This company has been years in the making. For those who want to know more about me, please go to the "About Us" section and read up. In addition to all the law enforcement and military instruction I have also been training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) and Krav Maga for about 15 years now (on and off as sometimes life got in the way). My time on the mat training with some of the greatest people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting has shaped and molded my opinions on all things self defense. I have spent countless hours with close friends, learning through trial and error, about what works and what doesn't when it comes to the world of personal defense. I have had the pleasure (or misfortune depending on how you look at it) of being involved in hundreds, if not thousands of physical confrontations during my 15 plus years working in the nightclub industry, as well as my time working in law enforcement. Those experiences have shaped my current training in ways that only real life experiences can. The theoretical became empirical, and I now know where my training deficiencies lie and have adjusted fire accordingly.
I have learned that there are no substitutes for time on the mat and time spent in the gym. Bigger, stronger and faster absolutely matter. Anyone who told you differently lied to you. The techniques you see in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) are absolutely the foundation of any good self defense system. Knowing how to punch, kick, grapple and defend, are all vital skills when it comes to unarmed combat. Taking those skills a step further and learning to deal with armed assailants and multiple opponents are also necessary skills to incorporate into your training. BJJ is an excellent foundation and a great place to start. You cannot fake your way through BJJ like you can in certain traditional martial arts. You are challenged physically and mentally in every class. It is also a fantastic workout, so your are killing two birds with one stone by training in BJJ. I have trained at a Renzo Gracie affiliate for the majority of my adult life and I can honestly say that the only regret that I have is that I did not spend even more time on the mats. I have learned a great deal about myself and made life long friends during my time training BJJ, and to this day I continue to train as much as my schedule permits (not ever enough in my eyes). In addition to BJJ, you need to know how to hit. Boxing or Kickboxing are good places to start there. As always, thoroughly vet your instructors and make sure your money is being well spent.
Now that you know how to hit and how to roll, you need to think about the possibility that your opponent could be armed (edge weapon, impact weapon or firearm) and you need to seek out quality instruction that deals with those specific threats. This can be challenging as in my experience for every 10 instructors teaching this material, 9 have absolutely no idea what they are doing and have zero experience doing it in real life. There are a variety of quality instructors who travel the U.S. (and some abroad) who teach this material. Craig Douglass and Paul Sharp are two who come to mind immediately. Both of these guys have a tremendous amount of real world experience, and both have spent countless hours on the mat perfecting their craft. Krav Maga does a good job of dealing with the basics when it comes to dealing with armed opponents and multiples, but it is very difficult to find a legitimate Krav Maga school these days. Schools are rapidly popping up and fraudulent instructors are capitalizing on the new found popularity of the name Krav Maga. Ryan Hoover is one of the very few legitimate Krav Maga instructors out there, and he has done a great job of replacing outdated techniques with new and better ways to deal with various threats.
SSG is a small business that will focus on providing quality instruction to individuals or small groups in a variety of different areas. Self defense/combatives/self protection, or whatever else you would like to call it will be one of our major focuses. It is my belief that everyone has a fundamental responsibility to know how to protect themselves and their loved ones. The police are reactive and rarely there to prevent violence from happening. If you are unable to protect yourself and you are relying on the police or others to do it for you, then you are setting yourself up to fail. Seek out quality training. If not from us, then from someone who has the background and experience to give you the skills you really need. Be wary of those who are unable to demonstrate or articulate themselves when it comes to their backgrounds or techniques. Going to a school and practicing skills that are unrealistic are only going to give you a false sense of security and put you in even further danger. If you need help vetting a school near you, feel free to email me and I will be happy to help where I can. Until the next time, stay alert, stay sharp and stay alive.
-Adam