Try Positive Thinking
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 the cut.
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Difference Between Sport and Self-Defense
With all of the emphasis these days on the competitive aspects of the martial arts, it’s appropriate to bring a realistic perspective to the situation. In the Ultimate Fighting Championship and similar full-contact sporting events, wrestlers have consistently had the edge on boxers whenever they’ve been paired in competition. In self-defense, however, grappling methods are often not the way to go for two very good reasons: 1) they tie you up with the aggressor, and 2) they can become long, drawn-out affairs. Karate strikes, on the other hand, are quick. They also give you room to maneuver–or an opportunity to escape, a wise and honorable option for anyone, when circumstances make it possible to do so safely.
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Handgun Basics
In this article, I’ll cover some of the basics of gun ownership. First and foremost, of course, is that anyone who would own a gun must learn how to use it safely, effectively and responsibly. The only way to do this is to seek out a qualified expert in the field and learn from him or her. If you’re not willing to do this, you have no business owning a firearm of any kind. Period.
Proper handgun use can’t be learned from reading a book or article. It takes an experienced instructor to teach proper technique and troubleshoot errors or problems that the learner may encounter while gaining experience and honing expertise. However, there are eight areas that can be addressed in print, and this article will briefly cover those. Read More
Strike Back Against Grappling
When the “No Holds Barred” shows first came upon the scene several years ago, there was a sudden upsurge in the popularity of the grappling arts. I believe that grappling is good. I enjoy practicing it, and I enjoy teaching it. But, would it be my first response in a street fight? Not a chance.
Grappling is never the best option in a street fight. In fact, going to the ground is never something you should do by choice. I train my students to stay on their feet, and if they do get taken down, to disengage and get back up as quickly–and safely–as possible. In my opinion, every second spent on the ground leaves you open to mortal danger. As a military policeman (and also as a civilian), I’ve seen people who have tried to wrestle multiple opponents, and they’ve ended up being brutally beaten.
You’re probably familiar with the conventional wisdom that 90% of all fights end up on the ground. Well, that hasn’t been my experience. Using kenpo’s power strikes, my students and I have had great luck knocking other people to the ground.
As the owner of a martial arts school, I’m often asked which art is most effective. I have no problem admitting that the top Brazilian fighters are great ground fighters. One-on-one, they’re very difficult to beat. But I believe that kenpo is superior to jujitsu when it comes to real-life self-defense on the streets. If you doubt that assertion, ask yourself this question: Who would you bet on to escape from a room full of violent sociopath, Keith Hackney or Royce Gracie? If you think being intertwined with a writhing opponent for ten minutes or more is an effective way to get out of a jam, all I can say is “Good Luck!” If I were a betting man, my money would be on Hackney.
The basic problem is that although the grappling arts are great martial arts, they simply don’t offer the best in self-defense techniques. That doesn’t mean you can afford to ignore grappling–you just can’t make it your primary means of self-defense. At my school, we have classes exclusively devoted to grappling, because I believe that my students should be prepared in the event that they get taken down in a street fight.
However, when two students do go to the ground in class, I give them ten seconds to get up. If they’re still down after the count of ten, I start smacking the one on top with a padded stick, as a friendly reminder of what’s likely to happen in a real-world encounter. That’s usually all it takes to get them up on their feet, where they can launch a barrage of punches and kicks. In the final analysis, it’s never good strategy to fight the opponent’s fight. If an attacker wants to grapple with you, don’t give in. Stay disciplined to you what you’ve learned in kenpo, keep your distance, and strike back with a powerful counterattack.
On Becoming a Black Belt
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 understood this, but I suspect that it has something to do with the aura that surrounds the idea of becoming a black belt.
I believe that those who quit, somehow feel incapable of assuming the mantle of black belt. It’s as if earning the rank is something almost mystical that brings with it heavy baggage that’s too burdensome to carry. It’s too bad the quitters never shared their feelings and concerns with me. I would have given them a reality check.
The Top Two Self-Defense Techniques
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 belt in Kenpo karate, so I know a thing or two about self-defense, and I can tell you that it all begins with an intimate knowledge of targets and weapons. Before getting to the heart of the matter, though, I want to make it clear that I’m not talking about your everyday street fight here. Street fighting is for punks, so if you think fighting is some kind of sport, and you act like a testosterone-poisoned dope, then you deserve a broken nose. Or two. Unless it’s done in a ring with rules and a referee, fighting is never a game—especially the kind of fighting that I’m talking about: Fighting for your life.
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Solo Training
At some point in your life, you may no longer be training in a class or even with a partner. Training on your own will then become your only way to maintain your self-defense ability. For such solo training, you must create your own daily training routine, one that you will stick with right through the years. I’m seventy, yet I still train every day.Your routine should have the following characteristics:
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