American Streetwise Self Defense School

Practical Self Defense Training Many Martial Arts: One System

About Us

The systems that make up American Streetwise Self Defense

American Streetwise Self Defense combines six different systems of martial arts. The system of training is made up of long range combat (punches / kicks) from the art of Tae Kwon Do, blocks and stances from Karate, and mid-range combat (elbows / knees / clinches) form Bando Boxing and Muay Thai. Close range grappling, including takedowns, locks, throws, ground fighting, pressure points, and submissions come from Aikido and Kempo . Every aspect of street fighting is covered in both the belt courses and self-defense classes.

The American Streetwise Philosophy

At American Streetwise, we train all aspects of self defense. This begins with respect for yourself and other people, both inside and outside of the dojo. In many cases, this allows you to avoid a conflict entirely. We teach students the skills to talk their way out of a potential fight, to walk away if possible, and then to defend themselves physically as a last resort. We do not teach the flashy, jumping, spinning combinations that are shown in movies. Our system focuses on simple, effective techniques that allow a student to escape a confrontation unharmed – which is how we define self defense.

How Does Ranking Work?

American Streetwise Self Defense has a belt progression, based on the traditional martial arts which make up the roots of our system. How long will it take a student to earn a black belt? A long time. In order to maintain its reputation, and to stay consistent with the standards of other top schools around the world, American Streetwise maintains rigorous standards for advancement. While some schools only test on skills learned in the student’s current rank, all American Streetwise tests are cumulative. Thus, a student testing for black belt will have to demonstrate proficiency in every technique from the white belt level as well as every rank within the progression to black belt.
In recent years, many martial arts schools have simplified their curriculum to allow students to promote more quickly, receiving a black belt in two or three years in order to make a quick dollar. This has, unfortunately, given many people an incorrect understanding of true martial arts. More dangerously, the students at these schools have received a false sense of accomplishment, are not actually learning what their instructors agreed to teach them, and are practicing techniques that would not work in a real-life situation. By the time a student reaches the advanced ranks of American Streetwise, he or she has both the skill and confidence, should the need for self-defense arise.