Martial Views

I've noticed a lot of great posts on Isshinryu karateka John Vesia's Martial Views blog. I'm enjoying it, and you may too!

Today's TDA Tip: The World's Most Dangerous Man!

No, I'm not talking about Ken Shamrock. I'm talking about someone more fearsome, more dangerous, more terrifying than almost anyone you're likely to meet on the street or in competition: the rookie!

I have never been more in fear of injury than when breaking in a new fighter, one who has no training, or someone who thinks he's good, but isn't. Typically, a trained fighter has balance, coordination, clean technique, and timing. A beginner has none of these things.

Typical rookies:

1. Have no clue as to where they are on the mat, or where you are in relation to them. This is called spatial sense. It's the same as watching a basketball player shoot a 3-pointer - they just know how far the basket is, no matter where they stand on the court. A beginner doesn't know how far away he can hit you, or how long his arms or legs are from their target. He probably doesn't even know what a target is!


2. Is scared to death! That makes him a danger to you, himself, and every window, door, or person around him. He is likely to be even more of a spaz than he'd normally be. Stay away!


3. Is uncoordinated. This awkwardness makes a fighter dangerous in the ring, because you don't know what he's aiming for, or what to defend. This lack of coordination also makes a beginner more dangerous than a trained opponent. It's not a bad idea to keep some of that unpredictable technique, as long as it works!


4. Have no control over their power. Most of us know how hard we can hit, 'cause we've hit someone or something thousands of times, whether on a target pad, heavy bag, or live partner or opponent. A beginner doesn't have that experience or nuance in the use of his strength and speed, and thus could clock someone he meant to merely touch.

The bottom line:

DON'T let beginners spar! Anyone who lets beginners spar, or even drill, with a live partner, is just asking for trouble. If your school typically lets beginners spar, you may want to think about getting another school. If a school waits 3-6 months before letting someone free spar with a live partner, they're probably looking out for everyone's safety. Finally, if you a paired up with someone like that, RUN!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Dose of Reality

Notice the goggles? Fashion statement? No, a dose of reality.

As I've mentioned before, one of the benefits of the current MMA trend is more grappling, but one of the problems with the current MMA trend is too much grappling. Too many who train this way (BJJ, or any other sport-grappling) think that sport techniques are applicable to self-defense, when some of the techniques you learn could get them hurt or killed outside the competitive arena.

As we've started to integrate more BJJ/MMA-type techniques into our arsenal, I've been diligent in pointing out what I think won't work.Case in point: today, on the frozen tundra of the parking lot behind the station, Sam and I were working on ground fighting (as opposed to grappling). During every round of this, while on top (he was either in the top mount, inside my guard, or side mount), Sam attempted a sport-type technique. During every one of those instances, when his face got within range, my thumbs found his goggles and I'd tap on them, signaling I had an eye gouge on him. In case you don't know, we wear goggles during sparring. Please see this post for the reasons. He did get an armbar submission on me, but it was from side mount and his face wasn't available.

Basically, any tactic which doesn't account for the eye gouge or biting is either pretty shaky, or junk. Think I'm wrong? Try it. Get some goggles and a mouthpiece and go to town. Let me know (comments welcome).

UPDATE: Here is an example of a sport technique that we put to the test: the dreaded Hell Hook! I mean heel hook. Check it out.

Verbal De-Escalation

Check out this post by a very good self-defense oriented blog, (the aptly titled Self Defense). The post elaborates on a couple of techniques for responding to the common, "Who you lookin' at?!" opening by a potential aggressor.

One item I found very interesting was, "To reduce the ‘squeaky voice’ effect common when you get a heightened level of adrenaline in your system, look down slightly as you speak. Looking upwards makes your voice squeakier." I didn't know that! I'm not sure if it's true, and would like to know if anyone has tried this.

I remember having much more success physically, as opposed to verbally, when dealing with bullies in school (I always enjoyed taking bullies down a notch), but have never gotten into a fight, per se, as an adult. I have been attacked (attempted mugging), but have never had a chance to use verbal de-escalation since high school. My guess is that my demeanor and carriage may have prevented my getting into such situations, but I mentally rehearse the physical side of it, but not the verbal. Am I missing something? I think so.

We forget that many fights or confrontations are lost without a punch thrown, or even before one opens his mouth. As I mentioned in a previous post, I've just read Teddy Atlas' book, "Atlas." In it, he tells of bringing the raw, adolescent, Mike Tyson to the national Golden Gloves or something of a similar caliber, and just by his physical presence and glowering expression, heard fighters say that if they were matched with Tyson, they'd refuse.

I also remember, as a gregarious (though brash) 10th-grader, I pretended to peek at another boy's exam, and he called me a polecat, or something similar. At the time, I'd been teaching martial arts classes part-time, and constantly practiced, so when he insulted me, I challenged him to meet me in the hall as soon as class was over. I was cocky. I fumed, completed my test, then breathed a sigh of relief when, as soon as the test was over the kid turned around and apologized profusely. I think he was almost as anxious as I was! I really don't think I would've had any problem with him, though he was physically imposing, but I have always been nervous before fights, and that was no exception. That was, I think, the last time I challenged anyone, as my confidence increased with experience, at the same time, my understanding of how dangerous I was grew as well.

At any rate, I think drilling de-escalation would be beneficial to me, my partners, and anyone who is truly interested in living to fight another day. You never know who you're going to face, whether they have a weapon, or how many there really are until it happens. Best leave well enough alone, if given a choice.

Carry on!

Belated Veteran's Day Post

To our men and women in uniform, especially my dad (who sent this is a Vietnam veteran), Daniel and Mike (USMC vets, both), and to all who have served, our thanks for your service, and our prayers for your safety.- Nathan and the TDA group.

The Military - The average age of the military man is 19 years. He is a short haired, tight-muscled kid who, under normal circumstances is considered by society as half man, half boy Not yet dry behind the ears, not old enough to buy a beer, but old enough to die for his country. He never really cared much for work and he would rather wax his own car than wash his father's; but he has never collected unemployment either.

He's a recent High School graduate; he was probably an average student, pursued some form of sport activities, drives a ten year old jalopy, and has a steady girlfriend that either broke up with him when he left, or swears to be waiting when he returns from half a world away.

He listens to rock and roll or hip-hop or rap or jazz or swing and 155mm howitzer.

He is 10 or 15 pounds lighter now than when he was at home because he is working or fighting from before dawn to well after dusk.

He has trouble spelling, thus letter writing is a pain for him, but he can field strip a rifle in 30 seconds and reassemble it in less time in the dark.

He can recite to you the nomenclature of a machine gun or grenade launcher and use either one effectively if he must.

He digs foxholes and latrines and can apply first aid like a professional. He can march until he is told to stop or stop until he is told to march.

He obeys orders instantly and without hesitation, but he is not without spirit or individual dignity. He is self-sufficient.

He has two sets of fatigues: he washes one and wears the other.

He keeps his canteens full and his feet dry.

He sometimes forgets to brush his teeth, but never to clean his rifle.

He can cook his own meals, mend his own clothes, and fix his own hurts.

If you're thirsty, he'll share his water with you; if you are hungry, his food.

He'll even split his ammunition with you in the midst of battle when you run low.

He has learned to use his hands like weapons and weapons like they were his hands.

He can save your life - or take it, because that is his job.

He will often do twice the work of a civilian, draw half the pay and still find ironic humor in it all.

He has seen more suffering and death then he should have in his short lifetime.

He has stood atop mountains of dead bodies, and helped to create them.

He has wept in public and in private, for friends who have fallen in combat and is unashamed.

He feels every note of the National Anthem vibrate through his body while at rigid attention, while tempering the burning desire to 'square-away' those around him who haven't bothered to stand, remove their hat, or even stop talking.

In an odd twist, day in and day out, far from home, he defends their right to be disrespectful.

Just as did his Father, Grandfather, and Great-grandfather, he is paying the price for our freedom. Beardless or not, he is not a boy.

He is the American Fighting Man that has kept this country free for over 200 years.

He has asked nothing in return, except our friendship and understanding. Remember him, always, for he has earned our respect and admiration with his blood.

And now we even have women over there in danger, doing their part in this tradition of going to War when our nation calls us to do so.

Self-Defense Blog on Target Areas

The Self Defense blog has a nice post on the general target areas of the body, and the effects of attacks to said areas. A good, comprehensive resource is the "Black Medicine" series of books by N. Mashiro, Ph.D.

What This New Reader Has Learned

Now that I am an airport lobby regular, as I travel several times a month, I have taken to a previously underused skill: reading. In my travels since the middle of October I have read:

• "We were Soldiers Once...And Young: Ia Drang--The Battle That Changed The War In Vietnam" by Lt.Gen. Hal Moore and Joe Galloway


• "Secret Commandos, Behind Enemy Lines with the Elite Warriors of SOG" by John L. Plaster


• "Flags of Our Fathers" by James Bradley


• "Facing Ali: 15 Fighters/15 Stories" by Stephen Brunt


• "MacArthur's Undercover War: Spies, Saboteurs, Guerrillas, and Secret Missions" by by William B. Breuer


• "Atlas, A Son's Journey From the Streets to the Ring to a Life Worth Living" by Teddy Atlas with Peter Alson

Sense a theme here? If you do, please let me know what it is. While in Cincinnati this week, I picked up "Martial Arts America, A Western Approach to Eastern Arts" by TDA friend Bob Orlando.

I plan to post a few thoughts on each book, and share what I've learned. Believe it or not, I actually learned something that I can apply to my life, teaching, and training from almost all of these books. Stay tuned...

Greatest Martial Arts Movies of All Time?

What do you think? ExperienceMartialArts.com has posted their opinion. Check it out!

Update:  I posted my favorites here, just FYI.

Anaerobic Training Drills

There's not much debate now on the type of conditioning martial artists need nowadays. The consensus seems to be that we should all be doing anaerobic training, as opposed to aerobic-type training. The basic difference is the training method: short intervals of work for anaerobic, as opposed to long sessions that involve burning fat. In anaerobic training, we usually work in the upper range or above the maximum heart rate (220 minus your age is beats per minute) for a pretty short period of time, only 1-4 minutes, usually.

Stephan Kesting of Grapplearts.com has a nice post on anaerobic training with good links for grapplers that should apply to all of us. Please check it out.

Incidentally, I had a female student who usually ran about 10 miles a day almost every morning. She was in my daytime class and came in after she got the kids off to school. What's interesting is that with all of her aerobic endurance she had trouble doing more than one round of two or three minutes, so this is good advice. Listen up!

Tags: Grappling training, anaerobic training, aerobic, sparring, self defense, martial arts

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New Link - Martial-Arts-Infosheet

Check out the Martial-Arts-Infosheet blog for Information and Resources For Martial Arts.

RSS/Atom feed is down

I just noticed my feed has been down since 11/1. I am working on fixing it. My apologies. I will update this post when it's up.

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Updated: 11/6/2006, 1031 hours:
The feed is fixed. Thanks for your patience. I have subscribed to Feedburner's notification system so from now on I should know sooner.

Hilarious "Dim Mak" Master - video

Interesting what happens when the claims of this "human stun gun" are put to the test by a local news crew. Watch...

Support the "Day of a Thousand Punches" Charity Event

a Martial Arts Charity Fundraiser	Please visit the website for ALL of the exciting information, and don't forget to spread the word!
www.MartialArtCharity.com
Cost to You: FREE - Complete Program! Benefits: To many to list here (see site)! Time Involved: Only takes 2 afternoons to do! National Press - Celebrity Sponsors - Awards FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Event Date:  December 9, 2006
Non-Profit Martial Arts Charity Event.   Dear Fellow Martial Artists,   I am pleased to announce a very important fundraiser, “Day of a Thousand Punches,” dedicated to the memory of my father, the late Soke Michael DePasquale, Sr., martial arts pioneer.   Please visit www.MartialArtCharity.com for complete details on how you can help support the neuroscientists who are making a big difference in solving the complex issues of brain-related disorders.   We look forward to your participation on December 9th.       Yours in the Martial Arts,       Michael DePasquale, Jr.     P.S. And PLEASE Forward this email to everyone you know who might be interested in helping to give in this season of hope to a Charity such as this one!  Thank You.
Thank you for supporting Us and this incredible Non-Profit Charity!

Stephan Kesting - Dynamic Half Guard

Check out Stephan Kesting's Dynamic Half Guard download video. Enjoy and learn...

Also, a ton of great material on http://www.grapplearts.com/.

Quote of the Day: Bruce Lee

"The highest technique is to have no technique. My technique is a result of your technique; my movement is a result of your movement." – Bruce Lee