VIPER Street Combat Personal Protection Self Defense

A Young John Nottingham Graduating Jump School "Airborne!"

Inspired by Special Forces

In the early 90s I developed a course called VIPER. It was born out of an experimental military combatives course I engineered and taught while a rookie serving in a Special Forces Reserve Unit. My unit encouraged me to use my martial arts teaching background to research and develop a quick learn hand to hand combat and hand to weapon combat course. I collaborated with a 7th Special Forces and 82nd Airborne combat veteran named Wes Infiesto (a remarkable Kajukenbo, Shinkendo and Aikido martial artist and later SWAT officer.) What started as a simple experiment to liven up and functionalize Army PT (physical training) sessions turned into much more.

The research lead me to Krav Maga, Sambo, Systema, Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, Chu Fen Do (Coach Tony Blauers system), Jeet Kune Do as well as Paul Vunak and many more. It was a phenomenal starting point for research and development.

Tested, Tested, Tested Again - No Sacred Cows in Self Defense

When tested, the lessons learned lead to radical changes the direction of my research, teaching and career. We had to reverse engineer the process and question everything my team and I had ever been taught. I owe that to the encouragement of my mentors - many of whom were veteran Army Rangers, Military Intelligence Agents and Special Forces instructors. It was an ignition point that altered my trajectory, now twenty plus years later of doing this research and teaching. I took those lessons and that direction, along with my experience teaching thousands of men, women and children and applied the concepts to civilian personal protection use. Integrating bodyguard tactics, it became VIPER - a different approach to self defense.

VIPER STREET COMBAT - Not Really "Self Defense"

Why VIPER? Mostly it was born out of my poking fun at the tough names of some of the other fighting and self defense courses on the market. SCARS was one of the biggest programs going at the time and gaining much notoriety for having been a test program for Naval Special Warfare (NAVY SEALS BUDS).

For those of us with Military backgrounds we often have an affinity for acronyms. It's a helpful way of remembering things and was a convenient way to package something that was a self defense (personal protection) system I consider unique. The name VIPER also was fitting due to the nature of a vipers natural protective mechanisms.

Survival Training Force Options - A Different Kind of Street Self Defense

VIPER stands for Violence Interdiction Personal Evolutionary Responses. The foundation of the program is to use strategy, fear management and innate survival mechanisms to increase effectiveness in identifying, preventing, thwarting and intervening in would-be violent encounters. It is a rapid learn last resort safety self defense system designed for reality based self defense for todays streets.

It's About Results - Not About Symbolism, Style or Show

Rather than having the focus of most systems, technique, VIPER emphasized results. It doesn't matter what you know or don't know. It doesn't matter how stylized or pretty it is. What counts is using whatever assets, means and abilities to change the context of the situation to put the odds in the clients favor. Objective? To have the peace of mind that comes from the confidence that one is equipped to survive and go home to one's family.

It Doesn't Matter What You Know - It Only Matters What You Do

It only matters how well you could manage a simulated violent crime encounter. It also had to be highly adaptive to address individual physical, emotional or mental limitations. Some clients simply do not have the athleticism to bring to bear that many MMA or Martial Arts trainers adapting their skills to a self defense context often provide. It had to work for clients even if they are out of shape. It had to be real in every sense of an individuals lifestyle, and have efficacy throughout ones life.

Context driven, mission specific training

If we do our job, the client experiences a remarkable leap in confidence, skill and ability to prevent, deter and de-escalate what would be the most violent 4-6 seconds of his or her life. What my team and I became really good at was doing it safely in a way that empowers people rather than intimidates individuals. Each of our training courses are tailored to the individuals or organizations in which they would use it.

VIPER Personal Protection - Think Like a Bodyguard

The VIPER STREET COMBAT name was a way of separating it from reactionary, defensive mindset so-called self defense courses out there. I have since elected to use VIPER STREET COMBAT to describe a sample video product promoted through TRS & Fightfast.com. The full course is a hands-on, classroom and interactive scenario based live training event we refer to as VIPER Personal Protection. VIPER Personal Protection integrates the same strategies we teach to bodyguards and law enforcement to predict potentially violent situations as well as being one step ahead of a potential attacker.

It is not designed to teach individuals how to fight, rather it is designed to teach individuals how to avoid, disrupt and derail a criminal attack. While intensely effective physical intervention skills are taught, they are only used as a last resort to neutralize danger and create a window of opportunity for escape.

Research on Self Defense & Defensive Tactics

My team and I continually research and push to innovate, develop and test the cutting edge methods to offer our students effective problem solving options. Our archives of hundreds of scenarios, video crime footage, news articles and other research continues to guide our work. I collaborate with a team of experts including one of my top students Instructor Don Gray, an Iraq War veteran formerly with the 82 Airborne who is a Modern Army Combatives instructor. (Admittedly, I'm really proud of him and hope you'll get a chance to work with him - he's extraordinary.) Our collaboration provides us with the ability to offer non-traditional insights, advice and solutions to clients looking to get an advantage and stay safe.

Standing On The Shoulders of Giants

I've been very blessed to have studied from and researched some of the leading minds in this field and taught thousands of students around the world. From Coach Tony Blauer, Sigung Paul Vunak, Mr. Gavin de Becker, my Special Forces mentors and my loyal students and clients (from whom I learn from every day), my path is certainly unique. I don't mention those names with the intention of namedropping for vicarious fame by association, rather to accurately acknowledge their influence on my work and to give proper credit where credit is due.

Heaven knows I've tested some crazy marketing and cheesy ads out there but anyone who knows or has worked with me knows how seriously I take giving credit and acknowledging my teachers and the pioneers who advance the cause of protection.

It is their generosity in sharing rather than judgmentally comparing that inspired and encouraged my growth over these past 25 plus years. I hope to be able to share some of our research and findings with you one day. If you are a trainer, I consider you part of the team and the solution our world despirately needs. It would be an honor to collaborate with you and share our findings to continually equip the good guys with the skills they need to succeed and build a more peaceful world.

Read more here http://usamartialarts.wordpress.com/2011/06/07/1613/

VIPER PERSONAL PROTECTION

Rapid Learn Strategic Self Defense Course Integrating Highly Potent Physical Intervention Survival Skills, Fear Management, and Protective Studies Through Classroom Education and Scenario-based Immersion Training.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/VIPER-Street-Combat-Personal-Protection/109168292448760

HIT LIKE A GIRL

Self Defense Personal Protection for Women -Bodyguard Strategies for Brains Over Brawn

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hit-Like-a-Girl/339618134337

Nottingham Training Systems

Nottingham Sword & Shield Security

4731 E. Greenway Suite 10

Phoenix, Arizona 85032
http://USA-MartialArts.com 

(602) 896-8721

SCOTTSDALEEXECUTIVESECURITY | MYSECURITYEXPERTS | NOTTINGHAMSECURITYADVISOR | SECURITY OPERATIVES | TACTICAL TRAINING | PROTECTION ADVISORS | ADVANCED THREAT ASSESSMENT & MANAGEMENT | ARMED & UNARMED GUARD PATROL SERVICES | ARIZONA DPS LICENSE 1596766

Paul Vunak's Filthy MMA - Contemporary JKD

The following is a reprint of my teacher Sigung Paul Vunak's article in Black Belt Magazine Published April 2010.  It describes his organization called PFS (Progressive Fighting Systems) latest innovations in practical fighting sciences and the new teaching methods he is requiring of an elite corps of hand-picked instructors.

• What are the origins or this self defense fighting method? 
• Would Bruce Lee and Danny Inosanto be proud?
• What happens when you remove the rules from sport UFC MMA?

Source: http://Fighting.net Reprinted with permission.  Direct link: http://fighting.net/main.php?page=filthymma  


For more information, seminars or training in the Southwest, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah region Contact:
DOM Instructor John Nottingham: http://fighting.net/johnn with Sword & Shield Security.

Paul Vunak's Filthy MMA (Contemporary JKD)

In 1959 Bruce Lee came to America, at that time his original art was Wing-Chun. Over the next few years of working with much larger and stronger Americans, Bruce Lee discovered the limitations of Wing-Chun.

In 1964 at the Long Beach Internationals is where Bruce Lee first met Dan Inosanto. Inosanto at that time was a world class athlete running the 100 yard dash in 9.4 seconds. Over the next 9 years Bruce and Dan together created what is now known as Jeet Kune Do. They dissected and synthesized every art and philosophy salient to street fighting. In 1973 Bruce Lee passed away, and the mantle of Jeet Kune Do was officially passed to Dan Inosanto. In 1974 Mr. Inosanto opened the doors to the Filipino Kali Academy. His intention was and still is to continue to cultivate and refine the original process by which he and Bruce started.

3 years later in 1977 is when I personally joined the Kali Academy. From that very first day, I vividly remember Inosanto pounding in our heads, what he said was the most important principle in JKD. "Constant Growth and Progression". Indeed the very words on his certificate echo this principle of continual growth and progression.

"Change is necessary so the practitioner can adapt to the ever changing times and situations. "

The reason JKD was and is so affective lies in the simple fact that it is cutting edge. For example, during the mid 70's everyone used to kick above the waist only. The folks that were at the top of the heap in this world were PKA(Professional Karate Association). The raging paradigm at the time was, one would irreparably damage the knees if leg kicks were applied. We disagreed vehemently with that conclusion. Very few people knew anything about Thai boxing in those days. And this happened to be one of the last arts that Bruce and Dan were exploring before Bruce's death. Wanting to continue this exploration we invited Chai Siruste "World Champion Thai Boxer" to the Kali Academy. We all fell in love with Thai Boxing. The effectiveness of Thai boxing became so evident from that day on, that we made it a staple in the JKD curriculum. Throughout the rest of the 70's and into the early 80's while most of America was fighting out a low stance, and throwing face kicks. We were slamming our opponents front leg with the infamous Thai round kick, then clinching their necks and throwing elbows and knees Thai style. This curriculum served us well, right up until 1983 when we first met the Gracies.


My first experience with Rorion and Royce Gracie left me speechless, angry, and enamored. So I decided to train Jiu-Jitsu full time and became quite fanatical. A few years later Inosanto and Larry Hartsell both caught the bug. Not long after Dan Inosanto became Rigan Machado's oldest Black Belt.

[The Gracies, Machados, BJJ, and MMA]

By 1985 we made Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu an official part of our JKD curriculum. If one were a fly on the wall at the Filipino Kali Academy around these very years they would see during full contact sparring,-jabs, crosses, kicks, Thai clinching, elbows, knees, takedowns, arm locks, triangles and chokes. In other words it would look like what MMA looks like today. The conclusions that we discovered in JKD are the identical conclusions that the MMA world discovered. 95% of the actual techniques needed in one on one empty hand battles lye within two arts, Thai boxing and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. I use mix martial arts as an example, because the greatest fighters in the world have culminated to what is now known as mixed martial arts. The top of the heap in this game is the UFC. The UFC has sponsored just over "100" fight nights. There have been roughly 700 fights, of those there have been 432 victories.(268 went to a decision) 218 were from knockouts, of either punches, kicks, elbows or knees. Mostly Thai style. And mostly from the Thai clinch. We clearly have to give the majority of the standup techniques to the Thai's. There have also been 214 victories on the ground due to submissions. This means arm locks, leg locks, triangles, and chokes, these moves all belong to Brazilian jiu-jitsu(no one even know of any of these moves till Royce Gracie came along).


Additional Arts in contemporary JKD,


Once one has the foundation of Thai Boxing and Brazilian Jiu-JItsu. It always helps to spice up your game by throwing in other styles. Say Greco Roman for the Clinch, Wing-Chun to improve forward pressure, or perhaps Savate for some Cro-Cop like kicks. In 1989 we decided to investigate shooto fighting, Inosanto brought in Sensei Yuri Nakamuri, and much like the Thai boxing everyone fell in love with shoot fighting.


In 1993 Eric Paulson (In my opinion Dan's all time best student) won the Light Heaveyweight Shoot Fighting Championship of the world and solidified shoot fightings contribution in contemporary JKD.


Where does original JKD fit in ?


When we say original JKD we are referring to the combined curriculums of the Seattle, Oakland and LA Chinatown schools prior to Bruce Lee's death. We strongly believe that the original curriculum should be preserved and immortalized. In order to assure this for the past 25 years we have made it mandatory for all Phase 1 students to know the entire curriculum of original JKD. When I hear people asking which is better ? Comparing original jkd to contemporary jkd(which is commonly called JKD concepts) I have to smile and scratch my head. You see, original JKD is contained within contemporary JKD. It would be like asking which is better, a Jab or Boxing ? Since a Jab is contained within boxing, the question is moot. Another reason against comparing the two has to do with fairness to Bruce Lee. In order to even be competitive now adays, there are some simple pre-requisites one absolutely must have...


A clinch Game(Either the neck or the body)


Takedown defense,


A Ground game.


The reason that none of these elements are in original JKD. Is because they didn't even exist prior to the first UFC which was 20 years after Bruce Lee's death.


Taking JKD to the next level of violence.

Paul Vunak and SEAL TEAM 6 - Virginia Beach,1987

Once one has gone through the rigors of getting their thai boxing and brazilian jiu-jitsu as good as possible, then the only logical conclusion in order to progress is to cheat. The elements that serve us best in this cause are the weapons, stick and knife, and kina mutai. The Filipino Art of Un-Interruppted Biting and Eye Gouging. Regarding the weapons first, 76 % of altercations envolve weapons of some sort. We have gleaned these statistics from various FBI, DEA and police departments. In other words when a fight begins, the first visceral response someone has is to reach around them and grab something. This something can be a tire iron, a crow bar, a pocket knife a mag lite, a broken bottle, a pool cue etc... etc..


This means one could be a UFC champion, and go celebrating that night with the belt that they just won and perhaps confront some knuckle head, drunk, who pulls out a knife. Well there are absolutely, positively certain edged weapons principles that one must know or die. And the possibility of this world champion being a statistic is greater than one would think.


So as the JKD person is concerned with survival first, they augment their empty hands with Filipino Weaponry. In the world of combat as Bruce taught us that no one style, system or ethnicity has it all. And just as the Brazilians are experts on the ground, and the French are experts with their high kicks, it is the Filipinos that are cutting edge with all weapons. Therefore I highly recommend that you find a Kali or escrima school for this part of your game.


Kina Mutai - the Filipino Art of Biting and Eye Gouging.


The Main difference between a kinamutai bite and just a plain bite has to do with how, when and where they attack. When a kina mutai practitioner bites you, it is with an uninterrupted bite. Since he knows the exact places on the body to bite, and with precise timing. He grabs you with his incredible grip strength, rips into your flesh like a pit bull( using mainly one's k-nines) and the single most important thing is that you are in some sort of bear hug while this is happening. Every single bite or eye gouge performed by a kina mutai specialist is augmented with their right hand gripping their left wrist, or their left hand gripping their right wrist(in a bear hug type of fashion). The actual motion of the bite is a repeated circular ripping of the flesh ,when applied over a period of time the damage inflicted is unimaginable. A contemporary JKD man escalates their level of violence to this degree only for two possible reasons.

1. One is to protect their to family.(perhaps carjacking, home invasion, or child abductions etc)
2. For a military operation.

In conclusion, please understand that my intention upon writing this article, "Contemporary JKD", is not to add yet another name for all of us to "fuss" over, I am however real big on respect. I believe out of respect to Bruce Lee and his direct original students, his original curriculum should be preserved and immortalized. I also believe that the people that have put forth 3 decades of sweat and blood, in order to keep Bruce's Art cutting edge also deserve respect, as we are all branches of the same tree.



If I had to describe contemporary JKD in a couple of words, You've heard of Dirty Boxing ? My couple of words are ... Filthy MMA.

About the Author:
Mr Vunak would like everyone to know about his program Adapt 4 Life, "teaching martial arts to physically challenged children". For more information go to www.fighting.net.
fighting.net/johnn