How Violent Does Self Defence Have to Be?

Maiming and Killing in Self-defence

I’ve just come back from working in Berkshire and was suprised to see the reaction to Close Combat Master, Tim Larkin who is giving one of his ‘Target Focused Training’ seminar in Slough. Now I’ve got some of Tim’s DVDs and quite like the real world stuff he teaches to the ‘average joe’ – but the do-gooders are up in arms!

Is violent self-defence the answer?

Tim comes across to the UK on rare occasions to teach sell out seminars. It’s his controversial seminar taking place in Slough in Slough that teaches maiming and killing in self-defence which has caused ripples of controversy throughout the town.

If you’re faced with a machete-wielding gang of thugs and your life is on the line, would you know how to protect yourself?

Would you want to know how to deliver a lethal move in order to save your own life?

However, the idea of teaching clients how to potentially maim and kill has led pockets of the Slough community to condemn the workshops.

The former mayor of Slough, Cllr David MacIsaac, told the Slough Observer that Larkin was “not welcome” and that while there are problems with violence in Slough, “it’s hardly downtown LA”.

The main reason for coming to Slough is to do with the training facilities there, at an undisclosed address, rather than an alarming knife-crime rate. The sessions will be held at the end of September 2009.
‘Violence shouldn’t be a taboo subject’

Tim, who trains a range of military and law enforcement clients as well as civilians, says that learning about using violence as a tool shouldn’t be a taboo subject, especially if you come across a life-threatening situation.

“Unfortunately violence is the 800 pound gorilla that’s in the room,” he tells BBC Berkshire.

“The problem is that we have told ourselves that by outlawing violence we don’t have to deal with it and it will go away.

“All we’ve done is we’ve made ourselves much more pliable victims for the a-social predators of the world.

“What I’m trying to do is tell people that there is no danger in learning about the tool of violence.

“It does not make you a bad person, it does not make you a sociopath, and it does not make you more likely to be a violent person.”

Tim says there’s nothing wrong with learning about violence.

‘You’re more likely to become less violent’

In fact, Tim says that his training leads clients to become less violent.

“When I train in the military and law enforcement arenas,” he says, “the units that have been trained in our methodology have less instances of excessive force.

“They negotiate a situation far better whereas maybe before they would have used a lethal force such as a gun, oftentimes they’re able to put the perpetrator in handcuffs and take them away.

“The more you know about lethal applications to the body, the less violent you are. You don’t go out seeking it, and you certainly wouldn’t misuse the tool.”

A concern from the naysayers is that clients can potentially abuse what they learn from Target Focus Training, but Tim dismisses this.

“What if the criminals come? They don’t come!” he says, “they don’t need to, they already know how to take a pipe and hit you repeatedly on the head until you die.

“They don’t need a lesson from me.”
‘Merely protecting yourself can be a failing strategy’

Tim’s lessons are specifically on how to “protect yourself through injuring the other person”.

He says: “Most people tend to focus their time in a self defence situation where their opponent tries to punch, stab or kick them.

“The focus seems to be to try and protect yourself from being hit, which is a pretty failing strategy.

“So the real focus is to learn where the vulnerable parts are on the human body. Basically we show everybody how to exploit those weaknesses.”

The idea of lessons in how to potentially kill someone could of course land you in jail.

Deputy commander of Slough police Chief Inspector Kate Ford told the Slough Observer: “Thames Valley Police will deal robustly with anyone suspected of an assault where more force than absolutely necessary is used, even in self defence.”

Tim however says that teaching clients when to use the ‘tool of violence’ is a key part of the seminar.
‘Don’t abuse the tool of violence’

“There’s a huge difference between the term kill and murder,” he says.

“We’re not talking about ‘hey punch a guy on the chin’ and hit them here, here and here’. We’re saying that systemic trauma upon the human body can have an effect and you need to be aware of that.

“I make it clear when and when not to use this information. You misuse it and you’ll find yourself in jail.

“This is not the information you use if you’re at the pub and somebody took your stool.

“When people go through the training it causes them to make better decisions in their life, there’s lots of things they don’t participate in anymore after they realise how fragile the human body can be.

“We try to tell people that once you cross the physical line and put your hands on somebody, you have to be prepared for it be lethal, whether you intended it to happen or not.

“I rarely get guys that come and be extremely aggressive and say ‘yeah I really want to fight’, because when they read our materials they realise it’s not that type of an approach.

“If I get anyone like that, as soon as I show them how fragile the human body is there’s a complete change. It goes from an ego-based idea of media violence to the stark reality of real violence.”
‘The lessons are for everyone’

The lessons are for everyone, including older generations and those less able-bodied.

“A predator might come up to you and get very close while they put the weapon to your neck, you’re able to have that one chance, and if you know what to do you’re probably able to effect an injury regardless of the fact that this person is bigger, faster and stronger.

“It’s a tool that’s always available to us, you don’t have to be fit.”

And what makes Tim think that his lessons are necessary?

“I understand the ideas behind all the laws behind the weapons, I merely want people to realise that the human mind can’t be controlled and you can outlaw edged weapons as long as you like, it’s not going to stop someone picking up an improvised object if they wanted to.

“I think it’s admirable to have an anti-knife programme, I just think you have to be realistic. The people that we’re talking about that would use these tools against us aren’t us, they don’t think like us.
‘You have no idea what your attacker is thinking’

“When a person has a knife to your neck and they’re asking you for your wallet, and you’re trying to imagine, if I pull my wallet out and I give him £20 he’ll go away because I wouldn’t kill anybody over £20.

“If you’re using that kind of rationalisation, you have to ask yourself, when was the last time I took out a knife, put it to someone’s neck and ask them for their wallet.

You probably have no idea what’s going through that guy’s head.”

Check it out…

Comments submitted.

Ryan
TFT is very scientific with detailed explanations of the trauma you are affecting to the body. The BEST ive seen so far.

Sal
Since you Brits are afraid to defend yourself against the Muslims, of course you guys are against this training.

Solomon Blake
I think this is absolutely brilliant. Laws are only valuable when people agree to abide by them, but when someone decides to step outside the rules, you need to know what to do because you might not have time to reach “the authorities”. Sad fact is that few people are prepared to truly fight for their lives.

Ted Schaghy
I am a huge TFT fan and practice violence daily. Everyone should learn this material. It just might keep you alive one day.

Gabe McCown
I’ve been through two of the TFT seminars and they do an amazing job. Anyone who is opposed to what they are doing is mis-informed on their teachings. This training is a life saver.

Ronald Marks
I took the course years ago. It is dispassionate and professional. Tim properly underlines that it is the deep-seated, almost irrational fear of violence within otherwise intelligent, civilized people that is the real social threat, since it severely compromises the ability to make rational social policy choices, either at the ballot box or in a back alley.

Lo.
I am female, forty, and regrettably not as fit as I’d like. I attended Tim Larkin’s seminars in the UK the previous two times, and I have to say that every person there was respectful, supportive of each other during training, and seemed only interested in protecting self and loved ones. We all left with great smiles, sincere hand shakes, and feeling more confident. To the lady cop from Slough: first, go to the seminar (in your job, you need this info); second, please don’t make statements based on a pre-judgment. What is excessive force when you are in fear of your life? There is no such thing.

Thiagan De Croos
many of us have tried to live a perfect life, worked very hard and have been blessed with extremely close knit and loving families, I believe these gifts are from God.i also believe that God will protect us. I also believe like many of us, that there is also a seamier, far more violent side in society. Many laws and law enforcement agencies have been set in place to curtail such elements. Unfortunately these asocial elements act when such agencies are not present. In short I believe being prepared is always an option we cannot ignore. This is the basis of Tim Larkin’s training. I fully appreciate his inputs into those who wish to live a perfect life as positively interacting and valuable members of society in general. Thanks Tim. Thank you BBC for this survey.

Pat T.
I have watched the DVD series TFT puts out and even though I shudder to think of killing another human being, if the choice is between me or an attacker dying I would rather it be the attacker. This program teaches you how to use violence as a tool. From what I have learned from the videos if you are in control of the situation you can choose NOT to kill the attacker, only to disable them.

bill lewis
It can save your life and it’s philosophy that violence is rarely the answer but when it is it is the only answer speaks for itself

russell
great idea hope tim comes to reading to do some lessons

Check it out…