White Belt Curriculum

Basic Principle: Using your voice as a weapon, use authoritative voice and assertiveness.
Be loud and clear, and leave no room for interpretation or ‘negotiation’

• De-escalation if possible: (“Hey man, whatever you say”. “I’m just going to get out of your way”)

• Establishing boundaries: (“No thank you”. “I don’t need help”. “I’m not comfortable right now”.  “Get away from me!”) 

• Attention (e.g. “GUN!”, “KNIFE!”)

• Instruction (e.g. “Back off!”, “Call 911”, “Get down!” “Run!”)

• Asking for help (e.g. “Somebody help me!”)

▶️ Demonstration Video: Use of Voice
[Watch on Google Drive]

Basic Principle:  Self-defense stance has different context (no rules, multiple settings) from sparring stance (agreed upon rules and setting).

• Stance should mimic a basic comfortable natural body position.

• Short front stance. Feet form a square.  Toes facing forward or slightly open.  Ability to move forward, backward and sideways.

• 50% of your weight in each foot. Hands protecting face. 

• Open palms. Elbows in.  Trying to de-escalate, but ready for action if needed. 

▶️ Demonstration Video: Self Defense Stance
[Watch on Google Drive]

Note: Side fighting stance is only appropriate at leg range.  Advantages are that the side profile gives less targets to the opponent and can perform spinning techniques easier (and a powerful and long range step-behind side kick). The disadvantages are that it also reduces the number of weapons available at your disposal and your ability to scan your surroundings.  Side stance allows you to move forward and back but not sideways.  At close range you lose a lot of leverage, are vulnerable to sweeps, not to mention it leaves a back/dead side attack vulnerable (e.g rear naked choke hold).  It also looks like a “fighting stance” which will provoke your opponent and allow him/her to claim self defense.  Our self-defense stance allows you to de-escalate while still having a strong defensive stance.  This is more of a “sparring” stance, than a “fighting” stance.

Basic Principle:  You want to stay away from your threat(s) and avoid them, if possible.  If they can’t touch you, they can’t hurt you.  You do not let anybody get inside of your “bubble” (i.e. within striking range).  You either maintain distance, or aggressively strike as they breach your kicking range.

• If you can become aware of the threat before it happens, you can avoid it altogether or be in a better position to deal with it

• Always outside of leg range.

  • Awareness of other people and potential exit

• Escape / Avoidance

• Aggression

  • Basic technique: Groin Kick, Jab, Cross.

    • Retreat / disengage.

    • Continue striking until the threat is neutralized (forward or around)

  • Avoid going to the ground at all costs

▶️ Demonstration Video: Positioning
[Watch on Google Drive]

Situation:  Somebody grabs your wrist(s).  Assuming the grab is not extremely strong, you deem the threat as low, and you do not want, or see the need, to strike the attacker. 

Basic Principle:  Break away from the wrist grab, going through the opening between thumb and fingers using Karate motions.  Moving away from the free hand (just in case).  Immediately creating space moving outside of striking range to a safe position.

▶️ Demonstration Video: Basic Wrist Grabs
[Watch on Google Drive]

• Motion Defense Release. Make Space

• Elbow Strike Release. Make Space

▶️ Demonstration Video: Straight Wrist Grab
[Watch on Google Drive]

Inside Out Block Release. Make Space.

▶️ Demonstration Video: Cross Wrist Grabs
[Watch on Google Drive]

• Outside In Block Release. Make Space

• Low Block Release. Make Space

▶️ Demonstration Video: Straight Wrist Grabs
[Watch on Google Drive]

• High – Double Low Block Release. Make Space

• Low – Double Inside Out Block Release. Make Space

▶️ Demonstration Video: Double Wrist Grab
[Watch on Google Drive]

Situation:  This is a hostile act, not a simple grab.  There is an immediate threat.  Grab is strong and by a person materially bigger than you.  They are either trying to control you, preventing you from leaving or trying to drag you somewhere else.

Basic Principle:  Do not attempt to release.  Strike immediately before you lose the element of surprise.

 Single Wrist Grab

• Punch or Palm Strike to the face / eyes.

  • Continue with combatives. Make Space

Single Wrist Grab with a Pull

• Stepping towards the opponent in a front stance (low block motion?).

  • Reverse Punch / Palm Strike. Continue with combatives.  Make Space

  • Step into a Punch / Palm Strike. Continue with combatives.  Make Space

▶️ Demonstration Video: Basic Wrist Grabs (High Threat)
[Watch on Google Drive]

Situation:  Somebody grabs your lapel or puts a hand on your shoulder.  Assuming the grab is not extremely strong, you deem the threat as low, and you do not want, or see the need, to strike the attacker.

Basic Principle:  Move away from your attacker to outside of kicking range using Karate footwork to disengage.

• Step back on a horse stance to create space on your clothing. Take another step back on a horse stance and rip your arm through the grip on an upwards motion

▶️ Demonstration Video: Basic Single Lapel/Shoulder Grab (low threat)
[Watch on Google Drive]

Situation:  Every self-defense technique has two components:  1) The actual technique that is specifically relevant to the situation.  2) What you do afterwards (the continuation) which can take on many forms and is often be dependent on how the attacker reacts.

Basic Principle:  At this level of experience, after the initial technique, the practitioner should employ very basic continuations (combatives) designed to create distance and exit the situation.

• Punch, Punch, Front Kick to the groin. Make space

• Punch, punch, Roundhouse. Make space

▶️ Demonstration Video: Continuations
[Watch on Google Drive]