Self Defense Combat Tactics

When one hears the words martial arts, they automatically think of dojos, kung fu movies, judo tournaments, and flying kicks. In reality, the term martial means military or war-like. The original term martial arts, or more correctly martial ways, was for all aspects of warfare: weapons usage, navigation, communication, operational planning, etc. The true origins of martial arts lie in the real-world where armed opponents are engaged in a fight for their lives and the lives of their comrades.

  All modern civilian martial arts have evolved from these battlefield origins. Many schools were developed to teach self-defense skills based on the experiences of past warriors; if the warrior survived, it must work. These systems often covered many weapons and their effective uses. Martial arts training changed into sports systems during periods of peace. During the 19th and 20th centuries, the term martial arts began to relate to unarmed civilian self-defense or sports systems.

 Self-defense systems must be principle based rather than technique based; function must override form. The techniques are the vehicle used to teach and reinforce the principles. Practitioners focus only on techniques and never fully grasp the principles of their study. A true self-defensive martial art combines sound principles, fundamental techniques, mission accomplishment, simplicity, and develops a focused self-defense mindset. 

The Self Defense and Combat Tactics Program is an integrated, weapons-based system that incorporates the full spectrum of violence and contributes to the mental, character and  physical development of all Fighters. The focus of DEFENSIVE TACTICS is the personal development of each Fighter in a team framework using a standardized, trainable, and sustainable close self-defense fighting system. All techniques are integrated with equipment, physical challenges, and tactics found in a real-world environment.

 Self Defense and Combat Tactics is designed to enhance the Fighter capabilities as an elite fighter by providing basic self-defensive skills. Self Defense and Combat Tactics increases the survivability of individual Fighters across any spectrum of violence. It is a weapon-based system rooted in the credo that every Fighter can survive. Self Defense and Combat Tactics boosts self- confidence and fosters the warrior ethos in all Fighters. 

 The motto of Self Defense and Combat Tactics, “One mind, any weapon”, states the essence of the program. This means every Fighter is always armed even without a weapon. They are armed with a self-defense mindset, the ability to assess and to act, and the knowledge that all Fighters can rely on one another. 

The dilemma of close-range self-defense; home defense, weapons engagement, and hand-to- hand engagement will always be a part of the Fighter’s mission. In this respect, the ethos of the Tip of the Spear Training Group is timeless. The closeness of interpersonal violence remains unmatched. Whether on the streets of Palm Bay, downtown  Melbourne, Orlando, or Detroit, Michigan, conflicts will occur, and Fighters will have to defend.

 While it is clear today’s young Fighters are smarter and more physically fit, their need to deal with complex situations mixed with the full spectrum of violence is real. Today’s stay at home mom is a trigger squeeze away from being on the news for tomorrow’s escalation of violence and the need for gun control. It is with this threat in mind that Tip of the Spear Training Group created the Self Defense and Combat Tactics Program. 

  The Self Defense and Combat Tactics Program is built on the foundation of the three disciplines: mental, character, and physical. Each discipline is presented systematically to Fighters at each belt level. Those disciplines taught at lower belt levels are then reviewed and reinforced during follow-on training and at the next belt level. Many skills specific to one discipline reinforce the strengths of the other disciplines. This creates a synergistic effect, whereby the program as a whole is stronger than its individual parts. 

This is where the individual user is transformed into someone who gives back to others in the program. The instructor is responsible for teaching users within the program up to their own belt level. They teach the physical techniques, conduct self-defense conditioning, supervise free sparring, and conduct the character and mental training which positively influences the program’s cohesion and self-defense readiness.

 Belt users’ responsibilities include participating in all technique classes and sustaining techniques. They must also participate in self-defense conditioning, sustainment and integration, and free sparring. Belt qualified users at all levels are responsible for maintaining the skills in which they have earned. It is also important for all users to understand when and why it may be necessary to use those techniques.