SCSD Curriculum

 

The following sections are brief descriptions of the many types of training we will focus on.

 

Jeet Kune Do

What is Jeet Kune Do? JKD is a concept, not a style. It is an idea created by Bruce Lee that teaches us to use what works. Essentially it is Mixed Martial Arts because it uses techniques from multiple styles. Here at Steel City Self Defense we practice techniques from many styles such as Western Boxing, Wing Chun, Savate, Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and many others.

 

Conditioning

First and foremost is building your body up so that it can endure the physical stress that is put on your body by training. The first few weeks of class will focus on both strength and endurance based exercises as well as stretching.

 

Building a Foundation

In order for everything to fall in place later in your training, we must first build a strong foundation. All martial arts activity starts at the feet, so that is where the training will start. We will work on balance, foot work, proper stances, foot positioning and weight placement. Students will become aware of their center of gravity and how it affects them and their opponent.

 

Redirecting Energy

Once the student becomes more balanced and starts understanding his/her center of gravity, we will practice rolling and falling. Here we begin to teach students about energy and in this particular instance, how to redirect harmful energy during a fall so that it does not injure us.

This is also where we begin in depth discussion on blocking, and how to properly redirect an attack using a minimal amount of energy while gaining the maximum effect.

 

Evasive Maneuvers

Basic hand blocks are simple and the intent is to redirect an attackers energy while using little of your own. Unlike most schools that practice blocks vs the typical Karate straight punch, we will practice these blocks vs a wide variety of attacks such as hook punches, straight punches, round house kicks, rising kicks, and straight kicks.

Leg blocks are used to block an attackers kicks with your knee, shin, or foot. This manner of blocking is more reliable than blocking with your hands because the sheer power of an opponents kick can usually overcome your arms. Also, using one or even both of your arms to block a kick will leave you open to your opponent's hand strikes.

Simultaneous strike-blocks are an intermediate blocking system which, as the name implies, a block and a strike thrown at the same time. The intent is to catch the attacker off guard and to not allow him a second attack.

Slipping and Swaying, most popular in Western Boxing, are a very important role in self defense. They allow you to dodge an attack without using a limb to block, giving you more options for a counter attack.

Interception is an advanced method of “blocking” in which you read your opponent and attack before they can execute an attack of their own. This method allows you to preemptively stop an incoming strike, without a typical block, before it even reaches you.

 

The Four Ranges of combat

Being able to judge distance and developing a good sense of timing are probably two of the most important aspects in martial arts. Here we go over the four different ranges of combat, which are the kick, punch, trap, and grapple ranges. We teach you what to expect and how to properly attack and defend yourself in each four of these ranges.

 

Creating Energy

Here we go into detail about the many different strikes that can be made, from kicks and punches to elbows and knees. We will go over how to create the maximum amount of energy within our strikes while maintaining a proper center of gravity and staying on balance.

 

Grappling and Take Downs

Students will learn how to perform grappling and take down techniques as well as how to avoid and get out of them. Grappling and ground fighting, especially Brazilian Jiu Jitsu have all become a very popular style of fighting recently, so it is imperative that students learn how to deal with these situations.

 

Economy of Motion

JKD students are taught to waste no time or movement. When it comes to combat we believe the simplest things work best.

 

Sparring

When students have learned how to properly control their movements, everyone will be required to spar. Sparring is a real time combat exercise in which 2 or more participants practice blocking striking and grappling on each other. Only light/medium contact is allowed and full body gear is a must. Sparring is crucial to excelling at any martial art, as it is closest to the real thing, nothing will prepare students more. Students will learn foot work, control, energy conservation, how to judge distance, blocking and striking all at the same time.

 

Mind Games

It's not always the stronger and faster fighter who wins, but usually the smarter fighter. Being able to read your opponent, and being able to trick him will put you 1 step ahead. Students will learn how to use feints which draw false blocks or movements, giving the student an advantage over their attacker. Students will learn how to read body language and learn how to read “programmed” fighters, as well as breaking the instinctual program in themselves.

 

Be Like Water

This phrase is all about mental flexibility. The biggest fight we will ever have to face is against ourself. Our emotions, if out of control, are what cause us to perform poorly in any aspect of life. Taking control of our emotions and our actions will be the longest, and hardest lesson to accomplish in life and this is the number 1 lesson above all for students to learn here. Whether in school, at work, or in a self defense situation, we must always be in balance. We should never over or under react.