In Memoriam:
It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved friend, Bradley J. Steiner.
We are truly heartbroken over this. It happened so suddenly.
In his legacy, we are fighting the “Brad Steiner fight” – the good fight. The fight for each person to be the person they want to be and to protect themselves when their lives are being viciously threatened by enemies of Freedom, Peace, and Justice.
May his soul rest in peace.
It simply cannot be emphasized often or strongly enough that mindset (i.e. proper mental conditioning) is the single most critical factor for preparing to engage in and prevail in close combat.
And physical self-defense against dangerous, determined felons who literally thrive on violence and the tormenting of those whom they can dominate and victimize is close combat; make no mistake about it. It is war; it bears no relation to sporting competition, beautiful classical esthetics, or the spectacular showmanship that entertains us on the silver screen and on TV.
I came to the conclusion many years ago that mental conditioning for violent combat constituted 90% of what is required in order to be thoroughly prepared to meet, beat, and utterly defeat opponents in a defensive emergency. Not that techniques and tactics are not crucial; they certainly are.
Mindset, however, may be compared to the engine of a vehicle – while techniques and tactics may be compared to its body and interior. With an engine only, you have all of the power, but unless you also have the body of the vehicle, there is nothing to be powered. You need both. I agree that the comparison is not perfect; but it makes the point.
And, I can tell you, speaking from the experience of approximately 65 years total involvement in, study of, training in, and intensive research of armed and unarmed combat disciplines, I have known of many instances when “martial arts trained” individuals with relatively high levels of skill failed to defend themselves; and when untrained persons who, often simply by the grace of God and a healthy sense of self-worth and righteous indignation, successfully thwarted violent attacks. These latter people possessed mindset!
Healthy self-worth and powerful righteous indignation. Not the whole package, but an awful lot that is required cerebrally in order to acquit yourself when targeted by street scum.
Ideally, you need more that self-worth. You need to understand and to feel the cold, vicious hatred for predatory filth that overrides the flight impulse when the fight-or-flight phenomenon takes hold of you, and that presses you to ATTACK. To go after that mugger, rapist, home invader, carjacker, troublemaker, bully, thug, or terrorist with no more “mercy” or “compassion” than you would show the polio virus, you need to view him (or “it” as I see it) as having no value or justification for existing, at all.
This is not easy for decent people to accept. Especially those who have had no experience whatever with serious violence, and who – properly
– prefer to avoid violence and to deal rationally and peacefully with others. It is the mindset and attitude of the seasoned warrior; the person who, in battle, has seen the result of what the enemy can and will do, and who, after seeing it, sets his mind so that he will never allow it to happen to himself or to his buddies so long as he can move and breathe.
Many years ago, when I taught seminars and classes in the Bronx, I had numerous females who were attendees. Most were simply “interested in learning some self-defense.” Some of these ladies were good students.
But the very best were those women who had suffered violence and who knew what violent, predatory garbage would and could do to them. These ladies swore that they would die killing any man who ever tried to violate them again, if necessary! That was a healthy attitude, and a most understandable decision. These women learned techniques and tactics very well and needed little encouragement in adopting a “kill or be killed” mindset. And, like to hear it or not, THAT is the mindset you need.
Question: “But what about mild attacks and people who are not serious assailants?”
Answer: If you are equipped with the ability to read the minds and decipher the intentions and capabilities of violent assailants, I congratulate you. Go ahead and be gentle and understanding with the fellow or fellows who jump you, but who you can tell have no real intention to injure you severely – or kill you. Personally, I have no such ability, and I have never met anyone else who had it, either.
My doctrine is clear: Whenever you are set upon by a violent offender, you must consider ONLY your safety, defense, well-being, survival, and escape. I have never met anyone who ever described the attack that he or she suffered as having been perpetrated by someone who was not a “serious assailant.” Not even once.
Rational, decent human beings – i.e. real human beings – never provoke physical violence, choose to physically harm anyone unless for self-defense, or get any “kick” out of “throwing down” or out of using a deadly weapon against another person. Individuals who do live that way, in my opinion, lack the brains and judgement of animals who, unlike them, become violent only when threatened.
Violence is nothing to be played with. It is justifiable only in self-defense (which, of course, includes the defense of others), and only against those who initiate violence.
When it is needed for its righteous purpose, it must be brought into play savagely, instantly, mercilessly, furiously, and it must be continued relentlessly until the innocent life or lives that have been threatened are safe.
Being abnormal for all of you who are “normal,” it is not surprising that it takes a real adjustment mentally before your technical aspects of violent self-defense have behind them the reliable, every-ready “engine” – i.e. the mindset – that will insure their immediate and full-power employment in any emergency.
Here’s a tip I have always emphasized when conducting group classes and private lessons:
WHEN LEARNING AND TRAINING IN UNARMED AND ARMED COMBAT SKILLS FOR SELF- DEFENSE, REMEMBER WHAT WILL BE AT STAKE IF, GOD FORBID, YOU EVER HAVE TO EMPLOY YOUR TRAINING.
The attacker who threatens your life and well-being is threatening your spouse, your children, your parents, your siblings, your friends… all who know, care for, and love you – and whom you love. Summon the brutal, vicious savage within to protect them as well as you, if ever some crawling SOB/street-garbage decides to victimize you!
Look at it this way: You can rip this scumbag limb from limb or let him devastate all who are dear to you, as well as yourself.
GO TO WAR! GIVE NO QUARTER!
by Bradley J. Steiner
