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 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 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 moreSelf-Defense: How Not To Look Like A Victim
According to researchers Marcus Felson and Ronald Clarke, opportunity plays a role in almost every crime. In theory, by reducing the possible opportunities for a crime, you can reduce the statistical probability of becoming a victim. People apply this theory every day by locking their homes and vehicles, installing alarm systems, and hiding valuables out of sight. So what about you?
Read moreSelf-Defense: Situational Awareness
Have you ever been to a movie or read a book where a character seems always to be able to predict what is going to happen? Every time the camera pans to some impending doom, it comes back to that character and finds them coolly prepared and responding to the threat. Wouldn’t it be great to have that skill? Well, I can’t promise that you will become a Jason Bourne or Sherlock Holmes, but if you practice the techniques in this post, you will find yourself more able to stay out of trouble or deal with it when trouble finds you.
Read moreSelf-Defense: They Can't Hit What Isn't There.
We all have those gut feelings when something isn’t right. Often times, that feeling is our senses and subconscious analysis telling us that we should avoid a certain area, activity, or person. Got a “bad feeling”? Listen to it! It may save your life!
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