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Working Escapes.

Luke from White’s Martial Arts having fun working joint-lock escapes.

White’s Martial Arts -Systema in Oshawa

Oshawa Systema provides you hands on training in Systema (The System) / Russian Martial Art. Although The System is a military martial art actually used in combat, it is practiced first in a slow, controlled manner constantly encouraging flow of movement. Unlike conventional martial arts there is no yelling or tension in the class, we provide a relaxed stress-free environment that ensures acceleration in the Russian Martial Art. Egos and attitudes are discouraged during training as they slow down the learning process. All are welcome to observe classes and join for a trial. Any type of sweats or comfortable street clothes is all you need. Our goal is to teach you one of the most effective martial arts in the world so you can defend yourself in any violent situation. Since training is done according to the accelerated methodology of Spetsnaz, in only a short time you will be able to defend yourself in a real confrontation and within a year or so become a competent fighter.

Here is a short video of clips featuring Oshawa Systema.

D.I.R.E.C.T. Defense

D.I.R.E.C.T Defense is an acronym first derived to name the fusion of martial art I was teaching. DIRECT Defense stands for Defense Initiated Realistic & Effect Combat Tactics Defense System. I developed this system as an accumulated result of my formal martial arts training, my extensive studies and my personal experience of over fifteen years on “the door” and personal security field. This is just a very small peek into some of our classes.

Flying Arm Bar

Here in this video Master L. Miller one of my senior students demonstrates the flying arm-bar with another senior student Mr. L. Robinson.

Our school is located at the North Oshawa Clubhouse, 1139 Mary St. North in Oshawa.
For more information please check out the links on this blog or email us at whitesmartialarts@yahoo.ca

Training for Excellence, Not Average!!!

How do we train for excellence? And what is average? Excellence in context of martial arts is the quest to be your personal best! While average is settling for something that anyone else could do. Training excellence dictates we must challenge ourselves and exceed beyond our past accomplishments and others expectations. We must be in a state of constantly “doing our best” and settling for only the best of and in ourselves! The first key to training excellence is your mindset. Another key, although related to mindset, is you contribution to class. The third key is striving for technical and personal perfection. Understanding the keys to training excellence will help unlock the secrets of the martial arts and all they have to offer you the student.

Mindset is the way we percieve ourselves and the way we train. We must see ourselves as being able to accomplish any tasks we set out to perform. We must see ourselves not as limited, but limitless! Don’t train to be ‘good enough’, but rather train to be the best you can be every time! Improvement should be a daily occurrence, you might not improve in leaps and bounds everyday (nor should we expect to) but you should try to do better today better than you did yesterday. That is to say the way you train today should exceed your last performance. If you do see each class as a chance to improve from yesterday’s performance, over time you will see great results in your abilities and class will continue to be much more fun as well. Make every class count! - seek to improve daily!

It must be recognized that class is not a contest with others but a contest with oneself! Through all the series of various drills and exercises our interaction with others in class is paramount. We are not there to compete with others but to compete with our-self using the mindset of being a little better than the class before. If you compete with others you will lose the value of the class for not only yourself but also for the others students. There is no win in class and there is no lose in class, just results. A positive contribution to the class helps everyone to practice safely and effectively while giving the opportunity to develop and to improve oneself in the martial arts. Being together and helping each other grow in the martial arts is a key factor. Though the right type of training we can learn that improvement comes with effort and contribution to the class and school, creating comaraderie and a positive learning environment.

Your goal is to perform technique surely, flawlessly and seemingly effortlessly with precision. Your worst performance in training is the best you could hope for in the street or the ring! It doesn’t matter what you can do with speed, strength or surprise in class because in the street or in the ring all of that is usually lost. Strength, speed or surprise can many times be overcome by technical ability. To achieve technical perfection proper body alignment and a complete understanding of body mechanics is of the utmost importance. If you understand the way in which the human body moves and reacts you will enhance your training 100 fold. Proper form will give you the edge with little effort. Form aligns the body properly and uses mechanics to it’s advantage. Train to be technically perfect. Train slowly and surely at first. Work on form first then speed and strength will follow.

These keys to training are just an outline to help you achieve training excellence. Nothing good in life comes without hard work and sacrifice, so stick with it! I promise if you try to improve daily, if you contribute to class (and the school) and train towards perfecting your form you will excel in the martial arts and truly be Excellent and not average!

Coach Troy White

Why Systema / Russian Martial Art?

Reason Number 1.

The philosophy! It’s about being natural! It’s about being human! It is about being a good person. Here is a great explanation of Systema’s philosophy from Mikhail Ryabko.

Hammer and Nails

Losing One’s Temper Brings On Problems ……..

There was a boy with a bad temper. His father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, to hammer a nail in the back fence. The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the
fence. Then it gradually dwindled down. He discovered it was easier to
hold his temper then to drive those nails into the fence.

Finally the day came when the boy didn’t lose his temper at all. He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper. The days
passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all
the nails were gone. The father took his son by the hand and led him to
the fence.

“You have done well, my son, but look at all the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one. you can put a knife in a man and draw
it out, it won’t matter how many times you say ‘I’m Sorry,’ the wound is
still there. A verbal wound is as bad as a physical one.”

Regards,

Troy White

Awareness for Self Defense

99% of personal protection is using ones brain! So many confrontations, attacks and fights could be and can be avoided or altered by using simple methods utilizing the brain instead of brawn! Probably the most important mental aspect of self protection is Awareness! Although it sounds simple for one to be aware so few people actually are. To explain awareness we may use Color Code model based on one first devised by the pistol shooting coach Jeff Cooper. The model is as follows:

Although the chart gives four Code levels awareness could be simplified even further into the fact that either; ‘one is aware on what is going on around themselves’ or ‘they are not!’. A sad factor working against awareness is apathy. “That would never happen to me!” or “Assault is illegal so I should be able to go where I want and not worry about being attacked!” Sure, these and similar ideas are great but far from realistic! One should never have to worry about violence or being assaulted but apathy to reality could get you hurt or killed! Sorry! it’s not a perfect world! Conflicts, confrontations, attacks, assaults and murders do happen. Be safe and be aware! There is no need to be paranoid, just be aware. Know that you are in control when you take action. If you are apathetic you are a victim! If you are aware you are in Control!

Mat Chat – Children’s Anger Management.

How do we teach our children about anger management? How do we get our point across in martial art class? First off Anger Management is our ability to control ourselves from blowing up and exploding in fits of rage. There are some simple techniques to help us prevent this such as counting to ten and through deep breathing. In order for us to teach this to our youth in the martial arts a great tool called the “mat chat” may be employed. The students are gathered around the Master Teacher and a quick discussion takes place. This is not simply a lecture time from the teacher but rather a question and answer time to allow the students to give their answers and feedback. It helps the students to think and to be heard and it helps them to relate more closely to the lessons of martial arts and not just regurgitate answers. Communication skills and anger management techniques are self-defense!

This video by Tom Callos is a great example of a “Mat chat” covering a few techniques for anger management in a children s /youth martial arts class .

Removal From Top Mount

I posted this short clip basically to show that physical “self defense” techniques are not only for ourselves directly but also helping to protect those whom are victimized (IE. our loved ones)!