self defense

Martial Arts as an Evangelistic Tool

The Gospel & Martial Arts

By Dave Heuthe

In our society there are many options competing for people’s free time. One of the challenges of the church is how to find ways to share the gospel so that people will attend the event. Right off the bat let me say that I’m not talking about altering the gospel in any way.

The gospel of God is that man is basically sinful, completely unable to save himself and so in desperate in need of a savior. God has graciously provided that savior in the person of His own Son Jesus Christ who died on the cross as a substitute for sinful man. When God opens a person’s eyes to see this and gives him faith he then repents and believes and is saved. That is the true Gospel. The method of communicating the gospel can vary as long as it doesn’t violate other principles found in God’s word.

Now when most people think of martial arts they think of fighting, monks and Bruce Lee kind of stuff, but I’m not talking about that. I’m talking about self-defense, learning how to be safe in a dangerous, sinful world.

We can serve the community that God has placed us in by helping them better deal with the world they live in. In this way the gospel and the concept of self-defense are compatible. The reason I can say this is because self-defense is all about staying safe. True self defense teaches you to avoid conflict whenever possible. The scripture states that we are to live at peace with all men as much as it lies with us. There are times however when conflict cannot be avoided.

By offering a community self-defense course you could draw people into your church that might never set foot there. You would offer them something they would see as of value to them and their family and weave the gospel into the course which could bring them the one thing they really need, salvation. This could be done as an after school program. You could teach the children and then have a graduation/demonstration program and end with a gospel presentation. You could do it as an Adult Ed program at night. Many school districts offer courses the difference would be you would be offering something far more valuable, the gospel.

The scripture teaches us that we are to serve people’s natural as well as the spiritual needs this type of program would do both.

Published by: Dave Heuthe, American Kobe Jiu Jitsu Federation Black Belt & Certified Instructor. Dave provides group personal defense classes where lessons are taught in various locations, privately, at Bob Malvagno’s School of Self Defense, and through in-house work programs (e.g. -Fire Department, employer, churches & synagogues, community centers, etc.) in the Nassau County and Sufflok County, Long Island (LI), NY area. Dave’s business is to provide programs that help his students (adults, seniors, teens & children) master self defense. BECOME A CLASS MEMBER TODAY!

Share Self Defense Classes w/ Your Friends

Close Bookmark and Share This Page

Save to Browser Favorites / Bookmarks

Email This to a Friend

Link HTML:

Permalink:

If you like this then please subscribe to the RSS Feed.

How to Fight if You Need to Defend Yourself

May 25th, 2009

by admin.

1 comment

How to Defend Yourself

Often times we find ourselves in need of defense. Is it over something trivial? Then walk away. If you really are in a sticky situation, run or yell for help. If all other options fail then follow these steps.

Steps

Yell for help first if you are confronted by an attacker.
Run if possible.
If you must fight, get into a low stance with legs bent.
Be aware of your surroundings, watch the attackers center of gravity, be able to Know when and at what direction he will attack.
Block punches with your forearm or open hand, block kicks the same. If possible simply dodge the strike.
Attack when they are off balance. After an attacker strikes, they usually are not totally balanced and can be caught off guard. A sharp kick to the side or legs can cause lots of damage. Punch to the side of the face or use an elbow. If you punch someone squarely you could break your hand.
Knees and Elbows work best close range.
Don’t kick to the head unless you have a good opportunity or are trained to do so.
Many attackers try to take you to the ground and so try to stay on top of your attacker.
If you can’t overpower them, then return to a standing position or try to hit an attackers pressure point. i.e. neck, ribs, or biceps.
Once the attacker has been weakened or injured run for it. Try to find a policeman or call 911.

Tips

Most importantly always report that you have been attacked. It is vital to be able to claim self-defense in court.
Always try to talk or bargain your way out of a situation before it occurs.
Even the strongest opponent can have bones broken and can have pressure points used against them.
Pressure points can be found anywhere a bone attaches to muscle or where joints are connected as well as nerves.
To learn more take a self-defense class.

Warnings

Anyone can be hurt in a fight.
Always know that you can go to jail for hurting somebody if it isn’t for self-defense.
It cannot be stressed enough that the best thing to do if confronted by an attacker is to run.

Article Source: Wiki-How – How to Defend Yourself

Republished by: Dave Heuthe, American Kobe Jiu Jitsu Federation Black Belt & Certified Instructor. Dave provides group personal defense classes where lessons are taught in various locations, privately, at Bob Malvagno’s School of Self Defense, and through in-house work programs (e.g. -Fire Department, employer, churches & synagogues, community centers, etc.) in the Nassau County and Sufflok County, Long Island (LI), NY area. Dave’s business is to provide programs that help his students (adults, seniors, teens & children) master self defense. BECOME A CLASS MEMBER TODAY!

Share Self Defense Classes w/ Your Friends

Close Bookmark and Share This Page

Save to Browser Favorites / Bookmarks

Email This to a Friend

Link HTML:

Permalink:

If you like this then please subscribe to the RSS Feed.

Self-Defense Works

Mar 31st, 2009

by admin.

No comments yet

Self Defense is Effective

According to the U.S. Department of Justice statistics show that 67% of the time resistance to criminals is effective. In only less than 9% of the situations does resistance make the situation worse. COMMENT: If the perp wanted to work, the perp would’ve gotten a job.

Source: Self -Defense in the News

Share Self Defense Classes w/ Your Friends

Close Bookmark and Share This Page

Save to Browser Favorites / Bookmarks

Email This to a Friend

Link HTML:

Permalink:

If you like this then please subscribe to the RSS Feed.

Jiu Jitsu – What is it?

Feb 28th, 2009

by admin.

No comments yet

What is JiuJitsu?

Jiu-Jitsu (or Yawara) is an ancient Japanese Martial Art. Its origins date back to the sixteenth century when legend narrates that its founding father, a young Japanese man called Shirobei Akiyama who was studying medicine in China , witnessed a heavy blizzard. He was able to appreciate how branches of most trees broke while the elastic branches of the Willow tree bent and efficiently freed themselves from the snow.

The Gentle Art or Art of Subtleness (for this is the meaning of Jiu-Jitsu) would not aim to neutralize power with power but rationally absorb an attack and convert that energy to the opponent’s own detriment. This basic principle became the heart of the teaching of the Yoshin ryu school, founded by the Akiyama and considered to be the foremost Jiu-Jitsu dojo.

The Art developed throughout the Sengoki Era and continued through the Kanei, the Munnji and the Kanbun (1624-1673) periods. In the years of civil disorder the Samurai class
(Aristocratic warriors / Bushi) came to dominate. It is during this period that Jiu-Jitsu first developed as an open-field art of combat and then more and more as a physical and mental study. The Golden Age of Jiu-Jitsu lasted until 1869, date in which the Emperor’s return to Japan and the subsequent abolition of Feudalism made the Samurai lose their status of privileged class. Samurai radition nevertheless kept Jiu-Jitsu alive and travellers brought the Art to all four corners of the world.

In more recent years the essence of some Martial Arts, such as Judo and Aikido, has developed from Jiu-jitsu concentrating on specific aspects of their Martial Art forefather. Its international governing body was established in 1977 – based on a document originated by Italy , Germany and Sweden in order to develop the sport aspect of Jiu-jitsu. Since then the Jiu-Jitsu International Federation (JJIF) has become a structured federation organised in Continental Unions, coordinated by a central Board and supported by specialised Committees.

JJIF organises World Championships every two years and Continental Championships every other year. International Camps, Seminars, Congress and General Assembly are called every year. Nowadays there is two main forms of Jiu-Jitsu : the traditional and modern styles; the first one is former, the second is recent and gets competitions.

Source: What is Jiu Jitsu

Re-Published by: Dave Heuthe, American Kobe Jiu Jitsu Federation Black Belt & Certified Instructor. Dave provides group personal defense classes where lessons are taught in various locations, privately, at Bob Malvagno’s School of Self Defense, and through in-house work programs (e.g. -Fire Department, employer, churches & synagogues, community centers, etc.) in the Nassau County and Sufflok County, Long Island (LI), NY area. Dave’s business is to provide programs that help his students (adults, seniors, teens & children) master self defense. BECOME A CLASS MEMBER TODAY!

Share Self Defense Classes w/ Your Friends

Close Bookmark and Share This Page

Save to Browser Favorites / Bookmarks

Email This to a Friend

Link HTML:

Permalink:

If you like this then please subscribe to the RSS Feed.

Self Defense Complacency

Feb 23rd, 2009

by admin.

No comments yet

“I Think I’ll Go Out And Get Mugged Today!”

Human Predisposition For Complacency

By Randy LaHaie

Lets say you attend a self-defense seminar. In addition to being shown a few neat hits, kicks and releases, you are provided with a list of proactive things you can do to increase your personal safety.

The material is reinforced with crime statistics, horror stories about the violent misfortune of others and perhaps a horrific assault or two caught on videotape. It gets you thinking.

You leave the seminar “sensitized” to the potential of being victimized. Not paranoid; just more aware, more conscious and more deliberate about your personal safety.

After the seminar, you find yourself locking your doors, scanning your surroundings and being more aware of suspicious people around you. How long do you think your new-found “spidey-senses” will last?

Over time you begin to drop your guard. You begin not to notice many of the things you noticed right after the seminar. Your self-defense training, awareness, and preventive measures start to fade. Why?

Complacency is the enemy of personal safety

Few people leave the security of their home expecting to be robbed, raped or beaten. If they did, you can bet that they’d take measures to prevent it. Like the saying goes, “Life is what happens when you’re making other plans!”

Its doesn’t make sense to adopt safety strategies SOME OF THE TIME. People don’t get hurt expecting to be hurt. We are most susceptible when we least expect to be. When we’re are not prepared.

Knowledge is inert unless you use it. If you are educated in the science of self-defense but you don’t align your behavior to it on a consistent basis in the ABSENCE OF PRECEIVED DANGER then it is safe to say that you DON’T HAVE a personal safety strategy.

That my friend is the essence of effective self-defense training… the antidote to complacency is the deliberate effort to apply safety habits in the absence of perceived danger.

Complacency is a natural function of the brain

The brain is designed to automate repetitive behavior. Complacency is not the result of apathy, carelessness or a flaw in your personality. It is the way we work. 90% of our day-to-day behavior is automated; it happens without conscious or deliberate thought.

When we think about complacency we look at it as an undesirable trait; like is a flaw in our character like ignorance or laziness. The truth is that we are all complacent. We are wired to be that way.

Psychologists estimate that as much as 90% of our day-to-day behavior goes on without conscious or deliberate thought. Repetitive tasks become automated to free up our attention for things that are new, novel or threatening. If it wasn’t that way we’d be overwhelmed with the simplest of tasks.

Furthermore, evolution has “wired” our brains for survival. The brain constantly and automatically scans the environment for signs of danger. We notice and respond to what is unique, unusual or threatening. However, repeated exposure to situations, even if they are potentially volatile, dulls our defense mechanism and our awareness.

People exposed repeatedly to high places reduce their fear of heights. People afraid of public speaking get more comfortable in front of an audience after repeated exposure. Likewise, people who are repeatedly exposed to potentially violent situations become less concerned and cautious about them. Psychologists call this “getting-used-to” response, “habituation.”

We become complacent about our personal safety by repeated exposure to threatening situations without consequence.

Habituation works against us when we are repeatedly exposed to the potential of predatory situations but nothing happens. We take shortcuts down dark alleys, forget to lock our doors, travel alone and become oblivious to strangers watching or following us.

Overtime the absence of consequences causes us become more lax about our personal safety. And, even though we’re concerned about our personal safety and possess the knowledge of what we SHOULD be doing, we can’t be bothered.

The Solution to Complacency is to Establish Safety Habits in the ABSENCE of perceived danger.

Personal safety is not something you turn on and turn off. Remember, the time that you are at greatest risk is when you least expect something bad is about to happen. Of course there are situations where a higher level of vigilance and preventive measures are merited but the more consistent we can be about our safety, the more likely we will prevent or avoid becoming a victim.

The key is to form “Safety Habits,” things you do over and over again until they override your former unsafe behaviors and become automated. THEN you are starting to form a realistic personal safety habits.

What to do…

1.	Do a risk assessment of your life and lifestyle. When are you most susceptible to violent or predatory situations? – Consider the prevention situations at home, while commuting, at work, while traveling, outside activities?
2.	Understand the underlying principles of prevention Detection, Intrusion, Isolation (refer to prevention tips article if you’re not sure)
3.	Adopt safety that you are comfortable with and do them deliberately over and over on consistent basis in the ABSENCE OF PERCEIVED DANGER until they become automated Safety Habits.
4.	Continue to study the seven components of self-defense through articles, books and seminars. The more knowledgeable you are about self- defense, the more aware and effective you will be about your personal safety.

There you have it. Complacency is just a little sliver of the bigger self- defense picture but its an important one. The more opportunities you look for to apply safety-related behavior, even if you don’t think they are needed, the sooner you will establish automatic safety behaviors that might someday save your life! The more prepared you will be to detect and avoid a potentially bad situation. Think about it.

Source: Protective Strategies

Share Self Defense Classes w/ Your Friends

Close Bookmark and Share This Page

Save to Browser Favorites / Bookmarks

Email This to a Friend

Link HTML:

Permalink:

If you like this then please subscribe to the RSS Feed.

Prevention Strategies

Feb 23rd, 2009

by admin.

No comments yet

Understanding the Fundamentals of Prevention

by Randy LaHaie

Just about all self defense and police crime prevention sites contain lists of tips to reduce the risk of a violent or criminal encounter. The number of them can seem overwhelming. Where do you start?

A more practical approach to incorporating prevention tips is to understand the principles on which they are based. If you understand the fundamentals of prevention, you will be able to improvise safety strategies “on the fly” that are relevant to your needs.

We are all different and have different concerns and needs. The degree to which you incorporate safety advice depends on your circumstances, environment, risk potential and even your personality.

In this article, I’ll provide you with five categories of prevention tactics. I will then provide you with situation specific tips to help you understand how the fundamentals are applied. Don’t worry about memorizing them. Try to understand how they work. Decide whether the tip makes sense and whether it is useful to you.

Prevention Strategies:

1. Detection

Offenders do not want to get caught. By increasing your visibility to witnesses or by drawing attention to an assailant, it is less likely that a confrontation will be initiated. Awareness strategies and detection devices fall into this category.

2. Intrusion

An assailant can not assault you if he can not get to you. These tactics involve securing your environment to inhibit the assailant’s access to you. Keeping unwanted persons out of your home or vehicle or even placing a barrier between you and an attacker are examples of this principle.

3. Isolation

Offenders are far more likely to attack when you are alone. 96% of rapists check to see if the intended victim is alone prior to attacking. The greater the likelihood that an assault will be witnessed or interrupted, the less likely it is that it will be initiated.

4. Response

Responding to avoid an encounter is far superior to reacting to it once it has been initiated. Response skills start by paying attention to your surroundings and being able to detect and recognize when you are being targeted as a potential victim. This strategy focuses on locating and identifying potential dangers and responding in ways that are likely to discourage volatile situations.

5. Reaction

Reaction involves taking immediate physical actions when you confirm that you are being attacked or about to be. The more you know about what to do to ward off a physical assault, and the sooner you plan those actions, the more likely you will be successful at defending yourself and escaping to safety.

Source: Preventative Strategies

Share Self Defense Classes w/ Your Friends

Close Bookmark and Share This Page

Save to Browser Favorites / Bookmarks

Email This to a Friend

Link HTML:

Permalink:

If you like this then please subscribe to the RSS Feed.

Safety & Self Defense for Men

Feb 23rd, 2009

by admin.

No comments yet

Self Defense Isn’t for Women Only

Often in our articles, what we say is slanted towards or is specifically for women. This is simply because women are more concerned about safety on a daily basis and most of our clients are women. As a man, I’m not concerned for my safety when I take the dog for a walk, go to the mailbox, return to our van in a parkade, or notice a woman looking at me. But such common, everyday occurences are a time of anxiety for many women. The average woman going about her daily activities FEELS more concern about her safety, and rightly so, because she IS more in danger of violence than the average man.

However, many men are also concerned about safety, both their own and for their families. In some ways, they may feel reluctant to talk to others about this because of the social idea that they, as a man, are already supposed to be able to take care of themselves and their loved ones. But many of us, of course, did not grow up in the circumstances where we would actually learn to fight other young men. So we don’t actually know what to do, and don’t have confidence in our natural abilities.

As for women, there are many things a man can do to stay safe without having to fight. You can also use your awareness and intuition to avoid possible trouble. You can use your verbal skills to defuse a potentially dangerous situation. And you can fight back if necessary.

There are some key differences, however, in how and why men attack men compared to men attacking women.

The first key difference comes in the reasons a man might attack another. A source of considerable danger for men is the tendency to fight over words or territory. You could be attacked because of this, or you may be tempted to start a fight for such reasons. Women often need to have their self-protective instincts, and their natural ability to fight, woken up. Men often need to have their tendency towards self-righteous anger and their tendency to fight throttled back and channelled in more effective and POSITIVELY self-protective ways.

An insult, real or imagined, can be enough to precipitate a fight. One principle for any of these situations… don’t! Don’t engage in such fights, and don’t start them. Don’t give him an excuse. Don’t give that stupid driver the finger, tailgate him to show your impatience, or cut him off to retaliate against him for cutting you off. It’s not worth the possible result of him pulling a gun and killing you. And don’t instigate such a fight yourself. Don’t fight someone because he called you a name or cut you off in traffic.

One really blunt way to think of this… You absolutely must avoid physical confrontation at any cost until the final line is crossed. That line might be a threat to your life, a sexual assault on you or a member of your family, or a threat to their lives. It might be a similar threat to a person you don’t know – it’s different for different people. But when the final line is crossed, all rules are gone. You make your stand. You fight 100%. You must be fight with a willingness to risk death. Would you be willing to take that risk if your six-year-old daughter was being hauled into a van by an abductor? Of course you would! You woudn’t even think about it for a moment. IF YOU ARE NOT PREPARED TO FIGHT IN THIS SPIRIT, YOU SHOULDN’T BE IN THE FIGHT. If what you are fighting over is not worth risking death, you must just walk away. You absolutely should not be fighting because, in this modern world, this guy who attacked you may very well be prepared to kill you, or at the very least, he may not care if he does.

(Special note for women reading this – do not take on this last paragraph. This advice in no way is meant for you. This is absolutely gender specific advice because of many men’s tendency to fight over words and so on. It’s important that you really understand this point. As a woman, you don’t have the same considerations and you definitely do not need, in any way, to rein in your fighting spirit.)

The second major difference comes in what you do if it does become necessary to fight. Unless you are quite highly trained, don’t rely on punching. Your legs are much stronger and the chances of you breaking your fingers or wrist are quite high. Fingers tightly squeezed together and jabbed full-force into someone’s eye will do more to end a fight than most people’s punching. Thigh smashes or kicks to the groin or head are far more powerful than your arms.

In real fighting, there are two kinds of blows – opening strikes and finishing strikes. If this is potentially a life or death situation, there is only one way to fight – 100%. There is no room for tactical strikes in a real fight, like punching someone in the ribs or the side of the head.

You can keep yourself and your family safe in most circumstances. The most effective way to do that is to wisely avoid danger when you see or feel it coming. There’s nothing worth fighting over unless it is a “final line” life or death situation. Anything short of that, you should swallow your pride and walk away. But if you have to fight, there is one way – totally and without reservation.

Source: Safety “HQ” Gear

Share Self Defense Classes w/ Your Friends

Close Bookmark and Share This Page

Save to Browser Favorites / Bookmarks

Email This to a Friend

Link HTML:

Permalink:

If you like this then please subscribe to the RSS Feed.

3 Powerful Ways To Portray Confidence and Success

Feb 23rd, 2009

by admin.

No comments yet

The Power of Presence

A good number of women who are attacked are chosen because of the way they presented themselves. Something about their posture told the assailant, “here is a weak woman, I can take her”. If you are scared out of your gourd, it will show.

Low self esteem or fearfulness looks like slouched shoulders; head down, arms folded in front or in pockets. Confidence looks like walking tall, shoulders back, head up, eye to eye contact, arms at the side. One statistic revealed that those trained in martial arts are less likely to ever be attacked because of the way they carry themselves. They’ve been trained to defend themselves and to not take a weak position. They have confidence.

Try this experiment. The next time you’re in a public place, mall, grocery store, the beach, no matter, walk past all the people and look them directly in the eye. You might want to smile a little or offer a “how ya doin’?” so they don’t think you’re stalking them. You’ll be amazed at the number of people who will not look at you. They’ll look down or away but not at you. Of course, in some cultures it’s not proper to look people in the eye. Be sensitive to that. But in many circles you will find it hard to find 10 people who will look at you.

By you looking at them, in some subconscious way you’re communicating that you are not afraid. You’re not sending nonverbal clues that you lack confidence. To get into the practice of always looking people in the eye, take it one step further and see what color eyes they have. It only takes a quick glance, you’re not starring down people but if you make an effort to determine eye color, you can be confident that you’re properly looking people head on in the eyes.

Get your hands out of your pockets when you walk. Uncross those arms that are locked across your chest. Not only does it look stronger and friendlier to have open arms, it’s safer. Should the need arise that you need to thwart off a would-be attacker; you’re going to need your arms to free yourself. How easy it is for one to come up from behind you and grab you if your arms are tucked neatly away? You’re just making it easy. How can you poke out eyeballs, or jab Adam’s apples or throw an elbow to the ribs if your arms are hugging yourself.

“But I AM scared,” you confess. There are two things you can do about that. One is take some self defense classes and learn how to not be afraid. The other and immediate method to change how you project yourself is to fake it until you make it. You may be scared out of your wits, but if you get the self talk going, “I am NOT afraid” and get the body language to follow it, head up, shoulders back, arms open, then you’re at least giving the allusion that you are not a weak prey.

Half of your battle is in the mind. Do something about it.

The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended to medically diagnose, treat or cure any disease. Consult a health care practitioner before beginning any health care program.

Emily Clark is editor at Lifestyle Health News and Medical Health News where you can find the most up-to-date advice and information on many medical, health and lifestyle topics.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Emily_Clark

Share Self Defense Classes w/ Your Friends

Close Bookmark and Share This Page

Save to Browser Favorites / Bookmarks

Email This to a Friend

Link HTML:

Permalink:

If you like this then please subscribe to the RSS Feed.

The Four Stages of Violent Assault

Feb 23rd, 2009

by admin.

No comments yet

Awarenes is Paramount to Safety

The Four Stages of Violent Assault represents a model for understanding the predatory mind in stranger assault situations. The model is used to make the concepts of assault easier to comprehend and defend against.

MOTIVATION TO COMMIT A CRIME:
The predator makes the decision to commit a particular crime.

SELECTION OF VICTIM:
The predator actively chooses a victim for his crime.
- A common part of this stage is the “interview process” where the predator interacts with a potential victim to determine suitability for attack.
- This stage is foiled by the DECIDE & DETER step of self-defense.

PHYSICAL ASSAULT:
The predator initiates a physical attack on the victim.
- The physical attack requires the opportunity to attack in the form of close proximity to the target.
- This stage is foiled by the DETER & DISRUPT step of self-defense.

COMPLETION OF THE CRIME:
The physical attack enables the predator to complete the crime originally planned and/or additional crimes of opportunity.
-This stage is foiled by the DISRUPT & DISENGAGE step of self-defense.

Every situation of assault is different. The above model is a flexible guide intended to provide insight into the mind of a predator and how the self-defense steps of DECIDE DETER DISRUPT DISENGAGE may be used to foil the predator during each stage of the assault.

Share Self Defense Classes w/ Your Friends

Close Bookmark and Share This Page

Save to Browser Favorites / Bookmarks

Email This to a Friend

Link HTML:

Permalink:

If you like this then please subscribe to the RSS Feed.

12 Important Aspects in Self-Defense

Feb 23rd, 2009

by admin.

No comments yet

Self Defense is More Than Fighting

This is not mine. I read it on another site, but it has some very useful information and can be used by both men and women.

1) “Trust your gut.” If you have any doubt, then there is no doubt – something isn’t right.

2) Perfect intention is more powerful than perfect technique. If you have the perfect intention to defeat the enemy, then it is at least possible to defeat any enemy. But if not, then not.

3) Resolve that you are worth fighting for. You are also too valuable a person to allow yourself to die, or to be injured or crippled stupidly. Either you are in control of yourself or someone else is.

4) Do not deny the enemy’s presence, nor his posturing or threats. Your denial will not make him go away, but will encourage him that he has found his proper victim. He searches not for a fight, but only for a victim. Therefore, do not appear to be his “game species.

5) Never pause in combat for any reason, neither to judge your injuries or your enemy’s. Never stop fighting except to effect a sure escape or because the enemy is clearly no longer any possible danger to you.

6) Never allow yourself to be provoked or to accept the challenge to fight. To do so is to allow the enemy to choose the time and place of the battle.

7) Man is the “tool user” and thus weapons are the first choice for combat. Weapons are always available to the alert “martial mind,” even if they are not carried on your person. Your best weapon is always your brain and correct mindset. But a tire iron, flashlight, knife or gun, sometimes the hard steel of a, parked car, your car keys themselves Or even a broomstick can be the” tool at hand.” Yet, first You must put that tool in your hand. But before you can even do that, you must put it in your mind.

Your first and often greatest enemy always lies within yourself. In any of life’s activities this is true, but in combat it is the world. There is seldom time to recognize and dissolve this inner enemy in combat. Hence, you must do so before you first meet the external enemy. Face your fear and let it go, if you can. Then, when and if you meet the external enemy, you may see that he himself has failed to do this. Thus, he still carries his most formidable enemy within him; thus, you have almost already won.

9) The essence of clarity is found in doing just one thing at a time and only that thing at that time. This is why combat can be so enlightening to the mind, since it absolutely forces this condition upon us. it also purges our subconscious denial of our own mortality. If we learn the ways of fighting, then we can learn the ways of mankind. In this way, the world itself is dearer to us. “You can’t beat the river and the mountain don’t care”

10) When facing the enemy show no fear, except as a deception in ambushing him. Showing no fear is easier than feeling no fear. You do not want to “feel no fear” any- way because you must make your fear work for you once the battle commences.

11) Realize that any physical conflict between two or more human beings always has the potential for homicide. Decide beforehand what values are worth killing or dying for. Then try hard to avoid fighting for anything less than these values. Your car or even your Harley is not truly worth Your killing or dying for. You and your loved ones are.

12) The essence of real world, effective self-defense is simply learning to deal effectively with aggressive and discordant people in a way that avoids violence. To do this we must first understand ourselves and our own internal discords, so that we can recognize them and even exploit them in our enemies. Awareness and avoidance are thus the true arts, and they must and can be perfected almost daily. What one needs in terms of learning physical fighting skills is generally really less important than these arts of Awareness and Avoidance. The few physical skills needed are also much more quickly and easily learned for most.

Source: S.A.S.S.

Share Self Defense Classes w/ Your Friends

Close Bookmark and Share This Page

Save to Browser Favorites / Bookmarks