SHIHAN STEVE COSTELLOS’ COMMON SENSE TIPS AND VALUES

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I have often found that it is better to say very little when confronted by an assailant, understanding that you may get hurt, and taking steps to avoid potentially dangerous situations is called planning and preparation. We would be very lucky indeed to live out our lives without any injury to our bodies. How we deal with such situations it’s not easy but I have called upon all my experience gained from 55 years streetwise encounters. One must not treat street fighting as a game or as a sport, were the marques of Queensberry rules apply.

 There are no rules, one must understand that fighting can cause damage to either side. Defending yourself and others is your basic right. If you were drinking in a pub and you see two drunks arguing it is unlikely that you would join in, the reason is that you have spotted the danger and will distance yourself from it.

Most drunken incidents can be spotted well in advance and thus avoided. However planned crimes are usually well hidden, assailants and criminals will normally wait in the dark and quiet places, parks, back streets, alleyways, plan your route in advance to avoid such places. Getting fit and staying fit. We should all aim for a good healthy and active life providing no major accidents befall us. 

Fitness must become part of your life, don’t let it take over your life. Fitness and self-defence, both aspects will have a direct bearing on how you cope with confrontation situations. The value of speed and surprise, good fitness training and practicing good self-defence techniques until you are proficient would greatly improve your speed and reaction time. Remember when you have gained a ranking it is each individuals knowledge that is important. 

A belt ranking is a material object and can be taken away from you, but the knowledge you have acquired is yours to keep and to use whenever the time may arrive. Knowledge is neutral it has no will of its own to do anything it is up to the invidual to direct this knowledge into a productive channel. Knowledge cannot be taken away from you. I have trained servicemen and civilians regardless of their race, colour, creed or religion. 

 I feel that the younger generations are the backbone of the nation; I wish to develop them and to give them the faith that it will make them better citizens; I do not regret the past because without it I would not be able to make the right decisions today and to put street fighting experience into today’s training programme. 

Never underestimate anyone because sometimes the quiet or the weak appearing person is the most dangerous in my opinion. Being honest means you must be willing to speak from your heart and tell others what you know to be true. From my experience in kobudo training some of today’s styles have abandoned the ancient wooden weapons, the edda-koppa, the bone-breaker and the walking cane for the modern ones, but in ryukyu we have not. 

 The training develops your control, timing and flexibility, knowledge is your strength. Motto please believe in god, respect the law especially, do not use violence or break the law for any reason and co-operate with all law officers, live in peace and be happy.

Thank you,

Yours in Budo (Shihan Steve Costello)

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