As a continuing process to improve and streamline things, I feel that debate and constructive criticism are very much needed to develop any field of human endeavour (and 'self defence' is no different).
By working together objectively, and offering our own personal insights, experiences and ideas, we can gradually find the most functional solutions or approaches to extremely urgent real world problems.
The reality of preparing for criminal assault leaves little room for error, sentimentality or inaccurate thinking.
Posted below is an exchange between myself and someone who was describing a (no doubt forward thinking) instructor's training methods-
(Please comment and/or correct me on what I say.
I just say what I think, and am just as wrong as anyone else!) Emoticono smile
---------------------------
This chap said to me-
'(X) puts people in a load of padding, and gets half a dozen people to maul them onto the floor and pummel them with boxing gloves, then they have to get up, get out of the circle, run, kick the crap out of a heavy bag, unlock a mobile phone and recover the power of speach enough to describe the first person who attacked them. lots of fun.'
.......
I replied-
I've spoken to James, and know that he's not just a Bartitsu guy and has a focus and interest in real self protection. Why you'd want to train a drill where you actively LET people 'maul' you onto the floor, I don't know. Maybe I misunderstand the description. Is the defender allowed to go all out and hurt this crowd of people? If not, it seems to be training potentially fatal habit. That's a big issue I have with these 'crowd drill' exercises combatives people do. What's the point? Why would you want to let a bunch of people surround you and beat you up?! You'd be better off practicing tactically positioning yourself to a perceived threat, and if anyone in that crows attacked you- you should be free to go into them with maximum vehemency (ie. the 'criminal' needs to be extremely well padded, or not too concerned about their wellbeing!). Awareness and escape are the wat ahead. Maybe drills like the one you mention could have some validity (and they're a step in the right direction from the usual self defence), as part of a whole 'complex' of training approaches, but I very much believe that (when simulating defending ourselves), the focus should be on awareness, intelligence and acting first (escaping, communications/psychology or attacking). There's a real basic, stripped down nature to real world violence and assults. One party is looking to be the predator, and have all its own way, and the other side is expected to be the rabbit. If you are the predator, do what predators do. If you are the rabbit (which realistically you may well BE- especially if you're against weapons or multiple attackers- or if you're a woman, for example), you need to DO what rabbits do (think about it....). Animals provide us with all the lessons of how to survive, and to fight if need be. What fucking animal just stands there and lets itself get attacked?! Emoticono wink
......................
He came back-
Maybe I described it badly. The point was to start from a position of disadvantage, and regain some control, but also just to get the adrenaline up, then try to do stuff once you are under pressure. I found it valuable. I'm all for situation awareness, and the whole Rory Miller stuff, but however aware you are sometimes the first time you know you are in a fight is when someone knocks you down.
........................
I replied-
True. Can you hurt those acting as attackers?
If you can describe any drill as ' lots of fun', then it's no good IMHO