Mastering Self-Defense Combatives: First To Fight Retzev Combatives at CCS Martial Arts
- Sifu Jeramiah Giehl
- Aug 31
- 9 min read
Introduction to First To Fight Retzev Combatives
At Cali Combat Systems (CCS) Martial Arts in San Diego, the First To Fight Retzev Combatives program represents a pinnacle of reality-based self-defense training, designed to prepare practitioners for real-world threats across military, law enforcement, and civilian contexts. Rooted in the Israeli Krav Maga principle of Retzev (Hebrew for “continuous motion” or relentless pressure), this system integrates a diverse array of martial arts and combative disciplines, including Israeli Krav Maga, Rapid Assault Tactics (RAT), Weapons-Based Grappling (Gun, Stick, Knife), Escape To Gain Safety (ETGS), Kina Mutai, Jeet Kune Do (JKD), Filipino Kali-Silat Motion, and Integrated Ground Fighting Systems (IGFS). Under the leadership of Sifu Jeramiah Giehl, a certified instructor with extensive credentials, including Black Belts in Combat JuJitsu, Shorinji Ryu JuJitsu, and Songahm Taekwondo, as well as certifications in Krav Maga (under Master Alain Cohen), RAT (under Sifu Paul Vunak), and Active Shooter Defense, First To Fight Retzev Combatives equips practitioners with practical, adaptable skills for military termination tactics, law enforcement control tactics, and civilian self-defense combatives. This article provides an exhaustive exploration of the self-defense combatives within this system, detailing its philosophy, lineages, core components, techniques, training methodologies, and real-world applications, with a particular focus on empowering women and children through ETGS and Kina Mutai’s “Bite, Fight, and Get-Away” approach.
Philosophy and Principles of First To Fight Retzev Combatives
The philosophy of First To Fight Retzev Combatives is grounded in the Krav Maga principle of Retzev, emphasizing relentless, continuous aggression to neutralize threats swiftly, combined with Bruce Lee’s Jeet Kune Do (JKD) ethos of adaptability and simplicity. Unlike sport-oriented martial arts, Retzev Combatives is designed for the chaotic realities of street confrontations, where fights may involve multiple attackers, weapons, or confined spaces. The system prepares practitioners for the four main realities of self-defense: stand-up kickboxing (kicking, punching), integrated grappling (clinch, trapping, ground), weapons tactics (offense and defense), and multiple opponent engagements (mass attacks). Key principles include:
Continuous Motion (Retzev): Overwhelming opponents with uninterrupted offensive and defensive maneuvers, ensuring rapid neutralization or escape. This principle drives the system’s aggressive, proactive approach.
Adaptability: Drawing from JKD’s “no holds barred” philosophy, practitioners adapt techniques to the context, whether facing a single attacker, multiple opponents, or weapons, prioritizing effectiveness over tradition.
Practicality and Simplicity: Techniques are streamlined for quick learning and application under stress, focusing on instinctive, high-impact responses suitable for real-world scenarios like bar fights or assaults.
Empowerment through Escape: Through ETGS and Kina Mutai’s “Bite, Fight, and Get-Away” approach, the system empowers women and children to escape violent attacks (e.g., assault, rape, human trafficking) using brutal, asymmetrical tactics to create opportunities for flight.
Control vs. Termination: Balances law enforcement’s need for restraint with military and civilian needs for rapid threat neutralization, offering techniques for both controlled compliance and lethal outcomes.
This philosophy fosters physical proficiency, mental resilience, and ethical decision-making, ensuring practitioners can respond effectively while maintaining situational awareness and responsibility.
Lineages and Influences
First To Fight Retzev Combatives draws from a rich lineage of martial arts pioneers and disciplines, adapted by CCS for practical self-defense:
Imi Lichtenfeld: The founder of Krav Maga, Lichtenfeld developed the system for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), integrating boxing, wrestling, judo, and street fighting for real-world combat. His influence underpins Retzev’s aggressive, practical approach.
Sifu Larry Hartsell: A senior student of Bruce Lee, Hartsell’s Integrated Grappling Systems inspired CCS’s IGFS, blending JKD grappling with Judo, BJJ, and Catch Wrestling, adapted for street applications.
Sifu Paul Vunak: Through Progressive Fighting Systems (PFS), Vunak developed RAT for SEAL Team 6 and Kina Mutai, introducing asymmetrical tactics like biting and eye gouging for street survival, particularly for women.
Guro Dan Inosanto: A direct student of Bruce Lee, Inosanto’s expertise in Filipino Kali, Maphilindo Silat, and Panantukan informs CCS’s weapons-based grappling and empty-hand techniques.
Sensei David Tice: Tice’s Combat JuJitsu, ShorinJi Ryu JuJitsu, and Level 5 Professional Grappler influence CCS’s grappling curriculum.
Master Alain Cohen: Sifu Jeramiah’s Krav Maga mentor, Cohen’s curriculum emphasizes real-world self-defense, including active shooter and weapon defense, shaping Retzev Combatives.
Guro Burton Richardson, Guro Daniel Sullivan, Guro David Seiwert, Guro Ron Balicki: These Kali and Silat masters contribute to weapons-based grappling and Dumog techniques.
Sifu Jeramiah Giehl’s extensive credentials—PFS/DOM Full Instructor under Vunak, Associate Instructor under Doty, and certifications in Active Shooter Defense, Military Edged Weapons, and LEO Control Tactics—ensure a comprehensive, authoritative approach to teaching Retzev Combatives.
Core Components of Self-Defense Combatives
First To Fight Retzev Combatives synthesizes multiple disciplines, each contributing unique techniques for self-defense across military, law enforcement, and civilian contexts:
Israeli Krav Maga: Developed by Imi Lichtenfeld for the IDF, Krav Maga focuses on instinctive, aggressive responses to real-world threats, including punches, kicks, chokes, grabs, and weapons (gun, knife, stick). At CCS, it is taught under Master Alain Cohen’s curriculum, emphasizing Retzev’s continuous motion for overwhelming attackers.
Rapid Assault Tactics (RAT): Created by Paul Vunak for SEAL Team 6, RAT is a streamlined system for rapid threat termination, using JKD’s straight blast, clinch, and ground tactics. It includes Clinch RAT (standing control) and Ground RAT (ground dominance), ideal for military and civilian applications.
Weapons-Based Grappling (Gun, Stick, Knife): Integrates Filipino Kali (Inosanto-LaCoste, Pekiti-Tirsia) and Maphilindo Silat for handling impact and edged weapons. Techniques include disarms, retention, and offensive use of sticks, knives, and firearms in close quarters.
Escape To Gain Safety (ETGS): A women’s and children’s self-defense program focusing on escaping violent attacks (e.g., chokeholds, wrist grabs, sexual assault). Combines Krav Maga, Kina Mutai, and grappling for quick, practical escapes to ensure safety.
Kina Mutai: Paul Vunak’s asymmetrical grappling system, known as the “Bite, Fight, and Get-Away” method, uses biting, eye gouging, and finger breaks to disrupt attackers, particularly for women escaping assault, rape, or human trafficking. Emphasizes creating escape opportunities in high-stress scenarios.
Jeet Kune Do (JKD): Bruce Lee’s philosophy of adaptability informs striking (straight blast, Panantukan), trapping (Hubud, Chi Sao), and grappling, enabling seamless transitions between ranges. CCS teaches Chinatown JKD and JKD Concepts for real-world combat flow.
Filipino Kali-Silat Motion: Includes Dumog (Filipino wrestling) and Silat (Maphilindo, Harimau) for weapons-based and empty-hand grappling, focusing on off-balancing, sweeps, and ground finishes. Enhances weapon retention and disarms.
Integrated Ground Fighting Systems (IGFS): Inspired by Larry Hartsell but expanded at CCS, IGFS integrates Judo, BJJ, Sambo, Greco-Roman/Freestyle Wrestling, Shooto, Catch Wrestling, and Kina Mutai for clinch and ground combat, adapted for street scenarios.
These components are unified under Retzev Combatives, addressing the four realities of self-defense: stand-up kickboxing, integrated grappling, weapons tactics, and multiple opponent engagements.
Key Techniques and Attributes
Retzev Combatives employs a comprehensive set of techniques tailored for military termination tactics, law enforcement control tactics, and civilian self-defense combatives:
Military Termination Tactics:
Objective: Rapid, lethal neutralization of threats in high-stakes environments (e.g., war zones, active shooter scenarios).
Techniques:
RAT Straight Blast: Rapid, continuous punches to overwhelm opponents, transitioning to clinch or ground.
Kina Mutai Asymmetrical Tactics: Biting, eye gouging, and finger breaks to disrupt attackers, enabling quick terminations.
Weapons-Based Grappling: Knife and gun disarms (Kali, Silat), offensive stick/knife strikes, and firearm retention for combat scenarios.
Shooto/Catch Wrestling Submissions: Neck cranks, heel hooks, and guillotines for rapid submissions, paired with ground strikes (e.g., elbows, headbutts).
Krav Maga Lethal Strikes: Throat strikes, eye gouges, and groin kicks for immediate threat cessation.
Applications: Designed for military and security professionals, addressing multiple opponents, edged weapons, and firearms in chaotic environments. Emphasizes speed (under 9 seconds) and decisiveness, as developed for SEAL Team 6.
Law Enforcement Control Tactics:
Objective: Restraint and compliance with minimal harm for arrests or crowd management.
Techniques:
Krav Maga Control Holds: Arm drags, wrist locks, and compliance techniques to subdue suspects safely.
Judo Throws: Osoto Gari, hip throws, and sweeps for controlled takedowns.
BJJ Positional Dominance: Guard, mount, and side control to maintain control without excessive force.
Weapon Retention: Techniques to secure firearms or batons, preventing disarms by suspects.
Clinch RAT: Standing control tactics to manage aggressive individuals in close quarters.
Applications: Tailored for police and security, focusing on de-escalation, restraint, and safe apprehension in public disturbances or arrests.
Civilian Self-Defense Combatives:
Objective: Survival and escape in street scenarios, especially for civilians and women.
Techniques:
Krav Maga Defenses: Counters to punches, kicks, chokes, and grabs, using instinctive blocks and counterstrikes.
ETGS Escapes: Wrist releases, chokehold breaks, and ground escapes to flee violent attacks (e.g., sexual assault, trafficking).
Kina Mutai “Bite, Fight, and Get-Away”: Biting, eye gouging, and finger breaks to disrupt attackers, enabling escape.
Weapons-Based Defense: Gun disarms (redirecting firearms), knife defense (Kali disarms), and stick grappling for urban threats.
Dumog and Silat Grappling: Off-balancing throws and sweeps to escape ground entanglements, ideal for smaller practitioners.
Applications: Designed for civilians facing single or multiple attackers, with a focus on women escaping violent assaults. Emphasizes quick, instinctive responses to create escape opportunities.
Attributes Developed: Sensitivity (via Hubud, Chi Sao), aggression (Retzev), leverage, timing, power, stamina, and combat flow. Training requires 1,000 repetitions for muscle memory and 10,000 for instinct, ensuring intuitive responses under stress.
Integration with Other Systems
Retzev Combatives integrates seamlessly with CCS’s broader curriculum, enhancing its versatility:
Jeet Kune Do: Combines JKD’s striking (Panantukan, straight blast) and trapping (Hubud) with grappling for fluid transitions across ranges (e.g., punch to clinch to takedown).
Kali-Silat Motion: Provides weapons-based grappling (stick, knife, gun) and empty-hand techniques (Dumog, Harimau Silat), enhancing weapon defense and ground mobility.
Integrated Ground Fighting Systems (IGFS): Expands on Hartsell’s framework, incorporating Judo, BJJ, Sambo, Wrestling, Shooto, and Catch Wrestling for clinch and ground combat, adapted for street scenarios.
Rapid Assault Tactics: Integrates Clinch and Ground RAT, using Kina Mutai’s asymmetrical tactics for rapid threat termination, particularly effective for military and civilian applications.
This integration ensures practitioners can address all combat ranges—striking, clinching, grappling, and weapons—making Retzev Combatives a comprehensive self-defense system.
Training Phases and Methodologies
Retzev Combatives follows the Progressive Fighting Systems (PFS) phased approach, tailored for real-world self-defense:
Phase 1 – Foundational: Introduces Krav Maga defenses (punches, kicks, chokes), RAT’s straight blast and clinch, ETGS escape techniques, Kina Mutai’s “Bite, Fight, and Get-Away” tactics, and basic weapons-based grappling (stick, knife, gun). Focuses on mechanics and survival mindset.
Phase 2 – Self-Perfection: Refines techniques, sensitivity (Hubud, Chi Sao), and combat flow, incorporating advanced Kina Mutai, weapon disarms, and IGFS grappling for street and tactical scenarios. Emphasizes stress inoculation for women’s self-defense.
Phase 3 – Self-Expression: Encourages personalization, blending Retzev Combatives with JKD, Kali, and IGFS to suit individual needs, focusing on adaptability across ranges.
Training methods include:
Semi-Private and Private Sessions: Held at Patriot Park in 4S Ranch, offering personalized instruction for civilians, law enforcement, and military.
Drills: Sensitivity (Hubud, Chi Sao), focus mitt drills (Panantukan, JKD), grappling (Dumog, Kina Mutai), and weapon defense (gun, stick, knife) for practical skills.
Stress Inoculation: Simulates real-world chaos (e.g., multiple attackers, low-light, weapons) to build resilience, critical for ETGS and Kina Mutai applications.
Workshops: Courses like “De-Fang The Snake” (chokehold escapes), “Single/Double Stick,” “Knife Grappling/Weapon Retention,” and “Filthy MMA” cover Retzev Combatives, Kina Mutai, and weapons-based grappling for street survival.
Mindfulness and Ethics: Meditation and philosophical discussions foster responsible use of lethal techniques, emphasizing empowerment and safety, especially for ETGS practitioners.
Real-World Applications
Retzev Combatives is tailored for diverse scenarios, addressing the four realities of self-defense:
Military Termination Tactics: RAT, Kina Mutai, and weapons-based grappling provide rapid, lethal responses for military and security professionals. Techniques like straight blasts, eye gouges, and firearm disarms address active shooter scenarios, multiple opponents, and edged weapons, ensuring quick neutralization in war zones or tactical environments.
Law Enforcement Control Tactics: Krav Maga, BJJ, and Judo techniques enable police to restrain suspects with minimal harm, using control holds, takedowns, and weapon retention. Focuses on compliance and safety in arrests, crowd control, or public disturbances, balancing force with restraint.
Civilian Self-Defense Combatives: ETGS and Kina Mutai empower civilians, especially women, to escape violent attacks (e.g., assault, rape, trafficking) using “Bite, Fight, and Get-Away” tactics, chokehold escapes, and weapon defenses. Suitable for single or multiple attacker scenarios in urban settings like bars or streets.
Weapons-Based Defense: Addresses gun, stick, and knife threats with Kali and Silat disarms and retention techniques, critical for all groups in urban or tactical environments. Approximately 90% of real-world fights involve weapons or multiple opponents, making these skills essential.
Multiple Opponent Engagements: Retzev’s continuous motion and Kali’s weapons tactics prepare practitioners for mass attacks, using flow and positioning to manage chaos effectively.
Instructor Profile and CCS’s Unique Approach
Sifu Jeramiah Giehl’s credentials include Black Belts in Combat JuJitsu, Shorinji Ryu JuJitsu, and Songahm Taekwondo, as well as certifications as a PFS/DOM Full Instructor (Vunak), Associate Instructor in Jun Fan JKD Grappling (Doty), Level 5 Professional Grappler (Tice), and Krav Maga Instructor (Cohen). His roles as a kids’ instructor, anti-gang educator, and coach at UCSD and Jewish day schools ensure an inclusive, community-oriented environment. CCS’s unique approach lies in its synthesis of Krav Maga’s Retzev with JKD, Kali-Silat, RAT, ETGS, and Kina Mutai, creating a comprehensive system that balances control-oriented techniques for law enforcement with brutal, asymmetrical tactics for military and civilian survival. The emphasis on women’s empowerment through ETGS and Kina Mutai distinguishes CCS from traditional martial arts programs.
Conclusion
First To Fight Retzev Combatives at CCS Martial Arts is a dynamic, reality-based self-defense system integrating Israeli Krav Maga, Rapid Assault Tactics, Weapons-Based Grappling, Escape To Gain Safety, Kina Mutai, Jeet Kune Do, Kali-Silat, and Integrated Ground Fighting Systems. Designed for military termination tactics, law enforcement control, and civilian self-defense, it equips practitioners with practical skills for real-world threats, including multiple opponents, weapons, and violent assaults. With Kina Mutai’s “Bite, Fight, and Get-Away” approach and ETGS’s focus on women’s and children’s empowerment, Retzev Combatives offers a holistic path to survival, blending aggressive tactics, control techniques, and ethical training under Sifu Jeramiah Giehl’s expert guidance. Whether facing a bar fight, an active shooter, or a sexual assault, practitioners are prepared to dominate any threat with confidence and resilience
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