HOW SELF-DEFENSE DIFFERS FROM COMBAT SPORTS

TO LAUNCH THIS COLUMN, I’LL BRIEFLY INTRODUCE MYSELF AND MY OBJECTIVES. MY NAME IS LITO ANGELES, AND MY LIFE’S PASSION IS MARTIAL ARTS.

- LITO ANGELES

I fell in love with the arts at age 7 after watching Bruce Lee in The Chinese Connection. I began my studies three years later with shorin-ryu karate while living in Okinawa. Since that time, I’ve studied numerous arts, including boxing, folk-style wrestling, jeet kune do, muay Thai, savate, escrima, pencak silat, krav maga, Brazilian jiu-jitsu and the Real Combat System.

I worked as an officer in a major metropolitan police department in California for 29 years, four of which were as a master instructor in my department’s Arrest and Control Unit. I’ve also been an amateur boxing coach, youth wrestling coach, kickboxing instructor, BJJ instructor and self-defense teacher. Since retiring from law enforcement, I’ve focused on giving private self-defense lessons and occasional seminars.

In terms of real-world experience, I’ve gotten into more than my fair share of fights in the cities and counties in which I’ve lived. When I was a police officer, I spent more than 19 years on patrol, which included handling a myriad of calls that degenerated into physical altercations with criminals. I mention all this to assure you that I’m not an armchair warrior who just speculates on what real combat is. I’ve been there and lived it — countless times. In addition, I have a competitive background in karate, amateur boxing and amateur wrestling.

My objectives for this column are as follows. The general goal will be to share all the pertinent knowledge I’ve acquired over the years through diligent study, constant analysis and pressure testing on the street. More specifically, I hope to educate readers on all facets of self-defense in the four interconnected realms: threat recognition, situational control, physical engagement and aftermath management. I’ll lay out a clear and cohesive “self-defense battle plan” any martial artist can use.