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18 COMMANDMENTS OF STREET COMBAT
Author: Michael Janich
Willie “The Bam” Johnson is best-known to the martial arts community as a champion tournament competitor and expert practitioner of the Chinese martial arts. Black Belt’s 2000 Kung Fu Instructor of the Year, he was also one of the stars of the WMAC Masters TV series and has made numerous other appearances on national television.
But behind the high-profile success of this martial arts star lies a darker story—the story of a hard upbringing in the ghettos of Baltimore, Maryland, where his involvement in crime and drugs led to an arrest, a conviction and ultimately a prison sentence.
“The worst thing that could ever happen to you is to run into the person I used to be,” Johnson says. “I didn’t care about anything or anyone, and had no problem robbing people and beating people up to get my way. I was a predator that preyed on other people.”
For many, this kind of story has no happy ending. It becomes the beginning of a larger cycle of crime, drugs and violence that claims thousands of young victims every year.
For Johnson, however, it was the driving force behind his determination to make his life better. After his release from prison, he used the negative experiences of his youth, as well as the power of his religious faith, to fuel his practice of the martial arts. His countless victories as a tournament competitor were reflections of a greater victory and the birth of a new man.
Although the martial arts techniques that Johnson demonstrated in tournaments and on television were based primarily on the stylistic forms of wushu and kung fu, when it comes to self-defense, he’ll never forget the brutal lessons of his life on the streets. “A lot of what really works is what you did before you did martial arts—the pure human survival reflexes and instincts,” he says. “Without those, all the martial arts in the world won’t do you any good.”
As part of his never-ending effort to turn the negative experiences of his life into positive outlets, Johnson began to introduce elements from his days as a predator into his teaching of the traditional martial arts. The street thug of his former life became a valuable reference to gauge the practicality and effectiveness of every self-defense technique he taught, and he learned to use the movements of the traditional martial arts to directly counter the tactics of the hoodlums.
The result is what Johnson calls “street combat.”
The principles of street combat are the “18 Commandments.”
Designed as guidelines to help you develop the hardcore mind-set you need to survive a real encounter, they provide a street-savvy set of tactics to help you beat the predator at his own game. By adapting them to your self-defense training, you can revolutionize your approach to personal safety and make sure you’ve got what it takes to deal with a real attack—no matter which martial art you study.
1 Be aware of your surroundings at all times.
Because of the vicious nature of the typical street attack, awareness and avoidance are your best options for staying safe.
2 Walk your post in a perfect manner.
When you’re out in public, be conscious of your body language and your attitude. Safety on the street requires vigilance.
Keep your head in the game at all times and keep your body prepared to act.
3 Take charge of your body language and your attitude.
Make sure everything you do is expressed with confidence, yet in a humble and positive manner. All street predators look for prey. Like animals, they will often choose targets that appear weak, thus maximizing their chances of success. Be confident in everything you do, but don’t present a challenge or threat.
4 Never underestimate your opponent.
By definition, an attacker is dangerous. Don’t assume that you know what he will do or that you are more skilled than he is. Be prepared for anything.
5 Talk.
Words can enable you to stall until help arrives or until the attacker leaves. Use conversation as a psychological weapon to increase your chances of surviving and to create openings for your physical defenses.
6 Always be ready for a physical response.
Never let your guard down. Be prepared mentally and physically to fight at a moment’s notice.
7 Deceive him.
Shout for nonexistent friends. There is strength in numbers —and in making the attacker believe you are not alone.
Be convincing and use any distraction you can create to your advantage.
8 Don’t get fancy.
Once the fight begins, keep it simple. Use well-directed, effective techniques. On the street, you don’t get points for executing a move with perfect form.
9 Do something that is out of place, unexpected or disgusting.
Try to disorient the assailant and cause him to let down his guard. Make yourself unattractive as a target or surprise him.
That will make your physical defense much easier to initiate.
10 Stay balanced when you deliver a technique.
Keep your weight centered over your feet. That will ensure you stay upright and mobile. Good balance is also needed if you are to generate powerful, effective strikes.
11 Don’t hesitate to use “dirty” techniques.
There are no rules in street fights. Anything goes, including hair pulling, eye gouging, biting and scratching. You must understand that brutal reality before you become involved in conflict. Once you know what you’ll be up against, your resolve to do whatever it takes to survive will increase dramatically.
12 Never lose sight of your opponent.
Even if he goes down, remain alert for the possible continuation of the attack so you are not caught by surprise. Street attacks often involve multiple opponents and seasoned fighters who know how to take a punch. Be prepared to continue your defense as long as necessary.
13 Deliver your strikes to your opponent’s vital areas.
Predators will target your weaknesses, so you should respond in kind. The most effective way to keep yourself safe is to damage him immediately and make him incapable of continuing his assault. Aim for his knees, eyes, groin, throat and nose.
14 Shout when you execute a technique.
This action, which is often called a kiai or kihap, will momentarily distract and alarm your attacker. A loud, forceful yell empowers you, disorients him and may call attention to your situation. Use it to your advantage and make it part of your regular practice.
15 Use anything to subdue your opponent.
Attackers often carry edged and blunt-force instruments, so you must be prepared to use real and makeshift weapons as well. Whenever violence is about to erupt, take note of the potential weapons that exist in the environment and in your pockets: pencils, pens, books, rocks, bottles, briefcases and so on. Be prepared to use them at a moment’s notice.
16 Use all your strength.
To defend yourself effectively, you have to give it everything you’ve got the first time. Predators will not give you a second chance.
17 Fight as if your life depends on it.
You can never tell what the attacker’s intentions are. The sad truth these days is that criminals sometimes kill for the thrill of it or for no apparent reason. You can’t assume they will limit their actions voluntarily. You must make them stop.
18 Never stop trying to improve your skills.
Join a martial arts school with an instructor who has real street-combat experience. Consistent high-quality training is the only way to guarantee that you’ll have the skills and confidence you need to prevail when an attack occurs. ...