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A.R.M.SELF
DEFENSE INITIATIVE |
| Some Information about the Instructor |
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Hi, and many thanks for visiting my website. My name is Eric
Khoo and the instructor of the ARM Self Defense Initiative.
A bit about my martial arts background. It may sound somewhat cliché, but as with most kids, my interest in the martial arts was kindled by my very first Bruce Lee movie, The Fists Of Fury. Thus began my journey into the world of martial arts through taekwon-do classes in school. Eventually, after years of training, I obtained my 1st degree black belt in Taekwon-do (ITF) back in 1988. Currently on Saturday mornings, I assist my senior instructor and friend, Khal Redza (5th Degree) in instructing TKD for kids at a local primary school in Selayang, as well as assist in teaching a ladies' self defense programme to some parents there. I also run an Adult Self Defense class in Petaling Jaya (SS19) on Wednesday nights at 8:00pm at the Traditional Taekwondo Academy. |
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I had the great privilege to study Taekwon-do under the tutelage of
Master Yeow Cheng Watt (8th Degree) and am still being
instructed by him till this day. At the current time, I hold a
4th degree black belt in the martial art. Recently I have
also obtained by 1st degree black belt in Hapkido from the
World Kido Hapkido Federation of Korea. While Taekwon-do's
strength is in its long range weapons of punches and kicks,
Hapkido employs a plethora of joint locks and manipulation of
the human anatomy to control a person. In between the years of
martial learning, I have also dabbled a bit in kick boxing and
aikido. |
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Grandmaster Mounir countering my shoulder grab in a Hapkido
class and subsequently applying a painful wristlock on me! |
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It is important to know that self defense is not all about
martial arts. |
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It was then that I began to think deeper into the concept of martial arts and self defense. Why wasn't she able to defend herself, especially when she had an umbrella with her? Was she even aware of a potential threat at the time? What could she have done to neutralize a threat like that? |
| It began to dawn on me that the answer to my questions was simply this... she was not trained or taught to handle herself. As I delved further into the study of the 'science' of self defense, it occurred to me that there were so many variables to consider when faced with a potentially volatile situation.. >> am i aware of a possible threat (a motorcycle with 2 men circling the area), >> can i control the inexplicable fear and adrenal rush that can causes me to freeze (facing the threat of a person with a knife approaching you), >> can i verbally 'talk' my way out of a nasty situation (speaking calmly to the assailant and surrendering your valuables amicably), >> or am i equipped to use the 'weapons' i have on-hand, as a last resort (my hands and feet, an umbrella, keys, garbage can lid, stones, etc). I realized that there was even a possibility for a trained martial artist to be defeated in a situation like that. |
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Together with my
friend and senior instructor, Khal Redza, we sat
down and discussed our views of self defense.
Eventually, through our individual research into the
subject and putting some of the techniques to the test,
we decided that this knowledge has to be taught and made
known to others, especially with the current crime rate
in the city. Normal, everyday people need to know how to
react and defend themselves (and maybe even save their
lives) against predators that do not give a second
thought in forcibly taking from the innocent, whether in
material, dignity or life. Khal coined the acronym "A.R.M."
meaning "Avoid", "Respond" and "Minimize".
It is through these 3 aspects that our ideals and
philosophy of Self Defense is based on and we find them
to be the most effective. |
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We feel that it is of the utmost importance that people (especially ladies) have a good grasp of self defense knowledge to empower them in situations where life and limb may be threatened. These are aspects that many traditional martial arts classes do not teach! |
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As a martial artist, i have also had the great opportunity in early 2009 to choreograph fighting scenes for a stage play called "Hikayat Merong Mahawangsa" (or The Saga Of Merong Mahawangsa"), a swashbuckling epic of General Merong Mahawangsa's advdentures. The play was featured, no less, at the Istana Budaya from the 14th to 17th of May. It was a great experience for me and my collaborator, Khal, as we worked out the fight choreography and trained the actors for about 4 months. Our videos are below, firstly, a fight scene performed by Khal and I at a fun-raiser for the show and the a fight scene from the actual play itself. |
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