Counter Attactics - Homemade Self Defence

**Xiangfei** · Posted On: 2/05/2006 11:39am

http://www.thekansascitychannel.com/...24/detail.html

I initially spotted it at the above link and thought it sounded a little odd. "A local man started giving self-defense workshops after his wife was robbed and shot 15 years ago." The guy was "1989 Professional Karate Association World Champion."

Then I got to the part that stated what their class appears to be all about. ""There is only one way to learn how to defend yourself and that is to practice the physical," Bob Thurman said.

"We put somebody in a fully loaded suit, from head to toe, and have actually simulated attacks so people get the practice, training full force to gain the feeling of empowerment and confidence. That if something did happen, they could defend themselves and escape successfully."

It's a dude in a pad suit. I can find no evidence as of yet that they do anything BUT hit a guy in a pad suit.

Counter Attactics Official Site

There's their site.

"Consulting with internationally known social psychologists, law enforcement professionals--at local and national levels--and motivational specialists, Bob designed a unique system of training programs stressing mental awareness, psychological strategies, and, if necessary, tactics and techniques for surviving and escaping an attack"

Social psychologists and motivational specialists?

Check out 'College Strategies' - "Understand psychological motives for violent human behavior. Learn verbal self defense. Learn psychological, non-violent defense strategies.

Learn the four rules for surviving an attack or hostage situation." (only four? Are hostage situations common on campus?)

Road Trip Safety? This guy's thought of everything! "ROAD TRIP SAFETY (Safety on the road): This program is designed with the business traveler in mind. It shows partipants how to be aware and prepared while on the road. Know how to defend yourself while out of town!"

"You will learn:
~ The Six Rules of Awareness
~ The Four Elements of an Assault
~ The Three Reasons for Violence
~ The Four Rules of Survival"

I highly recommend the photo gallery, where we can see if any of this warm+fuzzy stuff is sinking in to his students.

I recommend this very energetic young lass, the death-defying slap attack and big fat sad dude defeated

(in the first pic, check out the black duct tape. If you're gonna buy one of those crazy pad suits, buy a pad suit, don't just sellotape your guy up O_o;)

**In Flames** · Posted On: 2/05/2006 12:00pm

The dummy appears to have a cushion duck taped to his face, great training if you ever face a fat blind mugger.

**Camus** · Posted On: 2/05/2006 12:11pm

Some of those womenfolk look pretty fit! :new_angel (insert generic "I would grapple them anytime" comment)

Interestingly, does he ever let the suit-chump hit them (I'm guessing no, since he's effectively blind)? Or do they develop their 'skills' basically against an inert dummy? Why not just hit a punching bag then? They're clearly not going to learn what it's like when someone is HITTING YOU BACK OMG THAT'S DANGEROUS.

**Odacon** · Posted On: 2/05/2006 12:14pm

Or a sleepwalker with lockjaw.

**Used Up** · Posted On: 2/05/2006 12:41pm

Front page, fourth picture down on the right: is that Bob with Chuck?

**Xiangfei** · Posted On: 2/05/2006 12:44pm

I've seen the 'Slam Man' dude-in-suit on other 'Women's Defence' sites. It's basically that he stands there and women randomly beat up on him, thus they feel 'empowered'.

It'd be fantastic if he suddenly swung a tree-trunk sized padded paw and knocked them across the gym. Or is that just me...

**Xiangfei** · Posted On: 2/05/2006 12:45pm

Originally Posted by Used Up

Front page, fourth picture down on the right: is that Bob with Chuck?

Yep. "and appeared with Chuck Norris in "Walker, Texas Ranger"

I'm interested to know what the ~ The Six Rules of Awareness ~ The Four Elements of an Assault ~ The Three Reasons for Violence ~ The Four Rules of Survival" I mean, you could make a whole thread out of it.

Three reasons for violence. Hm. Horny/drunk/stupid? Only these will probably have Feelings of Inadequacy/Neglected Childhood/Lashing out at others....

**Fantasy Warrior** · Posted On: 2/05/2006 3:00pm

I think that those redman-esque training suits could be an OK training aid if used in the right measure. Getting krotty mum to put the smack down on a Michelin man is a lot better than marching up and down the hall and doing compliant twisty wristies. BUT, compared to heavy sparring, it ain’t really much.

Nothing that I’ve seen on my brief tour of the site suggests that they don’t teach OK self-defence. They talk about awareness and verbel issues -both very important things for SD IMO. But then I’m on dial-up so I haven’t watched any clips.

**TehDeadlyDimMak** · Posted On: 2/05/2006 3:05pm

I have no doubts that they'll be able to instill a sense of confidence in their customers.

Whether or not those customers will be able to back up their senses of confidence when they get hit for the first time...

**Matt Bernius** · Posted On: 2/05/2006 3:10pm

Xiangfei,

I've been watching your posts on self defense for a while now and I'm completely convinced that you have absolutely no idea about what you are talking about. Further it doesn't seem like you want to do any research to actually learn about it. Basically I've just seen you heckle a bunch of self defense advice some how suggesting that you know better.

Yet, the advice you take to task is stuff that I've seen discussed, demonstrated and backed up by a number of very knowledgable self defense experts. Like Kickcatcher (who most likely has forgotten more about self defense then you have ever known) I don't find anything wrong with that site or their approach at first glance.

So tell me, what exactly qualifies you to be such a harsh critic of these approaches?

- Matt