The Science Behind Self-Defense: Evaluating Techniques for Real-World Effectiveness
The topic of Evidence-Based Self-Defense can be rich with controversy and loud discussion. There are ideas that are held by institutions and people that have firmly held convictions. Our goal is not to be controversial. We find it is best for individuals to remain agnostic when it comes to self-defense skill development.
Bruce Lee said of his martial art “Jeet Kune Do is merely a name used, a boat to get one across the river, and once across, it is to be discarded, and not be carried on one's back”
Understandably there are many body types, strengths, and age differences so we all have individual requirements. Self-defense skills have their strengths and weaknesses.
Learn to adapt and work with the differences. It becomes a problem when people try to crame round pegs into a square holes and it doesn't serve you, so discard what doesn't fit.
Self Defense Distillation Process Metaphor
Distillation is the action of removing larger complex particulate by a process of heating and pressurizing a substance through a medium. The extraction of the essential meaning or most important aspects of something. In our self-defense distillation metaphor, we are stripping out the complexities and biases that make their way into all human endeavors some of which include:
Tradition
Niceties
Formalities
Taboos
Egos
Cult of personality
Next, the medium we choose to filter the relevant and irrelevant is life in today's world. There are plenty of examples to choose from if you know where to look. Explore cultures worldwide for violence and the domains that they operate in for evidence-based solutions, It's a long list some of which include;
Underworld Groups
Combatives
Law Enforcement
Reality-Based Combatives
Military
Intelligence Agencies
Mai Thai Kickboxing
Krav Maga
Boxing
JiuJitsu
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu BJJ
Gutterfighting / Defendu
Mixed Martial Arts / MMA
The end goal is to develop a purified product that is effective. The process is imperfect so it must be stress-tested and reviewed periodically.
Constant and Never-Ending Improvement Principle
Results and curriculum are vigorously tested on of the CANI principle. CANI principle is the philosophy and science of constant and never-ending improvement, or betterment or refinement. It’s the idea that nothing is ever finished, or declared perfect; there is always room for improvement. Small incremental advancements over time, lead to huge compounded improvements in the long run.
Violence Prevention and Self Defense Resources
The goal of the Center for Violence Prevention and Self Defense is to stop violence by educating at-risk people and empower them with the skills needed to protect themselves both online and live training. CVPSD's live training is available to people of all ages in New Jersey including children, adults and the elderly.
Live conceptual seminars teach the origins of violence and how to assess risk and set boundaries for healthy relationships. Experiential classes teach hands-on interpersonal skills and strategies to prevent and stop assault.
The Center for Violence Prevention and Self Defense reaches individuals and communities through partnerships with schools and other nonprofits, community groups, as well as classes for the public.