MARTIAL ARTS

{R}EVOLUTION

No styles, no systems, no rituals, no lineages, no masters, no labels, no belts, no katas, no uniforms, no dogmas;

Only the process of self actualization & personal expression of truth through functional combative movement and fitness.

On a purely physical level, we share how to individually and collectively use all of our natural tools as well as extended ones, offensively and defensively in a strategic and tactical manner and in all ranges of combat.

We're put through functional physical fitness training where we learn to push ourselves through our own perceived limitations. We also have much to offer on nutrition, health and optimum performance.

On a more cerebral level we learn about the psychology of violence, fear, stress & confrontation management skills, deescalation strategies and holistic survival tactics.

As the mind navigates the body; by challenging personal self defense dogmas and individual & core belief systems, personal growth and evolution occurs.

On a human level, we learn about the ripple effect and the moral, legal, and ethical consequences of our chosen actions while self examining our darkest emotions. We are encouraged to question everything, to learn to think for ourselves, to be more accountable and research everything we learn and to be open and responsive to life without judgment.

On a personal level, the training can make you face and slay your own demons.

Everything shared here is highly encouraged to be individually researched, to “absorb what is useful, add what is specifically of your own and disregard the rest.”

Monday, September 27, 2010

Another life changing day in Cairo, Egypt




Recently completing a part 1 of a Fundamentals of Personal Protection seminar where I got to meet yet another great bunch of people, the impact made was tremendous. I was approached by 3 of the participants on the same day telling me that their lives were changed within the first hour of the workshop. 1 woman went on to tell me that she was holding tears back as every cell in her being was screaming out at her "THIS IS TRUTH SMACKING YOU IN THE FACE!"

One of the participants and also the organizer of the event, went on to describe the day as such:

"In a borrowed apartment on the other side of town, Richard Dimitri held today a workshop that was supposed to last four hours and lasted seven, that not only prepared participants to face direct violence but that exposed the futility and dangers of all violence, that provided a space for those there to take remarkable risks in talking openly about some of the most traumatic experiences they have had and are having, and that was delivered with such passion and genuine care and dedication as to release in everyone's questions that will transform their lives. Richard, we are much honoured and thank you for this tremendous gift you gave us — 1000 salam" ~ Ian & Haleluya

One of the ladies Ian mentions in his quote above, revealed to us the violent experiences she has been and is still currently going through with her ex husband and on that day, finally made all the decision to change her life.

It was a fulfilling day in many ways... the new friends made, the lives that were directly affected and were nudged along towards betterment through personal evolution and the undeniable ripple effect this day had in my opinion, makes my job the best damn job in the world. And to think there were times I wanted to pack it all in, quit and change my life entirely... well, this day and many others prior wouldn't have happened had I done that... once we find our paths, better to stick the course as life knows best...

Thank you to all who participated and shared their stories, you are the people I know and trust will make this world a better place.

Much peace,
Rich

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Friday, September 17, 2010

Combative Corner Interview Part 2

PART 2: Richard Dimitri Interview

HAVEN’T READ PART ONE? — CLICK HERE

Richard Dimitri is one of the foremost authorities in reality-based self-defense and hand-to-hand combat. Recently, the Combative Corner had the honor of asking Mr. Dimitri “10 Questions.” He was so generous with his words that we’ve decided to separate this particular interview into Part1 and Part 2. For more information on Richard Dimitri and the close-quarters conceptual tool know as The Shredder™, please visit his website at Senshido.Com

Full interview here:

http://combativecorner.wordpress.com/2010/09/16/part-2-richard-dimitri-interview/

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Combative Corner Interview Part 1

10 Questions with Richard Dimitri

Richard Dimitri is one of the foremost authorities in reality-based self-defense and hand-to-hand combat. Recently, the Combative Corner had the honor of asking Mr. Dimitri “10 Questions.” He was so generous with his words that we’ve decided to separate this particular interview into Part 1 and Part 2. For more information on Richard Dimitri and the close-quarters conceptual tool know as The Shredder™, please visit his website at Senshido.Com.

FOR FULL INTERVIEW CLICK HERE:

http://combativecorner.wordpress.com/2010/09/15/10-questions-with-richard-dimitri/

PART ONE

Some grim realities important to be aware of and speak out against.

Caution: the following article contains much depictions of brutal violence.

Robert Fisk: The lie behind mass 'suicides' of Egypt's young women

Part three of our series demolishes the official claim that Egypt, where a farmer decapitated his own daughter, has no 'honour' killings...

http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/fisk/robert-fisk-the-lie-behind-mass-suicides-of-egypts-young-women-2074229.html

Facebook dangers... awareness is paramount

As per our forum by one of it's members Adam, who shared the following link with us:

Don’t Get Robbed: Burglars Use Facebook to Pick Targets


People said it would happen with Foursquare, it may have already happened with Twitter, and now the trend has continued on Facebook: Burglars in Nashua, New Hampshire looked at updates from Facebook to figure out when one target wasn’t at home. http://mashable.com/2010/09/11/facebook-places-burglars/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+Mashable+(Mashable)


Truth be told....



If an American doctor of the late 19th century stepped into a time warp and emerged in 2010, he would be shocked by the multitude of pharmaceuticals that today's physicians use. But as he pondered this array (and wondered, as I do, whether most are really necessary), he would soon notice an equally surprising omission, and exclaim, "Where's my Cannabis indica?"

No wonder -- the poor fellow would feel nearly helpless without it. In his day, labor pains, asthma, nervous disorders and even colicky babies were treated with a fluid extract of Cannabis indica, also known as "Indian hemp." (Cannabis is generally seen as having three species -- sativa, indica and ruderalis -- but crossbreeding is common, especially between sativa and indica.) At least 100 scientific papers published in the 19th century backed up such uses.

Then the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937 made possession or transfer of Cannabis illegal in the U.S. except for certain medical and industrial uses, which were heavily taxed. The legislation began a long process of making Cannabis use illegal altogether. Many historians have examined this sorry chapter in American legislative history, and the dubious evidence for Cannabis addiction and violent behavior used to secure the bill's passage. "Under the Influence: The Disinformation Guide to Drugs" by Preston Peet makes a persuasive case that the Act's real purpose was to quash the hemp industry, making synthetic fibers more valuable for industrialists who owned the patents.

Meanwhile, as a medical doctor and botanist, my aim has always been to filter out the cultural noise surrounding the genus Cannabis and see it dispassionately: as a plant with bioactivity in human beings that may have therapeutic value. From this perspective, what can it offer us?

As it turns out, a great deal. Research into possible medical uses of Cannabis is enjoying a renaissance. In recent years, studies have shown potential for treating nausea, vomiting, premenstrual syndrome, insomnia, migraines, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injuries, alcohol abuse, collagen-induced arthritis, asthma, atherosclerosis, bipolar disorder, depression, Huntington's disease, Parkinson's disease, sickle-cell disease, sleep apnea, Alzheimer's disease and anorexia nervosa.

But perhaps most exciting, cannabinoids (chemical constituents of Cannabis, the best known being tetrahydrocannabinol or THC) may have a primary role in cancer treatment and prevention. A number of studies have shown that these compounds can inhibit tumor growth in laboratory animal models. In part, this is achieved by inhibiting angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels that tumors need in order to grow. What's more, cannabinoids seem to kill tumor cells without affecting surrounding normal cells. If these findings hold true as research progresses, cannabinoids would demonstrate a huge advantage over conventional chemotherapy agents, which too often destroy normal cells as well as cancer cells.

As long ago as 1975, researchers reported that cannabinoids inhibited the growth of a certain type of lung cancer cell in test tubes and in mice. Since then, laboratory studies have shown that cannabinoids have effects against tumor cells from glioblastoma (a deadly type of brain cancer) as well as those from thyroid cancer¸ leukemia/lymphoma, and skin, uterus, breast, stomach, colorectal, pancreatic and prostate cancers.

So far, the only human test of cannabinoids against cancer was performed in Spain, and was designed to determine if treatment was safe, not whether it was effective. (In studies on humans, such "phase one trials," are focused on establishing the safety of a new drug, as well as the right dosage.) In the Spanish study, reported in 2006, the dose was administered intracranially, directly into the tumors of patients with recurrent brain cancer. The investigation established the safety of the dose and showed that the compound used decreased cell proliferation in at least two of nine patients studied.

It is not clear that smoking marijuana achieves blood levels high enough to have these anticancer effects. We need more human research, including well-designed studies to find the best mode of administration.

If you want to learn more about this subject, I recommend an excellent documentary film, "What If Cannabis Cured Cancer," by Len Richmond, which summarizes the remarkable research findings of recent years. Most medical doctors are not aware of this information and its implications for cancer prevention and treatment. The film presents compelling evidence that our current policy on Cannabis is counterproductive.

Another reliable source of information is the chapter on cannabinoids and cancer in "Integrative Oncology" (Oxford University Press, 2009), a textbook I edited with integrative oncologist Donald I. Abrams, M.D. (Learn more about integrative cancer treatment from Dr. Abrams.)

After more than 70 years of misinformation about this botanical remedy, I am delighted that we are finally gaining a mature understanding of its immense therapeutic potential.

Andrew Weil, M.D., invites you to join the conversation: become a fan on Facebook, follow him on Twitter, and check out his Daily Health Tips Blog. Dr. Weil is the founder and director of the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine and the editorial director of http://www.DrWeil.com.

Monday, September 13, 2010

Rising above it...




My team and I have been discussing personal/human evolution on our private forum and during the course of this conversation, it was brought up by many who shared the experiences of their own personal evolutions as well as many of their students, however, there are some people who are stuck in their molds, they haven’t truly evolved in decades, still holding onto the same beliefs, same fears, same insecurities and fighting tooth and nail for them.
I understand these people well as I was once very much stuck in my ego as well, now I get to fluctuate to and from my ego and my higher-self, with my higher-self winning the battles much more often as my life goes on…
Coming from a time where I was 'stuck' I can share with you the following which I surmise maybe similar for many. These are my views and beliefs and I will reveal much of my mind sets over the years and some of the things that lead me to where I am today, agree or disagree, you are right for your reality is yours and mine is mine. Please do feel free to “absorb what is useful, add what is specifically of your own and disregard the rest.”

I fancied myself a kind of super hero. I was majorly influenced by the movie heroes of my time, Bruce Lee, Stallone, Arnold, Mel Gibson, Clint Eastwood, Bronson etc. and the lives they were portrayed to live in those films that I actually created a similar reality for myself. My ego was all about injustice, righting wrongs and fighting for the underdog... I was big on vengeance, you have no idea how big on vengeance I was... I've committed some pretty despicable acts in the name of justice and revenge.

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Urban Combative's Lee Morrison's Shredder Review

From my bro Lee Morrison's website - Senshido’s Shredder seminar with Richard Dimitri, 7th of November 2004


The Tokei martial arts centre in Tooley Street London was the venue hosting one of the best modern combative seminars that I have attended in a while. Canadian instructor Richard Dimitri hosted his most excellent presentation of the Shredder; a close quarter conceptual tool that would make a useful addition to anyone’s combative arsenal. This seminar was part of Senshido’s UK tour and saw many proficient instructors and trainees in attendance. The seminar kicked off around 11am and for the next five hours we were presented with a goldmine of useful information and functional drills. The Shredder is a conceptual tool that is designed to override the startle/flinch mechanism that is the hard wired natural response to a physical attack. This flinch response is an immediate reflex to any indication that a physical assault is coming and is kicked into play via the Amygdala; an almond shape threat detector that is located in the brain. (For more info on this check out the review of Dennis Martin’s 2nd International seminar) The Shredder bypasses this mechanism through its avoidance of any pre-indication of attack by using a spontaneous assault of gross motor movements that to quote Richard; are launched on a quarter beat, attacking vital areas of the face and throat making the attack virtually impossible to stop or intercept. This method of attack is extremely invasive in nature as well as psychologically disrupting, creating primal fear in the recipient by switching the potential aggressor from predator into prey. This concept also fits in with Senshido’s 5 principles of physical retaliation these are as follows and in no particular order; Economy of motion, Non-telegraphic movement, Opportunity striking, Tactile sensitivity and Primary target acquisition. Richard went on to talk in depth about the principles of de-escalation from a natural position. He demonstrated this with some of the best role playing that I have seen. Emphasising important points of non-static use of the hands as you control space along with body shifting and moving, providing you with the opportunity to actively scan your environment as well as interfering with your potential aggressor’s position. Thus taking away his opportunity to set up for his attack. I must say at this point that Richard’s ability to put forth information was absolutely top class. Richard is a funny man who teaches with demonstrative passion, he makes you want to pay attention. This is a crucial element in teaching and is basically NLP based. The ability to change voice tonality as well as present demonstrative visual demonstration is what makes a good instructor and will appeal to everyone’s learning curve.

Assuming now that talking the situation down has failed us we then went into the dynamics of the Shredder. For those of us whose game plan calls for ballistic pre-emptive strikes may find the concept of just closing and grabbing the face and head a little against what you’re used to. But as soon as you see how effective this can be you will see how the Shredder can compliment your game. You can Shred pre-emptively then strike off that as a follow up with no pull back or time delay; a principle called worming. Or you could strike first then close to clinch and shred from there. Using tactile sensitivity as you rip, tear and gouge at the eyes, nose, ears and throat you could simple continue to incorporate shredding and striking as the opportunity presented itself.

Senshido 2006 Black Belt Shredder feature


Being able to employ “dirty fighting” in a violent encounter can spell the difference between life and death. The often-maligned category of moves includes gouging the eyes, raking the face, ripping facial features, pulling hair, biting, seizing the windpipe and delivering a variety of close-range blows. Many martial arts and self-defense instructors recognize the importance of these techniques, but few offer a realistic way of learning and practicing them—which is essential if you want to make them usable.

One instructor who bucks the trend is Richard Dimitri, founder of Senshido.... Read the full article here: http://www.blackbeltmag.com/archives/765


A personal account of the Shredder concept

"Stop! Shredder Time! I've taken quite a few classes in some of the different martial arts. Muay Thai, JKD, Tae Kwon Do, Kali and just tool..." My Travels Through Ebay and Life: Shredding... Not just for cheese any more...:


Friday, September 3, 2010

ENOUGH.








Enough war. Enough killing. Enough racism. Enough hatred. Enough spreading of personal venoms for vindication. Enough greed. Enough intolerance. Enough waste. Enough rape. Enough inequality. Enough suffering. Enough genocide. Enough guilt. Enough destruction and annihilation of species and nature.

Haven't we learned enough???