Grey Wolf Martial Arts

Martial arts is not just a way to fight, it is a life philosophy that uses fighting as a medium to convey those philosophies. It begins by learning how to do the techniques and strategies in fighting, then it moves to how those philosophies apply to everyday life. Eventually it comes back to being about the techniques and strategies but on a different level.
There is a level of spirituality in all martial arts because without the connection to the spiritual we focus on the carnal and we lose our compassion for our fellow human beings. Any art that teaches only violence and does not temper it with mercy is not a true art. The true way of the warrior is fighting for a time where peace rules the world and the warrior is no longer needed.

Where do we draw the line on acceptable force in a situation. Let's say you're in a minor street altercation, just some jerk running his mouth and gets handsy with you. Are his actions enough reason to break a bone or gauge out an eye? Probably not. You do what is needed to end the confrontation with as minimal damage as possible and take the fight out of them. Now, let's say the guy isn't getting the hint and insists on making you an example, so he calls in a couple of buddies to help beat you up. Okay, now the situation has escalated and you are now in a possible life or death situation, so inflicting more damage is within your legal right. On top of that, one of them has grabbed a pipe, a broken bottle, produced a knife or other weapon to use on you. At this point deadly force can be warranted when all other options have been exhausted. Your response should be equal to or slightly less than the force being used on you. When you exceed acceptable force, meaning you cannot justify using the force you did, you find yourself in a real legal dilemma and will probably face jail time. However, having the ability and opportunity to use deadly force and, opting not to, shows constraint and control, meaning that even if you end up in a court room, your chances of going home are better because you can justify why you did what you did. Keep that in mind.

Okami No Michi (The Wolf's Path or Way of the Wolf). What does that exactly mean for us. It is less of a way of moving or physical emulation of Wolf characteristics and more of a philosophical and mental state. The wolf is regarded as a protector and guardian in many cultures. In the Nordic/Anglo-Saxon culture my namesake means "Wolf Shield" or "House Wolf" meaning someone who protects. In the Japanese culture they have a myth of a giant gray wolf (gray wolves have been extinct in Japan for several years now) that guards the mountains that they call "Large Mouth True God".
So for us, the way of the wolf is one of preparedness, decisiveness, action and survival. The wolf is an apex predator not only because of superior hunting ability, but because it is aware of the predators hunting it. We are on guard, ready and willing to take decisive action, but also aware of the time and place to do so. I sometimes call this the "predator mindset" but I should really call it "mind of the wolf." To think about how a predator would target its prey and set up barriers and boundaries to prevent it, yet still be dangerous enough that those that would test those boundaries regret they did.
When you think about it, criminals and hostile people are often like the predators of the world: they select their prey by who will give them the least resistance, the least likely to fight back. Hostile people often choose people they think are going to be timid and easy to either coerce into a fight they think they can win or cower down from fear. As far as hostile people go, when they get loud and challenge me, I don't say a word. My face speaks for me by showing them I am not afraid and that they are not worth going to jail for. They have either backed down or gone away calling me a string of obscenities because I didn't play their "game."
The wolf knows it's dangerous and doesn't need to prove it, but when it is forced to, the consequences of attacking the apex predator are grave for the attacker, even if the wolf is injured. The predator will always leave with its proverbial tail between its legs. This is Okami No Michi.

You may be wondering why the profile picture is still the "Sixkiller Kajukenbo" crest. Well, because we are still working at becoming an instructor in that system so that we can add that to the options of classes. Besides, Master Barron Shepherd has been very influential on me, my training, my philosophy and my attitude towards the martial arts. This form of Kajukenbo will always have a home here and will always be something we draw from and measure against to keep our training and curriculum work in a real capacity. We have the greatest of respect for Mater Shepherd and Kajukenbo. As they say "Kajukenbo Foreva!"

I have found there are four parts to my style, probably not just mine as I have been influenced by many styles.
1.) Striking. Not just striking, but striking specific areas such as ribs, jaw, chin, shoulders, nose, eyes, knees, hips and abdomen. That was not a complete list, just some of the targets. Striking and kicking other parts of the body are distractions designed to open the opponent up for the real targets.
2.) Seizing and controlling. Not just grappling, attacking specific muscles groups and joints with the intent of controlling and incapacitating the opponent. Targets such as the trapizious muscles, biceps, triceps, inner thigh muscles, glutamus maximus and minimus, solar plexus, and soft areas such as the arm pit, trachea or groin.
3.) Breaking the Structure. This is not off balancing, this is a hyper extension of the head and neck area so that the opponent has no choice but to fall. This includes several of the techniques taught by Master Shepherd as well as techniques taught in both Aikido and Kempo.
4.) Off balancing (Kazushi). This is the goal and can lead to the breaking of the opponent's structure. To bring the opponent into an area where they are fighting to remain upright instead of fighting us. This is achieved through redirection, displacement, triangulation and manipulation of the centerline.

I have found that these are taught, in some form or another, in almost all martial arts. Some usually focus on one or two more than the others.

After much deliberation, and deep personal soul searching, I have decided to go back to Grey Wolf Martial Arts. Some of my reasoning on this are as follows:
1.) Marketing and Branding.
Grey Wolf stands out as a unique and individual brand. Schools with the name Guardian in some shape or form are a dime a dozen here in Houston. So ditching Guardian for something that stands out seems like I just want to blend in.
2.) Grey Wolf also speaks to those looking to be protectors. The image is that of a calm and focused individual with the real potential of being very dangerous. I used to like the image of a fierce and feral wolf, but that speaks to being violent and dominant, not defense or protecting yourself or your loved ones.
3.) The Wolf Shield motif has been part of who I am for a very long time. In shedding it I was attempting to shed part of me that cannot be shed. As I mentioned to Master Shepherd in response to his comment in the last post, the Anglo-Saxon translation of my name is "Wolf Shield" or "House Wolf" meaning "Protector." So using it for my school would fit.
4.) I did consider other names such as Space City Martial Arts and Clutch City Martial Arts, but those did not stack up well against Grey Wolf for being able to get the gist of the message of what we are about, but that's what the tagline is for. Grey Wolf came out as the best choice all around.

So Grey Wolf won out and honestly I am okay with it. I feel like I am connecting with my art, that I am making my school part of my identity, and my students will have an identity within the culture of our "pack." I feel this is the direction we need to go. This is the logo, it was created using AI. The tagline is "Protect What Matters" with a sub tagline of "Real world Self-defense for everyday people."

So, I have been thinking about changing the name of the school to something more marketable. One suggestion that came up that I like is Guardian Combat Kempo as it reflects what we represent as well as what the art more or less looks like. We are not sport. I have detested competing as an adult and see "Sport Karate" as a joke. We are a combat art for the everyday person. Simple, effective and direct, just like our style. The style is the same, but we are more closely embracing our Kajukenbo roots as much of what it is comes from that. Master Shepherd once told me that SGM Sam Lonewolf did not distinguish between Kajukenbo and Kempo, they were the same, and I am starting to see it the same way. Anyway, let me know what you think about the name change. I mean I was paying homage to one of my late senseis, but that homage is now in the name of the style itself. Now it is time to define us. A simple "yes" or "no" works for an answer.

I made a very startling discovery this morning. I work with a boxing simulator to work on my boxing skills, obviously. Part of the simulator has areas to work on perfecting your punches. I threw all kinds and I noticed that, on average, my hooks deliver around 1500 to 1700 Newtons. In Pound- Force that equals around 300 to 500 pounds of force, or enough to break a jaw, other bones or even knock a person unconscious. Think of it this way, I try to keep my techniques short and tight so they can be used in close quarters, and that is the force that is expelled by just the hook in that technique. This makes me not to hit anyone unless I have to. My jabs were coming in at about 2100 Newtons, straight punches and crosses between 2500 and 3000. I don't think I could live with myself if it wasn't a life or death situation and I hit someone full force.

We may start posting videos again, just trying to decide to use my phone or the camera. My phone makes it easier. I will probably have to make a new intro and outro for it, but considering how things are going to change in the format, that may have to happen. Let's just say we will keep the politics and rhetoric out of it because self defense and martial arts has no race, religion, skin color or political alignment. What governs a person's actions is the condition of their heart.

The purpose of martial arts is not fighting. It is the art of fighting without fighting, of learning when violence is needed and when it is not. I have walked away from more "fights" than any actual fight because it was not a life or death situation. This is what I try to impart: That fighting is always the last resort, that you only escalate things to help end it once a fight has begun and that ending someone's life is only an option when there are no other ones to end the conflict. People assume that martial arts is about violence, but it is about peace. It is about being peaceful with people even if they anger you. It is about trying to resolve things with as little damage as possible at first. It is not about learning to hurt others for the sake of hurting them. If you train only to hurt others you are in the arts for the wrong reason.