Red Zone Knife Defense

Coming to a training center near you!

2005-11-23T02:12:00.000-08:00

I am excited to announce that, due to numerous requests, Centerline Gym will now be offering an Instructor Training Course for those interested in integrating the Red Zone knife defense system into their curriculum. This two level program will enable school owners to legally and ethically teach this system.

In the three years since it's official inception, the Red Zone has gained a lot of attention as one of the most efficient, effective, and realistic knife defense programs available. Copies of the instructional DVDs have shipped worldwide and have been taught to civilians, military, and law enforcement agencies. The feedback has been terrific.

The Red Zone program is a modular program, which means it can be integrated into an instructor's current curriculum or taught as a stand-alone class. Everyone, regardless of his or her chosen style is invited to attend. We care more about the safety of you, your students and loved ones more than any martial arts politics.

Instructors will receive many benefits including: Use of the Red Zone name, training tips and teaching curriculum, promotion and listing on our website, training discounts, and much more.

For more details on our Red Zone Instructor Course as well as the next training date please email: info@centerlinegym.com.

Jerry

CAVEAT EMPTOR This instructor training program was developed to maintain quality that the Red Zone program has become known for and to protect the integrity of the system. Unfortunately, as with many good ideas, there will be those who attempt to imitate. There are instructors out there who attempt to teach the program without having any training in it. This is not only unethical, but considering the topic it is to say the least, dangerous. Too put it simply; they're teaching it wrong! Without a proper understanding of the concepts and techniques, instructors may be leading their students to disaster.

A Bit of Reality

2005-10-21T00:47:00.000-07:00

I was in Arizona recently visiting family and I had a conversation with someone I thought I would share (with his permission of course.)

My brothers roommate is a tattoo artist at a local shop. As he was leaving work with some tattoo equipment he was approached by three gnarly youths looking for whatever they could get from him. An argument followed which quickly escalated into a 3-on-1 fight. One of the assailants pulled a knife and took a swing catching my brothers roommate on the forearm. The thugs then grabbed his tattoo equipment and ran. EMS was called and he was taken to the E.R. where he received stitches. The assailants were not caught.

Here is a pic of the damage-

Fortunately for my brothers friend, the damage was not more serious. It would seem that the knife was merely used as a tool for intimidation and distraction rather than for a murder. 3-on-1 are not good odds, especially when there is a weapon involved. As is most often the case, the blade was felt before it was seen.
Some other interesting facts:He did NOT go into shock (a common claim by some "knife fighting experts"). He also retained full function of his hand/fingers despite the textbook "defanging" cut.

On a side note; He had another tattoo kit at home which is good as he was halfway through a large tattoo on my brothers back.

Intro to the Red Zone Program

2005-09-21T10:32:00.000-07:00

The Red Zone program is the name given to the empty hand weapon defense program we teach at Centerline Gym. Our approach to weapons defense focuses much more on depth of knowledge than accumulation of techniques. All of the techniques employed are gross motor which helps to make them more easily accessible in the heat of a confrontation. If we try to rely too heavily on fine or complex motor skills we will be in trouble when things go bad.

The goal in any weapons defense program that has any connection to reality is to exit the situation as soon as possible. In many cases, those who claim to teach edged weapon defense pay lip service to avoidance and escape and then spend an inordinate amount of time showing intricate (and highly inappropriate) disarms and counters. In the Red Zone program escape is not an afterthought, it is the entire focus. This means that all of our techniques and training methods revolve around creating a window of escape at the earliest opportunity.

Having said that, there are definite hands on skills that can greatly reduce the amount of damage we suffer should we have to go hands on. The main objective in our method (when escape is not an immediate possibility) is to gain control of the weapon bearing limb. This is achieved a few different ways depending on the type of attack. Once we have a hold of the weapon bearing limb we have to establish a dominant control position from which we can counter attack. To this end we utilize a few different positions such as the baseball bat, and the modified 2-on-1 . These positions can be transitioned through to deal with the rapidly evolving situation much in the same way Brazilian Jiu Jitsu utilizes positional control in order to strike and submit. Once a control position has be achieved, we can work to attack the attacker and end the confrontation.

Beyond the physical aspects of the program, we also work to dispel common myths regarding knife defense (we will get to some of these later). Also covered is force on force training and dealing with various types of static attacks (knife at throat etc.)

The 2 DVD's which cover the Red Zone program have sold all over the world. The RZ program is currently being taught in law enforcement and military groups throughout the world. The feedback has been tremendous. We will continue to post updates to the program as well as training insights here which can help to supplement the material taught on the DVD series.

The videos are currently available at www.centerlinegym.com

Enjoy,

Jerry

The Brother Factor

2005-09-21T00:11:00.000-07:00

Why is it that when it comes to a topic as serious as dealing with a knife attack we see so many plainly ludicrous techniques and tactics being taught throughout the martial arts world. It even happens in so called "reality based" circles. It seems as though people who are referred to as masters of edged weapon use and defense seem to be missing something. These people have obviously spent a great deal of time working their craft and learning to perform intricate sequences of blocks, traps, locks, strips, and all other sorts of complicated moves that, honestly, I could probably not do if I tried. One thing is certain, what is not missing is dedication. So why is it that people who spend such a large amount of time training in and around a certain topic never seem to stumble on to functional methods?

In my opinion, many people's training approaches are missing what I refer to as "The Brother Factor". Here is how "The Brother Factor" comes into play:

Johnny goes to class and learns some "awesome" knife disarm. He practices it again and again with his training partner. Eventually Johnny gets really good at this disarm and is called on frequently in class or at seminars to demonstrate the technique. Johnny rocks the techniques like nobody's business.

One day Johnny is holding court with some of his friends in the back yard, dazzling them with some of his moves. Out comes Johnny's brother. Mockingly Johnny's brother (who has no interest in martial arts) comments on how "that s$#t won't really work!" Despite Johnny's insistence that his teacher is awesome and knows what he's talking about, Johns brother is not swayed.

Finally, the gauntlet is thrown down, "OK man, try that stuff on me".

Johnny's brother attacks with the only tools he has; strength and aggression. When it's all over, Johnny has been repeatedly stabbed and slashed by the carrot stick his brother was using for a knife. His brother walks away laughing while Johnny stands there wondering what went wrong.

That was the Brother Factor in full effect.

There are many Johnnys out there. Some of them never encounter the Brother Factor and eventually become instructors and pass on the same techniques to their students...And the beat goes on.

The reason this is called the "Brother" factor is simple. In the martial arts world, most people will not question what they are taught by their instructor out of a fear for being rude. Sometimes, people just accept that the instructor always knows better (he is an expert after all). Other times it is simply intellectual laziness. Fortunately, most of us have a family member or close friend who isn't afraid to question what we say or do. These people can be one of our greatest training assets.

In my case, I indeed have a brother (in this case a younger brother) who has no problem putting me to the test. He is one of my best training partners because he is never concerned with making me look good. It is not done out of any negative motivation. In fact, it is out of genuine concern for a family members future well being and safety that we push eachother.

The Brother Factor can and should be achieved with all of our training partners. While we always want to keep safety in mind, it is crucial that we also test our techniques thoroughly. Especially when it comes to matters as serious as dealing with a knife attack. Giving realistic pressure should never be taken personally. Neither should questioning the effectiveness of any technique.