Malta is a safe little place... or is it? Mark Spiteri, a 34-year-old Kung Fu black belt, claims that there is more to violence than physical attack. Melanie Drury enquires about how a self-defence course may be useful not only in the face of danger or abuse but also in day-to-day life.
What is the connection between martial arts and self-defence?
All martial arts may be used for either of two main objectives – to attack or to defend. However, this all depends on the mood and maturity of the individual martial artist. All responsible schools ultimately teach their students to use martial arts as the last resort to defend themselves or others when faced with danger or aggressive situations.
What is the difference between the course you wish to offer and actual training in a particular martial art such as Kung Fu?
Generally speaking, one uses the term 'martial arts' as an umbrella for various disciplines, such as Kung Fu, Aikido, Jujitsu, Karate and so on, each being a complete and separate discipline which takes years to master.
Enrolling into martial arts training signifies a long-term commitment where one could become proficient in a particular discipline, taking the time to develop a deep knowledge of the art, to learn and perfect a variety of striking and blocking techniques, and to practice with other students thus learning to hit on the right points and increasing speed and strength.
On the other hand, a self-defence course teaches basic physical and mental training techniques like a musician learning the basic notes... those same basic notes which ultimately make beautiful pieces of music!
Why should a person learn self-defence?
A self-defence course is intended to supply the basics that enable a person to counter an attack so the main scope of learning defence techniques is to protect and defend one’s self and one’s family when the need arises.
Incidents may happen at any time and anywhere, when and where least expected. A trained individual is able to react to awkward situations with confidence and responsibility, while self-defence training is effective and easy to learn irrespective of age, gender or size.
Moreover, one can choose to enrol in the course for the sake of performing physical activity, to take a break from routine or as a stress-relief programme, which in turn has a practical benefit. It is indeed a very useful area in which one is able to increase one's knowledge and interest with the result of overcoming any kind of fear.
Furthermore, this self-defence course introduces students to the traditional Kung Fu style of combat. There have also been cases of students who have become inspired to further their knowledge and skills in martial arts through this course, and who are today students of Mon Lung Kung Fu.
Malta is not a particularly dangerous place... are there any other practical benefits from taking such a course?
Yes definitely! The most practical benefit of undertaking self-defence training is that a person is relieved from anxiety or fear of violence, whether physical, verbal or psychological.
Although the streets of Malta are comparatively safe, maybe less so in recent times, bullying and victimisation are nonetheless a rather common problem. The self-defence course also helps to counter that type of attack.
Apart from learning physical self-defence techniques such as blocks, strikes and stances, the course also works on subtler means that protect a person from verbal and psychological abuse, mainly through a resulting renewed confidence and attitude.
Ultimately, physical defence is always the last resort. Therefore, the course teaches also the right attitude, behaviour and procedure which may prevent a fighting scenario to even take place. Thus a trained person may emerge from a conflict or a dangerous situation without injury or even hurting his or her opponent.
We have also discovered that these courses enable students to know themselves better by identifying their strengths and weaknesses. With this self-knowledge, the students can focus on their strengths and tackle their weaknesses.
The self-defence course we are offering is professional and based on years of experience by qualified instructors, yet it is informal and participative. Students are encouraged to share their related experiences, if they have any, and thus they can also learn from each other.
What does the course consist of?
The course focuses mainly on physical self-defence techniques such as blocks against strikes, grabs and weapons. Several case-scenarios including possible rape threats are tackled in a practical way. We also give particular attention to physical fitness training, stances and flow of movement. Furthermore we also give attention to breathing exercises, meditation and street body-language.
How can practising meditation and breathing exercises be helpful in a moment of danger?
It is rather well-known that a person becomes calmer, more focused and more confident by regular practice of meditation and specific breathing exercises. During a crucial moment, such mental stability will mean a trained person is less likely to be rash or make senseless mistakes which might have serious consequences.
This kind of calm and rational contemplation as opposed to impulsive reaction to one's emotions has its obvious benefits also in day-to-day life. Meanwhile, learning body language can also be useful in dangerous situations as well as in day-to-day life when interacting with other people in order to avoid disturbance as much as possible.
Body language is a natural physical reaction indicative of a person's inner sentiment, stream of thought or general mood. By learning to understand these signals, a person becomes more intuitive regarding how another person is feeling. When assessing the next thing to say or do, one becomes able to predict that other person's likely reaction and take a decision accordingly.
Who is the course aimed at? Are there any prerequisites?
The course is open only for adults, that is, applicants must be over the age of 18. No other pre-requisites are necessary, although persons on medication or who have any kind of health issues should consult their doctors prior to applying for the course.
Who will be conducting the course?
This year I am organising the course in tandem with Mark Calleja, who is also 34 years old. We are both senior Kung Fu black belts.
Have you held similar courses in the past?
I have conducted similar self-defence courses in the past three years. Due to the excellent response and feedback received, the course is continuing from year to year, while each year the course syllabus is being enriched with more valuable content to accommodate the students’ needs. Mark Calleja joined this year – this will enable us to offer more variety and experience.
What is your history in the world of martial arts and self-defence?
It may sound like a cliché but both Mark Calleja and I have been inspired by Bruce Lee films. They were quite popular during our childhood and youth... well, actually they are still popular today!
My Kung Fu training began in the early '90s. After attaining a black belt in 2000, I continued to train under the close supervision of my head-instructor, Sifu Gaffiero. I also teach Kung Fu regularly at the Mon Lung Kung Fu club, which was established by Sifu Gaffiero.
On the other hand, Mark Calleja, the other instructor, has also been practising martial arts from a very early age, moving from club to club. He even undertook boxing training for three years. He enrolled as a student at Gaffiero Mon Lung Kung Fu in 1989 and attained a black belt in 1996.
We are both keen to offer our extensive experience in martial arts to all those who attend the self-defence course.
What kind of commitment will be expected from attendees of the course?
The course will be held at Mon Lung Kung Fu club in Sliema from the first week of October. It will progress over fourteen-sessions, with a duration of one-and-a-half hours per session, twice weekly. However that will be discussed with the interested applicants according to their capacity and availability.
Students attending this course are encouraged to attend regularly and to take the course seriously in order to reap the maximum benefit. They will be given handouts during the lessons and successful students will be awarded a certificate on completion of the course.
For further information kindly contact:
Mark Spiteri/ Mark Calleja
Mon Lung Kung Fu Club
166, Manwel Dimech Street, Sliema SLM 1051
E-mail:- [email protected]
Mob: 9984 1134 or 9942 1649