tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1827293309574913027.post607479479483676159..comments2023-03-30T00:52:50.594-07:00Comments on Sword and Circle: The Art of LivingMaijahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18264657619197571965noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1827293309574913027.post-34706294671812598382012-03-08T10:15:33.690-08:002012-03-08T10:15:33.690-08:00Thanks for writing this interesting post, Maija. I...Thanks for writing this interesting post, Maija. I wish I had time to study escrima... I am jealous of the stuff you describe here! :)<br /><br />I agree with what you and other folks have written here about the aspects of your art that are very applicable to self defense. Below are some thoughts on balancing different aspects of self defense training from Girl Army's approach, that I think are similar to what you describe...<br /><br />With our basic courses, we spend some time in each class discussing levels of response and practicing scenarios that begin with setting verbal boundaries. (We also don't sweat the inevitable response from students of punching the uke's head after s/he asks the time, because this is part of the process of accessing the will to fight for many folks.)<br /><br />With the weapons courses, we still approach the material seriously, but with less verbal roleplay, because dealing with that element in addition to the presence of a weapon is too much material for folks to handle for hours at a time. I remember drilling gun defense scenarios in preparation for teaching the class, with my technique critiqued thoroughly each time, and melting down from the constant switching between self defense and student mindsets. So generally when I practice or teach that material, I go through it without verbal roleplay and more feedback on technique, and then go through the verbal scenarios more smoothly with less feedback.<br /><br />With the multiple attacker courses, we approach the material more as physical games - more like martial arts, and particularly like teaching martial arts to children. Any adult can understand the seriousness of the material, and so we focus on drilling in the physical skills without spending as much time on the scenarios. Folks still melt down during the class, but not as hard as they otherwise would. This is where the material has more similarity to martial arts, and echoes what you and other folks on this thread have said... that there are important aspects of self defense that are just about becoming aware of and drilling in movement qualities etc. And also, that it is not necessarily healthy or possible to dwell on self defense 100% of the time when one is training physical material or studying a martial art.Melisa Spencehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14994620964094232159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1827293309574913027.post-12449468778019288242012-03-04T14:00:04.741-08:002012-03-04T14:00:04.741-08:00Very cool post.
I too, have a lot of issues with ...Very cool post.<br /><br />I too, have a lot of issues with using a knife for self-defense. Actually, that's not true. I have an issue with people irresponsibly choosing to carry a knife for self-defense without considering the psychological, emotional, tactical, and legal issues involved with that decision.<br /><br />I have no doubt that what you are teaching has some transference to the study of self-defense.<br /><br />I would also argue (and I think have on here in the past) that there's nothing wrong with training for something that doesn't directly relate to self-defense. Spending a large portion of your life obsessing over the assault that may never happen can be pretty unhealthy.Jakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11379685641338041168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1827293309574913027.post-39442453510561695312012-03-02T12:37:26.904-08:002012-03-02T12:37:26.904-08:00Excellent post Maija.
I think you know I've l...Excellent post Maija.<br /><br />I think you know I've long had issues with using a knife for self defense, for the reasons you mentioned and more. And I certainly understand and agree with your points regarding the difference between dueling with swords/blades and self defense.<br /><br />You may not be teaching self defense exactly. But the skills the material you teach provides are the hardest necessary skills a person needs to successfully defend against a physical attack in my opinion: the ability to understand movement and manipulate distance and time, to avoid and apply force, to launch a covered attack, etc., etc.<br /><br />Self defense instruction might start with 20% of material you're not teaching, but the next 80% or so is exactly what you are teaching...in one form or another. So I might argue that it would be easier for you or a student of yours to pick up the 20% than many students of self defense who aren't really getting the 80% for a variety of reasons.Hertaohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08656943130942089271noreply@blogger.com