The 1-Hour Self-Defense Class...(bro seriously?)

We have all seen it. That flyer on a bulletin board in the local gym, coffee shop or college campus center, “Learn Self-Defense…1-hour class to keep you safe!” Now look. Any learning is probably a good thing. And I like to think that we can learn something from everything we do. But most of these “learn self-defense” seminars are just lacking in the following areas:

• TIME: you cannot learn, retain and use effectively skills that you have only been practiced for an hour on a random Saturday. Any skill set has to be practiced as much as possible for it to sink into the muscle memory, let alone to be used under pressure when fighting for your life.

• TECHNIQUE: anything being taught needs to be the most basic, raw version so that it can be learned quickly and be retained by the student. Overly complex combinations are just not gonna work for the average person.

• TACTICS: most seminars try to teach the overly complex physical skills and they lack any real tactical training for the student. Tactical training is teaching critical skills for handling high -stress, real-world situations by combining physical, mental and emotional strategies. This is crucial for self-defense success.

With this in mind, I created the PCC’s Self-Defense 101 Workshops. These are real self-defense workshops designed to be easily learned over 3-hours of training that builds simple, effective techniques and tactics to get your home safe. But don’t take my word for it, read what my client Sarah had to say about:

“I live in the Pittsburgh area and have taken many self defense courses in my life. I have always enjoyed them but this was a whole new experience. It is hands on and the education is not based as much around technique as much as training your brain to be ready. Because of this, the education soaks in easier and I know it will be available if I’m ever in the position to need it. Anyone who is looking to feel safer should enroll.”

— — Sarah Joy McKenzie, Owner-Operator at Hand in Hand Weddings and Events, LLC

TIP: PCC self-defense 101 workshops for men and women

If you are worried about your safety but don't feel you have the time to invest in weekly self-defense classes, then consider one of our Self-Defense 101 Workshops.

18 Natural Weapons

When we discuss weapons, we usually mean external tools that help us defend verses an attacker. But the human body actually has 18 (give or take) natural weapons that can also be used if need be:

1. The fists - punching is a key skill, learning to not break the hand even more so

2. The palm heels - dense and tough, much safer way to strike

3. The fingers - poking/gouging/gripping

4. The elbows - includes hitting with the dense forearm muscle area and the pointy tip

5. The shoulders - it’s good enough for the NFL, it’s good enough for me, lol - love shoulder butting

6. The legs - crucial for any type of throw, displacement and/or takedown

7. The hips - body checking is real

8. The knees - your built in sledge hammer

9. The shins - roughly 18” margin of error when you hit with the shin bone

10. The feet - used for tripping, pinning, etc.

11. The heels - used when kicking/stomping

12. The balls of the feet - various kicks use this area

13. The outside edges of the feet - effective for various precise kicks

14. The inside edges of the feet - tripping and sweeping

15. The teeth - biting

16. The head - although head butting can be effective in areas, I’d rather use my head for thinking than hitting

17. The whole body - your applied body weight is a weapon, used in takedowns, throws, reversals, etc.

18. The environment - wherever you go there you are…use what’s around you to your advantage; landscape, lighting, objects, etc.

TIP: everything on this list has to be a developed skill set - knowing what to use when and how is the key! We can help you with that. Feel free to check us out and get 2-FREE lessons. Just click the button below.

INJURY

Avoid damage. Cause damage. Simply put, that in a nutshell is self-defense. Your attacker in a self-defense situation is a bully times 10. An asocial predator who is determined to cause you harm. The only thing that will stop them is if you fight back. And not just scratch at him or bite. But actually injure the function(s) of his body.

Your attacker needs to have something break, stop working or need immediate medical attention to fix. ONLY when this happens, will the attacker no longer focus on you. It’s not like the movies or TV where one hit and they are out cold. Injury gives you opportunity. Opportunity to attack again (if need be), to get away, and to survive.

TIP: You need to know anatomy. For every action you do there should be a known cause-effect. If you hit him in the liver you should know what happens. If I crack him over the head, I should expect XYZ result. If I stab the hamstring I should understand how this will affect them.

We are we are for those who seek...something more.  Those who want...something different

If this sounds different from most self-defense that is being taught you are right.. If you are tired of the same old martial arts training. If you are tired of breaking boards. Then I invite you to try us on for size. See how we offer more; see how we are different.

Bullseye!

See the target. Hit the target. It doesn’t get any simpler than that. Essentially it is whack -a-mole. But what are we whacking the mole with? And how far away are we from the mole? This concept is what I call TWD: Target - Weapon - Distance.

TWD can be any order. For example: DWT: What distance am I at? What weapon do I have? What target is open? Or WTD: What weapon do I have? What target is open? Am I close enough to hit it? It is very basic but also crucial for success.

Every weapon/tool has an optimum distance for max effect. A pistol at 10’ is better than a knife. Also targets will change based upon the weapon/tool. A knife stabs organs but a baseball bat crushes bones. Fundamentally different, and that has to be applied in every situation - automatically.

TIP: Every “thing” can be used for self-defense. Some “things” are better than others. But each one has it’s own uses and range. Practice them well.

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The tools in your toolbox...

Having the right tool for the job is essential. Everyone knows that your really can’t pound a nail in using a screwdriver… but I betcha we all tried that once…didn’t we? Why? Probably it’s because that’s all we had on us at the time. LOL. Doesn’t make it right and definitely doesn’t make the job easier.

In self-defense, we too like to have and use the best tool(s) available when under attack.
Two considerations here:

1. Do I have a tool that I can use? Ideally I want to use something other than my own body when fighting back. My body has a finite ability to cause harm and can also be harmed while doing so. Therefore, if I can use a self-defense or an improvised tool, I should be better off. Common self-defense tools can include: pepper spray, a kubotan, a cane, a knife/firearm, etc. Improvised tools can be: my cell phone, an umbrella, a dinner plate, a sharpie, etc.

2. Do I have the correct tool and do I know how to use it? Like we stated above, using the best tool for the job is crucial for optimal success. What’s the old adage, “don’t bring a knife to a gun fight.” Of course most times we have no way of knowing what is best beforehand. So we have to be content with the tool(s) that is/are available to us - on our person/within our vicinity. And, more importantly, we need to know how to use that tool thoroughly.

TIP: The more you practice with specific as well as everyday items, the more you will discover the similarities among the items and have a firm foundation for using anything and everything to protect yourself.

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I have a hunch...

You know when you have a hunch - that gut feeling telling you something is up? Well, listen to it! It’s usually not wrong, especially in a self-defense situation. That’s your primordial defense mechanisms at work trying to keep you safe. All too often our “learned brain” rationalizes and thinks too much and pushes this hunch down, and thereby, exposes you to a possible threat.

Pay attention to those hunches. Keep your head on a swivel. It may just keep you alive.

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EDC Under the Radar...

EDC - “everyday carry” - is a term used for having necessary items on hand with you everyday. Typically this would include job related tool type items, such as a Leatherman, a tape measure, a pocket knife, etc. EDC is very specific to your unique situation/job.

In my world, EDC is about the various self-defense tools/weapons to have on your in case of an attack. But in a lot of public places, airports, government buildings, amusement parks, sports arenas, some corporate offices/plants, etc. a lot of items are restricted and prohibited.

So what can you carry with you as EDC that flies under the radar but is still effective? Most would say a tactical pen. The problem is that most tactical pens look like they are tactical pens and will confiscated. So what are your options?

OPTIONS:

1. Get a nice stainless steel pen. Utilization is the same as a tactical pen. But it is first and foremost a pen that just happens to be made out of stainless steel. It will get the job done.

2. A budget friendly option would be a Sharpie marker - your choice of thickness. This kind of marker is great as the plastic casing of the marker is very rigid and reinforced and will work against the human body just fine. And it is very innocuous - at least on the surface.

TIP: no matter what your choice is, a nice stainless steel pen or a Sharpie, you must learn how to use the item for it to be effective in self-defense. Seek out a qualified instructor who can show you the ins and outs of using such a tool. Or just come to the Pittsburgh Combat Club for 2-FREE lessons and we can show what to do.

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Capability vs. Capacity

Self-defense training is a multi-faceted training. It can and should involve the physical skill sets and techniques required to survive an encounter but it also must include the proper mental/emotional training to help a student recognize, react and respond.

Too many “self-defense” programs only teach the skills, the capability of defense. That’s the easy part. A real self-defense program will also teach the capacity to use those skills when needed. Are you capable? Yes, you have the skills. Can you do it? Do you have the capacity to harm a fellow human being? This sounds awful, I know. It is. But this is, essentially, the big question, fight, flight or freeze?? When violence is staring you down in the face, and you can’t run, then you MUST fight.

It’s easy to assume that you have the capacity to do it, especially when the “bad guy” looks and acts the part. But what if that part has some complications? What happens to your capacity when it’s:

• your spouse/partner attacking you?

• an elderly person?

• a 10 year old kid?

• a disabled person?

• a pregnant woman?

All of these are specific examples that all need to be worked out in some form ahead of time in alignment with your capable skill sets. This is what we work on in class in addition to the physicality of training.

Self-defense training is very complex. It is not learned at the “Y” for an hour’s class. It will require your full understanding of yourself and your limits. It is truly a lifetime endeavor to master.

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Living Proof…the Secret to Training

Whenever we learn something new there is a bit of frustration. This is only natural. In self-defense training this frustration can be a bit more taxing since what you are learning is crucial for surviving an encounter. But fear not! The secret is right before you - LOL.

Practically every class, I tell my students, “If I can figure this out and do it, anyone can.” And this is so true. When I was learning as a student, I was not the most coordinated, fastest or strongest. It took me a while to learn and to retain new curriculum. It fact, I can still hear my private instructor yelling at me, “Holzer, why can’t you do this??” LOL. Those are fond memories for me now. At the time, it was added anxiety. But the one thing I was good at was the secret.

So what was/is the secret??? Practice… Yes, I know, not exciting. But it is true. And not just practice, but consistent practice. That’s the real secret formula. Do a technique 10,000 times and now you start to own that particular technique. It becomes yours. You don’t have to think about it anymore. It becomes automatic. And when that happens, you start to notice everything else around you. And then you can start to play with things. Change things up, etc. And that is when the real fun begins.

TIP: Practice. Consistently. Duh. LOL. But seriously, you MUST practice. And not just during class time. Take some time out at home or at work, and go over a few things. I found it to be a great stress reliever when I was working in the corporate world. Every time I was in the elevator, alone, I would go over my knife flows. I’m sure there is some great video footage of me that still exists somewhere in the Gateway building downtown. LOL.

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On the edge of training...

In the ‘80s when I was a student and training full time, I was a defensive fighter. I would play off of your offensive mistakes and extended positions to launch my counterattacks. I got pretty good at this but, there was a big hole in my training. I was defensive but I wasn’t necessarily evasive. In other words, I would retreat and counter attack, but I would not evade or shoot to the lateral or 45° angles. My teacher would exploit this and make me pay for my mistakes.

To break me of this habit, he took me to the local rock quarry, specifically to a 20’ x 14’ ledge. As we begin “the lesson” and he pressed me backwards, I retreated to the edge of the cliff. There was nowhere to go but down. Long story short, I had to quickly learn how to evade to the sides and to the forward 45° angles and counterattack. Lesson learned. New skills acquired.

Why do I share this story? In this day and age of DIY, I run across a lot of people who love internet learning - myself included. And there is a ton of content out there. But no matter what the content is, your learning can only go so far without a teacher to guide you and take you to the edge. To push you to your limit. You don’t know what you don’t know until you do. And then… it is too late.

TIP: if you want to learn self-defense, find yourself a teacher/school. You should be able to watch a class or take a free class or two before making a decision to join. Ask the students there why do the come to class? What do they like about the school? How is the teacher? If there is any pushback to any of this, then that probably is not a place you want to join.

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