Chapter - 01

Introduction

What Is Ketsugo

The word Ketsugo means combination. In essence it is a combination of the best and most effective self defense moves from the greatest methods of hand-to-hand combat ever devised.

To practice Ketsugo is to practice the combined, unbeatable fighting arts of Aikido, Yawara, Ate-Waza, Karate, Sa-vate, Judo and Jiu Jitsu. To know Ketsugo is to know the striking and kicking methods of Karate and Savate, the twists, locks and joint-breaking art of Aikido, the pressure points used in Yawara and Ate-Waza and the devastating throws of Judo and Jiu Jitsu. With Ketsugo, your hands, feet and fingers, in fact your entire body, will become fantastic weapons of self defense. As a combination of the oldest and most effective Oriental Fighting Arts, Ketsugo will enable you to deliver mild, serious and fatal blows to any attacker.

What follows is a course in complete self defense in which the basic forms of each of the fighting arts have been simplified so that you will learn fast and easily. Study this book according to your needs. Naturally, the more time you spend learning Ketsugo, the more proficient you will become. If you wish to become acquainted only with Ketsugo, you should still be able to handle yourself in situations that would have been impossible before. Of course, if your intention is to become adept at Ketsugo, then you must be prepared to study, restudy, practice, and practice again the basic forms in this book.

Training And Condition

As Ketsugo is a physical art, training and condition are most essential. Probably one of the most important factors influencing the condition of the body is the diet. In considering your diet, it is wise to eat well, eat an abundance of high protein foods, stay away from an excess of sugar, starches and fats, drink plenty of liquids, avoid intemperate drinks  and  remember  that  your  body needs the proper amount and types of vitamins. The proper diet is certainly the first step toward good conditioning.

In Ketsugo, it is not the muscular strength that is important, but the speed and accuracy with which a movement is performed that spells the difference between the success and failure of a defense. Figures 1 through 6 illustrate how you can improve your speed and perfect your coordination. Study these techniques and you will greatly increase your effectiveness  in  Ketsugo.

Suspend a rubber ball from the ceiling or door frame. This can be done by making a hole in the ball with a knife or ice pick, forcing a piece of string through it, and tying a knot at the end of the string so the ball will not slip off. Practice hitting the ball with light blows using both hands. See Figure 1. Then, practice hitting the ball while it is moving, remembering that accuracy and speed should be your only considerations — not power. In a similar manner, practice kicking the ball while it is moving, alternating your feet. Again, practice for speed and accuracy.

Figure 3 shows a man jumping rope. Oddly enough, this is one of the best ways of improving your speed and coordination. Try this until you can jump without hitting the rope with your feet, continually trying to increase the speed of your jump and movement of the rope.

Glue a rubber sponge to the end of a stick as shown in figure 4. With your partner, practice blocking blows from the stick, having your partner increase his attack as your ability improves. Practice kicking and slashing, using force and speed as you progress, as shown in figures 5 and 6.

An integral part of conditioning for Ketsugo is the warming-up exercises that should be done before each practice. Figures 7 through 16 illustrate the warming-up, or limbering exercises.

Figures 7 and 8 illustrate the back-stretching exercise. To receive the full benefit of this exercise, be sure not to bend your knees.

Figures 9 and 10 illustrate the side-stretching exercise. In order to obtain the full benefit of this exercise, do not bend the body forward.

For a trunk-twisting exercise see figure 11. Twist your body as far as you can in circular motions in both directions, without moving the feet.

Figure 12 illustrates another back-stretching exercise. Try to place your head as close to your legs as you can, without bending the knees.

To loosen your joints, relax your muscles while shaking your wrists and ankles, as shown in figure 13.

Another good exercise for warming-up is called rabbit-hopping. As the name implies you hop up and forward like a rabbit as shown in figures 14 through 16. Increase your distance every day until you can hop and jump for a distance of 100 feet.

Another important part of conditioning is proper breathing. If you are an average person, you are probably not breathing correctly right now. Most of us take breathing for granted. However, it is important to note that correct breathing is an aid to the more active muscular coordination necessary for lightning defense. In order to obtain maximum physical and psychological strength at a critical moment when a gasp for breath could put you at a terrific disadvantage, practice the breathing exercise. Stand erect and inhale very slowly. Then hold your breath for as long as you can without straining or becoming uncomfortable. Finally, exhale in a rapid, forceful style through the mouth so that the air gushes out. Repeat this exercise every day, holding your breath a little longer each time.

So far we have dealt only with the physical training and conditioning of your body. Now let us deal briefly with your mental well being. Since Ketsugo involves a direct encounter between two or more human beings, the psychological factors brought into play are very important. Many times when a defender is physically outmatched, it is his psychological strength that saves the day. It is important to remember to be as calm as the surface of still water when facing an attacker. If you are upset, you may miss the one weakness that may exist in an adversary's movement. When you are attacked, never forget the finality of the enemy's move. Watch carefully for an opening and apply the proper techniques. This last part is sometimes the most difficult to do. You may know all the proper movements taught in this book, and you may even find the opening, but unless you are willing to act and execute the defense that is called for, you will be lost. Remember then; be calm, be observant of the attacker's moves, and finally, be willing to act without hesitation.

In any physical contest balance is one of the most important factors influencing the outcome. So too, balance is vital to a good defense. It should be pointed out that the human being is probably the most poorly-equipped animal with respect to balance. With the feet being the only two points touching the ground, we must pay particular attention to the manner in which we place them.

First, let us consider some of the weaker positions of the body with respect to balance. Figures 17 through 20 illustrate poor stances due to improper body balance. Figure 17 illustrates a stance where the weak defense line is from the back, while figure 18 illustrates a weak defense line from the front. Both of these stances have a strong side line. Figure 19 illustrates improper balance with the body's entire weight being on one foot. In this position you are vulnerable from all sides. Figure 20 is an example of a strong fighting stance. Notice how the feet are placed perpendicular to one another, resulting in a strong defensive line from both sides, the front and the back.

Now let us consider the proper defensive fighting positions. Whenever there is a chance of attack, but the possibility still exists of avoiding a fight, you should assume a defensive position which will not antagonize your opponent. Figure 21 is an example of a natural, unassuming stance which will not particularly show an intention to fight. In this position be natural, not stiff, and pretend to be holding one hand in the other. Actually in this position, although showing complete composure, you are poised to let loose with the striking hand as a catapult lets fly a stone. Remember, pull back the right hand with the left causing a spring tension. At the first sign of attack, release the right hand while adding power to the blow by taking a short step forward.

When an attack is imminent and there is no chance of avoiding a fight, you must assume   a   strong   defensive    fighting stance. Figure 22 is an example of such a stance. From this position you have good balance with your feet perpendicular to one another, and you can counter attack using kicks and slashes. With this stance you can defend with the utmost effectiveness, for your right hand is ready to slash, your left hand is ready with a knuckle or clenched fist, and the knee can be used in an upward thrust or your foot can be used to kick.

Distraction

Distraction is an important part of every defensive action. From the blood curdling yells of a cavalry charge to the war whooping of an Indian, yelling has always been a terrific distraction during a fight. In a good defensive move a yell should be given to momentarily confuse the attacker. This loud, unexpected noise will freeze your adversary's movements just long enough for you to make a counter attack. Besides acting as a distraction, the yell will also aid you in bringing to bear the maximum force and speed of your counter-attack.

Another method of distracting your attacker momentarily and putting him on the defensive is to throw an object at him. Any object near at hand, whether it be a pair of eye glasses, pencil or cigarette lighter, will serve the same purpose of distraction.

Beside yelling or throwing an object at your attacker, you can distract him by feinting. A feint is any movement which will convey to your antagonist something different than the actual counter-attack you intend. In other words, when you feint a counter, your attacker may anticipate a move which you actually do not intend to make. And at this moment you can force a counter to your own advantage.

What has been given here are only a few of the means of distracting an attacker. I am sure that you can think of other means of distraction which may be just as good depending upon the circumstances. The moment the distraction has taken effect, you must take advantage of it and follow through with the appropriate counter. To wait too long is to lose the advantage that you have gained, one that may not come again.

Take Advantage Of The Antogonist's Weight

You have all heard of the expression, "The bigger they are the harder they fall." In Ketsugo this can be particularly true, and in fact the smaller person often has an advantage. Naturally, you would not expect a 150 pound person to match his weight, pound for pound, against a 250 pound person. However, figures 23 through 26 illustrate how a heavier man can be placed at a disadvantage when he is attacking. In figure 23, the heavier attacking man is pushing the smaller defender. In figure 24 the smaller man moves in the same direction as the heavier attacker, giving him no resistance. At the same time he takes hold of his attacker's sleeves. In figure 25 the defender places his foot on the shin bone of his adversary and pulls him towards him with his left hand. In this situation the heavier attacker falls as shown in figure 26. If we explain what has happened in terms of the physical principles involved, the reason for the success of the smaller man will become more apparent. Should the 150 pound man oppose the 250 pound man, trying to match his weight, the heavier man would have an advantage of 100 pounds. But, as shown in the illustrations, the smaller man does not oppose the heavier man, but helps him to continue in his line of attack (over the smaller man's foot), giving the lighter man an advantage.

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