Eye Square Martial Arts

Cultural Preservation… with Bruises (sometimes).

Tag: Real-World Violence

  • Mutual Combat vs Sudden Assault: The Fantasy of the Fair Fight

    Mutual Combat vs Sudden Assault: The Fantasy of the Fair Fight

    Prepared, Not Violent is an ongoing series from Eye Square Martial Arts exploring how martial artists can understand, avoid, and prepare for real-world violence—without becoming consumed by it.

    This is Part IV: Mutual Combat vs Sudden Assault

    Mutual Combat vs Sudden Assault

    I was watching a video from Inside Fighting on YouTube about Silat, and the presenter brought up something I’ve heard many times: do arts like Silat actually work?

    More specifically—can the techniques taught within systems such as Silat actually work when it matters?

    I come from an American Kenpo background primarily, so I’m very familiar with the mindsets present both inside arts like these and outside them—and both have merit.

    See: Why Do You Train?

    Unrealistic Understandings and Expectations

    Way back when I started in martial arts, I went to a school where we had a set curriculum of American Kenpo-style “self-defense” techniques (and Shotokan Kata, and Sport Karate sparring). I learned rote responses to various types of attacks—which were always practiced in a controlled and predictable manner (insert eye-roll).

    Thank the gods I never had to use that stuff—I would have gotten my ass kicked (or worse).

    But the thing was, I didn’t know any better. I’m pretty sure my instructor didn’t either. The area I live in is pretty damn safe and peaceful—again, thank the gods.

    Training for rules-based combat might win you medals, but it won’t always save your skin.

    MMA Isn’t Enough

    Thinking about it though, I don’t think the “hardcore” MMA guys have a much better understanding of real violence either.

    Many of these folks are tough, and very skilled. But ultimately—they train for a consensual fight in a controlled environment.

    Would MMA fighters still have an advantage over someone like me when I started? Unequivocally—yes. They’re better conditioned, tougher, and more experienced dealing with pain. Not to mention they’re also more grounded in actual violence.

    The thing is—they still have unrealistic expectations of their own.

    Many martial artists train for a consensual fight. Reality rarely asks your permission.

    The 90% Myth

    There’s that often-cited statistic that “90% of fights end up on the ground,” supposedly from a 1991 LAPD report. But I (and ChatGPT) haven’t been able to find said report.

    If it exists, I suspect the “90%” refers to arrests ending up on the ground—which makes sense when you watch police videos from guys like Donut Operator.

    Also—police body cams have done a lot to confirm a sad truth: sh*t people are sh*t people—and usually, it’s not the cops causing the problems.

    Ted Sumner’s Parking Lot

    Tracy Kenpo Grandmaster Ted Sumner, who served as a police officer in San Jose (and survived being shot by a would-be assassin), once told me about an MMA guy who asked for a lesson.

    At some point, the MMA guy said, “Let’s make this more realistic.”

    Ted said, “Alright, come outside with me.”

    Once in the parking lot, Ted smashed a glass bottle on the pavement. Then, he pissed on it. He looked at the MMA guy and said:

    “Okay. You lay on the ground first.”

    I’m assuming the guy declined.

    A graphic—but poignant—illustration of the dangers in assuming “I’ll just take them to the ground.”

    What About Weapons? What About Friends?

    Violence isn’t a sport. It’s chaos.

    • What if he’s got a knife?
    • What if he’s not alone?
    • What if he doesn’t care if he lives?

    Combat is a chaotic circumstance—you get a vote, the enemy gets a vote, and so does lady luck.
    — Author

    If your training has only prepared you for mutual combat, it’s time to ask the hard questions:

    • Are you ready for chaos?
    • Have you tested your techniques under pressure?
    • Can your art adapt when the rules disappear?

    At Eye Square Martial Arts, we don’t just train for performance—we train for reality.

    Cultural Preservation… with Bruises.

  • Flipping the Switch: The Importance of Being Capable of Violence

    Flipping the Switch: The Importance of Being Capable of Violence

    Prepared, Not Violent is an ongoing series from Eye Square Martial Arts exploring how martial artists can understand, avoid, and prepare for real-world violence—without becoming consumed by it.

    This is Part I: Flipping the Switch: The Importance of Being Capable of Violence

    The more experience I gain in martial arts—and in life—the more I’ve had to come to terms with something uncomfortable: I may one day have to be violent.

    Not because I want to be. Not because I enjoy the idea. But because I might need to protect my wife. My family. A stranger. Myself.

    The other day, a friend of mine dropped this video into our Discord channel:

    It’s a clip of Nick Freitas speaking about a convicted child predator who described how he chooses his victims—by looking for situations where the father isn’t present. That’s the kind of insight you want to hear, especially as a father. It’s disturbing, yes—but valuable information often is.

    Someone else in the thread responded, accusing Freitas of “promoting violence.” I pushed back. Freitas isn’t telling people to go out and start fights—he’s saying that you should be ready to do what’s necessary to defend the people you care about.

    I didn’t say it perfectly at the time, but I wasn’t hostile either. The guy shot back with, “Most people in America will never have to deal with violence.” And honestly? He’s probably right. Statistically speaking, most people won’t find themselves in life-or-death situations.

    But the thing is—some will. And when that day comes, it’s too late to start preparing.

    One key factor in avoiding violence is not looking like a victim. You don’t always need to use force to deter an attack. But you do often need to look like you’re willing to.

    Marc MacYoung tells a great story in In the Name of Self-Defense. A woman is walking through a grocery store parking lot. She notices two guys watching her. They split up and start approaching from different angles—classic encirclement. She reaches her car, puts the grocery cart between her and them, and stares them down—without saying a word.

    Then, she looks past them.

    What they didn’t know is that she had a concealed firearm—and was trained to use it. When she looked behind them, she wasn’t looking for help. She was checking for backstops—things that would stop bullets if she had to shoot through them.

    That look told them everything they needed to know.

    They left.

    This is what so many people miss when they talk about “violence.” It’s not about wanting to hurt anyone. It’s about projecting the reality that you can, and will, if you’re forced to.

    The people who most often criticize this mindset usually fall into one of three camps:

    • They’ve never been a victim.
    • They’ve never studied how real violence works.
    • They just like to virtue signal from a safe distance.

    But none of those positions help you when things go bad. Preparedness does. Training does. Strength does.

    A predator is always looking for a target that’s easy, soft, distracted. If you project confidence, capability, and clear boundaries, most predators will look elsewhere.

    So yes:

    Si vis pacem, para bellum.
    If you want peace, prepare for war.

    Because peace isn’t always granted. Sometimes, you have to earn it.