 |
|
|||
|
|
Sensei
Antony,
I've read with interest the comments about instructing and/or teaching. As a
retired fire officer, one of the roles that is inherent with the position is to
teach the fundamentals of firefighting. Instruction covers all aspects of the
profession. Instruction is the first step in any "profession" or "art". It is
the core of the learning process. A student is instructed on the mechanics of
the profession. An officer instructs the new recruit. But, a good firefighter
becomes a great firefighter if he is guided by a "teacher". The teacher goes
past the basics. The teacher uses his combined years of knowledge and
real life experiences and applies this to the student that wants to excel in the
service. Each student learns differently. The "real" teacher knows that patience
and wisdom is required to impart this new knowledge to a student in a way that
will succeed. Each student learns individually and differently. The real
teacher finds the correct way to guide the student. Being a "real" teacher is
not easy, but the reward is seeing a student grow. The growth is not measured by
time, but by eventually seeing the student attain his goals or
actually mature into a teacher himself.
All this brings me to the real reason for writing. From my experience,
Antony, I believe you to be a "real" teacher. From our very first
encounters in the gym, you understood my limitations due to genetic physical
restrictions and past surgeries. You approached my problems with no reservations
and have be able to provide practical and useful training. You have studied my
strong and weak points, understood the type of training that works
my style of self defense, and have consistently moved me in the right
direction to succeed. That is what a teacher accomplishes and why an
instructor fails. An instructor only succeeds with the mechanics. He is the
"beginning". The "teacher" is the "beginning" and the
"end". I feel secure in calling
you a "teacher".
Thank-you
for all that you have given for me to learn. Because of my position in life, I
learn in a way that my be hard to understand. After I see and experience, I
apply the knowledge in a way that will fit my "rules of living" and interaction
with others. It's not your way, but a personal standard that guides my life.
It's all about choosing a path based on what is presented. I measure my
disciplines and actions on a scale. A low level threat is met accordingly.
It requires no thought at the time if the principles and disciplines are
learned. The high level threat is also met accordingly and instinctively
for the same reasons. You are teaching me more "ways" to deal with both threats.
My "instinctive" arsenal is growing larger thanks to you!
It's my hope that a young student will cross your path. He would be most
fortunate to learn from you and you would earn what all true teachers want ... a
student that wants to become the
teacher.
Mel
This letter is meant to serve as a testimony of the exceptional skill and knowledge of Sensei Antony as well as a letter of recommendation for any position related to martial arts, self defense, supplemental training for law enforcement, executive protection, or any position pertaining to the security industry. I have a long martial arts history including Aikido, Jiu Jitsu, Brazillian Ju Jitsu, and weapons defense. I have attended seminars with such famous names as the Gracies and many other martial artists. I am currently employed at the Manatee Sheriff’s Office as a Corrections deputy in the jail. I am F.D.L.E certified as a defensive tactics instructor, advanced ground fighting instructor, expandable baton instructor, CMS first aid for criminal justice instructor, CPR/first aid instructor for the Red Cross and American Heart Assoc. In an interest to perform my duties more efficiently and keep my fellow officers safe, I have attended many seminars with many instructors seeking any bit of knowledge that may mean the difference between life and death. I have always found flaws in their techniques when applying them in the real world. The moves work great in the class room but as any Law Enforcement Officer will tell you, the real world is full of surprises. You never know what you will be confronted with, the strength of your assailant, or the lethality of the situation. Therefore I have been seeking out an instructor who could impart methods of controlling the assailant in a manner that is not only affective but within the scope of our general orders. I have found that with Sensei Antony. His style, concepts, and theories are based on realistic scenarios and counter offensives which enable Law Enforcement/Correctional personnel to get their job done and avoid any excessive force. This is a great consideration in the present climate of civil liability for our line of work. He is able to teach exactly what the student needs. Many instructors have a set line of moves that are supposed to work for everyone. Sensei Antony is very aware that not everything works for everyone and is quick to point that out. He tailors each technique to the individual. All of his techniques comply with the force matrix, meeting the subjects resistance without getting into an excessive force situation. Another unique aspect of his training is that the methods are field tested. Many instructors have never used what they teach nor have they actively researched the validity of their techniques from those who would use them. Sensei Antony is continually processing feedback from students such as myself who are in the position to accurately rate the effectiveness of the methods. I have used many of these techniques working in the jail setting where every second counts and controlling the subject or inmate without being open to an excessive force charge is an issue. His methods fit the bill enabling me to protect myself and my fellow officers on numerous occasions. It is for these reasons and many more that I feel I have finally found a style, a teacher, and a friend who can give me the knowledge I need to do my job, protect others, and stay within the scope of the law. I would highly recommend Sensei Antony for Law Enforcement, security, or anyone looking for an efficient and real means of protecting themselves with less than lethal methods. Sincerely
Deputy Young, Eric
Manatee County Sheriff’s Office – Corrections
I have always been interested in martial arts. I never studied any one particular art but did participate in self defense courses. I am a small women of 5 foot nothing 112 lbs. These classes never afforded me a means of self defense that I felt I could depend on. A few years ago my daughter was very excited about taking a martial arts class from a teacher at her school. Before she could start I had to meet the teacher and see what they were doing. I ended up taking the class with my daughter to bond with her. I soon found myself emersed in a world of strange customs and new aches in my body. I was constantly bruised. Now a few years later my daughter has turned attention to boys and school activities but I'm still training. I am amazed at what I can do now. I never thought I would be able to throw someone who was much bigger and stonger than me. I have gotten in the best shape of my life, and I was in pretty good shape before. Remarkably, I don't bruise to easily anymore. What I originally signed up for went away. My daughter is growing up. The self defense I stood for in the first year, now is not the reason I stay in class. I am confident that I can defend myself and my daughter. I am in great shape. But the main reason I stay in class is the people who are there. Our Sensei is kind and caring. In the beginning many of us took his kind ways for granted until we started to visit other schools and see what was out there. While we were in a commercial setting we saw many of the so called martial artists sporting thier certificates and medals, but when they hit the mat they were not able to control our whitebelts. We are a family. I understand what Sensei meant when I had my first class. He said, "we train by the old codes. The closest friends you will have and the most trusted people you know will be your brothers and sisters in the school. This is why we are so closed off. I don't want any of you getting hurt because someone wants to show off". Sincerely
Vicky Robinson
 Dear Sensei.
Thank you so much for your training
in bail bonds recovery. When we first started out, we
really enjoyed the brawls and the excitement. However, after
a few close calls and bruises, we were fortunate
enough to find you. With your techniques, we have had much greater
success taking subjects into custody without
incident. As you said, it doesn't matter how well you fight, it's how
you
come to the fight and where you position your team
that avoids the fight. I can honestly say that your training has
not only saved us from severe injuries and possibly
getting killed, but your techniques have saved us from civil
litigation.
Never have we met anyone who focused so heavily on the
law and how it would look in court. We are now like group of
musicians who just jam together. We don't need notes
to play- we don't have to yell commands at each other any more.
Your training methods do take a lot of practice but
they are well worth the time and energy. Due to our methods we are
receiving more calls for our services. We have
secured a reputation for not only getting the job done right, but for
getting it done safely and without incident. Many
times we are in situations where we would have pulled our sidearms
and possibly had to use lethal force. Your training
has allowed us to cut down on those incidents and if they do come
up, we are prepared and rarely do we need to exersise
lethal force.
Thanks
BoutnyHunter5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
|
|
Hi Sensei Anthony, I’m writing you to thank you for the training you gave me. I haven't wrote in a while because I was deployed soon after we trained. I remember when I first saw you at the Y and we talked about fighting and you told me philosophy. I must admit that I really didn’t think you had the skill and techniques you did when we first met. No offense. But like you said, you have to adapt to what you are and what you can do. Thru boot camp I was always at the lead with DT. When we got to our shooting range and the instructors told us how to breathe letting out some air then squeezing the trigger I figured they were write since they were the instructors. After a few days, I don’t know why, I started thinking about what you said with breathing. I started breathing in my stomach and really didn’t think about it. I was hitting everything. My DI asked where I learned to shoot and what my training was, and I told him I just shot a few times in my life. He said I was either lying or just a natural. The big compliment to your training came with our ground work and hand to hand. My unit had some really big guys in it. Even though they could lift more and run faster, I still beat the shit out of them on the field. The ground fighting was no where near what you showed me. It was a joke like you said. Just the basics for a few hrs so everyone could pass. We didn’t really train too much for any thing but shooting the enemy. My DI “s were constantly asking where I got my training. I finally told them I trained with you at the Y. like you said they made fun of the martial arts but they still asked me about my moves. Well long story short, the few months I spent with you was more useful than my military training. When we got over there, we had to clear buildings and move quickly thru the streets. One day we were riding down a road and took some fire. Our gunner let lose with spray to try to hit what we couldn’t’ see. Our hummer got shot out and we had to ditch it. This was one of my first fire fights. After that day I was scared and remembered what you told me about combat. I did have some dreams but I didn’t see anyone actually killed up close….. YET! I figured I was being told something. After basic seeing what you said was right and being able to throw those big guys around and then getting to the “battlefield” as you said, I kept being reminded of a lot of things you told me. I started to get scared and I thought a lot about what you told me about the mental side of combat. I don’t remember everything but it was like a sign. Everywhere I looked I saw something that reminded me of something you told me or showed me. Well a couple of weeks go by and we were getting shot at by kids and rocks thrown at us and never knowing what was around the next corner. We had some clearing training and now it was time to go in. the first building we cleared was hit by a rocket It looked like. Holes everywhere that someone could hide in and you don’t know what it looks like inside until you are in. a few times we found someone in a room … they wouldn’t come out so we thru a charge in. nothing like the movies. I was going into a building with my unit. We really didn’t think anyone was in there. We moved down a hall. I remembered how you told me not to lean on the walls. We cleared a few rooms and then out of no where we took some fire from our front. Everyone scattered. I ran into the first room I could. This was like an office building not really a home. I didn’t know where the fire came from or where everyone ran to. I was yelling to my team and asking what to do. No answere. We couldn’t hear anything. It seems fast but like I was there forever. I heard shots hitting just outside the doorway. Then I heard some one yelling clear , clear and it was in American. I knew they neutralized who ever was shooting. It just seemed to stop … I never looked behind me. Yeah I know you told me to always look at the 4 corners and up. I got narrow minded. I was just about to leave and I felt someone pulling my back by the straps of my gear. Before I could react I had another one in front of me holding my 16. I didn’t hear anything and all I could think of was what they taught us. I held my weapon tight with both hands and tried to push the muzzle up and yank it back but he wouldn’t let go and now I was starting to be choked from behind. I don’t know why or how I did it but I locked my 16 between my bi’s and forearm and under my arm. I got my hands free and grabbed the enemy by the shirt and managed to get my kbar. I tried to stab him a few times. He just wouldn’t let go. Somehow I cut him across his bi’s like you showed me. It was weird. It just came out. As soon as I cut him he pulled his arms close and let go. I kicked him back and while being choked I opened up on him. I don’t know how I got the one in back of me off. I don’t really remember accept when I turned he was there in front of me looking like “awe shit” and I took that hesitation and put 3 in his chest. My team came and dragged me out. I still have my kbar in my hand and locked onto my 16. later that day I was asked about my attack. I reported with pride what I remembered. I was asked over and over how I came up with those moves every time I told the story. All I had to say was it just came out of me.
I know that the training I got in basic would never have saved my life that day. We never covered anything like that. I didn’t have the training that I needed. After that day I thought a lot about all the things I could remember that you told me. I forgot a lot of them. I wish I had payed attention more. I talked to a sort of counselor. He asked how I felt about killing those 2 and if I felt guilty or had dreams. I told him I did have dreams but I felt pride in what I did. He tried to play it off like was really screwed up and needed his advice. He told me how lucky I was that I had my unit there. I told him I was alone, they came in after it was over. He told me it was good that I used my training. I told him that the military training would have gotten me killed and that it was what I learned from you that kept me alive. As we talked something you told me came up. I told him I was a soldier and didn’t really feel anything. I didn’t kill anyone in my mind. I just had 2 targets that I had to move thru. I don’t look at it as killing them. I just reacted to what they did. He looked at me and said “where did you get that” I told him a little about my time with you. He asked how long we had been friends. I told him I only knew you for a few months. So I’m kinda a hero in my circle now. I hope I don’t ever have to go thru this again. My attitude about life has changed like you said it would if I ever took a life. I never really thanked you when we were at the Y. I know you tried to tell me about your code of training and explain how it would be to kill someone. When I last saw you that day I just saw you as a guy who looked mean and could hit hard, I mean some of those energy shots you gave me felt like truck running me over. I saw you just some guy I started to work out with. You were funny always making fun of your stomach and poking at the other members. That was a different me. I don’t know how exactly to say it but I see you as so much more now. What you told me was not much of a technique was so much more than what the military gave me. Now that I have something to compare it to, I realize just how much you know, and wonder how much more you know that I will probably never find out about. I know that I trained with a real soldier. Not one in a uniform or with a rank, but with you. I now know what you were trying to tell me about how battle changes someone forever and makes close bonds. It was like some force brought us together to save my life. I know that if it weren’t for you and how you trained me, I would be dead right now. I don’t know what else to say accept thankyou. Thankyou for giving me my life back when it was being taken and for letting me go home to my family. I’ll contact you soon. I didn’t remember your phone number but how could I ever forget your email Merry Christmass
Your friend Robert A. Howe Dear Sensei Anthony, Your
Friend, | ||