Don't Go Into the Tall Grass

Today's blogpost is insprired by the gooshy feeling-filled Jurassic Park III... which, odly seems better than Jurassic Park II, but it is yet incomplete.

As I watch I find myself using all of my prvious Jurassic Park Universe knowledge to try and yell out to the actors. "Don't go into the tall grass." This was Ian (Jeff Goldbloom)'s warning in the second movie. Granted, in this movie, the raptors are following Dr. Grant because the young Billy stole Raptor eggs, impulsively and in a misguided altruism. But there is a point to Ian's advice. Ian KNEW that only death waited in the long grass in the middle of the island. This leads to my first bit of advice: Don't go into the danger. If you go into danger, confusion will inevitably set in and luck will be the deciding factor.

Fighting, all fighting, revolves around the perception of conflict. This is not necessarily true or necessary conflict:

 But that's a different lesson. The reason I introduce conflict as the principle to fighitng is so that we may see the difference between entering conflict and entering danger. Entering danger is even different from confronting it. Entering danger is a submissive position, one that waits in both fear and timidity and in despair (there is not ope or magnanimity, but simply the desire to survive). Confronting danger takes the wisdom to identify it and the courage to do what is needed.

If you are afraid to punch or kick someone, you won't do well in a stand-up fight. If you meet the danger that such a thing could seriously hurt you or another and realize that it is the inevitable and necessary course of action to defend yourself or a loved one, you can not only survive, but live. Meeting a danger requires intellect, training, and preparation. Suriving has to do with luck.

Now, despite the cheesiness of some things in Jurassic Park Universe, there is one thing to learn, be a Grant, not an Ian. Meet a danger if it has to be there, don't simply survive it and try to wait it to pass by. YOu could end up like the lawyer in the first movie.

Train Hard and Often.

Be a Student of Inches

Tonight hosted Manderino Martial Arts first classes.

Stillkin Kenjutsu made their first appearance this evening with Shinan and his two student for tonight. It was fantastic to see thee three men go to it with bokken in hand. They often say that the art of sword is an art of inches, the difference between a lethal and non-lethal cuts.

At the same time though, so is striking: What is a difference between a head shot and a knock out? About the distance of your cheek to your jaw.

And is grappling, too (have you ever hear the difference between a choke and a strangulation: about an inch).

Martial arts, life, its all about the little inches. The winner of a 5 k is still the winner, even if the 2nd place person was 5 inches behind. And the second place person was still only second place. Does this mean you have to scrap for every inch? No, not in the sense that the 2nd place guy trips the one in 1st just to win it. But yes in the sense that the second place guy has to push to not be third, or to trive for 1st.

Tonight I learned that lesson. My first walk in came and went and I didn't even give out my card with my number, I was just caught unaware. We were in sight of my information and I forgot to give it. Luckily, for me, the guy took my number and the school name off the window. I suppose today my inches were hours beause it had been less than 24 that the phone number was put up.

To end with a happy note, four students came in for a trial class later on, as did a friend of that first guy. What an exciting day comapred to yesterday!

Train well. Train hard.

Safety and a First Night at the Dojang

When I was prearing to open the school, with lots of time in the pre-opening weekend, my fiance gave a very solid piece of advice. I'm proud of you. Don't be dissapointed when no one comes in on the first day.

No fanfare, no spot lights, no off the hook phone calls, the first evening came and went. But, on the plus side, I am most grateful I was able to amke it there. I woke up this morning and intended to go to my day job, then KABOOM, there was an xplosion in my head. My nose, my throat, my sinuses, chest, and ears were choc-full of bacteria inflammed. I started work then decided if I couldn't even focus on getting the books to the van, I probably couldn't focus on the road to safely drive. Like they teach you: safety first.

This brings me to my frequent post topic: Safety. Somethings are indispensible in your life. Your health and life, itself, are two of these. In you training, you need to push yourself, but if you can't do something, don't force it. Forcing is a concept we use for doing something a way you aren't suppose to be doing it.

The other invaluable piece of advice for training is preparation. Sure, this refers to warming up and stretching, but it also refers to your equipment. If you are going to spar, put in your mouthpiece, at the least. The largest bit of protection is worth more than smallest amount of rehabilitation or reconstruction. One roundhouse kick to the face gives a concussion, the other doesn't. The difference: the second kick had to contend a shock doctor.


Protect yourself. Train hard.

The Best Way to Defend the Head

Following the previous post, the question was posed: What did I think is the best way to defend the head?

I think the best kind of answer is not simply someone's individual opinion, but so as to not just ignore the question I will respond with the surest and true answer that works for everyone. Distance.  Whether you are putting yourself out of range, ducking, dodging, or simply too close, it is the best defense.  Distance is always the number one defense for anything.

There are, though, some more specific tactics that many may make work for them with a great efficiency. In any conflict there are a few things to always keep in your mind, or at least, be in harmony with them. 1. Objectives. 2. Targets. 3. Your weapons. Whatever fills these categories will determine a specific range of the multitude of tactic you may you to defend your head. If your objective is to cripple, and your target is the knee, and your weapon is the right hand, you will be relying on a distance of "too close," dodging, correct timing, and the obstruction of your head line with your attacking and off hand.

This brings me to the second best defense: positioning. Your position is the second greatest defense. If you are facing your opponent's back you are defending with heavenly fortitude. You have now cut out 95% of his arsenal, just by standing in the right place. That being considered, if your straight punch is accurate and striking his same side, he will not be using a cross on your other cheek if you've kept your correct positioning. You've simply made that distance too far, and the effort too great. Position is what I addressed in the last post, wherever your hands are, if they aren't obstructing the lines of attack that are most dangerous to you, you might as well save your energy and leave them down at your ribs or hips.

My third best defense for the head is the feign-to-win. You choose the target for him. This is a weapon of the mind-game. If you are drawing your opponent to your rib cage because you are purposely leaving it open, he ought to want it. When he takes the bait, take his head, or use a finishing strike to end the conflict. Just don't forget you are baiting him with it, get lazy, and then not be ready to counter, you got hit for nothing- and you gave it to him for free.

Train smart. Train hard.

Defending the Head: Three Most Common Mistakes

 Defending the head is of great importance in any fight. Without it you lose four of your five main sense organs, balance, and your greatest weapon: your brain.

When working a positive aspect of your stand-up game, it can help to read the road signs on the way to success. Road signs tell us what to do, but what to avoid on and off the road: the road bending, lane shifts, up coming traffic lights.

I have my top three choices of the most common- and most lethal- mistakes when defending the head.

1. Dropping your hands.
    It is important to defend your body. The liver, the spleen, the throat, et alia. It is also important to defend the head. To defend the body at the expense of the head is like cleaning your plumbing when your faucet is corroded and infected with disease. If your hands are down, you can't stop anything from hitting something that is up: your head. If you drop your hands even one inch, your head is done. Even a deflected blow can tear your eyes and knockout your teeth.

2. Holding your hands out.
    Hooks and haymakers are devastating. But even these punches can sneak inside the strongest side guards. If you keep your hands to defend your jaw line, cheek, and orbitals (the bone ridges holding your eye in place) you can keep from getting cut by a punch or knocked out from a temple shot. It does not, however, defend your face or chin. An open high guard with your hands at the side of your face doesn't even do well to defend your jawline- unless its on your face.

3. Defending the face.
     Your face is precious. Let's face it, for some, its the money maker, it might even be yours. If you'd like to keep your head, though, you've have to do it right. Keeping the hands in a closed high guard is fantastic to stop a strait, jab, or even upper cut if you have your elbows inside your shoulders. It is a poor choice for defending your head as a whole unit- or your body. If your hands cover your face, you cannot see beyond your gloves. On top of your self-blinding, you've sacrificed positional control of the sides of your head. You've left your head and neck (which is extremely vulnerable) open for any variety of attacks from hand, foot, weapon, bite, or even a long range headbutt.

Defend the head, but don't sacrifice a good position. Train hard.