House Of The Pure Martial Arts - Krijgskunst als Vertrekpunt

58 Pages·2008·4.03 MB·English

M M
EIBUKAN AGAZINE
House Of The Pure Martial Arts
ms. The Anatomy of Fear
Blauer Tactical Syste Physiology of Survival
Dijkstra/
Wytse Roots of Ryukyu Kobujutsu
Beek/
Erwin van Interviews with Police Officials
Courtesy of
Dijkstra. Krav Maga in Law Enforcement
Wytse
Beek and Systema: Perspective in Combat Training
win van
Er
THE INTERNATIONAL WEB BASED MARTIAL ARTS M M
MAGAZINE AS A PDF DOCUMENT EIBUKAN AGAZINE No 0 JULY 2008
House of the Pure Martial Arts WWW.MEIBUKANMAGAZINE.ORG No 10 JULY 2008 
M M
EIBUKAN AGAZINE
House of the Pure Martial Arts No 10 JULY 2008
Column
MISSION STATEMENT 2
From the police perspective
Meibukan Magazine is an initiative of founders Lex
Opdam and Mark Hemels. Aim of this web based
magazine is to spread the knowledge and spirit of the Feature 2
martial arts. In a non profitable manner Meibukan
Magazine draws attention to the historical, spiritual The Roots of Ryukyu Kobujutsu
and technical background of the oriental martial arts.
Starting point are the teachings of Okinawan karate- An Informal History of Law Enforcement Officers in the Ryukyu King-
do. As ‘House of the Pure Martial Arts’, however,
dom by Joe Swift.
Meibukan Magazine offers a home to the various
authentic martial arts traditions.
Interview
5
FORMAT
Interview with Wytse Dijkstra and Erwin van Beek
Meibukan Magazine is published several times a 2 instructors speak about the Dutch police academy, the S.P.E.A.R. system
year in an electronical format with an attractive mix
and its implementations in the Dutch police force.
of subjects and styles. Each issue of at least twelve
pages is published as pdf-file for easy printing.
Published editions remain archived on-line. Feature

Readers of the webzine are enthousiasts and practi-
Physiology of Survival
tioners of the spirit of the martial arts world wide.
Eric Cobb´s scientific view of Tony Blauer´s S.P.E.A.R. system.
PRODUCTION
Feature
Editor in chief 6
Lex Opdam
Russian Systema: A New Perspective in Modern Combat Training
Editorial Board Contributors Kevin Secours discusses Systema in connection with police work.
Matthew Jones Joe Swift
Michael den Tandt Lex Opdam
Iwan Meij Eric Cobb Feature 23
Kevin Secours
Art director David Kahn Israeli Krav Maga’s global prominence in Law Enforcement
Iwan Meij Darren Laur
David Kahn discusses Krav Maga in connection with police work.
SUBMISSIONS
Interview 3
Meibukan Magazine is pleased to submit views,
concerns and experiences on any subject matter IF Interview with Henk van Wijk
related to the mission statement expressed by the
The Head of one of the Dutch police training facilities on training in the
Meibukan Magazine. Therefore articles, photo-
graphs and illustrations are welcome, although Mei- Dutch police force.
bukan Magazine is selective and can not guarantee
that submissions will be placed. Submission can be
Photoseries
mailed to our P.O. Box by floppy, CD or DVD, or 37
can be sent to our e-mail address.
Police Mountain Bikers
COPYRIGHT/DISCLAIMER Illustrations of biker police specific training in the Netherlands.
© 2003-2008 Meibukan Magazine. Feature
All materials on the Meibukan Magazine website and Meibukan 40
Magazine pdf-files (including without limitation all articles,
text, images, logos, compilation, audio, video, and design) are
The Anatomy Of Fear & How It Relates To Survival Skills Training
Copyright by Meibukan Magazine.
All rights reserved.
Research in connection with fear and police work, by Darren Laur.
The downloadable Meibukan Magazine pdf-files may be
downloaded, printed and distributed for personal use only.
Only with explicit permission in writing from the Meibukan
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Magazine or (part of) articles be used for other than personal use
(e.g. educational, research purposes, commercial use, a.o.).
Every Meibukan Magazine pdf-file has a unique ISSN number Interview with Rob Walraven
(1572-5316) and is registered by Law.
A teacher of a Dutch police training centre on the content of training for
All information and materials on the Meibukan Magazine website
and Meibukan Magazine pdf-files are provided “as is” and police officers (in the Netherlands).
without warranty of any kind.
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House of the Pure Martial Arts WWW.MEIBUKANMAGAZINE.ORG No 10 JULY 2008 
The Roots of Ryukyu
From the police
perspective Kobujutsu
The police force world is a closed culture
An Informal History of Law Enforcement
with a separation between the citizen and
the police employee. By this separation, it
Officers in the Ryukyu Kingdom
is thus also fairly unknown to the average
practitioner of the martial arts being a
regular citizen what takes place in the way
In every society there is a special group of people whose charge it
of police fighting skills and training.
For this edition of our magazine, we have is to protect the community at large. They are the men and women
chosen to inform you about the role that in law enforcement. The old Ryukyu Kingdom was no exception.
fighting skills and training plays within
the police world.
Unlike a typical military force, where lethality is the name of
We realize that a single edition of our the game, those involved in domestic law enforcement often are
magazine cannot show the complete required to bring down a suspect without resorting to lethal force.
spectrum. Although some interviews
It makes sense, then, that throughout history, those involved in this
published in this edition are related to
profession have developed effective, non-lethal weapon techniques
the Western European police forces,
particularly the Dutch police force, I am and unarmed tactics.
convinced nevertheless, that we offer
enough general information to the reader,
This article gives a brief overview of domestic law enforcement
which in turn will lead to some insight
in old Okinawa as well as the possible influence these people may
into and transparency of this closed
world where fighting skills and training have had on the development of Karate and Ryukyu Kobujutsu.
are concerned.
- Joe Swift -
Social, but also scientific developments
within the police force are constantly on
the move. In the area of Danger Control,
of which fighting skills and training at The Hirajo authorized to carry iron truncheons
the police force are a part, the scientific In the old Ryukyu Kingdom, civil law (Sai).
explanations for practical applicability of
enforcement was entrusted to a government The Saji (Ufusaji or senior cops and
self-defence have many areas of interest
facility known as the Hirajo. In addition to Wakisaji or junior cops) were in essence
for the average martial arts practitioner.
criminal and civil court systems and law street cops, and were authorized to carry
Partly because we can analyze, understand
and or improve our own skills, but perhaps enforcement, the employees at the Hirajo a long staff (Bo).
also to look at and examine our own self- also performed mundane activities such
defence aspect with a more critical eye. as keeping the streets clean, working For other overviews of the Hirajo in
on the land and in the forests of Shuri, English, see (McCarthy, 1993) and
As professionals doing their job, police
and guarding the Royal Tombs of Udun (McCarthy, 1995).
employees come eye to eye with the public
Yama (Hokama, 2007).
on the streets. Physical confrontations are
a part of their daily work, one in which “In addition to criminal and civil
the other party does not adhere to set The officials at the Hirajo included
court systems and law enforcement,
rules for confrontation. Incidents of judges (Nakamoto, 2007). Of these, the
the employees at the Hirajo also
violence are being registered over the Chiku (Ufuchiku or senior inspectors and
years, visions are being adjusted and new performed mundane activities such
Wakichiku or subordinate inspectors)
training methods are being adapted as as keeping the streets clean.”
acted as police inspectors, and were
adequately as possible, with limited and
restricted resources, as you will read, to
prepare the police officer for the physical Bojutsu
confrontations the work brings along. Bojutsu is the Okinawan martial art
of the long staff. As mentioned above,
Ttiphnlhe eti nhsmt eiyas w rtntoiao ayg sl a paoiornft r.sst etahlnfe-drd efeo farer tneh cmee paarnnaydc t iintthtieeorrnfeeafrco eoresf Okinawa Prefectural Library. tlaohocfen tci gvsr itimcrteiueiednstg a,c eliosln.,p csal nuoddf itnuhgsee dtHh ieirt a aijnop pctrhaeerhriiree ndds aitiohlyne
EdiLtoexr iOnp cdhaimef Courtesy of the Ais ltthheo ucgehn trdaelc pepratcivtiecley isni mmpolset, mthoed eBron
An old map of Shuri showing the location of the Hirajo.
House of the Pure Martial Arts WWW.MEIBUKANMAGAZINE.ORG No 10 JULY 2008 2
The photograph of Shinei Kyan below
shows a principle posture assumed during
the performance of solo Saijutsu kata.
Some of the classical kata of
Saijutsu include: ma, et al, 1989).
Ufuchiku no Sai Hoka
Matsuo, 1990). TsuCMkheaantt saSunhm Yituaarhraaa nknouo SnSoaai iSai From ( Various Sai.
m ( (see bibliography for details).
Fro Hama Higa no Sai Masanra Kanagusuku was born in 1837
Uehara Seikichi demonstrates a joint lock with the Bo. Kogusuku no Sai
It is believed that the law enforcement officers in the old in Tobaru, Shuri. Considered a master
Shinbaru no Sai
Ryukyu Kingdom were proficient in such techniques. of Sai-jutsu, much of his martial arts
Chibana no Sai
systems of Ryukyu Kobujutsu. In And many more. training came from Udun Yoshumura,
addition to the obvious techniques the man who helped Goju-Ryu karate
of blocking, deflecting, striking and Kanagusuku Ufuchiku founding father Kanryo Higaonna gain
thrusting, the Bo can also be used to lock Any discussion of the law enforcement passage to China.
the opponent’s joints and throw him or profession in feudal Okinawa and its Among Kanagusuku’s students were
her to the ground, as exemplified in the relationship to Ryukyu Kobujutsu Moden Yabiku and Shosei Kina. Kina
photographs. would not be complete without a short visited Kanagusuku in Gibo, Shuri,
description of the renowned Saijutsu in 1907 and learned Saijutsu from the
Some classical Bojutsu kata master, Masanra Kanagusuku, also venerable former police inspector, who
include: at that time ran an antique shop to eke out
a meagre living. He had lost his position
Shuji no Kon during the Meiji Restoration.
Sakugawa no Kon Kina was Kanagusuku’s last student.
Shirotaru no Kon True to the old ways, Kanagusuku had
Yonegawa no Kon
refused to teach the young man several
Chinen Shikiyanaka no Kon
times, but Kina’s persistence paid off,
Sunakake no Kon
and he trained with the master for five
SUUorfeauisgsohueis unnkoou KK Booonn Matsuo, 1990). yjuetasrus,, Slaeiajruntsinug a nthde B eosjsuetnsuc.e of Karate-
Sueyoshi no Kon From ( Kanagusuku often said, “If you are going
Tokumine no Kon Sakon Kanenori Matsuo, a student of Uehara Sei- to learn my style, you are not allowed to
Choun no Kon kichi, demonstrates a throw with the Bo. question the teachings or change the kata
And many more. known affectionately as Kanagusuku at your own whim.” He also admonished
Ufuchiku or Usumei Kani. The major his students not to drink alcohol, smoke
Saijutsu source for this capsule biography was tobacco or engage in gambling and
Saijutsu refers to the use of the pronged Masahiro Nakamoto’s 2007 publication fighting, as these went against the very
iron truncheon. Not unlike the Jutte (Jitte)
of mainland Japan, the Sai served as a
sort of police badge for the Ufuchiku.
In addition to this function as a status
symbol, the Sai was also used to give
orders to subordinates by waving it like a
conductor’s baton; as a tool in the control
of crowds or protecting the king, other
government officials or foreign diplomats;
as well as an effective weapon for defeating
and arresting criminals who dared resist.
In addition to its obvious martial appli-
cation, the Sai has been used since ancient
tiditemsx eetesf rfbietycyt , ikvaanerdnat eess tspr erinancg ttpihtrieoonnmienorgst ,i tnhbgee c mfiaunasgneeu roasfl, ma, et al, 1990).
wrists and forearms (Mabuni, et al, Hoka
m (
1938). Fro
Shinei Kyan, a student of Kina Shosei, demonstrates Ufuchiku-style Saijutsu.
House of the Pure Martial Arts WWW.MEIBUKANMAGAZINE.ORG No 10 JULY 2008 3
heart of the martial arts. Although Kana- Conclusion
gusuku did not drink, whenever he was
at a celebration, he would accept a cup The following is a partial list of
of alcohol and merely pretend to drink it, historical Okinawan martial ar-
out of courtesy to the man who offered tists working in law enforcement.
him the drink.
Sanda Kanagusuku
Kanagusuku served King Iku Sho and
Kenwa Mabuni2
King Tai Sho and traveled to Edo (old
Chojun Miyagi3
Tokyo) with them as a bodyguard.
Seko Higa
During this time, it is believed that an
Jinan Shinzato
Englishman snapped the now-famous
Meitoku Yagi
photograph of him (shown in the upper Eiichi Miyazato
right hand corner). Shoshin Nagamine
Although there were certainly others,
tthhee plirsotm aibnoenvte hsihstoowrisc atlh aant dm manoyde ornf moto, 2007).
Okinawan karate authorities had some Naka
connection to the police force. Perhaps m (
Fro
they were drawn to use their skills in an Saijutsu master and police inspector Masanra
Ufuchiku Kanagusuku. This photo was discovered by
uncontrolled combative environment. Or,
Kobudo master and historian Masahiro Nakamoto
perhaps it was the spirit of the Ufuchiku of the Bunbukan Dojo. It is believed to have been
and Chikusaji of old boiling in their taken by an Englishman in Edo (old Tokyo) on one
of Kanagusuku’s trips to the Japanese capitol as a
blood that sent them down this path.
bodyguard for either King Iku Sho or King Tai Sho.
Bibliography
Burial Rites of the World: Okinawa, online
resource. http://www.sousaiken.com/ssk/world/
Joe Swift is a 4th degree Goju- okinawa.html.
Hokama, T. (2007) Personal Communication:
ryu blackbelt. After 9 years of
Hirajo, Ufuchiku and Chikusaji, dated November
Mabuni, et al, 1938). shstteuu mddyioeivndeg dG I tsoosj huJai-npry-aruny uws ihinnec reteh h1ee 9U h9aS5s., 1ITMw3oa,ka b2iy,u0 oKn0: i.7A, ( .K2ir0.y 0au0nd)do M .Noatkoabsuo nCeh, oGk.i (&1 9R3y8u)k Kyuo bKoa Jriaztaei.
From ( He is currently an assistant Karate-do Nyumon. Tokyo: Kobukan.
Kenwa Mabuni, founder of Shito-ryu karate-do, was instructor at the Mushinkan McCarthy, P. (1993) “The Sapposhi, Pechin, and
a police officer in Okinawa. Samurai.” Karate International, Vol 3 No 10.
Shoreiryu Karate Kobudo Dojo
McCarthy, P. (1995) Bubishi: The Bible of Karate.
Even into his old age, Kanagusuku would
of Sensei Uematsu in Kanazawa, Rutland: Tuttle.
train his body by striking a makiwara he
Japan and is Shibucho of its Murakami, K. (2007) Personal Communication:
had built near his well, as well as by lifting Ufuchiku and Chikusaji, dated November 10,
Tokyo branch.
heavy stones and fetching buckets of 2007.
Nakamoto, M. (1997) Okinawa Dento Kobudo.
water from the well. Kanagusuku told his
Uruma: Yui Shuppan.
granddaughter Kiyo Iha, “After I die, check
For more information please visit: Uehara, S. (1995) Bu no Mai: Ryukyu Oke Hiden
my hips when you perform Shinkuchi1.” www.geocities.com/mushinkan_dojo_ Bujutsu Motobu Udundi. Tokyo: BAB Japan.
Kanagusuku finally passed away on tokyo/
October 13, 1916. Upon Shinkuchi, Kiyo
Iha noted that while on most normal
Notes
people, the hip bones became separated 1 Shinkuchi, literally “bone washing,” refers to the
after the flesh had rotted away, Usumei custom of old Ryukyu by which the body of the
deceased was placed in the family tomb for several
Kani’s hip structure was still intact. This
years, and then exhumed, the bones cleaned, and
truly was a testament to the hard training
reburied. There is a similar story regarding the
of the Ufuchiku. legendary Matsumura Bushi, as well.
2 According to Seikichi Uehara (1995), Choyu
“wwAholeuthnldoe vuaegcrhc h eKepa twn aaa gsc uaustpu a k ocufe dlaeildbc rnoaohttio odlnr ia,n nhkde, Moe“snpeofpcotoorrnecbteeu”nm tfta aewumnigtti.hhl ytC a Ka hrrooetp,ny kewu,n aiMon Mw loingtao bhabuts uo nM fia htolhliteseog pbaeourdts lUioytifd o ttunaynu iidnngig hl. ata wna m (Matsuo, 1990).
merely pretend to drink it, out of 3 Although not a police officer himself, Miyagi was Fro
Seikichi Uehara demonstrating a joint lock technique
the teacher of many in law enforcement and was
courtesy to the man who offered him on his student Sakon Kanenori Matsuo. Law enforce-
the karate instructor at the Ryukyu Police Academy
ment officers must have been proficient in such methods
the drink.” for several years following WWII. of restraint.
House of the Pure Martial Arts WWW.MEIBUKANMAGAZINE.ORG No 10 JULY 2008 4
S.P.E.A.R.: Spontaneous Protection
Enabling Accelerated Response
Interview with Erwin van Beek and Wytse Dijkstra
Both employed by the Dutch police force as instructors specialized in defensive tactics and firearms
training, Erwin van Beek and Wytse Dijkstra first met at the Dutch police academy in Ossendrecht
in 2003. Their martial background and mutual interest and passion for competence-aimed training
in the way of violence and danger for the executive police officer, led them to the S.P.E.A.R. system
by Tony Blauer. Today, both men promote and instruct the tactical S.P.E.A.R. system within Dutch
police education as a complete confrontation-simulation (replication) training system.
- by Lex Opdam -
What was/is your drive and how did your aimed training from that moment on. defence. Searching for the ultimate self-
search for competence-aimed training Another reason is that from my teaching defence sport, I never found an answer
begin? style, I am a real tester. That means that to my questions. I spoke with a lot of
Erwin: There are I think, several reasons everything I see, hear, do and am told, is different professionals and studied a lot.
why I have this drive: Firstly, it has to be subject to testing of whether it is true or At a certain point, I started focussing on
in you. The interest, the passion is not not. This means that I always want to test street fights through police experience
taught primarily, but something from if something is right or not. Throughout and the psychology behind them. That
within. From the moment I became an the years, my passion and drive have is where I eventually saw the light
instructor for the Royal Constabulary grown, especially because you eventually and took the street fight as the starting
(Police, KMAR), I found myself in an reach a product and have a ‘team’ that is point for training instead of looking for
environment where I was stimulated to built solidly and a scientifically founded the best fighting system to fit real life
think about the question of ‘practical product that has proven its value in both situations.
training.’ Partly it’s intrinsic motivation, the police and military world. Since
(you do not always know from where it 1997, I have studied Tony Blauer’s work
Erwin van Beek
springs, but it nevertheless just is) and and since 2003 we have been working
the stimulation due to my surroundings together vigilantly and have become true
Erwin started practising Judo at age
led me to always search for competence- friends. In the end, we want to do our
4 and Thai boxing at age 15. In both
part by offering safe and efficient ways
disciplines, he has fought many
for police officers and the military who
fights nationally and internationally.
often have to do their job under severe
Following his study at the Academy
circumstances on an almost daily basis.
for Physical Education, he has
worked for the army as sports
Wytse: The reason many practitioners
instructor and then went to work
of martial sports, myself included,
for the Royal Constabulary. Here
begin training lies not so much with the
he worked as instructor Arrest
aesthetic or background of the martial
and Self-defence and as Firearms
sport, but more with its use in way of
ms. instructor. During this time, Erwin
Blauer Tactical Syste dpcoehmfieloen scmoep.u hTcyhh eol afft eemer.l aiMnrgtia,a nlby as cmpkoagrrrttosia uuln ssdup aoalnrltdys gIrenasi en1ae9rdc9 hh7 ios, npE ovrliiwocleie nnd,ce egw,r echeai.ml ee dacorionsgs
Dijkstra/ pbaraccktgitrioounnedrs f oler awvhea tth iet ips uanredl yc odnecfeenntsriavtee Tony Blauer’s Panic Attack System.
Wytse on the martial art as if it were martial In 2001, Erwin started working
Beek/ sport. It is often about gaining ranks, for the Police academy where his
Erwin van belts etc. Of course, I have done that porfi mthaer yS WtasAkT i s& t oC toruainnt emr eamssbaeurlst
Courtesy of athlsoou,g hbtu at nId h darvivee n oefv seerl fl-edte fthene cfee geloi.n Ign, tienasmtrus.c Htoer sa ldsoe fteenacsihvees otathcetirc pso alincde
Erwin van Beek in action during a CQB (Close the time that UFC, MMA/free-fight came
firearms training.
Quarter Battle) training at the Olive Group (leading
into the picture, I concentrated on the
training centre in the USA) in Memphis, USA, 2007.
House of the Pure Martial Arts WWW.MEIBUKANMAGAZINE.ORG No 10 JULY 2008 5
analyzed actual real-life fights, the one who train every day, but is set by the
TS. thing that has become more than clear is police officer and soldier who perform
B
Wytse Dijkstra/ tdihsi aftfhte terh eden eatc ctiotsu itavhlee r sefapaclo-trlotisfre. fi Lfigighkhte.t T Iis hs caeoi ‘dma:m palbpeupteslelhys’ ttthhheeei ‘mra dmousbtti uedssah no’gn oe arr osduuarsipl ysri itbsuaeas atiistot,a ncc oaknn.sdi dthearitn igs
win van Beek/ and oranges… Can you describe what you mean by
Er
Courtesy of (thEa)t , Wit hbeenco ymoeus ap ucto mthpea rqisuoens toiof ns ploirktes ‘(aWm)b Tushhe’ ?ambush is the element of
Wytse Dijkstra during a crowd control penetration like kick boxing, judo, MMA, etc., surprise in an attack. When we talk
training at the Olive Group in Memphis USA, 2006.
but actually, I never asked myself that about sports fighting, there is often a
What were your questions concerning question. I myself have never made the referee who signals the beginning of a
your search for the ultimate self-defence comparison between sports. From the fight, the location (mat, ring, cage) is
sport? moment I started this profession, I have determined beforehand, fighters know
(W) My main question was, like many constantly asked myself what works on who they are fighting, there are certain
practitioners of martial sports, what the streets. In the process, I (we) looked rules etc. When we look at an actual
would be the ultimate (martial) training at all of these martial sports, took what real-life fight, the attacker determines
for the ‘real life combat situation.’ It is was best from them all, and combined the time of the attack, the location, the
or was a bit like comparing apples and that into a police/military package. Later length of the attack etc., etc. The other is
oranges. You could pit a practitioner I discovered that this was not so much taken by surprise. This surprise triggers
of Jiu Jitsu up against a karate-ka, or a bad start, as that it was cutting corners a primary reaction within which it is not
stage a wrestler against a kick boxer, a bit to try to translate the best of each possible to apply refined motor skills
but the question would remain…what martial sport into police/military use. (physiologically). The trick is to survive
would happen in a real fight? Because Eventually, I wondered whether what this short ambush moment so you are
during the years that I have studied and we were teaching could be applied in able to actually engage in the fight
Wytse Dijkstra
Wytse started practising the martial
arts of Judo and Jiu Jitsu around
1988. After this, he developed
himself further in the way of
boxing, Krav Maga, and Brazilian
Jiu Jitsu.
In 2002, Wytse finished his study at
taPAhnoredrl Aie cswceta e adfnneotdm rt cSoye e fwloafrs-o d PrSekhfp yeaosntir ccttaseh l.e iEn drseutgrcuiaoctintooanrl Blauer Tactical Systems.
From this position, Wytse moved Dijkstra/
on to the Police academy. Since Wytse
2004, he has worked as instructor Beek/
defensive tactics and firearm training win van
and has been partly responsible for Er
dEedvueclaotpioinn gf oarn odt hperro ivnisdtriuncgt oPros.l ice Courtesy of
FLTR: Erwin van Beek, Tony Blauer and Wytse Dijkstra are guests with the Navy Seals at the Virginia Beach
Together with Erwin van Beek and during a Navy Seals demonstration in Little Creek USA, 2008.
others, Wytse provides the extra
stressful situations and if combining (startle flinch conversion).
training at the Police academy for
several skills was the most important part (E) Complementing what Wytse has just
the current instructors, speciality
of what we were trying to teach. As Wytse stated, the theory is that if an impulse is
courses for the SWAT & Counter
referred to, the psychology and science introduced too quickly (by the aggression
assault teams, but also for specialist
behind police and military work has now and suddenness or distance of the attack)
units from abroad. Together with
become our starting point. Everything we the cognitive brain is closed off and
Erwin, Wytse has worked abroad
do has to tie in with how people react and the ‘reptilian brain’ takes over. We are
with different police units such as
move in violent situations in their most referring to an actual surprise attack
Search and Rescue, SWAT, DVA
basic sense. Furthermore, the standard that knocks out our fine motor skills and
etc.
is not set by us as instructors and people disables our technical ability. We are of
House of the Pure Martial Arts WWW.MEIBUKANMAGAZINE.ORG No 10 JULY 2008 6
the opinion that if you are aware of this, That summarizes it quite well and makes
you should prepare for that moment and one think.
your training should reflect what happens BTS.
to people at that moment. The part of the Dijkstra/ Can you explain in what ways you pay
brain that is responsible for survival can Wytse attention to the feeling of restriction of
indeed be taught. The provision is that Beek/ action by police officers as you stated
what you learn is not technically based win van earlier?
but follows on from the genetic make Er (E) What I mean by that, without going
u‘spta ortfl em flainn.c Ahn cdo nthvaetr sisio wn’h.at we call the Courtesy of ionftfioc edre taanidl /tooro s omlduicehr , isis atlhwaaty as bpooulincde
Erwin presents a shield of the Dutch Police academy
to Tony Blauer at the USA Police academy in Las by legal rules. In the military, they refer
In a physical confrontation there is always Vegas USA, 2005. to this as “rules of engagement.” These
a phase preceding the confrontation, offer prepares your brain for that surprise rules often restrict the action taken by
the confrontation itself and the phase moment. If the surprise does not happen, a police officer or soldier, because his
following the confrontation. You both you can deal with the rest of what is thoughts are occupied by figuring out
mention the fact that you began focussing happening because you were prepared which rules apply. In any case this is
on street fights and that the ambush for the worst. In the end, the entire how they perceive it, whether it actually
surprise element is the defining factor in S.P.E.A.R. principle can be used as a works that way remains the question.
the first moment of physical confrontation. tactical weapon. Firstly, we try not to show people the
If we take a closer look at actual police restrictions of the law but the possibilities
work and the physical confrontations You mention a much-underestimated it offers. Then we try and teach people
between police and citizens, what are way of thinking that is largely forgotten to take certain steps within a violent
the most important tools for the officer in current education. I presume you are situation so that they can do their job
to control the danger, in this case from referring to police and military education. more safely and better. Do not get me
physical confrontation? Can you elaborate on this? wrong, we remain within the legal para-
(E) What we do is never only look at the (E) Not only police education, but also meter, however the way we approach this
confrontation itself but in particular how reality based ‘self-defence’ education. within our education, determines how
it brought itself into being. We call that All you come across is education based people deal with it.
the stimulus before the stimulus before on motor skills. The motor skills taught
the stimulus… in other words reaching are often very technical and involve
back from the moment of attack and fine motor skills. As a sport, there is of
researching what preceded it. In this course nothing wrong with that, but when BTS.
manner, you become able to read the you study actual street fights etc., you Dijkstra/
attack before it happens. Signalling notice that hardly any of that remains Wytse
signs and body language or pre-contact in extremely violent and aggressive Beek/
cues (PCC) can mean being able to take real life situations. Furthermore, it is win van
action in early phases to avoid further often thought that the psychological Er
ecsocnaflliactti own itahn dm puocshs ilbelsys ruesseo lovfi nfgo rtchee. sbiudte thshaot uisld t hbeen praeiddu mceodr et oa tmteinntdiosnet tion, Courtesy of
FRTL: Wytse Dijkstra, Erwin van Beek and Tony
This remains a much-underestimated its smallest form being the willingness Blauer with Head Trainer Tony Torres of Blauer Tac-
way of thinking and is largely forgotten to fight. Obviously this is a part of it, tical at the Police Academy in Las Vegas USA, 2005.
in current education. The psychological but through the S.P.E.A.R. system you We teach our students to deal with many
battle with oneself and the suspect are train the mindset in a broader sense as different kinds of confrontations. The first
considered and of course the conflict a total awareness of danger in a certain confrontation is with yourself. You have
with the legal system, the bystanders, the scenario. to overcome yourself to reach the second
press etc., but they are taken into account What has the highest chance of success confrontation, which is the confrontation
in that order. Police officers regularly feel in an ambush cannot be too technically with the suspect, as we just discussed.
limited by the legal system and often ask based. Perhaps someone who practises Difficult and radical questions/answers
themselves before taking action whether his sport daily under very high stress and decisions that for example deal with
they are allowed to. This is a real-life levels will be able to reproduce his tech- the willingness to shoot someone or kill
issue of police work and military work niques, but our question is, can his or if necessary, are dealt with in this first
and so we pay attention on how to deal her students do the same? This brings to confrontation. This harsh reality is a
with that. Then we spend time on the mind two sayings by Tony Blauer: part of the police officer’s/soldier’s job
ambush itself in which the actual attack “Do not show your students what you and handled in a certain way within our
comes by surprise. Because even though can do, show them what they can do.” educational system (the psychology of
you prepare yourself perfectly and are And, ‘fear management’).
completely focussed, you can always “Be careful what you practice, you may The third confrontation is the one with
be taken by surprise. The training we get very good at the wrong thing.” the legal system. In actuality, you often
House of the Pure Martial Arts WWW.MEIBUKANMAGAZINE.ORG No 10 JULY 2008 7
see the reverse and that is that the (E) Tony Blauer always says that everyone
civil servants are occupied with rules flinches the same, but differently… there Primal Protective Tactical
and regulations at the wrong moment. are many different reflexes and shock
This slows down reaction time with reactions depending on the scenario,
the possible consequence of escalation but one thing that always happens
rather than de-escalation of a situation. is that the hands go up to protect the
Precisely by recognizing the signals and ‘command centre.’ The hands always
body language, one can react (“forward locate themselves between the threat and
thinking”) early on in a proportional the primary brain. The distance between
manner. the danger and the brain determines the
Unfortunately, society is quick to judge distance between the hands and the face.
and leaves it often impossible for the The closer the danger, the closer the
A
soldier or police officer to make the hands will be to the head. The body’s
right decision. If you do not act, people reaction is to move itself away from the
walk over you and when you do act, danger…which is why when the danger
they call it police brutality. We have a comes at an angle, people turn away.
lot of respect for the men and women After the primary reaction, the raising
who put their lives on the line every day of hands, all people when experiencing
to keep our society one worth living in an attack, will try to push the danger
and we want to do our part to help in the away.
difficult task they have on the streets and Within the S.P.E.A.R. system, we learn
in war zones. how to transform these reflexive
movements into tactical action. An B
In what way does one get through the actual surprise attack will cause the body
short ambush moment? to be off balance and the drills from the
(E) By using the startle-flinch conversion, S.P.E.A.R. system teach you to deal with
developed by Tony Blauer’s S.P.E.A.R. regaining your balance from this state
system. The S stands for Spontaneous, the of unbalance - that is the training of the
P for Protection and refers to the defensive response to the startle flinch, to be able
system that is wired genetically into to come back into the fight and to come
everyone’s brain and which is activated to a point of domination... and to think
when one feels threatened and/or attacked forward.
by extremely aggressive violence. The A
C
and R stand for Accelerated Response, To think forward… you mean thinking
this is the training that leads one to be ahead from the moment that the main
able to convert that primary response into brain can once again handle thought and
a logical tactical follow-up. Under this then act tactically?
amount of stress, actions based on gross (E) Thinking forward has a double
motor skills, not technical skills can be meaning…
carried out. Eventually you can use this We want to teach people to think
information within the full tactical conduct forward, which means recognizing
of the police officer of soldier… and that and acknowledging situations and pre-
is what we call S.P.E.A.R. tactics. What contact cues, and then acting upon them
all this looks like, is best understood and thus being in action. Action beats
D
by experiencing and seeing it. We are reaction…, but being in action is faster
always prepared to give demonstrations than action, to quote Tony Blauer.
aIinnn dtth hcielsa areirdftyiitc itlohen in bogyfs EMornie cri ebCquuokebasnbt ,. Mpuabglaizsihneed, Itaahtwr eeia sumy ng ofbermanolemeatnni ctct haeoledlf y dia nimdr eaebc tbeutirasomhcnk i wwnoefea d rdfi datsrhns amgtltey orf t rtiauoonrmnnd. Blauer Tactical Systems.
he speaks about universal reactions to Because we practise this over and Dijkstra/
danger such as pushing away, protecting over in our lessons (the startle flinch Wytse
and turning away. Are these the only conversion), we classically condition Beek/
pskriilmlsa irny rreesapcotnisoen sto udsainngge rg roor sasr em thoetorer ofluinrcsehl vase st h(eP saivglnoavl froera cthtieo nb)r,a iuns tion gr etahcet Erwin van E
ofatlhlienrgs fsruocmh aa tsr ecel)a amndp iinng w (hlaikt ere wlathioenn wtacitthic aal fcooruwnaterdr tmhaot tiiso nn ofto tlelochwneidca bl yb uat Courtesy of
Badguy attacks with a Haymaker and Tony Torres
do they stand to each other? uses gross motor skills. responds using the S.P.E.A.R. principle Primal
Protective Tactical.
House of the Pure Martial Arts WWW.MEIBUKANMAGAZINE.ORG No 10 JULY 2008 8
In the Dutch police educational system, the legally stated regulations and the thinking can offer the entire police
trainee officers are taught several specific great thing about the whole S.P.E.A.R. education. As an example, in England it
techniques at the Police academy. These science is that it does not contradict pre- is already legally stated* that S.P.E.A.R.
techniques are then maintained at a viously attained competences. is taught within the police educational
system. Wytse and I currently have many
contacts in other European countries
that recognize how multi-functional all
this is.
When and how did you start the
introduction of the S.P.E.A.R. system in
the Netherlands?
ms.
Dijkstra/Blauer Tactical Syste (AtqIh Eusta)tittat a ecIsr ntkeedls dfisp-f ydifirseneetrftederemo nnbdtc yauetn c oiTdi nn op gfsnor poylcoim ocrBent s mcl saeiesyup l etsfosr-o wd’misenn ef P et1vhan9iinecn9iweg7c,
Wytse within the Royal Constabulary (police,
Beek/ KMAR) and later within the police
win van force. Initially we practised the scenario
Er
Courtesy of icno nav esnoimenetw shurarto uronudginhg .f oTrhme ewmitphhians ias
High Gear™ is a training suit developed by Tony Blauer and integrated in Blauer’s S.P.E.A.R. system which was on the mindset of being willing to
can by used with any method of scenario-based training. fight and skills using the KISS principle
certain standard and practised more in- Several workgroups are being put together of Keeping It Short and Simple. At first,
depth within the regional police force (within the academy in Ossendrecht, the I did what seemed best to me and taught
where the police officers are stationed police academies for basic training and mainly based on what felt right. By
after their initial training. What relation the regional police forces) to determine continuously researching Tony’s work,
does the S.P.E.A.R. system hold to this? if and how the S.P.E.A.R. system can be the teachings became more scientifically
(E) It is indeed so that new police officers integrated and how to adjust the current based and our education became more
are taught a set of skills which are then skills test. Wytse and I hold an advisory complete. Now, we spend a lot of time
kept in practise in their own regional capacity. on the total awareness of the people,
police force after their basic training. On request, we organize workshops which enables them to recognize and
This is laid down by law and each police to answer questions people have and acknowledge danger and or violence in
officer has to take a test of these skills to actually school people in the theory an early stage and act accordingly. In the
every year. Our society is dynamic, and practise of the S.P.E.A.R. system. meantime, we are now able to support all
changing all the time and Wytse and In all probability there will also be a of our teachings scientifically and that is
I agree that the education has to be certified S.P.E.A.R. course in the summer unique. Everything fits together and we
continually evaluated as to whether it still of 2008 to give people an even better therefore also call it the “Lego system.”
applies to the current situation. picture of what this manner of scientific In 2003, Wytse and I methodically started
If you want to change things, you have to
do it step-by-step and so we made a step-
by-step plan to bring things up to date.
The way it now stands in the Netherlands
is as follows:
In several of the courses within the
speciality courses that are taught at the
Police academy in Ossendrecht, there are
ms.
aAhiwmlalirvstephoeali ,edn asmy letr hveeSeane.idrPtraiy .ntEl e gto.aaA fck th.theRhinene. gcSrs.oey .IguPsni.rtoE sepenm.asAar ltw .iifRncoiflut.rh lucsa eeyurs,nss tTc teahehmraseet. Dijkstra/Blauer Tactical Syste
Hague and several of the regional police Wytse
forces in Brabant are leading the way and Beek/
the basic academy in Amsterdam has a win van
ntou mimbeprl eomf einnstt rtuhceto Srs. Pw.Eh.oA a.rRe. wsyosrtkeimng. Courtesy of Er
Everything is being done according to High Gear™ in action with a block against a Haymaker during a BMF (Ballistic Micro-Fights™) course in
Greenbay, USA.
House of the Pure Martial Arts WWW.MEIBUKANMAGAZINE.ORG No 10 JULY 2008