Complete Self Protection By Al Peasland


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Terry Barnett's
Integrated Arts

British Combat
Association

TOOLS IN THE BOX		Return to Articles
Having tackled a bit of property development in my time, I’ve managed to amass quite a collection of tools – much to the back aching annoyance of my friends every time I move home and the creaking rafters of my garage. Some of these tools are specific to a certain trade or task, others more generic and adaptable to a variety of jobs. Over the years I’ve been able to turn my hand to most of the property development tasks, whether it be wiring a home, plumbing a new boiler or re-fitting windows. All of which I like to think I’ve done quite successfully, only perhaps not as quickly or easily as the professionals of that trade. I did them by using the correct tools for the job, and I could only do that because I had those tools available to me in my toolbox. I wasn’t masterly proficient with them, but I had read the instructions and knew how they worked, what they were designed for and when or when not to apply them. I look at my martial arts training in the same way. The techniques I have at my disposal are a collection of tools in a box. Some are designed only for a specific task in hand or a specific range, for example, head-butts aren’t much use when you’re in kicking range, but highly effective when in a clinch or on the ground. The trick is knowing which tool for which job, and the difficulties arise when it comes to practising with this myriad of tools and techniques. The saying, “Jack of all trades – but master of none” is very true. Spreading yourself too thin when trying to learn such a wide variety of styles, arts or systems can lead to not excelling in any one of them. I have always been of the opinion that you should master one thing, one range, one technique, but also leave a little time to diversify and reach out into a wide range of supporting techniques.
If it’s a real life street scenario you are worried about then I would highly recommend mastering the punching arts, or even mastering at a high level, one or two single knock shots that will work every time for you. But don’t forget to spare a little time to touch on all of the other ranges, grappling, kicking, throws, in order that you will have an understanding and an appreciation for those areas, and also so that you will have a few more tools in your arsenal.
Some tools in the box are used daily – and will fit most trades. Whilst a worktop routing jig might only be good for shaping kitchen worktops and not much use for cutting copper pipe, a good old fashioned screwdriver will be found in most tradesmen’s toolkit. In fact, my good friend Clive used to have a toolbox that only contained a hammer and a screwdriver, professing that these will fix almost anything. In his case, often quite badly, but I guess the 80-20 rule does still apply. I don’t think Pareto wasn’t too far off the mark when he suggested the 80-20 rule could be applied loosely to most things. 20 percent of the techniques in my self defence armoury can resolve 80 percent of incidents I may find myself in. I would suggest the ratio is far greater than that, ie, one or two techniques will take care of almost all situations. So with this thought in mind, it makes sense then to choose the hammer and screwdriver techniques and train them and drill them until they are polished to a mirror finish. Make them so comfortable that they fit you and spend so much time honing them that they become your friends. Clive’s trusty hammer and screwdriver never let him down. Some jobs they worked perfectly for, others he had to use a bit of brute force, but they still did the job. One argument against having too many tools available is that you can get a mental logjam when the time comes for you to choose the right one for the situation. By the time you’ve sifted through all of your options – you’ve already eaten a stiff right cross, and I would totally agree with this – not eating the stiff right cross, the logjam bit! However, I would also argue that this is no reason not to train and amass more skills, more techniques, and more tools. The key is to make sure that your main focus is always on the high percentage ones. Spending 80% of your time on the hammer and screwdriver techniques still leaves time to delve into other arts and ranges. And once you have your primary techniques down so that they are instinctive and automatic, then it’s fine to spend more time working on other things. What happens when a situation presents itself then is that, at the top of your toolbox, easily within reach, are your tried and tested techniques. They are the ones you reach for instinctively and automatically without pause, much like Clive and his hammer. However, you still have a array of lesser used techniques that, should the occasion present itself and should you have the time to read the manual or brush up on correct application, you can put into full effect. You see, I may not have wired as many houses as a master electrician, but I’ve done it a few times. I may not be as quick as the professional spark, but I can do it as competently and safely, it just takes me longer. I have all the right tools, I know how they work, but sometimes I may have to peruse the manual one more time. I may not be a world class grappler, but I’ve done a bit and I have tools in my library that I can use should I go to ground. It’s all about having tools in the box, but knowing which ones to work with the most; which ones to have at the ready at the top of the pile. It is said that “A Jack of all trades, is seldom good at any”, My response to that would be, focus on being great at one thing even if that means being great at being a Jack of all trades. Be an improviser who is never found stuck with a problem. Someone who can make a spanner fit any bolt, who can make a hammer and a screwdriver fix most things. Know that when you really need a technique, in most cases it’ll be the one you spend most time practising, all the rest is a backup for when you are really up against it in those rare occasions. By doing this you CAN be a Jack of all trades, AND be a master of one! I’d like to thank Andy for this week’s inspiration.
Thank you for reading Stay Safe and Have Fun Al x
More articles to be uploaded soon