Summing up the essentials
Published: Thu, 10/22/15
CQC class last night and someone new came for the first time. The student concerned has been training at the foundation class on Mondays for a few weeks. This week she decided to do the CQC class as well. When I have new student present I run through the principles of Peacock Kung Fu, the importance of safe roosting, eg, don’t relax and go to sleep unless you are somewhere safe and secure. Maintain a state of awareness when you do interact with the world (practised using a colour code system). Maintain safe distance when interacting with someone you are not completely sure about. Then, if something does go pear shaped, do what is necessary to escape from the situation.
That is an 80/20 summary of Peacock Kung Fu, the whole book is only about 20 pages long but I have summed up the essentials in about 5 lines and everything you really need to know about self-defence is in those 5 lines. Of course if you want to read the whole book you can get the kindle version at http://www.amazon.co.uk/Peacock-Kung-Fu-Graham-Butcher-ebook/dp/B00JP9CM12/ and I will have paper versions available at the next Saturday seminar on the 31st of October http://www.somersetstav.co.uk/sd.html
Of course we work with a lot more than just these basics in CQC classes or the self-defence sessions I teach on a Saturday morning once a month. These sessions include, preparation exercises, stances, foundation exercises, striking, kicking and grappling, working with the five principles, applying the lines to Close Quarter Combat and working with runic animal exercises. The sessions are interesting and will build confidence and fitness. However, from a practical self-defence point of view I always emphasise that if you get to the stage where a problem has to be sorted out by hitting someone then things have gone seriously wrong. 99 times out of 100 violence can be avoided with awareness and maintaining safe distance, the rest is primarily for interest and hopefully you will never need to use it. That is 80/20 applied to self-defence, a very small proportion of what you could know will actually equip you with most of the expertise
you will ever need. The clever bit is in recognising which bits are the important 20%.
regards
Graham
PS If you want to give advice about self-defence to someone who isn’t into learning martial arts then take note of the review that was given for Peacock Kung Fu. ‘I loved this ebook and the short message that it contains in it. The lessons are simple and easy to learn to use. This is a great ebook on keeping one safe for all ages. I would recommend that women and children learn the lessons to keep them from harm. ‘ And the reviewer gave it five stars. Check it out for yourself http://www.amazon.co.uk/Peacock-Kung-Fu-Graham-Butcher-ebook/dp/B00JP9CM12/