Lucky to Survive Pit Bull Attack

What can we learn from this story from the Houston Chronicle?

Man strangles attacking pit bull in Conroe
The 65-year-old retired truck driver, who suffered bites on his arms and hands, said the dog attacked him about five minutes into his walk. He said he heard a dog barking and thought it was in a yard, but then seconds later saw the dog running toward him from the corner of his eye.

''I turned to face him and when I seen it was pit bull, I knew I was in trouble," Pardue said. ''I put my hands up and I hollered at him. He immediately jumped to my throat."

Pardue said he swung at the dog with his fist and grabbed its head and ears to keep it from biting him. The dog shook loose from his grip and began chewing on his right hand.

With his knee, Pardue said he hit the dog in the ribs and it let go of his hand. He grabbed the dog's thick. white collar and while keeping a firm grip on its neck, dragged the dog to his house, where his wife called 911.

Pardue said he did not realize he had killed the dog until police arrived.

''If not for the collar, I don't know how I would have ever been able to wrestle him down," he said. "The dog was about 80 pounds and very vicious. It was hard to believe the viciousness in which he attacked me but I was able to contain him."

Pardue said he did not have time to be scared. He said he knew he could not run from the dog, so he followed his survival instinct.

He's a big man, couldn't run, and was forced to defend himself. One of the reasons it seems he was successful in surviving was that he deprived the attacking dog of it's basis of power- the ground, using it's collar. The choke worked well, but if not for the collar...

Check out the Dog Attacks category for more information on defending against vicious dogs.

Via The Obscure Store and Reading Room.

Tying the obi or hakama

Good post by Spencer Burns at the Yachigusa-Ryu blog.

I have always been a stickler for teaching my students to tie their belts "properly" as well, and had little respect for those who had less respect for those who I felt disgraced their uniforms by tying a sloppy belt. I can relate.

Laptop in the shop

Sorry, light posting until I get my laptop back. More next week!

Last call - help on Forum Beta Test

If you're interested in helping test out the forum idea with me, please email me (tdatraining at gmail dot com) by tonight. You can click the link on the sidebar, if you like. More details are here.

Thanks again to those who've volunteered so far!

False advertising?

As I travel about the country, I've noticed a pattern in hotel and motel marketing that caused me to reflect upon the state of our arts. The establishments with names like, "Super", "Regal", "Quality", and so forth, are anything but what they say. The inns with better accommodations are more humble in their marketing. This might give you pause when you see all the supreme grandmasters, and so forth in your town. How many per square block do you have? Just a thought...

Starting the TDA Forum beta early

I can still take a couple more beta testers of the new TDA Forum. I am starting the beta testing early, and could use a couple more Guineau pigs/test subjects. Your opinions are needed! Thanks to those who've responded so far. Keep in mind you can create aliases. Thanks!

Light posting for about a week

My laptop will be in for maintenance for about a week, so expect some light posting.
I still need some beta testers for the TDA Training Forum, so drop me an email (see link on sidebar) if you'd like to help. I just want opinions so we can do that right.

Thanks,

Nathan

TDA Forum - help needed

I am creating a forum, and would like to ask for some help. We're going to try out two formats, and would like a very small group of readers (no more than 5) to test it with me, then give constructive suggestions on which format they like, and why. I plan to invite those users to the forum on Monday, 1/29, and test each format for about a week.

TDA Training is now averaging around 100 visits per day, and almost 250 page views (as of this post), so I think the next logical step is to make a user forum available to discuss the subjects brought up during posts, share ideas, and exchange information. A forum is a popular and easy way to do this. Up to this point most of our communication has been one-way: I post, you read. A few readers comment regularly, but that's a limited way of sharing information and communicating.

If you are interested in helping, please send me an email (link on the sidebar) by Thursday, 1/25 letting me know. It'll mean that we'll exchange emails and do a few test posts. It may be fun, but will be very constructive, I think. If you agree to be a part of the beta group, I'll send you an invitation by 1/28, then launch on Monday, 1/29. If you already participate in a forum, or run one, and have any advice, I'd appreciate that as well.

Thanks for reading, and I appreciate any help you can provide.

- Nathan

Cung Le teaches Leg Catches - video

Some guy named Cung Le (?) teaching Leg Catches. He seems pretty good. Watch...



Watch the takedowns that are the conclusion of the catches here.

Marc Animal MacYoung on Grappling

The man makes sense here.

When to use grappling

The purpose of submission fighting is to subdue an opponent and establish dominance. It is my heartfelt opinion that there are only two reasonable applications for grappling skills. And within these parameters, it is wonderful.

Those are:
1) When you don't want to hurt the guy
2) If it's your job to restrain and control someone

1) Not hurting your opponent - You friend is drunk and out of control. Because he is your friend, you don't want to snap him like a matchstick. Or it is some stupid, college-aged kid who is trying to impress people by picking a fight with you. In a nice restaurant, some asshole swung on you because you didn't back down or give into his unreasonable demands. These low-level threats are not situations where you want to gouge out somebody's eye or snap his neck. It is neither warranted, nor legally justified to use an extreme level of force.

This is where grappling utterly shines. You can control and dominate such an opponent, and, if the police show up, you can easily justify your use of force.

2) It's your job to use control tactics in protection of property or others - When everyone is doing the smart thing and running away, it is your job to do the stupid thing of charging into the conflict. Then yes. You do need to know how to handle yourself on the ground. You do need to know control and restraint tactics. Usually, however, your job will also have very specific standards for use of force and restraint tactics. You will need to be well versed in departmentally approved defensive tactics, control holds and use of force continuums.

This jibes completely with some of our previous posts. See this video example of what can happen when going to the ground versus multiple attackers. Unless you have backup or a controlled environment, there's a lot of danger in going to the ground. Know it, but don't do it! See anything from the Self-Defense, or Multiple Attackers categories for more examples.

Feed and subscriptions beefed up!

If you haven't yet subscribed, please do. Subscribing to either the feed or email list will ensure that you never miss a post. Both have been improved to include the full post, including graphics, instead of merely a summary or snippet. Please scroll down on the sidebar and try either option.

Have a great day!

Q & A: Question about kubotan/fistload

BUMPED - back to the top.
As I said previously, while I'm working on categorizing the posts, I am encouraging questions. Here's a good one:

Nathan,

I was reading your blog and found it very interesting. I have a question for you that you may be able to answer.

What do you think of improvised weapons such as kubatons or other fistloads such as knuckledusters. Will hammerfists and reverse hammerfists thrown wielding a kubotan inflict a large enough amount of damage to stop a fight? I’ve used one against wood and I see the impact, but is it something that can end fights – especially against another person (non-stationary target)? I’m especially curious about this when related to defending the single leg takedown or other shoots. When the opponent dives in, one should have one or two good chances to land solid hammerfists.

Will using a “kubotan hammerfist” stop someone attempting a takedown.

Knuckledusters are obviously illegal in many states, but is their stopping power that severe? It sounds like a stupid question, but how realistic is it for a fighter using a knuckleduster to end a fight in one blow?

I think these topics are relevant because carrying knives is usually a big no-no, but a kubotan/palm stick can be improvised out of anything.

Thanks
C

____________________
My reply:

Excellent question, C, and thanks for the email. There are several factors in answering this:

1. Adding any weight or weapon load into a fist will make it much more effective. In boxing there are training wraps and fight wraps. Either way, what's done is to compress the fist into a single unit, and reduce the mobility of the wrist. The net effect is to increase the force that you will use without inhibition (because you know your wrist isn't going to get injured), plus the more solid fist connects with a lot more force. Obviously, you're still talking about the soft tissue of a fist and the contact points of the knuckles, which aren't that hard. One of the reasons that boxers actually break their hands in matches is that they hit much harder there than any other time, and when they connect with a skull, it will break the bones in the third and fourth knuckles (hitting incorrectly), or damage soft tissue. Usually there are not wrist injuries if you're properly wrapped up.


2. Using a Kubotan, knuckle duster (similar to brass knuckles), or adding any other striking utensil to your hand when punching will greatly increase the damage done to an opponent. No question. One of the reasons that brass knuckles/knuckle dusters, rolls of quarters, or socks of coins, or blackjacks are illegal is because they are effective, and possibly deadly. That's why I recommend such improvised weapons as mini mags, or as Dojo Rat commented on the same post, carpenter's pencils - legal, and nearly as effective. Test this by taking a Kubotan and (gently) hitting any part of your body, then try the same technique without it - big difference! The answer is yes, such an improvised weapon could stop a fight.


3. One problem with relying on weapons is that they're not always there when you need them. I remember speaking with one sergeant, whom I'd invited several times to join my class, and he said that he had all he needed on him - Capstun (OC/mace) and his service weapon. I said that there were two problems with that: 1) he rarely has either weapon in his hand, and 2) even if he does, at close range I could hit him before he'd have a chance to use either. He didn't believe me, and I'm glad he's not working the street any longer, for his own sake! For the same reason, I'd not rely on having any weapons in hand, but always try to have one handy.


4. As to whether it will stop the fight is another question entirely. No matter how hard a baseball bat has the potential to hit, some batters only bunt, and others hit a ball out of the park. Even a home run hitter will hit many more base hits than homers. The point is, versus a moving, living, breathing, resisting target, you have to use as much power and speed as you can, and strike until the target is no longer a threat. In other words, I don't buy the single-shot kill/knockout whether it's with a rifle/pistol, club, knife, or hands. The best world class boxers or MMA fighters will rack up a hundred or more strikes without getting the perfect KO shot in. Why should we think that we can do it with one. Add some insurance and use combinations, armed or not. See this post on knockout power, and it's place.


5. Last, how best to defeat a takedown? It depends on your strengths and weaknesses.
   My first suggestion is to be capable of sprawling and driving the attacker down, then you can use downward elbows, a guillotine, or multiple strikes (with or without a weapon), then get away!
   Another option (my preference) is wedging and moving laterally (form the frame with your arms and drive against one side of the attacker's neck, and sidestep away to the same side) similar to the footwork a matador would use. That way you stay on your feet and don't have to worry about going to the ground or grappling - preferable to potentially being knifed or jumped by his buddies.
   A third option is to sprawl and drive the knee into the attackers face (check out this GrappleArts article) - risky but devastating. It takes excellent timing, but will end it quick. The risk is that you will get taken down if you mis-time it, and the pavement can be pretty hard, so make sure you know how to fall, and how to get someone into your guard while watching for potential weapons. Not where you want to be!
   My suggestions versus the takedown are because I realize that, while you may be a superior grappler, the knife that you or I consider a no-no may be in the hand you can't see. You could be dead or bleeding out before you know what happened. Best to keep your distance, get a weapon, and get somewhere that you can get help. Nothing's wrong with running around a car and keeping your eyes on him while screaming for help. If he's smart, he'll likely go away rather than deal with the unwanted attention your tactic may bring.

Reminds me, I need to post on how to handle a takedown. Hmmm.

Now, any readers have some better ideas? Anything I missed? Comments welcomed!

Sobering Advice on Predators

Just a few of the 24 points in this DefendU post:

1. All predators are always killers. When they attack, your options for self-defense are very limited.
2. The predator is smarter than you. Act and react accordingly.
3. Predators will use all the force necessary (and then some) to achieve their goals, without regard to consequences.
4. Predators evaluate their targets before attacking. If you are attacked, the predator has determined he will succeed without a heavy cost to himself.
5. If you are about to become a victim, you have already made serious mistakes.
6. Believe what you see; don't go into denial. Your attacker won't.
7. In a lethal confrontation, you will only have time to choose one course of action – and your life depends on making the right choice.
8. Predators rarely act alone, although the ones that do are the most dangerous. (If there's one, look for two; if there are two, look for three, etc.)
9. Fear is the predator’s friend and your enemy.
10. Talk and negotiation rarely work.

Click here for the rest.

On Savate - FightingArts.com

FightingArts.com's brief history of the sport and art of Savate. Enjoy.

Brief History

Originally looked down upon, and thought of as an art of hoodlums and common thieves, savate, "French foot fighting," was mixed with English boxing to become boxe Francaise savate, the chosen art of the gentlemen and scholars. Boxe Francaise savate became highly developed and wide spread until the start of the First World War. As a result of the large number of casualties inflicted by the war, many of the top savateurs were killed, and the art, too, almost met with extinction. Thanks to the effort and dedication of one of the remaining savateurs, Count Pierre Baruzy, who is credited with the rebirth of boxe Francaise savate, this art is once again blossoming in France and much of Europe, and to a lesser extent the United States. In fact, there are discussions on the table about boxe Francaise savate become an Olympic demonstration sport.

Read the rest!

Via Le Blog's post on Daniel Duby. George also reminded me of the many references to Savate in Bruce Lee's amazing "Tao of Jeet Kune Do."

Back to basics

The Crime: Information and Prevention blog reminds us to keep working on the basics. So true.

Dig deep

I am still working on categorizing the posts from last year, a daunting task. Stay tuned for more content, but watch the categories for additions. I may feature things I think are relevant/interesting. Thanks for reading TDA Training!

Meanwhile, I'd like to field any questions anyone may have. Please EMAIL them to me via the address link on the sidebar. I will post the question and answers, if appropriate, as I get them. All emailed questions will remain anonymous, and I will answer them privately if you prefer (let me know). Thanks- Nathan

The Ear Slap

This post by SelfDefenseResource.com illustrates a good technique for anyone, regardless of strength or size.

TECHNIQUE: EAR SLAP

Simultaneous slapping an assailant’s ears with your cupped hands can cause disorientation, pain, and eardrum rupture. Use the ear slap to primarily cause mental stunning and distraction for you to escape.

Cup your hands, fingers loosely together. Keep the wrist loose. To strike, quickly snap the hand, leading with your wrist toward the ear. Just before contact, whip the cupped fingers to contact the assailant’s ears, with the entire hand (base/wrist and fingers) slapping at the same time. Put your weight behind it, by slightly rotating your upper body with the strike.

This technique can also be used to slap the groin. In this variation, you can also grab and squeeze the groin tightly, and twist.

When I was a kid, as my brother could tell you, I was not afraid to mix it up, even with bigger kids. I saw myself as some sort of superhero and would often intervene if I saw someone being bullied. One time, there was an older kid named Brad, I think, who was in my neighborhood. He and his brother were relatively new in the neighborhood, and he was probably about three years older than me. He had a strong personality and would usually determine how, where, and what we would all play every day. Until I got sick of him bossing us around. Per his usual tactics, he puffed his chest out and threatened me with something like, "What are you going to do about it?" I proceeded to show him, and was getting the better of the bigger, older kid, when he pulled a double ear slap on me. He must've seen it on Star Trek or something, as I recall Captain Kirk often used that move. Anyway, it wasn't very hard, or very well done, but I remember being stunned so much that I started crying and ran home. It wasn't fair, but that was the point, wasn't it?

Word of caution: it doesn't take much to pop an eardrum, so proceed slowly and carefully when drilling this.

Back to work!

Today's Quote: Hock Hochheim

"The truth is diversity, versatility. Preparedness. You simply fight where you have to fight. Learn it all, but don’t become any one thing! Don’t capture yourself as a ground fighter or a kick boxer. Be the bastard ! Study to learn how to defeat these things, not to become them. Be free! And then most importantly on top of that, cheat!" - Hock Hochheim

---

Where to start?

Diversity: No single style will get it done. Most of you reading this will be empty-hand experts, or are trying to get there. Most of us will think of this diversity as regarding the different ranges of fighting, or different types of technique. Instead, think of it as the totality of combat - as the quoted instructor teaches, gun, knife, stick, and empty hand.

Versatility: Know what you're doing on the ground (if you must be there), in very tight quarters, on a slippery or uneven surface, or on a moving bus or train. How about the dark? Be able to kick with punchers, punch versus kickers, disarm knife attackers, or out shoot a gun attacker. Truly know all the ranges, and everything in-between.

Preparedness: Not only being aware of your surroundings, or planning your route so as not to get into a bad situation, but this can also cover conditioning yourself for self-defense. Weight training can be the difference between being overwhelmed by a larger attacker, as can the ability to take a shot and keep going. Train for what you might face. Psychological preparation can include scenario training, videotape, and visualization. I often mentally rehearse, "How would I respond if that guy pulled a knife?" Or, "How could I take that guy down if he started beating his wife/girlfriend?" Look for escape routes and vulnerable areas of a room.

Finally, be mean when you have to be mean. The rest of the time, as Dalton in Roadhouse says, "be nice!"

Equalizer saves the day

They used to call the Colt .45 an "equalizer." No matter what size your attacker, one (or two) between the eyes evens up the odds. Check out this story of an 84-year old homeowner turned the tables on a home invasion (burglary while a home is occupied).

Memphis police are investigating a home invasion that ended in a shooting.

Police say 84-year-old Willie Hancox called 911 around two Friday afternoon to say that he had shot an intruder.

Hancox says he fired two shots, hitting an intruder twice in the head.

Hancox says he is sick of the crime in his community.

"He said if they come in the door, I'm not gonna let them kill me and he meant that," says neighbor, Dorothy Dickerson.

Dickerson lives across the street and looks after Hancox.

Dickerson adds, "I say God is good, cause they had no business in there, and whoever did that got what they deserved. And, I say it in front of they face, not behind they back and I mean it."

It reminds us that 1) the US still isn't a good place for home invasions, 2) a handgun, when properly employed can ruin the day of a home invader, 3) the homeowner is a good shot (2 for 2 in the head), and 4) if said homeowner hadn't properly defended said home, we could be discussing how sad it was that someone robbed, raped, or murdered a homeowner, and would likely commit the same crime again and again.

Have a great day!

Realistic Street Self-Defense

If there's one thing I know about self-defense, it's that whoever hits the other guy first, the fastest, and the hardest usually wins. That simple.

Other than that, this article by Sensei Mitch McConnell (Sensei Mitch: "Takin' It To The Street") hits quite a few proverbial nails on the head, then gives some practical advice and technique breakdowns.

Most of the popular Martial Arts came up glaringly short in two major areas : 1)
Realism as it relates to the unpredictability of an opponents attack AND reaction to Karate/Kung-Fu techniques 2) The recognition that the vast majority of real rumbles eventually are 'taken to street' literally in the sense that the confrontation will likely end up on the ground and that all of the striking skills in the world won't do you much good once you're there.

My only input (at this point) is that the these are all high-level skilled techniques, with respect to the complexity of the techniques detailed. My meaning is that it will take drill and composure "under fire" to pull these off. Repitition of this type of training while also drilling and simulating the stresses involved will make them successful.

New Link: Yachigusa Ryu Blog

I just spent the last 15 minutes enjoying, musing over, and laughing about a post by Gary Moro at the Yachigusa Ryu Blog. In it, he tells the story of a summer spent in a "battle of wills" with a Holstein bull, and how it took his Aikijujutsu skills to another level, Hence the name of the post, Aiki-BULL-do. Loved it!

Now, for those of you not well versed in the various breeds of cattle, a Holstein is a fairly large breed. It is one of the most common breeds found in the US and Holstein’s are famous for their unique black and white patterns (no two Holsteins have the same pattern). Calves are often born weighing a hefty 90lbs or more, and by the time they are adults a bull can weigh over 2000 pounds, stand 58 inches tall, run at over 25 miles per hours, and have a vertical leaping ability of over 6 feet. Fortunately, they are fairly mild-mannered; but if provoked, threatened, or agitated they are a force to be reckoned with.

The blog is described, "Yachigusa-Ryu Aiki-Bugei is a school of classical Japanese martial arts in San Francisco as taught by Gary Moro." For those uninitiated (ok, that includes me!), bugei refers to the samurai of feudal Japan.

UPDATE: I just found where I first saw this blog, at... Le Blog! Thanks, George!

Today's TDA Tip: Don't Try to Break Out

One of the things I've learned from focusing so much on fighting multiple attackers over the past couple of years has been: Don't try to break out!

The temptation, when you see two or three (or more) assailants converging, or trying to flank you, is to "run for daylight" by sprinting into what you see as an opening. This is similar to watching a running back try to "hit the hole." Why shouldn't you do it? More often than not, the attackers expected it, and having less distance to cover than you, will close the hole and get your back.

Drill this: Don't tell your attackers what you're doing, and try splitting the middle of the attackers. Try it about three times, and you'll see that on at least two of them, you get squashed like a bug! Keep in mind that we allow grappling in our drills. You can tackle, grab, punch, kick, or strike (including the eyes, as we wear goggles) as an attacker or defender.

After you die (figuratively) a couple of times, try this instead: Attack a flanker. In other words, go for the weakest attacker and get him between you and the other attacker, per our usual advice.

When I get a chance, I will try to post some video of this instinctual tactic, and what happens when you try it.

Traveling while armed

Since 11 September, 2001, air travel has changed around the world. We now have a new agency, the TSA, which has decided what you can and can't carry on an aircraft, for your own protection, of course...

Included in the list of items you can't carry on, are things which have obvious capability as weapons, such as scissors (less than four inches), as well as screwdrivers (ask any cop if they're dangerous!), as well as other tools, all of which must be seven inches in length, or shorter.

If, however, you are concerned about thwarting international terrorism, or just your personal safety on board a flight, what can you carry on legally? Out of concern for my lovely readers, I will share a few (in no particular order):

1. My personal favorite, considering the close quarters, is a Kubotan, I mean, flashlight. A small AA Maglight, or the one I just got, a Craftsman 41-5606 2 AA Flashlight at Sears.com, will do the trick. It's completely legal, requires no ammunition, and is also capable of helping you find something under your sink. Get some training in the Kubotan, then practice with your Mini Mag!
2. A cane. If you have ever seen the Canemaster, Mark Shuey in action, you'd know how deadly the cane can be in the hands of a trained practitioner. I gave him a ride to a seminar a year or so ago, and he explained that he always gets preferential seating, people hold the door for him, and (as I did it myself, unconsciously), carry his bags for him. He always has a completely legal, deadly weapon in his hand, unlike our nunchaku, handguns, knives, or anything else you have training in.
3. A rolled up copy of Newsweek, People, or Popular Mechanics. Virtually all practitioners of Filipino martial arts know about this. Purchase one for as little as $1.99 prior to boarding.
4. A good umbrella. Again, completely legal, and also useful for something as amazing as keeping rain off your head.

Got some other ideas? Comments are welcome. Stay safe!

Willie Pep Tribute video

I love ESPN Classic for the best boxing matches of all time (on video). Watch this loving tribute to arguably, one the smoothest defensive boxers of all time - Willie Pep. I meant to post on it with his passing in November, but did not. Here is my attempt to make it up to you. Just watch...




For more, see Le Blog's nice post and links.

Still working on the categories

I started this around Dec. 25 or so, and am just through March, 2006! It's very time-consuming. It does make it easier to navigate the site, though, so I'll stay at it. I hope you're enjoying the articles.

Plan to attend Dan Severn Seminar in July

I attended Dan's camp last year and learned a ton. If you are interested, please contact Coach Tibbs at the number or email listed below. This is in the Washington, DC/Northern Virginia area.- Nathan

______________________________________

AMATEUR WRESTLING COMMUTER CAMP,

For Elementary,Middle&High School Wrestlers

DAN ‘THE BEAST’ SEVERN –HOLDER OF 14 TITLE BELTS

SPECIAL GUEST INSTRUCTOR Dan “The Beast” Severn. Severn is a legend in Ultimate Fighting. He is the only Triple Crown UFC Champion. He is a former WWE superstar and holds over 95 State, National, and International titles and records in the sport of amateur wrestling!

Dates: July 12-14 2007

FREE WOMENS SELF DEFENSE CLASS THURSDAY JULY 12^th 2007 6p.m-7p.m.

Location: Grace E. Metz Middle School

9950 Wellington Rd. Manassas,VA. 20110

703-257-8628--- Best at tibbstimothy@hotmail.com

Amateur Wrestling Classes: 9:00am-4pm Thursday –Saturday

MMA Sessions 7:30p.m-9:30p.m Thursday - Saturday

Amateur Wrestling:AREAS OF INSTRUCTION: Takedowns-Turning and Pinning-Freestyle and Greco Roman Techniques-Throws--Live Wrestling

COST: $100.00 All Wrestlers receive a free Dan Severn Amateur Wrestling Camp T-Shirt

MMA : Areas of instruction: Takedowns, Submission Holds, Chokes and Arm Locks, Grappling Techniques, Training Techniques and UFC inside information & much more

COST:$120.00 all 3 sessions or $50.00 each session

Wrestlers at the camp who want to do the night MMA sessions $75.00 all 3

FOR MORE INFORMATION: TIM TIBBS Camp Director Office 703-257-8628 7:45a.m-3:15p.m or tibbstimothy@hotmail.com

Devastating TKD K-1 Fighter

I just watched this YouTube clip of Turkish Tae Kwon Do fighter Serkan Yilmaz kicking butt in K-1. Fascinating. It's rare to see a TKD fighter who has overcome the specialized Olympic sparring style to blend the tremendous effectiveness of the TKD kicks with boxing hands. This fighter seems to have done it. Watch!

Deadly Dog Attacks Can Be Fatal!

Don't worry, that goofy title was tongue-in-cheek. Here's an excellent new post by Ronin at Crime: Information and Prevention on the incidence, severity and frequency of dog attacks. Key quote:

In the US alone, there's almost 5,000,000 dog bite victims a year, roughly 2% of
the entire population. Of these, about 800K victims needed to seek out medical attention. About 1,000 dog bite victims per day, need treatment in hospital
emergency rooms. Of these victims, between 15 to 28 die every year. Of the victims who get medical attention, most are children and half of them are bitten
in the face. Monetary losses resulting from dog bites are over $1 billion a year, with about 1/3 being paid by insurance. (Hmmm...who's paying for the other $670 million?)

For information on how to defend a dog attack when you're unarmed, check out the posts in our Dog Attacks category.

Rocky evening planned - updated

Yo! I'm going to try to see Rocky Balboa tonight. I'm pretty excited about it, and will give my impressions later tonight, and promise not to spoil it if you've not yet seen it. Commenters, please try to do the same. Later!

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

UPDATED:
Rocky has become part of Americana, an icon in the minds and hearts of those old enough to remember him. I remember seeing the first Rocky as a kid, and spent a couple of hours after that shadowboxing to the theme playing in my mind, and reliving the moments in the spotlight of the great American underdog. The feelings of affection and love for the Rocky character waned only slightly through II, III, and IV. It was because of those feelings that I never saw Rocky V, and still have not, to this day. I understand it was awful!

I went to see my nephew Josh perform in a concert for the first time (he was good), and was fortunate enough to ride over with my mother, and here's how I explained Rocky to her:
Rocky is basically an inspirational love story wrapped in boxing mythology, the story of a fighter who actually believes everything that's been said about him, that he's a "bum." He meets a woman (Adrian) who has many of the same traits, a low self-esteem that represses the beautiful, caring person inside. When the fictional heavy weight champion of the day, Apollo Creed, decides to give a "nobody" a chance at the title, Rocky fits the bill perfectly. He not only survives the first bout, which he loses, he eventually becomes a "people's champion," winning the title, retiring, then winning it again. In the course of this, Rocky never loses the basic goodness inside of him. He remains trusting, gullible, loyal, and generous to a fault. He and Adrian believe in one another, and the crucible of his transformation from bum to champion is paralleled by Adrian's transformation into a confident, though humble, supporting mother and wife who never stops believing in her husband. We should all have marriages like that! The other great relationship in the first Rocky movies was Micky, his crochety trainer, whose plainspoken bluntness belies a love for his charge that only comes from men who've been through hell and back together.

Rocky Balboa picks up thirty years or so later, when Rocky has long retired from the fight game, and is living near his old neighborhood. Rocky grieves for the loss of his wife, has a strained relationship with his son (now grown), and spends his days reliving the memories of his glory. That all changes when the current champion, Mason 'the Line' Dixon, played by Antonio Tarver, languishes in a heavyweight division devoid of worthy competitors. Dixon suffers from being too good for his own good, and the public has grown weary of watching him execute his challengers via knockout in a round or two. What Dixon needs is a real challenge to capture the public's imagination, and give him a legacy. Enter the washed up Rocky.

Overall, it was an warm emotional journey for me. Rocky Balboa took me back to the roots of what made Rocky so great: his vulnerability and kindness. The underdog comes back for one more. I'd go see it again, and recommend you do the same. Thanks!

Leith Darkin: Anatomy of Submissions

While perusing Straight to the Bar, I saw a great link to a very well-written article (PDF) titled, "Anatomy of Submissions." Download it, or just go to the HTML page.

Bra Blocks Bullet!

It's not as impressive as it sounds. Per a local station in FL:

Atlanta resident visiting family in St. Petersburg, said her bra strap
deflected a falling bullet during holiday celebrations.

Her injuries may have been much more severe had it not been for her bra
strap, said George Kajtsa, spokesman for the St. Petersburg Police Department.

Bingham said she was outside with her daughter and son sitting on a picnic
bench, ringing in the New Year and viewing the local fireworks display when she
felt a sharp pain in her left shoulder.
It was Bingham's son who first
noticed blood dripping from his mother's arm.

"The bullet was halfway inside of my bra, and the other half right on the
tip of my skin," Bingham later told WTSP-TV.

Someone had fired a gun into the air and as the .45-caliber bullet fell
back to earth, Bingham was struck. Kajtsa described the wound as a "big scratch
with bruising."

Bingham was taken to Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg where she
was given five stitches. The bullet was lodged into the bra strap and was only
removed when doctors intervened and cut the bullet from the strap.

St. Petersburg Police are still searching for the shooter to determine if
Bingham was the target of the gunfire or if she was simply in the wrong place at
the wrong time, Kajtsa said.

Obviously, this doesn't indicate that a bra will protect you from a bullet, unless it's falling from the sky. It does highlight the dangers associated with bullets. What goes up, must come down, as they say...

Hat tip: Drudge Report

New Category: Dog attacks

I have several (if I do say so, myself) excellent posts on defending against dog attacks. I say they're excellent for three reasons:

1. In researching them, I consulted authorities on the subject


2. I didn't know anything about it, but learned a lot, and know that you will too, and...


3. They get a ton of hits

As a result, I created the Dog attacks category. Please check it out today.

FAQ on the MCMAP

The Marine Corp's Martial Arts Program has been posted on before, here at TDA Training, but we've never covered what it is, or why it is. That will change. I will post, over the next few weeks, articles, links, and featured techniques of this young martial art. To start, here is the Frequently Asked Questions on the MCMAP. Here is a link to a new version of this.


Frequently Asked Questions Regarding The Marine Corps Martial Arts Program

1. Why is this program needed?
The Marine Corps Martial Arts program is an evolutionary program building upon our rich traditions and proven ethos. Our Commandant recognized that with the changing nature of modern warfare as well as changes in today’s society there was a need for a program that would tie together all that is good in the Marine Corps. Our battlefield prowess is legendary, our history of developing leaders is unparalleled, and Americans have always identified a Marine as a person of the highest character. This program takes the best of our past with the innovation of the future and blends them into a seamless training system. With the successful implementation of this program we will enhance the personal development of each Marine in a team framework. Designed to enhance unit cohesion, esprit de corps, and combat effectiveness, it will help mitigate the human dimension and environmental factors of combat. Further it will be a program that will excite young Marines about their profession while increasing readiness and instilling a warrior ethos.

2. What does this program hope to accomplish?
The Marine Corps Martial Arts Program builds upon the success of the transformation and “Crucible” at recruit training and will produce a successful and ethical Marine warrior who has developed “integrity” of self, and who is the successful union of mind, body, and spirit (character). Marine Corps Martial Arts Program will produce a society of ethical warriors whose integration of self extends beyond themselves to the unit, the Marine Corps, and the nation as a whole.

3. How much money is this going to cost to implement?
Initial expenditures for the program in FY 00 were $173,000. The proposal for FY 01 is $1.3m with an annual sustainment thereafter of $225,000 annually. The inherent value of this program contrasts starkly with the monetary cost. We take the best of what already exists in the Marine Corps, namely our resident leadership expertise, our tradition of innovation, our battle proven training techniques and our drive for self-improvement, and combine them with a modest amount of gear. This results in an extremely high return on the investment.

Additionally, there will be one a time cost to modify existing training facilities and build several new types of training facilities at all entry level schools.

4. Won’t this just make Marines more aggressive and violent?
The Marine Corps makes Marines who are capable of winning the nation’s battles. To do this we have always taught Marines how to fight. A fighter without principles and discretion is merely a bully. A Marine warrior is an individual whose strength of character and mental discipline rivals his strength of arms. The difference that this program brings to the Marine Corps is it develops Marines as principled warriors who are aggressive in combat but who are imbued with the ability to deal with the moral dimensions of war and ethical decisions of life.

5. What martial art is this new style primarily based upon?
While borrowing specific techniques from various established martial arts, our program has many techniques that are unique. The Marine Corps Martial Arts Program is rooted in our credo that every Marine is a rifleman capable of engaging the enemy anywhere from 500 meters to 500 millimeters. The doctrine of this program has been refined in the crucible of combat through the experiences of combat veterans, and is guided by the input of several Subject Matter Experts. It is a weapons based system unique unto itself because it is based upon weapon systems, combat equipment, physical challenges and tactics not found outside the combat environment.

6. What emphasis will be placed on an individual’s character development?
It has been said, “there are two powers in the world, the sword and the spirit. In the long run, the sword is always defeated by the spirit.” The spirit of the Marine warrior will always guide and control the “power of his sword.” Thus in addition to the physical disciplines associated with other martial arts, our program places an equal emphasis on training in the mental and character disciplines. The Marine Corps Martial Arts Program fuses the physical disciplines of combat with the leadership and core values training that are the hallmark of our Corps. This synergy of training will create a warrior who will embody all that is best in our Country and Corps, a United States Marine.

Highlights of the character development include “Warrior Case Studies” which examine the actions of individual Medal of Honor and Navy Cross recipients in order to explore the ideals and values the make an ethical warrior. “Martial Culture Studies” examine warrior societies of the past to draw on their experiences thereby enhancing our understanding of the importance of character to a warrior and a martial society. In addition, a Marine’s sense of duty as a citizen is deepened by service to the community through any of a number of pre-existing programs.

7. When does the program begin?
Implementation has already begun. A cadre of instructors is trained and beginning Phase I implementation training throughout the Marine Corps in October 2000.

8. Were the previous programs failures? Why is this different?
The Marine Corps Martial Art Program is part of an evolutionary process. It builds on the success of and continues the evolution of the LINE and Close Combat programs, yet is unique in its integration of the mental, physical, and character disciplines. This program will be inculcated into the Marine culture through introduction at entry level schools, with a strong sustainment program at the unit level, by the use of a belt system, competitions, and linking martial arts to other required training. A complete package in response to the needs of the Marine Corps and society, this program will become central to the ethos of the Corps.

9. How will Marines accomplish these goals and still have time to work?
The Marine Corps Martial Arts Program is all encompassing and will become part of a Marine’s work and central to their “duties.” By incorporating all facets of current Marine Corps training, the amount of additional hours required will have minimal impact upon the existing operational tempo. The physical skills will become a component of daily Marine Corps physical fitness and mental and character discipline training is already a part of a Marine’s daily routine. This program is simply a philosophical shift in how we conduct this training. In addition, this program will be the first time we see required Marine Corps training offered in an after-hours environment through the Semper Fit program.

10. What are the warrior case studies and where are they drawn from?
To properly instill the warrior spirit, leaders must ensure that Marines understand their responsibility as warriors. This includes the fact that each Marine is accountable for maintaining and contributing to the legacy of valor established by the sacrifices of those Marines who proceeded us. This is the purpose of the Warrior Case Studies. Through the use of individual case studies we show examples of Marines who were endowed with and displayed the warrior spirit. The Warrior Case Studies are taught to Marines at the Tan and Gray Belt level, and are part of the initial step of developing the Marine Warrior. Warrior case studies involve guided discussions based upon the citations and personal histories of Medal of Honor and Navy Cross recipients. In addition to the incredible valor and warrior spirit exemplified by all Medal of Honor and Navy Cross recipients, the particular cases discussed were chosen for their close combat experiences.

11. Why study martial cultures of varied backgrounds?
The Martial Culture Studies examine warrior societies of the past to draw on their experiences thereby enhancing our understanding of the importance of character to a warrior and a martial society. Our nation is relatively young, and the people that make up the Marine Corps have varied ethnic, racial and cultural backgrounds. By studying various martial societies, we can illustrate to the Marines that this legacy belongs to all of us. Also, the Martial Case Studies will reinforce to Marines that there has never been a successful martial culture that was not also based on principle.

12. How will this help recruiting and retention?
For reasons they may not fully understand themselves, America’s sons and daughters join the Marine Corps in response to the age-old call to the brotherhood of arms. They come seeking the challenge of being a Marine. They come to hone their sense of belonging. They come to test their courage. They seek to strengthen their physical, mental, and emotional selves. They come to be warriors. Beginning at entry level training we develop these traits in order to give the new Marine what they need to be successful, namely, the moral courage to do what is right, and the strength to see it through. In the past, our successful recruiting campaign has focused on the intangibles of being a Marine. The Marine Corps Martial Arts Program capitalizes upon and develops these intangibles and provides the potential Marine with an even more powerful example that a Marine embodies the way of life that they seek. In short, they will see in the program that which they joined the Corps to become. As for retention, this program will rekindle the passion of Marines currently on active duty by fulfilling the need that brought them into the Marine Corps in the first place. For new Marines the program is designed to be progressive and sustain them from “cradle to grave.”

13. How many other programs were tested?
Two specific programs were tested. One was an enhanced version of the Marine Corps Close Combat system. It focused primarily on the physical discipline in order to validate its ability to fold into our proven leadership and core value training programs. SportsMind presented the second program, Marine Warrior. This program used mind-body-team techniques to create a new, more comprehensive form of human performance technology. Both programs were evaluated, and while neither was adopted in its final form, they both contributed in part to the hybrid program we now know as the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program. The fact that this evaluation process occurred is consistent with our long Marine tradition of experimentation. The end result may not be exactly what we wanted but the process of experimentation offers many lessons for the future.

14. How many Marines are trained so far?
Outside of the initial instructor cadre, no Marines have been qualified under the new system. Implementation will begin initially at entry level training and be phased in Corps-wide over the next year

15. Will Navy personnel assigned with the Marines be trained in this too?
Yes. The Marine Corps Martial Arts Program was developed by Marines to become an integral part of training and enhance readiness. As part of the Navy and Marine Corps Team, Navy Corpsmen and other naval personnel assigned to the Marine Corps will participate in the Martial Arts program. Our Navy Brethren have fought and died beside Marines for 225 years and will continue to do so in the future. Nothing better exemplifies this idea than the fact that one of the six figures raising the flag on Iwo Jima was a Navy Corpsman. Besides Navy personnel assigned with the Marine Corps this program has the potential to expand beyond the Marine Corps into the joint arena.

16. What makes this new martial art more applicable to the battlefield than other, older martial arts?
Unlike other, more traditional martial arts, this program begins with the Marine’s basic weapon, the rifle and bayonet, transitioning from assault fire and flowing through the integrated continuum of the rifle/bayonet, edged weapons, weapons of opportunity, and ending potentially in unarmed combat. It is battlefield oriented, combat equipment based and develops in the Marine the ability to overcome physical hardship and physical obstacles (water survival, assault climber, cold weather training) under any climatic condition. It will develop a physical toughness in every Marine that will translate into mental toughness. It will produce a Marine who possesses combat fitness and the ability to handle any situation.

17. How does the belt system work?
The belt system is comparable to other martial arts in that it is a graded progression from basic to advanced skills in fighting techniques. What makes this system unique is the requirement for the Marine to display equal mastery of the mental and character disciplines.

The type of belt and colors selected differ from traditional martial arts, to be unique to the Marine Corps and become a part of our distinctive utility uniform.

The progression is as follows:

Tan - basic fundamentals of the mental, physical and character disciplines.
Grey - basic fundamentals and introduction to intermediate fundamentals of each discipline.
Green - intermediate fundamentals of each discipline. (Qualified to attend Instructor Course.)
Brown - intermediate fundamentals and introduction to advance fundamentals of each discipline.
Black - advance fundamentals. (Qualified to attend the Instructor Trainer Course.)
Advanced Black - advance skills and Instructor-Trainer qualified.

In addition to displaying proficiency in the mental, physical, and character disciplines, promotion to each belt level has rank, time in grade, age, Professional Military Education requirements, as well as the Marine’s senior leader’s recommendation.

18. How long does it take for someone to earn a tan belt?
To earn a tan belt requires 27.5 hours of supervised training. This normally occurs at entry-level training for both enlisted Marines and officers. During initial implementation of the program the 27.5 hours of training will be done throughout the Marine Corps for those Marines currently on active duty.

19. Black Belt?
To earn a Black Belt requires a Marine to be a sergeant or above, as well as complete 247.50 hours of supervised training. This equates to the cumulative training and experiences a Marine will accumulate in 3 to 4 years of service. This will be a Marine who has completed several leadership development schools, who has been recommended and promoted on four occasions within the Marine Corps rank system, who has been tested and mastered the techniques of four previous belt rankings, has demonstrated maturity, sound judgment, impeccable character, and has proven himself as a leader.

20. Why are there rank prerequisites for earning the higher belts?
Tan – entry level training.
Grey – no rank requirement.
Green – Corporal and above.
Brown – Corporal and above.
Black – Sergeant and above.

Rank prerequisites are tied to the belt ranking system to ensure Marines possess the maturity, judgment and moral character required for advancement. This will ensure that as a Marine develops the physical skills to make them lethal warriors, they also develop a commensurate level of maturity and self-discipline. In addition, once a Marine attains Green belt or higher, the Marine is eligible to attend the Instructor Course, and later as a Black belt, the Instructor-Trainer Course. These two special qualifications within the belt ranking system require that the individual not only have mastered the belt requirements, but have the ability to teach as well. Teaching the principles of the mental, physical and character disciplines requires an understanding that cannot be grown overnight, but is a product of time and experience. The same years of training and guidance necessary to develop the Marine martial artist parallels the training and guidance required to develop future Marine Corps leaders. Thus the Marine Corps rank system and the martial arts belt system are inextricably linked.

21. Is this going to be a requirement for all Marines? Any age limits?
Like the current Marine Corps physical fitness program, there are no age limits. This program will be available to all Marines. As part of the phased approach to implementation the Commandant of the Marine Corps has set goals which will eventually result in all Marines participating in this program.

22. How many instructors are needed for this program to work?
There is no specific number. The heart of this program resides at the NCO and SNCO ranks. This sets the tone for the long-term responsibilities for the program. This is consistent with the way the vast majority of skills are taught in the Corps. Over the long-term, NCOs and SNCOs involved in this program will benefit not just in their ability to teach important warfighting skills, they will benefit in the improvement of their perceived “expert power” in the eyes of the forty-nine percent of the Marine Corps who are lance corporals and below, our youngest, most impressionable Marines. Sustainment and day-to-day administration relies primarily on the unit’s organic NCOs and SNCOs, and unit’s organic instructors. By putting this program into the very capable hands of the NCO and SNCO ranks of the Marine Corps we will see a rapid and more widespread adoption of this program.

23. What precludes Marines from abusing the techniques they’ve learned?
The Marine Corps Martial Arts program fosters the development of a Marine as a whole person in order to develop the Marine as a responsible warrior. Above and beyond the physical skills being taught, the mental and character disciplines give the Marine the skills to understand how and when to use those physical skills. Areas taught include the following subjects.

Citizenship
Personal and Family Affairs
Safety, Risk Management, and Combat Readiness
Responsible Use of Force
Warrior as a Gentleman

The components of the character discipline will be linked to those of the other two disciplines (mental and physical) as well as to the advancement process within the belt ranking system. Commanders by their recommendation will certify that the Marine has met annual training requirements, the prerequisites of each specific belt level and that the Marine possess the maturity, judgment and moral character required for advancement. This will ensure as a Marine develops the physical skills to be a lethal warrior, the Marine also develops a commensurate level of maturity and self-discipline. In the end, we want a Marine who thoroughly understands the professional lethality of war but for whom its abuse or misuse is abhorrent.

24. Do you expect injuries to arise? How will you combat that?
Safety is an integral component of all three disciplines of the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program. As warriors our profession is inherently dangerous. Like other parts of Marine Corps training, the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program has identifiable risks and the potential for injuries.

The study of safety and risk management is an integral component of the mental discipline. Each Marine will be educated from the beginning of his Marine Corps career and martial arts training with the fundamental principle that safety is a key consideration in all that we do on or off duty. This begins with teaching entry level training individual safety responsibilities and continues with the education of leaders on how to conduct safe training.

A cornerstone of the physical discipline is to train safely. The program is safe because we practice safety measures during all training. This is accomplished through fault checking, close supervision by instructors, and training Marines in individual safety measures as well as the art of operational risk management and assessment. For example, in all phases of Rifle/Bayonet training, solo drills are worked and checked by an instructor during each class period. Thrusting drills are conducted at slow and medium speeds from one, two, and three assault steps from the target and thoroughly critiqued by an instructor. Marines are individually trained; there is no “cookie cutter” approach.

Finally, the combination of the mental discipline and physical aspects of safety will combine to insinuate themselves as part of a Marine’s very character, culminating in the Marine as a responsible warrior.

Muay Thai kid - video

Watch this kid! Hat tip to Black Scorpion Stings.



Welcome to 2007!