Are You Good Enought to be a Martial Artist?
by Mike Vassolo originally published in 1997 The question I’ve posed in the headline has little to do with whether or not you possess the requisite skills to defend yourself. It goes deeper than that, and it is, ultimately, more important. The real question is whether you have the moral and ethical sense to be [...]
Stance: The First Technique
by Mike Vassolo originally published in 1996 I’m always amazed at how martial artists at all levels pay so little mind to mastering basic fighting stances. They’ll spend hours drilling their blocks, punches and kicks, yet they start yawning at the thought of spending a like amount of time analyzing and practicing their stances. Maybe [...]
Unarmed Self Defense Against Weapons
by Mike Vassolo originally published in 1999 When I wrote Kamikaze Fighting, the Self-Defense of Last Resort a decade ago, I gave short shrift to unarmed self-defense against weapons, probably as a result of denial. After all, it seems almost impossible to escape an armed attack without suffering some kind of grievous injury, and, of [...]
Try Positive Thinking
by Mike Vassolo Every martial artist knows that mental preparation is just as important as physical preparation. That’s why before working out, I ponder five positive thoughts that lay a solid mental foundation for the physical techniques that I practice each day. These five simple thoughts are: Slow down…Try easier…Visualize victory…Attack the attacker…Think only of [...]
On Becoming a Black Belt
by Mike Vassolo Most students who diligently pursue a black belt eventually earn one. However, on occasion, I’ve noticed a puzzling phenomenon that’s difficult to explain. For some reason, there have been a handful of people who have worked hard for many years only to quit shortly before their black belt tests. I’ve never fully [...]
The Top Two Self-Defense Techniques
by Mike Vassolo Self-defense is a messy business at best, so you should never think in terms of winning or losing; instead, focus on simply surviving. Through the years, I’ve been in more than a few physical encounters, and I’ve got the scars and broken teeth to prove it. I’m also a 7th degree black [...]
