The late Carl Cestari (my mentor and instructor) wrote this in 2003. At the time we were expanding my dojo (Zenshin) which would eventually become the Self Defense Company. You can tell by this message that true, traditional martial arts (bushido) were the driving force behind our training.
In the picture above is Damian Ross (me), Grappling Legend David Ellis (who is somewhere in Brazil), Carl Cestari (my combatives and jujutsu instructor) and Yoshisada Yonezuka (my judo instructor) both of whom are deceased.
SHUGYO – Hard austere TRAINING
SUTEMI – Sacrifice
SHIBUMI – Understated true elegance
SAMURAI – One who serves
SHIN GI TAI – Mind, spirit, body
I am working hard at affiliating our (Zenshin) Dojo in the following ways:
Kodokan Judo: Affiliate Dojo status with Yonezuka Sensei, membership in the USJF, and affiliation with the Kodokan(thru which all rank will be issued).
Nippon Kempo Kyokai: Founded by Sawayama Sensei this Budo is a total fighting system. Blows, kicks, strikes, throws, chokes, joint locking. It is HARD full contact training using Bogu. Very real, very hard core. Application has been made on behalf of our Dojo.
Daidojuku Kakuto Karate International: Founded by Azuma Sensei, this system is purely a “fighting” Karate known for it’s “jissen” or reality based approach to combat. It too is an all-inclusive method. Full contact using “men” protection only. Azuma Sensei will travel PERSONALLY to our Dojo to conduct training and to evaluate us for branch Dojo status.
This is what I am working on. I welcome all of you to join us in these endeavor.
We will of course continue with our close combatives. I am also involved with setting up some training with former members of the Israeli Defense Force Special Operations Command. This will include ALL methods of close-combat.
As of late I have been increasingly disgusted with various trends and attitudes prevalent in a variety of forums. Too MUCH TALK, not enough action. Too MUCH NONSENSE and too MANY excuses.
Outside of our group that is FINE. Even GOOD. That means everyone else is LESS prepared. That suits me fine.
BUT, that attitude of complacency should NOT exist within our group. I want to re-ignite that BURNING desire to SHUGYO.
TRAIN HARD for its own benefit.
Eliminate the “I” and simply TRAIN! Eliminate the excuses and simply TRAIN!
These are OPPORTUNITIES that once missed will NOT come around again.
Age and time alone will ROB ALL OF US!
Don’t squander your time, DON’T WASTE YOUR PRECIOUS RESOURCES!
Be HONEST with yourself.
I am NOT directing these comments to ANYONE here specifically. I read the utter nonsensical bullshit thread on SDF concerning Temkin. They are ALL wasting their time and energy. They are BENEFITTING NOTHING!
AND…….They are ALL WRONG besides.
It’s a waste and it’s a shame. It’s also human nature.
This is what I train for, this is MY “kokoro”:
“Ichi Geki – Hissatsu” ONE ATTACK, CERTAIN DEATH.
For who?
That matter is decided by SHUGYO.
What’s your creed?
See you all on Sunday!
Carl
HI SORRY TO TROUBLE YOU I KNOW HOW TO ACTIVATE THE POWER OF CHI IN ONES BODY I HAVE BENT METAL RODS ETC USING MY THROAT I AM 62 AND MY WORKING LIFE IS OVER
I HAVE HAD MANY A GREAT JOBS MOTORBIKE MECHANIC RIGGER SCAFFOLDER ALL TYPES OF SECURITY WAS OFFERED WORK OVERSEAS SEVERAL TIMES WITH SECURITY I HAVE DRIVEN BUSES COACHES AND WORKED IN DETENTION CENTRES I CANT COMPLAIN
HOWEVER I HAVE BEEN INJURED MY SPINE IS TOTALLY STUFFED EVEN MY DOC WAS SUPRISED I HAVE A GREAT FRIEND WHO DOES KENEZIOLOGY HE HAS HELPED ME EMENSLY
IS IT TO LATE FOR ME TO LEARN SELF DEFENCE
It’s NEVER TOO LATE.
But first, please don’t think of this as martial arts. There’s a lot more than actual fighting. There’s awareness, weapons (both improvised and intentional) as well as your will to survive and protect.
This is an instinct in everyone and if you want – we can help you. Starting with an intro program and working with an instructor right here, online will give you what you want.
The fact is we need to fit your current skill set to meet the self defense demand.
As for Chi — that was a term used to explain the result of practice, talent and adrenaline when they didn’t know what to call it.
Great article. this writing shows that Mr. Cestari was both wise and very passionate about his beliefs. I study the SDTS system and others as well. I believe some other systems have great things to offer, but I use the SDTS system as a ruler to compare against the others. The techniques here are effective, and the principles on which they are based are equally if not more important. Talk will only get you so far, and excuses have much less of an effective range than the edge of your hand; they may also get you killed. Thank you for sharing this Mr. Ross.
Thanks Fred – much appreciated. Look, like all of us Carl was not perfect – but he was real. He lived a lot of this stuff and at the end of the day, the “system” didn’t matter as long as the tactics were there.
Action is faster that reaction.
Control momentum and balance.
Cause more injury than you sustain.
Use methods that allowed the least amount of physical contact as possible.
Oh, if you’re so inclined…
Please leave a review on facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/pg/theselfdefenseco/reviews/
And on the site here: https://www.myselfdefensetraining.com/user-reviews/
Thanks for being here Fred.
Hi Damian. I appreciate much of this article, especially his admonition to train hard and not waste or squander your time and resources. I am older – 63 years old. There are many things men my age cannot do that younger men in their 20’s and 30’s can do. Fortunately I still have good health and I am constantly working on my fitness level. I read in one of your articles that a man’s ability to defend himself is directly related to his level of fitness. I am physically fit, but I’m small and thin (5’6” tall 136 lbs.). Several weeks ago, I had a sober reminder of how important this is. I was doing some street exercises in a public shopping area, when a young man, who appeared to be about 20 years of age started mocking me with his big mouth and imitating my exercises. He was bigger than me, thinking I’m an easy target for some fun. I basically ignored him, but then stopped and stared at him. Him and his buddy eventually started walking away, and I walked away in the same direction, passing between the 2 of them. He made one final comment, “your not running.” I did not feel prepared enough in training with your self defense course, so I didn’t respond more agressively, but it was a sober wake up call to be prepared to defend myself or anyone I love and care for.
wow Yonezuka looks like bruce Wayne & even more fitter than you Damian
Yonezuka was THE MAN, no doubt.
So train hard, then harder in a few
Techniques that will inflict the most amount of damage in the shortest possible time!
John S. and Thomas A.,
I am a 70-year-old male with 36+ years as an LEO and multiple Black Belts in three different martial arts. I am an instructor (Level Five) with the SDC and SDTS. I have a Teflon hip and knee, no shoulders, one good bicep, one wrist. and a Self-Defense Company. I am not the only senior here. I may not be the oldest. We can help you reach whatever pinnacle is available to you. Consider our offers. -s-