The answer to Self Defence...finally?

[Melanie]

Hi all,

I found this website and wondered what you all thought of it:

Street Self Defence (http://www.street-selfdefense.com/)

These videos claim to encompass a lot, giving you sufficient training from beginner, to look after yourself from an initial attack and claims they can teach more in 2 hours than you can learn in 20 years of the standard martial arts training.

Unfortunately it gives no particular examples or video clips but I wondered if any one here would be tempted to buy these videos? (I know the special offer runs out today!)

Does anyone know of Shihan Michael Pace?

[LilBunnyRabbit]

Ahh, like doing a video aerobics class.

Well, not quite. With aerobics you simply need to work the muscles and burn energy, martial arts involves a lot more.


The natural effect of real aggression causes what is called an "adrenaline dump". This fear induced high volume shot of adrenaline is normal and natural and cannot be stopped, even by experienced black belts.

Anyone here who didn't know that? Nope, didn't think so. You don't really want to stop it, you want to learn to use it.


The effects of this "adrenaline dump" can be devastating, especially if you are not prepared for it.

If used correctly then yes, it will be devastating. That's what we aim for in almost all Self Defense.


The main problem is that many of the techniques that are taught in traditional training are too tricky or too complicated for the average person to properly execute. This is especially true under the duress of an all out street attack. Techniques that are highly complicated tend not to be executed properly, if at all, when the pressure is on and adrenaline levels are high.

Which is why simple techniques exist. You wouldn't teach a white belt a jumping spinning downwards kick.


Many of the systems use joint locks and pressure points that require years of training to properly execute. Sometimes even when they are applied properly to someone who has an unusual amount of joint flexibility or a high resistance to pain, they don’t work.

If I comment on this one I'll probably cause a debate I really don't want to get into, since it'll be useful to no one. I'll leave the comment to someone else.


Many of the arts teach kicking techniques that are great for the studio or for sport competition, but are all but useless on the street. Unfortunately many of the practitioners of these arts are led to believe that they can really use these kicks effectively in a combat situation. They end up with a false security believing they can defend themselves with such techniques. In reality, if they ever have to really fight, they usually get themselves into trouble very quickly.

Apparently this guy has never seen a side kick to the knee or chest, or a front kick to the knee, groin or pit of stomach.


Many techniques require years of training or are just impossible to learn unless you are under the direct training of the master instructor. You cannot learn these properly from a video, book or seminar. They take years to perfect, even under the supervision of an expert instructor.

I think he says it himself there, you cannot learn techniques from a video, it would be like trying to learn kung fu by watching Jackie Chan in slow motion. You could get it to look right, but it would do you no good whatsoever. When you already understand the basics of the techniques, that's when videos are useful.


Allot of what is taught is just fluff! It doesn't stand a chance to work in a real street attack!

Open to debate. I'd say in some cases its true, in others its not. Yes there is fluff, but just because its not necessarily useful in a fight doesn't mean its not indirectly useful in other ways.

[Pacificshore]

Hey Mel:

Never heard of the guy, but after my 50th year of training, I'll sell you one of my truely-straight to the point-no BS-win every fight-know all training video. Watta ya think?!!

Now if I could just win the lotto so that I can start on my "True Self Defense" video...........