Robin Godolphin and Jameson Nelms are the founders of Resilience Development. Their mission is to provide self-defense training opportunities in three critical areas: basic trauma care, recognizing and addressing emergent threatening behaviors, and safe yet effective use of defensive tools. Those associated with Resilience Development are committed learners and instructors of self-defense.
On January 7th, Robin brought in Mike Anderson, one of this region’s best resources on self-defense, to teach his course Landing the Plane. This is a review of my experience.
Disclaimer:
I was not compensated for writing this review. I am not affiliated with Resilience Development or Mike Anderson’s organization, Shoot the Gun. However, after spending the day with both men, I’d highly consider teaming with them in some capacity.
Gun Culture Disclaimer:
I am not a gun guy. I do not have a conceal and carry permit. I am not convinced that carrying a handgun is a smart option for me. There are days when I cannot find my cell phone; misplacing a Glock in a public toilet is my potential reality--I do not own a pistol. When shit hits the fan, I’ll hang out with my gun toting friends! That being said, carrying a handgun is a reality for many Americans, and I respect their right to bear arms. I do, however, carry pocket knives on a regular basis: Swiss Army, Kershaw, Gerber...these tools are fantastic for cleaning dirt underneath my fingernails, slicing the threads dangling off my hem, carving the rough edge on an oak bookshelf project, tearing through cardboard boxes when recycling, cutting the tape off a well-wrapped fist post MMA cage fight. It has not dawned on me that my edged tool might also be used for--God forbid--self-defense. [On a side note: Landing the Plane also provides students with scenarios/procedures should a violent encounter devolve into your successful use of a tool, tactic, or technique when exercising self-defense...definitely worth your time]
Why should you listen to me?
So what makes me a credible source for reviewing Mr. Anderson’s course Landing the Plane? First, and foremost, I am a professional educator. The discipline of teaching and learning is the day-to-day reality of being a high school teacher. From the very beginning, it was clear to me that Anderson gets teaching and learning. He does not hide behind his podium, nor does he claim that it is his-way-or-the-highway. On the contrary, he welcomes naysayers and contradiction during his instruction of the material. He invites scrutiny from a discerning eye. This is a mark of quality programming; his material has been vetted.
Anderson also has a polished presentation that is pieced together in manageable chunks. For every 20 minutes of lecture/notes/instruction, there is 20 minutes of physical practice within the scenario. Do not expect a sit-and-get seminar. There will be role playing, you will be rehearsing verbal commands, and you can guarantee there will be some sort of physical contact like swinging at pads. Do keep in mind that this seminar focuses on the mental game of self-defense, so there is very little physical demand. From content to delivery, Landing the Plane is an engaging and worthwhile experience.
Anderson relies upon efficient language and procedures to help the material stick. Efficiency here is critical! No one wants to fumble around looking for the right tool should the need arise. That is why Landing the Plane is a critical tool for your self-defense tool box! Anderson arranges the tools so that students can readily grasp them. Regardless of your age, gender, or experience, Mike Anderson can differentiate the material to meet your individual needs.
What do I know about self-defense?
When I have had my fill of teaching Shakespeare to teens, I put on a gi and teach Brazilian Jiu Jitsu--this after school gig is my passion. I am obsessed with teaching (and learning) strategies and techniques that will keep my students alive. By day, I am a mild mannered high school teacher. By night, I am most definitely NOT Batman...I am a mild mannered instructor of Jiu Jitsu.
Most martial arts schools spend a significant amount of time teaching techniques: your opponent has you in guard, your opponent has mounted you and is attempting to rain punches upon you, your opponent is choking you or kicking you or elbowing you or hulk-smashing you...the list goes on. Walk into any BJJ academy and that is what you would expect to find--after all, it is what you paid for! However, what is seldom taught are the soft skills of self-defense. Developing the soft skills of self-defense are possibly the most important lesson one should master!
Landing the Plane addresses the soft skills of self-defense that many martial arts academies and gun courses tend to ignore.
Some of the material covered in this course:
· How to recognize anomalous behaviors or potential threats within public and social spaces;
· How to manage your physical space when approached by an unknown person;
· Strategies to visually assess unknown contacts who approach you;
· Ways to create physical barriers through physical posturing / positioning, along with simple verbal commands to make you “less yummy” to a potential criminal;
· It also detailed several pre-assault cues common to violent encounters.
Mr. Anderson’s course fully immersed me in the murky area of pre-violent encounters; consequently, I emerged from the experience with practical skills for my self-defense toolbox. Any murkiness or doubt regarding potential violent encounters was replaced with tactical solutions.
Post training, two words echo in my mind: aware, aware, aware, AND avoid, avoid, avoid. Landing the Plane gave me strategies to safely manage both of these concepts. Sometimes it is the little things that make the biggest impact: Your voice, your posture, your awareness are the real weapons of self-defense. Should a situation turn violent and you have clearly run out of options, Landing the Plane helps create the space for you to deploy the best tool, tactic, or technique that best fits your unique skill set. There are plenty of classes that teach you how to shoot the gun, twist the knife, or strangle an adversary, but few that teach how to avoid it all together.