Cliff Stewart: History and Application

By: Brad Bode | 2 comments

This episode covers the history of Cliff Stewarts Martial Arts experience. It all started around 1960 when he saw an ad in the back of a comic book for Judo. Not finding a school near his house Cliff sought out Judo Gene Lebell who recommended a local school and the rest, the rest is history. Numerous black belts later Cliff Stewart has become an international traveller through his Executive Protection services.

What is unique about Cliff Stewart is his ability to articulate the tone of the times and discuss, in depth, the application of the arts. His experience as an Executive Protection specialist for Mohammad Ali, James Garnger, Larry Flint, Mr. T, Wesley Snipe, and many others (including an unnamed saudi prince), lends itself to a real world application discussion.

If you are looking to be entertained and learn something at the same time you won't be dissappointed. If you are still unsure whether or not you want to listen to this podcast, just check out his biography, written by Massad Ayoob (look him up). I'll leave with a quote

Cliff Stewart possesses an awesome degree of knowledge and destructive power. The point he drives into his W.A.R. students is that possessing power doesn’t mean that you have to use it. Often, he makes clear, the greatest expression of that power is to dominate a threatening situation to the point that you don’t need to unleash it. Avoidance, he points out, is the ultimate victory.
It’s one thing to hear these things said about a wimp whom you know couldn’t bear to face conflict. It becomes more credible when you hear it from a man who is a veteran of conflict and has left a trail of strong, violent men prostrate and unconscious behind him. Such a man is Cliff Stewart.
I manage crisis and teach crisis management for a living. I know the difference between the professionals and the phonies. Cliff Stewart is a professional. When he talks, I listen. So do other professionals. And so should you.