The *D* Method of Self Defense -
 *D* Method says that we are the weapon - you are the weapon- I am the weapon - use all of yourself to defend yourself - Be committed to defending yourself with the very best of yourself - We train so that empty handed I am a weapon, the weapon in my hand should I be armed with gun,knife/sword, club,stick etc.. is an extension of the hand/an extension of the weapon that I am. GM *D* said many times to use what you know and whatever else that will help in defending oneself against assault.
It is this perspective that is shared with students no matter if they have trained or not regardless of style, it is a statement that makes the martial artist self sufficient in fighting and in the students personal life.
*D* Method endorses that a human being is a mind, a body and a spirit which the *D* Method of training totally encompasses through out its curriculum.
I have tailored my instruction along these concepts for  both children and women.
*D* Method training is an experience much more then martial arts - first we help the students to learn how to use the body correctly in learning how to kick and to punch then what to kick and to punch building the students confidence by their own success in performing the movements themselves. *D* Method shows how your power and strength comes from the inside, it builds you from the inside out rather then just build a strong body, we want a strong mind and spirit along with that body.

We all have fear especially as children that is why when I first start the kids in their
   
WSEF/DM - FMA/Escrima kids stick class at  -
     Wahiawa Kajukenbo Foundation -
- I first teach them footwork , angles and blocks. I want to the kids firm in their ability to first stop another from striking them by teaching them to block, then how to counter strike once they nullified the attack on them. First we must be able to see the attack in order for one to be effective in evading,countering and escaping it. We all close our eyes as young kinder when some one is striking at us or throwing something at us, it is this fear reflex of closing the eyes that we help the student to gain their control over by way of  teaching them the cover/guard so they can feel safe to open their eyes so they can see the attack thus learn then how to evade the attack to put them in an optimum position to counter attack.

D Method teaches one 'How to think more so then What to think', I experienced this technique by way of GM D introducing me to Master Boxer Jesse Lopez, he taught me how to cover, see and move using your arms and hands to shield  your face head and by crouching and squatting a little this enables them help cover their flanks(ribs,kidney etc...). It is this kind of experience that I share with the young ones in my class.


I will go on to cover footwork - how it relates to the D Method philosophy of developing the student - body,mind and spirit and from the footwork up. Footwork - an essential part of D Methodology - Footwork sets up an effective defense which converts into an effective offense in various self- defense scenarios. The footwork helps one to evade attacks( the ability to move your body), teaches one how to judge distance and range so as to keep one’s distance close enough yet not to far away to counter effectively which additionally helps keep one balanced, sturdy , flexible, mobile with the proper power and accuracy helping one to be able to control  whatever the situation. Giving calm and focus to the mind to help one be relaxed during combat  and stress to help one use their body most efficiently in defense.

GM D once shared a statement with me that SGGM Angel Cabales told him while they were training concerning a committed attack - " Wait until it touches your eye lashes." That is when you know that the strike is a committed one, this is the thought that we adhere to in D Method, that once a strike or attack is initiated then a counter can be launched against it.

Keeping relaxed and focused during this event is part of our training program, breathing properly helps maintain calmness and composure while an altercation is taking place. Then one can readily utilize the tools of the body - hands, feet, elbows and weapons to defend self effectively !

Grand Master *D* has already standardized & formulated his own effective method of 'long-range-close-quarter' combat system known as the *D* Method of Self-Defense*. The *D* Method of Self-Defense is a psycho-dynamic method of martial arts that can easily enhance one's combative abilities whether or not one is a beginner, or an advanced aficionado martial arts practitioner.  
Here is GM ’D’ with his son defending against a side or roundhouse kick.

Here is an article that is about D Method that appeared in Official Karate magazine Spring edition 1986
GM D has combined tradition with contemporary technique and innovation to form a truly effective fighting system. GM D says when it comes to Law Enforcement he says” I have to give the law enforcement officer something he can use and that works right now.” GM D also says-” Based on a solid foundation of technique and comprehension of combat strategy you can see and judge what is and  isn’t  feasible.” He proceeds by saying -
“ Once you understand and can apply the root principles of whatever you are trying to master you now become the master.”

*D* Method helps to cultivate an open mind to learning new things and to see mistakes and flaws in training and in life so that one  is free of pride so that you can  make the necessary changes to succeed in both training and in your life. Making you a better martial artist essentially being the best that you can be in your whole life.
A person is a mind, body and spirit to train all three takes profound dedication by  both teacher and student . Martial arts is a journey of life, its about your life and what you learn about yourself while on the journey. Truly it is about knowing thy self.

*D*Method has an especially designed package for close quarter combat tactical application that GM D has taught with proven results with testimony by L.E.O.
The *D*Method / Cabales Serrada Escrima System first made its debut in California at the Galt Correctional Academy. This began an innovative evolutionary fusion of these two men’s tactics into an effective fighting system.
The foundation  of that fusion being *D*Method - it uses what is useful , what works for and understanding how the technique works,why it works, what is it useful for , in what situations is it applicable and Does it work ?? The *D*Method is traditional,contemporary and innovative all at the same time, always evolving,changing,being flexible and forever adapting itself so it shall be as what it shall be when the time and circumstances require that you use your training to resolute conclusion.

Training Children
The whole concept of *D*Method I now apply to training students from ages 5 years to 18 years old. At present I have only 3 adults and at least 25 students that are supplementing their Kajukenbo training with *D*Method / Cabales Serrada Escrima System.
It gives our young students the ability to learn and develop both empty hands with weapons training to provide them with a well rounded approach to martial arts .
The WSEF kids stick class at Wahiawa Kajukenbo Foundation in Suisun,Ca acquaints  the kids with weapon awareness initiating their training in how to deal with weapons armed or unarmed. Hand on Hand, Hand on weapon, weapon on weapon, disarming, locking (dumog), body zoning etc... but footwork foundation first as I mentioned before.
The feet help put the hands in the best position to be useful. One’s balance starts at the feet, where the feet go so does the body. So we start showing the kids how and where to move and why they move so that they see the relationship of proper movement to countering a attack putting their body in the best position to be most effective in defending themselves. It is through answering the questions of who, what, why and where that  the young student begins to build confidence in self ability in addition to understanding how techniques work from an elementary perspective.
I based this concept on my personal experience with GM Anthony Davis when I first met  and started training with him in 1974 in Fairfield ; a Northern California city outside of Travis Air Force Base in Solano County. GM D’s training developed one from the ground up and inside out with his consistent encouragement that helped build your confidence in what and how I was learning *D*Method, it is something he has continued to do throughout the years. So it is healthy self confidence and discipline that is instilled from the beginning so that our students will ‘Look,Listen and Learn’( a phrase used by Professor Anthony Ramos addressed to the students at Wahiawa Kajukenbo Foundation to encourage them to focus more earnestly during instruction)  then they are evaluated and observed through their actions indicating that they have understood the training in all 3 areas of mind, body and spirit  consequently influencing their character. I would like to produce martial artist that have a high skill to stop killers not produce them. We teach martial artist from the inside out and ground up so that mind, body and Spirit are considered resulting in a whole martial artist through and through.
GM’D’ has a story he shared about why and how he was propelled along this path of self through martial arts which had a direct affect on *D*Method being created.
GM’D’ when he was a young teen was outnumbered, jumped and beaten badly by some other teen martial artists that trained at one of the local martial arts schools.  They felt stymied and envious by GM’D’s proven physical skill and prowess in martial arts at such a young age and that he was already teaching out of his parents garage -  where it all started !

*D*Method can be viewed as a ‘psycho-dynamic’ approach to martial arts and the self defense genre with a more eclectic perspective to instruction and in discussion. *D*Method looks at a martial art technique as universal motion, the human body structure ( joints, limbs etc...) can only move so many ways , another person striking at you can only do it so many ways then it all repeats itself. I respect cultural roots of an art but to me technique is evaluated by how the body moves, what body parts are used and targeted and where the end result will lead; its not if it is Japanese,Chinese or Filipino - its their techniques that we can examine, evaluate its effectiveness in contemporary times, how does it work for you personally, what is the story about why the particular technique was developed and how effectively can it be taught ? What are the mechanics of a particular technique, what kind of situation would it work most ? How is the technique effective for those that are physically weaker or handicapped, women, children etc...
sort of like trying on clothes till you find the one that fits you.
*D*Method helps you as a martial artist to customize and tailor the arts you are studying to yourself - I am the weapon  for defense or survival. When I am armed the weapon is an extension of my hand !!
That way when your body’s second nature response kicks in your body already knows the moves without thinking of them they become natural to you consequently the result should be advantageous to you.
My goal as a FMA instructor at Wahiawa Kajukenbo Foundation and a WSEF rep is how I can better hone my students' second nature response with them flowing into their defense using their Kaju and escrima together in defensive harmony.
Maximizing their effectiveness in REAL-Life scenarios where it is usually you by yourself to defend self , many times outnumbered with no other options but to use what you have trained in for years. This is where the mind and Spirit training become an asset .