The following outline applies to situations where the fight looks like
it is inevitable. That is, you have tried tactics to defuse the
situation (such as: being considerate, using distractions, using
assertive voice or stance, acting crazy, leaving the situation, etc.)
or the situation occurs too quickly to try such tactics.

Single Unarmed Conflict:
For you to consider and evaluate:

     * Physical Factors
           * Distance between yourself and your opponent needs to be
optimized so that you can attack without them being able to do so
effectively.
           * Regulate your timing, rhythm, and speed. Don't get locked
into your opponent's timing
           * Keep centered and in balance (both posture and stance).
Capture your opponent's balance.Take advantage of momentum to create
openings.
           * Protect your center-line while opening up your opponent's
centerline
           * Stay mobile and fluid. Remember to relax.
           * Make your movements efficient to eliminate "telegraphing".
           * Techniques should come from your entire body. Connect your
techniques to your hips and to the ground.
           * Use simple, low committment techniques. Just because a
flying, triple roundhouse kick to the head works in the movies dosn't
mean it will in reality. Even if it does, there are probably more
energy efficient ways to accomplish the same goal.
           * Remember to breathe.
           * Consider your environment including improvised weapons

     * Psychological Factors
           * Remain calm and unperturbed (abdomninal breathing helps)
           * Maintain feeling of mental centeredness
           * Have positive attitude
           * Keep your mind uncluttered and unattached; stay focused

When practicing think of the above. Also consider your size, speed,
and reach compared to your partner's. Make small movements; the larger
your movements, the larger the opening you give to be attacked
through. Coordinate your movements for maximum power and efficiency.
Play with distances where you can attack and defend but your opponent
cannot. Also play with distances to optimize your skills whether these
are percussive techniques or grappling techniques or both. Use your
surroundings to your advantage where you block your opponent's
movements or where you obtain improvised weapons. Try combinations of
techniques varying timing, rhythm, speed and targets. Work on flow of
techniques from one to the next; find combinations that work and feel
right. Conserve energy, you never know how long or how many people you
will fight. Learn to see and exploit openings and to make openings.
Learn to displace your opponents' center and to stalk your opponent.
Learn the use of feints. Attack attacks. Stay loose and flexible in
body and mind. Be like a snake coiled to strike or a cat ready to
pounce. Finally, with these ideas try to be at an advantage and place
your opponent at a disadvantage. Remember that on the street, escape
is always a viable option to consider.

Multiple, Unarmed Assailants:

Keep in mind the above. If it applies to fighting one person, it
applies to fighting many. Other things to consider:

     * Psychological Factors
           * The Domino Theory (if one falls, they all fall).
           * If possible, take the leader out of the action.
           * Make the first one you take out of action, messy, brutal,
uncouth. Act the crazed killer if necessary.
           * Do NOT show fear. Like a pack of dogs, one smell of fear
and they will attack.
           * Take the attack to them. Keep them on the defensive.

     * Physical Factors
           * Using circular body movements can be helpful to keep them
from surrounding you.
           * Move so they get in the way of each other. Keep them in
line with you rather than letting them flank you.
           * Make each technique count. Energy could become a limiting
factor in your fighting effectiveness.
           * Use the environment:
                 * use potential weapons/shields.
                 * limit their access to you without hampering your
mobility
                 * use obstacles to your advantage

Multiple, Armed Assailants:

Same as the above. Additional factors to consider are:

     * The situation needs to be over even more quickly
     * Take a weapon away and make it look easy and messy. If you have
a choice, don't choose a knife wielder for this.
     * Remember distances of engagement are increased.

--- sulsa17@... wrote:

>
> THis is why we increase the variables in the
> sparring scenarios. He randomly pulls a knife, you
> can only throw him, you have to hold something in
> your right hand, etc. This is how you progress if
> you have a small training group.
>
> --
> SHAUN MCCRARY
> HEAD TRAINER
> IMPACT CLOSE QUARTERS COMBAT AND MARTIAL CONCEPTS

I'm a firm believer in removing comfortable weapons to
force the student to think of new combinations and new
scenereos (sp)

Rick
Bringing The Martial Artists Out From Within Martial
Arts Drills for All Situations and Training
Environments
http://MartialArtsDrillsEbook.8m.com

--- sulsa17@... wrote:

>
> When it comes to solo training, visualization is
> paramount. YOu really have no other options.
>
> Get a bag and keep the training "ALIVE". This means
> keep moving, use power, utilize timing, and
> basically fight the bag.
>
> --
> SHAUN MCCRARY
> HEAD TRAINER
> IMPACT CLOSE QUARTERS COMBAT AND MARTIAL CONCEPTS

And if you have an ADHD brain like mine and need
variety. use your creativity and imagination to
develop drills.

If there's something you're not comfortable with
doing, do it some more!

Rick
Solo Martial Arts Drills for Training in Martial Arts
by Yourself Printable Ebook
http://solomartialartsdrillsebook.8m.com

Sparring is not the ultimate drill

It has it's drawbacks and advantage just like any
other drill

Good post though. You obviously spent a lot of time on
it

Rick


--- Teresa Uriarte <angelhuggz97477@...> wrote:

>
>
> Effectiveness in fighting is determined by the
> training methods you
> employ, not by the style or technique you perform.
> Efficient and
> effective training methods should address each and
> every component
> of fighting. Otherwise, an individual's safety can
> be jeopardized.
>
> Here is my personal formula for developing
> effectiveness in fighting:
>
> Learning, practicing and mastering the basics
> Putting the basics together into combinations to
> form a drill
> Using drills to develop physical and mental
> attributes
> Sparring
> Special considerations
> 1. Learning, practicing and mastering the basics:
> The basics can be defined as a group of simple and
> direct,
> fundamental movements. These movements lay a
> foundation upon which
> you can build a myriad of combinations, drills and
> strategies. For
> example, all kick boxers, regardless of their level
> of experience,
> must maintain good footwork and keep their hands up
> at all times. To
> stand still and lower their hands down would invite
> the pain and
> injury, not to mention an inability to hit their
> opponent. So as
> basic as these movements are, they can not be
> overlooked or over
> stressed in training.
>
> Practicing the basics is one of the hardest things
> to do. Why?
> Because practicing the basics is boring and mundane.
> Even though we
> know these movements lay the foundation, they do
> absolutely nothing
> for our ego or emotions. It is more fun to practice
> the cool,
> outrageous and flamboyant techniques that impress
> our family
> members, friends and co-workers. However, through
> consistent
> practice, we will one day master them and be done
> with them.
>
> Mastering the basics is something that takes time.
> It can not be
> done overnight. To master the basics, you must
> correctly understand
> the mechanics involved with each technique, as well
> as practice them
> until you can perform them spontaneously and
> reflexively when
> presented with the appropriate stimulus. Although
> you may
> intellectually understand how to do a technique,
> that does not mean
> you can reflexively perform the technique under
> stress. You must
> take the basics to a level where you can perform
> them without
> thought. Then and only then will you have mastered
> them.
>
> 2. Putting the basics together into combinations to
> form a drill:
> Learning is a process of time and effort. This
> process begins with
> learning and classifying the simple knowns of life
> (the basics) and
> progressing towards the study of the very complex
> unknowns. When a
> child learns mathematics, he begins with a very
> simple known value
> system: he learns how to count from one to ten by
> using his fingers
> or toes. Once he can comfortably and confidently
> maneuver around
> these simple things, he can then be introduced to
> more complex
> things like counting to one-hundred. Once
> proficiency is achieved at
> this new level, he can then be introduced to basic
> arithmetic (which
> is the idea of putting the basics together into
> combinations). When
> his grasp of basic arithmetic has grown to a very
> high level, he can
> then be introduced to more complex mathematics like
> algebra,
> geometry, trigonometry and calculus. This is the
> process of learning
> mathematics. This is also the process of learning
> how to fight. One
> you can perform the basics reflexively, you can move
> onto putting
> the basics together into various combinations.
>
>    3. Using drills to develop physical and mental
> attributes:
> The purpose of a drill is develop instill certain
> habits into your
> repertoire of physical techniques, as well as
> develop specific
> attributes necessary to make your techniques work.
> Techniques
> without attributes are useless. Imagine a punch or a
> kick without
> speed, power, explosiveness, timing or accuracy.
> Would it hurt or
> incapacitate you? I think not! While it is important
> to learn and
> develop techniques, the bulk of your training should
> involve drills
> that develop specific attributes (like speed, power,
> accuracy,
> timing, strength, flow, explosiveness, footwork,
> sensitivity,
> cardiovascular endurance, flexibility, balance,
> coordination, line
> familiarization, spatial relationship, rhythm,
> awareness, proper
> mental attitude, focus, concentration,
> determination, pain
> tolerance, the will to survive, etc...).
>
> 4. Sparring:
> Sparring is the next step in your progression of
> training. Sparring
> is one of the best tools to develop the timing of
> your techniques.
> For when you spar, you truly do not know what your
> opponent will do,
> so you must respond accordingly. You must develop
> your reflexes.
> Sparring should be done in stages. Stage one
> sparring is done with
> light contact hitting and at a slow workable speed.
> It's as though
> your and your opponent are cooperating with each
> other, however, you
> are not. Stage one sparring is for the development
> of reflex and
> timing.
>
> After stage one sparring you must move on to stage
> two. This is
> where you bump up the contact and/or speed of the
> match. This is
> also where you begin to don protective gear. This
> stage is very
> exhausting! Especially when you combine different
> ranges (long,
> close and ground) to the match. Stage two sparring
> is for the
> development of endurance, focus, concentration,
> determination, and
> pain tolerance.
>
> Finally, there's stage three. This is where you add
> multiple
> assailants and weapons to the training. This is also
> where you see
> the core personality of your trainees. When forced
> into a situation
> where they may be hurt, all trainees will show their
> true
> identities. I have seen it a thousand times. Joe
> blow at the office
> brags about being a great fighter. He talks
> incessantly about all
> the street fights he's been in, yet when put through
> an exhausting
> scenario involving some medium level contact, he
> cowers like a
> yelping dog who sticks his tail between his legs and
> runs like the
> wind. Stage three training is very helpful for
> determining how
> people will respond to unexpected violence! It is
> the stage of
> training where you put it all together. Stage three
> training will
> identify an individual's weak points, whether they
> be physical,
> mental or psychological.
>
> 5. Special considerations:
> To fully prepare one's self to deal with violence,
> you must not only
> address techniques, drills and sparring, but you
> must also address
> those peculiar situations where the formula changes
> a bit. For
> example, when you are forced to confront violence,
> you will have no
> choice as to the time of day, the location, the
> environment, whether
> or not weapons will be involved, how many assailants
> will assault
> you, the range at which the altercation will start,
> what kind of
> clothing you will be wearing or what kind of mood
> you will be in.
> Each of these considerations makes the fight more
> complex. You must,
> and I repeat MUST, address these considerations in
> your training.
> Otherwise, you will be unprepared to deal with them
> when they rear
> their ugly heads!
>
> My personal formula for efficient training that will
> lead to
> effectiveness in fighting is this:
>
> Techniques: learn, practice and master them
> Drills: learn, practice and master them
> Sparring: do it
> Special considerations: address them as needed
>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
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> Toolbar.
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>
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--------------------------------------------------------------------~->
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TechniquesofCombat/
>
>     TechniquesofCombat-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>
>
>
>
>
>


=====
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Instructors
http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/Martial_Arts_Ads_And_Discussion

Workout Timer Plays Music or Tada Try it Out It's NEW
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WARNING TO PARENTS http://starbulletin.com/2004/08/12/news/story3.html

Effectiveness in fighting is determined by the training methods you
employ, not by the style or technique you perform. Efficient and
effective training methods should address each and every component
of fighting. Otherwise, an individual's safety can be jeopardized.

Here is my personal formula for developing effectiveness in fighting:

Learning, practicing and mastering the basics
Putting the basics together into combinations to form a drill
Using drills to develop physical and mental attributes
Sparring
Special considerations
1. Learning, practicing and mastering the basics:
The basics can be defined as a group of simple and direct,
fundamental movements. These movements lay a foundation upon which
you can build a myriad of combinations, drills and strategies. For
example, all kick boxers, regardless of their level of experience,
must maintain good footwork and keep their hands up at all times. To
stand still and lower their hands down would invite the pain and
injury, not to mention an inability to hit their opponent. So as
basic as these movements are, they can not be overlooked or over
stressed in training.

Practicing the basics is one of the hardest things to do. Why?
Because practicing the basics is boring and mundane. Even though we
know these movements lay the foundation, they do absolutely nothing
for our ego or emotions. It is more fun to practice the cool,
outrageous and flamboyant techniques that impress our family
members, friends and co-workers. However, through consistent
practice, we will one day master them and be done with them.

Mastering the basics is something that takes time. It can not be
done overnight. To master the basics, you must correctly understand
the mechanics involved with each technique, as well as practice them
until you can perform them spontaneously and reflexively when
presented with the appropriate stimulus. Although you may
intellectually understand how to do a technique, that does not mean
you can reflexively perform the technique under stress. You must
take the basics to a level where you can perform them without
thought. Then and only then will you have mastered them.

2. Putting the basics together into combinations to form a drill:
Learning is a process of time and effort. This process begins with
learning and classifying the simple knowns of life (the basics) and
progressing towards the study of the very complex unknowns. When a
child learns mathematics, he begins with a very simple known value
system: he learns how to count from one to ten by using his fingers
or toes. Once he can comfortably and confidently maneuver around
these simple things, he can then be introduced to more complex
things like counting to one-hundred. Once proficiency is achieved at
this new level, he can then be introduced to basic arithmetic (which
is the idea of putting the basics together into combinations). When
his grasp of basic arithmetic has grown to a very high level, he can
then be introduced to more complex mathematics like algebra,
geometry, trigonometry and calculus. This is the process of learning
mathematics. This is also the process of learning how to fight. One
you can perform the basics reflexively, you can move onto putting
the basics together into various combinations.

    3. Using drills to develop physical and mental attributes:
The purpose of a drill is develop instill certain habits into your
repertoire of physical techniques, as well as develop specific
attributes necessary to make your techniques work. Techniques
without attributes are useless. Imagine a punch or a kick without
speed, power, explosiveness, timing or accuracy. Would it hurt or
incapacitate you? I think not! While it is important to learn and
develop techniques, the bulk of your training should involve drills
that develop specific attributes (like speed, power, accuracy,
timing, strength, flow, explosiveness, footwork, sensitivity,
cardiovascular endurance, flexibility, balance, coordination, line
familiarization, spatial relationship, rhythm, awareness, proper
mental attitude, focus, concentration, determination, pain
tolerance, the will to survive, etc...).

4. Sparring:
Sparring is the next step in your progression of training. Sparring
is one of the best tools to develop the timing of your techniques.
For when you spar, you truly do not know what your opponent will do,
so you must respond accordingly. You must develop your reflexes.
Sparring should be done in stages. Stage one sparring is done with
light contact hitting and at a slow workable speed. It's as though
your and your opponent are cooperating with each other, however, you
are not. Stage one sparring is for the development of reflex and
timing.

After stage one sparring you must move on to stage two. This is
where you bump up the contact and/or speed of the match. This is
also where you begin to don protective gear. This stage is very
exhausting! Especially when you combine different ranges (long,
close and ground) to the match. Stage two sparring is for the
development of endurance, focus, concentration, determination, and
pain tolerance.

Finally, there's stage three. This is where you add multiple
assailants and weapons to the training. This is also where you see
the core personality of your trainees. When forced into a situation
where they may be hurt, all trainees will show their true
identities. I have seen it a thousand times. Joe blow at the office
brags about being a great fighter. He talks incessantly about all
the street fights he's been in, yet when put through an exhausting
scenario involving some medium level contact, he cowers like a
yelping dog who sticks his tail between his legs and runs like the
wind. Stage three training is very helpful for determining how
people will respond to unexpected violence! It is the stage of
training where you put it all together. Stage three training will
identify an individual's weak points, whether they be physical,
mental or psychological.

5. Special considerations:
To fully prepare one's self to deal with violence, you must not only
address techniques, drills and sparring, but you must also address
those peculiar situations where the formula changes a bit. For
example, when you are forced to confront violence, you will have no
choice as to the time of day, the location, the environment, whether
or not weapons will be involved, how many assailants will assault
you, the range at which the altercation will start, what kind of
clothing you will be wearing or what kind of mood you will be in.
Each of these considerations makes the fight more complex. You must,
and I repeat MUST, address these considerations in your training.
Otherwise, you will be unprepared to deal with them when they rear
their ugly heads!

My personal formula for efficient training that will lead to
effectiveness in fighting is this:

Techniques: learn, practice and master them
Drills: learn, practice and master them
Sparring: do it
Special considerations: address them as needed

When it comes to solo training, visualization is paramount. YOu really have no
other options.

Get a bag and keep the training "ALIVE". This means keep moving, use power,
utilize timing, and basically fight the bag.

--
SHAUN MCCRARY
HEAD TRAINER
IMPACT CLOSE QUARTERS COMBAT AND MARTIAL CONCEPTS

THis is why we increase the variables in the sparring scenarios. He randomly
pulls a knife, you can only throw him, you have to hold something in your right
hand, etc. This is how you progress if you have a small training group.

--
SHAUN MCCRARY
HEAD TRAINER
IMPACT CLOSE QUARTERS COMBAT AND MARTIAL CONCEPTS

> do you beleive it is better to practise individual
> techniques
> repitisously,practice combos repitisously like for
> example(go under
> the opponents right cross,pop up backfist to nose
> ,kick to knee,
> ect.) or to shadowbox and visualize an opponent in a
> street fight
> senario)
> I know the best thing is sparring
> but i would like to know the best way to develop
> techniques for
> combat when a partner is not available???

It depends on what your goals are for that training
session. Improvement on a single technique or
improvement on combinations. Sparring by the way does
none of this for you. The tendency with sparring is to
do the combos you're comfortable with, in the meantime
the guy you've sparred for the last three years does
the same thing and you get very good at fighting JUST
each other.

Rick
Bringing The Martial Artists Out From Within Martial
Arts Drills for All Situations and Training
Environments
http://MartialArtsDrillsEbook.8m.com

I would like to hear the opinions of others on this
When your practicing techniques for combat
(evading,blocking,punching,striking,kicking,
trapping,grappling,whatever)
do you beleive it is better to practise individual techniques
repitisously,practice combos repitisously like for example(go under
the opponents right cross,pop up backfist to nose ,kick to knee,
ect.) or to shadowbox and visualize an opponent in a street fight
senario)
I know the best thing is sparring
but i would like to know the best way to develop techniques for
combat when a partner is not available???

To Subscribe, send a blank email to:
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####################################################
        Martial Arts Mastery
A Tell-All of Tips, Tactics, and Techniques

Thank you for reading this 100% opt-in newsletter, only delivered to
those interested in practical martial art. Your email address
is protected --  we won't share your information
with anyone. We promise.

You'll find subscribe information and an unsubscribe link at the bottom
of each issue of Martial Arts Mastery

####################################################
Contents:

1.  Editor's Notes

2.  Encouragement for Sticking With The Martial Arts

3. Stop Stretching to Improve (It's not what you think)

4.  New Offerings

5. Trusting My Wife's Martial Arts -- Stranded with Her Car

6.  Housekeeping: Subscribe, unsubscribe, contact us, etc.


1.##################################################
   Editor's Notes


Out of over 8,200 subscribers, three of you wrote in about the length
of the format.

Two of you prefer the shorter format. One martial artist wants the longer
format back.

(And one person was confused and asked if I could send one of each.)

The last couple of issues have been shorter. As is this one.

Do you like it this way?

Last chance to comment....

mailto:formatlength@...

(formatlength@...)
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-



It was suggested that I wait to report on the Copperfield show security,
until I release the next Bodyguard ebooklet.

What a great idea.

All #2 needs is a ebooklet cover and a table of contents ... and maybe one more
edit.

Then I'll offer it in exchange for filling out a survey. The problem is, I
don't have any new questions to ask you, at the moment.

So, until "curiosity catches the Kip," you'll have to wait.

Soon -- probably before the end of November.
-=-=-=-=-=--=-




This week's issue is geared more towards beginners.

I offer encouragement to those who are getting frustrated -- advice
on a beginner's mistake with stance -- and a true story about two
incidents that happened to my wife, this past week.


Next week, I'll have more offerings, two practical articles, and a
word or two to say about boxers -- I can't help myself.

Until then,







			 Keith Pascal, editor


PS I value your opinion, but ... the kerwinbenson.com email addresses
are still very unreliable.

Try  mailto:MAM@...

(MAM@...)








2.##################################################
     Encouragement for Sticking With The Martial Arts


Sometimes a theme keeps reappearing in your life. This past week,
it was as if the world were suggesting the topic of this article. Or
maybe I was just sensitized to the subject.

For the last week, I have been getting a feeling that many of the
less seasoned of you need a big dose of encouragement, right
about now:

   * One of my customers and a former student has been doing
      martial arts for years. Recently, he has been exposed to a
      new level of martial understanding.  Go figure -- he has
      been talking to my teacher. Now, he is discouraged that
      after all these years, he has just scratched the surface.


    * I have started teaching again. The new students, especially
       those switching from other styles, feel frustration that they
       haven't picked up my new style after one class -- not really.
       But they do wonder if they will ever master the art.

   * An anonymous reader wrote in and asked if I could spend
      more time on specific techniques, because 'he' (I am assuming)
       just couldn't learn moves fast enough. He was worried that those
       'above' him at his school knew more techniques than he. He wanted
        to hedge his bet, so to speak.



If I had a little more of the 'fortune-cookie" philosophy attitude about sharing
information, I might respond to the above martial arts letters with one of two
cryptic questions:

1. Are you prepared to take a walk daily for the rest of your life?

2. Can a person learn to defend effectively with only six moves in his
       or her style?


OK, end of lesson. See you, next week.

Just kidding.

Allow me to unravel the above questions a bit more, if you haven't already
guessed their significance.

Question number one has relevance for anyone trying to lose weight. Many
who try to drop the pounds, also begin an exercise regimen. They begin to
walk, in order to facilitate shedding pounds. But it rarely lasts.

One should ask the dieter, "Are you prepared to take a walk daily for the
rest of your life?"


What I mean by the above is that martial arts should be considered a life-long
pursuit. You will continue to progress for the rest of your life. If you ever
feel
as though you know it all, then I suggest you switch styles.

I have a fact that will amaze the newbie martial artists, though those of us
who are seasoned won't be a bit surprised:

A few years ago, in one of my Martial Arts Mastery surveys, I asked the
readers whether they considered themselves beginners, intermediates,
or advanced martial artists. Later in the survey, I also asked how long
they had been studying martial arts.

Now, this is going to 'cork' you ...

The readers who had been studying for 2-4 years, by and large, considered
themselves advanced. OK, no surprise.

But those subscribers who had been practicing for over 20 years pretty
much all considered themselves intermediates, and in some cases,
  just past the beginner stage.

Do you think maybe that once you stick with the arts long enough, once
you realize that you'll be practicing for the rest of your life, you begin to
sense that there will always be a next level, a new understanding to be
achieved.


As for the second question, the answer is 'yes.' You can learn an art with
a limited number of moves.

I have taught folks who quit after a couple of months -- yet some of them
continued to practice what they had learned from me. When I saw them
years later, they had generalized their set of techniques to cover most
self defense situations.

They were very effective.




Two last thoughts:

Ultimately, I would like to be able to have one punch as my self
defense technique. My timing would be so perfect that I could hit
just as the opening appeared. My distance would be close enough
for me to hit, yet because of the timing, my opponent would feel out
of range trying to reach me.

In my ebook "Become the Martial Artist You Were Meant to Be By
Taking Charge of Your Learning," building up your quantity of techniques
is an early stage of martial arts development and paring down
techniques is a more advanced stage. And of course, leaving
technique altogether is ... well reserved for The Bruce Lee ideal.

(FYI -- "Become the Martial Artist You Were Meant to Be By Taking
Charge of Your Learning," is included in the Wrist Locks ePackage.
This particular offer will change soon. And the above ebook will
no longer be included with that particular offer.)

http:www.kerwinbenson.com/wristlocks.html








3.#################################################
  Stop Stretching to Improve (It's not what you think)

This one's easy. Another quick tip...

I am not talking about stretching for flexibility. That kind of stretching
you should do every day.

The kind of stretching you should avoid is the stretching to get out of
the way of an opponent's technique. Not a calculated lean, but a
slightly panic-driven stretch.

The punch comes in, so you take a long lunge step and lean your
body to escape the blow.

You really only needed to move six inches to avoid the punch, but
with leap and lean combined, you have moved a good four feet.

This motion is too big. You open yourself up to all sorts of counters. By
leaning, you lose much of your control, too.

The problem starts when the stance stretches. A seasoned martial
artist maintains the same distance between his or her feet. If one
foot scoots forward, the other snaps forward with it, or just slightly
after the initial step.

If your feet start two feet apart, then they also end two feet apart.

Try to avoid taking a giant step with one foot. If you take a big step
with the other foot remaining stationary, you are almost forced to lean.

There is a reason pro martial artists always look in control of their
bodies. They maintain balance.

No leaning, unless you are playing with distance and
faking your opponent.









4.##################################################
    New Offerings




Only one reader took advantage of the Jason Stanley offer, last week.

Jason really is diligent about providing useful martial arts information
on the Internet.

I encourage you to give his site a look, sign up for his karate tips, and
try out one of his ebooks.

Go now to:

http://www.karatetips.com/fightingsecrets.asp?id=140

(I will also accept submissions for reviews of his products. Buy one of his
ebooks, review it, and if your review is well done, I'll post it with a link to
you, if you want. This is the way to get your link into MAM. This really
is a limited time offer.)


http://www.karatetips.com/fightingsecrets.asp?id=140
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-





Thanks to all who provided poster ideas. I have two new posters
for you to download. But as promised -- those who to offered
ideas get first peek.

I'll send a link for the rest of you in a few days.

One poster has a quote, as several of you requested. The other
sums up a martial philosophy that is the foundation efficiency
in martial arts.

Both have the same image -- one in purple, the other in green.

Enjoy.

(I'll email the link in a few days.)
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-





Do you track with your punches?

Does your hand follow the movement of your opponent's head?

On Thursday, a new article on tracking will be posted at
http:www.AdvantageMartialArts.com

No cost to download, but it won't be active until Thursday.

Stay tuned.

Warning: Don't track, until you read this article.









5.##################################################
    Trusting My Wife's Martial Arts -- Stranded with Her Car


Sometimes, you have to trust in your wife's ability.

This past week, Kate called after school, to let me know that she
had car problems on the highway. She was calling from a pay phone
outside our local home improvement store. She had to walk almost
3 miles from her car to the phone.

[No, we are not cell phone users -- on purpose -- but that's another story.]

I offered to come and get her.

She said that a tow truck was on its way. She estimated it was about
1/2 an hour away.

After three hours, she still wasn't home. So, my daughter and I took a
drive to see if we could help her. She wasn't where she said the car
had stalled. The car wasn't there either.

We drove slowly, looking around, to the home improvement center. She wasn't
there. So,
Quinn and I drove home.

No Kate.

At this point, do you worry about your wife?

Going on 5 hours?

My mother was so worried, she couldn't attend the symphony, that
evening. She sat glued to her phone.

As everyone feared the worst, I was fairly confident nobody had accosted
her, even though we have had several female abductions in our area
recently (including 'Brooke').

But I was confident of her martial arts abilities. And I knew she'd lock the
door when she was in the car -- so nobody would sneak up on her.

My only concern was that some medication she is on would make it
impossible for her to make the walk back to her car.  I worried just a
bit that she could faint on the road. And she does occasionally forget
to eat lunch.

Just a little worried, I guess.

So, I used the law enforcement agency in that jurisdiction to track
her down.

She was fine. One tow truck couldn't find her, so the sheriff had found her
and sent another for her. That's all.


I kept telling folks that I had faith in her martial ability.

Well...




Today my wife had to use her self defense abilities ... after all.

She walked out of her classroom today and two boys were in a
violent fight.

Kate is petite ... 5'2" and under 120 lbs.    The young men were high school
students. One a football player.

Before my wife entered the fray, there were heads being smashed
against lockers, blood on the floor, and a crowd of students watching
the beating.

My wife practically had to take one of them on. She separated the
two a little forcefully.

One took off running.

The other was swinging wildly as he was pulled off. Kate instinctively
controlled the football player with an arm bar.

He turned. His head had been rattled. He was seeing red.

He was ready to attack, even though he didn't realize he was facing a
teacher. Kate was ready.

Suddenly one of Kate's students, a friend of the fighter, wrapped his
arms around the kid and held on until the kid calmed down.

One kid was taken off to jail (police station, I assume), and the other had
to make a trip to the hospital.

As I said, 15 yrs. of martial arts practice serves her well enough
that I don't worry for her safety.

May you have or gain such confidence in your martial abilities.






6.##################################################
   Important Links By Request


"10 Days to Better Knife Fighting" -- $29.95

http://www.AdvantageMartialArts.com/knifefighting.html
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-






Learn to joint lock and arm bar like a master. Read
about "Wrist Locks: From Protecting Yourself to Becoming
an Expert." Now available in eBook format too, for an
instant download:
  http://www.kerwinbenson.com/wristlocks.html

-=-=-=-=--



Fr!ee

Special 9-part Hand-to-Hand Combat Course

For a limited time, our subscribers can sign up for
this hand to hand combat course. Your email address
is as safe as it is for Martial Arts mastery. It
will never be sold or traded.

You receive one course per day in your inbox. It gives
you something interesting to look forward to. Sign up now.

Send a blank email to:

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Note: Tell me if you don't get one course a day for
        nine days.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-





Discover the "Secrets of Teaching Martial Arts More
Effectively." This  book is available as an
eBook from Kerwin Benson Publishing. Read more about
it and its three very valuable bonuses:

  http://www.kerwinbenson.com/secrets_of_teaching_mart.html

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?The most constant thing in life is change. Everything that has been
mummified belongs to the past. Mummification is a blockage in the
body, there is no spirit. We are all alive and need to progress and go
beyond?? ? Morne Swanepoel

In all of my training and experiences, the one area of the martial
arts that frightens me the most is the knife. It is hard to convey the
ugliness of the knife as a weapon. Anyone, trained-untrained,
man-woman, is at a significant advantage with a knife and a great
disadvantage against one.

So, how do we prepare ourselves for this fatal encounter?

REALITY is the key here, as most martial artists train primarily to
defend against a face to face ?Hollywood? type knife attack. We need
to distinguish between that which looks good for demonstration
purposes and that which will work in actual knife fight. Look at the
way you are training. You need to develop your training to gain the
necessary skills and attributes to deal with high-speed blade attacks.
Training with edged weapons is virtually useless unless it is balanced
out with experience. We get this experience via resistance training or
through actual sparring. Reality knife fighting occurs at combative
speed and this is where we need to be functional & effective. This
doesn?t mean that you should neglect the various drills that allow for
creative, relaxed and playful training.

When you are in a confrontation that can cost you your life, you have
no excuses for not having prepared as thoroughly as possible in your
training. This means that your training exploration has to involve
everything that works in a full resistance environment, and that you
have to thoroughly prepare yourself for these defensive and offensive
tactics. Martial Artists tend to focus on self-defence rather than
offensive tactics. So why then should you train in


offensive knife fighting skills? You need to understand the offensive
elements in order to develop defensive tactics for any offensive
techniques you might encounter. Knowledge of weapons working will give
you an advantage if you must defend yourself against one.

You must always consider surrendering whenever a weapon is used,
unless you believe that doing so will place you in greater danger.
This is by no means cowardly reaction. Your possessions can be
replaced ? your life cannot. There can only be one winner in a knife
fight and more often than not there are two losers. There is an old
saying that says ? When two tigers fight, the one will die today, the
other dies tomorrow due to all it?s wounds it suffered?

Don?t just dismiss training with weapons because you think that you?ll
never use them and that you will be able to avoid this type attack in
the street. You will gain more insight, be more prepared for any
situation, improve your attributes, and its loads of fun. Training
with weapons is part of becoming the best that you can be.

Morne Swanepoel
President Jeet Kune Do Unlimited ? South Africa
President World Taiji Boxing Association ? South Africa
Website www.jkdu.co.za
Email morne@....

The only way to generate chi energy into jing is to be in state of
enlightment, love, and confidence. The divine receiption of this love
and enlightment must be strong. It is easily perceivable through
through the eyes. Love is the light that radiates generates jing power
in such a way that it can be felt over a distance. On one such
occassion, I was demonstrating the relationship between chi and jing
and how to generate jing by summoning chi to a student. I felt an
unusual excitement and enthusiam about demonstrating this concept. The
energy tunneled at him, and he attempted to resist the energy flow, he
exclaimed and shook his hand in pain. Obviously feeling a sharp pain.
I realized the more chi that could be summon the great the jing force.
Once rooted and connected to light great amounts of energy can be
projected.

The expression of jing is a conscience choice. One can be content in
the accumulation of chi. Chi can accumulate strengthen the inner self.
The result is a deep sense of balance, satisfication, and health. That
is not to say that chi can not be transformed at will into power. The
highest goal is to desire to be filled full of love and have no
compelling need to attack against aggression. Peace and harmony
dictate the way we act. Actions must seek to return to an equilbrium
or to a state of peace and harmony. This spiritual discipline is
developed through correct martial art's training and practice.
Portions of love and enlightment are manifested during training.
Martial art training without the desire to experience light and love
is meaningless. The desire to achieve enlightenment and love comes
through self discipline and focus. One can learn from the martial art
movements themselves gaining insight and understanding into the
profoundness of life. It is the desire to live in peace and harmony
that creates the greatest fullifillment for a martial artist. By
believing in this goal, it becomes easy to practice daily and for long
periods of time and without the need to compete for a victory. The
time spent is not punishment but an effort to achieve higher planes of
spiritual awareness.

There may come a time, you are confronted by a person who does not
have light in their eyes. Their eyes may seem cold and devoid of light
and love. It is their personal envy, jealousy, and covetness with make
them feel empty. They can create a piercing and shocking sensation.
Don't become angry maintain stronger love. Love your enemies is more
powerful than hate them that dispise you. Internally, if you main love
and enlightment the amount of available chi energy available will
increase. Mental control of Jing will become available if there is any
real physical danger with the effects being devasting. The internal
vibration is the secret to kempo. This power can be projected and felt
over a distance. Maintain soft eyes, focus, and love in your heart.
Don't yield to fear or anger. Seek to return to a state of peace and
harmony. Eventually, this person will need to be helped before its to
late. Hopefully you will believe "Peace law" is far more powerful than
"fist law".

Karumijutsu - the escape pattern (Kempo foot work)
by David Nishimoto

Footwork provides the evasive qualities of kempo. A weight
distribution of 50 percent between the front and back legs serves no
purpose. Kempo uses a 60/40 distribution between the front and back
leg. In a reverse cover the weight distribution of 40/60. A cat stance
changes the weight to 20/80 between the front and back leg. The width
of the stance is shoulder width. Wide stances reduce mobility and slow
down response. The weight of the body is distributed on the ball of
the foot. The heel maintains contact with the ground, but the weight
move from the center of the foot to the ball of the foot.

Kempo Karate has an ancient form called "Sets" designed to teach the
student lightness. The set works to create lightness throughout
advancing and retreating movement, pivoting, and advancing and
retreating stances with punches and kicks. The "Set" improves balance,
coordination, and speed and encourages the student to focus on
footwork. The cadence of the set is an eight count with portions of
the set done in a half count. The last series in the "set" requires
the practitioner to perform side step crossovers both front and in
back. The feel of combat concentration and power is reveal by the
"Set" to the student. The eight count is counted aloud in a robust
manner and the students move in symmetry to the count.

The principles of the "Ancient Set" demonstrate how the feel can be
used like a spring increasing speed. Basically, the foot is the spring
to move the body forward or backward. As the tempo of the exercise is
increased, the practitioner will expert a certain degree of lightness
and greater mobility by applying this principle. Additionally,
pivoting is doing on the ball of the foot and not the heel. After each
pivot the individual returns to a kempo stance with a weight
distribution of 60 percent on the front leg and 40 percent on the back
leg. This stance is called a right or left cover stance.

One of the first movements taught to a student is called the right of
left 45. The most dangerous part of a punch is at the end. So logical
its better not to meet force with force, but to evade the income
force. The diagonal 45 degree movement allows the practitioner either
to move outside or inside dangerous force, while maintaining a counter
strike distance. The movement along the diagonal can be either forward
of back. Sometimes when moving in a backward diagonal, the opponent
own movement is accelerated into the practitioner's counter strike.
This makes the counter strike more deadly because the opponent is
helping compound the degree of injury. The 45 degree diagonal forms a
triangular relationship between the individual and the opponent. The
practitioner is put in the strongest possible position, and the
opponent is in the weakest most vulnerable position. If the
practitioner is inside or outside the vector of force, the greatest
opportunities for throwing or controlling exist.

The next foot work exercise, is the half turn. The half turn rotates
the body 90 degrees. It moves the body around the opponent. For
example, the first half turn can be combined with a elbow strike to
the ribs, the second movement extends a step into a right cover behind
the opponent; and drops the opponent to the ground with twist pivot to
a horse with the right forearm to upper body; the end result is the
opponent falls over the practitioners right leg. The foot work -
changes the position of the practitioner and puts the opponent in
vulnerable positions where principles of leverage can be applied.

Torque is an important power principle in kempo. The cross behind
stance allows the individual to spin 180 degrees into the opponent.
The spin is done on the balls of the feet allow balance and speed to
combine. Entry into the spin puts the individual into a weak stance.
However, the element of surprise combined with the power of the circle
reduced the chances of failure. Before a spin technique is engaged,
its important to have stunned the opponent. Otherwise, the opponent
could stop the spin by jamming at the back of the shoulder blade
exposing: the spine, back of the knee, ribs, neck, and throat (body
manipulation).

The fastest movement occurs along the outer perimeter of a circle. The
end of the elbow follows an arch path along the outer perimeter of the
circle, maximizing the force of impact. A followup chop compounds the
damage of the elbow strike and provides the continuation of movement
in the direction of the strike. The continuation makes kempo extremely
dangerous.

Side to Side movement is not preferred in counter striking; however,
side to side movement is excellent movement to open up the opponent
for a grappling entry. Sometime side to side movement can be used to
lure the opponent to kick. Once the kick is extended, entry for a take
down becomes possible. The risk in side to side movement is the amount
of body area exposed to the opponent. The horse stance or cover
stances are preferred.

Light foot work, allows the practitioner to move inside the right
range and outside the fight range. The ability to change remain light
makes the hand and foot strikes appear effortless. Whether your at the
center of the wheel or the perimeter it doesn't matter. Understanding
the dynamics of both positions should be at the heart of the practice.
Sometimes it makes sense to be in the center, and sometimes it makes
sense to be on the outside.

Aloha everyone

My name is Sensei J. Richard Kirkham B.Sc.. This is
only meant as an introduction please call me Rick as I
find titles and ranks pretty much meaningless except
for the purpose of introduction.

I've been in martial arts now a little over 30 years
(ouch!). I've trained in several kung-fu and karate
styles and did a little boxing. As I can recall Sho Ba
Kan Kempo karate, Kongo Do karate, Mika Do (for lack
of a better term), Cobra Kai kung-fu, some Aki
Jujitsu, a very small amount of Aikido, some other
miscellaneous arts, Bump and Bruise don't do that
again Do.

I spent a little time when I was younger fighting full
contact but nothing official. The style I now teach is
the Universal System of Self-Defense.

  I have a degree in physical education with a
background in Movement Education, Exercise Phys,
Kinese, Alternative Teaching Methods, Behavior
Modification with an emphasis on Positive
Reinforcement Methodology (see Raising Your Child to
be More Positive and More Confident).

I spent four years or so self-employed full time as an
in home tutor specializing in students with behavioral
problems primarily ADD and ADHD and an in home
self-defense instructor.

Recently I sent all the martial arts yahoo groups I
belong to for enjoyment of discussions and business
(in that order) an article I thought would educate and
promote discussions.

I actually had one moderator flame me and accuse me of
spam even though I was a member of the group and the
subject was on topic

Modern Teaching Methods of an Ancient Art, A Humble
Courtesy to All Martial Arts Instructors Your Martial
Arts Ezine Issue 21


http://kirkhamsebooks.8m.com/TeachingAncientArt.html

If sending links to martial arts articles in this
group is a problem please let me know to avoid this
type of situation again.

To continue my background, I've been trained in sales
and have been in a sales related health field over 15
years now.

I'm an ebook author and have several popular ebooks on
the market. I have three martial arts ezines, Kwik
Tips, The Martial Arts Ezine, and the Combat Martial
Arts Ezine. I'd be happy to share Kwik Tips with you.
It's short, to the point and could get some
discussions going.

I just finished upgrading a workout timer program I
wrote. You can download it at

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/KirkhamsEbooks2

/files/MartialArtsSoftware/

I'm 45, married, with a five year old who had quite an
adventure his first day of kindergarten


WARNING TO PARENTS
http://starbulletin.com/2004/08/12/news/story3.html


I train quite a bit on my own now (see Solo Martial
Arts Drills) with weekly to twice a week training
partners. I train primarily for realism, situational
training, and fitness (wouldn't know it by looking at
me but see Exercise Kwik Tips Ebook).

Guess that's about it

Mahalo
Rick
http://kirkhamsebooks.8m.com/MartialArtsPortal.html

http://InternalEnergyStrikesEbook.8m.com

http://MartialArtsDrillsEbook.8m.com

http://SoloMartialArtsDrillsEbook.8m.com A few pics of
me here.

Self confidence usually is based on how well or not so well we've
done in previous situations. This end product is how we feel about
ourselves. Our self worth is based upon our previous performance. We
all tend to base our own personal values on how successfully we
perform in different situations and we often require perfect
performance of ourselves. If we don't live up to our perfect
standards, we end up lowering our values of ourselves. We're heavily
influenced by our society which values flawless performance and
places great emphasis on winning and performing perfectly. We often
lose sight of the fact that we can value ourselves in spite of
making mistakes. While it is only natural to care about performing
as well as we can, it is also important to learn to feel good about
ourselves just for who we are, mistakes and all. It's probably good
to get back to the feeling we had as children. As children, we had
self confidence without even questioning it. We were valued for just
being people, for just being in this world. The value that other
people placed on us and that which we placed on ourselves had very
little to do with how well we did or how well we performed. As
adults we often believe we must continually justify our place in the
world, that we have to somehow prove to other people that we are
worthy of their esteem and through their eyes we can, therefore,
prove to ourselves that we are really valuable. Often we spend
excessive amounts of time doing that and we lose sight of the basic
fact that we are usually all right just as we are, in spite of the
fact that we are not perfect.

How can we go about increasing our self confidence, when we find it
decreasing? There are a number of things we can do. One thing that
often helps people who are feeling low, is making a list of the
things that they do like about themselves. By making a list like
this we can sometimes rediscover those very likable qualities about
ourselves that we often take for granted. Another thing we can do
when we are feeling low is to take some time to do something nice
for ourselves, something we find enjoyment in. We can take the time
to treat ourselves with fondness and kindness, as we would a dear
and valued friend.

Another interesting thing is that it is easy to forget that there
are things that we do well. Continued frustration or attempting
things that we have difficulty with can lead to feelings of
clumsiness and inadequacy. It doesn't take long when we experience
these feelings to find our self confidence seems to have decreased.
One thing we might do at this time is to make a list of the things
that we do well and to do one of these things on the list everyday.
It has been shown that although this method of increasing our self
confidence sounds simple, it is often very effective.

One of the things mentioned earlier is very important to watch out
for. When our successful or our good feelings are dependent upon
others approval of us, we are placing all of our value in someone
else's hands. This means our self confidence is totally dependent on
how other people feel or act toward us. This is what children do out
of necessity, because they don't have the inner resources as we do
as adults. But as adults, we can begin to learn how to give
ourselves confident feelings and to maintain them. Being aware of
what a vulnerable thing it is to put our whole self worth into
someone else's hand, might help to avoid this pitfall. Maintaining
our self worth or self confidence might also require reminding
ourselves of the things that we value in ourselves, keeping in mind
those qualities we really appreciate. Sometimes it helps going to a
long and trusted friend or spouse and talking over our feelings of
discouragement. In the process of talking with someone else, we
might begin to recall the valuable things about us or be reminded of
them by our friend.

Finally, another way to rebuild our self confidence is to try doing
and risking things that we've never tried before. It's always a
little bit of a challenge in doing new things and just the act of
accepting these challenges, some little and some big, whether we are
successful or not, often increases our self confidence.

What about people who have already tried these things that were
mentioned and who still have questions or concerns about their self
confidence? Temporary fluctuations in our feelings of self
confidence are fairly common, they happen to most of us. However, if
our self confidence is low for a prolonged period of time or our
mood shifts quite often, it might be very important to seek
professional help. One thing that might be happening is that we
never really developed a good, solid concept of ourselves as we were
growing up and so as result, we don't have a firm, positive concept
of ourselves to build on. A mental health professional can be very
helpful in our establishing a positive self image. There are mental
health agencies in your community you may wish to contact if you
would like to further discuss the area of self confidence.

1) Low Self Esteem Not To Blame!

We now know that all the ills of society cannot be blamed on low-
self esteem (Prof Nicholas Emler - The Rowntree Report 2001).
According to the latest research, low self esteem is not to blame
for nearly as many problems as has traditionally been thought.

2) High Self Esteem Linked to Criminality

It is now clear that too high self esteem or 'High Self Esteem
Disorder' is often more of a problem. (This is NOT merely
a 'disguised' form of low self-esteem, as commonly thought). So, if
you are the victim of a bully then you can rest assured you don't
have to feel sorry for them.

Hundreds of pieces of reliable research now show that bullies and
many criminals are much more likely to suffer from unrealistically
high self esteem and impulse control problems than low self esteem.
An exaggerated sense of entitlement - expecting much from many
situations - is more likely to lead to frustration and aggressive,
antisocial, or even criminal behaviour.

3) A Little More Uncertainty Can Help

Contrary to popular opinion, people with low self-esteem are always
very sure of themselves.

This manifests in their conviction that they are worthless or
inadequate. As you will know if you have ever tried to argue with
someone who puts themselves down continually, it is very hard to do!
When someone with low self esteem becomes less sure of their own
opinion of themselves and therefore begins to assess counter
evidence regarding their worthlessness, their self image begins to
become more healthy.

4) You Can't Argue Someone Better!

Telling some one they are great or wonderful when they are
constantly negative about themselves will not work. Arguing with
someone who is so sure of themselves does not work, as we all know.
You will just break rapport with that person. We have all met people
who feel more comfortable in relationships with people who treat
them badly - because that person seems to see things they way they
do.

People with low self esteem can be upset by 'disconfirming
feedback.' In other words if something happens which indicates that
they may not be as terrible as they thought, it can feel disturbing
as it contradicts their way of perceiving. Healthy self esteem needs
to emerge subtly, not as a sudden result of hearing you are 'really
special' or 'fantastic'.

People need proof that unsettles the certainty that they are
so 'defective' or inadequate and leads to a more realistic and
balanced self-assessment. This can only happen when they become
calmer and more relaxed so that they can observe themselves more
objectively and less emotionally. When ever we are highly emotional
our perception is distorted ('emotional hijacking') when people calm
down around the idea of themselves then a healthier self-esteem can
emerge!

5) Child Abuse Increases Likelihood of Low Self Esteem

People who were abused as children (physical beating or sexual
abuse) are more likely to suffer unrealistic low self esteem as
adults. This is because of constant repetition of a 'message' that
they are of little value or just an object to be used. In a way they
have been 'brain washed' by constant criticism or abuse that they
are a certain way.

When a person begins to question this former conditioning or
brainwashing then a healthier and more accurate sense of self can
begin to emerge. However the person may have to be de-traumatised so
the emotional brain responds differently in future (rather than
solely learning to think differently about stuff). However the way
we think and our assumptions need to be observed, understood and if
necessary challenged. (explanatory styles)

(Note: Most people who have low self esteem were not abused as
children.)

6) Healthy Pleasures Are Vital

We need to engage in activities which we enjoy and in which we
can 'lose ourselves' regularly. The better one's sense of themselves
the less they tend to use words like 'me, myself, I, mine' (personal
pronouns) Someone's mental and even, to some extent, physical health
can be directly related to how 'self-referential' they are in their
conversation - as people become healthier they use the 'I' word
less, in the same way that when your knee stops hurting you don't
need to rub it any more.

People should be encouraged to focus their attention away from
themselves as well as to be able to take their own needs into
account. A healthy balance should be encouraged as should the
development of real practical skills. Real responsibility should be
encouraged so that self-worth can respond to external evidence on an
ongoing basis.

7) Make the Most of Success

Low self esteem requires a particular attitude towards success.
Whenever you succeed at something, you must 'write it off' as good
luck, chance, or someone else's responsibility.

To gain a more realistic view of yourself, you need to take
appropriate credit for your successes. In the Self Confidence
Trainer, we call this skill 'Converting'.

This involves learning how to convert real successes into statements
about yourself. The other part of the picture is to view perceived
failures as temporary and not statements about your 'core identity'.

8) Build on Solid Foundations

For anyone to be psychologically and physicaly healthy on an ongoing
basis, there are a set of requirements that must be built into life.
This is the checklist I use with my patients:

1. The need to give and receive attention
2. Taking care of the mind-body connection
3. The need for meaning, purpose and goals
4. The need for a connection to something greater than ourselves
5. The need for creativity and stimulation
6. The need for intimacy and connection
7. The need for a sense of control

Of course, it is likely that at any one time, one or more of these
may be slightly lacking in your life, without dire consequences.
However, in the long-term, they must all be catered for one way or
another.

9) Characteristics of Genuinely Low Self Esteem

Social withdrawal
Anxiety and emotional turmoil
Lack of social skills and self confidence. Depression and/or bouts
of sadness
Less social conformity
Eating disorders
Inability to accept compliments
An Inability to see yourself 'squarely' - to be fair to yourself
Accentuating the negative
Exaggerated concern over what they imagine other people think
Self neglect
Treating yourself badly but NOT other people
Worrying whether you have treated others badly
Reluctance to take on challenges
Reluctance to trust your own opinion
Expect little out of life for yourself

10) It's not just about Positive Thinking!

Positive Thinking can be useful in that it challenges you to form a
different view on things. However, most of the time it just takes
the form of arguing with yourself, and as we've seen from 4) above,
this doesn't work.

For your image of yourself to change, you need to believe in an
alternative opinion of yourself, not just repeat platitudes about
how great you are really!

Article by Mark Tyrrell, co-author of the Self Confidence Trainer

Everybody needs a confidence boost sometimes, so here are a few tips.

1) Feel good when you want !

When you need to boost your self confidence or self esteem, find 3
things that make you feel good. The could be memories of good times,
a piece of music, a holiday souvenir, or a persons face - use photos
if it helps. Practise thinking about them and bringing them to mind.

Developing self confidence that lasts-because of the way emotions
attach themselves to memories, you will quickly train yourself to
feel good when you want - a great help !

2) Beat Sel Consciousness

Self consciousness is the NO. 1 enemy of self confidence . Lean how
to keep attention off yourself. You can easily do this byfollowing
these steps.

a) If you notice you have become self concious, choose something
everyday you can see and studdy it in detail. For example examine a
door, look at the different textures and shades of color, wonder
about who made it, and how they made it and so on. The important
thing is your learning to keep your attention off yourself.

b) If you feel self conscious in a situation, its usually because
you dont have enough to do ! Focus on what your purpose in the
situation is. Whether you're there to: Find out if you like the
other people in the situation, make others feel comfortable, find
out some information, make business contacts or so on and so on.

It's easy to feel self-conscious if you have nothing to do, and much
more difficult if your attention is occupied by a task.

Think how comfortable you have been with otherswhen youre all
working towards a common goal. The common goal of socialising could
be making friends, it could be the exchange of mutually beneficial
information, it could be what ever you want it to be.

3)Dont Take Undue Criticism - Even from yourself !

Change your assumptions. Heres a few to get you started.
a) Confident-looking people have bad moments too.

b) Just because you feel under confident dosnt mean other people can
tell.

c) If your saying things to yourself like "Your no good at anything"
then rest assured you're wrong.

d) Just because you have felt bad about yourself in the past doesnt
mean your always going to feel that way ! (Build self confidence)

e)Learn how to develope your self confidence by following tips or
taking a self confidence course.

Good Luck
Steve

P.S
Does anyone else have any tips?

Thanks for sharing this with us, I hope we will recieve more nice
articles. Cool she defended herself. Way to go. I was wondering what
martial art skills do you all have? Please share them with me. Thanks
angelhuggz

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Contents:

1.  Heads Up From your Editor

2.  A Reaction Experiment

3.  Tabled Eye Jabs

4. When an Innocent Gets Pushed

5. Finally -- Teen Defends Herself!!

6. Updated Important Links Section

Housekeeping: Subscribe, unsubscribe, contact us, etc.


1.##################################################
   Heads Up From your Editor

No responses last week on whether or not you prefer the
shorter format of this ezine.

Hmmm.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--==-



Good news!

You get to do a little experimenting this week.

You'll devise an experiment to figure out where to look, when facing an
opponent.  Yes, yes -- you know to look out of the corner of your eye, but
where exactly should you focus your gaze? It will only take you a few minutes
to discover the best spot (Section #2).

Sections #3 and #4 seem like scenario training. OK, they are good
scenarios for practice. Try these situations, and pay attention to the advice
about telegraphs.

In Section #5, I want to tell you about a news report -- something that
happened to a 17 yr. old young woman, last week. Don't worry -- the
true story has a decent ending.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-





Remember, I said I'd tell you about Jason Stanley.

Finally, I am ready.

Jason Stanley owns http://www.KarateTips.com?id=140

Many of you study more traditional martial arts. Even though
I said in the beginning of Martial Arts Mastery that I wasn't going
to focus on the traditional, some of you would still prefer some
positive mention of the traditional arts, from time to time.

Well, Jason has the answer with his ezine and his products.

I was going to preview one of his ebooks, but I have compatibility issues,
since I am on a MacIntosh. It will have to wait for another day.

Don't wait for me.  Let me know what you think...

http://www.karatetips.com/fightingsecrets.asp?id=140


PS Jason ran a special for my 'Wrist Locks' ebook to his list. It was
very well received.

Thanks, Jason.


-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-




Thanks everyone for the wonderful poster ideas. I am working on a
few of designs, when I have some spare moments.

The first poster should be ready by next week. It might be a good idea to let
those who submitted ideas to be the first to download the poster(s).

Call it a reward for such creative inspiration.

Thank you again. I appreciate the suggestions -- they were
very well thought out.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-





I have been on a hiatus from teaching martial arts classes for
most of the year. It has been great spending my time writing
martial information.

But the break is over. After too many phone calls to count, I have
finally given in.

Tomorrow morning, I am going to go at it, once again.

Just wanted to let you know in advance -- I'll probably have some
comment about the condition of my sore muscles, next week.
We'll see.


Until next week's report on the cold, morning class,


			 Keith Pascal, editor

PS I'd like to beg off one more week on the Copperfield security report.
It really was phenomenal; I want to find the correct way to relate what I
observed.






2.##################################################
   A Reaction Experiment

Bruce Matheson wrote in after reading a tip in 'The Punch Papers'
ePackage about looking at your opponent out of the corner of your eye.

Bruce wants to know if you should focus on your opponent or look
past him (or her).

In my opinion, one way does work better than the other. Rather than giving
you a pat answer, which you might or might not incorporate into your
repertoire, I thought you might like to devise an easy experiment.

Grab a partner.

Put him or her at the edge of your range. Your opponent would 'almost'
have to take a step to reach you.

Now, get in your fighting stance -- or ready stance (bai jong, for the JKD
folk).

Turn your head sideways. Look at your opponent out of the corner or your
eye. You have seen Bruce Lee affect this pose in his movies.

Your partner punches for your face at half speed.

You will have one of two reactions:

    * If you are from a 'blocking style,' then you will block the arm that is
slowly
       punching at you.

   * If you follow the Bruce Lee philosophy, then you will 'tap' the forehead
      or the chest with your fingertips.




By either blocking the hand or tapping the chest, you stop your opponent.
As soon as your partner feels your touch, he (or she) should stop moving.

Now, you are set for the experiment.

You will look out of the corner of your eye.

Your opponent starts to punch at you.

You stop the attack by either lightly blocking the punch, or by directly tapping
the head or chest of your partner.

Try the exercise a few times. The attack should be slow enough that you
always stop it before it reaches your face.

Now, it's time to add the variable.

Each time, your partner advances at the same pace. That's a constant, even
though you vary the rhythm of when the movement starts. This way, you don't
know when the attack is coming in.

Sometimes, you look at the trunk of your opponent's body. Other times, you
focus past your partner, and try to encompass the entire body in  your focus.

Those are the two variables. Sometimes focus 'on' the body, other times
focus 'past' the body.

Each time, you stop the advance of the fist the same way -- block if you
are a blocker or directly hit, if that's your preference.

Examine the stopped fist.

How far did it progress toward the target?

Were you able to stop it earlier by focusing one way or the other?

You decide.

It's worth experimenting.

Stick with the method that allows you to react quickly.









3.##################################################
  Tabled Eye Jabs


You put your crystal glass down on the table. Your attacker sits or
stands on the other side of the table or bar.

Suddenly, he moves on you. He attacks.

What do you do?

Normally, we'd say something like:

     * Dump the table on him

    * Push the table into him

   * Re-grab the glass and throw the liquid into his face

   * Re-grab the glass and throw the glass into his face

   * Forget grabbing again -- just hit the glass into his face


Ahem. It's a crystal glass -- your great grandmother's. No breaking
allowed, unless you want to break her heart, your grandmother's
heart, and your mother ... well, she'll understand, but she will guilt you
for the rest of your life.

So, breaking the crystal is forbidden.

(No, I don't speak from experience.)

So, the question is...

Can you move straight from setting down your glass into an eye jab?

Don't retract your hand at all.

Don't move your shoulder first.

The jab heads straight to the eyes. As the jab reaches its range limit, it
almost pulls you forward across the table. The jab has a will of its own.

It yanks you into range.


You lean just enough to reach your attacker -- who should be leaning
in anyway, since "he" is attacking you..

Interesting scenario?

I have spent the last two days working through variations on setting
something down and then using the same hand to attack. You could
always use the other hand, but for this exercise, I am trying to respond
with a smooth attack of my own. Only forward movement allowed.

Can you eye jab from having your hand on the table, without moving
any other part of your body first?










4.##################################################
When an Innocent Gets Pushed


You are fighting a meanie.

In the middle of the fight, the bad guy pushes an innocent into your path.

Have you planned how you will react?

'Claiming' that you will gently set "grandma" to one side and 'actually '
being able to break her fall are two different things. Especially if you
expect to move afterwards.

You have to guide her to safety and still defend.

Practice for this in your martial arts routine.

Invent an exercise where mid-spar someone ( a third party) falls
into you.

You have to help this person and continue to defend yourself.

Practice fighting in a crowd of fellow students. (Don't go into a
real crowd, for obvious reasons.)

Have folks jostle into you as you defend yourself from one or
more attackers.

Practice dealing with innocents without skipping a beat in your
own self defense.












5.##################################################
     Finally -- Teen Defends Herself!!

On Monday, October 5th, our newspaper reported on an incident
that occurred the day before.

A seventeen year old young woman was walking to work toward the
mall, where my family goes to see movies.

A blue pick-up truck decided -- or actually the guy inside decided -- that
she was a 'good catch.'

So, the man slowed his truck and asked if she needed a ride.

At this point, I am sure her "hinky-feeling radar" went into full force.
She declined the ride.

He continued to follow her in his truck. Weirdo.

Rather than continuing to walk to work, she went to the nearest apartment
building and pounded on doors begging for help.

I am sad to say, that even my town is getting too big for folks to open the
door and offer aid to an unknown. Sad.

Nobody helped her.

The guy cornered the young woman and tried to force her into his truck.




Conclusion to the story:

She used her pocket knife.

She jabbed  her knife straight into his chest.

He turned, got in his truck and fled -- with the knife still protruding
from his chest.

The police are still looking for a guy ... with a chest wound.

Kudos to the teen. She did a great job.










6.##################################################
  Important Links




Are you interested in punching harder, faster, and more
efficiently?

'The Punch Papers' is a collection of 40+ articles about punching,
taken and modified from THIS ezine.

Oh, and there are 5 new chapters too.

http:www.kerwinbenson.com/punchpapers.html


-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--



There is a new Punch Sampler for only $8.95
at http://www.PunchHarder.com

-=-=-=-=-=-=-





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I, too would like to thank you for the invite. My name is David
Mitchell, & I live in Western Colorado. I have studied a few Martial
Arts, but I'd love to return to Judo. I have a group dedicated to
grappling, & I'll post it in the links section.

--- In TechniquesofCombat@yahoogroups.com, "Larry Mahlberg"
<regularguy01@y...> wrote:
>
> Nice site, glad you finally got around to making it, now I will
help
> you find members. Im sure there are many wanting to learn more
about
> martial arts !
> Larry

How did you find me?
I am always curious how people find me on the net.

Anyway, I have studied many styles, starting as a child I studied a
combined or hybridized style called nija-isshinryu. I was pretty
young so I didn't really grow too much with it.
Later I took Tae Kwan Do. I love the work out but was impatient. the
classes were 55 minutes of floor work and 5 minutes of sparring. We
also touched on Hapkido. LOVED IT! Didn't do it enough. I really
started to get impatient with not getting enough sparring.
Later I took a few classes at Rutgers to see if I was interested in
other styles. I tried Aikido and Jujitsu. They were not for me. The
amount of precision required in a simple thing like foot placement
would determine whether you were throwing or getting thrown. Again, I
wasn't patient enough and felt if the moves were that critical then
they wereen't robust enough for real-life situations unless you
invested years in developing the muscle-memmory.
All along I was interested in a style I saw demonstrated on ESPN2
called Dim Mak. I could not find any classes or instructors in New
Jersey though so I am still looking for that.
I did find some good books on it however and have been reading them
and trying to learn on my own.
I haven't been associated with any school or style in years. I have
been simply hitting and kicking the heavy bag in the gym and wishing
I could find the style that suits me.. If anyone knows a Dim Mak
instructor let me know!
Larry

hello  thanks  for letting me in .,
   i have trained in  1 style or anther since i was 16
and am 37 now.
   aikido , wrestling, tkd, boxing, ishinryu , kick
boxing and bjj.
  not  the worlds best  but  for a smaller man i  hold
my own lol.
    now living and training in  phoenix az. hope i can
do a couple  of the rage in the cage events before i
turn 40.
   i am  165lb 5ft8in could use some people to spar
with to  tighten my skills.,
   ok thanks again  later all.

Please feel free to tell us your interest in martial arts, what
martial art techniques have you practiced? I would love to hear what
your doing with this hobby or should I say Skill?
I have posted some links to my personal sites from years ago as well
as a few photos, feel free to ad your sites and photos as well.
You may create martial art files when if ever you have something you
would like to leave on our site for others to see.
As for me i like grappling and ji jitsu. I am also the creator of
Kumijitsu. I can explain more about that later on. Meanwhile please
introduce yourselves.
Steve

Nice site, glad you finally got around to making it, now I will help
you find members. Im sure there are many wanting to learn more about
martial arts !
Larry

Thanks for invite steve, hope to learn more about your martial art
techniques of combat. Mom

Hello,

This email message is a notification to let you know that
a file has been uploaded to the Files area of the TechniquesofCombat
group.

   File        : /Jiu Jitsu
   Uploaded by : techniquesofcombat <techniquesofcombat@...>
   Description : Introduction to the theory of brazalian jiu jitsu by : Steve
Uriarte

You can access this file at the URL:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TechniquesofCombat/files/Jiu%20Jitsu

To learn more about file sharing for your group, please visit:
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Regards,

techniquesofcombat <techniquesofcombat@...>