Buyer Beware

Dear Reader,
Most people outside central Japan and my hometown in Virginia don't know me. I have never wanted attention, I just wanted real martial arts skill, not sport or fame. But with the invent of the internet and martial arts standards not being regulated many places outside of Asia, I felt I needed to reach out for safety's sake.

As a weathered traveler, traveling to third world countries, fundamentalist countries and around south east Asia as well as all over America. As well as living in a foreign country for a decade and more than 35 years in the Virginia Beach-Norfolk area of Virginia, U.S.A, having years of experience as a former EMT and Private Investigator, I have seen my share of violence. Several years ago I was a victim of an assault myself.

At the time I was a very good karate student of 5 years. Successful in sparring and had clean, fast and speedy kicks and punches. However, one night I was confronted and assaulted on the Virginia Beach boardwalk in Virginia USA. At the time in my mind as well as in the classroom, I thought of myself as Billy Jack or Chuck Norris-like. After all, I had a good neighborhood reputation stemming from an after school back yard fight as a teenager, in which I did my karate "Billy Jack" routine with success against a older and bigger local bully. In hindsight I now understand that was just adolescent anger and barely a real fight with no chance of being lethal.

But this on the board walk, by what appeared to be 3 intoxicated and angry well sized men was a different thing all together. I saw a knife and realized these 3 men were serious and wanted money and looked anxious to use the knife. REAL FEAR kicked in. Real fear is not at all the same as performance anxiety or general nervousness. It s very different. Your legs are numb, you have tunnel vision and confusion, and the sound of your pounding heart becomes the focus. My crisp skills in the class were replaced by being unable to throw my numb legs in to a kick or to barely move them at all. Then I realized I was breaking my school's Rule of: BE FEARLESS!, I was already defeated as I did have fear. (I now know that is Bull&%$ and fear is actually an ally). Focusing on the adverse affects of fear I tried a kick and remembered being surprised by how terrible it was and how I couldn't feel my legs. They jumped me, punching the hell out of me and I was lucky they didn't knife me or hurt me too badly.

After getting my butt kicked, I did some serious soul searching. I was very fortunate to have a great karate teacher straight from Japan. But with the birth of kick boxing popularity in my hometown area at that time (in the late 70's ), the school started drifting into sport almost overnight. I did get technical skills, but I didn't get the mental tools I desired for the real world and the street. Because of the sport focus, I ultimately quit karate and went on a 3 year venture visiting various martial arts schools. I found most systems were restricted by outdated rules and techniques or focused on one main thing, such as kicking, wrist manipulation or forms etc.. I was trying different schools and styles and was very disappointed to find that nearly all were sport focused, many with unrealistic self-defense techniques or extreme overkill requiring much size and power.

After reading Bruce Lee's "Tao of Jeet Kune Do" and being impressed, I searched for and tried the very few kung fu schools in Virginia at that time. I would drive as far as 4 hours searching for schools, Before I thought of kung fu as flowery and saw they usually performed poorly at tournaments. I now know authentic Kung Fu styles are not used in martial arts tournaments. In America, Canada, Australia, Japan, UK, etc. practically all Kung Fu moves are illegal in a tournament. Because of the serious nature of Chinese arts. Kung Fu practitioners are typically more interested in practical combat, rather than scoring more points or looking good in front of judges.

However, many Kung Fu schools do attend martial arts tournaments, however most of them are merely there to demonstrate forms and moves, rather than actually participate in any competition. Those who do, use a severely modified version of Kung Fu and shouldn't be considered as real, where everything has been changed to make it legal. I now realize many of the schools I visited were not authentic, Bruce Lee imitators.

That was until I found Johnny Wong and Samuel Cheeks in 1984. My opinion of kung fu changed forever. I found the perfect thing for me, a close range combat kung fu where fear is welcomed and responses simple and reflexive and very functional under stress with no unnecessary flash. I have since used my skills several times to a 100% success rate as have some of my professional students.

To get Real World exposure and street experience to compliment my training, I became an EMT and joined an Emergency Ambulance-Rescue Squad service during the early 1980's. At that time "crack" cocaine was sweeping the inner cities and hardcore violence exploded around the country. I saw more than I wanted too, but gained a wealth of experience.

To get even more real world and tactical experience, I open Chuntian Academy of Martial Arts and Oriental Studies in Suffolk, Virginia in 1996. Active duty Police and Law enforcement training officers were regular students and advisers. Regular feed back from daily real world applications helped develop the practical modern system that is the progenitor of what I teach today to everyday people and professionals.

Following my dreams, I moved to Asia (Japan) in 2001 to continue my martial arts journey at the source, the origin. I remain in Japan still today. As well as visit schooIs in South East Asia. I now teach, but am always a student first.

What I learned in my 35 years of research and being a martial artist and maybe you should evaluate is- What are you really studying? Is it what you really want? Is it real defense? Is it sport? Teachers too are often mistaken and have strayed off course into sport. Especially now-a-days with the success of sport fighting and martial arts being popular in movies, the lines of what's real and what's sport or movies are being blurred, especially knife defenses. Youtube self-proclaimed experts are showing, do it this way ( and die) video clips. By the comments, people are believing this crap and are in real danger. That is the reason I started this free website, to get some good information out there in these times of abundant misinformation, especially knife defense. See knife defense reality at http://selfdefensetips.info/Knives

I need to add; I moved to Japan 10 years ago to continue my martial arts research in south east Asia and Japan and remain there today. I have found many interesting and fine martial arts and have teacher and master level friends around Asia and the world from different styles. All styles have good and bad points. I found close quarter kung fu works for me personally. Maybe something different for you. The best fight I every witnessed was good old fashion boxing. My letter to the reader here, is to assist the potential student, especially long term student, to determine what they want. Sport, which is fine or real defense, which is different and often confused now-a-days. Also to be careful of imitators, which are many these days.

Thanks for reading.
I hope you fine what you need,
Sincerely,
Matt Plewes
CAI Founding Directer

Carrying a Weapon

-You need to be fore-warned and fore-armed; If you carry mace, a tazer, a baseball bat or a gun, are they always with you? No. You need empty hand skills as well, everyone. Also, you need to know how to use these weapons technically as well as mentally in the real world. Also know, we strongly discourage carrying a knife. Statistics show, that people that carry knifes have a higher chance of getting cut themselves by pulling them out prematurely or under the wrong circumstances and leads to elevating a simple fight or robbery to murder....Yours. Agree or not, statistics don't lie and I'm just the messenger here.

Read about knife reality: http://selfdefensetips.info/Knives

If you tote a gun, understand knifers can get you before you draw, so be aware. Just like the empty hand drills, you need to practice the automatic- RADD-"Retreat and cover, As you are Drawing and aim Drills" that we have in our Pro-SACT ® - Weapons Workshops Program.

NOTE TO STUDENTS and TEACHERS: THE BELOW INFORMATION IS BASED ON THE NORM. WE REALIZE IT IS NOT TRUE IN EVERY CASE, BUT A LARGE MAJORITY. IT ISN'T INTENDED TO MEAN EVERY CLASS OR TEACHER. IT IS ONLY A CAUTION TO NEW STUDENTS TO CONSIDER WHEN LOOKING FOR WORLD APPROPRIATE SELF PROTECTION SKILLS. IT BY NO MEANS INTENDS TO PUT DOWN ANY STYLE, WAY OR TEACHER. IT IS JUST INFORMATION FOR THE STUDENT SEEKING NON-SPORT and NON-TRADITIONAL STYLES. THE STUDENT SEEKING PURE SELF PROTECTION SKILLS WITH NO OTHER DISTRACTIONS.

Finding a Non-sport Martial Arts - Self Protection Teacher

(Not as easy as you think).

-Unfortunately, many local schools (the local YMCA-"type") children focused karate as well as the high kicking sport-based tae-kwon-do like styles may not work under the stress of a real street encounter, though they may look functional in the controlled class or staged demonstration or at an organized competition. They are excellent for health and discipline, but are sport based and require many years to be somewhat effective for real defense. They will teach you openings, speed and balance. But sparring, no matter how good you are, is a game that is basically safe and not fighting, it will not prepare you for adrenaline dumps, brutality and facing death. Sparring has a whole different dynamic than the real world of fighting. Sport is sport! No matter if they offer a "self-defense" class and the instructor swears by it. They're are a few exceptions, but, from my experience, very few.

- Another big problem is instructor training. Students are too eager to become teachers. In the west people perceive Black Belt as an instructor or master level, yet in truth Black Belt is the beginning of the real training. The martial arts colored belt ranking system originated in Japan, where I have been living the last decade, so I know.
A common misbelief that needs to be clarified is the "black belt as master" stereotype, In reality, a black belt indicates the wearer is competent in a style's basic techniques and can begin formal training. The 1st Dan black belt is thus seen not so much as an end, but rather as a beginning, a doorway to advanced learning. Instructors with 1-4 degree Black Belts are mere students themselves. Before black belt levels colors are just the very basics, preparing for "real" training. For an analogy using language learning. The under "Black Belt" colors are like learning the alphabet and the black belt levels are learning to put words together and start talking".
Do you want a third grader teaching you a language they should be studying themselves or a college graduate?

So the problem in America and other countries is many put to much value on the Black Belt. If you are not 5th degree or higher, you are a student or a tutor that should still have a Master's guidance and not a master or even a full teacher.

- When searching for schools and teachers, don't be impressed by how many belts, students, certificates or trophies the instructor has. Trophies are from Sport and mean nothing on the street, nor do belt colors, the attacker doesn't care about belt color or trophies. The trophy is your life.
Multiple Black Belts in different styles? Remember a Chinese Proverb; "One style mastered, is better than 100 tasted" And one that is so, so true 'You know enough to get hurt".

- This brings to mind another problem. People that never "truly" made the ranks of a system, or the "Certificate Chasers". Certificate chasers are people that the only real training or lack of, is to attend seminars here or there with a renowned master, but themselves have only these few hours with said masters, usually in a group and a 10 second photo-op with said master, with maybe a "Certificate of Participation", then show off the photo in their school or web page as though they are a personal friend or teacher. (These seminars and workshops are good and complimentary, but does not make YOU a teacher. If you get a teaching paper after a seminar or two, it's a money making scheme and I don't care who it is or who they were). Don't fool yourself, we are talking life and death, not a popularity contest.

- And then you have the thousands of "Martial art Prodigies", especially in America where martial arts aren't regulated. Never mine the centuries of tried combat techniques and refinements, I'll put together a few things I learned and saw in magazines and invent my own style and proclaim myself master or 10th degree Black belt. (Most of these "Prodigies" never even legitimately got a basic Black belt themselves and are jokingly referred to as "Brown Belt Grandmasters" by some of us old-timers that did put in the time, blood, sweat and tears and did study a "complete" system and made the ranks. But, it isn't funny anymore, it's rampant now and it's false advertising and very dangerous.

As I mentioned before, America doesn't regulate martial arts. Many Martial arts in Asia where we are located are regulated. They don't make you choose a system or way, but they do make sure you know your stuff before you can take it public. For an example: In Singapore, where things are very tightly regulated and strictly enforced, I was there in January with CAI instructor Sheik Ally to open the new branch of Chuntian Academy International. In Singapore, all schools and teachers must go under the scrutiny of a board of government appointed martial arts masters. Everyone that wants to teach, no matter the size of the school or even though you are a certificate holding mainstream martial artist, such as from karate or tae kwon do, or even if you are an eclectic self defense teacher. No matter what, you must demonstrate your skills. This is to weed out people that brag but don't show or claim special powers etc, etc. They don't care about paper certificates, resumes or seminars you attended. They want to see what you have and can do and is it worthy of an instructor status. ( I approve of this). In addition, all applicants must complete a Government sport health and safety course and have a government issued license. For public safety, we need this type of oversight everywhere.

- When searching for a system, you are looking for functionality that YOU can do, that excepts your physical and mental limitations and embraces fear and human attributes and natural reactions under the stress of a violent, unpredictable street encounter. Which isn't easy to find. There are more reality-based schools today, however, there are also many wanna-be-bad-asses and not true teachers, many that claim to be masters are not even close. They teach anger, fearlessness or other poor mental preparedness, or lack of I should say.

- A street encounter shouldn't be as technical, as it is much more mental and reflexive. Your training should be geared this way. Simple, survival mode with a attitude of not to be a victim, not really a defensive or submissive mindset, but a determined mindset with basic technical skills that are functional, reflexive and natural.
Also know fear is human, real and okay as it helps prepare you for fight or flight.

If you hear: "Be fearless" in your schools motto, you know you're in the wrong place. A fantasy camp of perhaps a self proclaimed bad-ass instructor with a few brutal cool techniques or it's a sport on some level. Many may have even won tournaments and are blinded by the "illusion of success" of the class room or ring, but, would most likely lead to disaster on the street.
Yes, some can be fearless by confronting their fears ...to a point. But, we aren't talking about bullies or bar brawls. We are talking about facing real death. Real danger, a real murderer.
Do you really understand what "real" fear is? Fear definition: "A distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc. whether the threat is real or imagined."

You need to accept fear, before you can try to understand or dream of conquering it. Fear is the tick, tick sound of sweat dripping from your chin onto a prison floor. Fear is the long ride down on a flaming airplane. Fear is the relentless onslaught of terminal Cancer. Fear is our perception of impending danger or death. Fear creates physical reactions that are designed to save us in an emergency. Rapid pulse, tightened muscles, adrenaline pumping and sharpened faculties. So when you feel fear, channel it into action, for God sakes don't try to be fearless, in doing that you are actually trying to be unprepared, and you will. But also fearful, focused on the, surprising to you, ill-effects. Such as heavy, numb and weak legs, loss of feeling, shaking, weakness, tunnel vision, nausea, loss of bladder control, self doubt, etc.. If you understand fear and the possible situations you may encounter, these effects won't be so pronounced or unexpected, learn what it is and use it. Train in reality, using fear as an ally.

READ THE TRUTH ABOUT FEAR > http://chuntianacademy.com/articles/directors-featured-article-fear

Now "Anger" isn't okay, it's one letter from D-anger. Anger makes one lose control as well as make unwise, unfocused, uncontrolled or premature moves. Anger should ONLY be used at a very beginner, survival stage of training, such as a Rape and survival defense class. But, higher levels and mastery of defense, anger doesn't exist in any positive form and will only prevent you from being a true master. If your teacher promotes anger beyond the very basic levels, he too should find a senior teacher or master and continue his studies. You ultimately want emotion content, not anger. You should focus, or channel your emotion into every move you make, instead of letting your emotions turn you into some wild, flailing whirlwind, such as anger does. This accomplishes several things at once. It keeps your emotions in check, you expend less energy, and you stay focused on your ultimate goal, to beat your opponent with determination and focus. To survive and turn the attacker into victim.
Chinese aphorism: "Anger is a wind that blows out the lamp of the mind."
For more about why not anger read: http://www.chuntianacademy.com/articles/instinctive-action

-Remember, it's mainly sports at most schools. In a very few cases people can do a sport and real world defense. As far as self defense, real scenario training, not points or losing. Win, win is what you should instill in your mind. Not what sport teaches; points, losing, safety of a ref to stop. The real world is GO and be committed until the attacker becomes victim, and failure is not an option. Sport teaches failure is an option in the deep mind and that you can LOSE. Losing on the street can mean DEATH. So fighting is 90% mental and survival minded. Sport teaches you can lose and you do lose (Die) So why, why, why train this way? In my teachings, I never say point, lose or mistake in my classes, these words are forbidden. It's do again and keep going and get nastier as failure is not an option. We understand that we can die, this is why we avoid danger and conflict. But, if our life is in danger and we have no choice and do begin a defense attack, we cannot stop or believe we can, we must go all the way.

I accept that some people are sport fighters and street- savvy as well. Mainly the 5% "powerhouse" people. However, others claim they can do both and know the difference, but I doubt it seriously. The very, very few that can, I am not addressing them. It's with the vast majority that confuse the two, especially the newer generation and new students. It can be disastrous when they take a sport to a street fight. (Also don't take a street fight to a sports ring).

A few things you should consider and beware of before joining a (non-sport) defense school.

Beware if the teacher or school:

- Self promotion; ex. John Doe's Karate. John Doe.com. , The John Doe Reality-based #1 System etc.
Self-promotion usually means self-fortune. Avoid self promoters, unless they're internationally proven or known already.

- They invented this wonderful NEW style. Often using Asian words to make it sound authentic. But usually sound odd to someone that understands the language. Also, they often, not knowingly, mix up Chinese, Japanese, Korean words to name the system.

- Claims to be the best or first style /system/ idea.

- Claims multiple system Black Belts.
Chinese proverb: One good style mastered is worth more than one hundred tasted.

- Beware of mass productions. The teacher has more than 20 students per instructor /class.

- Has adults and children in the same class.

- Beware if they are Cocky or Bullies. Every real master I have met was extremely gentle, peaceful and polite. They are humble with nothing to prove. Ever notice how big strong bad-ass dogs don't bark and "little" harmless dogs yap their heads off trying to appear bad-ass? People are the same. (With the possible exception of ignorant violent criminals).

- Your training in traditional weapons before you learn to fight.

- Quick, Special Intensive Black Belt certifications for a "Fee" or young children Black Belts.

- Claims knowledge of special military/ancient secret techniques or "powers".

- Your doing Sport fighting, wearing a 100 year old style uniform, fighting the air , memorizing a lot of useless unexplained techniques.

- The Katas are nothing like the sparring (practice fighting) you see.

- The school teaches violent hard attacks only in their defense training, not avoiding or escape and run.

- Doesn't put emphasis and training on avoiding or talking your way out of non life threatening situations.

- Doesn't train in the mental aspects of self-defense, escape and attack

- They talk about / display all the "Championships" and trophies they've won. (Sport)

- Has military titles, patches, uniform designs, but they are civilians!

- Be cautious if the teacher insist on being called Master, Sifu, Grandmaster, Soke, Sensei etc. Or introduce themselves as Master, Soke or Sensei so and so. A master is a status of skill and time, but using as a title along with your name is an honorific that is respectfully and optionally used by students or peers and not oneself. In 99% of the cases, the true masters I have met in America and in my several years in Japan and Asia, I almost never have heard a "real"master do so, as it is contradictory to humility, a component of being a master. Only in the west with self promoters I have heard people address themselves or bestow such titles upon themselves. It's contradictory to the true way and the humbleness of being a real master. I am not saying all that do so are not masters, as it does happen in special circumstances, but rarely. Just be cautious.

-Beware if they wear a traditional Martial arts uniform and belt. ( Traditional uniform "may" be a indicator of a traditional style or sport only and not real world. ).
A simple uniform, like a T-shirt and sweat pants or street clothes are recommended. How often do you wear your uniform out around town. If you're normal-never. So why train in something you most likely will never be wearing. Not too many people rob and mug dojos or dojangs.

- Just because They are Asian, doesn't Always mean They're Martial Arts Masters. This is not a common problem, but it does exist. Another stereotype is believing that they are the real deal just because they're Asian. I am an white American teaching in Japan and 90% of my students are Asian ( Japanese, Chinese). I have met Asians that have jumped on the bandwagon of martial arts for money that aren't so talented. Poor Yip Man's few students he had in Hong Kong are in the hundreds now. It reminds me of 20,000 people that claim they were one of the 500 navy SEALS in the Vietnam war.
Like most Sushi restaurants in America, customers believe it's authentic because it's staffed by Asians. Sushi is Japanese and the vast majority of Sushi restaurants in America are not staffed by Japanese. In Japan you have to study for years to be a Sushi Chef. These "Asians" in America are not certified and are self taught. This can be applied in some cases pertaining to martial arts. Just be careful. Now some might say the non-Japanese Sushi-college trained restaurant's staff"s Sushi tastes good to them, well I can tell you from personal experience living in Japan for several years and trying many non-Japanese restaurants in America, once you have had the real thing and understand the real thing, imitators are not even close on many levels. This too can be applied to martial arts.

-Beware if a school or teacher makes you sign a contract, or charge you an outrageous fee, trying to give the illusion that you get what you pay for, so $150 an hour private lesson, oh! they must be really, really good.

- When sparring (practicing) you get points for contact. If you know it is a sport and know better than to think it's self-defense, Okay. But, know the difference, Don't take a sport to the street for goshsakes!

- Training mainly consist of kata or fighting the air. (You should get a real feel what it is like to actually apply escape, hit and kick techniques to real people of various sizes and shapes. (in training of course). We practice techniques in simulation, but don't instill in your mind the negative possibility of losing. Thus, points and losing doesn't exist, Keep going and going. Losing a match is an unhealthy concept and learning experience for the mind on a very primal level, it teaches we can lose after all. NOOO!! Keep going, going and going....Survival is the most primal level and the mind is 90% of fighting, so cultivate the mind properly for ultimate success.

KNOW: Martial arts tournaments and magazines are aimed at BEGINNERS to make money, no matter what stage they are white belt or so-called black belts.

When you do find a good true teacher (master), stay with him and learn the entire system. Don't be so eager to go on your own. Doing both is fine, because part of learning is to teach. Remember: "Good teachers make good students and good students make good teachers". This same saying can be applied to bad teachers and bad students.

You may have to travel to get to your teacher. Don't settle for just the nearest teacher. Sport is fine for sport, not the street, know the difference. (Also don't take a street fight to a sports ring).

- Also, you should know The Law. http://chuntianacademy.com/american-self-defense-law
(There are a lot of techniques that aren't functional in the real world, but also some OVERKILL techniques on Youtube that would land "YOU" in Jail and the criminal would likely "walk").

READ REALLY, REALITY-BASED DEFENSE > http://chuntianacademy.com/articles/read-first-really-reality-based

Feel free to email me any questions about a potential defense system. I will answer inquiries free of charge. I hope to soon have a page of endorsed schools with contacts on this site in the future.

Sincerely,
Matt Plewes,
Chuntian Academy International (CAI) Founder and Director.

Suggestions of where to start searching for a teacher:

- Wing Chun, also romanized as Ving Tsun or "Wing Tsun" ( softer stye)
- Combat ( Non-sport) Kung fu ( case by case, consult the master)
- Many Phillipino Martial Arts ( case by case, consult the master)
- Krav Maga if you have good heath, fitness and confidence.
- Expert Boxing if you have size and or speed and agility.

Contact us to have your school on our NEW "Instructors Directory" Page. Also. we welcome Real World Defense Videos from other teachers and schools. We are more than happy to promote your website or school on our free site. We ONLY want to get some good information out there before for someone gets hurt or killed following some of the "misinformation" on YOUTUBE and Phony and /or unqualified Instructors<.i>
http://selfdefensetips.info/Instructors