About
USP is a simple, aggressive, easy to learn and easy to utilise system of effective self-defence.
USP came about as a hybrid of several systems and martial arts all of which had something to offer.
These systems/knowledge bases included:
· Krav Maga
· Jim Wagner’s Reality Based Personal Protection System
· Mixed Martial Arts
· Kempo Ryu Karate Kickboxing
· FAST defence
· FIST suit simulations
· Close protection training
· Senshido
· Police Unarmed Defensive Tactics
· Modern learning and development practices
· First Aid Training
And knowledge from many other sources.
The system, however, was not just a bunch of techniques thrown together. The techniques and principles from the systems and knowledge bases were considered in a measured way and in conjunction with 12 years Law Enforcement experience and training by the founder - Pete Lee.
However, in keeping with Pete’s humble and open approach to self-defence, the system was created in conjunction and with considerable help from his students and other highly experienced friends and colleagues, who were invited to try out techniques and principles and offer frank feedback and ideas for making the system better.
These people include:
Daniel Hildrew
Stuart Winter
Hannah Gardin
Dave Stevens
Paul Grey
All of who have had a great influence on the systems final look.
Who is the system aimed at?
The system was designed for the average person living in the UK. Techniques were picked specifically for the types of threat that someone living in the UK is likely to come across. Therefore, for example, we have included such things as dog attacks, as a trend has emerged whereby criminals are using dogs as weapons.
There are lots of other techniques that we could have included, but the overall principle was to allow someone to learn a handful of techniques that would be of actual use to them, not something that has a 1 in a billion chance of actually being required in real life. Training for that 1 in a billion eventuality is a waste of time. It’s far better to be proficient at defending against the few most likely attacks, than have a slight knowledge of hundreds of different ones covering every single conceivable possibility.
Therefore, we have created the system to be useful to a member of the public living in the UK. It’s fair to say that we might have included different techniques if the system was based in South Africa as the types of attack likely to be experienced there are different to here in the UK. What is the point in a person living their life in the UK learning something that is highly relevant to a South African, but not to a Brit? As such – USP is needs based and fit for purpose – it equips people who live in the UK for self-defence in the UK.
Techniques
The techniques have all been thoroughly tested. That is, they have either been used successfully in real life or vigorously pressure tested by smaller, weaker people against larger, stronger opponents. USP has also been scrutinized by highly experienced experts including Peter Consterdine of the British Combat Association.
The system has six levels. Each level has techniques from the following areas of self-defence:
Defensive tactics – striking, stances, movement, application of holds
Combinations – putting striking together
High level use of force – including eye gouging etc for last resort tactics
Take downs – throws etc to take a subject to the floor
Ground work – fighting and defending oneself on the ground
Self-defence – verbal diffusion, escapes from holds etc
Weapons – use and defence against common weapons
Theory – including law, psychology and awareness
Other – including control and restraint and first aid
The reason the system has been broken down in this way is to aid the student’s learning. In terms of simple to complex learning, students must learn a little bit at a time and build on their experiences, not have everything given to them all at once.
This breakdown also aids their motivation to learn. When a level 1 student trains in a class one week in ground work for example, they will be practicing level 1 techniques, but will also be able to see their level 4 colleague learning something more advanced within ground work, giving them something to strive for. This also allows advanced students to maintain their memory of the basics.
Grading system
A grading system has been put in place, to assist students who need motivation and to offer feedback to students who would like it. It is completely optional.
Students are able to purchase a copy of the syllabus, which includes all of the techniques in the system and a brief reminder of how to achieve the technique. This is to aid retention and to cover different types of learning styles as some people learn best when at home on their own and practicing.
The syllabus does not, however, include all pressure testing drills, scenarios or variations included in training. It is to allow students to become proficient at the basics which are the foundations of the system.
The gradings will be run as follows:
Those grading to level 1 will need to demonstrate all techniques from level 1, carry out 2 pressure tests and 1 scenario.
They will be marked on – Technique, Effectiveness and Aggression. They will need to achieve a 70% pass rate on each on these characteristics. I.e. at least 70% of the techniques must be technically correct, at least 70% must be effective, and at least 70% must have the desired aggression level.
Each of these three are marked individually (although each of course overlap) to make sure we do not just have technically proficient students who can do the correct movement, but would be completely ineffective in reality.
Theory will be marked via a question and answer knowledge check and not marked as per physical techniques.
Those who pass the grading receive a certificate and a coloured silicone wrist band denoting their level - this is our modern day version of 'Karate belts'.
To grade in higher levels, 10 random techniques from all previous grades passed must also be marked to ensure that the student is maintaining the basics and not simply forgetting them for newer and more advanced techniques.
System design
The system was created using methods from the systems and knowledge bases by handpicking techniques and principles that would work together to make an easy and effective system of self-defence for the average person.
However, the focus for any self-defence system must be principles. This is because no two attacks are ever the same, no two people are ever the same and even the same person faced with a particular threat, may respond differently on different days.
When learning a technique, it might be to squat down when being bear hugged, but the principle is to make it difficult for the subject to lift you. A technique might be to poke a subject in the eye, but the principle is to distract the subject.
However, we must start with techniques to hang the principles off of. Then in time, the student will be able to create their own way of achieving good results, by tying these principles in with their own natural reactions and any individual circumstances they may encounter.
As such we used the following principles to create our system:
- Techniques should be movements based on natural instincts – not just physical responses but psychological
- Techniques must address the immediate danger first
- Techniques must switch from defence to counter attack as soon as possible
- One defence must work against a variety of attacks where possible
- The system should be integrated so that movements learned in one area of the system complement, rather than contradict, movements in another area of the system
- Techniques must be accessible to the average person
- Techniques must work from a position of disadvantage
- Training must include the stress experienced in real attacks
- Techniques must work under, or even be improved by, stress. Stress should trigger the technique automatically
- There must be a simple to complex learning pattern
- Prevention of self-defence techniques should be practiced
- Whilst you must not have too many techniques in your arsenal, consider what your plan B will be should the technique not work
- Training drills should include determination – overcoming obstacles such as fatigue/pain
- Techniques must be adaptable to the individual – if they are unable to utilise a technique due to physical limitations or their natural reaction, they must be able to be changed to suit that person but utilising the original principles
- Techniques should try to exploit advantageous opportunities, but not use movement that is superfluous or useless
Principles for training in USP:
The overall guiding principle for all students is:
Distract if possible – using a question or other method such as ‘acting’ or ‘humanising’
Deal with the immediate danger, without placing yourself in a worse position
Counter attack – immediately and aggressively, moving towards the subject (even when moving out of the fighting arc), switching the psychology of the attack
Move out of the fighting arc – move around to the side / back of the subject where possible
Scan – for other subjects, weapons of opportunity, escape routes, cover whilst gaining space
Continue to fight aggressively if something goes wrong
The list above can be overlapped, for example, counter attack aggressively WHILST moving out of the fighting arc AND scanning.
The principles above are nothing new. In fact Sun Tzu summed the above up in the famous book Art of War:
“Lure with bait, strike with chaos.”
To make things easy to remember, the following can be used as ‘jump start commands’ when training – when used often in training these should be readily available to them and help the student when under stress much the same as first aid training uses the DRSABC acronym:
Distract
Danger
Counter
Move
Scan
Other principles:
Training advice
Counter attacks must include loud verbal commands. Similarly, conflict communications with ‘friendlies’ should be used whenever appropriate – e.g. to obtain assistance, or to tell an untrained person to run.
You must use an A-Z approach to your training – i.e. the build up to the conflict (e.g. any form of argument), the physical conflict itself and then the post conflict (e.g. running towards an exit)
Simple to complex learning: Basic technique should be mastered first including using a resistant but realistic partner. By ‘mastering’ the technique, principles should be understood so that the technique can be altered for use in other positions which must also be practiced – e.g. switching stance, or using a jab from a passive stance instead of a fighting stance, then techniques must be practiced in a disadvantaged position – e.g. a knife threat whilst sitting down, techniques must then be practiced under pressure – in scenarios and drills.
Simple to complex learning is also a method the Instructor must use whenever possible – e.g. teaching knife threats first, then relating bag snatches afterwards as the defences to these techniques are very similar and the link will make the second method easier to learn. Likewise, the Instructor and the student must try to make links to previous experiences by the student wherever possible to help retain the information.
Remember that techniques themselves will not work on their own - you need to fight to make them work and sometimes they will not happen instantly, but you must continue fighting aggressively and consider using a plan B when appropriate.
Training partners must allow each other to learn the techniques in a simple to complex manner. When offering resistance, this must be realistic – i.e. if an effective counter attack is made, the partner must employ a suitable reaction.
Knowing your enemy and training like them is important – training partners should attack realistically (including things like the use of distraction) and aggressively whilst keeping in mind the simple to complex learning method.
Cross training – DO cross train in other systems to enhance your core training. Do not overload yourself with lots more techniques, instead, use other systems to refine your core technique or find ALTERNATIVES that suit YOU better.
Use a positive mindset when training – utilise mantras such as
One mind any weapon – i.e. no matter what, I will win.
I will survive, I will never give up – i.e. be determined
Do not telegraph – wherever possible; do not give away what your intentions are.
Where possible use a 200% defence – this means not only removing the danger with your hands for example, but removing your body from the danger at the same time – e.g. deflect the barrel of a gun using your hand, but at the same time, move your body away from the line of fire too, thus giving you a better chance to survive.
Do not wait for a weapon to come to you (this includes body weapons). If you see it coming, either smother it by moving forwards or evade it by gaining distance.
Basic techniques must be drilled regularly
Train with lots of different partners
Train in normal clothing
Train in realistic conditions – with loud music, confined spaces, darkness etc.
Criticise yourself – i.e. make sure you can lawfully justify anything you use in training as if it were a real life event.
Related Technique principles:
Striking/combinations:
All strikes must go beyond the target
Strike continuously until the threat is neutralized/avenue of escape has been presented
Do not miss opportunities to strike – e.g. when turning to face a subject the combination of a back kick, side hammer fist, straight punches may be employed so as to strike continuously.
Always strike aggressively and as hard as you can, but find a balance between speed and power
Keep target areas simple – where possible attack the head/face this is where the ‘computer’ is and if attacked, it helps to prevent thinking time for the subject. A punch to the arm hurts. A punch to the head hurts and distracts.
Other effective target areas are the groin, knees and shins.
Closest (effective) target, closest (effective) weapon. This means that in any given position, we must strike the nearest target with the nearest body weapon optimising our time used in a conflict – however, this must be EFFECTIVE. It’s no use if the nearest target is the subject’s thigh and your nearest weapon is your head as a head butt to the thigh will (in most cases) be ineffective.
Fighting:
Do not create a pause in conflict – counter attack continuously until the threat is neutralized/avenue of escape has been presented
Do not become ‘weapon focussed’ i.e. do not try to use the same technique or strike over and over again if it is not working. Change your tactic.
Rest your vision on the chest of the subject allowing peripheral vision to be used during a physical conflict, but be sure to monitor their hands during a post conflict build up.
Do not show pain when fighting – it is a cue for the subject to become even more aggressive – chase instinct.
Strike if you can, grapple if you have to – do not go to the ground if you can help it. Do not vertically grapple with the subject if you can help it.
Self-defence:
In general self-defence should be carried out in the following order of preference to be the most effective:
Avoid conflict (this includes de-escalation)
Escape conflict
Use of improvised weapons to fight back
Use of body weapons to fight back
Trust your gut feeling – if something doesn’t feel right IT ISNT. Leave ASAP.
When practicing self-defence techniques, you should also practice prevention. Generally speaking this will be: long distance = kicking, closer = block and move, hold applied = defensive technique.
Ground work:
Get up and gain space outside of their fighting arc ASAP
Keep moving
Keep your head off the floor
Keep your knees bent
Maintain contact with the subject when fighting until you can escape
If your subject is standing, keep your legs and feet between them and you
Weapons (general)
Disarm the attacker if you are going to remain at the scene
Invite specific attacks by appearing passive and acting if appropriate
When you are in possession of a weapon – either your own or having just disarmed the attacker – NEVER allow them to take it from you.
Control weapons ASAP preventing further use if you are unable to escape safely
Improvised weapons
Conceal your improvised weapon whenever possible prior to it’s use to maximise surprise.
Familiarise yourself with weapons on often travelled routes or in places frequented
Equip yourself in advance when possible – i.e. when you sense possible danger get the weapon ready in your hand – do not wait for the attack
Firearms
Get out of/deflect the line of fire, control weapon, counter, disarm
If at all possible, never run from the subject whilst they still have the weapon.
Knives
Deflect and run whenever possible
If no escape possible, control the weapon, prevent further usage and escape
Multiple attackers
Use one to hinder the other – by positioning or shoving one into the path of the other or use as a shield
Leave if possible
Draw a ‘line in the sand’ during the conflict build up
Strike first
Do not move through the middle and if you have to, do so aggressively and quickly
If possible use hit and run tactics – hit the nearest subject and run
Neutralize the most dangerous subject first if you have to fight more than one person – e.g. the one with a weapon
Disarm if they have a weapon and use it against the other(s)
Use the wall to protect your back
Bear hugs
Drop your weight to make it difficult for the subject to throw you
Choke holds
Gain space to breath first
