We do not believe that everyone can be perfectly prepared for every situation, but we strive to teach our students the principles and baseline skills that they will need in order to successfully survive and escape an encounter with someone intent on hurting them.
Read moreMartial Mathematics
In school, you learn early how to manipulate numbers accurately and quickly using the basic principles of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. The early stages of martial arts training bear a striking resemblance to these basic principles.
Read moreIt would never work in the...OUCH!
Martial artists are our own worst enemies. We all promote our individual arts and tell almost everyone we meet why other skills would never work in a “real” situation. I call balderdash.
Read moreMatters of the Psyche
Attitude comes from several sources, your view of the world, your view of yourself, and your values system. In this blog, I will break down how those sources effect your attitude, and how to develop the right attitude for surviving a fight. This post isn’t a magic pill. Reading it will not automatically make you a great fighter. However, it will help you to begin the process of steeling your mind for the fight you may one day need to survive.
Read moreKISS: Keep It Simple Sherlock
In reality, the most common attacks in human violence have always been the same. No matter how you slice the pie, the effective responses to those attacks have the same four key elements*: AVOID the attack if possible, PROTECT yourself from damage, DEFEND yourself with vigor, and ESCAPE to a place of safety. These principles hold equally true in sport and self-defense.
Read moreVehicular Security
Unlike the 1950s, most cars have both heat and air conditioning along with a number of creature comforts that make us feel at ease and at home while we drive. In fact, most cars today have an amazing ability to make us feel safe. So much so, that people often forget just how dangerous these hunks of steel and plastic can be.
Read moreTraining for Trauma
Real violent encounters are messy, often loud, and very frightening. Students need to be able to operate under those circumstances. As an instructor, I cannot in good conscience allow my students to become over confident in their skills simply because they can perform them in a static drill situation.
Read moreSelf-Defense: The Sound of Safety
Have you ever heard the saying “silence is golden”? I suppose when you are sitting up in a mountain cabin escaping from the hectic pace of everyday life, the saying is still true. Also, keeping your mouth shut can keep you out of a lot of trouble. But there is a sinister side to that phrase as well. Silence is the criminal’s best friend.
Read moreSelf-Defense: The Spice of Life
Pepper has been around for a long time…. like, since the creation of the world. People have used it as medicine, seasoning, and also a weapon for only a slightly shorter period of time. Fortunately for many, the weaponized form of pepper has become very accessible and also very effective.
Read moreMartial Arts: Not Just A Guy Thing
Jane's guardians were thinking about putting her into dance or gymnastics, but since they already have George in Taekwondo, they thought they would let Jane try a class. Jane LOVED IT! She wasn’t shy or frightened at all, in fact, she was one of the most engaged students during that class. I talked with her guardians after the class, and they were excited about getting her officially signed up. If only it could have lasted…
Read more