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Hey all.
Since I am a Level 4 SDC Instructor as well as a Black Belt in Krav Maga and an advanced instructor I think that I am pretty qualified to write this.
Unfortunately opinions are a lot like assholes. Everyone has one and most people’s stink. Let’s look at why my preference is the SDC. Let me first say though that I do love Krav Maga. I enjoy training it and teaching it. But as far as I am concerned it falls in between a real self defense system and a sport. The SDC is the only system that I have trained in that I would classify as a full self defense system.
Krav Maga teaches you a shit load of techniques for dealing with a shit load of scenarios. This can be good if you have time to train. Is really bad if you are looking for something that you can learn right away and use right away. But here is my biggest issue. If you actually trained in the SDC Combatives program, and understood our philosophy, you would never end up in those “oh shit” scenarios that Krav teaches you to deal with.
Krav is great. Fuck, I know what to do if I am on my knees in a hostage situation. But seriously. Who did I piss off enough to end up in that position? Did I just come out of jail? I know how to deal with over 40 static knife attacks. Why? Because I train Krav Maga. But why am I even in any of those situations? If I trained SDC I would have not been so reactive to a situation, I would have attacked the man and fought for my life before I was being held in a fucking choke with the knife against my throat. Situational awareness combined with the SDC program is all that you need when it comes to real self defense. Train Krav to learn. Train Krav to achieve a black belt. Train Krav to prepare for if and when you fuck up because you didn’t use the SDC techniques. But first and foremost plug into the SDC Combatives training program. Learn real self defense. Learn real principals of survival. This is all that you need.
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The SDC doesn’t deteriorate as fast as other systems do either. It takes less up keep to stay proficient with it as well. In truth in our day and age where everyone is pretty well busy from the time they wake up to the time they go to sleep, it’s very hard to find the time or in some cases even the money to do any kind of extra curricular training or hobby. The SDC is the absolute fastest way to get proficient at protecting yourself. Krav is good. Hell just about anything is better than nothing honestly, it’s just a matter of time. Some of the more traditional systems of combat take a lot of time to become proficient with them, and it’s a constant endeavor to stay proficient with them. Another thing too is it’s very common man…meaning…anyone regardless of flexibility or fitness level can do this system. There is nothing complicated about it. To those of us that have studied other systems a horse stance may not seem like a difficult thing to do, but honestly….for some it is. I was at a seminar about a year ago, and the people hosting it sent out dvd’s that had an entire section solely based upon how to move. The SDC is pretty natural. The stances are a natural everyday stance. There are a lot of difference between what the SDC is doing and other offerings out there, and this literally is the best thing going. Especially for those that just simply don’t have five years to wait to be proficient.
Edit: Just real quick the reason I brought up the horse stance, and the other guys. Was because a lot of people were having a very hard time doing those classical martial arts stances. Especially the women. When you take people that have never done those types of movements and try to teach them that in a two day seminar….well…they really struggle. With this system..the SDC, it’s not like that. Very simple, very direct. It’s why I keep coming back.
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George,
You’re right. I agree 100%. I, too, am a “Krav Guy”, though nowhere near the level you are, and everything you say is absolutely correct. KM is a terrific system for learning what to do in a given set of circumstances. Really, the only problem I have with it is that, like all other systems I’ve seen before SDTS, it is a specific defense for a specific attack set-up. (Interestingly enough, I had never even considered this fact as a “problem” until Damian pointed it out… now I see it everywhere and it drives me crazy!)
More importantly than technique, however, is the philosophy/concepts as you point out. I love your analogy of “what the hell did I do (or not do) to wind up in this mess in the first place?” It immediately reminded me of the point in Guardian DT when they were discussing how to “get out” of a rear naked choked. Damian’s response… “Ummm… don’t go there.” The point being that if you find yourself in that position, 1) you have totally fucked up, and 2) if it is against someone who is truly trained to use it, there is almost nothing you can do to stop it at that point… you’ll be unconscious in seconds. Hence, don’t go there in the first place. Maintain your awareness. I know, I know… easier said that done, but that’s the idea. As Damian says: No self defense system in the world can help you if you do not maintain awareness of your surroundings.
I recently turned 45, and have been in martial arts since I was 12. And I am a police officer and defensive tactics instructor for my department. So, much like yourself, I know a thing or two about what really works in a real fight. And like GBlues1 pointed out, SDTS not only works, but takes much less time to become proficient in and to maintain; that alone makes it the “best” in my book, even if other systems are technically just as efficient.
Krav Maga works — no doubt about it; but if one is using a SDTS mindset, it shouldn’t have to.
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My dear co-legionnaires, I read your posts and statements. I like KM scenarios, but I don’t like KM approach to countermeasures, since I consider it a martial art like others. You both are a Krav Guys, practice SDTS and love it, and I respect you for this. But I disagree on sentence:
“If you actually trained in the SDC Combatives program, and understood our philosophy, you would never end up in those “oh shit” scenarios that Krav teaches you to deal with.”
Well, let’s see Krav scenario: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbBHlxrhex4
and Real scenario:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=463678610418494&set=vb.368426903276999&type=2&theaterThe same!
More examples:
Krav Maga training scenario: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2T9v9Z3KbM
Charlie Nelson training scenarios: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XrYCjQ_uV0
(see at 1:24 the same attack, but also previous and following scenarios). And this last happened a lot of years ago!This means that scenarios could be 1000 but KM will teach 1 (or more than 1, even worse!) solution for each scenario, the SDTS has 1 solution for 1000 (or 1 solution for a huge amount of similar scenarios).
So, thanks KM for scenarios, thanks SDTS for countermeasures!
Come on! if philosophy were all, it would be sufficient only the first 5 minutes of mod 1 and out of the window the remaining modules! And in mod 8 there are a lot of scenarios not to be in! Scenarios that I have never seen in a KM video or seminar, btw.
And about the first of those videos that I just posted, even Applegate in “Kill or Get Killed” thought about the gun in the pocket on the right hip side scenario!A scenario is a scenario: “Avoidance” and “sh*t happens” are two sides on the same medal, unfortunately. Or”Awareness” and “Murphy’s law”, again, same medal.
Your question: “what did you do to find yourself in either one of those scenarios above in the first place?” Well, I could be in a jewelry store to buy a bracelet for my spouse, or in pawn shop to pawn something to pay off debts, or in a wal-mart for a packet of chewing gum.
Think only this: a few days ago, in the small town where I lived for 20 years (where historically there have been shootings every 10 years on average), there was an armed robbery at a deli. And the robber has made off to escape by firing at head height (but fortunately only hit the parked cars). This means that statistically that small town is a “safe” place to be, but sh*t happens.
Yeah, right, Damian said: “Ummm… don’t go there.” or “No self defense system in the world can help you if you do not maintain awareness of your surroundings”, but he also says: “ANYTHING can mess up your position”. SDTS mottos are: FEAR NO ONE and “when the sh*t hits the fan, you will be the last man standing!”. Sounds better and these words are much more reassuring in event of crisis.
Remember Ezechiel 25:17, “The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he, who in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness, for he is truly his brother’s keeper and the finder of lost children. “
Evil men could act in 1000 or more scenarios to beset the righteous man, shepherds use SDTS to protect.
So, in my very honest opinion, the best way to train is to use KM thousand of scenarios but counter with SDTS principles and techniques, just to not get bored and in order to train smart.
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Aldo.
You misunderstood what I meant when I stated what did you do to end up in a certain position. The countermeasures of the SDC employ a strike first second concept. Krav Maga tends to rely on more reactive countermeasures. Having said this, if you train SDTS the likelihood that you will wait long enough to end up in a less favorable position should shit hit the fan is less then if you have more of a Krav/martial arts mentality and react once the assault has escalated to a less favorable position for you. Example. I am not waiting for an attacker to place that knife against my throat (since I know how to deal with it from a Krav standpoint) when I could have reacted a long time prior and used the principals of the SDTS to have attacked my attacker as he was starting to pull the knife out in the first place.
You are right that every situation is different and shit does happen. But 90% + of fights/attacks have some kind of interview prior to the physical attack. This is the time to respond. Not reply on techniques you learned from other systems to defend yourself once the attack has already started.
Hope this makes sense.
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Another problem with Krav Maga and other martial arts vs. the SDTS in weapon scenarios is they focus too much on the weapon or the hand holding the weapon instead of just clearing the weapon and attacking the man. You can only really do one thing effectively at a time and that’s either attempting to control or manipulate the weapon arm or actually fighting back and striking your attacker and gaining ground and stacking the odds in your favor. The attacker isn’t going to just stand there and let you hold onto or twist their arm or wrist into some kind of joint lock to disarm them without using their other free limbs to strike you and this again puts you in a defensive instead of offensive position. A gun, knife, or any other weapon is only a danger if the person holding it is physically able to use it, if you render them dead, unconscious, or disabled then the weapon nor the individual is no longer a threat.
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@grhutchings said:
Aldo.
You misunderstood what I meant when I stated what did you do to end up in a certain position. The countermeasures of the SDC employ a strike first second concept. Krav Maga tends to rely on more reactive countermeasures. Having said this, if you train SDTS the likelihood that you will wait long enough to end up in a less favorable position should shit hit the fan is less then if you have more of a Krav/martial arts mentality and react once the assault has escalated to a less favorable position for you. Example. I am not waiting for an attacker to place that knife against my throat (since I know how to deal with it from a Krav standpoint) when I could have reacted a long time prior and used the principals of the SDTS to have attacked my attacker as he was starting to pull the knife out in the first place.
You are right that every situation is different and shit does happen. But 90% + of fights/attacks have some kind of interview prior to the physical attack. This is the time to respond. Not reply on techniques you learned from other systems to defend yourself once the attack has already started.
Hope this makes sense.Explained in this way, of course it makes sense. I agree 100% with you that prevention is better than cure, and it is good practice not to wait for the attack. I actually train with these two principles in mind (the most part of conflicts that could be avoided).
I meant to say for that small percentage that something has gone wrong, the scenario training (whatever it is) is important.
In other words, when you study modules 4, 5 and 8, you study the reactive side of SDTS, so I would just integrate the attack/defenses that Damian teaches with other kind of knife/gun/club attacks from various angles, make those attacks situational, in confined spaces. etc. This is meant to develop a fast reaction when things goes wrong and one gets suddenly attacked; and, in conjunction with pre-confilct tactics and management, leads to a stronger self-confidence. -
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2T9v9Z3KbM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbBHlxrhex4With respect to these scenarios, the Applegate and Nelson stuff was good for it’s time, but the Carl Cestari/Damian Ross combatives truly made them outdated.
If you can clear the weapon, do so. Grab the weapon or the hand or parry or chop, whatever you can get is what you get. This should be instinctive. Just like if someone reached for your gun, even if you trained not to grab it, you still probably will.
If you can’t see the weapon or are unable to clear it, you have no choice but simply to attack (Module 1 is technically a complete, standalone unarmed self defense system) and hope modern medicine can save you from your injuries. The good thing is there is a chance your attacker may be reluctant to actually discharge the firearm/even has any bullets/stab you.
BUT being caught unarmed against an armed attacker does lower your chances of surviving. America’s founders understood this. Having a blinding 260 lumen tactical flashlight in-hand will increase your chances of surviving all kinds of low-light assaults. All kinds. Same goes for having a 2.5 oz canister of OC pepper spray or a J-frame revolver chambered in .357 Magnum. Damian emphasizes pepper spray at the beginning of Module 8 for a reason.
Just like with ground fighting, you’d rather be the one standing up than on the ground.
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