Kickboxing is a sporting martial art very similar to boxing, except for the fact that it uses both arms and legs for striking. It can be practiced either as a full-contact combat sport or for general fitness. While the term refers to various forms of combat sports, it is generally associated with Japanese and American kickboxing. The term was introduced by Osamu Noguchi, a Japanase boxing promoter.

The History of Kickboxing

Kickboxing is a derivative of karate, boxing, taekwondo and other combat styles and it was created to compete against them. All styles of kickboxing have been first developed in Japan. However, similar influences were taking place in the United States as well and martial artists from toured both Japan and US, developing a common kickboxing standard.

Initial Japanese Development

As a specific form of martial art, kickboxing was inspired from Muay Thai, a combat sport originated in Thailand. Osamu Noguchi, a Japanese boxing promoter, developed it as a competitive style to oppose Muay Thai. He wanted to present to the Japanese people the fighting style that he had discovered in Thailand and in 1966 he took three Muay Thai fighters to compete against Japanese karate fighters. The Japanese won by 2-1. Noguchi and Kenji Kurosaki studied the combat style thoroughly and developed a combined martial art called kickboxing. At first, throwing and butting were allowed in order to distinguish it from the Muay Thai style. However, they were later eliminated.

A few years later, the Kickboxing Association, the first kickboxing organization, was founded in Japan. Kickboxing was broadcast on TV and became very popular in Japan. Back then, Tadashi Sawamura was an extremely popular kickboxer. After he retired, kickboxing started to lose its popularity and stopped being broadcast on TV. He hadn’t been on TV until 1993, when K-1 was founded. In 1993, Kazuyoshi Ishii, who was the founder of Seidokan karate, produced K-1 under kickboxing rules (no elbow or neck wrestling). Since then, kickboxing started to regain its popularity and became famous again. Soon it’s popularity started spreading through North America and Europe as well.

Spreading to North America and Europe

Jan Plas, a Dutch kickboxer, and a few Muay Thai pioneers, initiated Mejiro jym in Netherlands in 1978. He had learned kick boxing in Japan from the famous Kenji Kurosaki. In addition, he was also the one that founded the Dutch Kickboxing Association (NKBB) in 1978, which was the first kickboxing organization in the Netherlands.

Kickboxing & Fitness

Kickboxing has gradually become a fitness craze as well. Kickboxing classes are very popular in European countries also. They are attended by both men and women. It has become very popular among women of all ages who are always looking for new methods to lose weight or stay in shape.

As you walk by a kickboxing class, you will see that most times it is packed. It seems that all you have to bring is yourself and plenty of energy. Kickboxing classes are generally coregraphed to house or techno music. The whole class consists of a full hour of punching to the beat. It involves a lot of arm movements, squats, power movements and a good amount of cardiovascular workout. This is what explains its high popularity as a fitness activity. With all the fun, you even forget about the fact that you are actually working out.

Sue Taylor is the webmaster of a site dedicated to kickboxing. For more information, refer to http://www.kickboxingnews.info

There are as many approaches to self-defense as there are reasons why people study it.

What are YOUR reasons and what approach are YOU using? How confident are you that your efforts will produce the results what you want?

What is it about self-defense that interests you?

You must be looking for something or you wouldn’t be reading this, right?

Some people learn self-defense to defend themselves from the violent actions of others! Duh!!!) They want to satisfy the essential need for security and control.

Others are after self-confidence and an improved self-image.

Then there are those who don’t care much about "fighting" at all. They’re just looking for an enjoyable, functional and "cool" way to get into great shape.

Maybe you’re after "ALL OF THE ABOVE." (like me Well then keep reading friend… because I’ve got some thoughts to throw at ya…

===== Two Approaches To Self-Defense =====

There are two broad categories of self-defense information. Whether they spell it out or not, all self-defense books, articles, classes and seminars are based on one or both of two "themes"… a MENTAL APPROACH or a PHYSICAL APPROACH.

The "Physical Approach" is based on "EFFICIENCY." It pursues physical skill development as a self-defense solution. It involves learning punches, kicks, grappling and defensive techniques. Although avoiding a physical altercation is given "passing attention," EXACTLY how to do that is often glazed over or not addressed at all.

Whether you enroll in a martial arts class, sign up for a self-defense seminar or join a boxing club, the focus is to teach you how to physically perform "fight-related" techniques.

"Fitness-based" training, such as Tae Bo, Cardio Kickboxing and Boxercise also fall in this category.

The assumption here is that your BODY is your weapon and the harder you train and the better you get at performing self-defense techniques, the safer and more capable you will be to defend yourself.

The "Mental Approach" is based on "Effectiveness." It is focused on "PersonalSafety" theories, concepts and strategies.

This theory-based approach involves gaining an understanding of predatory situations; how they happen, how they can be anticipated and recognized, how they can be avoided and how to respond if you encounter one.

Your BRAIN is considered your most powerful self-defense weapon, and this training (hypothetically) makes you "SMARTER" and more capable of wise decisions in the stress and chaos of threatening situations.

"Efficiency and Effectiveness" What’s the Difference?

Perhaps the point I am trying to make will be clearer if we come to a common understanding of exactly what I mean by these two terms. Before you read on… think for a moment and come up with your own definition of these terms… Done? Here’s mine…

————————————————-
Efficiency Is Doing Things Right

Effectiveness Is Doing The Right Things
————————————————-

Can you see the difference? I hope so, because it’s HUUUUUUUUUUUUGE!!!! Here’s how those terms relate to self-defense training.

===== The Physical Approach To Self-Defense ======

The Physical Approach involves learning and practicing physical skills "efficiently." The faster, more coordinated, more powerful your striking, kicking, grappling and defensive techniques are, the more "successful" you consider yourself.

There are many self-defense courses that deal exclusively with learning techniques, with and without training partners, as a TOTAL solution for all your self-defense problems.

Now don’t get me wrong… I’m not criticizing this approach in any way. I teach physical skills classes and seminars myself.

Learning physical skills can dramatically improve your odds of surviving and escaping a violent situation. It can even reduce the probability of being confronted or attacked.

If done properly, on a regular basis (which I highly recommend), self-defense conditioning and skills training like sparring or hitting a heavy bag, will provide a ton of physical, mental and emotional benefits.

BUT is the exclusive practice of techniques a sufficient "self-defense solution?"

===== Benefits Of The Physical Approach =====

Physical skills training is a GREAT way to get in shape and stay there. If properly done, ongoing self-defense training is a fun and functional, full-body workout.

The self-confidence, fitness, and athletic qualities gained through regular self-defense training will have a positive influence on your "victim profile" (behavior and body language) that you project to a potential predator. It can decrease the probability of being targeted. (Dirt bags don’t pick fights with people they perceive are likely and capable to fight back)

Unlike "single-exposure" self-defense training (where you learn a technique once and never practice it again,) ONGOING self-defense training is proactive.

Regular self-defense training "rewards" you in many ways, even if you NEVER have to defend yourself.

Regular self-defense training "defends and protects" you against more probable and legitimate "threats" to your life, your health and well-being. You are at more risk from poor lifestyle habits and a lack of exercise than you are from a mugger or rapist.

===== Drawbacks to a Physical Only Approach =====

If you limit your self-defense efforts exclusively to physical skills training, you also limit your response options in a volatile situation. You are limited to a "Fight/Don’t Fight" decision. There are more ways to resolve a volatile situations than that (there are 5 actually). Doing the "wrong thing" well (like fighting when you don’t have to) can get you injured, arrested or sued.

Regular self-defense training makes you feel great. You’ll feel confident, energetic and fit. (so how is that a drawback?) Don’t make the mistake of over estimating your potential of defeating an attacker and end up over your head in an encounter with someone who is tougher, meaner and more malicious than you are.

Don’t think that your weekly cardio-kickboxing class has turned you into a "trained killer!"

Even the "best" fighter will be dropped like a bag of dirt if he or she doesn’t develop appropriate awareness and avoidance skills and is caught off guard. Physical skills don’t protect you from unanticipated acts of violence.

===== The Mental Approach To Self-Defense =====

The Mental Approach addresses the "big picture" of predatory situations. In my self-defense system for example, there are "SEVEN" separate and interrelated aspects of a comprehensive personal safety or self-defense system.

The intent of this mental approach is to make you "smarter" and more capable of avoiding, diffusing and responding EFFECTIVELY by doing the RIGHT THINGS in a volatile situation. By the "RIGHT THINGS," I’m referring to the most effective response strategies to successfully resolve a threatening or volatile situation.

Fighting back with physical self-defense techniques is only part of staying safe.

===== Benefits Of The Mental Approach =====

An accurate understanding of the dynamics of predatory situations increases the odds of anticipating, avoiding, recognizing and responding to them. The "best" result to a violent encounter is not when you manage to fight your way out of it. It’s when it doesn’t happen in the first place!

Not all volatile situations can be solved by fighting. Effectiveness in a self-defense situation allows you to assess and evaluate the circumstances and select the most effective response strategy to implement to gain or regain control.

A sense of control that accompanies proper mental training decreases the stress and fear associated with volatile or predatory situations. And that increased sense of control and self-confidence can reduce the potential of being victimized.

===== Drawbacks To A Mental Only Approach =====

An "information-only" approach does not significantly change the body language that you project to a potential assailant. Although some self-defense instructors imply that you can "fake" non-victim body language by walking briskly, standing straight, and "pretending to be confident." That will only go so far. Pretending to be coordinated, strong and physically fit is easier said than done.

Knowing the best response option in a given situation, be it running away or fighting back, is of little value if you can’t successfully pull it off. If you haven’t developed your skills and fitness levels by ongoing self-defense practice, how likely are you to out-run or out-fight an assailant?

===== One OR The Other Is Incomplete =====

You’ve probably figured out by now that ONE OR THE OTHER of these two approaches is an incomplete approach to being able to defend yourself. An optimal strategy is to combine and balance your ability to make smart, effective decisions with the ability to carry those decisions through to a successful conclusion. BOTH mental AND physical elements are required for optimal self-defense success.

Be effective first, then be efficient. A medical equivalent might be to "Diagnose First The Perscribe." To successfully resolve a volatile situation, you need sound judgement to decide on the best course of action AND the physical skills and ability to implement your game plan.

The degree to which you pursue each approach has a lot to do with your capabilities, limitations and the goals you have in relation to your study of self-defense.

If you are smaller, weaker, older for example, your emphasis should lean more toward personal safety strategies and be supplemented with physical skills training. If your self-defense goals are simply to avoid victimization and to stay out of trouble, then learn everything you can about the dynamics of volatile situations.

On the other hand, maybe you are fit, athletic and skillful. Perhaps you already train regularly and feel capable of "holding your own" if you have to defend yourself. If thats the case, here are a couple pieces of advice to consider:

There’s always someone tougher and meaner than you are! Even highly skilled fighters and martial artists need awareness and avoidance skills. Physical techniuqes are of little value if you are set up, sucker punched, or ambushed. NOBODY wins a fight. You may defeat your adversary and "still" be injured yourself. Also, just because you didn’t instigate the confrontation doesn’t mean that you won’t find yourself being criminally charged or civilly sued for defending yourself.

The point I’m trying to make is that the BEST approach to self-defense training is to learn to do the right thing by learning everything you can about the dynamics of predatory situations AND engage in regular self-defense training so that you can "do things right" by developing the skills and conditioning to carry out a desired self-defense strategy.

===== Two Approaches? Two Resources! =====

The questions I get by email and in person, can be divided into two clear categories… "What-Should-I-Do-If…questions" and "How-Do-I…questions." Or in otherwords effectiveness and efficiency.

It is because of these different but complimentary aspects of self-defense that I’ve decided to "split" the focus of my web sites so I can address each in greater detail.

I’m in the process of restructuring of my web sites to assist you in finding the information you are looking for.

http://www.ProtectiveStrategies.com will continue to be "home base" for my self-defense articles and newsletter. The site will maintain a "Get Smart Focus" by dealing with the Big Picture of personal safety concepts and will address all seven components of self-defense:

=> Self-Defense Psychology
=> Self-Defense Intelligence
=> Victim Selection
=> Predatory Recognition
=> Self-Defense Response Options
=> Prevention and Avoidance
=> Self-Defense Training Methods

My new site, http://www.ToughenUp.com/ takes the "Get Tough Focus" of the seventh component: Self-Defense Training Methods to the next level. It provides specific "how-to-train" resources and advice for people who want to incorporate ongoing self-defense training for a variety of reasons.

Randy LaHaie
Protective Strategies

Randy LaHaie is the president of Protective Strategies and has been teaching reality-based self-defense for over 30 years. He is the author of several "Toughen Up Combative Training Guides" (http://www.ToughenUp.com)

Subscribe to his FREE SELF-DEFENSE NEWSLETTER at http://www.ProtectiveStrategies.com

I began my personal study of the martial arts because I wanted to defend myself. I was also under the impression that defending myself demanded that someone else had to get beat up. However, I knew deep down in the pit of my stomach that I did not want to damage anyone that badly. Seriously, I was between a rock and a hard place. I felt trapped between my inherently peaceful way of life and my no-nonsense fighting style. I needed to find a way out of the never ending cycles of violence that fighting can set in motion. I needed to retrain my mind so that I would be able to recognize less harmful opportunities to end a fight. I did not want for my reactions to violence to be greater violence.

How could I defend my self with out seriously harming my attacker? How could I possibly maintain my peace in times of war when just being you is a reason to fight. And, of course, I was impressed with the effect of good ole’ fashioned blow for blow action. Being in the dojo was like being in a really great movie. However, I was unhappy and discontented on the inside. On the one hand I was a skilled fighting artist confident and secure while, on the other, I was vexed over the damage that my art had the capacity to cause. I needed to find a fighting style that was just like my very own personality. I needed to be myself at all times so I started searching. That said, I began my study of Jiu Jitsu. Jiu Jitsu literally means "peaceful art". The philosophy of the Jiu Jitsu is to neutralize an opponent without harm. The art form involves chokes, throws, strikes and submissions. It’s also notable to mention that most Jiu Jitsu philosophers assume that a fight will end up on the mat ninety percent of the time.

I learned much. However, the most valuable lesson that I learned was that it is possible for people to defend themselves without resorting to all out warfare tactics. There are many alternatives to violence and the execution of them during trying times is a skill that will be developed by few. As time went by, I found myself in Aikido classes, reading books and watching instruction DVDs on arts such as Tai Chi. I learned to control my breathing and to be more patient. My entire understanding of the way things operate in the world slowly began to change. I also learned that there are many strategic advantages to the peaceful fighter. I felt creative again. I had found the thing that I originally wanted from the martial arts. I found a way to defend myself without perpetuating violence.

Looking back at my introduction into martial arts I’d have to say that honesty with regard to my very own personality was essential to choosing my personal fighting style. I knew that if I was not content with what I was doing, I would not be dedicated to it for very long. Meanwhile, the field of martial arts is extremely broad. There are fighting styles that are very fierce and aggressive as well as fighting styles that go to extraordinary lengths not to harm the opponent. And while the philosophies of many martial arts may be similar, they can vary greatly in practical application.

Consequently, I would have to advise people that are considering learning a martial art to first take a good look into their own personality then, be honest with their finding, and lastly adapt a fighting style. Your fighting style should be an outward expression of your personal philosophies. Knowing how you personally feel about conflict is of the utmost importance. Regular practice will ensure that when you are tested, you will be able to maintain your position fluidly.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Martial Arts

In this article I want to share a few ideas about mental preparation and some correspondence I recently recently received from subscribers to my self-defense newsletter. I’m hoping it will provide some context to your "self-defense readiness" and generate some thinking.

Self-Defense Performance Is The Result Of Mental Maps

I wrote about mental maps in "The Nuts And Bolts Of Awareness."

Our awareness, understanding, decisions, predictions and behavior are directed by the "mental maps" we have about the way the world works. Our knowledge, beliefs, experience and habits are "packaged" in the form of mental maps (also called cognitive blueprints or schemas).

If those "maps" are detailed and accurate, you dramatically increase the probability of effective performance in high-stress situations.

If those maps are inaccurate, have gaps or are missing all together, you run the risk of an improper reaction, over reacting, under reacting or not reacting at all.

We have a term for that in self-defense training. Its called "NOT GOOD!"

Thinking Is Impaired By Stress

What makes matters worse is that people aren’t particularly "smart" in high-stress, urgent, threatening situations. At times like those, you are not operating in the same mental state that you are in while you sit here reading this article.

When the "Fight or Flight Response" (sympathetic nervous system) is activated, your ability to think creatively and logically is impaired. That increases the potential for confusion and mistakes during a dangerous situation.

Invest In Your Safety With Pre-Thinking and Debriefing

Science and psychology confirm that mental rehearsal or visualization has a huge impact on improving our physical and mental performance.

The good news is that self-defense encounters don’t happen often. The bad news is that self-defense encounters don’t happen often! Huh? Before you read that again, let me explain…

Its hard to "get good" at something that never happens. Unlike other activities requiring experience and skills development, you can’t rely on repeated exposure and previous events when preparing for a violent encounter. So how do you improve your self-defense effectiveness?

Physical practice is "part" of the answer… Especially, when you participate in role playing scenarios that simulate the types of situations that you might encounter. But even that isn’t enough to really get "street smart."

What you need to do is create self-defense scenarios in your mind. You need to "pre-think" and decide in advance about what you would do in a critical situation BEFORE it happens.

Think about situations you are most concerned about or likely to encounter and what you would do if they did.

Don’t just leave it to luck. You can’t "worry about it when the time comes" and hope to perform effectively. Remember, your brain is impaired by stress, panic, and confusion! Without some sort of game plan, its unlikely that you will perform well.

The question to ask yourself is, "What would I do if… (and then insert your most likely or bothersome scenario).

Debriefing is what you do AFTER an incident or "close encounter." Don’t just walk away from a threatening situation and hope that it never happens again. Think about it, analyze it and learn from it. Ask yourself two questions:

* What did I do right?

* What would I do differently if it happened again?

That way, even if you handled the incident poorly, you can benefit from it and improve your chances doing better if something similar happens in the future. That, my friend, is the essence of developing effective personal safety skills.

An Email Example Of Effective Debriefing

After reading my "Tough or Smart" article, a subscriber sent me an email about an incident he was involved in.

Even though things turned out OK, the experience continued to bother him and he found himself second guessing his actions and wondering if he should have done something differently.

He began to worry that if something similar happened again, he would be just as confused as he was the first time. As far as he was concerned, the incident was unresolved. I commend him for asking the questions and looking for answers.

If you don’t ask, you won’t know! Whether you reflect on the matter yourself or seek an outside opinion (as Joe did here), it is important to examine the event and learn from it.

Be careful however, about seeking the opinion of someone who does not have the background or qualifications to be offering you advice about anything!

You’ll get all kinds of "ham and eggers" more than willing to give you their off-the-wall advice about what THEY would have done… (you’ll see examples of "bad advice" in the correspondence below)

With his permission, I’ve included our correspondence in this newsletter. To protect his privacy, I’ll refer to him as "Joe." (Pretty creative huh?

I’d like you to read this correspondence from two perspectives:

First, read what happened and put yourself in his shoes… What would you do if the same thing happened to you?

Secondly, read it analytically and observe the "process" involved and the factors that impacted the situation. Stress, confusion, hesitation, second guessing?

Imagine the difference between a "prepared mind" and the mind of someone who thought that something like this would never happen.

OK… I’ll shut up now and let your read the emails:

================================================================

Hi Randy,

I just read your new article about "Efficiency" or "doing the right thing" and I found it very interesting.

I just wanted to ask your expert opinion about something that happened to me.

Some months ago, I was driving my car with my girlfriend at 10:30 pm through a main avenue. Being a working day the street was almost empty, although well illuminated. Suddenly, while driving into an intersection we saw a robbery in progress.

A robber was stealing the purse of a middle age woman who was with a young man. A few paces away, another robber was waiting for the first one on a motorcycle ready to drive away. (This is the standard operating procedure for robberies in my town). The first robber already had the purse and was running away, but the young man was pulling the purse, trying to recover it.

I thought for a moment to speed up and hit him with my car in order to abort the robbery but on a second, and very quick, thought I considered the following. a) I could hit both the robber and the victim. b) If I hit the robber and he was severely injured, or worse dead, the complications would be major. c) If I prevented his escape, he may be forced to fight back and might hurt the young man. d) I didn’t want to put my girlfriend in danger, if something unexpected happened. e) The purse wasn’t worth the danger.

Of course, I didn’t rationalize that much at that moment. It was just a quick thought like, "hitting him is dangerous for everybody, the purse wasn’t worth it". So I let them run away with the purse and called the police, but I’m pretty sure they didn’t catch them.

After that I felt bad, since I thought that maybe I should have done something else to abort the robbery and help the victims. I was relatively safe in my car and was driving a 3000 pound weapon. A lot of people have since told me I should have hit him, and I felt a bit like a coward. I worried that I didn’t choose to do the right thing.

I know that I’m not a coward. In fact, on another occasion I have not avoided a fight with a man much heavier and bigger than me to protect my girlfriend, although I’m a very very very reasonable and passive person. But when me or my beloved are in danger, I don’t hesitate to face the problem. Just in that particular case I decided that the right thing was to let them go. And in fact, I still believe that it was the best course of action, although I still have my doubts.

So, I wanted your opinion as an expert. What would be the best course of action in that situation? I don’t want to feel "justified" for what I chose to do, but really want to know the best thing to do in such a case, just in case it happens again.

I would be deeply grateful if you gave me your opinion about this, since I don’t know any other expert in "real life" self defense.

I’m hoping you help me with this. Thanks in advance for your kind attention.

Best regards,

Joe

===============================================================

Hi Joe,

Based on what you’ve told me, you did EXACTLY what you should have… and what I would have advised you to do, if you’d asked my opinion.

You are right, a purse is not worth the legal and civil hastles and the risk of "making matters worse" by over-reacting to a property crime.

Your decision NOT to attempt to ram the robber (and risk hitting the victim") was a good one. Deliberately ramming into someone with a vehicle is considered a deadly force response and can only be justified if you reasonably believe that it is absolutely necessary to protect yourself or someone else from death or a serious life-threatening injury.

Based on what you’ve told me, the situation was NOT a deadly force encounter and you probably would have gotten yourself into as much legal trouble as the robber if you decided to turn him into a hood ornament!

It would be a different story if someone was being attacked and severely beaten. It would have been different if the assault was of a life threatening nature. Protection of life is our highest priority. Protection of property is not.

In that scenario, the best thing you could do is notify the police and be a good witness. Make note of their physical description, license number and direction of travel so you can provide that info to the police when they arrive.

But to endanger your own safety, the safety of your girlfriend, the safety of the victim and even the safety of the "dirt bags" doing the robbery, is not worth the value of a purse.

Purses and contents can be replaced. People can’t.

Your reaction after the incident is a normal one. Even when you do the "right thing," its common to second guess yourself and wonder if there is something else you could have done.

Your scenario about fighting to protect your girlfriend Joe is a good one. By the sounds of it, your decision to stand up to your adversary WAS the right thing to do… Some things in life ARE worth fighting for and others are not. Its important to know the difference.

Your actions were definitely not "cowardly" Joe. If you ask me (which I guess you’re doing huh? you made a reasonable and effective decision in a stressful and challenging situation.

I think you made a wise decision Joe. Good job.

Randy

==============================================================

Hello Randy.

Thank you so much for your answer. Your comments about the situation were really interesting, since I’ve always been in doubt about this issue since it happened. I was not only trying to see if I did well, but also to know what is the best course of action in a situation like this one, because its very probably going to happen again sometime in my life. I think that the only way to react correctly to a challenging (and unusual for me) situation is to know in advance what is the right thing and instinctively react based on previous knowledge (and gut feelings, of course). That is why I found your answer so useful for me.

On the other hand, you are right, in some way I was asking you if I acted cowardly As I told you before, a lot of people told me I should ram the guy, when I told them the story. They told me that was what they would have done in that situation. And maybe they would, but I always thought that those people are probably more prone to an "action movie" reaction. By the way, I have to tell you that I’m a latin person, living outside US (that’s why my english is a little deficient), and you know how temperamental we latins are.

I’m very glad to have read your expert opinion about this, and to be sure now about the right thing to do in a similar case. Of course you may post our conversation in your forum and/or newsletters or emails. If this case could be useful for more people, I’d be very glad. Just remove my name and email address, but you may reproduce the rest of the conversation as you please.

Its good you are writing an ebook on this topic. I think that is very important for people to know as much as possible about those situations in order to react properly. I’m a subscriber of your newsletter, so I’ll know when you publish it.

Thanks again for your answer, and have a good day.

Joe

===============================================================

OK, Now Its Your Turn…

Time for YOU to do some thinking… If you want to share the results with me, I’d be honored…It could have a direct impact on the content and direction of future articles and information products. If not, at least do this exercise for yourself.

Here’s what I’d like you to do:

Write out the single, most likely or worrisome self-defense scenario that you can think of. Nothing bizarre or off-the-wall, but something you legitimately think you could encounter. What is the "ultimate" situation that you feel sparks your interest in self-defense and personal safety? What one incident, do you want to be prepared for if it were to happen?

In as much detail as you want, spell out a threatening, volatile or violent situation (real or imagined) that motivates your interest in self-defense training.

This could be a hypothetical situation or it could be something that actually happened to you or someone you know.

Don’t worry about coming up with a solution or explaining what you would do about it. Not at this point any way. Just spell out as specifically and conceretely and you can, the ultimate situation your are preparing for.

Who is the assailant or how many are there?… Would the person be known to you or a stranger? Would you be alone or with someone who could assist you or might need your protection? What would the "predatory intent" be? (what does your assailant want from you?) Where would it be most likely to happen. What time do you see it happening?

You might feel that exercises like this are silly or a waste of time. Maybe its too much work! I can tell you this, if something does happen and you haven’t given it any thought… stress, confusion, and the "Fluster Factor," WILL impact your ability to do the right thing at the right time.

Consider exercises like this the equivalent of "Self-Defense Fire Drills." Just imagine what would happen if a fire alarm sounded and you didn’t have a clue what it meant or how you were supposed to respond.

Enuff Said.

Take care, train smart and stay safe…

Randy LaHaie
Protective Strategies

Randy LaHaie is the president of Protective Strategies and has been teaching reality-based self-defense for over 30 years. He is the author of several "Toughen Up Combative Training Guides" (http://www.ToughenUp.com)

Subscribe to his FREE SELF-DEFENSE NEWSLETTER at http://www.ProtectiveStrategies.com

When you study the martial arts, delving into philosophy and spirituality, you find that one of your main purposes is to reformulate yourself.

What you are, what your family, society, bosses, teachers, and government have made you, just cannot stand.

Something specific may have alerted you to this need.

Perhaps it was a slight, received from someone disrespectful, that made you feel weak.

Or, one evening, you were walking with your friend and you felt afraid of that group of shadowy figures who were loitering at the next corner.

And after the exigency passed, you were ashamed of yourself that you were so fearful, so intimidated, and upon reflection you came to see that you were afraid most of the time, and maybe one day, you’d be petrified but still have to defend yourself from a real attack.

So, your path in the martial arts begins by transporting you from weakness to strength, from timidity to self-confidence.

Jason Bourne’s journey is different. He has amazing gifts and abilities, especially in defending himself and disabling others. Suffering from amnesia, he’s trying to learn whom he is, all the while being hunted by lethal adversaries who want to destroy him.

Suffering from a vague sense of guilt about his past misdeeds, and seeking relief from haunting, short-circuited memories, he tries to survive long enough to unravel the mystery of his identity.

He is a martial artist, and a stunningly capable one, but he is trying to reformulate himself, as well.

A masterful physical specimen, he is nonetheless, spiritually weak, because his brawn has been used for questionable purposes. “Being tough,” isn’t his goal, as it is for some novice pugilists.

“Being human,” is closer to his mission, so undoing his twisted mental wiring is his task, becoming less of a cyborg, connecting more with his vulnerabilities, in the process.

Informing this fast-paced and action packed thriller is the archetypal story of the “Ronin,” the master-less samurai.

These tales ask: What becomes of us when we have no one, no cause for which we can serve; only polished killing skills that have marginal civilian value?

It’s a query that’s relevant to all soldiers, for whom the next battle is coming to terms with who they are and how and what they served.

Is Bourne a hero?

I leave that to you to decide.

Along the way, I’m sure you’re going to find this an exciting movie, technically competent, and fun to watch.

Dr. Gary S. Goodman, President of Customersatisfaction.com, is a popular keynote speaker, management consultant, and seminar leader and the best-selling author of 12 books, including Reach Out & Sell Someone® and Monitoring, Measuring & Managing Customer Service, and the audio program, “The Law of Large Numbers: How To Make Success Inevitable,” published by Nightingale-Conant. He is a frequent guest on radio and television, worldwide. A Ph.D. from USC’s Annenberg School, a Loyola lawyer, and an MBA from the Peter F. Drucker School at Claremont Graduate University, Gary offers programs through UCLA Extension and numerous universities, trade associations, and other organizations from Santa Monica to South Africa. He holds the rank of Shodan, 1st Degree Black Belt in Kenpo Karate. He is headquartered in Glendale, California, and he can be reached at (818) 243-7338 or at: gary@customersatisfaction.com.

For information about coaching, consulting, training, books, videos and audios, please go to: http://www.customersatisfaction.com

Michele was uncomfortable when alone in public and questioned her ability to protect herself. She was tired of being the brunt of lewd remarks, unwanted advances and harassment. She was constantly singled out and bothered by panhandlers and drunken Casanova’s at the bar. She decided to do something about it.

About a year ago, Michele enrolled in a self-defense class at a local community center. She was committed to put an end to people taking advantage of her. She wanted to learn to defend herself and resolve her fears and worries once and for all.

Michele enjoyed what she was learning. She began reading about self-defense and learned more about victimization and what to do about it. She became more interested in her fitness and practiced what she learned in self-defense class. She even hung up a boxer’s heavy bag from the rafters in her basement and pounded on it to "burn off the stress" of a hard day at the office. She was feeling more confident and in control over her life.

On a cold November night, Michele was walking alone to her car at the end of the late shift at her job as a hospital receptionist. Usually, she timed her departure to walk with the other employees but tonight she was too tired to wait and just wanted to get home.

Unbeknownst to her, a predator was lurking in the shadows hunting for an unwitting victim. He spotted Michele walking in the distance. She spotted him too. She had trained herself to be aware of her surroundings and noticed him advancing toward her.

A surge of adrenaline coursed through her. Her knees grew weak and her heart pounded as she fought off the urge to panic. She began to assess her situation and formulate a plan of action. She looked directly at the shadowy figure making it obvious that she was aware of his presence. Walking briskly and deliberately, she continued toward her car well aware that she was being followed.

Do you know what happened next? Nothing! For whatever reason, the predator aborted his plan and renewed his search for someone else; someone who would be easier to catch off guard and control. Exactly why he chose not to finish what he started remains a mystery to Michele.

You were probably hoping for a more dramatic climax to the story weren’t you? If this was a Hollywood movie, Michele would have been attacked and, with an impressive blur of martial wizardry, she would have transformed her assailant into a crumpled, crotch-holding heap on the sidewalk. Sorry, not this time.

The "Preparation Equals Prevention Theory"

The more prepared you are to deal with a crisis, the less likely you will have to. Preparation equals prevention. People are drawn to self-defense training for varied and personal reasons. Often it’s because they’ve been bullied, harassed or victimized in the past. Sometimes they haven’t been but are concerned about the possibility. People need to feel safe. It is a fundamental human need and necessary for mental health. Many psychologists consider the threat of interpersonal violence to be a "universal human phobia."

Proper self-defense training builds skill, fitness and self-confidence. Students soon become more comfortable with the idea of standing up to their harassers, whether they be a school yard or workplace bully, a drunk at the bar or a panhandler demanding money. They become more aware themselves, their surrounds and their options to deal with volatile situations. They become more indignant that someone would consider them and easy target.

Often, as in Michele’s case, the incidents that formerly plagued them just stop. Why is this?

===== Victim Selection Criteria =====

Psychologists have known for years that human predators select their prey based on signals given off by their potential victims. In a matter of seconds, the predator acquires a sense of who is and isn’t a suitable target. For every victim that is attacked, many more are past over. What are the criteria that predators use to select their victims? I’ll tell you.

What does a predator look for?

Like a wild animal, the human predator wants an easy conquest. He does not want his job to be any more difficult or hazardous than it has to be. He will seek out those he perceives as weak, submissive and unlikely to fight back. He doesn’t want resistance and he certainly doesn’t want to be injured himself. A sign of strength or defiance, whether blatant or implied, is often sufficient to cause him to abandon the predatory process and look for a more "cooperative" victim.

If they can help it, bullies don’t pick fights with people who will pound them into the pavement! They won’t select people who will confront and challenge their behavior. Rapists, muggers, abusers and bullies look for someone they can dominate and control.

Note: Some self-defense programs advocate ALWAYS adopting a defiant and challenging response in a confrontation. Don’t accept simplistic solutions to complex problems. The world doesn’t work that way.

What may dissuade one assailant may infuriate another. A defiant response may create a situation where the assailant feels obligated to carry out his threat or "lose face." People will fight to save face even if think they’ll lose!

As you will learn in subsequent articles, we need to develop a range of skills and apply the most appropriate one for the circumstances encountered.

===== The Grayson/Stein Study =====

In 1984 two researchers, Betty Grayson and Morris I. Stein, conducted a study to determine the selection criteria applied by predators when selecting their victims. They videotaped several pedestrians on a busy New York City sidewalk without their knowledge.

They later showed the tape to convicts who were incarcerated for violent offenses (rape, murder, robbery, etc.) They instructed them to identify people on the tape who would make easy or desirable victims. The results were interesting.

Within seven seconds, the participants made their selections. What baffled researchers was the consistency of the people that were selected as victims. The criteria were not readily apparent. Some small, slightly built women were passed over. Some large men were selected. The selection was not dependant on race, age, size or gender.

Even the convicts didn’t know exactly why they selected as they did. Some people just looked like easy targets. It appears that much of the predator/prey selection process is unconscious from the perspective of both predator and the potential victim.

Video Analysis

Still at a loss of specific selection criteria, the researches had a more thorough analysis of the movement and body language of the people on the videotape. Here is an overview of the results:

1. Stride:

People selected as victims had an exaggerated stride: either abnormally short or long. They dragged, shuffled or lifted their feet unnaturally as they walked. Non-victims, on the other hand, tended to have a smooth, natural gate. They stepped in a heel-to-toe fashion.

2. Rate:

Victims tend to walk at a different rate than non-victims. Usually, they walk slower than the flow of pedestrian traffic. Their movement lacks a sense of deliberateness or purpose. However, an unnaturally rapid pace can project nervousness or fear.

3. Fluidity:

Researchers noted awkwardness in a victim’s body movement. Jerkiness, raising and lowering one’s center of gravity or wavering from side to side as they moved became apparent in the victims analyzed. This was contrasted with smoother, more coordinated movement of the non-victims.

4. Wholeness:

Victims lacked "wholeness" in their body movement. They swung their arms as if they were detached and independent from the rest of their body. Non-victims moved their body from their "center" as a coordinated whole implying strength, balance and confidence.

5. Posture and Gaze:

A slumped posture is indicative of weakness or submissiveness. A downward gaze implies preoccupation and being unaware of one’s surroundings. Also, someone reluctant to establish eye contact can be perceived as submissive. These traits imply an ideal target for a predator.

In his book, "The Danger From Strangers," author James D. Brewer quotes one of the researchers who conducted the above mentioned study, "Grayson is convinced that when people understand how to move confidently they can, ‘be taught how to walk that way and substantially reduce their risk of assault’"

How does this apply to Prevention Theory?

If you read between the lines of this research, the "Preparation Equals Prevention Theory" makes more sense. The traits described above indicate varying degrees of balance, coordination and awareness. They imply a person’s perceived vigilance and potential to fight.

Self-defense study and training develops the qualities of movement that discourage victim selection and project a "don’t mess with me" demeanor. This explains why a person who had formerly been bullied or victimized takes up the study of self-defense and the incidents that originally plagued him or her stop.

Unlike Professor Grayson, I doubt that the solution to reducing one’s victim potential is as simple as taking "walking lessons." Also, contrary to what many self-defense instructors suggest, you cannot simply "pretend" or "fake" confidence and expect to ward off predatory selection.

I doubt that a deliberate attempt to modify the way you walk, move and swing your arms (even if you could do so) would bring about the desired results. Imagine an awkward, out of shape person trying to consciously correct flawed body movements associated to being awkward and out of shape. You can’t fake coordination. You can’t fake balance. You can’t fake strength or endurance. However, each of these qualities can be developed through the study of self-defense and can dramatically reduce the risk of assault.

==== So What? How Can I Use This Information? ====

Much of the predator/prey selection process is subconscious. I believe that it is an evolutionary quality of the subconscious mind that we inherited from our ancestors. It would have been necessary for survival to select a prey that would not turn around and bite your head off! Those who lacked this quality would have undoubtedly been eliminated from the gene pool.

It is unlikely that you can consciously and consistently control non-verbal signals that you project. However, this is not to say that you cannot impact those signals in a powerful and positive way. Here is what you can do.

=> Develop Your Awareness Skills

The predator is looking for a victim who is unaware, preoccupied and easy to ambush. By becoming more aware of your surroundings, you not only increase the odds of detecting a potential predator, but you project an image of vigilance. This, in itself, can terminate the selection process.

=> Get Into Shape

Your level of fitness impacts your ability to defend yourself. First, if you are attacked your ability to successfully escape or fight off the attacker is dramatically impacted by your physical condition. Secondly, a strong, well-toned body will manifest the quality of movement of a non-victim. Finally, fitness impacts your personality in a positive way. The increased self-esteem, confidence and emotional resilience that result from being in good physical condition are non-victim qualities that predators want to avoid.

=> Enroll in a Self-defense Course

There are no superior martial arts, only superior martial artists. Don’t get hung up on picking "the best" style or program. I am a strong advocate of self-defense and martial arts training (either at a club or through self-study) to reduce your risk of assault. For reasons I’ve mentioned, self-defense training reduces the likelihood of having to defend yourself. Learn all you can about confrontational situations and develop tools to deal with them. Incorporate regular practice such as boxing glove drills for example* or learn how to punch and kick a boxer’s heavy bag. Have fun with it.

=> Knowledge is Power:

Knowledge reduces fear and builds confidence. Confidence is a non-victim quality. Read books and articles about self-defense. Do what you can to clarify your "mental maps" of how confrontations happen, how to avoid them, and how to respond if you can’t. The most dangerous attitude in a confrontation is the, "It will never happen to me Syndrome." The fact that you are reading this article already puts you well ahead in the "non-victim game."

Work On Yourself From the Inside Out.

I narrowed the content of this article to the more "straight forward" aspects of reducing your victim potential. There are many other aspects associated to personality and psychology that impact your victim potential and your ability to deal effectively with a confrontation. I will discuss these qualities, and how to develop them, in future articles. In the meantime, do what you can to increase your self-esteem, mental toughness, motivation etc.

Conclusion

Your potential of becoming a victim is influenced, in large part, to the unconscious signals you project to an assailant. Predators, whether deliberately or intuitively, form an opinion about you and how easy you will be to dominate and control. They are looking for a weak, submissive and unaware target that won’t (or can’t) fight back.

You can control the non-verbal signals you project by investing time in the study and practice of self-defense. Your projected body language will take care of itself. You can’t fake it. You must earn it. This is not as difficult as you might think. If you really want to prevent or dramatically reduce the probability of becoming a victim, prepare yourself. Preparation equals prevention!

Good luck and Stay Safe.

Randy LaHaie
Protective Strategies

Your child slips and suddenly he’s about to fall down some stairs.

What can you do?

“Grab him fast!”

Right?

Of course. It’s nearly reflexive, and it’s intuitively obvious.

But why would you ever want to grab onto a bad guy, unless you’re falling off a cliff and you need his footing and stability to save your life?

I realize there are some martial arts that use grabs, extensively.

Aikido, which I respect very much philosophically, is one of them. But my art, Kenpo Karate, as a general rule, sees grabbing as foolish, for these reasons:

(1) It ties up what is otherwise a perfectly good weapon. Why voluntarily disable your hand, arm, elbow, and striking ability by clenching someone’s shirt? Keeping your weapons free seems the superior choice.

(2) A bad guy grabs your shirt, so you grab his. Now, there are two stupid people in this altercation. What is this, Sumo, with clothes on?

(3) You lose blocking capability.

(4) You definitely lose overall mobility. Grabbing him is like he grabbed you. It gives him a third arm and hand, and he can more effectively pummel you with the two he has left over.

(5) It keeps you in dangerous hand range when the best place to be is out of range.

(6) A grab, unless it’s a claw to the eyes or throat does no damage.

Consider these minuses very seriously before you reach out and grab someone, especially in a fight!

Dr. Gary S. Goodman, President of Customersatisfaction.com, is a popular keynote speaker, management consultant, and seminar leader and the best-selling author of 12 books, including Reach Out & Sell Someone® and Monitoring, Measuring & Managing Customer Service, and the audio program, “The Law of Large Numbers: How To Make Success Inevitable,” published by Nightingale-Conant. He is a frequent guest on radio and television, worldwide. A Ph.D. from USC’s Annenberg School, a Loyola lawyer, and an MBA from the Peter F. Drucker School at Claremont Graduate University, Gary offers programs through UCLA Extension and numerous universities, trade associations, and other organizations from Santa Monica to South Africa. He holds the rank of Shodan, 1st Degree Black Belt in Kenpo Karate. He is headquartered in Glendale, California, and he can be reached at (818) 243-7338 or at: gary@customersatisfaction.com.

For information about coaching, consulting, training, books, videos and audios, please go to: http://www.customersatisfaction.com

In some areas of life, tension can be a good thing…at least in the short term. Tension can motivate us to complete a task. From my experience, this isn’t true for sportsman and woman. In martial arts, increased tension can slow your movements, can dull your brain and make you a soft target.

Is your heart racing even before you have started your exercise and you feel rushed and panicked?

Are the weeks leading up to a grading, demonstration or competition characterised by a disrupted sleep pattern and a stomach full of knots? If so, it is likely that you are tense and the resultant tiredness and lack of energy simply feedsback to your mind and you tell yourself that you are not going to succeed.

This negativity will stop you from performing well on the day even if at every training session your flying around the dojo and nailing each move at every attempt. Unfortunately, turning off the tension is not like switching off a light bulb; its not easy but it can and should be done. There are two areas of your body that need to relax; firstly, the mind and secondly, everything else! I dont believe the two can be seperated.

To help relax the mind, start by ditching all stressful thinking and replace it with more pleasurable thoughts. Completely switch of the stress inducing thoughts; put them in a mental bucket as you go through the day and then empty your bucket before you start training. Okay, your bucket might fill up again during the next day due to the pressures of work and modern life but you can empty the bucket as many times as you like and as often as you like.

If you find the visualisation technique described above a little too ‘out there’, then try this instead…day dream. Imagine yourself somewhere nice, doing something fun and relaxing with people that keep you calm. This should lead to you feeling good and happy about life. When you bring yourself back to reality, keep a grasp of those good feelings you have just generated.

The most useful tip for keeping yourself mentally relaxed may come across as a little harsh, but here goes… do not surround yourself with people or situations that get you stressed. You might know someone with the kind of personallity that generally brings people down, if so, have as little to do with them as possible. Life is far too short to let other people drive a wedge between you and your deserved peace of mind.

In the Martial Arts, physical relaxation is heavily influenced by the exercises and stretching that you do with your instructor. But I believe that you can practice total body relaxation at any point during the day which, in the long term, will help you become a relaxed individual. One simple exercise is to tense your muscles and then relax them, making sure you can clearly differentiate between the two sensations. Relaxing from an enforced muscle tension can force your body to relax.

Obviously, for many Martial Arts regular stretching is required to help reach your potential. I’m not a doctor or physician and have only my experience to support this, but I do believe that through simple exercises such as the ones above, we can become more relaxed and de-stressed. This can only help us with our martial arts training.

David S Evans, co-founder of UK-MartialArtist.co.uk, Martial Arts Resource and BigRedBall website design, Birmingham (UK).

“Gladiator,” unlike many films that pit men against men in individual combat, is entertaining to watch because it has, what Aristotle was one of the first to call, “spectacle.”

Spectacle is grandeur, a large story set on a worldly stage, with dazzling scenery, and breathtaking moments.

“Gladiator” has all of these things, and through special effects, it shows us what Imperial Rome may have looked like.

The Coliseum is, well, spectacular.

When the script says it seated 50,000 blood-lusting locals, the moving pictures in front of you prove it.

You believe that Russell Crowe and company are doing battle in the best arena in the world.

So, from an architectural standpoint, this movie is a great travelogue.

Moreover, the scenes depicting gladiators fighting each other to the death are well done.

But where it leaves me feeling vacant is in the arena of individual motivation.

A martial artist must ask himself: When is it right to fight?

When you have right, and might, you’re invincible.

Might alone, without the proper motivation, can let you down and you can fall to someone less physically impressive, who is fueled by virtue.

Why does Russell Crowe’s “Gladiator” fight? Largely, it boils down to a single word: Revenge.

He lost his family and his promotion to the throne because of one man’s avarice and cruelty, and he wants payback.

Revenge is a great theme in the movies, but is it something around which you should construct a life?

Who is the stronger martial artist: One who can overcome loss, or one who must avenge it, at the price of his own life?

I leave it to you to consider this and other questions raised by this film.

In the meantime, it’s definitely worth your attention, and it’s entertaining, especially if you forget that pesky fact that you’re a martial artist, and it is your job to align right with might.

Dr. Gary S. Goodman, President of Customersatisfaction.com, is a popular keynote speaker, management consultant, and seminar leader and the best-selling author of 12 books, including Reach Out & Sell Someone® and Monitoring, Measuring & Managing Customer Service, and the audio program, “The Law of Large Numbers: How To Make Success Inevitable,” published by Nightingale-Conant. He is a frequent guest on radio and television, worldwide. A Ph.D. from USC’s Annenberg School, a Loyola lawyer, and an MBA from the Peter F. Drucker School at Claremont Graduate University, Gary offers programs through UCLA Extension and numerous universities, trade associations, and other organizations from Santa Monica to South Africa. He holds the rank of Shodan, 1st Degree Black Belt in Kenpo Karate. He is headquartered in Glendale, California, and he can be reached at (818) 243-7338 or at: gary@customersatisfaction.com.

For information about coaching, consulting, training, books, videos and audios, please go to: http://www.customersatisfaction.com

Techniques of CHIN NA include a wide set of various movements: press and blows on vulnerable points, grappling, strangling, throws and so on. That set of movements (impacts on the enemy) allows to realize the following methods: “Separation (tearing) of muscles and sinews” (FENG JING), “Dislocating (breaking out) of bones and joints” (YU GU), “Suffocation” (BI QI) and “Impacting on points” (DIAN XUE). Also, those methods must be used skillfully, not just with brute force.

The introduction to the book by Liu Jin Sheng “CHIN NA FA: Skill of Catch and Hold” (Shanghai, 1936) says: “Initially this skill had several names: FENG JING FA – “The technique of separation (breaking) of muscles and sinews”; DI TANG FA – “Methods of combat when lying on the ground”; YU GU FA – “The technique of dislocation (breaking out) of bones and joints” and CHIN NA FA – “The technique of catch and hold.” At present the name CHIN NA FA has predominantly become established. Totally, there are 72 methods. The ancient manuscript calls this skill DI SHA SHOU – “Devil’s Hand”. Specialists in WU SHU say there are 36 “big” and 72 “small” points on a human body. 36 positions, 72 positions and 108 positions (techniques) are also marked out in CHIN NA FA. That traditional division has been maintained till now since long time when our ancestors created the theory of CHIN NA on the basis of the conception 36 TIAN GANG and 72 DI SHI . But actually, that is only a tribute to tradition that has no great practical significance.

It is recorded in Shaolin Treatises on the Pugilistic Art:

“The beginnings of the Shaolin art CHIN NA trace back to many centuries. Inmost GONG FU of secret methods of CHIN NA is passed down from one generation to another to attain the highest perfection in the martial art.

When you find yourself face to face with the enemy armed with a “short” weapon, fully rely upon methods of CHIN NA and your vision. Position of the enemy, his body, his face, how he stands and what he is going to do – everything must be clearly sized up. When you understand intentions of the enemy, rely upon your own force, seize an opportunity, alternate “hard” and “soft” techniques.

If two outstanding fighters encountered in a combat, like a tiger against a tiger, the outcome of the combat depends on a measure of skill in CHIN NA. He is in the process of transforming, so do I, closely following him. Blows and grips follow continuously, without a moment’s respite. You see an opening and needle your way into the vulnerable spot, clear a passage and rush forward.

If you encounter a villain, make a grip (CHIN) at first, then use the technique (FA), and you will be able to exercise a control (NA). An arm of flesh and bone can deprive even an iron man of courage. Hard to defend oneself against deft techniques, no defense against skilful finger efforts.”

Shaolin Kung Fu OnLine Library - Canonical Texts of Shaolin Monastery - Old Chinese books, treatises, manuscripts

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