Tag: self-defense

IS CARRYING A BLADE RIGHT FOR YOU?

IS CARRYING A BLADE RIGHT FOR YOU?

Posted on by Evan Perperis

GUEST COLUMNIST:
EVAN PERPERIS — A U.S. ARMY SPECIAL FORCES MAJOR (RETIRED) & A CHAMPION OBSTACLE COURSE RACER

Picture this: It’s my first Tiga Tactics in-person seminar after taking most of their online courses. I’m sitting in a room full of martial artists from a variety of disciplines.

Dr. Conrad asks the group, “Who carries a knife for self-defense?” Much to my surprise only about half the hands go up. I’m honestly shocked — I assum it would be 100%. After all, the event is called the EDC Knife Seminar — as in Everyday-Carry Knife Seminar.

Of course, there is no wrong answer. But we went around the room discussing why each person chose to carry or not carry. Looking back now, I found the answers to be very interesting. Here were some of the things people said. They raised some key questions you should ask yourself if you are planning on carrying a blade as tool that can be used for self-protection:

  • Willingness to Use It: The most common reason not to carry an edged tool had to do with mindset. Several people cited that if they were in a self-protection situation (even life or death) they don’t think they would be able to use it.

    If this shocks you, perhaps you haven’t dug into what real life knife attacks look like. When someone uses a knife against another person, it is messy, violent and chaotic. If you aren’t mentally prepared for that, it may be very traumatic.

    It is not like the movies with one stab and the bad guy collapses. Rather, it is often repeated plunges into the flesh resembling a sewing machine or a psycho stab (check out the Knife Defense course if you want to learn the defense against the two most common types of knife attacks).  

    There are knife self-defense situations in which there are 10 or 20 stabs to get the attacker off the victim. Why so many?

    Often the person being stabbed doesn’t realize they are getting stabbed; they assumed they were being punched. However, when they look down do they realize they are being stabbed as they see or feel blood on their body. If the bad guy is truly committed to hurting you, they are going to keep attacking until they are physically unable to continue. This requires more than a single puncture wound. The victim continues to defend with the knife simply because the attacker continues to attack.


  • Fear of Using It: Bouncing off the first reason, some of the attendees cited that they don’t carry one because they have a short temper. I thought this was a very mature decision by martial artists who were OK exposing their own flaws.

    Essentially, they were worried that if they always carried one, they might use it in a situation where it was not 100% necessary.


  • Consequences of Using It: Piggybacking on the first two reasons is the consequences of using it. If you use a blade in self-defense, there is a good chance that you may take the life of your attacker. Can you deal with the psychological trauma of having to go through that?

    (Side note: As an Army Special Forces veteran who deployed to combat zones frequently over my career, I had not even considered this. My coworkers and I crossed that hurdle so far in the past I had forgotten that for most people that is still a big step. Not wrong one way or the other, just something I hadn’t considered in a long time.)

    On the flip side, could you deal with psychological trauma of what might happen if you don’t defend yourself?


  • Lack of Knowledge on Implementation: For those martial artists who didn’t study a bladed art or rookies who never trained in anything, they didn’t have the skillset to effectively employ the tool. Luckily for them they were at a knife seminar and luckily for you, that same information is now available online via the EDC Knife program.


  • Worried About Getting Disarmed: The fifth reason has to do with the requirement to use the tool in close range. Most muggings or street attacks are street ambushes, as evidenced by Dr. Conrad Bui and Patrick Vuong’s research studying security footage.

    This means that the fight starts in the punching, trapping, or standing grappling ranges. When you are that close, there is a saying that “your weapons become our weapons”. This means that you are so close that if you lack the knowledge on implementation along with retention, your own tool can be taken away from you and used against you. Both of these also receive solutions by taking the EDC Knife course.

 

Carrying a blade for self-defense is not for everyone. There are plenty of reasons to carry one and plenty of reasons not to.

However, if you are going to carry something you better know how to use it. This is true for carrying a pistol, a knife, pepper spray, or one of those self-defense keychains (if you choose to go that route).

If you don’t take the time to improve your mindset and skillset via Tiga Tactics online courses, you won’t be able to perform them under pressure. Take the time now and start training today.

HOW TO SELECT A SELF-DEFENSE FLASHLIGHT

HOW TO SELECT A SELF-DEFENSE FLASHLIGHT

Posted on by Evan Perperis

GUEST COLUMNIST:
EVAN PERPERIS — A U.S. ARMY SPECIAL FORCES MAJOR (RETIRED) & A CHAMPION OBSTACLE COURSE RACER

In the past, I’ve talked about why a knife makes an excellent everyday-carry (EDC) tool. However, not all environments allow you to carry a blade — e.g. airport, federal buildings, and cities with restrictive laws.

Furthermore, there are some people who don’t feel comfortable carrying a blade for self-protection for a variety of reasons. There are other choices that include less-lethal options, like a Kubotan or pocketstick. However, if I’m going to carry an object I can use for self-defense, I prefer if it has some other functions, such as a very sturdy pen, a KeySmart-style keychain or, in this case, a flashlight.

Here are a couple of key things I look for when choosing an EDC Flashlight:

  • Sturdiness: While it doesn’t have to be made out of Adamantium (Wolverine’s claws), it should be durable. If I drop my flashlight or hit something with it and it breaks, it is too weak. There’s no hard rule — like, it has to be made out of material X, but it should feel strong and sturdy in your hands.

    I tend to like brands like SureFire, which I know are comfortable with the ruggedness of military usage and are designed to withstand the recoil of being attached to a rifle.

  • Lumens: You want a flashlight that has a bright output. Just like sturdiness, there is not magic number of lumens you are looking for. Furthermore, every flashlight company measures lumens differently so I would only compare the lumens number if you are comparing within the same brand. Additionally, be aware that the brighter the flashlight is, the quicker the batteries will need to be replaced.

    In my opinion, the brighter the better — but there is a tradeoff associated with brightness, and it usually comes at the cost of weight, size, and price.

  • Size: You don’t need the giant Maglite flashlight with three D-cell batteries from the 1980s. (Do they still make those? Google tells me they do.) I need something I can carry in my pocket and not have it be uncomfortable or weigh me down.

    Personally, I like ones with a carry clip just like a folding knife. This means all my repetitions where I practice drawing a folder under pressure will transfer over better than if I have to pull my flashlight out of a pouch. For flashlights, I want it to extend just slightly beyond my hand with a closed grip. This means the striking edge sticks out the bottom, but not so far out the bottom that someone else could grab it and pry it away from me.

  • Single-Hand Activation: Your flashlight should be able to be activated one handed. This means if it is a twist flashlight, I would put it back on the shelf. Button- or switch-activated flashlights will depend on the placement of the button. Since I like to hold my flashlight in a reverse or icepick-style grip, I want the activation button near the back of the flashlight.

  • Not Too Aggressive: You can buy some flashlights with crazy beveled edges in the front that look more like a weapon than my knife. Chances are, if you are buying something like that, authorities won’t let you carry it anywhere that doesn’t allow self-defense tools. Instead, I like something with a slight edge but little or no bevels on the front.

  • Fits Well in My Hand: Finally, my EDC flashlight needs to fit in my hand well. The grip can’t be too slippery, the thickness can’t be too thick or too thin, and I need to be able to put my thumb on the tail of it. If it has a sharp tail cap (more of a problem with tactical pens than flashlights) it is of little use. The last thing I want to do is strike something and my thumb takes more damage than the target.

As with anytime I talk toolset for Tiga Tactics, I can’t emphasize enough the importance of getting the right mindset and skillset for implementation.

For Tiga Tactics, they have a specialized course that focuses on EDC Flashlight that I highly recommend taking. It not only talks flashlight selection as well as uses for striking, but also for using it as its primary purpose: to illuminate the unknown in the dark.

A KINDERGARTEN GRADUATION IN CHAOS

A KINDERGARTEN GRADUATION IN CHAOS

Posted on by Patrick Vuong

A kindergarten graduation in Ohio was cancelled last week after a massive brawl broke out between parents.

One woman was hospitalized.

Another was arrested for felonious assault.

The scrap was over seats, according to reports. Words were exchanged. Tempers flared. 

Then hair was pulled, punches were thrown, and people were shoved down.

“I never in a million years would have thought that would happen at a kindergarten graduation ceremony,” said Craig Mays, a parent who said he was suckerpunched then stomped on by multiple people.

This is why situational awareness and emotional discipline matter.

Our top 3 takeaways:

1) Social aggression often starts small.
Not with elaborate plans or a weapon being brandished, but with a look, a cuss word, or even just a perceived slight. Essentially, it’s ego, entitlement, and escalation. 

2) Crowds change behavior.
After one person loses emotional control, others often follow. Mob mentality is real, and it happens fast.

3) Discretion is a self-defense skill.
The ability to recognize nonverbal cues, manage distance, and regulate emotions can keep situations from spiraling.

This is exactly why we train.

Not to become paranoid.

Not to become aggressive.

But to become calmer under pressure, harder to intimidate, and more capable when chaos erupts.

If you want practical training for handling uncertainty and violence, join us for the San Francisco stop of Toolset Training Tour on July 18-19.

This is not theory-based martial arts choreography.

This is training built around:

  • Awareness and prevention
  • Analysis of real-world attacks
  • Ethical decision-making under stress
  • Practical tactics and techniques rooted in reality

Whether you’re new to training or experienced, this seminar will sharpen the way you think about personal protection.

Get Real-World Training here
DEEP DIVE INTO THE SLOGAN, “RUN IF YOU CAN. DESTROY IF YOU MUST™

DEEP DIVE INTO THE SLOGAN, “RUN IF YOU CAN. DESTROY IF YOU MUST™

Posted on by Evan Perperis

GUEST COLUMNIST: Evan Perperis, an Army Special Forces Soldier (retired) Shares His Thoughts on Our Motto​

 

Talking with some of my military coworkers — who are the most lethal people I know — we were talking about the spectrum of violence and what happens if we get into a fight.

Where I stand, and where many of the smartest members of the military I know agreed, is I’m going to do everything I can do avoid a fight. Why?

This includes reasons like:

  • I don’t want to seriously hurt someone.
  • I don’t want any additional legal/financial/psychological trouble
  • I don’t know the skill level of the guy I’m fighting (too high and I get hurt, too low and it’s not even fair)
  • I don’t know what model he is operating under (e.g. Is he going to start the fight by stabbing me?)
  • And maybe because it is simply not the nice thing to do.

This means that I’ll do everything to avoid the fight. I’ll be kind, try to deter the aggression, deescalate the brewing conflict and, even if it hurts my ego, I’ll run away.

When all of these have failed and my life or the lives of my family are in danger, we switch to the “destroy if you must.”

Destroying may mean everything up to and including lethal options, if required. It is not something I’m looking to do, want to do or am seeking, but is a part of being a protector (like a member of the military or just ethical civilian). Destroying doesn’t always mean lethal; it may just mean preventing the threat from continuing the attack and allowing space for those in danger to get to safety.

The spectrum of violence in real life (excluding training or sport fighting) goes from nothing to serious bodily harm with almost nothing in between. There simply is not a good reason to fight outside of a sportive or training center otherwise.

If you haven’t adopted many of the slogans and life lessons of Tiga Tactics, it is time to start looking at yourself in the mirror. Then think through the long-term consequences and 2nd/3rd order effects that may come from being too aggressive.

You’ll find if you stick to Tiga Tactics mindset, you’ll hopefully never have to use the skillset and toolset portion of the Pyramid of Personal Protection.

Run If You Can, Destroy If You Must™ (merchandishe now available here)

THE WORST SELF-DEFENSE ADVICE?

Posted on by Patrick Vuong

OUR CO-FOUNDER PATRICK VUONG DISCUSSES ONE OF THE MOST HOLLOW ADVICE HE'S HEARD FROM SO-CALLED EXPERTS.

“Just run.”
 
This is among the worst self-defense advice I’ve heard from so-called experts.
 
And sadly, I’m hearing it a lot more lately because social media has given them a much larger megaphone to spread their nonsense.
 
“Just run” ranks right up there with “Just stand up” in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and “Just shoot ‘em” in the firearms world.
 
If ONLY it were that easy!
 
People who spout such hollow advice have obviously never practiced against a resistant partner, let alone realistically pressure-tested at full speed and power.
 
This is why my co-founder Dr. Conrad Bui and I have the motto, “Run if you can. Destroy if you must.”
 
The second phrase doesn’t necessarily mean taking a life; it could be destroying a bad guy’s intent to harm us or, say, destroying his hand so he can no longer hold a weapon.
 
Evan Perperis knows all too well what “destroy if you must” means.
 
During his two decades in the U.S. Army, this retired Special Forces soldier spent a whopping 44 months deployed to the Middle East.
 
Yet, he still found himself running — literally.
 
Even though he was in the world’s most dangerous war zones, Evan continued to train for Obstacle Course Racing (OCR) events when he wasn’t battling terrorists.
 
Needless to say, this OCR world champion understands how to stay safe while training outdoors.
 
And he’s going to share both his combat expertise and real-world experiences at our Runners Guide to Self-Defense Webinar on February 23.
 
In this exclusive 1-hour online seminar, we’re teaming up with the retired Green Beret to unveil how to:

  • Avoid the most common (and deadly) mistakes while working out.

  • Develop a training plan that will deter criminals.

  • Make small adjustments to gear and apparel for maximum safety.

 
There will also be a Q&A segment so you can ask him anything and get candid answers from a combat veteran.
 
This live-streaming event will enhance your personal protection skills — regardless if you’re an athlete, a hiker, or even just a walking enthusiast.
 
If you register by Valentine’s Day, you’ll not only lock in the best price but also receive lifetime access to a recording of the webinar.
 
But don’t wait, because attendance will be capped.

Click here to reserve your slot now

WHY MALES NEED WOMEN’S SELF-DEFENSE

Posted on by Evan Perperis

GUEST COLUMNIST:
EVAN PERPERIS — A U.S. ARMY SPECIAL FORCES SOLDIER & A CHAMPION OBSTACLE COURSE RACER

I’ve been training in various styles of martial arts for several years and spent most of my adult life preparing for and then deploying to combat zones around the world for the U.S. Army.

Despite having significantly more self-defense training than the average person, I recently attended two different spouse/women’s self-defense seminars — one online through Tiga Tactics and one in person offered on a military base by a local martial arts gym.

While you may think it’s not necessary, here’s why I took the time to learn “women’s
self-defense.” As with all things Tiga Tactics, the justification comes in a set of three:

1) They Don’t, So I Do: My sister, wife, and daughter don’t love training in combat or combat sports like I do.

If I tried to teach them all the stuff I learn in the several hours a week I spend in training, not only would it be likely impossible, but they would also lose interest really quickly.

Instead, I wanted to know what others were putting out so I could get the ladies in my family functional as soon as possible.

The same logic not only applies to my wife but other members of my family as well. Whether that be my daughter, my sister, my young son, or my parents. Unless you grew up in a combat-sports family, chances are not everyone you know has the attention span that you do when it comes to fighting.

2) Easy to Learn: In the fitness industry there’s a saying that goes, “The best diet is one that you can stick to and the best workout routine is one that you will regularly do”.

A self-defense program that requires months and years of training to be effective will likely not work for a large percentage of the population.

Instead those looking for self-defense who have a limited attention span need to be taught quickly, at their convenience, and at their own pace.

This is what Tiga Tactics has done with their online programs: allow you to move on your own schedule, at your own pace, as well as let you re-watch programs as many times as needed.

3) Ability to Practice/Re-Train: Even if a style is easy to learn, if your spouse wants to be effective, he or she is still going to need practice or some refresher training.

Training consistently is the best solution and what is most recommended if you want to get better. However, you need to start someplace, and Tiga Tactics gives you an easy way to access information in the comfort of your own home.

Their online course “Fighting Chance Combatives” is something you can view on demand. As digital media, you can re-watch it any time you want as long as you have internet access and a computer or mobile device. 

Tiga Tactics has taken their no-nonsense approach to getting functional ASAP and applied it to self-defense specifically for women or those of smaller stature (get “Fighting Chance Combatives” here).

As a male, I may never have to use some of the tactics and tips shared by the instructors at Tiga Tactics (although a lot more are useful than you would think), but I’m glad I know. Before my daughter grows up and starts venturing out on her own, I’ll be sure to give her these tools to survive, too.

UNLOCK YOUR ACCESS TO "FIGHTING CHANCE COMBATIVES" HERE

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Evan Perperis is a U.S. Army Special Forces veteran with a cumulative 44 months of combat deployments. He’s currently a brown belt at Shaolin Kempo Karate, has been trained in Modern Army Combatives Program Level I and is currently training in Kali, Jeet Kune Do, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

When not practicing martial arts or working, he’s racing as a professional Obstacle Course Racing athlete with more than 65 podium finishes and helping others as a National Strength & Conditioning Certified Personal Trainer (NSCA-CPT). His website is Strength & Speed, and his biography is available in hard copy/digital and audiobook from Amazon.

Wilderness Warrior Weekend Camp

Posted on by Tiga Tactics Propaganda

THE WHAT

We’re teaming up with survival expert and New York Times bestselling author Tim MacWelch to host Wilderness Warrior Weekend Camp!
 
This will be two days packed with combatives, survivalism, and (most importantly) fun camaraderie! We’ll teach you self-preservation skills using three tools: your hands, your knife, and your axe.
 
You’ll learn how to procure water, make fire, build a shelter, and defend yourself.
 
This is going to be epic — like “The Walking Dead” epic … but without the brain-eating zombies, of course. 

THE WHEN

DATES:
September 17-18, 2022
 
TIMES:
Exact itinerary will be announced shortly

THE WHERE

We’ll be training in the great outdoors on private property in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
 
It is roughly 1 hour south of Washington, D.C., and 1 hour north of Richmond, Virginia.

ENROLL NOW

If you sign up now, you’ll save a massive 60% off the regular price. But don’t delay because this Save-the-Date Special won’t last long.

CLICK HERE TO ENROLL NOW AND SAVE!

Takedown Defense & Survival Webinar

Posted on by Tiga Tactics Propaganda

What


We’re pumped to announce that we’ll be holding our first street-grappling seminar — and everyone in the world is invited!

That’s because the Takedown Defense & Survival Webinar is n live online event that anyone can join so long as you have a mobile device/computer and a reliable Internet connection.

Come join us to learn how to defend against and (more importantly) how to avoid a takedown on the streets. We’ll also cover how to breakfall properly if you are taken down so that you don’t BREAK as you FALL.

WHEN

Date:
Saturday, April 9, 2022

Time:
10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Pacific Time

WHERE

Online in your home, thanks to magic of the Internet and the Zoom app

WHO SHOULD ATTEND

Any open-minded, respectful adult can attend this seminar. (Minors must have their parents or guardians’ permission via a signed copy of our waiver form.)

It doesn’t matter if you’re a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt or a complete grappling newbie. This webinar will have something for everyone, as we’ll be covering how to defend yourself against a takedown on the streets where there are no rules and no referees.

This will be a combatives-infused grappling seminar backed by science, research, and real-life fight footage.

Click here for more info or to register

He’s Lucky to Be Alive

Posted on by Patrick Vuong

The dude really should count his lucky stars today.
 
The man I’m talking about in the headline is a 29-year-old New York subway rider who was smashed in the head with a hammer last week.
 
His assailant was Christian Jeffers, a career criminal who has at least 47 (yes, forty-seven!) prior arrests before being arraigned last Friday for the unprovoked and vicious attack.
 
Jeffers bumped into the victim on the train platform then screamed, “Why you hit me?”
 
Then he suddenly pulled out a hammer from a bag and swung!
 
The victim got one arm up as he stepped back, but it wasn’t enough — nor was it the right defensive move — and the hammer landed with a sickening thunk sound.
 
From confrontational question to cranium contact, the scary assault took just 3 seconds.
 
“I didn’t see the hammer,” the victim told the New York Post. “It happened, like, too quick for me to react.”
 
The 29-year-old fell to the concrete, his forehead bleeding from the hammer blow. He was hospitalized, but fortunately not for too long.
 
There’s a lot to unpack with this case, but here are our top 3 takeaways:
 

  • Avoid the “poisoned hand:” The shoulder bump that preceded the hammer attacker reminded me of what my Kung Fu master called the “poisoned hand.” No, it’s not an ancient death touch technique; it’s the concept of avoiding damage by not being where a kick or punch would land. This means getting in and out of range quickly.

    Jeffers understood range when he intentionally bumped into his victim. So, when possible in public, get out of the way. Give people as wide a berth as possible and recognize when someone is within striking range — both yours and theirs.

  • Steel your mind: It’s pretty clear by what the victim told reporters that he didn’t expect to be in a fight that day — especially against a career criminal armed with a hammer! If you can’t even imagine an event happening, it’s pretty difficult to prepare for it when it does happen.

    That’s why, as part of my defensive mindset ritual, I either perform one draw of my chosen self-defense tool or say to myself, “This could be the day I might have to fight for my life or the life of a loved one.” This prepares me mentally right out of the gate.

  • Don’t rely on your reaction time: Jeffer’s 29-year-old victim said that things happened too quickly for him to react. But that’s the problem with most unsuspecting prey; they always assume they’ll see an assault coming and have the time and distance to react.

    News flash: Evil does not strike slowly. Two-legged predators attack in the concrete jungle just like their four-legged brethren do in the wild — unexpectedly, quickly, and violently.

 
That’s why you need consistent and realistic training, because (as the saying goes) you do not rise to the occasion but rather fall to the level of your training.
 
Conrad and I have spent years pressure-testing techniques against resistant partners armed with training weapons (from knives and guns to sticks and baseball bats).
 
We know what it takes to survive an urban ambush involving a hammer or any other blunt weapon.
 
And it’s not necessarily what’s taught on the range or in the dojo.
 
Fortunately, you don’t have to spend decades studying martial arts, combat sports, and combatives like we did.
 
That’s because we’ve distilled the best tips, tactics, and training drills in “Club Proof 1.0.”
 
And in honor of my namesake holiday today, you can get this home study course for half price during St. Patrick’s Day week.
 
Just use the 50% off promo code stpaddy2022 at checkout.

Enroll in “Club Proof” today so you don’t have to rely on luck to survive a blunt weapon attack.

But don’t wait — our St. Patrick’s Day sale ends at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time this Saturday.

CLICK HERE TO ENROLL NOW!

EDC Edged Weapon Seminar: Maryland 2022

Posted on by Tiga Tactics Propaganda

What



Tiga Tactics is pumped to announce that we’re bringing our popular EDC Edged Weapon Seminar to the East Coast!

We’ve only taught this seminar on the West Coast and as a webinar series, and it has sold out each and every time. So, you’ll want to sign up ASAP!

WHEN

Saturday, May 14, 2022

  • 9 a.m. to noon
  • 1-hour lunch break
  • 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Sunday, May 15, 2022

  • 9 a.m. to noon
  • 1-hour lunch break
  • 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

WHERE

Academy of Traditional Asian Fighting Arts
7908 Harford Rd.
Parkville, MD 21234

ENROLL

To ensure our high standards of instruction and personal mentorship, we limit the size of our seminars to ONLY 30 students maximum. 

And keep in mind our previous seminars have all sold out prior to the start of the events.

So don’t delay — sign up now! Hit the red button below.

CLICK HERE TO ENROLL NOW