Judo as an Adjunct to Pistolcraft

[PeteG]

Once-A-Year we put on a seminar to illustrate the need for some instantly available, intuitive means of controlling a sudden, contact distance attack, preparatory to engaging with a firearm. Stated differently, hand guns take time to deploy, and one should know how to survive long enough to get to a gun.

This year's course is in April. The course announcement follows:
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“Unarmed Self-Defense As Adjunct To Pistolcraft”
Saturday, April 17, 2009 – 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

“Pistolcraft” refers to the methods, skills and techniques by which one will use a hand gun for self-defense. Unfortunately, pistol techniques which are currently taught as a response to sudden, contact-distance encounters will not, in most cases, protect one from serious injury, particularly where an assailant is armed or determined. In this regard, current hand gun defense tactics are plainly unsatisfactory.

On the other hand, the techniques employed in Judo, Tae Kwon Do and related disciplines are very effective in dealing with sudden lunging or grabbing attacks at contact distance. The study of unarmed self defense, even at a fundamental level, will greatly enhance the defensive capability of an individual who intends to rely upon a firearm for self-defense. This enhancement will be realized early in the training process, and will only increase if and as the student may progress in his course of study.

Unfortunately, people are put off by the impression that one must put in years of training to acquire useful unarmed martial skills, and believe they must be young and strong to obtain the benefits of such training. Neither is true. I started at age 48, and I am in no better physical shape than most other desk jockeys.

To illustrate the advantages the formal study of one of these unarmed techniques holds for the student of pistolcraft, the Pennsylvania Firearms Development Corporation (“PFDC”) has organized a short seminar and demonstration. At this seminar, the methods traditionally taught for using a gun in the defense and control of contact distance encounters will be reviewed, and their limitations illustrated. Principles of unarmed self-defense, and some techniques, will then be explained, and applied to the same problems, with a comparison of the advantages and disadvantages of the two forms of response. Our hope is that serious students of pistolcraft will recognize the necessity of initially responding to a contact distance assault with an unarmed technique if they hope to avoid serious injury.

Although this seminar is designed primarily to educate those interested in firearms training, those who study traditional martial arts may also be interested in the contrast between the approach, mind set and legal consequences of the two schools of defense. All are invited to attend.

The firearms portion of the program will be presented primarily by Peter Georgiades. The martial arts portion of the program will be presented primarily by Master Christopher Moore. The seminar will be held at the Brentwood dojo. If you would like more information, contact Peter Georgiades - (412) 381-8035.

Legal Notice: This course is sponsored as a public service by PFDC, which is not affiliated with Kim's Martial Arts & Fitness Studio. One may have the opportunity, if they wish, to try out some of the techniques during the seminar, but to do so one must be 18 years or older. The PFDC Institute reserves the right to refuse to allow any individual to attend or participate in any particular exercise.

NO ENROLLMENT FORMS ARE REQUIRED. JUST SHOW UP.

Directions:

KIM’S MARTIAL ARTS AND FITNESS CENTER
3606 Brownsville Road, Brentwood

FROM THE PITTSBURGH SIDE OF MT. WASHINGTON:

Take E. Carson Street (Rt. 837 South) up river, to Becks Run Road. Becks Run Road is 1.5 miles past the Birmingham Bridge, to the right (next to an ice-cream stand, under a high railroad trestle).

Turn Right on to Becks Run Road, and follow it 2.3 miles to the crest of the hill, where it intersects Brownsville Road. On the way you will pass a couple of traffic lights and a water treatment plant on your right.

When you get to the crest of the hill, go LEFT on to Brownsville Road. Follow Brownsville Road 1.2 miles.

This will take you through two traffic lights and a couple of stop signs. You will know you are approaching the right block when you see a fire station and the Brentwood Public Library on your left. Park anywhere you can find at that point, as you are a 60 second walk from the place.

Kim's Martial Arts and Fitness is at 3606 Brownsville Rd. Unfortunately, there is no number on the front of the dojo. There is, however, a big sign. It is directly across from a middle school that is impossible to miss.

DIRECTIONS: FROM THE SOUTH HILLS:

I think the easiest (although not necessarily the shortest) route is to take Rt. 51 South to the intersection of Brownsville Road and Rt. 51, which is a major intersection. Go left on to Brownsville Road (toward Pittsburgh). 3606 Brownsville Road is on the left, about .9 miles from the intersection with Rt. 51.

You will pass a fire station on the left, and Kim's is on the next block, also on the left. Note the middle school. If you pass the Brentwood Public Library, you have gone too far.

DIRECTIONS WHEN YOU GET THERE:

There are a couple of house rules at the dojo. When you enter the front door, you will see a set of shelves or cubbies for shoes. One must remove their shoes and hats before entering the dojo, and put them in one of the shoe cubbies.

Food, beverages and smoking are prohibited beyond the entry way. Nobody will accost you over it, especially if you are a guest. However, as guests we must keep to the rules. Please leave your sandwich in the car and smoke outside.

If you have any questions, there will be people coming and going at that hour on a Saturday, as Tae Kwon Do will be letting out. Ask any of them where the bleachers are, and they will certainly help. I will be there, in street clothes.

We will start promptly at 2:00.

One final note: as a matter of safety, there are no hard objects permitted in the mat area, which will include firearms or folding knives. Therefore, if you think you may wish to try some of the techniques that will be demonstrated, lock firearms or knives in your car. Do not bring them into the facility. We can always empty your pockets of keys, coins, pens and such and put those articles in a pile off to the side, but we cannot accept responsibility for keeping track of weapons while exercises are proceeding.

[Shawn.L]

Im looking forward to this.

[Kaos]

I am as well.

[LittleRedToyota]

i attended this last year.

it's well worth the price of admission.

seriously, though, it is very much well worth the time and energy to attend.

[Shawn.L]

night before bump. hope to see some of you tomorrow.