Nenad Ikras - Founder of Protecto (Interview)

Nenad Ikras is from Serbia and currently lives in Spain. He is the founder of Proteco; a full system of self-defense designed specifically to end aggression quickly.

Nenad Ikras - Protecto

Brandon: Why did you decide to start your own style of self-defense and why should people choose your online course over a local dojo?

Nenad: I have been performing Martial Arts almost my whole life and after so many years, I noticed some weaknesses in the old fashion Martial Arts. This made me start developing a new and modern version of Martial Art, which I named Protecto and received recognition for it in 2009 from master Konstantin Kitzu (founder and master 10 DAN SOKE of AIKIZENDO & AIKISYSTEMA).

It can be very costly and time demanding to join an ordinary self-defense class. With my innovative e-learning program, you will be able to learn how to protect yourself against the most common attacks at anytime and anywhere you want for a very low cost. Learning online gives you much more flexibility. 

Another crucial benefit of my online e-learning program is that all the techniques are shot with the newest high-tech camera in slow motion, which has been proven to make the learning process much better. Here are some additional facts about this:

SLOW MOTION EXTENDS HUMAN PERCEPTION AND OPTIMIZE THE LEARNING PROCESS

- Slow motion videography is a technology that allows us to extend our senses beyond their natural capacities. Since our brains have a limited amount of processing power for visual images, slow motion allows much more of the image to be seen and taken in by the eyes.

- Slow motion video might be the closest thing we have to actual brain-hacking because cameras with ultra-high frame rates reveals details that are usually invisible to the naked eye, it is the unmasking of hidden data which is a calmer way of saying it gives you superpowers.

- When a scene is presented slowly we can grab onto and remember many details, just as we do during a real-life high-adrenaline moment.

- Slow motion scenes violate expectations. Feels like everything you know about motion and gravity is being violated, these violations hold our attention, which is maximally engaged when predictions are violated.

Brandon: Can you give some real life examples of where you or a student of yours has successfully used your system in a real life situation?

Nenad: I am constantly getting e-mails from all over the world with their examples and stories. Not only about how active users have benefits from the techniques but also how it in general has increased their self-esteem. These real life examples are coming from Kids, teenagers, adults, schools etc. I am very pleased to contribute to these learnings all over the world and it means a lot to me to read positive e-mails from my followers every day.

Brandon: What do you find is the biggest mistake people tend to make in a street fight?

Nenad: A lot of street fights happen under the influence of alcohol or while being upset/jealous, so you are emotional and unbalanced. In order to perform and protect yourself, you need a clear focused mind and you need to predict the opponents’ next move. This is not possible if you are drunk or too emotional affected. Next is to never underestimate the opponent. Always be prepared that he can have a gun, knife, bottle or be an experienced fighter. I don’t teach or mentor how to attack – I only train, teach and perform self-defense, so every move and technique I perform is to pacify the attacker. A good balanced performer of self-defense knows how to control his anger and adjust the pacification to the actual attack. If someone pushes me, I first ignore it – if he continues, I pacify him without hitting or breaking his arm. If someone tries to hit me, I pacify more severe and make him understand that if he continues, it will have more severe consequences. I level/adjust the defense according to the attack, but overall the biggest mistake would be going straight into a fight or searching for it. In my techniques you can notice that I am always trying to avoid the attack or stop it before it starts. You could not see me fighting, no one did. I will not fight, I will stop it as soon as I can, if it is necessary in a second or less. 

Brandon: What suggestions do you have for someone who has to face multiple attackers?

Nenad: Do not be afraid... Observe all of them as one… Deal with them as with one and you will be able to win.

Brandon: Where are your long term goals regarding martial arts and /or Procteco?

Nenad: Continuing to improve and develop Protecto even more. I have written down hundreds techniques, where I now have released just 30 of them at www.e-martialart.com, I will be releasing more. Next to my e-learning site I am being approached by various organizations that wish to hire me for seminars. I have also trained a police academy school and will actually launch a video of this in the nearest future. It drives me to teach others and see/hear how they have benefited from my techniques. I wish to continue with this and make seminars all over the world.

Brandon: Most of our readers are not from Serbia. Can you tell us a little about living there and what role martial arts play in your culture?

Nenad: Actually, I live in Spain now, but yes…I am originally Serbian and it is where I developed Protecto. Serbia is a very rough country where it is essential to know how to protect yourself. Unfortunately crime, fights, wars and poverty are part of our life. It’s a very tough culture to grow up in and protecting yourself from any danger becomes part of your DNA. 

Brandon: Would you like to tell our readers anything else?

Nenad: Don’t let a stressful lifestyle prevent you from learning how to protect yourself and your family – being able to do this, should be everyone’s privilege and ability. That’s why I built this online e-learning universe, where everyone can learn it for a quite low price. At my website, 

www.e-martialart.com, there are more relevant info to read under ‘ABOUT’ and ‘FAQ’ so I recommend your readers to check it out and of course give me any feedback to the e-learning videos. I will respond personally to all of them.

Thank you Nenad for taking the time to answer our questions at BKO Kung Fu . com. We wish you continued success with your goals. We hope we will have the opportunity to attend one of your seminar in the United States one day.

Interview with Chris Smith - Jeet Kune Do and Kali

Chris Smith with Richard Bustillo 

Chris Smith has decades of Martial Arts Experience. He has trained with some of Bruce Lee's best students and is a Certified Master Instructor in Jeet Kune Do. He also specializes in Kali; a true all around complete system of fighting. He has very successful fighting record across a multitude of styles and fight types.

I understand you have had to use your martial arts background in real life. Can you tell us about one of those situations?

People get good at fighting in a controlled environment. There is no element of control in street fighting. If there was an element of control, the fight would not have occurred in the first place.  Sometimes I use my martial arts in unconventional ways. I have used the physical side lots of times. There was a time when you could say I was a veteran bar room brawlers. That was when I was a knucklehead in my twenties... actually up until about 35. But, the coolest thing I have ever done was when six guys were going to jump one of my roommates at a bar. I verbally punked them when i challenged them as a group to a fight knowing that i would probably loose to six people. I projected the attitude of confidence and my resolve sold it. Punked six guys without throwing a punch! The martial arts are more than just about fighting. It is a lifestyle where confidence, honor and inner strength are practiced daily. 

You are undefeated in no holds barred challenge fights. What are these? How many of these have you had? How did you win them?

Between the ages of 19 and 23 I was the gym enforcer and hitman, lol, but it’s the truth. The academy I trained at during this time had an open door challenge and policy. If you had something that worked or had something better than what was offered,  you were encouraged to bring it and test it. Back then the model was if you got through or past the top student you had an opportunity to fight the head instructor. No one ever made it to the head instructor. In retrospect when I look back I am not really proud of it but it was real. Back then all sparring sessions consisted of boxing kickboxing throwing take-downs and  submission holds we just didn't call it MMA. I have had 27. I was able to come out on top by never giving up. I was able to beat people mentally and punch then until they quit. Most people are mistaken when they think Martial Arts is all physical. The mentally strong individual will always come out on top. I was able to win by submission, TKO and TKO's due to strikes. 

You trained directly with one of Bruce Lee’s students. I’m sure he must have told stories about Bruce. Can you tell about your favorite one?

Chris Smith training his class

I have trained with several of Bruce Lee's students but mainly Sifu Richard Bustillo who is currently at this moment in my gym holding a seminar lol. One of my favorite stories about Bruce Lee comes from Sifu Bustillo. When I first began my Jeet Kune Do studies, all of the original students seemed like superheroes or like Jedi Knights to me. Sifu would tell us stories that brought them back down to Earth, these guys would make jokes, had lives, had wives, make mistakes, they were HUMAN. Those are my favorite stories  

You stated previously that you  “…did a lot of research on body language so I could actually learn how to intercept better.” Can you give us an example we could use?

Often before initiating an attack people have tells. If you learn what these tells are, intercepting is easy. For example, if someone is trying to sucker punch you they will adjust their stance subtly, so that they have a firm base to deliver from. They will also adjust their distance to put themselves at a range they feel comfortable at to deliver the punch. If they have a weapon they will almost always do a "weapons check" no one wants to reach for a knife thinking it’s there and it actually is NOT there. Some will get louder to work up the confidence to strike.  These are some of the tells.... 

What is Kali and how do you incorporate it into your training?

Kali is the fighting art(s) of the Philippines. Arguably the world’s only fully complete martial arts system. Kali teaches every aspect of fighting. All striking, (empty hand and weapons) ground combat, and projectile weapons are in the curriculum.  There is a dedicated Kali class that meets twice a week at the gym. However, we use Kali training methods in every class to enhance the effectiveness of our curriculum. We improvise equipment to add to the realism of our weapons sparring like using hockey gloves as hand protection and fencing masks for your face. Sometimes we make padded sticks to spar full contact or wear ski goggles to work finger jabs. We also use Kali full contact sparring equipment, so that way we can use ACTUAL AUTHENTIC KALI STICKS and hit each other. 

What is your favorite Martial Arts movie and why? To make it more interesting chose one without Bruce Lee?

My favorite movie is Roadhouse and the Matrix Reloaded. Roadhouse because a lot of martial artists at some point pursue bouncing at a bar. The Matrix Reloaded because a lot of work went into the fight choreography and it shows. Also, Rapid Fire because it stars Brandon Lee and is one of the best displays of Jeet Kune Do in recent years. The last one I have to admit would be Never Back Down because it showed more training sequences than the Ultimate Fighter TV show does lol. 

If someone wanted just a basic knowledge of martial arts for self defense and did not want to make a long term dedication, what style would you suggest and why?

Become a Monk LOL. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is good however unless strikes are incorporated in the rolling it is insufficient for self defense. If they kicked and wrestled in boxing it would be ideal ... but they don't. If in kickboxing class you learned how to defend against a knife that would be ideal for the street.  The best art would be Kali. It has curriculum for everything.  

Is there anything else you would like to tell our readers?

Yes, LIVE THE LIFESTYLE, THE MARTIAL ARTS LIFESTYLE. Enjoy your training, research your Art and research your training. Make your martial arts journey a lifestyle! Train with the only goal of wanting to grow and improve! Training for just the purpose of competitive fighting or street fighting is ok but very limited in scope. When we live the Martial Way we will find opportunities to grow in knowledge and gain spiritual and emotional inner strength. Let your Martial Arts training and lifestyle transform and expand you.


Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions Chris. We enjoyed the experience immensely.

Please be sure to visit Chris' school at IMBCT

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International Wushu Set Problems

A BRANDON UPDATE:

This week Brandon has started learning his first form in the International Wushu Set. Many people would consider this an advanced Kung Fu form. People on the Beijing Wushu Team probably feel it's simple. I'm sure it's all a matter of perspective and the level of players you surround yourself with.

With this form there are a few parts he's have some difficultly with. It's obvious to us it's a step up from previous forms. There are 3 moves that he is having trouble with at the moment. The butterfly kick, Kick up, and the no-handed cartwheel.

He's been trying the butterfly kick for a month. He wasn't even coming close until today. Today, he made some good progress. He's got the movement down. Now all he needs is to hit the landing. After that it's just making it look perfect.

Then he has the Kick up. Today was the first day we had him try this. He's had reservations about it in the past. So, there is still a lot of ground to cover on this. I believe he'll have this down by next week; maybe two.

Last is the no-handed cartwheel. At the moment, I'm not sure how he's going to get this one done. Maybe we need a gymnastics teacher to help. Time for some research on this. Once he has this new form down pretty good, we'll shoot a video for you guys.


Read our most recent post on BKO Kung Fu.