Martial arts originated as training for war (The Seven Samuri film was a great example of this fact). More recently it has become sport-like with boxing, MMA, and Olympic events such as wrestling and Tae Kon Do. Self-dense for self-protection is very different from sporting martial arts. It is designed for self-protection for you or your loved ones. There is no winning, but there is potential for losing (possibly your life or freedom). Use of what I will be teaching cannot be used in sport, as sports have rules. Personal self does not. It should only be used if you are in imminent danger and cannot escape. In fact, much of what I will teach is avoidance. Martial arts should not be used to get revenge. It should be used for self-defense only. However, if it is necessary, it should be highly offensive, but avoidance is still the best defense.

My self-defense philosophy is simple, based upon this quote: “Be like water making its way through cracks. Do not be assertive, but adjust to the object, and you shall find a way around or through it. If nothing within you stays rigid, outward things will disclose themselves. Empty your mind, be formless. Shapeless, like water. If you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle and it becomes the bottle. You put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now, water can flow or it can crash. Be like water, my friend.” Bruce Lee.

(This class is conducted via Zoom technology! You'll receive instructions and a secure Zoom link prior to the class beginning. PLEASE NOTE: This class is not intended as a replacement for credit classes on the subject, as it does not wholly reproduce any existing credit class. If you are looking for a credit-level course on a similar subject, please contact the registrar's office at 928-717-7777.)

Mike Ruddell is a 3rd-degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do, a Mok Jong Level Wing Chun Kung Fu, a 2nd-degree black belt Jen Do Tao, and has studied Jeet Kune Do (the Way of The Intercepting Fist dveeloped by Bruce Lee) for 20+ years.