A single conversation with a wise person is better than 10 years of study. -Chinese Proverb

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are answers to some of our most frequently asked questions. If you have a question that isn’t answered here, please contact us.

 

What is the difference between sport martial arts and real world self-defense?

Sport based martial arts rely heavily on athleticism, strength, power, speed, agility, and skill. Endurance is also critical as most sport competitions such as boxing and UFC matches last numerous rounds. The victor aspires to win the bout via knockout, technical knockout, or decision. Often times the more conditioned athlete has the greatest chance of winning the fight. In addition to the athletes, themselves, there are numerous rules and restrictions and banned techniques. There are various weight classes to keep fights competitive. Neutral referees oversee the competition to ensure fairness. The environment, itself, must be stable, clean, and safe for the participants.

In the real world anything goes. A 400 lbs. man attacking a frail 90 year old individual from behind happens far too often. Six people attacking one person is not uncommon. Weapons such as guns, machetes, and baseball bats are frequently employed to mutilate unarmed victims. Encounters often occur among a bed of broken glass, rocks, roots, adorning slick uneven surfaces in the dead of night. The attacks occur spontaneously out of nowhere when a person’s guard is down.

There are no rules. There are no refs. There are no wins or trophies. If the fight is not ended in seconds or less a life may be lost. Your trophy is your ability to walk away with your life.

The ultimate question that people need to ask themselves is whether they wish to train for sport or real world self-defense? To the novice the distinction may be unclear. To the initiated they are completely different animals. The thousands of repetitions needed to become skilled in a sport environment may get you killed in the real world. Similarly, employing real world combative techniques in a sport setting could leave you battling more than your opponent. You could be subject to fines, lawsuits, and even jail time.

There are no guarantees in life, but arming yourself with proper knowledge definitely gives you a huge advantage. There is a lot of misinformation being spread. Other systems require athleticism to be effective. What happens when you’re sick, injured, elderly, and your athleticism is nowhere to be found? What happens if you’re attacked in a cramped, awkward space with hardly any room to move? Do you want to be a victim? Or, do you want to learn as much as you can from some of the top real world self-defense instructors on the planet? The more prepared you are the more capable you’ll be in protecting yourself and your loved ones from harm.

Do you teach MMA?

We do not teach mixed martial arts (MMA).

At Combat Science we only teach self-defense techniques that can be used in the real world by civilians, law enforcement, or the military during life and death encounters.

All of the techniques and strategies taught have to be effective without needing athleticism. Additionally, all techniques must address defense against weapons and multiple attackers. If the above criteria cannot be met then you will not see the concepts taught through Combat Science. It’s as simple as that.

How long will it take for me to get good at self-defense?

It really depends on the individual. Some people are born with better physical coordination. Others are born with keen intellectual abilities to analyze mass quantities of information.

Undoubtedly, the more you practice the faster you will progress. With that said, in 3-6 months time you can learn staggering amounts of information about self-defense. Through Freedman’s Method you can literally know more about self-defense in 3 months than martial artists who have been studying for over 20 years. You read right. That’s not marketing B.S. Our no-questions-asked money back guarantee should give you the peace of mind to see for yourself how Freedman’s Method is revolutionizing self-defense instruction throughout the U.S.

How come I have never heard of Freedman’s Method Ketsugo Jiu-Jitsu* before now?

For starters, it has only been taught in an underground, private school until now. Moreover, you had to be invited to join and accepted into the school. This is really the first time we are making the art and its inner teachings available to the mass public.

Additionally, unlike many other arts that promote themselves through full contact tournaments and pay-per-view matches, FMKJ is specifically designed for the streets and battlefields abroad. In its purest form it can only be used for actual self-defense or combat. Many of the strategies and techniques employed would not be legal in competitive sport fighting. Elite special forces in Afghanistan and Iraq have benefited tremendously from FMKJ.

What is the difference between Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Freedman’s Method Ketsugo Jiu-Jitsu*?

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu was invented by Carlos Gracie in the early 1900s. After meeting one of the top students of the founder of Judo, he drew upon concepts from Judo, wrestling, and western boxing and perfected a system of ground fighting that helped to revolutionize martial arts in various full contact competitions. It has been dominant art in the U.S. ever since the Gracie family stepped into the Octagon in the 90’s. It helped to expose weaknesses in many different martial arts.

Ketsugo Jiu-Jitsu* was invented by Professor Harold Brosious in the 1950’s and was originally taught to the Navy Frogman who were the predecessors to today’s Navy SEALs. It incorporated concepts and battlefield strategies of the Japanese Samaurai.

Drawing upon numerous life and death encounters while growing up in Boston’s South End, Grandmaster Peter Freedman created Freedman’s Method Ketsugo Jiu-Jitsu* in the 1980’s. It was designed to be used against multiple armed opponents in the street versus one opponent inside a flat, spacious ring with numerous rules, timed rounds, and a referee. Most encounters on the street happen suddenly and violently in cramped spaces with poor lighting conditions.

FMKJ teaches people how to strengthen their creativity, sensitivity, and ability to instantly adapt the combat self-defense concepts to any situation or environment including standing, kneeling, sitting, laying on the ground, riding in a car or airplane, walking down a stairwell, standing in an elevator, etc.

In addition to grappling, FMKJ also covers awareness training, pressure points, nerve attacks, unbalancing, throws, striking with all part of the body (fingers, knuckles, palms, wrists, head, shoulders, elbows, ribs, buttocks, hamstring, hips, knees, shins, and feet) and teaches people how to use ordinary objects such as hats, credit cards, trash bags, and pens as self-defense tools.

Is one art better than another? No. They are completely different arts and it really depends on what you’re looking for. If you wish to compete in one-one tournaments you might prefer Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. It’s very effective.

If you prefer to study a combative art that will teach you how to defend against weapons and multiple attackers without requiring athleticism than you might prefer FMKJ.

Many clients of FMKJ also like that they can learn an effective self-defense system without taking injuries. Moreover, Freedman’s Method empowers you to demystify joint locks, grappling, and the martial arts as a whole in an astonishingly short amount of time. We are talking a matter of months. We have yet to encounter another self-defense system that can teach you how to invent your own techniques and defend yourself in such a short amount of time.

If Freedman’s Method Ketsugo Jiu-Jitsu* is so effective how come I’ve never seen it in the UFC?

Despite the marketing of being “no holds barred” there are actually numerous techniques (generally speaking around 30 or more) that are not permitted in UFC matches. Things like eye gouges, strikes to the throat, strikes to the ears, strikes to the back of the head, neck locks, spine locks, finger locks, wrist locks, iron palm techniques, Dim Mak pressure points that disrupt the heart and other organs, and the list goes on.

You might have noticed that you do not see Krav Maga, Escrima, Kali, Arnis, Systema, nor Pencak Silat in the UFC either. Combat arts such as these along with Freedman’s Method Ketsugo Jiu-Jitsu* do not have a place inside the ring. They are designed strictly for life and death encounters in the real world. Similarly, you won’t see full auto M16s or M4s loaded with hollow tip ammo on a paintball course designed for training, recreation, or competition.

Why do you spend so much time training in slow motion? It’s pretty obvious that in order to be effective in a real fight you need to train at full speed.

It’s important to keep in mind that the majority of the public only has exposure to the martial arts through movies and sporting matches such as boxing, Olympic wrestling, and full contact matches such as the UFC, K-1, and Vale Tudo. Most people are not used to seeing empty-hand and weapons arts whose sole purpose was to cripple and kill in war.

Most people are unaware that the battlefield arts from hundreds of years ago utilized ultra slow training as the foundation for their combat training. The mantra, “slow is smooth, smooth is fast” was a critical training method of many of the fiercest warriors of old. Even today’s soldiers, who aspire to become experts shots with firearms, adhere to this adage. Unfortunately, this has become a lost training “secret” among most empty-hand self-defense systems.

Systems such as Tai Chi are actually battlefield arts. The practitioners do not move slowly because they are old, unskilled or unable to make their techniques work effectively at full speed. They intentionally train slowly so they can have impeccable sensitivity and perfect bone alignment. That way when they do move at full speed they can move at even faster speeds than before.

The warriors of old realized that if you didn’t train slowly, you often died quickly on the battlefield. Your sensitivity to see sudden movements with your eyes and your sensitivity to detect subtle changes in pressure, momentum, and balance through your skin, bones, muscles, and tendons and ligaments would be severely deficient if you only trained at rapid speeds. You can think of ultra slow training like an internal microscope that instantly reveals all your deficiencies and weaknesses such as poor timing, terrible balance, sloppy footwork, improper use of leverage, awkward movements, flimsy techniques, bad bone alignment, lack of power, problems with speed and velocity, and so much more. Most people cheat their techniques and lack of scientific understanding by forcing their techniques to work through speed or brute force. Well, that’s great until you meet someone who is much bigger and more athletic than you. Or, today is the day you sprained your ankle and all your martial art prowess just went down the toilet. And it most likely will not be back in time when you need it most.

In Freedman’s Method Ketsugo Jiu-jitsu* this combative method of slow training is one of our most critical training philosophies. In addition to the above it will empower you to learn at an increasingly rapid pace. It will also allow you to learn an effective self-defense system without taking injury.

FMKJ supplements the slow training with full speed padded stick and knife fighting. This helps to further train the nervous system and also promote fast-twitch muscle fibers (along with plyometrics conditioning).

True combat Jiu-Jitsu* was only used at full speed on the battlefield. Only slow to medium-high speeds could be used for training as most of the techniques were too deadly and dangerous to be used at an all out pace.

Judo and Aikido, which are sport offshoots of the Japanese combat art of Jiu-Jitsu*, were created to allow practitioners to train and spar at full speeds without the crippling and fatal consequences of their parent art.

If you really want to prepare for real world self-defense we implore you to begin integrating slow training into your practice or you will likely face an uphill struggle to reach your highest potential. This is one of the greatest yet forgotten paradoxes within the martial arts. To truly move at lightening fast speed you must first master moving ultra slow. This is not a theory. This was the way it was for thousands of years when the sword quickly silenced those who spoke loudly or those who failed to train properly before stepping onto the battlefield. It was there that the stakes could not have been greater.

Can I learn self-defense without taking injury?

Yes, you can and it’s important to find a school that adheres to that philosophy. Otherwise you might end up decrepit and arthritic in your early 40’s. We are strong proponents in the idea that injuries do not make you tough. They prematurely age your body. We prefer to promote increased sensitivity with your eyes, skin, ears, nose, mouth, and metaphysical senses. That way even as you age there is no limit to how advanced you can become. Like fine wine you will continue getting better as the years accumulate.

Do you ever teach live seminars?

Yes, we do. You can look at our calendar of schedule seminars. If you’re feeling ambitious and want to make some extra cash you can even contact us about organizing a local seminar in your town or city.

Can I study with you privately?

Absolutely! But with limited slots available we recommend securing your spot as soon as possible before we reach maximum capacity. You have the option of studying in person or online via one-on-one Skype sessions.

Do you really offer a 30 day 100% money back guarantee?

We do. If you’re not fully satisfied after 30 days simply send us an email for a 110% refund.

I’ve become really fit from working out the traditional way (bench press, pull ups, push ups, bicep curls, military press, squats, sit ups, etc). What is so different about Arend Training and Combat Science’s fitness program?

Unlike most traditional fitness programs Arend training focuses on “functional” training in three planes of motion – forward/backward, side-to-side, and twisting with one foot serving as a stationary base (aka the sagittal plane, frontal plane, and transverse plane). By training in all three planes of motion you’ll promote true strength from the tip of your fingers all the way through your core to the tip of your toes. You’re only as strong as your weakest link. If the weak links are not properly trained you’re really setting yourself up for injuries. Moreover, even though you may look fit in strong you’re workouts may not translate well into functional speed, power, and agility for self-defense, tactical defense, or just life in general.

Arend training not only helps build total strength, but it also helps to eliminate pain, increase range of motion, and correct muscular-skeletal issues in your back, hips, knees, ankles, etc.

It’s only a matter of time before the cutting-edge concepts of Arend Training become the new paradigm for all fitness training. The traditional fitness training methods that only stress the body in one or two planes of motion will eventually be viewed as antiquated and will likely suffer a fate similar to the dinosaurs.

Why do I need to exercise my body on three planes of motion?

You live in a three dimensional body that was designed to be used in three planes of motion. What would happen if you only ate organic, lean, free-range chicken? That’s pretty healthy, right? What if that’s all you ate? No fiber. No vegetable and fruit. No foods rich in essential fatty acids. We could probably watch the clock in a matter of days or weeks you most likely will not be feeling so great. If we fast forward a few months and years you will most likely be well on your way to developing some serious health conditions. Perhaps, you even start coming down with one or more chronic degenerative diseases. Your body was created to consume protein to build muscle and connective tissues. Your body needs fiber to effectively eliminate wastes and toxins. You also need enzymes, minerals, anti-oxidants, and phyto-nutrients to ward off premature aging from oxidative damage and to keep the millions of chemical reactions going on a daily basis.

Similarly, what do you think happens when you only train your body in a forward and backward motion (the sagittal plane) for months and months? Then the years start to accumulate. You’re going to start developing some serious muscular-skeletal imbalances. You might not notice the symptoms at first so you keep training hard. Onward you go. You neglect the side to side motions (the frontal plane) and even worse you never train the twisting motions (transverse plane) where most weakness reside and where most injuries occur. No pain, no gain, right? Then your hips and lower back start getting tight. You start losing flexibility and range of motion. Perhaps you reassure yourself that these are just normal signs of aging. Your body starts compensating with dysfunctional movement patterns and muscles that are supposed to be performing certain functions stop working well and others are recruited to do jobs that they really weren’t designed for. Over time, you become a walking time-bomb for slipped discs, torn rotator cuffs, torn ACLs or MCLS (serious knee problems), and the list goes on. Keep training like this long enough and there’s a good chance that the imbalances and chronic injuries will lead to chronic inflammation. As the years build that may lead to arthritis. There is better way.

By learning to train your body in three planes of motion as it was originally designed you can keep your body in optimal condition – flexible, strong, agile, and vibrant. You can help to rid yourself of chronic tightness, weakness, pain, and injury. The choice is yours.

What is the best nutritional supplement to take?

To properly answer that question we first need to ask you are you just looking for a multi-vitamin type formula for overall health? Or, do you suffer specific health issues that you would like to support with good nutrition?

Many people don’t realize that over 51% of supplements sold do not even dissolve in the body. You swallow it and it comes out the other end with the label still intact. This includes some of the most expensive brands. Nurses commonly call these “miracle” products “bedpan bullets.” There’s nothing like spending money to get zero nutritional value!

It’s important to consume pharmaceutical grade supplements whenever possible to ensure purity, potency, and proper absorption. You typically will not be able to purchase products of this caliber in grocery or health food stores.

We have inside contacts who have toured the manufacturing facilities that make most of the supplements available in the U.S. We are well aware who is selling the public marketing hype and who is really delivering quality health products. We also have access to independent 3rd party publications that compare and rank the top 1500 supplements in the U.S. and Canada. The information is generally rather shocking when you see it for the first time.

We are happy to help you analyze what you’re currently taking and even teach you how to test various products yourself to see what is good and what is garbage. You can contact us for more details.

What type of firearms do you recommend for home defense?

It depends on a number of different criteria. Are you a beginner or seasoned expert? What state do you live in and does your state or country permit firearms? Are you looking for something that both you and your significant other could easily use to defend your home?

There are strong arguments for pump or semi-automatic shotguns. Others prefer pistols and many prefer revolvers. We discuss the pros and cons of each extensively along with the various models and brand names throughout the firearms portion of our website. If we can be of further assistance with an item that is not addressed… just let us know.

How come sometimes I see the name spelled “Jiu-jitsu” and other times “Jujutsu”?

The more traditional, transliterated spelling for Japanese Jujutsu that was used by the Samurai on the battlefields of Japan was spelled “Jujutsu.” The various sport adaptations from Brazil spell the art “Jiu-Jitsu.” Freedman’s Method Ketsugo Jiu-jitsu* has preserved the traditional spelling, but for marketing and easier accessibility for web searches we promote the name on Combat Science as “Jiu-Jitsu.” That way more people can find us and we can help them learn how to defends themselves and their families. The asterisk is present to note this intentional change of spelling. The spelling is an important issue to academics, traditional Japanese practitioners, and combat practitioners. Other people could care less. We are a little geeky at Combat Science, but that’s how we became trusted “experts.”

If your system of self-defense doesn’t rely on athleticism to be effective than why do you promote fitness so heavily on your website?

It’s true that Freedman’s Method Ketsugo Jiu-Jitsu* does not require athleticism in order to be effective and yet we also promote fitness heavily on the website.

Even though FMKJ works against multiple attackers it’s important to keep in mind that we may have to defend ourselves against various threats that may not be human.

You may need athleticism to run to safety and scale a fence to escape from a vicious pit-bull or bullmastiff that is chasing you down.

You may need to pull friends or family from concrete, steel, and wood rubble in the aftermath of a powerful earthquake.

You may need to carry a child on your back and another in one arm as you crawl under the smoke and past scorching flames in a burning home.

Additionally, the more athletic we are the healthier our organs and immune systems tends to be. Threats from chronic degenerative disease and microscopic pathogens such as bacteria and viruses are always lurking in the background.

You only get one you. You only get one body to enjoy and to help you journey through this life to experience as much as you can. Treat it well. Treat it with compassion and kindness. Your abilities to defend yourself will expand. You’ll be better able to live the fullest life possible.

Moreover, in the past monks, healers, and warriors did not study martial arts, herbalism, yoga, healing, personal development, and spirituality in isolation. Instead, they learned holistic systems that seamlessly integrated their mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical training. It was the synergy of modalities that unlocked their true potential and empowered them to attain skills that transformed them into “super” human beings. Or, more accurately, normal human beings with very unusual skill sets and unique gifts that they spent a lifetime developing, nurturing, and perfecting.

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