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| Richard Ryan executes martial arts moves blindfolded
against a reaction dummy. Photo by Mark Cassio Independent
Newspapers |
Richard Ryan has fought for law
abiders and enforcers, devoting his lifework to their self-protection.
After training for years and teaching in various martial arts, Mr.
Ryan sought to develop a new, no-nonsense self-defense system in
the early 1980s. He wanted to create a style to both train beginners
and increase blackbelts' skills for selfdefense in real-world, violent
encounters.
Years of scientific, hands-on — or more
appropriately gloved fists-on — research followed. Some "tests" resulted
in bloody noses, black eyes and other minor injuries.
In his 20s,
Mr. Ryan — then a third-degree blackbelt in Hong
Kong based Wing Chun Kung Fu — converted his central Phoenix
home's garage into a fighting ring and prepared to face all challengers.
He and some friends formed the Gladiator's Club and distributed
flyers citywide, inviting anyone willing to fight "full contact."
"The strangest people showed up," recalled Mr. Ryan, now 40 and
a 30-year martial arts veteran, "drunks, cowboys, boxers, wrestlers,
martial artists. It was kind of frightening, but a tremendous learning
experience. It was wild."
All participants first signed a liability waiver,
he explained. Though each knew Mr. Ryan intended to test and refine
his self-defense system, not to injure opponents, many "uncivilized" fighters
visited.
Some were immediately ejected from the site and
others unintentionally injured while attacking. "On those uncivilized
people, I would practice control, taking them to the ground and grappling
with them,' Mr. Ryan said. "'That
gave, me great experience controlling violent people." He
would later teach those skills to Arizona law enforcement officials
and
others.
After meeting "hundreds" of fighters in that garage over
a four-and-a-half year period, Mr. Ryan developed his Dynamic Combat
Method, still taught today at Ryan Defense Systems' North 38th Street
training facility.
"(DCM) is a very scientific, very street-smart
martial arts system. It's easy to learn and apply in the real world," he
said. "Only
a fool wants to get into a fight...but sometimes it comes to us.
(DCM) is designed to protect innocent life."
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| Richard Ryan, at left, instructs a law enforcement
group in Dynamic Combat Method. |
Mr. Ryan and his
professional staff have taught hundreds of people, from pure beginners
to fourth-and fifth degree blackbelts and from
mainstream civilians to SWAT and special operations teams, among
other law enforcement and government officials.
DCM essentially
stemmed from Mr. Ryan's dissatisfaction with most martial arts
systems offered today. He noted all martial arts fit
into one of three categories — exhibition, competition
and defensive.
Exhibition, he explained, teaches little about
real-life self-defense.
Competition provides actual contact with an opponent, but it
occurs under rigid rules and strict guidance — again unrealistic.
"Defensive, survival martial arts deal with
a lot of issues traditional martial arts didn't deal with," he
said. He noted DCM instructors train students on legal ramifications
for use of deadly force, including
lawsuits and arrest.
DCM starts with verbal avoidance techniques,
but also stresses self-defense maneuvers to repel violent attackers.
Some real-world
responses can
include breaking finger joints and biting flesh. It also teaches
how to use everyday objects, like a pencil, as weapons.
Ryan
Defense does not accept all students. Each prospective, trainee
must pass a criminal background check and complete
a four-page
questionnaire. "You must be a sincere, honest and upright
person with no criminal background whatsoever," he said. "The training
is so real, we don't want to give it to someone who will
use it improperly."
Mr. Ryan purposely limits class sizes to create a more personal
training atmosphere. He and staff instructors conduct seminars,
small group
classes and individual sessions.
His Defensive Combat Series, intense entry-level
training courses, are the most popular, he noted. Students learn
street-smart
martial arts skills quickly and efficiently. A basic seminar
takes just
two days.
"It's a whirlwind tour-through everything
a person needs to know for personal safety. It develops real skills," Mr.
Ryan said.
All Arizona police officers undergo Mr. Ryan's
Tactical Defense
Training, which covers hand-to-hand combat and weapons
use. Many other law
enforcement agencies nationwide also send students to the
school.
A real-life encounter prompted Mr. Ryan to develop
his popular Smart Moves personal protection program — "a
fast route to personal safety." Its self-defense skills can
be learned in a matter of hours.
While exiting a central Phoenix store
to return to his
car many years ago, three men attacked, likely seeking
his wallet.
The
encounter started when an assailant threw a glass bottle
at Mr. Ryan's head
and ended "about 30 seconds" later after punches
and other countermoves sent all three attackers to the
ground. He then simply
entered his car and left.
"I thought if they're attacking me, and I'm
a big guy at six-feet 200 pounds, what will they do to a regular
person," he said. "So
I started the Smart Moves program to help people stay
safe."
Mr. Ryan first became interested in martial arts
as a child. He had learned wrestling and boxing skills from
his father
and grandfather,
but was intrigued by the action seen in martial arts
films.
He studied several martial arts disciplines, including
Kenpo Karate and Tae Kwon-Do. As a teenager, he studied
Wing Chun
under renowned
Grand Master Leung Ting of Hong Kong.
Mr. Ryan described
Wing Chun as "a real simple martial arts
system designed on the streets of Hong Kong" once
studied and performed by Bruce Lee.
Mr. Ryan has written several books and intends
to develop instructional videos.
"I'm interested in teaching, in helping people," he said. Return
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