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What
is SENSHIDO (The Way of 1000 Masters)?
"Having
trained in Krav Maga and several other arts, I can say that Senshido
is the most realistic, eye opening system I have ever trained in.
Spending one weekend training with Richard, Helen and the Senshido
crew was enlightening to say the least!" -
Robert Toscano - New York, Bronx
Senshido
is the actual 'art' taught at our Montreal location under Senshido
Combative Science Technologies founded by
Richard Dimitri.
Change
is imperative. Change also implies evolution. However, in the martial
arts field change is taboo. Instead of passively agreeing with the
traditional arts that pass themselves off as methods of self-defense,
we questioned and researched. Instead of accepting the inherited
misconceptions that are continuously presented to us daily; we innovated
and progressed. Rather than bending to the egos of the political
forces behind the martial arts community, we like few before us
have broken from tradition. Blindness and self inflicted myopia
is nothing but laziness contrived by an ignored ignorance. Senshido
is change.
Senshido has never catered to the traditions that in some ways plague
the martial arts in so far as survival is concerned, but rather
expanded into progression and innovation. We have a mission statement
and have stuck by it since the beginning. Since 1994, Senshido has
become quite controversial both in the traditional realm and the
eclectic circles as well. We have attracted international attention
and secured ourselves as one of the top 5 reality based systems
in the world.
Senshido’s goals and values are congruous with the warrior
values that drove men to seek ways to protect themselves, their
families, clans and villages against danger centuries ago. The oldest
or first documented form of fighting was discovered in ancient Egypt
and was scripted on the pyramid walls around 4000 to 5000 BC. These
combative disciplines which as far as we know started from the Egyptians
and broadened onto the Romans, the Greeks, the Chinese and so on,
were used purely as methods of warfare and self-defense. Those were
the values that originally created the fighting systems around the
world, not tournaments or inspirations of championships.
In order to avoid confusion, let me define and note the differences
between martial arts ‘systems’ and ‘styles’.
Styles are specific types of expressions which have been passed
on from teacher to student, generation to generation and transmitted
identically to each individual regardless of their differences as
human beings. There is neither evolution nor practicality in styles
since their foundations are theoretical. To mimic without thought
is the way. A system is usually comprised of several styles to form
a more complete art which in turn evolves and progresses with the
obvious need to adapt. Some systems however never progress and eventually
become styles. Some factions of Jeet Kune Do are a good example
of a methodology turned into a system turned into a style.
Senshido if necessarily labeled, is closer to being a system but
is really neither a system, nor a style. It is a process, a methodology
that is transcendental, interchangeable and adaptable to all systems
and styles. Although it does contain many modified physical attributes
that have been inspired by other systems; it is comprised of several
original, unique and innovative methods.
Creating
a new martial art system is not just a question of mish-mashing
several arts together for the sake of eclectics as many have done
since it has become fashionable to do so from the coming of MMA
and NHB events. It takes scientific exploration of each combative
strategy as well as an in depth comprehension of emotional inertia
and its effects on the reactive mind as well as taking into consideration
the entire myriad’s of variables that can come into play before,
during and after a fight.
No
pure styles make up Senshido. From a physical perspective, we mainly
rely on gross motor skills and Senshido's 5 Principals of Physical
Retaliation: Primary Targets - Closest weapon to Cosest Target -
Tactile Sensitivity - Economy of Motion - Non Telegraphic Movement.
No
range of fighting, style or technique has ever won a fight. Survival
is credited to the fighter’s mindset that allowed him to walk
away a survivor. The actual technique, style or range is completely
coincidental. It used to be that martial artists would cling to
their styles and develop an emotional attachment to it, nowadays
it’s become ranges and techniques instead since the coming
of the NHB events. Techniques are not as important as the philosophy
and mental reasoning behind them. Logic and reason guide the individual.
Simplicity, directness and efficiency backed by strategy are the
ingredients to success in combat and defense.
My
students understand that Senshido’s sole concern is enhancing
survivability. They realize the journey towards self-confidence
and truth lies solely within themselves and that Senshido is but
a guide or vehicle towards that truth. In combat, you will do what
you will do. The truth, in a world of self-created conceptualizations
and instilled beliefs, appears harsh and remains for the most part
unexplored. Change is imperative but frightens most. Blindness or
refusal to see is a very common affliction amongst martial artists,
which in turn creates dis-ease in the form of hidden insecurity
in their ability. For the most part, this insecurity manifests itself
as ego and arrogance.
The
narrow minded and fearful of questioning, those who merely accept
because "that’s the way it has always been done"
and the too lazy to introspect succumb to their own fate. As Marc
Macyoung states, "It’s their blood". The fight happens
but once. To look back at it and say "I should, would or could
have" is futile unless it is done with introspection as a learning
tool for the next possible encounter. The various mind-sets that
influence our every day decision making are usually quite predictable
and for the most part, problematic and becomes even more so during
combat.
The
mind (not brain), with all it's unsought yet self induced imperfections
like mental fatigue, doubt, fear, anger and anxiety create optimum
performance hesitation resulting in emotional inertia which in turn
manifests itself as physical dis-ease. We create our own hells and
hang on to it with no apparent logic as to why - a matter of 'uncomfortable
comfortableness'. Resistance is futile. Unfortunately, combative
tactics only change after a severe and harmful event. Unfortunately
too late, that is a mistake that have caused some their lives.
So if anything, Senshido exists to make you question, introspect
and search for a better way. It is a form of truth. Do not label,
crystallize or solidify it. Take from it what you need, use what
works for you, modify what doesn’t and begin your own journey.
Nobody owns the truth; it is out there for everyone to seek, study
and use as they may.
Be
it through literature, debate, casual conversation or teachings,
to hold one’s opinion speaks of quiet reservations. Styles,
systems, labels, titles, religions, cults place you in a faction.
Factions limit people to knowledge within itself. As Bruce Lee Prophetically
said "He who is without style adapts to all styles". I
write this piece for the inquisitive and narrow-minded. My words
may disturb but they lead to sought reactions. We’ve said what
we meant and we’ve never pretended as so many others do intending
just to please, if we condemned your point of view, ask yourselves…
why?
Train
intelligently and diligently.
RICHARD
DIMITRI
Founder of Senshido
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