In Episode 9 of the History Channel’s 2008 series The Human Weapon, world champion martial artist Terry Bullman is seen defending himself from a flurry of brutal kicks and punches from several top American cagefighters, and countering them with ferocious assaults of his own.
Bearden students will have an opportunity on Saturday to learn the basics of those techniques from Bullman himself, courtesy of the BHS dance team.
As their latest fundraiser for the 2013 season, the dancers have scheduled four self-defense classes to be taught by the Knoxville-based expert in the school’s wrestling room, open to anyone at a cost of $25.
For an hour and a half, participants will be taught simple, beginning exercises in self-defense by one of the most qualified instructors in the world. Having practiced martial arts for over 20 years, Bullman has been a World Championship fighter, a cagefighter, a professional boxer, a black belt of several styles, and a competitor in Chuck Norris’s World Combat League.
Now, he brings one of his favorite styles, Krav Maga, to novice and advanced students through classes from his local studio.
“Krav Maga is what the Israeli military teaches their soldiers,” he explains. “Military self-defense involving Muay Thai, Kickboxing, Boxing, Wrestling, Brazilian Jiu jitsu—but it’s got a much more practical mentality than any of those.”
That mentality emphasizes real, applicable techniques over the rituals and mental trials of other styles. So with Krav Maga, students need not know what any of those other fighting styles are to begin to learn.
“I’ve done a bunch of different martial arts,” Bullman says, somewhat modestly. “I had a TV show on a bunch of different martial arts. And Krav Maga is, to me, the most effective because it’s a military-designed system that’s meant to be taught to an average person and retained in a short amount of time.”
But from that short time students can expect to learn and practice dozens of important defense tactics.
“Palm Strike, Hammer Fist, Elbow Hit,” Bullman runs down the list, through “Gun Defense” and the formidable “Hair Grab” to “Preventative Measures,” meant to keep a fight from ever happening.
They’re all part of his practiced curriculum, and all meant to teach students the most important tenet of the class: “To take your safety seriously.”
While the hope is that the money earned will cover the dance team’s upcoming expenses and tournaments, team co-sponsor and Bearden teacher Mrs. Tammy McKibben believes that it’s not just the fundraisers that can benefit from Bullman’s seminar.
“We want to make money, yes,” she said. “However, we also see it as an opportunity for students to learn about self-defense, so that if they’re ever put in a position where they need to protect themselves they will have the skills to do so.”
In the past, the team has sold chicken biscuits and held dance clinics for younger girls to raise money, so a fighting seminar is a new concept for 2013.
“We’re hoping this will be one of those things we can continue to do for years to come,” Mrs. McKibben said. “And it will start to grow in turnout each time.”
All of the dance team members will be in attendance themselves, but any Bearden student, their friends, or family members are welcome. Freshman Jackson Bieger signed up Tuesday after seeing the event poster in the West Mall. He was drawn by the accessibility of the course at the school, and thought that even the most rudimentary understanding defense principles might sometime be of use.
“I hope to gain clear-headedness in any situation in which I might need it,” Bieger said. “I think that would be the most important thing.”
He was also happy to support a Bearden team, but is their latest fundraiser more appealing than time-honored biscuit sales?
“Chicken biscuits are good,” Bieger conceded, “but this is actually a useful skill, not just food.”
So by at least signing up for the course with no prior interest or knowledge, Beiger proves that, like championship fighter and martial arts expert Terry Bullman, he takes his safety seriously.
Saturday’s first class will begin at 9 a.m. and will last until 10:30. Three more classes will be held at 30-minute intervals until 4:30 p.m., each hosting 40 participants.
Students can pre-register through bhsselfdefense@gmail.com or in the West Mall until the end of lunch Friday.
And the dance team will continue to sell chicken biscuits.
Jack C. Evans is the editor-in-chief for The Bark website. Follow The Bark on Twitter @BeardenBARK and like The Bark (Bearden High School) on Facebook.