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ARTICLES AND COMMENTARY DRAGON SEN-I JUTSU As mentioned in my last article, I have put together a new (to us) street fighting system. In this article, I have included most of the information issued to my students. I'm sure as I go along there will be additions and subtractions of the techniques and concept. It needs to stay simple and doable by one and all. It is designed to protect my less skillful and physically gifted student, to my most gifted. It is not revolutionary and is definitely a composite of the best techniques I have learned from my fellow masters and friends. Same product, different package and order of ingredients. It is influenced by a growing number of potential predators, who have had a martial arts back ground of some kind and the guy on the street who thinks he is the ultimate fighter type. It is for my black belts only, and then only, for the warriors spirits. Its training will be street realistic.
DRAGON SEN-I JUTSU
THE BASIC PRINCIPALS ARE AS FOLLOWS:
1) INTERCEPTION: The goal here is to strike your opponent as he is coming in. Although being defensive gives your opponent the advantage of momentum and technique selection, if handled correctly, it enables you to use your opponent’s size and strength against him. It is critical to react out of a strong stance (Fudo Tachi) and accurate strike (Atemi). Keep your eyes on your target and fight through your opponent.
2) SEPARATION: If interception results in a stand-up (Tachi Waza) or ground engagement, then an immediate effort for separation must be made. This separation can be by degree of opportunity for delivering a strike or take down. Strikes are choice one. Take downs are preferred over throws. Most throws involve relinquishing the separation and have a higher degree of risk. These risks include going to the ground or the lack of freedom to defend against more than one opponent. Throws are also harder to teach and learn. We haven’t that much time spend on one option. You must stay off the ground using your best stand up, disengagement waza.
3) DISENGAGEMENT - TOKETA: This requires complete separation from your opponent and is the core of our fighting philosophy. It is necessary to always stay or return to striking techniques. It is critical in defending against a larger, stronger, opponent or multiple opponents to be completely mobile with directional movement options. Disengagement techniques are more important on the ground than in the stand-up position. Anything on the ground requires a higher proficiency of technique utilization than we will train for. Unless you figure out you are a better ground fighter than stand up, then get up. Even if you are better on the ground, understand that there is always one more clown in the fight. That means he has a buddy waiting to punt you off of him. Get back on your feet.
4) GROUND DEFENSE/CYCLING TO STAND-UP - KATAME/TACHI: Notice I said defense. The approach will be a survival mode by using training skills to play a well defended waiting game, until you can gain striking separation or disengagement. We will defend ourselves in such a way as to prevent or minimize the damage from our opponent during the ground struggle. The opponent must do most of the work on the ground and still fail in holding you down. When both of you are back on your feet, he should be close or out of gas. While our goal is to avoid time on the ground, we will use whatever opportunity or situation presents itself. This means it’s o.k. to top mount him and punch his lights out. But think stand up first. Remember it’s all SITUATIONAL. This will necessitate being trained in basic techniques which can control or disable our opponent on the ground. Joint locks or pain compliance (Kansetu Waza) are a means to an end, not always a finish. This is unless you sufficiently damage the joint to incapacitate the opponent. This is recommended. Choke outs, (Shimi) will be used whenever possible. An opponent should be rendered either physically unable to continue or unconscious; whether standing or on the ground. . . YOU MUST FINISH!
GENERAL PHYLOSOPHY& BASIC PHYSICAL DIFFERENCES The four basic principals have a situational preference. Fighting is all situational. It is neither a premeditated or spontaneous activity. This takes an approach, internally and externally practiced and rehearsed. In a perfect world, you disengage by not fighting at all. In the violent world, you protect yourself by whatever means available. We want to have access to the most proficient methods and weapons that empty hand fighting can supply. The ground is our enemy for many reasons. It first of all does not play into our primary skills as stand up Isshin-ryu strikers. So, our ground approach is predicated on gaining a release; not continuation. For this reason, our grappling skills as in a sport form, or as a continuous activity, is going to be inferior to people who train that way. We are neither fish nor foul. We will just react to the situation at hand. This plays into the rest of the philosophy and strategy. Do not become hung up on memorizing techniques as step one or step two. How you react should be based on your training with an open mind (mizu no kukuro, mind like water). You should come to know your strengths and your weaknesses (tsuki no kokoro, total awareness). They should both make you a better (smarter), fighter. When attacked, your best technique will be one that you automatically execute. Allow your training to take over. Rely on your biomechanical, physiological and servo mechanical responses, that only need basic instinct to spark them. They are all slaves to your training. Do not paralyze yourself to the wrong approach to your kata or other continuous methodical training activities. Train for harm not form. Simply put; practice the way you are going to play. Everything we do or teach, will be load tested. It will be both ring and street worthy. We will train for improvement, no matter how long you are here. If you are not improving, something is wrong. At all times, the continuous pursuit of power, speed, accuracy, conditioning, flexibility, balance, quickness, breath control, concentration, awareness (zenshin, entire human body); as well as many other training intensive aspects of the total martial artist, must be vigorously pursued.
PHYSICAL DIFFERENCES: An adjusted boxers power stance, delivery of punches, shoulder strikes, boxing combinations to include; hooks, automatic follow up of forearm strikes after a punch, angles of engagement, open hand techniques and an assortment of chokes. Kata bunkai will consist of strikes only. Any bunkai constituting engagement will be predicated on circumstances covered in our jujitsu / grappling training and will be held to two for each circumstance. We will not confuse the issue and cloud the mind with fifteen different options. Our response will be non classical and direct. Every concept needs a philosophy to identify and frame it. The concept comes from the mind. The philosophy from the heart. That’s why I like the old “one heart, one mind” translation of Isshin-ryu. Dragon Sen-I Jutsu means “Fighting Spirit Techniques”. Although there are some minor physical differences and a heavier involvement with other disciplines, it’s really just Isshin-ryu with more attitude. Students are ordered not to debate or defend this system with anyone. It is for our dojo only and those who are sincerely interested. We are not obligated to justify our philosophy with anyone. Any change, either interest, angers or threatens people. It will certainly distance us from some and draw us closer to others. That remains to be seen. It will cost us dojo members as it will be hard core and at times painful. With that said, I can guarantee you that you will wind up some nights with more skin under your finger nails than on your elbows and knees. This brief and very general description of our system will not take the place of one mistake that gets you punched in the mouth or thrown on the floor. That is the only reliable training you need. If you can’t defend yourself with watery eyes or a limp, or are not willing to learn; then you won’t like the dojo at all. But if being able to stand in there with anyone, anytime, appeals to you, then you might just make it. Otherwise, if that’s not what you want …… Get Out Now. Rank will be awarded by me based on my Isshin-ryu rank (Ku-Dan), a black belt in Kung Fu and Half Circle Jujitsu. Plus that with 42 years martial arts experience, I’m more than satisfied that I’m qualified to think, teach and promote at will outside the traditional box. As you suspect, I will always be ready to physically back up my claims and have you ready to do so as well. Promotions in Isshin-ryu will continue as always, as it is our core training art and major vehicle in our knowledge journey.
Denny Shaffer
TENANTS
First let me say that it is incumbent upon me to not under or over state the effectiveness on this system. It would be easy to make it sound better than it is and cause you to assume that the system, not you, is going to see you through. It is also my moral goal not to create an attitude of thugry or street bullies. You will be asked to sign an honor code, pledging to,” first do no harm,” with your knowledge. The tenants of “Dragon Sen-I Jutsu” below, are as germane to the system as its physical factors. Use them as a preparatory and sustaining thought process for your training and any unavoidable street encounters.
1) INITIATIVES: When all evasive action to escape from trouble has eluded you, you must take the initiative. This comes in the form of counter attacks or first strike. Which ever it is, it has to be with great force. Some people’s basic nature makes it hard for them to use internal force when striking an attacker. With all the ability and knowledge at your disposal it is useless unless it is delivered with force. You must overcome your passive nature or hesitancy to explode on someone. Natural fighters don’t have this problem and possess a trigger point that overcomes any reservation about doing a physical number on someone. For some, just knowing that they could do someone in, is enough satisfaction and they are content to just walk away. This is called conscious competence. For others, walking away is harder and they have to over come their basic nature to do so. This is unconscious competence and they need periodic proof to reassess their abilities. Each of us know which one we are and need to develop an initiative plan to deal with it.
2) TRAIN FOR THE STREET It is easy to get in a dojo competition mentality and forget that this is for the real thing. The rules are; there are no rules. You must develop a street realization that ending the fight is your job. You can’t get caught up in your own self doubt or legal fears. Your job is to protect yourself and your family. Their job is to protect themselves from you. See to it that the job was too big for them. Even though you will train in a similar fashion as “ultimate Fighters” the rules are still no rules. Even “ultimate fighters” have rules and referee. You are on you own. Start out dirty.
3) SITUATIONAL REACTION: The I.D. phrase of our system is, “A Situational Combat System”. That is a constant in our defensive selection process. It could be summed up by “do what comes naturally”. Do not plan for what you are going to do. Don’t try to make the situation fit the circumstances. That is way too much to manage. Just let the circumstances become the plan. In baseball there is what’s called, guess hitters. They try to guess what is coming. If they guess right, they hit the ball. If not, they miss. That’s still just 50/50. Losing 50% percent of your fights is not a good average. So you can’t afford to guess. Let your training make the selection and don’t stop until you are safe. Your choice may be as simple as just wearing him down and exhausting his will. You are training hard physically and mentally. Others are not. If you have ever watched a tough man contest, you will see what happens when tough guys run out of steam. With your striking skills (assuming you are willing to strike hard), you may be shocked as to how fast it is all over with. You may even be disappointed and be tempted to ask for an immediate rematch. When you are trained, sometimes things seem to slow way down in a fight. This is because you are use to trained, motivated, opponents in class. Street people rely heavily on sucker punches and hitting you from behind. They have rarely been hit, kicked, slammed and kneed in three seconds or less. Also, don’t underestimate the advantage of getting use to being hit in class. Most people lose their ability to think and act after they have been hit hard. They aren’t necessarily badly hurt, just disheartened and suddenly afraid. Most fear happens before and after the fight. It is your job to instill fear during. Pain compliance can be a kick to the knee and punch to the neck. It’s all about mental toughness or lack of it. If the person is on drugs, choke off their air and or blood supply. That is the only constant that overrides all situations.
4): TRAINING: Reality train. Don’t burn daylight and just go through the motions. Train as if you are going out to defend yourself that day. Train to strike hard, move quick and recover fast. Train with your partner on the line between training and competition. You need a few good stingers coming your way and some painful ground work to sort through. Don’t get caught up on individual technique practice. Certainly you want to develop them, but you need to load test them soon, under fire from your partner. Train in the process. Train from start to FINISH (engage, disengage). It’s all about transition. It is like foot work; You don’t fight out of one stance. You fight from stance to stance. That’s what transitional foot work is about. You will also train as specifically as possible. This means training in no pads and street clothes, more than pads and gi’s. Don’t let equipment become part of your skill and create false security. You’ve got to experience over all body pain as in the street. Keep your hands, feet, shins and forearms hard. They will toughen up fast and make your body a weapon. Weapons training will consist of defense against the knife, club, ect., with cross training in the Yawara stick and knife. Always bring them to class and to the street.
5) FINISHING: Finishing does not mean anything beyond the situational circumstance. It depends on the severity of the encounter. If you are to be further threatened after the altercation, then finishing is guaranteeing your safety. In general, finishing means to render your attacker incapable of further aggression. Protect yourself to the fullest extent of your ability. What ever legal ramifications occur later, will be better that your being injured trying to protect his rights. I have only one piece of advice for anyone jeopardizing my safety, while threatening me with an arrest at the same time. “So be it!!!” “I’ll get out of jail, before you get out of the hospital.” So go through the process: Start and finish strong...
DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY In recognition of the possible dangers connected with the participation in advanced martial arts training and the physical activity associated with a high risk of injury, student(s) hereby knowingly and voluntarily waive any cause of action of any kind whatsoever arising as the result of such activity from which any liability may or could accrue to Fitness Industries, (dba, Shaffer’s Red Dragon school of Karate), it’s officers, agents, employees, instructors, land lord (Palmetto Fitness), or assignees.
CODE OF CONDUCT As in keeping with the code of conduct as it pertains to the “Do no harm” tenant, I pledge not to use the combat system I am learning (Dragon Sen-I Jutsu), in any way other than unavoidable defense of myself or my families safety. I understand the difference of being antagonized and being attacked and will at all times abide by our “retreat to the wall code of conduct.” Any breach of this code will result in immediate dismissal from the dojo. I also acknowledge Dragon Sen-I Jutsu to be the sole property and possession of Shihan Denny Shaffer and taught only to his students and people of his selection. I recognize it as Shihan Shaffer’s own origination and pledge not to teach it in any way to anyone, outside of the Red Dragon dojo. I will also not use any written or verbal information received, without his expressed written permission. This is especially true should I open my own dojo, or teach out side of the Red Dragon dojo in any way. This does not apply to Isshin-ryu as there is no claim of ownership or originality made by Shihan Shaffer. The permission will not unreasonably be withheld by Shihan Shaffer. You will additionally receive his assistance should he deem the relationship worthy of a continued association. As has been the practice, you will forfeit all rank upon your departure from the Red Dragon dojo should your departure be for any reason other than; to continue Isshin-ryu only at another location, or in your own dojo. That location or Dojo must be approved by Shihan Shaffer and not closer than 25 miles to his location. You must also be a yo-dan with a minimum of ten years uninterrupted instruction from Shihan Shaffer. This is not a loyalty oath but an acknowledgement that Shihan Shaffer has spent nearly a half century, working studying and developing his teaching port folio. He is not interested in passing this on by disloyal students to strangers, or overly ambitious young dans who think they should have their own dojo without the proper knowledge to sustain it. Although none of these techniques taught are unique to just Shihan Shaffer, the accumulation and assimilation of the concept is. The whole in this case is an assimilation of the parts, collected by Shihan Shaffer. This is what gives it unique ownership. Be advised that monthly dues received by Shihan Shaffer, represents only a fraction of the justification to continue teaching all the knowledge that he has acquired, as well as exposing you to the top masters in the country for additional knowledge. The justification is ongoing. It represents regular attendance, hard work, support of all Red Dragon activities, a willingness to assist in all dojo classes and projects.
These documents were prepared by Shihan Denny Shaffer, for the Red Dragon Black belts, in the belief that a good understanding on the front end, makes for a good and lasting relationship.
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