As part of your martial arts training, you learn effective self defense skills. Just how readily you will use these skills is totally up to you. With in Northstar we build a frame work of effective living that instills a moral framework around the self defense skills, enabling the student to disengage the ego and choose the path of avoidance, peace and tolerance towards others.

This can be a fine line as it can be also taken the other way were by the student has needed to defend themselves but in effect has ended up getting hurt because they mistakenly took turning the other cheek to mean that they should not defend themselves even if they are getting hurt. But again this can be a personal choice. Each one of us should have a personal code, or bottom line that is well thought out when it comes to defending ourselves, friends and family. So that when situations quickly escalate or we are taken by surprise, we have a pre thought out plan. This is very important otherwise you may well get caught out, and that has the propensity to be deadly..

Here is my own personal self-defense plan.

1. Do not actively confront anyone unless I am prepared to go all the way.

Examples of this: Telling a stranger that they are out of line because of some action that they did that was perceived to be wrong by me. Responding because someone verbally abuses you.

2. Always move away from trouble.

Cross the road, leave the pub, move away from noisy or aggressive, angry people.

3.If some one attacks me and breaches my defenses and I can quickly make an exit I will.

4. If some one attacks me, breaches my defenses and I have no escape, I will defend myself with all  force necessary until I am safe.

5.I apply the same rules to my family and friends. Having said that, if my friends are being angry or aggressive, I will make sure that my safety comes first.

In the case of protecting a stranger, I will not step in unless I am going to go all the way. This is such a dangerous scenario as you just don’t know what your stepping into. Being a non aggressive bystander, using your head and using your phone can be a far wiser option . Too many well meaning family men have lost their lives protecting a stranger.

Unless we work on night club doors or are in the protective services, how do we prepare for self-defense when we are so rarely exposed to it? . Studying martial arts with an effective self-defensive strategy that addresses the physical, mental and emotional aspects is only part of the equation. The main part comes down to you personally and how you feel morally about the prospect of actually hurting someone. Effective self-defense will teach you how to tap into your killer instinct and re ignite the instinct to survive and at the same time give you the appropriate training manual by way of moral teachings so as to  not dangerously use these potentially lethal moves

Martial Arts and Children.

For children, self-defense is a little more complicated. At Northstar we have a basic bottom line. Not to use your self-defense skills unless you feel that you are in danger. So the skills are not to be used against family members or friends. They are not to be used to attack in any way, only defense. Parents need to reinforce this message and to also take into account their own thoughts and feelings on self defense. On the rare occasion  we have a situation where a child starts kicking or punching their friends at kindy or school. This usually just needs a sit down with the child and reinforcing what is appropriate behaviour. This is not a time to remove the child from classes as this is a great opportunity to teach the other lessons of martial arts such as self-control, self-discipline and respect for others

If learning martial arts was just about learning self-defence we would be spending a great deal of time and personal resources training for a situation that may never occur. Learning martial arts that addresses the body/mind approach to life will inadvertently take care of the self-defence aspect. By heightening your awareness and letting go of the need to be right all conflict will be easier to resolve, this is the true essence of the philosophy of Northstar.

Andy Dickinson.

The post When would you use your martial arts in self defence? appeared first on Northstar Martial Arts.

1. Pause, look and respond.
2. Do not fight fire with fire it will only inflame the situation even more.
3. Assume that there will always be a knife involved in a fight.
4. Don’t ever expect to see the knife, you will feel it before you see it.
5. While your attention is in front of you, you are vulnerable to attack from the side and from behind.
6. The instant you see the knife high drop everything and remove yourself from the situation.(if you can)
7. If you engage, expect to be cut. Whilst training in the Philipines with great knife fighters, they all had their cuts to show.
8. When the gap appears move quickly with full commitment, don’t stop until you are safe.
9. If you find yourself in where you have to defend yourself, grab the knife hand and control it…no matter what. If you can’t grab the knife hand, grab the knife.
10. Attend regular martial arts classes that teach practical and sensible knife defence.

Remember, there is no winner in a knife fight.

For more reading, see how Andy survived a knife attack…

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Hi Andy,

Just a quick question, have had a Mum ring up and tell me a kid who tried a class last week is actually the one bullying her son at school, so now have the potential for a bully signing up and being in the same class as the kid he’s bullying. Any ideas on the best way to handle this should the kid doing the bullying sign up?

Cheers,
Stephen

The post A question on Bullying… appeared first on Northstar Martial Arts.

The post Black Belt Attitude…live your truth. appeared first on Northstar Martial Arts.

This process is all well and good whilst training but I found that I was unable to maintain this during everyday life.  It has only been through subsequent years of internal work that I have been able to start bringing this awareness into my everyday life. But there can be no desire for clarity, it is simply a result of the work…it happens subtly.
 
There will be no change…you can play act but unless you are willing to actually take the thinking on, you will always be a slave to what you are thinking….real mastery of martial arts is mastery of self and clearly acting from the witness and not the thinker.
 
The Black Belt attitude is a way for me to start the process going. Though Black Belt is just the beginning. Even the top level black belts are still white belts in the process of inner awareness unless they take the ego on.
 
Andy
 
 Things to ponder for the coming week:
 
Developing a Black Belt Attitude.
 
Calm
A still sense of Peace and well being from where stillness is touched.
 
Humility
If I have seen further than others, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.
 
Success
If you can dream it you can do it.
 
Loyalty
Lack of loyalty is one of the major causes of failure in daily life.
 
Determination
A black belt is a white belt that never quits.
 
Endurance
Is one of the most difficult disciplines, but it is to the one who endures that the final victory comes,
 
Attitude
In many ways we are a like, however one little difference makes a big difference.
 

The post Overcoming limitations. appeared first on Northstar Martial Arts.

This can be a fine line as it can be also taken the other way were by the student has needed to defend themselves but in effect has ended up getting hurt because they they mistakenly took turning the other cheek to mean that they should not defend them selves even if they are getting hurt. But again this can be a personal choice. Each one of us should have a personal code, or bottom line that is well thought out when it comes to defending ourselves, friends and family. So that when situations quickly escalate or we are taken by surprise, we have a pre – thought out plan. This is very important otherwise you may well get caught out, and that has the propensity to be deadly..
 
Here is my own personal self defense plan.
1. Do not confront anyone unless I am prepared to go all the way.
Examples of this: Telling a stranger that they are out of line because of some action that they did that was perceived to be wrong by me. Responding because someone verbally abuses you.
 
2. Always move away from trouble.
Cross the road, leave the pub, move away from noisy or aggressive, angry people.
 
3.If some one attacks me and breaches my defenses and I can quickly make an exit I will.
 
4. If some one attacks me, breaches my defenses and I have no escape, I will defend myself with all  force necessary until I am safe.
 
5.I apply the same rules to my family and friends. Having said that, if my friends are being angry or aggressive, I will make sure that my safety comes first.
 
In the case of protecting a stranger, I will not step in unless I am going to go all the way. This is such a dangerous scenario as you just don’t know what your stepping into. Being a non aggressive bystander, using your head and using your phone can be a far wiser option . Too many well meaning family men have lost their lives protecting a stranger.
 
Unless we work on night club doors or are in the protective services, how do we prepare for self defense when we are so rarely exposed to it? . Studying martial arts with an effective self defensive strategy that addresses the physical, mental and emotional aspects is only part of the equation. The main part comes down to you personally and how you feel morally about the prospect of actually hurting someone. Effective self defense will teach you how to tap into your killer instinct and re ignite the instinct to survive and at the same time give you the appropriate training manual by way of moral teachings so as to  not dangerously use these potentially lethal moves.
 
Martial Arts and Children.
For children, self defense is a little more complicated. At Northstar we have a basic bottom line. Not to use your self defense skills unless you feel that you are in danger. So the skills are not to be used against family members or friends. They are not to be used to attack in any way, only defense. Parents need to reinforce this message and to also take into account their own thoughts and feelings on self defense. On the rare occasion  we have a situation where a child starts kicking or punching their friends at kindy or school. This usually just needs a sit down with the child and reinforcing what is appropriate behaviour. This is not a time to remove the child from classes as this is a great opportunity to teach the other lessons of martial arts such as self control, self discipline and respect for others.
 
If learning martial arts was just about learning self defence we would be spending a great deal of time and personal resourses training for a situation that may never occur. Learning martial arts that addresses the body/mind approach to life will inadvertantly take care of the self defence aspect. By heightening your awareness and letting go of the need to be right all conflict will be easier to resolve, this is the true essence of the philosophy of Shinbudo.
 
Andy Dickinson.
 

The post When would you use your martial arts in self defence? appeared first on Northstar Martial Arts.