About LtCol. Darren C. Poesel, USMC
My experience comes from nearly three decades of training, earning advanced ranks in a variety of systems, both Eastern and Western, along with 25 years of close quarter combat and military training in the USMC. This accumulation of experience gained over the years has taught me that martial arts are not self defense. While martial arts and sports develop character, fitness, increase confidence and sense of fair play, they do not prepare you for the predators who don't play by the rules and who seek to impose their will on whomever they choose. Unlike martial arts, self defense is a necessary life skill, a combination of tactics and principles that can be learned in an extremely short amount of time.
In my opinion, I feel that any self-defense that is geared for the civilian sector needs to cover three factors:
Pre-conflict phase: A solid grasp of both situational and emotional awareness, avoidance and escape; which sets the foundation of good self-defense. Plus, an understanding of today's predator, pre-conflict body language cues along with an awareness of the adrenal response and how it can affect your actions. Good personal security and street-smart awareness must be the power base for your 'stay safe' game plan. But lurking just below the surface must lie a cultivated mind-set that holds an unwavering conviction - that if you are offered violence, then you are prepared to respond in kind, overwhelmingly.
Conflict phase: The physical part of the question, built from a power base of combative mindset and attitude. This part, if unavoidable, is made up of 90% attitude and 10% physical skill. This is why I am drawn to the methods of Western Combatives. My training is very much influenced by people who have tested their systems under the pressure of reality - be this in 'live' situations, dynamic simulation and scenario training, or a combination of both. In short, the people who know that what they have will stand up without hesitation or indecision at the moment of truth. From the likes of Fairbain and Sykes pressure testing their 'Defendu' system in the violent streets of 1920's Shanghai and then in the jungles of the Pacific during WW II, I am committed to teaching "principles" outlined in the Self Defense workshops which have helped many individuals, like you, realize the confidence and potential they didn't know they had using basic easy to learn concepts influenced by the teaching of the late Mr. Carl Cestari and is approach to practical self-defense. The Self Defense Company is a continuation of Carl Cestari's combative legacy. I am very proud to be associated with it and Damian Ross who carries Carl's mantle with honor and integrity.
Post-conflict phase: All actions carry consequences such as possible: injury, legal action and police involvement. You need to understand the relevance of self-protection and the law particularly regarding pre-emption striking, while knowing how to address law enforcement officials after-the-fact and answer the question "what do I do now?"
On that note I will end my introduction by asking you to read this offering with an open mind, and leave you with the following two-fold commitment:
1) I will teach you the same conflict management and combative principles I have taught both U.S. and Coalition and military service members, members of the US Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan, international contractors and civilians
2) In as few as 10 lessons, I will teach you what you need to know in order to identify and avoid the most potentially dangerous situations while equipping you with the emotional and physical skills allowing you to level the playing field against a determined assailant.
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