|
SFC Combatives - Tactical NinjutsuModern. Practical. Effective.
The next
generation in Self
Defense, Close Quarters
Combat,
and Defensive Tactics™
What is Tactical Ninjutsu?
 SFC Combatives Tactical Ninjutsu is one of the most dynamic and efficient forms of modern, real-world self-protection available today. Its emphasis is on effectiveness over style, practical methods with an economy of movement, and minimal training time required. It is through these philosophies and principles that make SFC Combatives Tactical Ninjutsu such an effective modern self-protection system that can be used in real life on the streets, military hand to hand combat, close quarters combatives (CQC), and law enforcement defensive tactics. The bottom line; this system was designed and developed for the purposes of real-world application, and not for sport, exercise, or the preservation of a historical art.
What Makes Tactical Ninjutsu Different?
Tactical Ninjutsu is modern and practical. Most traditional martial arts were created for the threats of that time period and the way wars were fought then. In most cases, this meant fighting against armored warriors, possibly even being armored themselves. It meant fighting against swords, using shields, or even warriors on horseback. This is the essence of self-protection; to protect yourself against the threats that are realistic according to your frame of reference, your time period, and your reality. Had these ancient grandmasters lived through to modern day times, they would have no doubt adapted their methods of self-protection to meet the relevant threats as they changed over time. However, they were obviously not immortal and long periods of peace prospered throughout the Far East followed by the invention and implementation of gunpowder. These ancient, and now historical, arts were now frozen in time exactly as they were.
Unfortunately, many traditional martial arts instructors portray these historical arts as viable solutions for modern day self-protection. Now, don’t get me wrong. Preserving these historical systems in their original form, as an art, is a great service to their culture, and some of the methods taught in traditional martial arts can be useful in limited modern self-protection applications. However, in order to realize these applications, students must sift through the historical techniques and decipher convoluted teaching methods.
Many historical martial arts have been modified for use as a competitive sport. Originally, this was done as a way for warriors to practice their battle skills in a full contact setting, while minimizing the potential for serious injury. Obviously, many of the lethal and more damaging techniques were removed when training this way. However, those aspects were still trained in a more controlled setting so that the skills were not lost. Most modern day variations, on the other hand, have completely removed those aspects altogether. While this is completely appropriate for modern sport application alone, it can be dangerous and misleading when these sport variations are portrayed as a viable application for modern self-protection. For example, most of the techniques that are banned from competitive sports such as eye gouging, groin strikes, or use of weapons are some of the most effective techniques when it comes to self-protection. Completely eliminating these aspects from your training is equivalent to training your natural instincts to avoid them in the event of a real-life attack. If you’re not using these skills in training, they won’t just suddenly show up like magic if really needed in a real-life, high stress attack situation.
Tactical Ninjutsu’s teaching methods are modern and scientifically optimized, making it effective in less training time than traditional martial arts. Most traditional martial arts are technique from a technique based perspective. Meaning, they have a specific solution for a specific kind of attack. The brain must recall a technique that matches the attack presented. While this alone is very difficult to do under a very intense, high-stress situation, the greater problem is that if you haven’t trained for a specific type of attack, you most likely won’t have a viable solution for it.
However, mechanics based systems work differently. By teaching you the underlying mechanics (the “master keys”), you will understand why the techniques work the way they do. You will understand attacks and defenses at their base mechanical level, instead of technique by technique. This will allow you to fluidly adapt as the attacks randomly change, as they will inevitably do, instead of having to recall memorized techniques to deal with each new attack presented. This will also allow you to defend against attacks that you haven’t specifically trained for.
Think of it like walking. Each step is not a recalled technique. Instead, the entire act of walking is a fluid system of mechanics working together. If someone pulled a rug out from under you, you wouldn’t have to recall a memorized technique to deal with it. You would simply adapt to the situation, even if you’ve never even been in that situation, because your body naturally knows all of the mechanics involved with walking and staying on your feet.
Understanding the underlying mechanics not only improves your ability to effectively defend yourself, but it also minimizes the time it takes for you to learn the system. We focus on teaching you the “master key” mechanics in a logical and organized curriculum that is easy to follow and understand. Finally, Tactical Ninjutsu is designed to take advantage of your natural body movements and “flinch” reactions. Instead of taking years to train your body to do something it doesn’t do naturally, you start with your natural reactions and turn them into defensive and fighting movements.
Tactical Ninjutsu is adaptable and flexible. Unlike competitive sport, we do not have to follow rules. Unlike traditional martial arts, Tactical Ninjutsu is not restricted to rigid techniques, nor does it have to follow a strict pre-set choreography such as forms and katas. The technique is dictated by circumstance, the environment, and, of course, the opponent. Instead of you having to conform to a style or “art”, this is a system that conforms to you, as an individual with unique body mechanics. If a particular move or mechanic doesn’t fit you, throw it out. You are not required to use it. This was also the same philosophy adopted by Bruce Lee while creating his legendary Jeet Kune Do.
SFC Combatives Tactical Ninjutsu ’s mechanics and principles have been developed to adapt to and neutralize the opponent’s moves, to avoid playing to his strengths, or even to turn his strengths into weaknesses. For example, we use close-in moves (such as grappling and throwing) against a fighter who specializes in distance moves (such as kicks), or distance moves against a fighter who is skilled at close fighting.
|
Where Does Tactical Ninjutsu Come From?
Historical Ninjutsu was the original "Mixed Martial Art", and one of the world's first Special Forces. Contrary to popular belief and Hollywood portrayal, Ninjutsu (sometimes spelled Ninjitsu) is not the “art of assassination.” Ninjutsu is the martial art, strategy, and tactics of unconventional warfare purportedly practiced by the shinobi no mono (commonly known outside of Japan as "ninja", which is actually the Chinese pronunciation).
Originally, this was a way for a simple people to protect themselves and survive in a feudal world. Subsequently, military leaders began to see the usefulness of these skills and tactics, and began hiring the Ninja as specialized mercenaries to carry out clandestine operations that would normally undermine the Samurai's "code of honor." Military Covert and special operations were born.
|
|
|
Honor vs. Survival. When examining Ninjutsu as a foundation for this system, It is important to note the philisophy of the historical Ninja and their distinct differences from the Samurai, as alluded to above. Many traditional martial arts mirror a "code of honor" similar to that of the historical Samurai called Bushido (often mistaken as "Budo"). This "code" provided the guidelines of how a Samurai should conduct himself in life and in battle. Simply winning a battle was not enough. He had to put honor above all else. This meant he had to maintain virtues such as rectitude, courage, respect, and honesty or otherwise lose his honor. Should he lose his honor, the Samurai could regain that honor by taking his own life in a ritualized suicide called seppuku.
The Ninja, on the other hand, followed a different code. To a Ninja, completing the mission was more important than personal honor. Winning the battle in order to protect the village and family, by any means possible, was more important than how the battle was fought. This code, or philosophy, is known as Ninpo.
The word “Ninpo” literally translates as “the way of perseverance”. Ninjutsu was their craft; their tactics and strategies. In essence, modern day self-defense, in terms of protecting yourself or those you care about from harm, represents true perseverance just as it did for the historical Ninja.
Legendary Tactics Meet Modern Science and Application:
Merging Ninjutsu with Modern Military Combatives and Defensive Tactics. While it is heavily influenced by Ninjutsu's base concepts, principles, and philosophy, SFC Combatives Tactical Ninjutsu is not meant to be historical Ninjutsu, nor is it a new “art” or style. It is simply a modern way of teaching age-old proven and effective concepts. Tactical Ninjutsu’s foundation comes from historical Ninjutsu (a fighting style similar to Jujutsu), Bruce Lee's China Town Jeet Kune Do, and Southeast Asian martial arts (Kali/Arnis and Silat). These arts, chosen for their superior mechanics, principles, and techniques, are already some of the most effective combat arts in the world. However, like many traditional martial arts, they take time to refine one's skills to a "street" effective level. However, modern military and law enforcement agencies need to get soldiers, agents, and peace officers trained as effective as possible in the shortest amount of time. Most civilians don't have to time, nor desire, to dedicate years to training in order to be able to effectively defend themselves in the event of an attack.
Tactical Ninjutsu takes these traditional systems and combines them with the modern doctrine, concepts, and proven teaching methods of Hock Hochheim's SFC Combatives and Pacific Archipelago Combatives programs, in order to get you as "street ready" much quicker than traditional martial arts, while at the same time, maintaining many of the original proven concepts, techniques, and teachings used in historical Ninjutsu. This is not a new concept. In fact, many experts have analogized special combat units such as S.W.A.T., U.S. Navy SEALS, Black Ops, etc. to "modern Ninjutsu", due to the way they combine techniques used by the ancient Ninja with modern combat. In this very same way, we have combined the most effective and comprehensive set of proven combat methods and techniques with modern training and science in order to get you as "street effective" as quickly as possible so that you are able defend yourself, NOW.
From Classroom... to Street Effective. All training, at every level, includes learning the basic mechanics of a particular skill (Phase 1), free-flow development and understanding of those mechanics (Phase 2), and then using the skill in real-time against resisting opponents in real-world scenario training (Phase 3). Scenario training is finally where the rubber meets the road, in full contact. In order to be fully confident that your skills will work if needed in a real-life situation, they must be tested as they would in real-life. In today's world, you will very rarely encounter a one-on-one "duel", where you face off against a single opponent in a fair fight. There may be weapons involved, you may not see the attack coming, the attacker may have friends, etc. You will also most likely not be using the same "fighting style" as in traditional sparring. In order to simulate real life encounter tests for your skills, we have instituted scenario training.
Our real-world scenario training is a real-life attack simulation against one or multiple opponents in various settings. In a single attacker scenario, the assailant attacks in a relentless pre-determined fashion, such as a street fighter, or a skilled fighter, or a surprise attack just as it would be in real life instead of the "competition" fashion of traditional sparring. In group scenario training, common scenarios from real-life are played out such as bar/club scenes, social events, sporting events, parking lots, sidewalks, domestic disturbances, gang attacks, assaults, etc. Attacks are carried out just as they would be in these real-life scenarios, and you never know if/when you will be the victim. It may be a single attacker, multiple attackers, a surprise attack, a weapon may be brandished, or the "attacker" might not intend on actually harming you at all, leaving you to manage the situation accordingly. You will test your situation management skills as well as your self-defense, fighting, and combat skills in a way that you will know they will work in real life, should you ever need them.
Tactical Ninjutsu - Self Defense Equivalency
We understand that not everybody is interested in "martial arts", earning belts, or joining a long term program, while some are. So, our "belts" should simply be thought of as project markers, each representing a different level, or category, of defensive skill set. There are 5 levels, each designated with a different belt color, before reaching “black belt”, or instructor level.
In the earlier levels, we focus on gross motor movements that take advantage of your body's natural movements and reactions. These techniques are highly effective; while at the same time require very little training. In the later levels we work on refining previously learned skills, while learning new skills that take more practice. Each level is a complete set of skills, giving you the option to either learn just what you need to defend yourself or to continue on with further levels for a more comprehensive set of skills. This allows you to get exactly what you want, whether it is short-term training for some highly effective defensive skills without having to commit to a long-term program, or a more long term training goal for a more comprehensive skill set.
The table below illustrates how each level of Tactical Ninjutsu relates to real-world defensive skills:
| Skill Level |
Self Defense Equivalent |
Belt Color |
Description
|
Level 1 - Earth Level
Initiate Practitioner |
Essential
Street Self Defense |
|
Establish a foundation of basic and essential skills (mostly gross motor), principles, and mechanics. Emphasis on situation avoidance/ de-escalation, defense, escape, and high percentage techniques that work immediately both armed and unarmed, face-to-face or blind-sided. Weapon: Sticks/Clubs |
Level 2 - Fire Level
Basic Practitioner |
Basic Street Fighting Military Combatives |
|
Take the attack back to the attacker. Emphasis on preemptive, intercepting, and counter attacks. Attack entries, devastating strikes and finishes. Still largely based on gross motor skills. Weapon: Knife |
Level 3 - Water Level
Intermediate Practitioner Apprentice Instructor 1 |
Intermediate Street Fighting
Military
Combatives |
|
Begin refining skills and strategy. Emphasis on footwork, positioning / evasion, countering, keeping your attacker off balance, takedowns, and ground work. Weapon: Flexible
|
Level 4 - Wind Level
Advanced Practitioner Apprentice Instructor 2 |
Advanced Street Fighting Defensive Tactics |
|
Advanced movement. Emphasis on evasion, redirection, refining joint locks, reversals, and keeping your attacker off balance using fluid movement. Intermediate takedowns and ground work. Weapon: Throwing
|
Level 5 - Void Level
Expert Practitioner
Assistant Instructor |
Expert Street Fighting Military Combatives
Defensive Tactics |
|
Emphasis on utilizing all prior levels smoothly as one cohesive system. Multiple attackers and weapons defense is stressed. Advanced tactical movement and strategies, field craft training, and advanced Counters.
Weapon: Firearms
|
Advanced Black Belts
2-4 Degree, Junior Instructor
5th Degree, Full Instructor
|
|
|
Each degree specializes in refining the corresponding level number. |
What You Will Learn
You won’t just learn a bunch of techniques that you have to memorize. We teach you the mechanics, science, and principles behind the techniques so that you understand them and retain them. Then, we put your understanding of those mechanics and your skills to the test under real-time stress and attack scenarios so that you know what you learn will work if you need them to. You will train in all areas of hand-to-hand combat:
Ranges of Combat
- stand-up striking - kicking range
- stand-up striking - boxing/punching range
- trapping and clinch range
- ground fighting / grappling
You will find unique, effective moves, techniques, and strategies that you don't typically find in most other systems.
Skill Sets
- training in real-world applicable scenarios
- improved awareness of the world around you
- how to recognize a threat before an attack occurs, read your assailant
- how to be a hard target (Potential attackers will not want to attack you)
- situation management (de-escalation strategies)
- stress / adrenaline inoculation (learn to stay calm and functional under high-stress situations)
- superior footwork, body mechanics, leverage, and positioning
- grappling, throws, and takedowns
- quick, explosive, and devastating striking, kicking, and punching
- how to keep your assailant off balance with footwork, body movement, and deceptive attacks
- combat effective joint locks and restraint/compliance techniques (and counter techniques)
- ground fighting / escaping
- pressure points / nerve strikes
- successfully handling multiple assailants and surprise attacks
- break-falls, rolling and escaping
- evasion
- improved self confidence
- body stretching and conditioning
- improved flexibility, coordination, strength, and balance
- post incident response/reaction (what to do after an incident)
- first aid / survival
- tactical weapons techniques and operations
(offense, defense, unarmed defense, retention)
- Firearms (Pistol, Rifle, Shotgun)
- Knife (fixed blade, folders, double & single edged)
- Sticks (short, medium, long, clubs, ASP, cane, flashlights)
- Flexible (cords, rope, chain, etc.)
- improvised weapons (turn virtually anything into an effective weapon)
- Maneuvers (entry, room clearing, escape, individual & team)
- Weapon Retention
- weapon vs. weapon
- weapon vs. multiple attacker
- unarmed weapons disarms
(NOTE: Our Tactical Ninjutsu Combatives is a true Reality Based Martial Art / Street Self Defense System. There are no forms or "katas." It has not been modified for sport or competition. You will immediately begin learning techniques that are effective and that you could put to use with the first few days of your training.
Our weapons training correlates to weapons found in modern day tactics such as guns, knives, and sticks of various lengths but also utilizes improvised weapons of opportunity such as bottles, rope, cables, flashlights, chairs, and just about anything else that might be lying around during a fight.)
Used in the Real World
Although a full time professional instructor now, Mr. Bodungen is a professional Covert Security Analyst/Operator (now part time and special projects). He is hired to test the security of highly secure facilities; facilities that the Department of Homeland Security labels "National Critical Infrastructure." For example, Oil & Gas facilities and refineries, Utility Plants, Nuclear Plants, Chemical Plants, Military Compounds, Banks, Corporate Buildings, and more. He has also been a licensed Private Investigator and Licensed Executive Protection Officer (Bodyguard) and has future plans to become a reserve Peace Officer. He puts the hand to hand skills as well as the covert tactical skills taught in Tactical Ninjutsu to use in real life on a regular basis. Hock Hochheim, founder of SFC Combatives has over 30 years of experience in the Army and as a Police veteran. Most of our students are affiliated with either the military or law enforcement.
You may not have the same career requirements as instructor Bodungen or some of our students, but you can train in our system knowing that what you are learning is "street tested" for reality and will work when you need it.
|
|
