Kun Tao Combatives™

Defend - Disable - Destroy™

Conditioning        KTC Techniques        KTC Symbol

Kun Tao Combatives™ (KTC) is based on the scientific combat principle: Defend-Disable-Destroy™. Once a conflict or attack has escalated to the physical level it follows this principle. There is a time before (East Coast Training Systems™ addresses this in the Escape Alive™ -Survival Skills program) and a time after. KTC focuses on that moment when diplomacy ends and action is needed.

There is a difference between a "fight" and "fighting for your survival". In a fight variables such as rules, referees, and circumstances ultimately govern the outcome.

Fighting for your survival, as a victim of an assault or in a professional operation mandating engagement, requires a different physical approach and mindset.

Conditioning: Mind and Body

Kun Tao Combatives™ holds conditioning in high regard. Your conditioning, not an unrealistic expectation established by a model. Simply stated, all things being equal conditioning will be the final determining factor. Self-defense is based on principles of surprise, superior technique, and learned or instinctive response. An increasing problem in today's World is the accessibility of these principles by those you are defending against. This "levels the playing field" taking the advantage away from you.

Conditioning plays an important role in retaining that advantage! In order to survive you have to be better equipped to overcome whatever is in your way.

Physically, KTC training is designed to embed concepts and techniques into your very being. Your strength, speed, and stamina are as important as the techniques you employ. A variety of professionally structured physical conditioning exercises and drills form the backbone of KTC. Using the most effective concepts and techniques, not a lot of filler.

Through KTC's physical training and conceptual visualization participants attain a new mode of thought. Thought embodied by the symbol of Kun Tao Combatives™, the attacking dog! Mental conditioning involves realizing the orientating response, fight or flight, suppressed by the civil thought process we have been taught since birth. Survival requires dismissing civility.

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The Techniques of Kun Tao Combatives™

Kun Tao Combatives™ follows the law of parsimony. All things being equal the simplest answer is usually the correct one. KTC concepts and techniques are direct and interchangeable. Efficiency of movement and time decreases the chance of injury by ending a situation quickly.

The Defend-Disable-Destroy™ principle keeps interaction to a minimum. Because the main purpose of KTC is self-defense/survival it is reactive to some extent; requiring an aggressive behavior to initiate an appropriate response (although it is easily adaptable to operations requiring mandatory engagement). Therefore, the first, most important part, is to Defend.

Disabling the attacker is necessary to end the aggressive behavior in the most efficient way possible. This reduces the risk of injury from exposure. The level of disablement is directly proportional to the perceived level of aggression.

The last level of KTC technique is to Destroy. This is also directly proportional to the level of perceived aggression, when that aggression requires total neutralization. Multiple attackers and the introduction of weapons fall into this level.

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The Triangle and The Dog

The symbol of Kun Tao Combatives™ is a black and white triangle framing a canine on the verge of attack. Although very simple it carries the very essence of Kun Tao Combatives™.

The triangle represents many underlying conceptual, philosophical and metaphysical principles in Filipino Martial Arts styles, and other styles around the World. It is incorporated in everything from stances to footwork to striking angles and so on. It also represents geometrical and structural strength, as in the Great Pyramids for example.

The KTC Triangle is black and white by design. It is meant to take emphasize away from the "grey" area of combat. It is either no engagement or full engagement.

The Defend-Disable-Destroy™ principle is prominently displayed at the top of the triangle. It is the guiding principle of Kun Tao Combatives™.

The canine on the verge of attack represents the modality of KTC. A dog is often referred to as "man's best friend", until it is presented with a situation that requires it's primal instincts to take over. At that point, like all wild animals, there is only one goal...self-preservation!

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