Saturday, May 30, 2009

When Fear is an Unwelcome Gift

By Mark Hatmaker

Fear Many consider Gavin DeBecker’s book The Gift of Fear a classic in the realm of personal protection (and rightly so). In his book, Mr. DeBecker, makes a strong case for not ignoring the “gut reactions” we sometimes encounter in bad situations; I agree with his premise whole-heartedly but, I think that some may have taken the implications of Mr. DeBecker’s observations a bit further than warranted. By the way, these stretchings of Mr. DeBecker’s premise, I’m sure, are offered out of genuine concern and not malicious dishonesty.

We often hear anecdotal support for little “gifts of fear” in the form of personal or “I have a cousin” stories. These stories often take the form of: “Joe was at this bar and he had a bad feeling about this guy giving him the eye and sure enough before the night was done that guy tried to break a bottle over his head.” In my example story, fictional Joe’s “gift of fear” was proven correct and that would be the only reason for Joe (or his cousin) to pass along the story. But if we are to give credence to gifts of fear we must also give credence to all gifts of fear.

By this I mean, Joe’s story is passably interesting only because something occurred after his initial tingle of suspicion but, what if Joe experienced the tingle and the guy never went for the bottle? No story and chances are Joe would forget the fear-tingling incident ever occurred. As a matter of fact, most little tingles of fear we get are for naught (we’ll get to why this is in a bit). The nerves (fear) before a speech seldom signal that the crowd is going to attack. If everyone who ever experienced an “unsettling feeling” before boarding a plane acted on that feeling we would be looking at the collapse of the airline industry. I offer that, more often than not, our miniature gifts of fear are mistakes in perception and easily forgotten because nothing occurred. We humans love a good story and may occasionally give too much weight to after the fact stories of precognition. Those far smarter than I label this logical fallacy “post hoc ergo propter hoc” (approximate Latin for “after this, therefore because of this”).

So, am I saying that we should ignore our gifts of fear? Not necessarily. But first a little about why we are so damn fearful. The human animal evolved in an environment where there were many things to “be on the look out for”—venomous snakes, inclement weather (even mild inclemency is problematic in sparse or zero shelter), quadrupedal predator species, bipedal predators (competing humans), wounded but still dangerous kill, and a myriad other dangers associated with Paleolithic hunting and nomadic existence. In short, fear in this environment was (and is, when thrust back into these conditions) a necessary part of survival.

Time travel to now and, assuming that the majority of us live in fairly safe conditions, (I trust that if you have the safety and leisure to read this article life is okey-dokey for you at the moment) and we find conditions far different from those enjoyed by our Stone Age ancestors. Our current environment and conditions may be vastly different than what our Paleolithic forebears dealt with but our brains are essentially the same. Our brains still seek potential threats and hidden dangers (not a bad thing, mind you, with a little prudence—we’ll get to that). The problem is our Stone Age brains still look for threats in the past environment—more people are afraid of spiders and snakes than of driving or riding in a car when the odds far and away are in favor of the car injuring and/or killing you. More people fear the stranger when crime statistics show that you are much more likely to be harmed (assaulted, raped, or murdered) by someone you know. Our 21st century lives are still influenced by Paleolithic concerns and these primitive concerns are often translated into little gifts of fear that may no longer have context. Context, by the way, is the key.

Environment, both physical and emotional, is our great context provider. Environment provides us with the cues or clues that inform us as to whether or not to be more alert to our miniature gifts of fear. Environment can let us know whether to stay alert or stand-down. For example, mobs can be dangerous and they can also be benign, the environmental context will assist you in determining how much credence to lend to any anxiety you may experience. A mob of educators at a teachers’ convention is one thing; a mob of Neo-Nazis at a rally is something altogether different. We can keep the physical environment example and alter the emotional environment. Picture the same Neo-Nazi rally where the Neo-Nazi focus is on a Neo-Nazi family picnic complete with sack races and a mass water balloon fight—doesn’t change the distasteful political stance of the group but, it does leaven your perceived threat a bit. Back to the teachers’ convention, let’s assume that mandatory merit pay has just been announced and tenure has been done away with and the teachers don’t seem to care for that a bit—a little different now, huh?

Physical and emotional environments will provide our context for fear cues. No, we should not ignore all fear cues but we must (if we are to be rational as well as safe) evaluate them for what they might possibly be—a remnant of a survival system from long ago that may not be relevant in the current environment. And we also must remember the human propensity to “remember the hits and forget the misses” (again: post hoc ergo propter hoc) when it comes to our little gifts of fear stories. Of course, this was all said much better by Mark Twain, and I paraphrase: “I’ve had many troubles in my life, most of which have never happened.”

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Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Faith in Technique

Moshe Katz writes:

Have Faith in your Technique.

One of the principals in Krav Maga training is having faith in your technique, believing that it will work. If you are not sure about your technique, if you are not confident that it will work; you will not give it one hundred percent, you will hesitate and the technique will not be effective. This in turn will reinforce your lack of belief or confidence in the technique. You will become convinced that the technique is not effective. You must never let this happen.

For any technique to work, it must be executed with confidence and spirit.

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Saturday, May 16, 2009

The Great Equalizer

Rear Naked Choke What is the one technique that a smaller and weaker person (a David) can use to defeat a larger and stronger person (a Goliath) with little effort? The answer is the Rear Naked Choke (RNC). This technique is called “Mata Leão” in Portuguese, which translates into “Lion Killer.”

The RNC is a chokehold used in the grappling arts that is applied from an opponent's back. It is called a "blood choke" because it restricts blood flow to the brain via the carotid arteries. When done correctly, it can cause temporary unconsciousness in a few seconds.

With all things being equal, bigger and stronger persons should always win a physical altercation. They have a greater mass that can be transferred into their actions. However, when it comes to attacking the carotid arteries of a person’s neck, bigger and stronger no longer applies. Moreover, the fact that a RNC is applied from an opponent’s back leaves very few countermeasures for the opponent. Eventually, an opponent succumbs to the RNC like Spock’s Vulcan nerve pinch.

During our ground fighting night this week, I had a lot of fun practicing variations of the Trap and Roll Escape. However, my greatest enjoyment was during our free rolling (wrestling) period. During that period, I witnessed a “David” defeat a “Goliath” with a RNC.

The David is about 5-feet 5-inches tall. He looks to weigh between 130 - 140 pounds. The Goliath is about 6-feet 4-inches tall and weighs 260 pounds. David and Goliath are both beginning grapplers, so they are equal in that respect.

The odds are that when you wrestle with a bigger, stronger opponent, he will overpower you and you will end up on your back. This was the case with David and Goliath. Initially, Goliath had David in a modified scarf hold. Then it turned into a headlock with Goliath sitting on his buttocks and David in a prone position, face down.

Goliath squeezed and squeezed and squeezed the headlock, but David did not succumb. Then I saw something occur that is typical of Goliaths. When Goliaths exert their strength for an extended period, they build up lactic acid in their large oxygen hungry muscles and eventually their hold weakens. It was at this point that David pulled his head out of Goliath’s headlock.

David rear mounted Goliath, put his hooks in and applied the RNC. Goliath made a valiant effort to thwart David’s RNC for a short period... but it was to no avail. Goliath succumbed.

I found no pleasure in Goliath’s defeat because to some, I am considered a Goliath at 6-feet 2-inches tall and 240 pounds. However, you cannot help but root for the underdog in these situations. Moreover, it is amazing to see a technique work so efficiently and effectively, particularly when compared to a striking combative.

But that’s not the end of the story. You see... David defeated another Goliath via a RNC one week ago. That Goliath is about 6-feet 2-inches tall and weighs 275 pounds.

The RNC is indeed the great equalizer.

The Great EqualizerSocialTwist Tell-a-Friend

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Another Night of Kicking

Practice Makes Perfect The class started with a punching drill warm-up. Our partner held focus mitts, we threw left jabs for a round, right crosses for a round, and then we threw Bas Rutten combinations for a round.

The next part of our warm-up involved kicking. We decided which partner would begin the round with a kick. Our partner would attack us with a kick and we had to attack our partner with the same kick. In addition, we were allowed to defend against the kicks. The next round began with us attacking with the first kick and our partner following with the same kick.

Drill #1
Our partner holds a kicking shield and from a passive stance we execute a side kick.

Drill #2
Our partner holds a kicking shield and from a passive stance we execute an advancing side kick.

Drill #3
Our partner holds a kicking shield and from a passive stance we execute a front kick using the ball of our foot.

Drill #4
Our partner holds a kicking shield and from a passive stance we execute a back kick.

Drill #5
Our partner holds a kicking shield and from a passive stance we execute an advancing back kick.

Drill #6
Our partner holds a kicking shield and we’re told to execute a side kick and follow up with our choice of combatives.

Drill #7
Our partner holds a kicking shield and we’re told to execute a back kick and follow up with our choice of combatives.

Drill #8
Our partner holds a kicking shield and we’re told to execute a ball of foot front kick and follow up with our choice of combatives.

Drill #9
Our partner holds a kicking shield and we we’re given instructions, by our partner, as to what kick to execute and then follow up with our choice of combatives.

Drill #10
Our partner holds a kicking shield and we’re told to execute a side kick and follow up with our choice of combatives. We continued until our partner told us to go to the ground and execute drop elbow strikes on a tombstone pad. We continued with drop elbow strikes until our partner told us to get up. We get back to our feet and the cycle continues until the instructor tells us to switch roles with our partner.

Drill #11
Our partner holds a kicking shield and we’re told to execute a back kick and follow up with our choice of combatives. We continued until our partner told us to go to the ground and execute drop elbow strikes on a tombstone pad. We continued with drop elbow strikes until our partner told us to get up. We get back to our feet and the cycle continues until the instructor tells us to switch roles with our partner.

Drill #12
Our partner holds a kicking shield and we’re told to execute a ball of foot front kick and follow up with our choice of combatives. We continued until our partner told us to go to the ground and execute drop elbow strikes on a tombstone pad. We continued with drop elbow strikes until our partner told us to get up. We get back to our feet and the cycle continues until the instructor tells us to switch roles with our partner.

Drill #13
Our partner holds a kicking shield and we execute any kick of our choosing and then follow up with our choice of combatives. We continued until our partner told us to go to the ground and execute drop elbow strikes on a tombstone pad. We continued with drop elbow strikes until our partner told us to get up. We get back to our feet and the cycle continues until the instructor tells us to switch roles with our partner.

Drill #14
Our final drill involved groups of three. One person was the victim and the other two were the attackers. Attacker #1 attacked with a front choke. Attacker #2 was in striking distance. The victim defended against the front choke with a front choke defense of his choosing. While the victim was in the process of making a defense, attacker #2 attacks. The victim executes a kick of his choice against attacker #2. In some cases, the victim would use attacker #1 as a shield between himself and attacker #2.

Another Night of KickingSocialTwist Tell-a-Friend

Saturday, May 9, 2009

Night of Side Kicks

Side kick We started the class with a warm-up that was like a fruity cocktail drink. In other words, it sneaks up on you. You were winded at the end of the routine. However, while you were performing the routine, you would not expect to become winded.

Drill #1
Our partner holds a kicking shield and from a passive stance we execute a side kick.

Drill #2
Our partner holds a kicking shield and from a passive stance we execute a hopping side kick.

Drill #3
Our partner holds a kicking shield and we side kick our partner the full length of the floor with our left leg and then when we get to the end, we side kick our partner the full length of the floor with our right leg. We had to do this twice to complete the drill. Side kicking our way down the floor was not kick… partner sets herself… kick. It was kick-kick-kick. The idea was to keep your partner from setting herself. This drill brought back memories of my traditional martial arts days when we had to perform kicking drills up and down the dojo floor.

Drill #4
We executed a high side kick toward our partner’s face. Our partner defended with an inside defense.

Drill #5
We executed a medium high side kick toward our partner’s midsection. Our partner defended with a plucking defense.

Drill #6
Our partner holds a kicking shield and tells us the number of side kicks we must execute. Once we’ve executed the required number of side kicks, our partner tells us to drop and sprawl on the floor. While we’re sprawling, our partner moves to different position. We get back to our feet and our partner tells us again to execute a certain number of side kicks. He tells us again to drop and sprawl. This cycle continues until the instructor tells us to switch roles with our partner.

Drill #7
The final drill was the practice of a different variation of the bar arm choke defense.

Night of Side KicksSocialTwist Tell-a-Friend

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Go to Plan B

Plan BSometimes you have to go to Plan B because Plan A just ain’t workin’. A few weeks ago... on our ground fighting night... we were practicing a shoulder choke. This choke works like the leg triangle choke except you're using your arms instead of your legs.

The choke is sometimes called an arm triangle choke. In Judo, it’s called a Kata Gatame. When using this choke, your opponent’s arm restricts blood flow on one side of his neck and you use an arm to restrict blood flow on the other side of his neck. You want to make sure that your opponent's arm is trapped between your head and his.

So... I’m practicing the choke on a person that weighs 275 lbs. He has… at least… a 19-inch neck and arms almost as big as my thighs. My preference for applying this choke is to use a reverse lever. For example, if my right arm is around my opponent’s neck, I place my right hand on my left forearm. I then move my left hand up to the side of my head and squeeze. I get a much tighter choke this way... 99 percent of the time.

One of the problems that I encountered with this individual was that my 80-inch reach (measured from fingertips to fingertips) hardly got around him to apply the choke. Another problem was that when I attempted to apply the choke... I couldn’t finish it. I called over another person... a 300-pounder (I’m a 240-pounder)... to attempt the choke. He used a gable (palm-to-palm) grip instead of a reverse lever. He… also… couldn’t finish the choke.

So... what’s the moral of the story? You can’t expect every technique to be effective on everybody. If something doesn’t work, switch to something else. Go to Plan B. Don’t waste your energy trying to make the technique work. The idea is to make your opponent waste his/her energy thereby facilitating your victory.

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Saturday, May 2, 2009

Front Leg Side Kick

Side Kick The Front Leg Side Kick is perhaps the weakest of all the side kicks, but still a very effective kick. This kick is executed by shifting your weight onto your rear leg while bringing your front knee up directly in front of you. With practice, this can be one of your fastest side kicks in your kicking arsenal.

While facing my opponent, sometimes I like to use the Front Leg Side Kick because I can drive my opponent back farther than with the Front Kick. This is one of my favorite kicks. The following example is for a Front Leg Side Kick using the right leg.

  1. From a fighting stance, raise your knee at least waist high. Your foot should already be in the correct position to strike your opponent.
  2. Your base leg foot should have moved approximately 90-degrees counterclockwise by pivoting on the ball of your foot.
  3. Turn your body counterclockwise so that the kicking leg side of your body is now facing directly towards your opponent
  4. Your kicking leg foot is slightly in front of your base leg and as high above the knee as possible while being tucked in close to your groin.
  5. The outside (knife) edge of your kicking foot is pointed down towards the ground.
  6. As you begin to kick, your base leg foot should have moved approximately 20-degrees counterclockwise by pivoting on the ball of your foot.
  7. As the heel edge of your kicking foot makes contact with its target, your base leg foot should now have moved 25-degrees counterclockwise by pivoting on the ball of your foot.
  8. Your kicking foot, kicking leg (knee slightly bent), hips, back, shoulders and head should be in a straight line at the initial point of impact. Picture a pool stick making contact with a cue ball on a pool table. The heel edge of your kicking foot is like the tip of the pool stick.
  9. Your kicking leg should return (recoil) along the same straight path of trajectory it followed from knee raising to impact.
  10. Return to your fighting stance.
In my traditional martial arts days, I used to practice this kick by placing a chair beside me. It forced me to raise my knee high enough so that I was able to kick over the chair. I would also practice with a step ladder. I would practice kicking between each ladder rung. It helped with targeting my kicks.

If while sparring, you find yourself getting hit by a much taller opponent that is able to punch you while you’re executing a Front Kick, switch to a Front Leg Side Kick. It will put your head out of punching range while you’re delivering the kick.

Remember… for the street… no high kicks! Save those for your demonstration photos and movie stunt work.

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