Re: burial expenses, many say not to pre-purchase caskets as you never know if the company will be around when you finally need them. I’d say the one exception to this is Catholic monks who build caskets. Even if the SHTF they will still be around. They’ve rode out many a mess over a few thousand years. You’ll get your casket. It’s a good way to buy at today’s cost.

Or build your own!

Do not stand by my grave and weep
I am not there. I do not sleep
I am a thousand winds that blow
I am a diamond glint on snow
I am the sunlight on ripened grain
I am the gentle autumn rain.

When you awake in the morning hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circling flight
I am the soft starshine at night
Do not stand by my grave and cry
I am not there…I did not die.
—–
Anonymoous

I think when we say “best art to study,” it really means, or should mean, the most effective for most situations. As you said, “best chance of survival.” One cannot realistically train for all situations. One can always give examples of “5 guys” or “ten guys” attacking you and defeating you. This does not mean dismissing the whole concept or effort. As you said, “martial arts play a role in survival.” We agree that it is very important as a preparation. In addition, the training is excellent physical conditioning (another important prep). For me, it is a fun way to get in and stay in-shape: learn something useful while you are losing weight and building endurance.

Realistic training is the key. We should ask, “is it realistic training?” For example, early UFC showed us that the traditional arts lacked realism. As a result, the Karate, Kung Fu, etc., guys got killed. We saw and learned that the kick boxers and the ground fighters survived and prevailed. In my view, the bottom line comes down to these basics:

• Realistic, not sporting.
• Stand-up skills (punching, kicking).
• Ground skills, if you end up on the ground.
• Improvised weapons, as in sticks, clubs, edged weapons.

If we can train in these above areas, we will have accomplished the unarmed defensive tactics skill goal. A prepared fighter should be able to effectively fight from the standing, on the ground, and with readily available (improvised) weapons. This is a realistic and practical goal. This may require training with several systems and different instructors. All is doable and only takes some simple research and effort. Why are so many people set on one school for all? I learned ground fighting from Rickson Gracie, knife and stick from a Dan Inosanto Black belt, and now muay thai kickboxing from yet another instructor. Each provided realistic training for the areas of concern, meeting the well-rounded-fighter goal. When it comes to “the best,” I say the “best” is a well rounded ability.

With firearms training, there are different disciplines, shotgun, pistol, sniper rifle, and carbine. Most would agree that it is wise to be proficient with all. Hand-to-hand fighting is very similar. Therefore, let’s learn each basic discipline to be as well rounded as we can. For example, a shotgun shooter should also know how to shoot a pistol, as a stand-up fighter should also be able to handle himself on the ground.

I speak from the experience of working for years in a maximum security jail, Marine Corps, Police Work, Iraq, Afghanistan, and many other worldwide hot spots. I lost count of how many fights I was in during my six years in one of the most violent jails in the country. These experiences guided my focus: realism, stand-up, ground fighting, and improvised weapons.

I was compelled to write this piece due to my extensive knowledge on the subject and, like Jack, my own frustration at hearing the same old unrealistic advice that is so prevalent in the community. In addition, like many, I have greatly benefitted from Jack’s SP and wish to give something back. I humbly wish to pass on some of what I have learned through my many years of hard learned lessons. Preparing the good guys to fight the bad guys is always a noble effort.

Thanks Jack for your noble efforts!

Vic
Newport, WA

Great explanation of the strengths and weaknesses of any martial art. I wonder, do you think it would ever be possible to get Val on the show as a guest interview? We’ve heard so much about him over the years, I kind of get the impression he’s a guy you could listen to for hours and get a huge amount out of, and not even just on fighting/personal defense necessarily.

This is the simplest video of ‘real’ self-defense I have seen. From watching a bunch of his videos and listening to him he has tried lots of different styles and boiled it down to the most simple moves that anyone could use. He has talked about how with the initial adrenaline rush you get, your fine motor skills disappear, especially if untrained. For anyone who has never done any training I think this is a really good place to start. He considers the brain the weapon and knives, guns, bats, etc. the tools. As well as to always assume multiple attackers. I hope http://coachdavidalexander.com/

Maybe, I’m lucky and every instructor at my MMA gym came through a traditional martial arts background, so there is none of that macho posturing you associate with stereotypical MMA “bro” type guys.

They also have years of teaching self-defense. We also have students that have trained in Krav Maga and cops who work in the roughest parts of Chicago (so they have real life experience, no BS with them, they do what works). They all tells us the same thing, that MMA in the ring and self-defense are two different things.

But the groundwork aspect of MMA does teach one thing very well…it teaches you how to dictate where the fight is going to take place. It doesn’t only teach you how to tackle someone and take them down, which has it’s obvious downsides on the street. It teaches you how to avoid takedowns.

If the average person tries to tackle you, you learn instinctually how to block it. You basically spar with people who were good HS and college wrestlers and you learn how to stop takedowns and fight to stay on your feet at all costs.

Outside of Judo and Sambo, I can’t think of many martials that stress staying on your feet much as wrestling and fighting for position for it. I’m not familiar with systema, but if it’s influenced by another Russian art, Sambo, then they have a similar mindset most likely.