February Article: Defense-Based Reality

By Matt Plewes

NOTE: This article was posted on a Facebook forum last year. I have revised it and have it posted on my website here, as it has many of my thoughts.

First off, I like to thank David J. D'Antonio for setting up this excellent forum and platform for sharing thoughts, experiences and ideas.
I have been "quietly" training for years. Twenty five years in Virginia, USA and a decade in Asia, where I still reside, teach and research Martial and combat arts. I never needed or desired fame or recognition. All I wanted was to train, learn and get the best skills and to appease my personal goals.
I followed my dream, and travel to Asia to study and live the fighting arts at the origin.

However, I do enjoy reading post on this forum and have participated in the past. But, I have been away from posting for a while myself. My businesses and travels keep me very busy.

I have also had some interesting conversations in the forums as well as private messages via e-mail.

I have met one individual via this group, that plans to come to Japan and train at my school. Excellent.
Also, I have had questions on why Japan and why Asia?

If any other members are in Asia, I too would like to know your story, please share.

Here's mine

Why am I in Asia ?

For most of my life training in the martial arts, I always was in it for defense. But, it became increasing difficult to find a non-sport in America (the land of sports). Even most non-sport style were too traditional for me, teaching weapons or techniques you couldn't use on the street.
So, I planned, prepared and decided to move and live at the origin, "the source" ... Asia.
I know, the last several years in the western world, people are finally realizing the difference between sport, tradition and true survival in the new to recognition "Reality-based" era.
But I have been doing it for decades, old school we called "Real World" defense, my teacher simply called it Gung fu. Now in the west they're are many great styles and not so great styles coming to light. The reality defense martial arts were there from the beginning. Real Martial as in "war" arts.

In in the early 1960s when the sport explosion took off, it ( martial arts) took a turn and ended up on Sport Avenue and "I-am-the-One"Boulevard. Bruce Lee noticed this, and the self proclaimed masters, and world champion titles given away like candy, seriously perturbed him. He grew up on the tough streets of Hong kong as a mixed breed and often looked down upon teen that knew real street confrontations.
He did a demonstration of Hong Kong Gung fu at the 1964 Long Beach CA,
" World championships" that made the world "champions" look foolish and ineffective. That demo made him world famous and a icon to this day.
Unfortunately, his intentions were misunderstood and kung fu popularity took off. The problem however, there were no masters, so a lot of "phony" kung fu schools were spawned, or minimally trained students were promoting themselves to the equalivant of a blue belt to a Black belt over night.
My teacher ( real teacher) and I visited several "kung fu" schools in the 1980's. Very Interesting seeing the teacher do a beautiful form. The problem was, it was only the elaborate opening of the form and the important other 90% was not known. All the rare Asian teacher's seemed legit, as for the American teacher's, it was hit and miss. Some, it was like they were trying to do the 1964 Bruce Lee Demo, and quoting Bruce Lee as there own. I thought to myself, I read that book too and I saw the video of the Long Beach demo as well.
"Only in America" my teacher said. Have one of those self-imposed "teacher's "go to Hong Kong, or even to New York or San Francisco Chinatown calling themselves "Sifu", they would get a ass kicking like no other.

The sport of martial arts continued through the 1960s to present day. In 1976, when I was first studying Karate, my teacher was a Judan ( 10th degree Black) fresh out of Japan and his teacher studied kung fu extensively in China during and after W.W. 2. and gave him full teachng rights. It was real defense. But, as that school grew, Master Ogawa stayed mainly at the main school in another city and the "off-campus" classes ( mine) started being ran by students, ( Low Dan Blackbelts), and it ( the school) turned to the martial sport fad of that time as well.

I never liked sport martial arts much since. Don't get me wrong, If you like the fighting sports that's fine with me. I am rather fond of Boxing, Kendo and Fencing, but I know they are just sports.
Also know, that in my schools we do believe in open free sparring , but don't use the mental and confidence weakening words "point or you lost".
At my schools, it's basically considered a drill, not a contest as no one loses.
As for sport martial art, I usually don't get involved in conversations about it. However, the people that still confuse sports with reality, I will correct them if they pursue the subject or I have the time.

Yes, I have been around a while, I have seen sports evolve from actual functional defensive martial arts, to the 1960s and 70s point fighting era, to the 1970s and 80s Kick Boxing era, with the emphasis on Boxing, to the Full-Contact 1980s and 90s era. to the Ultimate Fighting, K-1 type SPORTS era of today.
So much sport the last few decades, that the Johnny-come-latelys to the martial arts world think it's actually real self defense. I know many of these ultimate sport meat-head power houses have the confidence, physique and demeanor to destroy people in the ring or on the street. I am not speaking of them, but the other 90% plus of the smaller, softer, less conditioned average people looking for real defense, but doing a sport-fad martial art.

Now, in recent years, after several deaths and "Black belts" in street confrontations notoriously getting their Asses handed to them on a silver platter. An awakening is happening in America and around the world known as Reality-based defense. Finally! Will we come full circle?

However, the potential reality-based defense seeking student should keep in mind the fact that; just because a school or teacher says they're Reality-based, don't be too impressed. In some cases, they are jumping on the "This Decade's Fighting Fad Bandwagon" for marketing reasons, and the teachers are still disillusioned and don't get it. They're a lot of people claiming to be "experts" that are not even close. I especially have a problem with people teaching defense against knife attacks ( movie and staged knife attacks). This is dangerous and deadly for the student and the disillusioned teacher. Yep, it works in the classroom and looks cool. Problem is, it isn't how it goes down in real life on the real street. (see my knife article at- http://chuntianacademy.com/articles/knives)
Reality based should NOT mean: Bad as, hard core attack. We aren't in the jungle anymore, we are intelligent beings now. Understand your internal killer ape instinct, tap it when your life is in danger, but, fight intelligently.
I am referring to developed martial artist, not absolute beginner that you teach brutal escapes, like in Self-Defense for Women, I am talking the higher levers of training.

But, for the new student:

Investigate your all teachers background and real world experience.
Remember, trophies, multiple black belts mean nothing in the real world. Trophies are for sport and belts are a measuring tool inside YOUR school or organization, on the street belts are used to keep your pants from falling off.

Also, don't be impressed by a tough guy attitude teacher either. I can tell you from meeting many true martial artist experts and real masters from America to Asia, that the higher the skill, the less intimidating, nicer and more relaxed and peaceful they are as human beings. A real pleasure and a peaceful, almost spiritual calm illuminates from them.

Now, for the Reality-based teachers that do have something to offer... I commend you for "seeing the light". I hope you can share the knowlege with as many people as possible. I hope to befriend and meet many of you face to face on my returns to America and my visits to England someday.

But, the Chinese do have a 1500 plus year jump on the rest. Years of refinement, evolution, battle testing, REAL Battle, good old-fashion fight to the death medieval stuff.

I am not talking about what most see as Wushu or traditional kung fu in most western kung fu schools. I am talking about some superior Masters in Asia that are not commercialized, and only your high skills, connections, reasons and mature and humble demeanor "may get you an audience with him". I am fortunate to have not moved to Asia prematurely as I would never had the opportunity to meet some of the best masters on the planet.

Ironically, if you go to China as a student, or to a commercial school to train, you will most likely find less combative kung fu and more Wushu than you do in the west, as the government limits it and it's an unwritten law not to teach foreigners the "Real Stuff", and Wushu is cool to watch and a very popular SPORT in China.
( They're hundreds of "Shaolin Temple" Schools in China, that will teach you wushu and weapons and such).
If you are not accepted by these reclusive, unseen masters ( 99.9% are not, especially if not Chinese), you actually have a better chance of finding more functional combat kung fu in the west or Hong Kong if you can find a master.

Thank Bruce Lee for opening the door to allow westerners to be taught ( in the west). NOTE: My training was of a Hong Kong gung fu lineage. At the time Hong Kong was a British Territory and not restricted by the Chinese government in it's gung fu teachings.
Also, Understand and accept fear as a ally and not an enemy and focus. And that, anger is one letter from "D,anger", and you will lose focus. You must control yourself, before you can control your opponent.

As far as weapons or knife defense, I have found that the Fillipino and Indonesian street arts are on the cutting edge, no pun intended. I am referring to people that are living street defense and knife dangers on a daily basis in their lives, not school simulation.
I travel to and research in Indonesia at least once a year and my wife is Indonesian and has studied Indonesia Penchat Silat and has "connections".

Matt Plewes
C.A.I.
http://chuntianacademy.com