CRAZY MONKEY
DEFENSE
EST 1999
THE MARTIAL ART FOR THE UNDERDOG
PHOTO CREDIT: DAVID ASH
Hi I am Coach Rodney King...
I grew up on the unforgiving, violent streets of Johannesburg, South Africa. I was a quiet creative child, brought up by a single parent in government housing. Not surprising this made me a target for the bullies and gangs in my neighborhood.
I spent most of my childhood simply trying to survive. From my earliest memory I wanted to find a way to fight back and win. But I wasn’t anything special, I wasn’t an ‘Alpha Male’. I had two left feet, and lacked any real athletic ability. To put it bluntly: I was the stereotypical ‘Underdog’!
The Birth of Crazy Monkey Defense
Even though I was an Underdog, I wasn’t going to let that stop me. I was determined to find a way to fight back against those who would do me harm, and win.
My childhood experiences surviving violence on the streets of my neighborhood, my time in the South African Defense Force’s close protection team, and several years working outside the door of some of the toughest nightclubs in Johannesburg — forged the creation of the Crazy Monkey Defense modern martial arts system back in 1999.
crazy Monkey a Global Success
Since I created Crazy Monkey Defense it has been sought out by thousands of people from all across the globe. People just like me, people who were not born fighters — but nonetheless wanted to gain the ability to fight back and win. Crazy Monkey Defense has become their default choice when it comes to self-preservation training.
Crazy Monkey Defense has been so successful that it has now been taught all over the world to real world warriors, from special force military operators, law enforcement officers, close protection teams, to airline cabin crew.
Crazy Monkey more than just Learning to Fight!
While I started off as an Underdog I have always wanted Crazy Monkey Defense to be more than simply about fighting. Rather I have always wanted it to be an experience that inspired others to take on the martial arts of everyday life more skillfully and win!
Although I never finished high school, being kicked out of the house at 17 by my abusive alcoholic mother and finding myself sleeping on the inner city streets of Johannesburg — I applied the inner lessons I had learned from martial arts to turn my life around. With the global success of Crazy Monkey Defense, I went back to school, and ultimately earned my PhD.
I have taken all of my life lessons of facing and overcoming hardship, my research as a social scientist, and what I gained through my Doctoral journey to ensure that Crazy Monkey Defense is equally a vehicle for life performance.
As such Crazy Monkey Defense focuses on 3 key areas of training: The Mat, Street & Life!
PHOTO CREDIT: DAVID ASH
Visions of CMD
word on The
Street
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"Rodney [creator of CMD] is the 'real deal' when it comes to all things 'street'. I 100% encourage students of the arts to investigate what Rodney King has to offer. You will not be disappointed. I know I wasn't."
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"I’ve been a fan of the Crazy Monkey Defence for many years. It was a great privilege to have Rodney come out to Kings Academy to teach a seminar. It was even better to see his passion for teaching and the effectiveness of what he taught. I look forward to having him out to Kings Academy for a follow up seminar when he’s next back in the country."
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"Rodney King is years ahead of his time, he has taken his martial arts to the level of budo, where few dare to go. I am a big fan."