be listed as a requisite for participation.  Also gives people with those skills an opportunity to earn points using them to help others.

So guy gets a crew of say 10 operatives.  A couple of specialists with landscaping skills and equipment and some others that can handle a rake.  They cut down the tree and clean up the yard and disappear like shadows. 

Kagenorenmei. 

Specialists earn points they can use to level up or trade to acquire new skills, say like one free class ant the next VioDy seminar.

Grandma comes home and it is a miracle, what she asked for happened.

Next week she receives a call or an email.

We require no payment.  If you want to show appreciation tell others how to contact us for help.  Also if you would like to help others, your knitting circle could make 30 pairs of gloves.

Guy gets points for running an op and turning an asset

Next month 30 pairs of gloves somehow show up in a warm clothing drive for the homeless.

If we do our job right only those we have helped will know we exist
We will become an urban legend

 

 

 

Ok that is the general idea.  Nothing to it but to do it.

Anyone that wants to get in on the ground level and help me get this beast up and running any help would be appreciated

 

Train hard, Train smart, Be safe (don't get caught)

 

Yo Joe!

 

So easy a caveman could do it

Caveman Judo

The Violence Dynamics Seminar was two weeks ago already.

I took some time to let ideas bounce around in my head for a bit.

The next couple of blogs will be a brain dump of a type to help me sort out all of the information.

This blog post I want to focus on takedowns.

At the seminar I taught a class on striking into takedowns.  It was later in the week after we covered some basic fundamentals.  

In my mind this class was an opportunity for students to practice practical application of those principles.

If I am honest with myself the takedowns class ended up being just a group of techniques I like to do

Instead of application of the principles we had worked, it became memorizing technique.

That is perfectly fine for a martial arts seminar of one particular style, but directly antithetical to the Violence Dynamics ideal of developing better individuals. 

As opposed to producing flawed copies of the instructors.

So I started to think - how can I teach a principle based approach to takedowns?

Start at the beginning – What is required to throw another human being?

Any throw will need the following:

• Grab
• Move
• Off balance
• Fit in
• Execute

Fair enough, but... 

How do you know if you should even try to throw someone?  

When you do know, how do you know which throw to do?

The - Grab, Move, Off balance, Fit in, Execute process can be refined down further.  With further refinement those questions answer themselves.

In order for a throw to make any kind of sense tactically you have to be close enough to throw.

Therefore the first principle of takedowns has to be positioning.

Positioning - 

(Relational position and orientation)

In sport application of grappling arts there is a gentlemen’s agreement between the participants.

I will not hit, kick, bite or spit at you if you agree to do the same.

This makes throwing “safe” from anywhere

Before (and outside) of this agreement, if you are in range to throw you are in range to get hit.

{If the enemy is in range, so are you and incoming fire has the right of way}

That means outside of such an agreement there are only so many places where it is “safe” to throw someone from.

For style neutral reference I’ll use this chart

0

1

2

2 ½

3

0 is called 0 because you want to spend ZERO time there.  All of the enemy's offensive weapons are viable and not only are you in range you are in the cross hairs.

Action is always faster than reaction if you find your self in this position you need to go on offense to get off the X

1 is safe to throw from as long as you are outside of the enemy.

To clarify - Let's say you move to the 1 position on the left side of the enemy.  To be outside of him means your right leg is to the right or out side of his right leg.

If your leg is inside of his you can easily get kicked in the giblets and your leg is also vulnerable to sweeps (see removing structure coming up)

Although 1 is safe to throw from when kuzushi, the next principle is applied the positional relationship between you and them usually changes to 2 or 21/2 

2 is a great place to throw from, especially with your center line on their hip bone.  I have found that overbalancing to the front works best from here.

2 1/2 is also great your hip bone on their hip bone.

Offbalancing to the back works better here.  You can also offbalance forward but the process of offbalancing puts you in the 2 position.

3 is clearly a gold mine.

Also there are only so many ways to get into those positions.

You can:

Talk your way there (see references to werewolfing in previous blogs)

Strike your way there

Find yourself there after a counter assault from the front

Find yourself there after a counter assault from the rear

It has to work in both offense and defense. 

No matter how you ended up in a good throwing position you are not going to throw anybody if they can maintain the ancient Japanese principle of HA or headou over assou.  Translated as head over ass.

Therefore....

The second principle of takedowns has to be off balancing.

Kuzushi

Generally taught as the 8 directions of the compass.  

However, I have found there are really only 3 ways to off balance someone

NOT – Nose over toes (Number 1 on the chart above)
HOH – Head Over heals (Number 2 on the chart above)

HOS – Head over side “I’m a little tea pot” (Numbers 3-8 on the chart above)

As mentioned previously many times the position you throw from will dictate the offbalance that makes sense.

Also as mentioned sometimes offbalancing changes or dictates the position.

You need to get their head outside of their cone of balance (see picture above)

With that in mind I have found...

HOS works best for bringing bigger guys down to your size allowing you to take them NOT or HOH. 

So really there is one way to cut "giants" down and two ways to kill balance.

Once you get to a place it is safe to throw from you will have to take their balance from them (binary decision either front or back).  If your position dictates the offbalance, or the enemy is already off balance due to your effort to get that “safe” position, the decision tree reduced even further.

No decision needed – take the gift

Bone slave - Puppet Master

The "Platinum" move
Much like Rory Miller’s Golden Move, only better

Improve your position

Worsen their position

Protect yourself from damage

Damage them

* Twist them up in such a way that they cannot move

Once you are in position, and they are off balance, bone slaving / puppet mastering is twisting them in such a way that it is difficult for them to use any of their strength.  Also you are forcing them to bare all of your weight.  For all intents and purposes removing their ability to move in any direction except the one you want them to which causes the throw.

From here there are only so many ways to make someone hit the ground.

Therefore...

The third principle has to be method.

Methods to put someone on the ground:

Lever

Area Denial

Remove Structure

Trebuchet

Bone Slave / Sacrifice

Lever

I place lever throws first because I feel they are the least complex of the throwing methods I describe.  A lever throw is when you lock the spine so it is one big lever arm.  You use that lever arm to put the head so far head over heals or nose over toes (outside the cone of balance) that the enemy cannot recover his balance and falls.

Example of a rear off balance lever would be Aikido’s Irimi Nage or variations of Judo’s  Kuchiki Daoshi

Examples of a front off balance lever would be like from the video above, except you drive their face into the ground instead of spinning them around, giving them back their balance then taking their balance to the rear.

Area Denial

The only way to recover from a lever throw is to change your base.  There are only so many ways the enemy can move their feet to regain their base to prevent being thrown.  If you put something in the way of that, say your own foot, you are denying them that area.  When they try to regain their base they trip over your feet and fall

Like Tai Otoshi to the front or classic WWII combatives “Hip Throw” to the rear

Remove structure

If somehow they were able to regain their base (area denial failed).  They are now dependent on that leg to maintain that base.  While keeping them off balance and twisted remove the structure of their base by cutting off “sweeping” that leg

From a rear offbalnace this would look like Osoto Otoshi

From a front off balance like uchi matta or even harai goshi.  All dependent on how you and the enemy fit together.

Trebuchet

A trebuchet traditionally consists of an arm resting on an axle, which rests high on a base structure. The arm of the trebuchet is like an off-center see-saw with a huge counterweight on the short end and a sling attachment on the long end.

Principles by their nature do not need to be forced.  The results of following them should be all but effortless.  Sometimes in the process of stepping in to deny an area or remove a structure your hips will slip under their center of gravity.

When this happens your combined structure is like that of a trebuchet.  If you drop your weight quickly as you hang on to them, they sling shot around your body.

At Vio Dy we touched on this a little bit.

Take advantage of the gifts offered don’t hunt for or force a throw (any “technique”)

Seio Nage is an example of what I call a trebuchet throw

In my most humble opinion Seio Nage is hard to set up and execute.

But assholes jump on your back

Seio Nage is instinctive, natural and makes sense when an asshole jumps on your back.

It feels (to me anyway) artificial and forced when attempted from the front.

Also when attempted from the front it is very easy to counter.  Simply pushing on their hips or just dropping your weight is usually all that is required to squash it.

I find the using that sling shot around your body as opposed to over your shoulder has a much higher probability for success and is easier to use for smaller stature people vs big guys. (it is unlikely that you will be attacked by someone smaller and weaker than you)

Examples of this would be Uchi Makikomi as opposed to Seio Nage

Uki Goshi as opposed to O goshi

Bone Slave / Sacrifice

Bone slave – I’m going to lock our skeletons together so we are like conjoined twins.  Where one twin goes the other has to follow.  

This concept can / should be stacked on top of all the other principles to make them work even better.  As a stand alone principle it is the basis for a sacrifice throw.  I have a tactical need to put you on the ground…

Vio Dy flashback, before we go further let’s look at why force is used

• Escape
• Control
• Damage
• Fight

Of those categories, in which of those does it make sense to go to the ground?

Escape?  Hard to run while you are tied up on the ground with someone.  In order to escape by putting someone on the ground you are going to have to control or damage them first anyway.

Control? – Sure that makes sense.  Cops take bad guys to the ground for cuffing all the time.

Damage? – Yup

Fight? – Yes but fighting is social violence done for fun or to display dominance and is not a legitimate use of force anyway.

So back on point, tactical needs to go to the ground are reduced down to control or damage.

If you need to go to the ground to control or damage you can throw yourself to the ground and your conjoined twin has to follow.  The mean little trick is to twist in such a way that they hit the ground first and provide you with something soft and squashy to land on.

Another place where sacrifice throws make sense strategically is when you need to increase chaos.

If you are losing (see also taking damage) you have nothing to lose by making things more chaotic

If you are being thrown to the ground there is a point where physics take over and there is nothing you can do to stop it.  So drag that son of a bitch to hell with you.  Remember, the mean little trick is to twist in such a way that he hits the ground first and provide you with something soft and squashy to land on.

Even if you hit the ground first, you can’t quit.  Quitting is death.  Keeps the momentum of the throw rolling.  Find a way to win.

We have discussed removing their balance and structure to throw them.  To be able to take advantage of their loss of balance and structure, and to prevent ourselves from being thrown.  We must maintain out balance and structure.

Therefore...

The fourth principle has to be maintain your base.

Combatives.

My definition of combatives is starting with your primary weapon as a foundation and working back to empty hand from there.

I bring that up now because a good rule of thumb in maintaining structure throughout the throw is to ask your self  "Am I in a solid shooting position?"  "Would I fire a weapon from here?"

If the answer is no it probably means your structure is shot.

That is Judo's Jigo Hontai or defensive posture.  Solid structure.  You can also move while maintaining this structure.  If your attempt to throw takes you away from a solid structure it is much more difficult to deliver force into the enemy.

When position and off balance come together the delivery method becomes more instinctive / obvious.  Circumstances will dictate the throw.  Use this naturally, accept the gift.  Don’t fight it to get the Kodokan ideal.

Lots of Judo throws have added flash to make sure the ref saw what you did and you get credit for a full Ippon.

I don't need credit from a ref.  I just need to smash that fucker into the ground.

A perfect example of this was Makoid Sensei's demonstration old man Osoto Gari on me last summer

He used the following model:

• Grab
• Move
• Off balance
• Fit in
• Execute

But that model fits within the principles I mentioned today.

Grab - got into throwing range

Move & Offbalance  - he moved into a position it was safe to throw from as he took my balance to the rear and twisted me so I couldn't move and all our weight was on my right foot.

Fit in - he maintained his structure while preventing me from regaining mine.

Execute - he removed the structure of my post (leg).

His feet never left the ground.  He had no need for flash.  It just had to work against a bigger, stronger, younger opponent with out much (if any) effort.

Takemusu Aiki is the spontaneous creation of technique

Position off balance and delivery come together as a spontaneous gift appropriate for the circumstance and the defender / threat factors.

Another thing Makoid Sensei said to me last summer, was that young instructors try to show how much they know by showing tons of techniques that no one remembers.

Old instructors show one or two principles that are remembered and give the students the ability to master tons of techniques.

It took me a while to figure out how to teach a few principles.

I have come to call these principles "Caveman Judo" although it can be applied to any style of throwing.

Why Caveman Judo you ask?

A couple reasons

To describe one of the reasons Rory Miller references the book "Angry White Pajamas".  The book is about a guy from England that enrolls in the Yoshinkan Aikido Honbu Dojo Senshusei course.

Anyway in the book there is a story about some of the greatest Aikidoka of the time out drinking while mourning Shioda Sensei's death.

A fight breaks out and they all end up rolling around on the ground throwing wild punches.

Some of the best and most severely trained guys in the world and none of that skill was used in actual confrontation.

Rory makes the point - Under pressure you are going to be a cave man.  Might as well train to be the best cave man you can be.

Another reason...

So easy a caveman could do it.

For throws to make sense tactically they have to be all but effortless.  They have to be giant killers that small stature people can use against nightmare attackers.

Finally, like a caveman these throws are fairly brutal.
Slamming someone into the planet will cost them.

In review - The principles I have come to understand  that make throws work:

Positioning

• 1
• 2
• 21/2
• 3

Offbalance

• NOT
• HOH
• HOS
• Platinum move

Method

• Lever
• Area Denial
• Remove Structure
• Trebuchet
• Bone Slave / Sacrifice

Maintain your base

Takemusu Aiki

• The spontaneous creation of technique
• Position off balance and delivery come together as a spontaneous gift appropriate for the circumstance and the defender / threat factors.

It has been two weeks since the Violence Dynamics Seminar.

Since then I have been implementing these principles in my teaching, and the results have been impressive.

Lise has thrown me so hard (see brutal like a cave woman) I could smell colors

Rob (roughly 1/2 my size) "accidentally" threw me with a Harai Goshi. - Takemusu Aiki
Rob threw me effortlessly in such a manner that if I were in the air any longer I would have received frequent flyer miles from Delta.

Luke who started training with us two weeks ago, and Greg who has trained with us of and on are throwing spontaneously under pressure.  Throwing at a level that usually isn't seen until brown belt (approximately 3 or so years of regular training)

Kristen was throwing instinctively after her first class!

I've been receiving requests on my face book page to explain these Caveman Judo principles further.
This blog is just a first step.

Soon an ODIN YouTube page containing video of these principles in action

After that I plan on putting together an e-book

Stayed tuned here for further updates


Train hard, Train Smart, Be safe


Also I just noticed I went an entire blog with out a comic book reference.
So for your entertainment here is one of my faves showing Batman kicking Superman's ass with Judo....and Kryptonite

That Ju Do that You Do so Well

Sometimes I get the feeling (and it is an excellent feeling) that I am in the right place at the right time, doing what the universe intended for me to do.  Things that I've been working on / towards (struggling with) for years start falling into place.

This installment of the Budo Blog is one of those times.

I've been working on an idea...

All the recent media attention on incidents in Missouri and the outrage that attention has caused has cast a  spot light on a perception that community relations with Law Enforcement is at a low.

I want to create an opportunity for the public (especially the youth of the community) to interact with Law Enforcement in a positive manner.

Some of the best success I have had with the DARE program and National Night Out was due to the simple opportunity to talk to people outside of regular Law Enforcement duties, and let them see that cops are just people too.

I feel that a Police Activity League would be an excellent opportunity to establish a community outreach program.

My Police Department already does something along those lines with the DNR gun safety course each fall.

However, another perception stemming from recent events is how under trained Law Enforcement is.

Clearly that is a fake laugh because the filmer wanted the Officers to be embarrassed

Yet another issue I've discussed on this blog is how "soft" the youth of America is and how hard it is to train up coming generations of Law Enforcement Officers.
http://practicalbudo.blogspot.com/2014/01/outside-box-thinking-and-addressing.html

To address all of these concerns I decided to start a Police Activity League Judo program.

To me Judo and Jujutsu are interchangable trems.
Jujutsu is the techniques and or skills
Judo is how you chose to use those skills.  How you chose to live your life.

The Judo that I enjoy the most, and will be teaching is old (pre WWII) Judo.  Including elements of Aikido and Karate like the SAC combative measures program.

The purpose of the PAL Judo program is to provide a safe, positive and energetic environment for youth and adults to enjoy the art of Judo.

Judo, which means "The Gentle Way", is a Japanese martial art based upon the ancient techniques of Jujutsu.  Dr. Jigoro Kano, incorporated the best of these ancient techniques into the new art of Judo. 

Judo is mostly known for its spectacular throwing techniques but it also includes numerous techniques for safely controlling an opponent while on the ground. 

The goal of mutual welfare and benefit was an extension of Dr. Kano's belief that Judo could help the individual become a better member of society.  Dr. Kano felt that the personal discipline that Judo taught would extend beyond the dojo into daily life and could allow the Judoka to become a more productive member of society.

In 1964, Judo became the first martial art to be sanctioned as a medal sport in the Olympic Games.  Judo is now the second most popular sport in the world. 

People practice Judo for many different reasons such as exercise, sport, self-defense, a social activity and for many practitioners Judo becomes a way of life.  But if you ask most Judoka why they train Judo, they will say that the practice Judo because it is fun!!

Citizens getting to know Officers outside of their regular duties and having fun with them has a profound effect on public perceptions of Law Enforcement.

Program Logistics:

15 week course
Ages 14-21 (any one over 14 is welcome)

Monday & Wednesday Nights from 6:30 – 8:30pm (9 for adults)

Allegiance Fitness
2240 Woodale Dr Mounds View MN 5512
http://www.allegiancefitness.com/

Tuesday & Thursday Nights 7:00 - 9:00pm
Elk River American Legion
525 Railroad Dr, Elk River, MN 55330

Class Fees
1 Semester (15 weeks) $100 - Includes club T-shirt
1 month $40

Yearly registration and insurance fee $15

*This is a not for profit organization.  All funds raised are used for the running of the program

Classes start in October
Sign Up Today!

Contact 763 360 7200
Or check us out at judomn.org

Benefits of this program

•             Civilian

•             Law Enforcement

Civilian Benefits

Besides all the inherent benefits that come from Judo training, this unique PAL Judo program allows citizens to see just how difficult safely controlling someone can be.  An informed public is a safer public

In a free and peaceful society where so many have been taught that all violence is always wrong, citizens are often confused and dismayed when officers use force, even when the force is perfectly lawful and justified.

Some highlights of training alongside with Law Enforcement include:

•             Explanation of policy and laws that officers are taught.

•             An examination of use of force

o             How to define a threat

o             The difference between excessive force and unnecessary force.

•             Who is the “bad guy” and who is not?

o             How to make that call (in actuality, and in perception).

•             Understanding of how an officer’s decisions are examined.

•             Exploration of how officers see the world that they live in.

o             Sometimes decisions will be made in a fraction of a second and on partial information.

o             Sometimes a decision will change the lives of everyone involved—forever.

•             Information on how to safely interact when faced by an officer.

Verbal Judo

Participants in the PAL Judo Program will also receive training in Conflict Communications

Conflict Communications presents a functional taxonomy to see, understand and manipulate the roots of conflict. If you have ever wondered why your boss ignored a suggestion that could save millions of dollars, or why you have the same argument again and again with your spouse, the answers are here. As well as the tools to do something about it.

Law Enforcement Benefits

To be effective for law enforcement, martial art training must include empty-hand techniques as well as weapons techniques. It must rely upon sound principles that allow a smaller individual to control a larger, stronger opponent. Also, it must provide the Officer with the skills needed to control a suspect while minimizing injuries.

Judo has been taught to Law Enforcement around the world since 1886.  In fact Judo contains Renkoho Waza and Taiho Jutsu designed especially for Law Enforcement and is the foundation of many modern defensive tactics systems.

I feel that if Law Enforcement can get paid to train or are allowed to on duty that will greatly increase the likely hood of their receiving more and better training.

In order to accomplish this all licensed Law Enforcement Officers participating in the PAL Judo program will be able to receive MN POST credit for their training.

Concurrent with the Judo program Law Enforcement Officers will be trained in One On One Control Tactics

One-On-One Control focuses on gross motor skill, high percentage techniques that are effective for all Law Enforcement Personnel regardless of their size or gender. 

This program is not meant to replace the defensive tactics system you have, but will enhance and supplement your program, increasing officer’s competence in hand to hand confrontations both standing and on the ground.

One-On-One Control Tactics protect LEOs physically, legally and they also project a positive public perception. 

Over the last 30 years One-On-One Control Tactics have been proven effective in application on the street and 100% defendable in court. 

Use of these techniques have resulted in:

•             0 – LEO injuries

•             0 – Suspect injuries

•             0 – Use of Force complaints

With the courts looking at every contact police officers have with the public, this integrated One-On-One Control Tactics system has been found to be non-obtrusive to the public, while at the same time maintaining officer safety and giving the officer maximum control without causing injury to the suspect or to the officer.

To further encourage to seek out and create training opportunities Law Enforcement Officers that complete two 15 week semesters of this program are eligible to become One On One Control Tactics Instructors for their departments.

In addition to physical skills Law Enforcement Officers will also receive training in Conflict Communications.

http://www.chirontraining.com/Site/Seminar_Information.html

Conflict Communication Improves your understanding of violence, and interpersonal communications.

Increases verbal skills and helps to reduce the number of use of force incidents.

If you're emotional and caught up in the default human conflict behaviors, the best de-escalation training in the world (Verbal Judo, C.I.T., etc) is of no use to you. You're not going to be able to do it.

The essential message of Conflict Communications is -De-escalation starts with you

The goal of Conflict Communications is to teach you how to prevent conflict whenever possible and to minimize its impact when it is unavoidable.

Most conflicts can be successfully controlled by using the principles of this system. This is not specialized education only a select few can master. The program is designed so anyone can use it to prevent a conflict. We do this by teaching you to de-escalate yourself first.

Originally designed for law enforcement to be used when confronting violent felons, the principles of this program also work in business, social and casual situations

By understanding how and why confrontation occurs, Conflict Communications will show you conflict management, de-escalation, situation resolution and, if necessary, articulation of why action was both necessary and reasonable

Another public perception that has recently come to light are that Law Enforcement Officers are generally in poor physical condition.

Physical Fitness benefits

Judo is great exercise.  It promotes flexibility, develops speed and co-ordination, strengthens the cardiovascular system, and promotes balanced muscular development. 

Judo not only works out the body, but it also works out the mind. Judo will help you build self-confidence, trust, self-discipline and respect for yourself and others.

Judo has also been known to positively affect the lives of special needs individuals and build confidence in others who have been bullied or picked on.

When you combine physical activity, self-defense skills, spiritual development and peace of mind together, you’ve got the makings of a great activity that will not only keep you fit but that will also keep you motivated.

Benefits The Martial Art of Judo Can Make In a Child’s Life

Violence in our country and around the world seems out of control. There is countless news stories, thousands of victims suffer at the hands of bad people.  You see and may have been a victim of violence yourself; violence is in many video games, our music and television shows. 

Many of our children suffer the mental and physical violence bullies inflict on them on a daily basis. So, what can you do as a parent?

Improved physical fitness 

Kids will experience physical and mental enjoyment through sport recreation. Teen age obesity is a problem in our and many countries. Through the physical activity of judo practice your child will lose and maintain a healthy weight.  

Courage

 Your child will be able to withstand pain, failure and difficulties.

Discipline

 Develop strict obedience while striving for a goal.

Humility

Boys and girls will find freedom from pride and arrogance.

Non-Violence

Rage and violence extinguished through consistent discipline of regular judo practice. Students will learn why they go through a range of feelings and how to control their emotions.

Respect  

Your child will learn that they are important and what they do matters.  They will learn to be courteous to you and others and that means that you are important to them.  Respect is demonstrated by good manners and behavior.

Honesty

Your child will learn always to tell the truth.  Would society be better if everyone were more honest in our daily lives?  Honesty is feeling good about who you are and not feeling the need to lie.

Maximum Efficiency/Minimum Effort and Mutual Welfare Benefit

Every student will learn and perform the 2 principles of judo.

Your child will learn basic techniques to help them efficiently solve problems and to empathize or understand the limitations of others and help them achieve their goals.

Martial arts have proven to help your child perform better in school and to become a better citizen contributing to our society.  

Sportsmanship

Develop the spirit of fair play and teamwork.

Develop the vision for a positive outlook on life

We have a great foundation to start from with two solid training locations generously donated by Allegiance Fitness and the Elk River American Legion

Long Term Goals

I would also like to use this as a Teacher Development Program and expand the times and locations training is available.

I work a pretty cake day shift.  So it is easy for me to train weeknights after dinner.  There are plenty of other Law Enforcement Officers that work different shifts that may want to train at different times of the day, or live far enough away that it is a hassle to come up and train.

One of the goals I have for this program is to make training as convenient and excuse free as possible.

So if you are an Officer or Instructor willing to work with Officers as part of the PAL clubs and you can train, for the sake of argument lets say on Tuesdays at 2pm in Minneapolis -
If you can, and you want to train then and there, you just volunteered to be responsible for the Minneapolis PAL Judo Club.

In order for this to meet the community outreach mandates of the program, the alternate training times have to work for the community too.

So maybe overnight guys want to train before they go to bed day guys that want to train before their shift can train before school say like 7am.

Night guys that want to train in the afternoon after they sleep could train after school say like at 3pm.
Or before they start shift like at 5pm

To start you don't need to be an Instructor, just responsible for holding that class and a safety officer for that training so no one gets hurt.

A teaching guide will be provided for you.

I would like to build these "Coaches" up into Instructors.

I would like to get up to around 10 clubs with 10 guys each.

I would also like to make it so club members could train at any other club house.

Then when we have a big event like Violence Dynamics or Steve Jimerfield coming to town we can get all 100 guys to train together.

Some reading this might be thinking, that sounds cool but I don't do Judo I do (insert what ever here)

Awesome!  My goal is training opportunities for cops, and positive interaction with the community.
I am using a Judo model because there is already a PAL Judo frame work, and because I love Japanese martial arts.

Remember Judo was a blanket term cops back in the day used for any combative training.  If you have expertise in something else you are willing to share that is fantastic!  Do that.  Just also add the technique or principle of the week from the training guide into your lesson plan.

So anyone reading this that would like to volunteer their time effort and expertise to help me with this project it would be greatly appreciated.

Help me, to help others

Train hard, Train smart, Train safe