Eye Square Martial Arts

Cultural Preservation… with Bruises (sometimes).

Tag: Self-Defense

  • Mutual Combat vs. Sudden Assault: What Defensive Gun Use Really Looks Like

    Mutual Combat vs. Sudden Assault: What Defensive Gun Use Really Looks Like

    When most people imagine using a gun in self-defense, they picture something from a movie—a standoff, a gunfight, or a dramatic chase. But in real life, defensive gun use (DGU) is rarely that cinematic.

    It’s fast. It’s messy. And it usually doesn’t involve a shot being fired at all.

    What Counts as Defensive Gun Use?

    A “defensive gun use” doesn’t require pulling the trigger. It simply means using a firearm to stop or deter a threat to your life or the life of another.

    This could include:

    • Drawing a firearm to prevent an assault
    • Displaying a weapon to stop a robbery
    • Firing a warning shot (though not recommended)
    • Actually discharging a weapon in self-defense

    The vast majority of DGUs don’t make the news—because nothing dramatic happened. The threat ended the moment the gun appeared.

    How Often Does It Happen?

    There’s controversy around the numbers, largely due to how “defensive use” is defined and reported. But here are the major data points:

    • A CDC-commissioned report cites estimates ranging from 60,000 to 2.5 million DGUs per year, depending on the methodology. (Source)
    • The National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) consistently reports about 100,000 DGUs per year.
    • A 2000s study by criminologist Gary Kleck—widely cited in 2A circles—estimated closer to 2.5 million annually.

    Even using the most conservative number, that’s roughly 275 people per day using a gun in self-defense.

    Real-Life Encounters: What They Teach

    What’s consistent across real-world incidents is this: self-defense happens fast, and the defender is often reacting to a sudden assault.

    Key lessons:

    • You won’t have time to rack a slide, unlock a safe, or “gear up.” Preparedness means accessibility.
    • Most confrontations happen at close range (7 yards or less).
    • The attacker usually has the advantage—they chose the time and place.

    This is why mindset, situational awareness, and training matter more than the gear you carry.

    Mutual Combat vs Sudden Assault

    There’s a big legal and moral difference between getting into a fight and defending yourself from a violent assault.

    • Mutual Combat: Both parties are willingly engaged—think road rage or bar fights. If you escalate, your legal defense may fall apart.
    • Sudden Assault: You’re targeted unexpectedly and must respond with appropriate force to stop the threat. This is where most DGUs fall.

    If you’re carrying, your job isn’t to “win a fight”—it’s to survive a threat and stay within the law.

    Closing Thought

    Guns aren’t magic wands. They don’t guarantee safety. But in the hands of a trained, law-abiding citizen, they can stop evil in its tracks.

    Next time, we’ll explore how to prepare for that moment before it happens—through training, mindset, and responsible carry habits.

  • The Right to Self-Defense: Why It Exists and What It Really Means

    The Right to Self-Defense: Why It Exists and What It Really Means

    Violence, whether we like it or not, is part of the human experience. And with it comes the unavoidable question: when force is used against you, do you have the right to respond with force of your own?

    The right to self-defense is one of the oldest and most widely recognized principles in legal and moral thought. It predates the Constitution, exists in nearly every legal system in the world, and resonates with something deeply instinctual—when faced with danger, we should be able to protect ourselves and those we care about.

    But how far does that right go? And in the American context, how does the firearm—perhaps the most effective and controversial tool of modern self-defense—fit into that framework?

    Self-Defense: A Natural Right

    At its core, the right to self-defense isn’t granted by any government. It’s a natural right—meaning it exists independent of laws, documents, or institutions. You don’t need a license to try to survive. And societies that recognize this right tend to codify it in laws that allow individuals to use force, sometimes even deadly force, when confronted with imminent harm.

    The American legal tradition, rooted in English common law, has always acknowledged this. Early colonists lived in conditions where law enforcement might be days away—if it existed at all. The responsibility for personal safety started at home and extended to family, property, and community.

    The Second Amendment as a Backstop

    Enter the Second Amendment. While it’s often viewed through the lens of resistance to tyranny, it also plays a crucial role in reinforcing the right of individuals to be prepared for self-defense. It doesn’t create the right—it protects it from infringement.

    Modern debates often miss this point. The Second Amendment isn’t about hunting, and it’s not exclusively about militias. It’s about ensuring that individuals have the practical means to respond to threats when law enforcement can’t—or won’t—arrive in time.

    “Whatever Means Are Necessary”

    When I say I believe in defending yourself by whatever means are necessary, I don’t say that recklessly. Violence should always be the last resort. But if a threat is real, immediate, and unavoidable, the response should be effective.

    And firearms, for many Americans, are simply the most effective tool available. They are a force equalizer. They don’t rely on size, strength, or youth. They allow a 110-pound woman to stop a 250-pound attacker. They allow a disabled veteran to defend his home when help is minutes—or miles—away.

    This isn’t about paranoia. It’s about preparation. And it starts with recognizing that the right to self-defense is real, valid, and worth protecting.

    Closing Thought

    Self-defense isn’t about looking for a fight—it’s about having the means to survive one. In the next part of this series, we’ll explore how firearms became woven into American culture and why that history matters more than ever in today’s debate.

  • The Filipino Martial Arts Bookshelf: An Annotated Reading List

    The Filipino Martial Arts Bookshelf: An Annotated Reading List

    If you’ve ever been cracked on the knuckles during a sinawali drill and thought, “There’s gotta be a story behind all this,” you’re absolutely right.

    Filipino Martial Arts—Arnis, Eskrima, Kali—are more than just sticks and strikes. They’re deeply rooted in the history, culture, and resistance of the Philippine islands. Whether you’re new to the arts or have been swinging a baston for years, understanding where it all comes from adds depth to every movement.

    Here’s a handpicked, annotated list of books and films to deepen your knowledge of FMA and the cultural forces that shaped it.

    🗡️ Historical and Cultural Foundations

    1. Barangay: Sixteenth-Century Philippine Culture and Society – William Henry Scott
    A must-read for precolonial Filipino life. It covers warfare, social classes, and how early communities functioned. Great for understanding the roots of indigenous martial traditions.

    2. Looking for the Prehispanic Filipino – William Henry Scott
    Debunks colonial myths and gives voice to what pre-Spanish Filipino life may have really looked like. Think of it as the historical groundwork beneath your footwork.

    3. An Anarchy of Families – Edited by Alfred W. McCoy
    Less about martial arts directly, but packed with insight on how power, violence, and family dynasties shaped Filipino society. It gives context to how martial skills were preserved and used.

    🏋️️ Martial Arts-Specific Studies

    4. The Filipino Martial Arts – Dan Inosanto
    The book that opened Western eyes to FMA. A solid intro with history, technique, and personal stories. If you train, you should own this.

    5. Filipino Martial Culture – Mark V. Wiley
    Part cultural anthropology, part martial arts tour. Interviews, system overviews, and an honest look at how the arts have evolved.

    6. The History of Filipino Martial Arts – Felipe P. Jocano Jr.
    An academic and practitioner’s view. This one digs into the historical transitions FMA went through—from tribal warfare to colonial resistance.

    🌍 FMA in the Modern World

    7. Kali’s Odyssey – Christopher Ricketts (interviews)
    A look at how FMA traveled with the Filipino diaspora, especially into the U.S. You’ll get a feel for how the art continues to evolve abroad.

    8. RA 9850 (2009): The Arnis Law
    Not a book, but an official recognition by the Philippine government naming Arnis the national martial art and sport. A big deal for preservation and legitimacy.

    🎥 Documentaries and Oral Histories

    9. Eskrimadors (2010, Dir. Kerwin Go)
    A well-produced doc on Cebu-based masters and their systems. Solid footage and interviews. If you want to see FMA in action, start here.

    10. The Bladed Hand (2012, Dir. Jay Ignacio)
    Explores the global reach of FMA with interviews from masters around the world. Shows how the art thrives far beyond the islands.

    Final Thoughts

    You can swing a stick without knowing the history. But once you do know the history? Every strike hits different.

    Whether you’re building your bookshelf or your footwork, these resources will help you connect the dots between the blade, the hand, and the culture that shaped them both.

  • Part 5: From Jungle to Global – The Rise of Modern Filipino Martial Arts

    Part 5: From Jungle to Global – The Rise of Modern Filipino Martial Arts

    After surviving centuries of colonization and a world war, Filipino Martial Arts emerged from the smoke not just intact—but ready to travel. The second half of the 20th century marked the beginning of FMA’s transformation from a secret kept in backyards and barrios to a respected, global martial system. And it all started with one simple truth: people started talking.

    Veterans Started Teaching

    After WWII, many of the men who had fought in the jungles came home and began organizing what they had learned. Some were already informal teachers. But now, systems began to form. Drills were refined. Techniques were cataloged. And for the first time, many of these arts got names—Modern Arnis, Doce Pares, Balintawak, Pekiti-Tirsia, and more.

    Martial arts schools popped up in the Philippines, often still taught behind homes, in church courtyards, or anywhere with enough space to swing a stick. Rank systems were introduced. Uniforms were optional, but pride was not.

    The Diaspora Effect

    As Filipinos migrated abroad—to the U.S., Canada, Australia, Europe—they took their culture with them. And that included their martial arts. What started as stick drills in garages or parks turned into full-blown schools. Filipino martial artists in California played a huge role in spreading the art—especially in places like Stockton and Los Angeles.

    And then, of course, came a little boost from Hollywood.

    Enter Bruce Lee (and Dan Inosanto)

    When Bruce Lee started exploring martial arts beyond Wing Chun, he found himself learning from Dan Inosanto—a Filipino-American martial artist trained in FMA. Suddenly, Filipino techniques were showing up on the big screen. Knife work, stick drills, limb destructions—they all looked cool and hit hard.

    This was huge. Bruce Lee gave FMA a moment on the world stage. Dan Inosanto gave it structure, visibility, and credibility. And the global martial arts community started paying attention.

    From Combat to Curriculum

    By the 1980s and 90s, FMA was becoming a staple in military combatives programs, law enforcement training, and civilian self-defense. The arts adapted again—this time for modern threats. Knife defense. Weapon retention. Multiple attacker scenarios. The same principles that worked against invading forces now applied to street-level survival.

    Seminars became the norm. Global organizations formed. Filipino grandmasters were invited to teach internationally. What was once a village art had become a global phenomenon.

    The Cultural Tradeoff

    Of course, with growth comes change. Some systems leaned into sport formats. Others clung fiercely to tradition. Still others got sliced and diced into weekend workshops with little cultural context. But through it all, one thing remained: the arts still worked.

    They remained brutal, efficient, adaptable—and unapologetically Filipino.

    In the next chapter, we’ll bring things up to the present and explore how Arnis, Eskrima, and Kali are being preserved, promoted, and practiced today—and what it means to be a modern-day practitioner of these warrior arts.

  • The Sword in the Soul of the Islands: Why Filipino Martial History Matters

    The Sword in the Soul of the Islands: Why Filipino Martial History Matters

    When people think about martial arts, they usually imagine kung fu masters leaping off rooftops or UFC fighters trading elbows in a cage. But tucked away in the tropical mess of jungles, islands, and traffic jams we call the Philippines is something just as badass—if not more: Arnis, Eskrima, and Kali.

    These aren’t just some old-school ways to swing a stick around. They’re survival systems. They’re family legacies. They’re the “hold my bolo and watch this” moments passed down from generation to generation. More than that, they’re cultural time capsules—full of grit, improvisation, and a deep refusal to stay conquered.

    See, looking at Philippine history through the lens of its martial arts isn’t just about techniques or training drills. It’s about how people adapted to hundreds of years of colonizers trying to kill their culture—and still found a way to hit back. Sometimes literally.

    When the Spanish said “No weapons allowed,” Filipinos said, “Cool, we’ll just dance with them instead.” When the Americans brought boxing and baseball, the old arts went underground but never disappeared. These arts lived in fiestas, in rituals, in little moments where someone would casually flip a stick around and say, “Yeah, I used to train a bit.”

    This series is going to walk through Philippine history with an eye for the fighters—tribal warriors, resistance leaders, backyard masters, and everyone in between. We’ll talk about why people fought, how they fought, and what they passed down. This isn’t just for the historians. This is for anyone who’s ever taken a shot to the knuckles during a sinawali drill and smiled through the pain.

    So if you train in Filipino martial arts—or you’re just curious where this whole stick-twirling madness came from—strap in. This is the story of the Philippines, told through its fighters. It’s a little bit blood, a little bit blade, and a whole lot of spirit.

    Let’s get started.

  • 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.