(AJ Garcia, Alaska Chapter Leader of the Guardian Angels)
(Ms. "Hammer" in the black pants, white shirt and beret...Guardian Angels...three guesses as to how she got her name, and the first two don't count LOL)
Approximately the first hour we covered a lot of psychology, awareness and avoidance strategies, the importance of intuition, the three wants and fears of criminals, etc. and the last hour was dedicated to hands on skill sets and mock scenarios. And let me tell you, when these ladies and one gentleman struck us, they didn’t hold back!
(To show how someone smaller can use the shredder against someone larger, I had Rich Wegg...150lbs shred me (6' 265lbs) off a spontaneous attack. He did. I'm sure I looked like I had pink-eye by the end of the night LMAO!)
Most of them had never actually hit anyone in real life. They didn’t truly know the power of their own striking ability. We used a modified drill we picked up from Chris Roberts and his SAFE International program in which we put on the Spartan Training Armour Hoplight helmets and came at the participants. We taught them the basic palm strike and elbow strikes and instructed them to hit us in threes (statistically speaking from sporting events, per Mark Hatmaker’s research…you stand a very good chance of landing all three strikes if you throw in threes). Many times as I approached my “victims” they snuck out a perfectly placed palm strike due to being in the passive stance (a very free, natural stance…check out Rick Capozzi’s article on it via this blog). I didn’t even see it coming and what was so beautiful about it, after they got that first hard shot in, their follow up shots I didn’t see coming either because one second I’m walking toward them in an aggressive manner, cussing at the and the next I’m starring at the floor and getting whacked two-three more times in the head/face. Now we are a FIRM believer that people MUST feel the impact, they must feel their palm against our face/helmets full force to understand the transfer of energy, etc. We are also a firm believer in not building a false sense of security. We didn’t “act” hurt, or “wince” when someone didn’t go as hard…we encouraged the hell out of them to push it and if they heard us screaming, gurgling, tapping, etc. then to please stop. We were serious, and when we began screaming in pain, gurgling, etc. they were kind enough to stop!
(The brother in the green hat is Senshido Alaska Coach Alfredo Corona. This brother has such a great heart! One participant, who took 3 buses to attend the seminar - and who is also on the Special Olympics here locally, needed a ride home.So Alfredo, being the gentleman he is and his girlfriend Morgan were kind enough to give the young gal a ride home...and without a second thought. He has such a great loving heart.)
After the initial drills with basic striking and working a very slow Shred on each other, getting a feel for the flow that it can offer, working the passive stance, startle-reflex drills, and numerous other drills…by the end of class they had a good basic introduction to the shredder and could apply it during our mock attacks. We again lined the ladies (and gentleman) up in three rows and myself and my team (coaches Richard Wegg and Alfredo Corona) would encroach upon them via various dialogues…being very crude, aggressive, sly, etc. and they maintained their passive stance, didn’t walk in a straight line back (i.e. we taught them strive not to walk backwards in a straight line, but try to circle or at least be in motion – circumstances and variables depending to scan their environment, etc.), they never challenged us, threatened, commanded or insinuated we were lying (all very important components of verbal de-escalation) and when we let loose they responded in kind and often times went harder than we expected.
(Drilling a strangulation from behind with a rope, I'm trying to get the hell away from her because she went immediately into my face and jacked up my eye. It was BEAUTIFUL!!!)
I almost had my right ear ripped off by one gal who had a very “FUCK YOU” attitude toward male attackers due to her personal experiences…and I loved every minute of it. She whooped my ass bad and I literally begged her to stop and almost fell into a fetal position. She ended up apologizing to me for the blood loss but I said “Never be sorry! That’s why we’re here. We don’t fake shit. If you know you can rip us up…how empowering is that? This isn’t fake blood. Never apologize! You did a hell of a job and the moment you made contact I had a flashback to my mother cuddling me in her arms when I was a wee child. So great fucking job!” She laughed and went back in line…ready for the next attack.
So many people thanked us and asked a ton of questions – all very valid and heartfelt and we answered truthfully and honestly. They asked about specific attacks and the common two answers revolved around “how did you get in this position physically? What where the pre-contact cues? Did you see them approach? What was the dialogue?” as well as “it always depends on all the variables. One thing might work in one instant, but not in another due to being injured, having a loved one with you, carrying your grandchild when the encroachment happens, etc.” I expected some to blow off these answers as “Yeah, another words you don’t know!” type attitude. But what I found instead was a room full of people shaking their heads in acknowledgment and understanding. The proverbial light bulb went off and it clicked with them on the importance of intuition and avoidance through awareness, Senshido’s color code scheme, etc.
(Here we have a great example of a Passive Stance and into an immediate shred. Notice her hand right into Rich Wegg's eyes, he's already starting to disconnect because of this)
Here are some of the reviews we received from the second YWCA Alaska Introductory Shredder Seminar:
“I definitely learned some things; others were already instinct to me due to my background. Thank you!”
“Even with the exercises we did, it’s amazing how your instincts kick in. Again, thank you!”
“BEYOND Excellent. Am going to recommend to everyone.”
“a lot of very good, useful information”
“Exceeded my expectation”
“The shredding method. Thanks – this is needed!”
“Everything was doable – it was like we were empowered”
“It’s pretty darn good as it is, as new techniques come into play – incorporate them. Thank you!!!”
“very thorough”
“it was so basic and doable”
“I liked the hands on drills”
Everyone did such an excellent job in the timeframe we had. They absorbed the information and they kicked ass. Many were very happy the YWCA and Senshido Alaska worked in partnership to have the seminar, as they walked away that night feeling more confident, safer, calmer and empowered...and that's what we're about. A very huge thank you to the YWCA Alaska for their continuous support. This organization continues to kick ass on so many fronts - and we are damn happy to be associated with them and their cause...because it is a cause of human betterment and equality - and any cause that seeks to better humanity as a whole, we my friends...then that cause is encompassed in the Senshido International Movement.
Oh, don't forget to read the shit:
(Kill Your Ego and Live Your Life...for those of you who need glasses)
Hmmmm....
Time to go do some shit. See you next time, ladies and gentlemen!
Be safe, become an active part in your own life, love those dear to you and never stop seeking to better yourself.
Malachi Bond
Senshido Alaska
907-575-4952
Much RESPECT to the Guardian Angels and Senshido Alaska!!! Thanks to Richard Dimitri for making it possible.
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