ISSUE #221 GUIDED CHAOS NEWS         follow us @GuidedChaos    ENDORSEMENTS

HITTING FROM GRAPPLING RANGE: PART 1    by Lt Col Al* One of the many things that make Guided Chaos different when it comes to fighting is that many martial arts systems are devised around a variety of specific, patterned tools and techniques, which as a result leads many practitioners down the path of robotic responses along the lines of “if you do that then I’ll do this”. Much of this is understandable when you realize that most martial arts are still taught from the perspective of a sportive contest.   This is a recipe for disaster. Guided Chaos focuses on principles of dynamic movement that more closely approach the chaos of a real life and death blood bath. As those who have followed Guided Chaos and other reality based systems know, the truth of violence is very different from what is popularly taught.  One of the more popularized concepts that came about over the past decades is that fighting can be broken down into three different ranges: Kicking Range:  this is generally the range just beyond an opponent’s ability to strike with their hands, elbows etc… but where one can apply the feet effectively. Punching  / Trapping Range:  Moving closer, this is generally the range where strikes and blocks and other trapping moves including knees are effectively applied. Grappling Range: The closest range where grappling or clinching techniques are supposed to be applied. We can see here in figures 1, 2a & 2b what are referred to as the “Kicking, Trapping/Striking Ranges”. In figures 3a & 3b below we finish off with the “Grappling Range”. It is at this range of fighting where I will focus the majority of this discussion because it goes to the heart of one of the many concepts that make Guided Chaos so unique amongst martial arts systems.  I’m also going to focus on the grappling or “clinch” range and offer some suggestions as to how one can develop the ability to strike with power at close range. Of course there’s more to it than just my brief explanations but even a more detailed explanation would not resolve the central issue:  “Range”--and using only tools that are popularly held as “appropriate” for that range--is a very limiting concept and one that places a fighter at a disadvantage because it is based on some flawed but widely accepted assumptions. One of those assumptions is that when you get into a fight at different ranges certain techniques such as hand strikes and kicks will not work due to limited space.   For example many of us have heard that the best way to deal with a kicker is to step inside on them and much of the same could be said for a person who is a pure striker.  The truth however is that such assumptions are based on a flawed way of thinking that comes from viewing the fight as a sportive contest. True, these techniques (such as stepping in on a kicker) do work but that is provided that the person you are dealing with is also limited to thinking that they must be at certain ranges in order for such techniques to be effective. This is exactly the sort of scenario found in Sport, where rules dictate that both contestants battle on a level playing field (not to mention weight class) where anything that might obviously cause life-threatening injury is forbidden. This causes a reality disconnect which is hyper-apparent in televised grappling (and thus popular self-defense): There is an expectation inherent in the methodology that when you grab your opponent by the trunk, arm or leg that he will grab you back similarly--and not whip chop your trachea, gouge out your eyes or testicles or kick you in the spine or liver. As Matt Kovsky pointed out in the previous newsletter, “As we say over and over, real violence is ugly and brutal. You never know how you'll be attacked or how the attack can change and morph with your reactions. In Guided Chaos, you learn to flow and adapt with the shit-storm you're thrown into.  A major part of surviving that is doing something that virtually no other system does: Hit From Grappling Range. Not control. Not Submit. Not overpower. But HIT and penetrate…” The reason I will focus on this range is because there is also a school of thought out there that believes that you cannot generate striking power without rotating your hips and shoulders or that you cannot develop lethal striking power at very close range.  Not true! It is not that it can’t be done. It is that THEY can’t do it because they don't develop the principles (specifically, "Dropping Energy") as outlined in “Attack Proof”. (Note: there are also those that will tell you that you cannot strike with power in two different directions but that will be the subject of another news letter.) Collapsing the Sphere or “Weaseling Energy” In order to enter and strike effectively at grappling range one thing that you must learn to do is “collapse” your Sphere of Influence as you enter on an attacker.  In Attack Proof, “Weaseling Energy” is explained as a way of weaseling or snaking your strikes (sorry for the mixed metaphors) past the enemy’s defenses. However, a more complete description of how you move your entire body inside is contained within the “Collapsing the Sphere” principle. Your "sphere" refers to your entire body's balance, equilibrium and weaponry and the range within which you can effectively use them (otherwise known as your "Sphere of Influence"). This dictates that you never over commit your balance or over reach, lunge or follow through on strikes but instead step to areas to insure maximum leverage and power. This flies in the face of many styles which dictate that you throw your whole body weight at the opponent and hit through and past him, regardless of what it does to your own balance. This opens you up to falling or being thrown on your face and having your head stomped into hamburger. All of these principles and the exercises used to train them can be found in the Attackproof Companion Part 2 (DVD or On Demand Digital Download). As with everything in GC, in order to do this you must posses the requisite principles of Balance, Looseness, Sensitivity and Body Unity.  Additionally (as highlighted in the previous newsletter) you have to also be able to Drop Strike with internal power at close range otherwise you can’t do anything when you arrive at your target.  As a matter of fact, one of the pre-requisites that we generally look for before teaching someone how to do this is ensuring they are able to drop effectively with either the Close Combat Universal Entry (CCUE) or the Fright Reaction (explained in detail on the Attackproof Companion Part 1 DVD or Digital Download). Collapsing the Sphere can be accomplished by learning how to isolate your body as you enter, transferring your root as you move forward while attacking the attacker.  As you enter on an attacker you are not just flowing in with your arms but feeling your way into your target areas with your entire body (stepping appropriately) while avoiding their strikes in the process (remaining “unavailable yet unavoidable”). In Part II of this newsletter I will get into the specifics of how this is done. * LtCol Al will be teaching a 2 Day hands-on Intensive seminar on these and other concepts at Unity Martial Arts Academy in the UK Nov.17-18.

A RESPONSE TO "THE TROUBLE WITH PUSH HANDS"   "John, I was just reading the article on push hands. In Chen Taiji there is a saying, "Push Hands is not Pushing." Moving 1000 lbs with 4 oz is not possible by pushing. It is unfortunate that there are many teachers out there who are falsely teaching this method of training. I invite "Matt" to come to Florida and take a seminar with a real Taiji Master and experience real push hands training. He is right about one thing. Push Hands training is not self defense. It is a training tool. Just as Contact Flow is. No one begins a fight by agreeing to engage in Contact Flow or Push hands. Like you said many times a fight begins at top speed and ends at the last man standing.  We both know this as we are street fighting brothers. Chen Taiji was developed by a General in the Chinese Army somewhere around the 12th century. He systematized the training method rather than the Art if you don't mind the term. It was taught to Special Units who were equal to let's say our present day Secret Service. They had to guard the Emperor etc. with their weapons and hands/feet. They also provided contract protective services much like what is provided by overseas contractors who are responsible for personal protection of dignataries in war zones. Much of the training methods were held close to the chest until nowadays. However, a vast majority of so-called Tai Chi and Chen Taiji teachers are teaching garbage to the New Age crowd. Real Taiji training involves perseverance and a lot of pain. Just as Guided Chaos does."   John Perkins: --Push only to gain an opening through which you can strike...I have pushed in combat for real but I can back it up with more...I just recently pushed two men over 280 pounds each during a blitz attack but most Tai Chi folks, even master level can't do this effectively...So until a person can get to that point I advise good basic self defense until they can develop the internals to such a point...My job is to save good folks' lives...Not inferring that the masters of other arts don't have the same idea...I just am stating my point...First get good at basic fighting with a reality mind set based on what actually transpires in real blood baths then refine the most advanced concepts...Until then don't waste too much time on sportive use of even the so called internal techniques...Push hands competition does not teach the necessary sensitivity for REAL SPEED killing moves...I cannot be quiet about this...I have Asian Tai Chi masters who have trained with me, one of which has stated that the Asians have not progressed in regard to real fighting, again, not my words, his...Not sure exactly what implications this has but maybe we have found something workable...Just my not so humble opinion...Peace my brother...John Matt Kovsky: Just to underscore John's points, I have done Contact Flow (pushed) with a U.S. national push hands champion and I can personally attest that the experience was not unlike when I used to play the offensive line in sandlot tackle football. However, because I wasn't using the same rules, it was hard but not impossible to move him, easy to hit him (lightly), while he found it hard to push me because I didn't push back--my goal was to be elusive and hit targets. On the flip side, I've flowed with a former senior student of Master Wayson Liao's and because he wasn't trying to "win" he was far more unavailable, soft and hard to uproot.

"THANKS FOR SHARING GUIDED CHAOS WITH ME"   "Just wanted to again tip my hat to you and your teaching yet again. The other day I was shown this super cool camera stabilizer that gets strapped to a photographer while taking action shots and video.The device basically stabilizes the camera and eliminates jerky motions allowing consistent video and pictures.  In speaking with the photographer he explained to me that if he implemented his martial arts stances it would better allow him to further stabilize the camera.  Naturally I just kept my mouth shut and  allowed him to speak.  Some how or another he give me a little lecture and lesson on judo,  kung fu, and aikido--all arts he was familiar with over the years. I went along with the joke for about 10 minutes.  After allowing him to get me into holds, arm bars and wrist locks, I then pulled a "Perkins" on him, meaning every time he tried to "lock me up" I was unavailable and more so unavoidable, never striking him but making him very much aware of my elbows, throat strikes, arm and neck manipulations.  At first he had not a clue as to what in god's name was going on, I then briefly showed him how he was allowing me to read all his energy and I was simply able to re-direct it right at him.  I believe his response was "I cant even find or feel you and when I did you were gone!" Thanks for sharing your gift with me." --VC

DISCOUNTS EXTENDED TO OCTOBER 15--DON'T MISS!   SAVE UP TO $100 ON THE UK SEMINAR NOV. 17-18  "YOU'VE GOT TO FEEL IT TO BELIEVE IT" UNITY MARTIAL ARTS ACADEMY (The ONLY Guided Chaos School Outside the U.S.) Farnham Park Playing Fields Beaconsfield Road Farnham Royal Slough SL2 3BP MAP/DIRECTIONS Tel: 07721 410526 FOR BEGINNERS THROUGH EXPERTS Yes, you read that right. Guided Chaos' unique methods benefit all levels dramatically. In fact, for some people, advanced training in another style could be a handicap. For others, GC can be the Holy Grail you've been searching for your entire life...but you may have to "empty your cup!" MORE INFO

GUIDED CHAOS™ HOODIES NOW ON SALE Black, hooded, pullover sweatshirts with pockets and the GC logo on the left side of the chest (like our T-shirts). --Thanks to Andre! T-Shirts back in stock too! If you want to purchase in class at a discount this Monday or Saturday (the 13th) let me know via facebook or email what size you want. After next week you'll only be able to get them through the website. --MattK

Now You Have a Choice: DVDs OR ON DEMAND Downloads Watch a 3-6 minute clip of ALL our Videos/DVDs on our Guided Chaos On Demand page: (Click on "click here to start shopping", then "more info" for each product).     Guided Chaos On Demand --No waiting for snail mail! --No shipping fees! --No holdups in Customs!   BUYING GUIDE: WHICH VIDEO SHOULD I GET?

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KILL THE ENEMY: Close Quarters Combat for U.S. Military Personnel "The Kill the Enemy video is the greatest work of modern combat of our time! In the dirty bloody world of real combat there are no second place winners. In combat there is only Kill and come home. John trains you for just such an encounter. There is nothing in the world that can ever prepare you for the harsh cold reality of combat, but John Perkins has found a way to bridge the gap between school and real world no-holds-barred REALITY!" --Captain Jonathan Edwards, 101st Airborne/Air Assault POLITICALLY INCORRECT HAND-TO-HAND COMBAT...?   In 1989, the RUSSIANS instituted a hand-to-hand combat methodology that far surpassed ours in terms of SIMPLICITY and EFFECTIVENESS. Ironically, it was nearly IDENTICAL to the system OUR military used--BACK IN WORLD WAR II!! WHAT HAPPENED?!! Through a political process too convoluted and distressing to elaborate on here, over the years, our soldiers' hand-to-hand training has become convoluted, mis-directed, and relatively ineffective except under "sportive  or "competitive" (i.e. unrealistic) conditions. KILL THE ENEMY is a simple video guide that does away with the boxing-grappling-locking nonsense that has become the "politically correct" standard of training for our soldiers in recent years. Instead of subjecting our military personnel to methods that could get them killed, Master Perkins and Lieutenent Colonel Ridenhour USMC provide basic, effective methods proven in World War II. Distilled from Part 1 of our book ATTACK PROOF, these strategies (Guided Chaos Combatives) are the basic tools that John Perkins' Guided Chaos builds upon. Topics include: Comparison: US vs. Russian Hand-to-Hand Training The Myth of Grappling Defensive/Offensive Posture Basic Hand Strikes Bag/Dummy Training/10 Seconds of Hell Wrestling the Rifle Covering Your Back A Fantasy Knife Fight Rear Choke Scenarios Ground Fighting Fantasies Conclusion: History Doesn't Lie! BUY NOW

CAN YOU SURVIVE ON THE GROUND?   The Fantasy: A 100 pound woman can fight off a 200 pound man from the Guard position (much less mount him for a "ground and pound"!)                  ...ARE YOU SURE?     • Do you really want to be locked tight to a dangerous enemy-- who may have weapons or accomplices ready to kick your brains in? • Do you really want to Mount or go into the Guard position against someone bigger and stronger than you? • If you're a woman, can you REALLY grapple with a stronger man...and live to tell about it? There is a world of difference between competitive submission fighting with rules and elite athletes... ...and real, life-and-death self-defense for REGULAR people, where the only rule is chaos. DON'T BET YOUR LIFE ON A SPORT! The built-in restrictions on your training could short-circuit your reactions and get you killed if the spit hits the fan.   GUIDED CHAOS GROUNDFIGHTING: MODIFIED NATIVE AMERICAN COMBAT 2 DISC DVD SET MODIFIED NATIVE AMERICAN COMBAT   We focus on:  • Evasion • Ground Mobility • Ground Kicking • Ground Avoidance • Multiple Attackers • Knife Attacks • Penetrating defenses and striking to the eyes and throat OUR CRITICS SAY: "We can hit the eyes and throat too, so what's the difference?" The difference is that we're better at it--as well as defending against it, because both require Sensitivity and Adaptation--something we train exclusively. YOUR INSTRUCTORS: Former forensic crime scene expert John Perkins: Perkins has trained in Native American "Anything Goes" fighting principles since the age of 5. Over a period of 20 years he combined it with experience gained from over 100 extremely violent arrests (where people routinely ended up in the hospital or morgue), unsanctioned pit-fighting, World War II Close Quarters Combat, the internal aspects of tai chi and the ancient Greek combat art of Elephtheri Pali. In 1978, he formally created Ki Chuan Do and the principles of Guided Chaos [in1998 he officially changed the name of the art itself to Guided Chaos]. Unlike the "fight-by-the-numbers" self-defense methods popular today, the Groundfighting component of GC is probably unlike anything you've ever seen before.   Iraq and Afghanistan combat veteran Lt. Col. Al Ridenhour USMC: Infantry unit commander and instructor of unarmed combat, he is also a Guided Chaos Master. Security Manager, Assistant Operations Officer, and the Anti-Terrorism Force Protection Officer for the II Marine Expeditionary Force in Iraq. Worked with U.S. Customs Service and U.S. Border Patrol for the JTF-6 counter drug mission. Has trained current and former members of US Marines, US Army Special Forces, NYPD, US Air Force OSI and US Air Marshal Service   Guided Chaos 2nd Degree Tony Dey, Champion of Cage Combat, Bare-knuckle, No-weight Limit and Vale Tudo matches in Kiev, Holland, Florida and Mississippi and former head bouncer at some of New York City's most  violent nightclubs.  GUIDED CHAOS GROUNDFIGHTING--BUY NOW

A HAND GUN IS USELESS IF YOU CAN'T GET IT OUT BARE HANDS TO HAND GUNS PART 4 OF THE GUIDED CHAOS WEAPONS SERIES DVDS You can be the best target shooter in the world but if you can't fight HAND-TO-HAND at CLOSE RANGE you will never even GET to your gun. Worse, you could be shot with your own weapon! And if you get the microsecond to draw, traditional Isosceles or Weaver stances could get you killed. MORE INFO    PART 1: KNIFE OFFENSE | PART 2: KNIFE DEFENSE PART 3: CANE VS. KNIFE | PART 4: BARE HANDS TO HAND GUNS

How Would You Like a 6 Hour Contact Flow Private Lesson? Well, here's the next best thing: The Attack Proof Companion Part 3: IN THE EYE OF THE STORM "Quite simply, this is the best self defence/martial art/ internal-external arts training experience I have ever had..." --Alistair Horscroft, former amateur MMA full contact fighter

"Dirty boxing" self-defense using conventional and illegal closed-hand strikes augmented by Guided Chaos principles. The best of 2 previous Combat Boxing seminars plus new material. Destruction Methodology and Close-in Fighting Combat Boxing vs. Grappling Attack Wrist, Hand and Tendon Development Heavy Bag Drills Entries Contact Flow Balance Training Entry vs. Knife Attack Multiple Attacker Bag Drills Keeping the Body Soft Putting It All Together...and much, much more! NOW ON SALE

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THE BEST DVD FOR LEARNING KEY GUIDED CHAOS DRILLS AND PRINCIPLES: THE ATTACK PROOF COMPANION PART 2 YOUR GUIDED CHAOS FOUNDATION Contains highly detailed demonstrations of all the drills that are most vital to your development in GC (including some that are NOT in our book). It also has detailed explanations and applications of the 4 unique principles of Guided Chaos: Balance, Body Unity, Looseness and Sensitivity, including many important sub-principles. The stepping sequences alone are invaluable. MORE INFO

SIMPLE AWARENESS TOOLS FOR SAFEGUARDING YOUR LIFE,   YOUR HOME AND YOUR FAMILY:

1. BEST INTRO BOOK FOR LEARNING GUIDED CHAOS COMBATIVES (THE FIRST PART OF GUIDED CHAOS) FIGHT FOR YOUR LIFE The GC Combatives Manual Available in 3 Formats: (Paperback / Kindle / eBook) GC COMBATIVES: COMBAT PROVEN / EASY-TO-LEARN THE PERFECT "HOW TO" MANUAL FOR: AVERAGE PEOPLE / SECURITY PROFESSIONALS / LAW ENFORCEMENT ANYONE WHO DOESN'T HAVE YEARS TO BECOME A GUIDED CHAOS "MASTER"!     2. DVDS, and especially the no-nonsense GC WEAPONS SERIES: Kill The Enemy, Companion Part 1, Military/Police Tactics, Guided Chaos Weapons Series      TAI CHI FOR SELF-DEFENSE?      READ MORE... PUT YOUR TAI CHI ON STEROIDS... with Guided Chaos internal COMBAT principles    Adapt / Improvise / Survive       THE ATTACKPROOF COMPANION PART TWO (2 DVD SET) - $75.00 All the principles, in depth, with drills. THE ATTACKPROOF COMPANION PART THREE: IN THE EYE OF THE STORM (3 DVD SET-6 HOURS TOTAL) - $125.00 Applying the principles to free-form combat with Contact Flow. BUY BOTH AT 15% OFF THE REGULAR PRICE OF $200. SAVE $30! 15% OFF--THE ATTACKPROOF COMPANION PARTS TWO & THREE COMBO PACK - $170.00      HOW DO I PRACTICE ON MY OWN?  TRAIN ALL THE GC DRILLS SOLO... ...SET TO NATIVE AMERICAN MUSIC.  COMBAT CONDITIONING All the Guided Chaos drills back-to-back and non-stop on one DVD. No theory or extended explanations. Put it on, blast your stereo, follow along and work out--5 minutes, 20 minutes, an hour or longer--whatever you want-you decide! Also, many chapters end with a quick application demo of the skill just trained. Talk about practical!

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ENDORSEMENTS:


"Let me start by saying I thought I'd seen all that the world of 'reality-based self defence' had to offer, so for the easily bored out there, I'll cut to the chase. What I witnessed on the weekend of 26 and 27 March is the closest thing I've come across that resembles a modern-day, reality-based martial art and not just another 'combatives system'. Does it work? Hell, yeah! I got my arse well and truly kicked and at times felt like I was in the middle of a Jason Bourne fight scene."
--Clive Girdham, former Senshido and Geoff Thompson instructor [excerpted from the exclusive review of the Guided Chaos Australia Seminar in the Aug. print edition of BLITZ MAGAZINE: Australia's #1 Martial Arts magazine volume 25, issue 6

"Guided Chaos is the only training in my 15 plus years of Corrections that translates into real world application, period."
---Bob Miller, Corrections Officer at the largest facility in Oregon

"Guided Chaos is the only thing that has worked for me in real life situations. Unless you are 6'3" and 285 lbs of muscle, most of the Defensive Tactics stuff (ok all of the Defensive Tactics stuff) will get you hurt. And even if you are that big and strong, there is always someone bigger and stronger and there may be a lot of them. Nothing like dealing with one guy and it turns into a free for all with all his buddies. This is where you literally need to 'adapt or die' and Guided Chaos is the only training in my 15 plus years of Corrections that translates into real world application, period.

"If I had to pick only one martial arts system in the world it would be Guided Chaos..."
--Dr. Robert L. O'Block founder and publisher of the American College of Forensic Examiners International, American Board for Certification in Homeland Security
 

"...through watching videos put out by attackproof.com, and by
reading Attackproof, the book, I have learned real survival skills.
These skills have been learned...at an exponentially higher practical
yield-per-hour training rate than any other martial art classes or
seminar I've ever attended, or ever even heard rumor of."
--Matthew Shoener, Police Officer, Scranton, PA 

"The Companion Video Part One is stupendous!
A godsend of detail for out-of-state practitioners."
--Mark from Chicago

SEE ALL ENDORSEMENTS

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