What is R A I D Exactly?

The three major guidelines of R A I D are:

(1) Simplicity, (2) Directness and (3) Economy of Motion.

(1) Simplicity:

a. Simplicity means that you do what is necessary to accomplish the task in the most efficient means possible without any complicated motions or actions.

b. Simplicity is not always easy to learn and is often even more difficult to execute.

(2) Directness:

a. Directness means that your attack should take the shortest route to the target without any preparatory or telegraphic movements.

b. R A I D follows the Jeet Kune Do Principle - Longest weapon to the nearest target

(3) Economy of Motion:

a. Economy of Motion means that techniques are delivered in a practical, non-traditional manner.

b. When delivering a strike, emphasis is placed on hitting the target with speed and power, rather than technique. In other words, don't worry about whether the technique looked "pretty" or not! R A I D is about effective self defense, not winning forms competitions!

This does not, however, mean that anything is apart of the R A I D system!

There are specific footwork patterns, strikes, defensive movements, energy/sensitivity drills, training methods and attack strategies.

There are many things that you will not see in a R A I D Combat System training session and why:

- Classical uniforms with belts or sashes.

R A I D has a non-traditional attitude in training.

- Barefooted instructors and students.

R A I D looks at everything from a practical standpoint; you wouldn’t fight barefooted (hopefully) so training that way isn't very practical!

- Stiff, low stances with one or both hands on the hip.

R A I D employs an on-guard position which is highly mobile and effective for both offense and defense.

- Striking from a position where the hand is at the hip or drawing the hand back for a strike.

R A I D prepares the practitioner to strike from wherever the hand may be; no preparatory motion is necessary.

- Chambering the leg before delivering a kick.

R A I D follows its Jeet Kune Do roots as kicks take the most direct route to the target, using proper footwork and hip action for power.

- Rigid, classical blocking movements.

R A I D prefers the intercept the attack with a strike or kick. Advance techniques employ a simultaneous parry and strike.

- Classical Forms: Katas, Kuens or Hyungs.

R A I D is designed for effective street defense, not winning competitions.

- Striking, kicking and defending with the power side to the rear.

R A I D prefers the power side forward where it can be most effective.

- Wide, looping or energy-wasting attack and defense movements.

R A I D movements are simple and direct.

- Extensive use of the traditional horizontal fist for striking.

R A I D punching uses the vertical fist structure for greater efficiency and better centerline protection while striking.

- Emphasis on bowing every time you turn around.

R A I D Practitioners show respect to each other by making sure each get the most out of every training session.

- Footwork involving wide, sweeping patterns from a low, static stance.

R A I D footwork is light, quick and to the point with no telegraphic movement.

- Practicing all techniques by striking in the air only.

R A I D training utilizes various striking apparatus such as focus gloves, kicking shields, Thai pads, the Wing Chun wooden dummy, and the heavy bag, so that the student conditions their striking weapons as they learn to strike with speed, power and accuracy.

Self Defense - Keep It Simple

The street fighting situation is an area in which too much information in respect of techniques is detrimental to realistic self protection.

Effective self defense is about awareness (awareness of yourself, your surroundings and the attacker) as much as fighting ability.

Over the years I have practiced several martial arts each with various techniques against all manner of attacks. Many of these defenses were not only bordering on the ridiculous, but in many cases dangerous to the defender. Many schools teach several moves, often with high complexity, against the same attack.

Do we really need 6 to 10 different ways to defend against a punch?

One of my favorite demonstrations - I usually do this at the start of a self defense session - is someone grabs your wrist (can’t ever remember this happening to me in a street encounter).

First, I demonstrate a few of the complex moves taught in most martial arts schools (I speak from experience here!).

Then I demonstrate how all it would take is smashing the attacker in the face with a palm strike or a kick to the shin (or both)...fight over!

In respect of the street, simplicity is best and the well known acronym KISS – Keep It Simple Stupid, applies.

When faced with violence, the average person will experience an adrenaline dump, thus greatly reducing their ability to access fine motor movement control and knowledge of complex moves.

You must rely on simple moves that are easily learned and employed under stress. The only way you can rely on more complex moves is continual training on a strong set of simple, practical moves with strong, practical principles.

I don’t care whether you’re a 30-year veteran of the martial arts, a fight conditioned MMA fighter or just an average guy, when it comes to real self defense keeping it simple will give you the best chance should the need arise to protect yourself.

Techniques vs Principles

What makes an effective self-defense system? Is it the techniques that it teaches? Is it the 'dojo', with all of it's traditions? Is it the uniforms with all the cool patches and colored belts? Or is an effective system one that teaches the principles of combat, not just techniques?

All self-defense systems - including ours - will have specific techniques, of course. But practitioners should never mistake the technique for the truth of combat, which is principles.

For example, say you’re practicing against a hooking punch attack. Instead of trying to block the strike and then deliver a strike of his own, the defender intercepts the forward momentum of the attacker before the strike can reach its peak of extension. This stops the attacker in his tracks, exposing the face, throat, and lower limbs to a variety of strikes, kicks, knees and elbows.

This is an example of the R A I D Principle – Attack by Interception.

There are a number of excellent techniques that can accomplish the same goal…but they are only examples of the principle. Is one technique better than the other? No! The point is that you should not mistake the technique for the principle.

Think of combat training like building a house. Principles are like the blueprints for the house encompassing every aspect of how the house is going to be built, and techniques are the individual skill sets and tools required to get the house built.

If you train the principle as well as the technique, in the heat of battle you will be able to react instinctively.
Principles can be recalled under stress easier than just techniques. This mind-set will make you faster, more accurate and effective. It is impossible to remember one unique defense technique for every possible type of attack. Life just doesn’t work that way...

If you memorize 300 defenses against 300 attacks, as soon as you go outside, you’re going to be assaulted by attack No. 301.

Keep Punching!

Sport Combat Arts vs Street Combat Arts

The debate over which type of martial training is most effective for street defense has been raging for years. The question has always been, what is best...striking arts, grappling arts, arts that focus on weapons, etc. Add to the debate the recent popularity of reality-based martial arts, Brazilian jujitsu and mixed martial arts and the debate grows larger than ever before. The recently popularity of sporting events like The UFC are causing mixed martial arts schools to pop-up on every street corner across the country; but are they teaching skills that should be deployed on the street?

Let's take a look at the martial arts as they are practiced today within the fields of Mixed Martial Arts and Combat Sports.

This phenomenon has produced athletes of amazing levels of physical and mental prowess. Nothing can be taken away from these modern day warriors who practice mma, no holds barred or cage fighting. They are truly immense within the field in which they compete... but what they do is in one way or another governed by certain rules pertaining to a sporting event. Unlike fight competitions, in the Pavement Arena there are no rules, no referees, no coaches giving instructions, no cut-men to stop the bleeding and no time limits.

Sport fighting also lacks the three conflict stages of a real street encounter or attack.

Pre Conflict (before the attack)
Most situations can be avoided by ensuring one employs pre conflict awareness consisting of various factors such as situational awareness and hostile triggers. Countless hours of research has shown that most street attackers look for individuals that do not display the traits of confidence and awareness.

Conflict (the actual encounter)
The conflict stage has social and asocial violent components, which need specific attention such as multiple attackers, robberies, muggings, carjacking, weapons etc.

The importance of surviving a violent street attack can be directly related to the tools that are brought into action-focusing on the most vulnerable targets that are available- without being limited to tactics that follow the rules.

Post Conflict (after the fight)
These are the actions you will take after the confrontation/fight such as: first aid, escape methods, police involvement, attacker description, incident detail, etc. In the sport arena, when a fight is over it's over.

The outcome of a match or competition will dictate a winner and a loser, but neither are in no way a life or death struggle nor are they a matter of self preservation.

Sport is sport and street is street. One is real and one may be realistic but they are not the same thing and can not be trained in the same way.

Train Hard!

The 'Flinch' Response

I recently read a post in another blog (which will rename nameless) that talked about the best ways to prevent being a victim of violence. The posting suggested that the best way to prevent being a victim of violence was to keep our awareness at the highest level at all times; Impossible!!

In the world of street defense, we all know by now the importance of awareness and the need to applying a pre-emptive strike when you know an impending attack is upon you. But we can't walk around 'switched on' all the time, no matter how hard we try. There are going to be times that you may have mentally let your guard down.

This means a would-be attacker WILL get the drop on you and you will have to rely on your reflexive skills in addition to your self defense tactics. You MUST train these instinctive skills regularly so that you can call upon them when the heat is on.

If you are attacked, you will be initially back on your heels and the 'flinch' reflex is an important, and natural survival tool. It is the impulse that pulls your hand back from the heat of a fire or makes you shift back quickly from a barking dog. It's nature's way of protecting you, so you MUST use it to you advantage. Some self defense instructors see the reflex defense as a weakness; they feel they should stand tall and always be prepared face of danger but this is not always possible...

If you are caught with a surprise ambush attack, you will always flinch. It's how FAST you react from this flinch that will determine the effectiveness of your self defense tactics. Periodically in my training, I make my students stand with their eyes closed and they cannot open them until an opponent grabs them in some shape or form, then they have to immediately focus on the attack and deal with it. This is the best possible way to simulate the feeling of a SURPRISE attack.

Remember, there will always be times that you are not 'switched-on'. It's not a form of weakness, it's not a form of unpreparedness..it's human. However, if you train yourself to deal with the vital seconds whilst your brain sends a message to the muscles to respond, you will be prepared.

Train Hard!

Jim Elmore