…..Oh really you cannot differentiate?  There is some thing out there that is I think important to discuss.  There has been in recent years a trend to totally work in one area and pretty much neglect other areas.  Specialism is really good but for personal protection skills you need to be well-rounded.  I had a conversation the other day with a friend who in one of the systems he teaches in they primarily work with sticks.  This friend also is a high level practitioner in another system that works with sticks and knives.  Anyway the other day he was teaching at a gathering and people really were not that interested in his stick work. (mind you he is exceptional)  They figured because it was stick work that it was inferior or did not help their skill sets because most of them were blade oriented.  Oh really………  There is a common fallacy out there lately that you cannot do one or the other or you might get messed up.  This my friends is ridiculous!  Bladework and stick work actually go hand in hand and can be very complimentary.  They also help you work with two types of tools.  Edged and Blunt!  Having skill sets in both areas could be very important particularly if you need to deal with a blunt weapon both defensively or it is the only thing you can get your hands on.  This goes both ways of course.  You easily differentiate without issues!  I eat with a fork and a knife every day.  I also switch my hands all the time with one or the other always ending up in a different place.  Guess what?  I never try to cut my food with the fork or shove the knife in my mouth!  When practicing espada y daga (long knife and short knife) I never treat the short knife like a long knife and vice versus.  They have different properties even though they are similar. (ie. length)  The long sword while similar to a shorter sword still has a different property that is its length so it has to be treated slightly different and yet it is still a blade.  When I go to the range to shoot I always have a blade just below where my firearm is.  Guess what I never pull the blade when I am shooting at the range!  Stick work can accentuate your blade skills and your empty hand skills.  Just like blade work can accentuate your stick skills and your empty hand skills.  Yet of course you still have to differentiate when working with them.  Pick up a real blade then a stick and see what I mean.  I work constantly with partners who have what looks like a knife. (training tools)  I never grab the knife like I might a stick!  Why because it symbolizes a knife and blades cut!  Just like I would not put my hand at the end of a barrel of a firearm.  The human body and mind can differentiate very, very well!  If you train properly you can be well-rounded and yet you will not put yourself in danger in a moment of violence.  In other words you will differentiate if you train well that is!  The following video clip shows a brief match from the Human Weapon series.  The MMA guy pretty much got whooped on real bad.  He really was out of his element with all the tools flying around.  Yet when Doug Wilson threw the sword at him and they went to the ground and were grappling the MMA guy grabbed a sword and stabbed!  What…. an MMA guy grabbing and using a weapon/tool?  He does not train to do that in his sport but he did it anyway in this moment!  Why?  Because his brain/body connection told him that was the right thing to do and he did it.  Probably without thinking about it too much.  He made a choice very, very easily within a micro-second!  We can differentiate very easily in any situation even if it is not by the rules we usually work with. 

Check the video clip out:

Police officers differentiate all the time.  They have to make quick choices that are efficient based on the circumstances.  They have multiple things going on during an encounter and usually each one is different.  Beyond that they have to differentiate and utilize the their skills within the constraints of the law.  Most of the time they do an excellent job at this!  They have to differentiate regularly!

When I drive I rely of course on my training both civilian like everyone else and also the training I received in the police academy.  Each time I drive I have to make numerous decisions that cause me to choose which way I am going, etc., etc.  Really most of the time I do not even think about what I am doing just do it and if some thing comes up and it has that is not the norm then my body differentiates what action is needed and it is done.  Even when that some thing is not the norm I can make a decision, act on it and follow through and be successful. (to this point in time)

I know we all hope that if a surgeon needs to work on us that they can differentiate and make effective decisions in a quick manner if needed!  Like wise for anyone in the medical profession that is working with or on us!  Guess what?  They do it all the time!

We are able to do quite a few different things.  Do not become one-dimensional if you plan on practicing for a real life encounter.  Why?  Because in a real life encounter you usually do not get to pick the place of battle, tools involved, time, etc.  The body just has to deal with things quickly and effectively without thought to be successful!  A true practitioner of the Martial Sciences will be diversified enough that they place themselves in position to have a better chance in a moment of extreme violence!  Understanding many different things will help in this process!  So explore and do not put yourself in a box that denies exploration and creativity.  That box is a dangerous place to be!!!  No instead get out there and see/feel/do what other people have to offer and enjoy your training!

Don’t Get Placed In A Box!

Remember you can differentiate what to do easily if you have an open mind!  If you do not though?  Well then no one can help you!!!

See You On The Mats! 

copyright Instinctive Response Training LLC 2009

Brian R. VanCise

Note: This Blog is opinion only and Instinctive Response Training LLC nor Brian R. VanCise is responsible for any third party actions taken.