This week we had a new student come to our Kaizen Young Adult Self-Defense class. His mom mentioned that she was concerned about him using what I taught him on his brother or his peers. I explained to both the students and the parents that at Synergy Martial Arts we have a zero tolerance policy with our students regardless of age. We have researched our training methods and techniques to provide our students with very effective material that will work if they need to use it. But along with that knowledge comes great responsibility and our students understand that it is only to be used as a last resort and if they use it irresponsibly they will be asked to leave the program and not return.
It is my belief that if someone is training Martial Arts/Self-Defense then they had better have material that will save their life. I have witnessed many a Martial Arts Instructor teach techniques that have a low percentage of chance to succeed and a high percentage to get the student hurt.
The reason that the title of this blog is Violence is rarely the answer but… is because while I truly believe that violence is not the answer there is no reason to be a victim. So I feel that Self-Defense and Martial Arts should be something that everyone takes for a minimum of 8 weeks. This would give the student enough time to learn and understand the basics that are being taught. This also allows them to begin to understand the mental and emotional mindset that it takes for someone to attack another person as well as what it feels like to be attacked and how to defend themselves.
Self-Defense training to me is like insurance for your car or house, you never really plan to use it but you are glad when something happens that you do have it. People will pay a lot of money for insurance which has really very little physical benefit. Self-Defense and Martial Arts have many benefits to them besides the increase in personal safety. Being in better physical shape increases self-confidence and decreases many potential health risks such as joint pain/problems, back injuries, diabetes from added weight etc.
In closing if you have not taken a Self-Defense class I highly recommend that you do who knows you may really like it and it may save your life.
In this Interview with Sifu Rick Faye (www.mnkali.com) he discusses his progress in spreading JKD to Chile, his relationship with Sigung Dan Inosanto (www.inosanto.com), the difference between Jun Fan Gung Fu and Jeet Kune Do, and the different Instructors who have influenced him.
I feel that this video is very important in that it explains some of the Instructors who have a very large influence on Jeet Kune Do and it’s evolution.
I would like to draw your attention to a Martial Arts Instructor who I have an alot of respect for Kru Greg Nelson.
If you do not know who Kru Greg Nelson ( http://www.mmaacombatzone.com) you really should take a look @ his material it is amazing!!!
But his Martial Arts accomplishments are nothing compared to him being a two-time cancer survivor!!! I cannot imagine having cancer even once but twice is amazing!!! He credits Martial Arts and the conditioning he has done with helping him get through chemo and cancer.
In this video he discusses the people that have influenced him in Martial Arts. One of the really cool things about Kru Greg is his humility and his balanced view on not only himself but training Martial Arts as well. In the world of big ego MMA Kru Greg is on top of the food chain as a trainer and coach he has maintained a very humble attitude.. He currently is coaching UFC Heavyweight Champ Brock Lesner as well as top MMA fighters like Sean Sherk.
Here is the 2nd part to the Sijo Bruce Lee interview on the Pierre Burton show. Here he is not only talking about Martial Arts he talks about his students who were actors. He talks specifically about Steve McQueen and James Coburn and who would make the better fighter and who understood the philosophical part of the arts.
Sijo Bruce also talks about cultural differences and how he had to adjust to mannerisms when he came to here to the States. I have heard that from other Martial Arts Instructors as well. Pendakar Herman Suwanda talked about it in his Seminars.
I think that one of the greatest benefits that I have gotten from training Martial Arts has not been the physical skills it is learning how to be more compassionate to others who may not have the same background as me. Learning about other cultures and their history is now one of my favorite things about going to Seminars and meet other Martial Artists.
Sijo Bruce also talks about how he viewed Martial Arts and Philosophy and uses his famous quote “Be water my friend”. He also discusses his journey thru T.V. and film.
As I was making my daily rounds thru Youtube I ran across one of my favorite videos of Sijo Bruce Lee on the Pierre Burton Show. I remember when I first saw this inteview I was amazed by Sifo Bruce’s confidence and passion for what he was doing. It was infectious to me and it was and is a huge reason that I wanted and love to teach.
In this clip he discusses what I feel is one of his most important impacts on Martial Arts and society. That styles tend to be dogmatic and create division between people. Unfortunately this is even true in Jeet Kune Do and with this interview you can begin to see why. He talks about Martial Arts being an used for expression and I really feel that Martial Arts is one of the truest forms of expression because you have to be able to control and your mental, physical and emotional states of being separately and all in unison.
I hope you enjoy this video clip as much as I have.
So for those of you who have read my opinion on part 1 you know that I have an immense amount of respect for Ajarn Chai and his training methods. Even though his is a “Muay Thai” Instructor I believe that Ajarn is the BEST Instructor in the world for teaching focus mitt holding.
In this clip he talks about why holding is very important to get the most out of your partner. Watch the way he holds for the jab so your opponent can’t get into a tie up postion. Also the way that he holds for single punches and for combos.
The reason that I say this is when you look @ his students and the way that they hold & teach the mitts they are amazing. Here is a short list of some of Ajarn Chai’s students.
I am very excited to post this blog because there are not that many posts of Ajarn Chai (www.thaiboxing.com) teaching on Youtube. I have attended many Seminars with Ajarn Chai he is by far one of my favorite Instructors to see.
On this video he is discussing clinching and boxing tactics. Special thanks to O.C. Kickboxing (www.ockickboxing.com) for the post it is a rare treat to have quality video footage of Ajarn Chai like this.
If you have not attended an Seminar that Ajarn Chai has instructed I highly recommend that you do. Your understanding of striking will be greatly improved. Plus you will get a chance to meet one of the more warm and personable Instructors that I have had the privilege to meet.
On the cover of the 10-30-09 Livingston County Daily Press and Argus (www.livingstondaily.com) the headline reads Sheriff Warns Of Safety Cuts. Now before I begin this post I want to state that I usually don’t like to focus on negative press or spread information that creates fear. But… This should be a concern for all of us regardless of where you live.
Here are some of the headlines from the article
Budget cuts have reduced the Sheriff’s Department by 20 since 2005
Brighton State Police is down 8 troopers from last year
Longer response times for low priority calls sometimes officer will not come out they will call for more info
In the 2010 budget plan for the Sheriff’s Department there is a potential to lose 6 more employees
Local Police Departments are going outside of their boundaries to help State Police and Sheriff’s Department
Not only do these budget cuts affect the active services we see everyday they also effect on going training that the Law Enforcement Officers need on a regular basis.Training such as Defensive Tactics and Use of Force. I have trained a number of Law Enforcement Officers from many of the local departments and they all say that they need more training but it is not in the Budget.
I know that these statements are true because I have personally contacted a number Police Departments for Defensive Tactics and Use of Force training and I have been told there is not enough money in the budget.
In defense of the many of the Law Enforcement Officers there are some that are going outside of work to personally seek out the training that they need. But there are a higher percentage that do not seek out training personally and have not gotten the appropriate number of hours of training.
So what does this mean to you??? It means that if you are a victim of a violent crime there is a chance that you will not get the help that you need and if help does arrive they may not have the appropriate training to effectively handle the situation. We have all seen an episode of COPS where there are 4 Law Enforcement Officers trying to control 1 guy and he gives them a hard time.
Here is my solution to the above problems, take Self-Defense classes. It does not have to be our classes at Synergy Martial Arts but take something. We have a number of classes that are on going and who knows you might be surprised to see someone from your local Law Enforcement Agency in class with you.
This is a video that we shot about 1 year ago on request from another Instructor. This is material that I have taught to Law Enforcement, Corrections and Border Patrol Officers. It could be used by anyone who needs to detain a person. You will notice that it looks pretty chaotic and that is because when people are resisting arrest they don’t come along peacefully…lol
Special thanks to Synergy Martial Arts Apprentice Instructor Jef Lopes for being the demo victim in the video.
Over the last 6 weeks I have been performing a Conditioning Program that I talked about in my post Kettlebells, Martial Arts and Yoga Conditioning.
Here is what I have noticed I have gained 2 lbs I began this consistently weighing 164 I weigh in @ 166 pretty consistently now. My flexibility has improved as I am deeper in my Active Range of Motion Stretches and in my Yoga Asanas.
I am now swinging for 10 with my 44 lb bell minutes with a minimum of 20 swings, when I began I was swinging for 9 mins and did 20 handed swings in the initially then as I became more fatigued I would swing 2 handed for 10 reps.
On my Clean & Press & Chin days I am now doing 4×5 with my 44# bell for my ladders I began doing 3X5 ladders.
Last night I did the 7-8pm Boot Camp Class with my students and what I noticed that was a really cool result doing kicks on my bag during the active recovery phase of my swings is that when we were doing 1:30 min kick rounds with a partner the more tired I got the more I relaxed. This is because when I am kicking during my active recovery it is time to relax and control my breathing. I found this to be a really cool “side effect” of the active recovery training.
I have just started a new conditioning program that I will post soon.
Posted by synergymartialarts 
Posted by synergymartialarts 
Posted by synergymartialarts 
