Larry Wick and
The Split-Second Survival Seminar:
In my nearly thirty years of training in the martial arts I have never encountered anyone with an approach as truly personal and unique as Larry Wick's. His "Split Second Survival" system is as completely "New" as any approach that I have seen. That is to say that, although Master Wick has reached an extremely high level of expertise in "Tang-Soo-Do" (his primary martial art), he has dispensed with ALL traditional techniques in the development and application of "Split-Second Survival". Larry has broken down every possible scenario and set of variables to how they apply to tested reaction times, body mechanics, and a few other factors (which I shall not mention, in order to honor Larry's request for discretion regarding the details of his classes).
Out of respect for Sensei Wick, this testimonial will be limited to my generalized observations. To be clear, these are only my opinions and assessments, and I take complete responsibility for the following remarks:
Larry put himself in many single and multiple opponent situations using knives, guns, garrotes, and every other possible weapon we could find, and at many different combat distances. These were positions including total disadvantage scenarios with locks or weapons already directly on his neck, head, etc.. We all wanted to be the one to score some kind of hit or "win" on him, and were all used to getting in and scoring, but NO-ONE succeeded even once. We have all been successful against well-trained people and even against high rated training personnel in the past. Larry's ease of handling each scenario was really quite shocking to all of us.
In every case, Larry "took out" every person involved.
In every case, Larry used only the techniques he personally developed for maximum speed and efficiency.
Larry handled the most difficult distance and position issues with carefully tested, scientifically grounded, and reality based solutions.
Larry also had important information, gleaned from hands-on research, about the handling and discharge properties of the wide variety of firearms that one might encounter. He taught specific disarms for each firearm type in order to deal with those safety issues.
Larry's knife disarm and handling tricks are unique to Split-Second Survival. They are safer for the defender, and cut manipulation time to a fraction of that of the "old-school" techniques from Ju-Jit-Su, Aikido, or even the snappy Filipino tricks that we were used to.
Larry explained in detail and demonstrated why he had to develop and adopt a totally new set of techniques to gain the speed and position advantages necessary to handle multiple opponents with guns and/or blades. He laid out all this information with articulate clarity and backed up all of his statements with scientifically based reasoning and flawless physical demonstrations of the effectiveness of his approach.
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The following remarks come from the entire class:
Larry Wick was among the most engaging and thoughtful teachers, of any subject, that we have ever had the pleasure to study with. The Bulldog JKD instructors and class members from Palatka and from Kansas City would like to extend our warmest thanks to Master Wick for so generously sharing this special information and so much of his valuable time with us.
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Below are a few snapshots,
taken at the end of the days work (13 Hours!).
Only Scott, our "Big Man" had left before we took this "class" picture
That night we relaxed in the dining room and looked over what is sure to be a controversial article about Larry for an upcoming issue of "Black Belt" magazine. Bob had just finished reading the article proofs and was quiet for a few moments. He then predicted that many "Black Belt" readers would react with hostile responses, similar to those Bruce Lee received when he first introduced the innovative concepts of Jeet-Kune-Do. (Actually some traditionally grounded martial artists still feel that way about Bruce Lee's work. What would they do if they came up against Larry?) It was at that reflective moment that I photographed this very serious expression on Grand-Master Chapman's face.
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A few words about how this seminar came to be:
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Bob Chapman has always been open to any truly practical self-defense technique, no matter what the source. From his work with great martial arts teachers like Ed Parker, Dan Inosanto, Tim Tackett, David German, and Bert Poe (all innovators in their own rights); to the development of the unique system of self-defense we call "Bulldog Jeet-Kune-Do Concepts" (in which we dispensed with most of our traditional moves); Bob has always tried to think "Outside the Box". Still, one might not expect someone Bob's age, who had dedicated so much of his life to the martial arts, to be open minded enough to accept an approach that literally discards most of the skills that he had worked so hard, for so many years, to develop.
As a tribute to my teacher, I must say that he alone was the one who made this fantastic experience possible. Bob, in his continuing quest to solve the most important problems in self-defense (especially gun and knife scenarios); researched, bought tapes and DVDs, studied, and then (once he was convinced he had found the right man), made contact with Larry. He then began several years of letters, e-mails, and phone calls, through which he eventually proved his real interest and sincerity. That was how he began the long process of developing a professional, long-distance friendship with Larry Wick. Without Sifu Chapman's sincere and honest dedication to REALISM in self-defense we could never have had this eye-opening, fun, and amazing experience.
Once again, many thanks to Bob and to Larry.
For a few more shots from that day go to the Martial Arts Scrap-book page 3.
For more about Larry go to Split-Second Survival.com