Information
About me and Conflict Resolution as a part of a True self-defense.
Safe Defense is the result of my experience. I was bullied violently in a California middle school by a student athlete. In my early 20's I found martial arts and took to it like a dry sponge in water. I got my first Black belt in 1983 and purchased my teacher's (Hanchi Bruce Juchnik) 2 commercial schools and ran them until I suffered knee injury. The system I studied was Kosho Shorei Kenpo which promoted the idea of 'True' self-defense as protecting yourself without injuring the attacker. This philosophy combined with the traditional Kenpo karate techniques & movements.
In 1998 I co-founded the Peace Learning Center (PLC) in Indianapolis hoping to use the non-violent approach to self protection that Kosho’s True self-defense promoted. I developed STEP which evolved into PeaceDNA. I served as General Manager for the first 2 years, then as Director of Peace Education Program for 8 more. Over the 10 years, the program directly served over 8,000 Indianapolis Public School youth mandated to our field-trip program serviced by AmeriCorp volunteers. My final 2 PLC years I started up and managed a satellite school (PLC North) in Lawrence IN. In those 2 years we directly served 1,200 public school students.
I've several Certifications and Qualifications in various Karate styles and in Conflict Resolution including 40/hr Community Mediation, Restorative Justice Conferencing, Help Increase the Peace Program (HIPP) and Prem Rawat’s program. I've actively served as formal mediator and session coordinator for Indianapolis Juvenile Court system (1999) and community witness in several Restorative Justice sessions.
I personally feel an obligation to make clear the Critical Path of True Self Defense that experience has given me, what I call Safe Defense. A 'True' self-defense means to protect yourself without injuring your attacker (J. Mitose). How to stay safe and navigate Conflict to Peace Agreement. My unique background of martial arts and Conflict Resolution have inspired a unique and comprehensive curriculum for learning how to be a real-world Peacemaker...for yourself and others. Safe Defense is a safe and common language for everyone.
What I believe is this...
My thinking around Peace DNA is that many people just need a simple map of what to do in Conflict to reach a Peace Agreement. To know how things work. I believe when we have a recipe or Critical Path for understanding how the Peace process works, people will eagerly use it in everyday situations. To that end I developed PeaceDNA, made up of 6 Essential Questions that we can rely on every time. A Path that builds and supports confidence, purpose and control through knowledge…Safe Defense knowledge. These attributes that lead to confidence for using a Peaceful approach rather than an aggressive, combative way. This unique combination is what I consider a True self defense skill set.
Obviously, not all conflict is dangerous but sometimes it is and you can't talk your way out. I do have a strong martial arts background and have put together, Peace Moves which is not a counter-attack defense but a strategy of kinesthetic invisibility. An 'always out-of-reach' strategy, using Position and Timing. You move the target with 2-footed hopping technique to create and maintain a 'no reach' zone, ending each sequence with the FOUL Buster question: "Stop, what's the problem?" It's also a good advantage from which to strike, if needed.
So what is a True Self-defense?
A wise man (and 21st bloodline descendant) James Mitose wrote: "True self defense is to protect yourself without injuring your attacker." This challenge of not harming my attacker seemed at first ridiculous to the martial artist in me. Why spend my time practicing martial arts self-defense if I'm going to try and talk my way through whatever it was? Shouldn't I be practicing that?
Surprisingly there was nothing helpful I could find when it came to non-violent self-defense besides escape. I put Peace Moves together for the purpose of fixing that. Staying unharmed without fighting back and using a de-escalation FOUL Buster, followed with PeaceDNA (if desired), leads to Peace Agreement. Peace Moves uses natural movement and requires much less practice to use.
Certifications
Hachi dan Rank (8th)
Kosho Shorie Authorization
Hachi dan Rank (8th)
Sho dan Rank (1st)
Kosho Shorie Authorization
Hachi dan Rank (8th)
Kosho Shorie Authorization
Kosho Shorie Authorization
Kosho Shorie Authorization
40 hr Mediation
Restorative Justice Conferencing
Kosho Shorie Authorization
Help Increase the Peace Prgm
Restorative Justice Conferencing
Restorative Justice Conferencing
Restorative Justice Conferencing
Restorative Justice Conferencing
Restorative Justice Conferencing
