mule wrote:
Steve Rowe wrote:
After 35 years of teaching I can assure you that it can be taught to anyone who has the determination to learn. You don't teach aggression as that's fear and burns too quickly, you increase determination, strategy and mental fortitude. The same training will calm aggressive people down, reducing their fear and raising their self esteem.
So have you had students who have used what they were taught in Self Defence?

In the Czech Republic I've taught the Presidents Bodyguards, Special Services and Police Self Defence Instructors for 18 years, I've worked and taught in the security trade for 30 years and taught self defence to nurses, insurance agents, doctors on call, rape crisis groups, womens institute, et.c for many years, so yeah, it's been tested many times.

Wu ming I teach 'peace keeping' skills as everything we do is designed to re-establish peace not antagonise anyone. I don't see that as contradictory to any 'hippie' ideals. I also lecture in Buddhism, Taoism and the healing arts.

Peace is earned - it's not a natural state.

Steve Rowe wrote:


In the Czech Republic I've taught the Presidents Bodyguards, Special Services and Police Self Defence Instructors for 18 years, I've worked and taught in the security trade for 30 years and taught self defence to nurses, insurance agents, doctors on call, rape crisis groups, womens institute, et.c for many years, so yeah, it's been tested many times.

I wasn't asking for your personal credentials Steve, just maybe some citations to back up what you said?

:) I thought that's what I just did, we've obviously had many occasions where it's been 'field tested' and according to the events and statistics training has been varied from time to time.

This is why I think the image that many have of a 'fighter' is a typical MMA type image and of course 'peacekeeping' which is why most people train, is different and can be taught to those that really want it. It's also not at odds with a peaceful mind and intentions.

Steve Rowe wrote:
:) I thought that's what I just did, we've obviously had many occasions where it's been 'field tested'Such as???
Not being picky Steve, but "many occasions" doesn't cut it.
The fact that you've taught people 'x' doesn't automatically mean they've been able to employ it.


This is why I think the image that many have of a 'fighter' is a typical MMA type image
Not mine by any stretch of the imagination.

Sorry it don't 'cut it' for you but that's all you're getting. I'm not in the business of glorifying violence by writing it up and I don't sequester 'citations'.

I'm in the Czech Republic in 6 weeks time training these guys for a week in the mountains, you're welcome to attend, find out and ask them for yourself.

mule wrote:
Such as???
Not being picky Steve, but "many occasions" doesn't cut it.
The fact that you've taught people 'x' doesn't automatically mean they've been able to employ it.


I met Steve a couple of years back at a charity event, and learned a very simple idea/concept/technique. And I've used this one thing on several occasions.

In my opinion martial arts has something for everyone, you just have to look for it, maybe it takes time to nurture that person/student in order for them to find it, or maybe they already know what it is. Provided there is willingness to learn then anyone can study martial arts and get what they want out of it.

I think there are people with talent, people with skill, and people with both.

people with talent have it from the onset, weather they choose to nurture that talant is thier chioce.

People with skill have attained it through pure hard work, and have started with no proficiancy in the art.

I guess it wold be fair to say most people have a mixture, but there is no reason why someone with no talent cannot become technically proficiant, it simply is a case of practice.

as I said, just my opinion.

Ben wrote:
I
In my opinion martial arts has something for everyone, you just have to look for it, maybe it takes time to nurture that person/student in order for them to find it, or maybe they already know what it is. Provided there is willingness to learn then anyone can study martial arts and get what they want out of it.

I think there are people with talent, people with skill, and people with both.

people with talent have it from the onset, weather they choose to nurture that talant is thier chioce.

People with skill have attained it through pure hard work, and have started with no proficiancy in the art.

I guess it wold be fair to say most people have a mixture, but there is no reason why someone with no talent cannot become technically proficiant, it simply is a case of practice.

as I said, just my opinion.

Some People have flair, talent, look good etc
but the people who shine the ones with intent, this can be
sometimes taught yet to the already enhanced this is gold in the confrontation scenario
There are teachers and there are fighters

just 2 cents

Steve Rowe wrote:
Sorry it don't 'cut it' for you but that's all you're getting. I'm not in the business of glorifying violence by writing it up and I don't sequester 'citations'.
Thanks for your contribution to the discussion to date.

I'm in the Czech Republic in 6 weeks time training these guys for a week in the mountains, you're welcome to attend, find out and ask them for yourself.
I'm going to be recuperating from an operation at that time, but thanks for the invite.
Hopefully another opportunity will present itself.

To be fair that sounds pretty cool Steve... Do you run these events often?

Im not sure its either nature or nurture, I think for the majority of people it is a choice to fight. For every kid from a bad background who is aggressive, ther is one who is timid. I think it is a conscious choice to become a fighter born out of enjoyment on whatever level the fighter operates at, whether hooligan or martial artist

PeteMills wrote:
To be fair that sounds pretty cool Steve... Do you run these events often?

I run monthly Karate courses and bimonthly Tai Chi courses here in Chatham, I teach in Denmark 3 times a year and Czech 3 times a year, I also teach in various parts of the UK and Europe at other times, but I'd say the biggest and best seminar to attend is the Summer Czech one - it's our 18th year this year, hosted by Colonel Ondra Musil 6th Dan, Chief Instructor for the Czech Police in Self Defence and National Team Coach for Karate, I'll be taking Chris Rowen 7th Dan Goju, Martin Gatter 6th Dan Karate and Tai Chi Instructor and Palle Thoft Jensen 6th Dan and Tai Chi Instructor(from Denmark) as co-instructors along with around a dozen of my other senior guys. The seminar is in a National park in the mountains usually with around 160 participants - it's always a great time with Karate, Tai Chi, Aikido and MMA on the menu.

It gets fully booked in January each year, but depending on hotel accommodation and flights I may be able to squeeze an odd person in.