I Reviewed A Dozen Different Online Self Defense Training Websites And This Is My Top Pick!
Target Focus Training - Online Self Defense Training
Since the Target Focus Training physical products like their DVD’s were of such a high quality I decided to review their online self defense training as well.
I was thrilled to find out that they had an online training program available.
There were two different programs available online that I found.
What follows is my Target Focus Training review.
Target Focus Training is also goes by the acronym TFT.
Option #1 - www.instituteofselfdefense.com
The first option was broken down into a gold membership and a platinum membership.
With both online self defense training memberships you have access to the lessons which were rolled out to you in a structured format.
The lessons are doled out weekly.
This is a good thing so that you don’t sabotage yourself by jumping ahead when you don’t understand the principles behind the system. It also helps ensure that you have spent enough time learning the fundamentals.
Another reason why I think the rationed weekly lessons are a good thing is because this really is a lethal method of self defense that you are learning.
If you do not pay attention to the instruction and how to practice you will cause serious and possibly life threatening injury to you or your training partner.
I also think that the weekly online self defense training format prevents you from getting overwhelmed by the amount of information covered.
Both the gold and platinum monthly subscriptions give you access to an instructor moderated forum. This forum is phenomenal and has a wealth of information, discussion and banter from all of the members and instructors.
The platinum membership included all the same stuff as the gold. However the higher monthly fee includes your live training tuition which is actually a stellar deal.
I say this because it covers live training up to three times a year. The total monthly cost for this option was $149.97 USD whereas the Gold monthly membership cost was $39.97.
Given the fact that the live training is regularly priced at $897.00, if you chose the Platinum monthly option you are basically just paying for the cost of two live training sessions over the course of the year, spread out over twelve months.
So it’s like getting the online self defense training and a third live training session for free.
Option # 1 is great if you plan on attending the live training sessions a couple of times a year. Unless you live in the San Diego area this may not be very economical considering the costs of travel, accommodation, meals, etc.
If this is not the case I highly recommend considering the following……
Option #2 - www.targetfocusmonthly.com
I realized that there was a second option for online self defense training with TFT shortly after I signed up fot the gold option reviewed above.
It turns out that this second option is almost exactly the same as above with a few exceptions.
These minor differences worked out perfectly for my own particular situation.
The main difference was pricing.
Option #2 provided me with a $1.00 full month trial access. (This was perfect since I was already a paying subscriber to the Gold membership under the first option so it saved me money and allowed me to try both options on for size!)
After the one month trial offer is over the monthly subscription was also at $29.00. This saved me $10.00 a month. (In American funds which is more like $11.50 Canadian!)
Since I am geographically and time challenged the online self defense training works out best for me.
The second difference that I found was that Target Focus Monthly also had some nice bonus material.
The bonus material includes some teleconference recordings and transcripts.
One conference call is sent each month and they are inetrviews with authors, nutritionists and other experts in various fields that complement your training.
According to the Institute Of Self Defense website (Option #1) they also have bonus recordings. I just never saw anything on the first month's lessons.
The other difference is that Target Focus Monthly gives you access to a months worth of lessons at a time instead of weekly as seen in option #1.
Again this prevents you from getting ahead of yourself and pacing your learning so that it stays with you.
Also Target Focus Monthly has the same forum and archives as mentioned in option #1.
Another bonus that is highlighted on the Target Focus Monthly website is that after 6 months of training online, you can gain access to some of the Target Focus Training advanced live training sessions.
To normally gain access to these advanced courses the prerequisite is that you have already attended one of the weekend long live training sessions.
I do caution you to ensure that you take your training and lessons seriously and work with another live human body which is called a "reaction partner".
I say this because I would not want to be the guy who shows up for an advanced training session who didn't have the principles down cold!
It would definitely lead to injury to yourself or a classmate. The other reason is that you would not be showing yourself, TFT and your classmates the respect they deserve.
If you cheat to attend an advanced training, and you do not have the fundamentals down cold you would be putting yourself or a classmates life at risk.
If you or they ever come across a life or death situation where you need to use TFT and you slacked off on the training and took short cuts, you will act the way you trained and probably get yourself killed.
Regardless of whether you pick www.instituteofselfdefense.com or www.targetfocusmonthly.com, you will not be disappointed!
For online self defense training I highly recommend subscribing to www.targetfocusmonthly.com
Whether you access Target Focus Training online, through DVD's or through live training, they are the superb.
They are hands down the best source of online self defense training available.
The video quality on both is high definition and is superb compared to any other online self defense training that I looked at.
Both supply you with top quality video as well as supporting print and audio material.
Most importantly the quality of instruction is absolutely the best in the industry.
The only flaw that I can find with this online self defense training is that for some people it will not be the right fit.
Let me explain what I mean by that ......
The people that this online self defense training will not fit with are those that are looking for something that is a sports based system.
If you are looking for something to use while standing toe to toe with another guy or gal so that you can give and take shots back and forth till the someone submits.
Then this is absolutely not for you!
If you are looking for ultra effective, online self defense training based on tearing apart the human anatomy.
Then this is for you as long as you have the maturity level to comprehend the power given to you to control another human life.
It is also a system that you can practice safely with another partner on a regular basis.
BUT......
Target Focus Training should come with a warning something like the old "Break Glass In Case Of Emergency" signs on fire alarms.
The warning should read......
TFT Inside -Use Only In Case Of Emergency!-
Target Focus Training is all about using violence as a tool.
It should not be categorized as self defense because it is actually self offense!
Target Focus Training online self defense training is my hands down top pick for quality of instruction, true self defense, quality of product and affordability.
UPDATE SEPTEMBER 2009
TARGET FOCUS TRAINING IS CREATING QUITE A BUZZ IN THE U.K.
What follows is just one radio interview of many interviews and newspaper articles covering Tim Larkin and the self defence training that Target Focus Training will be doing in Slough, England.
It's creating quite a stir!
In my opinion the critics of TFT have it all wrong and do not understand true violence versus a pub fight.
It is as though if they were facing a true life or death scenario that they would rather be killed than inflict actual physical injury on another human being.
If you have read the book
"On Killing" by Lt. Col. Dave Grossman
you would understand that this is a natural psychological reaction, unless you are a sociopath!
I can understand the fact about concerns of thugs and criminals taking the course to become more effective at what they do.
In my opinion most thugs would never foot the bill for the training and most would never even think about getting any kind of training period!
This is because they are already effective in using the tool of violence and injury.
The second thing is that if those thugs if they really want to learn TFT techniques or other lethal street fighting techniques.
They will find another source, regardless of whether Mr. Larkin comes to Slough or not.
Before TFT even existed some prison gangs would study human anatomy just so that they would know where to stick a "shank" into another inmate for maximum results with minimal effort.
If it is not TFT or a study of human anatomy then the thugs and criminals would most likely turn to the internet and find something else.
Maybe it would be something like WWII combatives or some other form of online self defense training!
At the end of the day the number of criminals and thugs that look at training in self defence or any type of fighting system are few and far between.
They already know how to smash someone's head into the concrete!
It is us so called civilized people that feel the need to be trained because violence has not been a part of our upbringing.
Anyways enough of my rambling and you can listen to one of the radio interviews below.
Other critics argue that Target Focus Training should not be teaching lethal moves.
They say that they acknowledge the fact that some martial arts do teach lethal moves but only do so once students have committed to the art and has studied for quite some time.
My argument to this statement would be that if they were to attend just a couple days of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu or any Mixed Martial Arts training they would most likely learn something like the guillotine choke or the rear naked choke.
Both of these techniques can be lethal in the wrong hands!
Therefore it is no different than the training received through Tim Larkin and Target Focus Training.
Even a simple boxing left hook to the body could potentially be lethal!
If the hook lands on the solar plexus or sternum somebody with a pre-existing or even a healthy heart could be seriously injured making this punch lethal.
What if a punch or kick lands on the liver and the liver lacerates, it could now be deemed a lethal strike.
This could happen to someone who is healthy and just takes a shot to the liver from the wrong angle or maybe their liver is weakened from any number of different ailments.
Whenever two human bodies collide there is always potential for a serious injury!
Years of study and discipline are not be needed to learn any of these potentially lethal techniques.
No black belt is required!
So by these same standards the people advocating a boycott and ban of Target Focus Training in Slough would have to stand by their decision and decide to do the same to any Jiu Jitsu training, Judo, wrestling, combatives, boxing, etc.
Heck they might as well go as far as the Chinese have in censoring other areas within their borders and restrict access to any internet site which may be involved with teaching any martial arts or self defence techniques.
This would even involve restricting access to YouTube!
I know I am getting really carried away here.
I am just trying to make a point for those that are so concerned about the safety of who?
Their criminals?
Their sociopaths?
Their street thugs?
Who's safety are they really concerned about?
I remember hearing in an interview that the councillor thought that this kind of training should be restricted to security, law enforcement and military only.
By this line of thinking if you find yourself and your family being assaulted by a group of home invaders, you should wait for it to all be over before doing anything.
Even if they intend on taking your life!
Or you could hope that the police might luckily swing by your house for a cup of tea or coffee while all this is going on!
At the end of the day Target Focus Training is not just about lethal moves, it is about control and injuring the other person so that you can escape safely from a violent situation.
If the situation has your life on the line then you will have a unique set of skills that can get yourself and your family to safety.
In the end it is up to you to determine whether it is acceptable to use targeted violence on another human being.
Maybe more time should be spent looking at the laws regarding self defense.
Or even better yet make the punishment for violent crimes and especially repeat offenders much more strict.
This way the criminals might actually have some fear about the repercussions of their own actions.
