Street Fighting Moves - Interview With Norm Bettencourt - How to Make Karate M

[Pauline Winters]

Charles: Okay, I'm interviewing today, Norm Bettencourt, self defense,
reality-based close-quarters street fighting instructor. Norm, tell us
about yourself and about your background.
Norm: Well, I hold a black belt in karate, and I now run a scenario-
based self protection training center and system that's geared around
reality-based street combat. I also have experience, about 15 years
experience in the security industry, everything from bodyguarding, to
bouncing to doing regular security work.
Charles: Wow. Now, there is a lot of fantasy surrounding how to use
karate and the culprit of this is mostly the movies. So, we want to
get rid of the fantasy right now, and because you have a black belt,
and because you have had real world experience, give us some tips on
how to make this fighting style more street effective.
Norm: Well,
The First One is Do Not Use High Kicks, Use Low Line Kicks - This way
it is harder to see from your attackers point of view, and also it is
harder to defend against. As well, you want to use the element of
surprise. In karate, there is that habit of standing in front of your
attacker, putting up your hands and then getting ready to fight.
Charles: Would that be Number Two, Norm?
Norm: Yeah, that would be
Number Two - What You Want To Do Is Not Even Go Into A Stance - When
you are in a threat situation, you want to use that element of
surprise. So, you want to play possum, and then attack from there. So
your attacker doesn't have a clue as to what is going on--like doing a
sucker punch.
The Third One is Use Elbows That Karate Uses A Lot - Again, you do not
want to perform elaborate moves. You want to keep it straight to the
point, simple, quick and effective.
Charles: And so those would be the three main points that you would
say to make this fighting style more street effective.
Norm: Yes.
Charles: Excellent, well again, we thank you, Norm for your help.
Norm: Thank you.