Martial Heart is the Corporate entity that encapsulates High Sierra Jujitsu potential. It is the brain child and continued future vision of Sensei Frank Ferris. Martial Heart began as an idea taken from the 2002 AJJF National Convention and his long term relationships with his many teachers and friends, mainly his wife Cyndi and long time colleague Gary Smith. Beyond and beneath Martial Art training lies an ethic and a morality that is based on the concepts of Bushido and the True Way. Martial Heart and its subsidiaries are not about aggression, fighting or violence but its resolve.
Some of Martial Heart's principles can be found in the courses that are taught by its associates. To name a few...
Shelden Response offers training for staff in human service agencies who may deal with persons becoming combative or assaultive. The course focuses on intervention strategies that provide safety for both staff and client. Shelden Response utilizes a variety of instructional methods including lecture, hands-on practice, role play, hand-outs and a class manual.
Bruce Shelden (deceased) and Gary Smith began designing this program in the late ‘80s. It was their dream to incorporate safe techniques and gentle strategies for people working in all human service fields. Bruce and Gary used their martial arts expertise to adapt techniques to be both effective and gentle. Unfortunately Bruce succumbed to cancer in 1992 before the company was officially chartered. At one point Frank and Gary resumed this course but now it lies solely in the hands of Gary Smith who still maintains a powerful friendship and association with Frank. Named in Bruce’s honor with his family’s permission, Martial Heart incorporates these same ideals.
Gary Smith has long been involved in community and government efforts to provide a safer, more humane service delivery in the human services field. Gary, while a Developmental Disability Specialist, co-designed and authored the State of Nevada Division of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Aggressive Behavior Interventions course. The state ABI course is currently used state-wide by Department of Human Resource staff in a wide spectrum of care levels. Frank is known throughout the nation for his work in promoting Dan Zan Ryu Jujitsu. Together they bring a unique flexibility to assault response.
Topic areas:
- Abuse and other legal issues
- Assault prevention strategies
- Verbal intervention
- Physical intervention
- Debriefing and counter transference
- Staff self-control
- Documentation systems
Course objectives--Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate knowledge of abuse issues, how to identify abuse, expected reactions during agitation and attack, legal consequences, and reporting protocols.
- Demonstrate knowledge of causes of aggression, programmatic and non-programmatic strategies for prevention.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the stages of assault, staff self-control techniques, and appropriate staff responses during each stage.
- Demonstrate verbal intervention skills and knowledge of their appropriate application.
- Demonstrate physical maneuvers for escape from attack and for containment of assaultive persons.
- Demonstrate knowledge of documentation protocols and laws pertaining to restrictive interventions.
Rape Aggression Defense (for women) and Resisting Aggression Defensively (for children) are offered at basic and advanced levels for self defense and pro-confidence strategies. The classes are taught by Cyndi Ferris, who holds the rank of Nidan (2nd degree Black Belt) in DanZan Ryu Jujitsu. Cyndi has extensive training in many techniques used in a variety of martial arts, and has competed in many local and national tournaments.
RAD is a internationally recognized program offering the student powerful results. Cyndi is one of very few people in northern Nevada who are certified to instruct these beneficial programs. For more information, see our RAD for Women and RAD for Kids pages.