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Self-defence: Joaquin Marcelo's point of view
I am very excited and honoured by this Special Guest.
In the following article I have the pleasure of publishing the answers of Sifu Joaquin Marcelo to some questions related to the concept of self-defence.
I really appreciated his helpfulness and humility.
Sifu Marcelo needs no introduction, but considering that my blog aims to provide background to those seeking self-defence advice, and not only to those practising martial arts, a quick introduction is important.
Sifu Joaquin Marcelo
Sifu Marcelo was certified as an instructor by Jerry Poteet in 1991.
Training with Master Ed Parker changed his martial mindset and he abandoned Kenpo to start a new path at the Inosanto Academy of Martial Arts.
He was accepted by Ted Wong as his student and was certified as an instructor to teach the art of Bruce Lee under his supervision.
Sifu Marcelo holds seminars in several countries and is currently considered one of the most respected JKD instructors internationally.
A few months ago, Sifu Marcelo launched SD (Simple- Direct- Street Defence), a self-defence method he developed after 51 years of experience in martial arts.
Self-defence, what makes an effective course?
It would be interesting to get your perspective on what self-defense really is versus what is generally taught in gyms. What makes an effective self-defense course?
A Self-Defence course shouldn’t be something eye-catching.
A self-defense course should offer an actual approach on how the circumstances you will have to face would be.
Sometimes it could be something rude, and the main purpose is to escape from a dangerous situation in the safest way possible. It is not about repeatedly mashing the head of your assailant, as many self-defense systems teach nowadays. Because, let’s be frank, not everyone will be able to do it. For real, I mean, not in the gym. And also the aggressor might be not alone, and his friends will act at once. Under some circumstances you have no time to waste, so the goal is not to mash again and again your opponent, but to deal him enough damage to escape safely from the situation.
Other thing is trying to make a movie scene about something that could be dangerous.
Ego must be put aside, don’t try to play the hero.
Sifu Marcelo System (SD)
In my system based on Bruce Lee’s Jeet Kune Do, the rule number one is keeping the proper distance.
Because of several factors: when staying at proper distance you can react better before a possible attack than staying close-quarters (where sometimes you can almost hardly see it coming), if your opponent has a weapon you will be able to react accordingly to the circumstances and if your opponent gets to grab you and he has friends nearby, they all will hit you hard.
So the key is being the owner of your own mobility
SD Method (Simple- Direct- Street Defense)
The SD (Simple- Direct- Street Defense) is a self-defense method Sifu Marcelo have developed after 51 years of martial arts experience.
What does make this method different from other self-defense systems?
Different apporaches, which are based on Bruce Lee’s Jeet Kune Do (footwork, mobility, biomechanics in striking, the broken thythm, fencing influence…).
In the mobility factor, unlike other typical self defense methods where you are taught to block the assailant’s attack and then respond with a self defense technique, in SD we emphasize mobility.
The first rule is to keep your opponent at the proper distance, in a way you can react safely if he attacks you (staying at closer distance, most of times you cannot react adequately). Instead of focusing on blocking the opponent’s attack, we stress avoiding the attack by means of good mobility and evasiveness, and that is why a refined footwork must be practiced. Therefore, you don’t have to absorb the power of his attack, but you will be at the optimal condition to intercept or counter-attack him.
We never block as the first option, but as the last resort.
Even if our goal is to maintain the desired distance, sometimes the circumstances could make it not possible. In those cases, you will have your resources. But the main aim is not to allow him to get close to you more than the reach of his weapons (kick, knife or stick) in the first place.
SD is based on Jeet Kune Do principles with some Judo and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu elements for takedowns and in case fight goes to the ground.
Our goal is to offer a simple, direct and highly effective method of self defense for real – life situations.
Biomechanics of the strikes
You have also to understand biomechanics of the strikes.
If you don’t know how to use your own body weight in motion to achieve the maximum power, basing on the physic law mass x acceleration, and using at the same time the most direct way of execution to avoid telegraphing your blow, you cannot expect your self- defense technique to succeed. Basing always on attacks to vital points as a rule could sometimes work… but in the real world sometimes not.
How to practice
You have to consider something important:
always practice with a non-collaborative mate.
Do you really think that those techniques that you train with your mate, who stops after attacking you without follow-through and power thus leaving you to perform your technique successfully, will work the same way in the streets? It is an absurd.
You have to train with a mate who puts his/her best for you don’t succeed in your self-defense performance. And only if you are able that it worked this way, you could start to think maybe it could work in the streets. The other way, be sure it will not work.
Self-defense, the more suitable martial art
For self-defense, is there, in your opinion, one martial art more suitable than others? Why?
Yes, and I want to be honest at this point.
I do think that some martial arts can offer you a more actual approach to real self- defense situation than others. But it doesn’t mean you will be able to effectively defend yourself by practicing only the more suitable arts.
The individual is what actually makes it work in a street conflict situation.
I know some people who are very good at gym training, including sparring, but who don’t react adequately in a street fight. Or, the opposite way, there are some clumsy guys at the gym but they become beasts in the streets.
Mental attitude is everything.
Athletic preparation
Is athletic preparation important?
Yes, it is.
For your actions to be performed with speed and power, you have to have the adequate physical preparation to be able to do it.
Of course, it is not so important like in combat sports such as boxing or MMA, where physical preparation and stamina are crucial. Street situations could last seconds, but even so, having a tuned physique is important for your body to react properly.
Psychological preparation
Is Psychological preparation important?
More important yet.
As I always say, mental attitude is everything in the streets.
You have to handle with your fear, keeping a cool mind to analyze the best resource depending on the situation. Stress control matters, since sometimes adrenalin takes over and you cannot think clearly. Even sometimes it could paralyze you.
Self-defense, the main techniques
What are the main techniques to know?
Those that are simple, direct, and you have tested that work for you under pressure.
Self-defense, the role of ground fighting
Is it important to know ground fighting?
Yes, it is.
Even if your goal is not going to the ground, you have to be prepared in the case you enter unwanted terrain. I have friends good grapplers who say they don’t want to go to the ground in the streets.
Even if it is advisable to learn a good art for the ground fighting (BJJ, wrestling, etc.), your first resource should be the so-called “dirty tricks”, like eye gauging, biting, attacking the groin, etc. And get up from the ground as soon as possible. But if it doesn’t work, you will have the knowledge to handle ground fighting situations.
Self-defense, argue against a knife
What to do in case the attacker is armed with a knife?
Flee!
Seriously, don’t fight a man with a knife, unless you have another knife or better still, a gun.
I don’t mean that those commonly taught techniques against knives were all ineffective (even I do think most of them are so) but what I mean is, because of the fact that we are all human beings, we can fail.
Even the most important sportsmen in the world sometimes miss…Messi misses a shot many times, LeBron James misses when throwing a basket, Rafael Nadal misses a tennis drive…even though they practice it thoroughly every day and throughout many years. So, you can guess a “martial art master” in a real street situation, where if he/she missed his self-defense technique against a knife he/she could lost his/her life. Do you think he/she will never fail? That is really something quite absurd to me.
You can practice and test some training against a knife with a non-collaborative mate, and you have to be clear that you will have a low percentage of success (approximately 10- 15%), but in the case of a real situation my advice is to run away unless you don’t have other option than fight.
Self-defense, tips
To conclude a few rules/suggestions for knowing how to defend yourself.
- First of all, avoid putting yourself in a situation of self-defense.
- Don’t expose yourself walking through dark, empty or unknown places if you see they could be dangerous.
- During a quarrel, use the “art of fighting without fighting” and try to solve the situation without the need to use your hands and feet.
- Use your intelligence first.
- Try to avoid the fight unless you have no other option than to fight. Many unexpected problems could arise because of street fights, even legal ones. If there is a witness nearby and you cause a real damage to your assailant, you can go to jail.
But, if definitely there are no other options than to fight, then keep at the safe distance to react properly, use the principle of distance-interception-reaction, be aggressive but keep a cool mind, and don’t try to remember any “self-defense technique” previously learned because none of them will work like you have practiced in the gym. Work your timing during your training, practice with a non-collaborative partner, sharpen your natural weapons and let themselves to react because when the real moment occurs, you will not hit…
…Like Bruce Lee said, your fist (or your foot) will hit by itself!
Jeet Kune Do, the way of simplicity. The Boks
There are many books (official and not) about the art of fighting created by Bruce Lee but to whom is really interested to understand what is the Jeet Kune Do I mainly recommend two books:
“The Evoultion of a Martial Arts Artist” by Tommy Gong and “Jeet Kune Do, the way of simplicity” by Joaquin Marcelo.
It’s not only my opinion that Sifu Marcelo have wrote one of the most complete book of the Art of Jeet Kune Do ever published. Is a work to which Joaquin Marcelo has devoted 5 years of work and thorough research, having Sifu Ted Wong as supervisor until one year before his passing.
I never seen a so detailed and, at the same time, simple book about biomechanics of the techniques with combative applications, psycho – physical qualities as well as tactics from fencing and psychological issues of the actual combat.
Really a must for a martial arts practitioner.
Conclusion
I believe that this article/interview sums up the essence of Personal Defence explained in a simple and direct manner by Sifu Joaquin Marcelo.
To each question Sifu gave a clear answer that leaves no room for misunderstandings about what to know and how to handle a critical situation.
I found the part about how to practise very interesting. It may seem obvious but in fact this is one of the most underestimated things when looking for a Personal Defence course.
You learn the nice techniques but then little time is spent practising in a REAL way.
Always train with an uncooperative partner.
On the blog’s introductory page I already referred to the fact that in most courses the main topic is missing because the reality is different… You have to train as realistically as possible…
