I was looking at my rather impressive bookcase recently when I realized that my literary tastes are kind of …dark. I wish that I was talking about dark, as in vampires or medieval times or even your basic murder mystery. No, I mean I have books on ancient martial arts, terrorism, firearms, police officer survival, edge weapons, stalking and rape prevention, etc. Then, of course, I have the odd doomsday thrillers. If my home were ever searched, I’m sure I would end up on the Department of Homeland Security watchlist. I can pull down a few volumes on how to make improvised explosives, how to launder money and even how to pick an armored vehicle for family protection in a violent world. You might think I’m a little paranoid at first glance, but not exactly…

Since the early eighties, I have been a police instructor tasked with training officers how to survive a dangerous job using dangerous tools. Officer survival has become an obsession with me and I decided early on that the best way for me to pass on this knowledge, was to actually have the knowledge. All police officers have seen their share of violence and danger. We have all witnessed horrible crime scenes and have long since stopped shaking our heads in amazement that people could treat others with such bizarre and creative forms of chaos. I enrolled in numerous armed and unarmed response classes and became in instructor in too many programs to list here.

A few years back, I put together a few thoughts on what I believed were personal protection skills necessary to help both police and civilians survive. It was simply listed under three categories: Awareness, Avoidance and, Defense. I believed then, and still do to a degree, that if you were in that condition ‘orange’, you could anticipate most danger and avoid it. Failing in that, there were some basic things that could be taught, bought or supplied that would help protect us. It never fails to amaze me how crime and violence always manages to evolve, keeping us (good guys and protectors) off balance. Just when you think carrying a pistol with you offers a great measure of security, some fanatic intentionally drives a plane into a building. Just when you think that your martial arts training dollars were a good investment, we find a world of mutants who don’t respond to pain the way they’re supposed to. I won’t even get into the suicide bombers at this point in my comments. So, where are we headed with our survival training today?

At one time in my police career, I was a member of our SWAT team. We trained for every imaginable scenario we could come up with. Usually we gleaned some lessons from other agencies failures and successes. We never really failed ourselves, because we were well trained, you see. If we could visualize a mission, we would buy the needed equipment, and seek training. We evolved into paramilitary team that could solve most problems with firepower, trained negotiators or just plain patience. Today, there are not enough hours in the day or days in the week to cover all of the threats. However, we still are expected to have an appropriate response prepared. Realizing that 99% of our contacts do not involve the judicious use of deadly force, agencies began to emphasize so called “less lethal” techniques and technology to save them from liability. We’re still waiting for the Star Trek phasers to hit the market, but until then we’re forced to use what we have. Let’s begin with a working description of what is meant by the term “less lethal.” These are tools and techniques that are developed to help us gain control of a violent person with a low probability of causing death or serious injury. Death can occur, but we can honestly say that we tried to avoid it.

There are many weaponless defensive tactics programs that claim to provide the practitioner the skills necessary to meet violence with love. Pardon my sarcasm, but that’s not reality. Pressure point tactics have always been suspect, but gained favor when politicians saw it as humane and less likely to cause a lawsuit. It was abandoned when we were able to convince the bosses that the violent folks out there had the ability to ignore pain and really didn’t appreciate our honest efforts to gently persuade them to stop their antisocial behavior.

Batons, Mace, pepper spray, TASERs, long range impact weapons ( bean bags, SAGE guns, etc.), Kubotans and tools were tested, issued and remain as options. All of these tools, along with Verbal Judo skills of communication, remain in our arsenal and can be accessed when appropriate. However, they can only help us if we have them when we need them. All require manual training and even more importantly, the right mind set to employ them when necessary. So in the parlance of law enforcement, we have a Use of Force Continuum (or Matrix) to choose the right level of force to use against a specific level of threat.

During a recent training session I conducted with private security personnel, I realized that all of those choices were mind boggling to the class and almost to a student, they preferred martial arts and firearms. I’m not referring to the years of discipline, ‘know yourself before you can defeat your enemy’ type of martial arts either. I’m talking about the Ultimate Fighting Championship stuff they watch on television. Empty hand destruction, or shoot ‘em! Not a very large arsenal for personal or legal protection. Being so under prepared means that much of their game plan relies on luck. I’d rather play the lottery.

With the help of some colleagues in the executive protection field and some uniformed security officers and private investigators, I floated a short survey to see if there was a great deal of emphasis on less lethal training and equipment in the private sector. The results were predictable, but raised some concerns as well. Here are some of the responses I received. (I’m still receiving the responses)

1. Have you received less lethal training? 80% yes

2. What type of defense training?

a) Unarmed defensive tactics-80%

b) Pressure point tactics-40%

c) Friction lock batons-60%

d) Pepper spray-80%

e) TASER-0%

f) Long range impact weapons (Sage guns, bean bags, etc.)-0%

g) Kubotan/ Persuader-40%

h) Nunchakus- 10%

i) Other less lethal tools-60%

3. Was training documented and retained in your records? 40% yes, 60% no

4. Ever used techniques or tactics that were taught? 40% yes, 60% no

5. Ever use deadly force? 10% yes, 90% no

My unscientific reading of these results would indicate a need for training in less lethal techniques and technology. There are about one in five security professionals that have little or no training in conflict management. This concerns me because a great majority of those also feel the need to get their Concealed Weapons Permits. This is a very unscientific survey and was used to generate discussion; however, most who responded were prior or current law enforcement officers. Although no concrete conclusions can be made by these responses, it does point to a need for additional tools to be added to our tool box. The difference between a street fighter and a professional is the amount of time we spend weighing the consequences of our actions. Whether it is protecting a client or a family member, we must be ever mindful of end results; physical, psychological and legal. Does our training reflect reality? Or does it merely reflect wishful thinking?

Jerry MacCauley is a police trainer and Certified Security Trainer in West Palm Beach, Fl. As a twenty five year police officer, many of the training he provides has been street tested and is constantly updated and revised to meet new and emerging threats. Mr. MacCauley can be contacted at jerrymaccauley@hotmail.com and comments are always welcomed and appreciated.

Heavy bags and standing bags

Free standing bags are heavy bags that have large rounded bases and rest on the floor rather than suspended from the ceiling or hung from wall mounts. Free standing bags make a great choice for anyone who will be both punching and kicking the bag, this is because the foam on free standing bags begins close to the base and provides more useable striking surface for kicks. Another good feature of free standing bags is that, even when filled, that can be easily rolled away for storage or just rolled to the corner of the room. Standing bags can be filled with either water or sand. In most cases water is preferred; this is because water provides some energy feedback and adds a more realistic feel when hitting the bag. Sand will make the bag weigh more, but will have generate a thick, unyielding feel. Standing bags are usually designed to weigh between 250 and 300 lbs. when filled. Hanging bags are heavy bags that are suspended from wall mounts or from the ceiling through the use of chains and hooks. Heavy bags are known to be extremely durable and provide you with an intensive, fluid workout that develops stamina, strength and overall cardiovascular fitness. Hanging bags also provide some sway, which is good for developing coordination and improving reaction time.

Choosing the correct weight

The more weight a bag has, the less sway it will produce. Too much will make the bag hard to hit, and too little sway will make the bag feel like a rock, and fail to absorb impacts which will cause damage to bones and tendons over time. A 5′8" male with a weight of about 170 lbs. should look for a bag weighing between 60 and 70lbs. More skilled or heavier hitters might want to look for something closer to 100lbs while those looking for a bag with more sway might want to consider something near the 40lb. mark.

Choosing the right hanging bag

The market is almost overflowing with heavy bag manufactures; however there are a few who stand out. Heavy bags from TKO are generally considered to be very high quality and are known for there durability. Their bags are sought after by gyms and boxing schools alike. Everlast, while at the high end of the price range, makes very high quality equipment and should be considered when looking for a heavy bag.

Leather bags are extremely long lasting and will have a more comfortable feel when struck. Vinyl bags can mimic the feel and look of leather while remaining more affordable. Water-core hanging bags are adjustable in weight; this adjustability is attained by under-filling the water core.

Hanging a heavy bag

Unlike free-standing bags, hanging bags need additional hardware before they can be used. There are a variety of wall mounts and hooks that you can buy to mount your heavy bag virtually anywhere you need to. Common places to hang the bag are garages, workout rooms and basements. If you are interested in keeping the bag outside, you may want to look into a weatherproof, or indoor/outdoor heavy bag.

Andrew writes for BoxingDepot.com. See the complete punching bags guide. If you are in the market for a punching bag or other boxing equipment visit BoxingDepot.com.

I am only the 20th individual to be promoted to Shodan, 1st Degree Black Belt, since my dojo opened its doors, approximately 33 years ago.

This is a dojo that has between 100-200 members at any given time, and since 1974, literally thousands of people have trained there; and possibly tens of thousands.

Obviously, this organization doesn’t dispense senior belts with ease or any degree of frequency!

So, what does it take to succeed?

The facile explanation is perseverance. Certainly this is a factor.

But I think the answer is being willing to do whatever it takes to succeed, and this entails MAKING AN IRREVERSIBLE DECISION.

Most students of martial arts are dabblers, attending a class here and there, opting for variety of influences, instead of going as deeply as possible into a single style.

They’re tourists, passing through the portals, gazing this way and that, scanning the scene, peripherally. They’re not focused.

And because they pass-through everything in their lives, including most interpersonal relationships, they are never fully where they are, when they’re there.

So, nothing settles in them.

They’re in a state of flux, a state of indecision.

Contrast this with any movie you’ve seen that portrays a warrior.

“Braveheart” showed William Wallace as a man completely committed to a free Scotland; he’d accept no compromises or bribes.

The original “Day of The Jackal,” portrayed an assassin who was so bent on finishing his mission that he ignored warnings that his cover had been blown, and he was walking into a trap.

If you want to scale the martial arts pyramid, you can, and there’s a simple way to do it.

Make an irreversible decision to do so!

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 in the United States and abroad. 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.

There has been much outcry over the recent popularity of so called "reality fighting" such as UFC (the Ultimate fighting Championship), KOTC (Kings of the Cage), Extreme Fighting, Shoot, Pride and Pancrase.

Typical comments from a perspective of ignorance include;

"bloodletting for our amusement"
"brutal and bloodthirsty streetfighting with no rules"
"legalised brawling encouraging violence"

The reality is that modern "extreme" or "reality" fighting is a contact sport with rules to protect competitors and is basically a blend of boxing, kickboxing, wrestling, judo and other martial arts which have been around for a long time, so why the outcry all of a sudden?

Many cynics believe that, as usual, it all comes down to money! In recent years boxing, once one of the most lucrative and popular spectator sports, has been suffering dwindling audiences and poor pay-for-view results. The last thing boxing needed was a serious competitor like the UFC for instance. In fact many boxing pundits lambasted the UFC in the early days convincing many that it was too dangerous and brutal to be licensed - they succeeded in having UFC competitions banned in many US states on this premise.

The reality however is somewhat different, when UFC and other "reality" fighting events are compared to boxing (or any other contact or physical sport like rugby, American Football, horseriding, skiing etc) the results speak for themselves.

Not only has there NEVER been a fatality associated with "reality fighting" there has also never even been a serious crippling or permanent injury to the fighters. It was a serious travesty when the boxing community succeeded originally in having UFC banned on the gounds of safety when you look at the number of deaths and permanent injury to many boxers!

It has been said recently that the reason there has not been a fatal injury (yet) in "reality fighting" competitions, is because of the relatively few competitors when compared to boxers, however this was recently tragically disproved with the first death of a female boxer with a total only 2,200 female boxers registered.

The cumulative blunt trauma injuries caused by repeated punching to the head with competitors wearing heavily padded gloves is without doubt the biggest cause of fatal and permanent injuries to boxers - this simply does not happen in "reality" events as competitors wear either no gloves or very lightly padded gloves which will not allow fighters to punch to the head round after round without hand injury.

To find out more about modern reality fighting fighting news to discover self defense secrets the special forces dont want you to know check out real self defence here win any fight fast using simple special forces techniques

Years ago, there was a training concept that called for training to be general and to reflect natural movements. The idea was to make defensive movements simple and similar enough that you would unconsciously get your body to respond. The example was using the Field Interview stance as your defensive, fighting and shooting stance. It made sense then and it makes sense now.

There is a shift in training to become more “realistic” and goal oriented. To that end, most modern trainers have modified their programs to reflect this. Protective training suits have enabled force on force training to allow participants to deliver, and receive, full power strikes without fear of injury. This has taught many students the difference between solid, effective blows versus soft hits and pulled punches. Psychologically, the effects have also produced students who may have had limited exposure to physical exertion and contact, the ability to interact on that “realistic” level. The only drawback to this type of training is when the instructor allows the students to use power without the appropriate targeting.

A concept that has been taught and refined by Tony Blauer, founder of the popular S.P.E.A.R. system of defensive tactics, is known as Closest Weapon, Closest Target (CWCT). If your closest weapon is your knee or forearm, and the closest target is merely a few inches away, why wind up to deliver that all powerful strike? That act only succeeds in telegraphing your move and alerting your opponent that a blow is on the way. This may sound like a normal training issue that can be addressed during a tactical analysis, but what I see in the training suit force on force exercises are the students trying to strike each other as hard as possible. This is because they have the protective gear on and can get the immediate feedback from the loud thud upon impact.

I remember years ago, when training in a large dojo, we would hear the loud report from a student roundhouse kick to a heavy bag. Everyone would immediately look over to see who had delivered such a powerful kick. It was all very impressive. The students would walk up and align themselves perfectly in front of the heavy bag. They would take a deep breath, wind up and let it rip. Each student wanted to replicate that all powerful strike. We would joke that if we were ever attacked by a heavy bag, we would be prepared.

Today, the trend is to suit up two or more “players” and let them go at it. Very ugly and very little technique or appropriate application of force is developed. The reality of that is the belief that in a “real” fight, anything goes. In its most basic form, that statement may be true. However, does that concept apply to firearms training also? Should we revert to the old “spray and pray” philosophy? Would it be an appropriate way to teach precision and tactical driving? My concern is that we have become “specialists” in certain aspects of training and general practitioners in others.

In the world of professional protection, we may be called upon to fight or persuade, control or deliver lethal force. Our training should encompass any and all foreseeable situations and an appropriate response to it. The commonality of training should allow us to move from one level of force to the next in a controlled and effective manner, based on sound tactics.

Jerry MacCauley is a police trainer and Certified Security Trainer in West Palm Beach, Fl. As a twenty five year police officer, many of the training he provides has been street tested and is constantly updated and revised to meet new and emerging threats. Mr. MacCauley can be contacted at jerrymaccauley@hotmail.com and comments are always welcomed and appreciated.

This technique will also allow a good clinch set up from a kick combination. With some practice this combination can be so successful as to stop the attacker dead in his tracks. Just remember not to put all your eggs into one basket. Although this is a great technique there are many variations possible on the street and you need to keep an open mind and be prepared to adapt to any possibility’s.

Now lets get to the point.

For the set up we assume the attacker is facing you either square on (this would suggest two things, he is either very confident or very stupid) or more likely some sort of side on position (observably making it harder to attack his groin). He may or may not have his guard up.

In fact this is a really good point to discuss before we go on. Loads of people practice there so called street fighting / self defense techniques from a full on fighting stance you know arms up covering head and body with elbows protecting ribs and of course this makes good sense. But in reality most fights do NOT start from this position. In fact many fights are over before you can even form this position. So yes do practice from the guard but also practice from a variety of different standing positions and in between stance positions. Most street scum will not wait for you to square up and form your defensive posture first. Yes I know they all do this in UFC etc but that is nothing like a street fight.

Any way this time I promise to get to the point

So as we said the attacker is facing you. You are in a forward stance. Strike to his knee with your foot use the foot that is closest to the attacker. With this foot drive through his knee. Please note I did not say snap yes this will hurt but not cause that first class pain that stops the attackers brain function for a second or two. And a second is all you need to finish the whole thing. If you can make his knee lock full back on it’s self you may stop him there and then. But we will not rely on this.As soon as the front leg has finished attacking the knee. Strike with your rear leg as hard as you can with your shin or knee. Aim for the center of the thigh (that’s mid way between the knee and the hip) there is in fact a major nerve here you should try to hit him so hard the your knee or shin cuts through the muscle to the bone causing very extreme pain. This can cause enough pain to prevent the attacker continuing or even walking if done hard enough. To develop power in you shin or knee strike practice on a heavy bag or shield.

Depending on your existing skills

But yet again we will not rely on this alone. Now depending on your existing skills you can either use grappling skills like (As promised he is now in an ideal position for a clinch) sweeping throwing techniques. Or strong hand techniques to finish.

Not fixed to this technique.

Remember you are not fixed to this technique if you see another great opening take it. Or may be there is a chance to run if so then take it. No prizes for being the strong man on the street the only prize is if you are still alive any which way you can.

If you would like to learn street fighting techniques and moves for self defense then check my site out!

Tai chi is an exercise program really different from the others because it provides all the benefits when compared to the other exercise programs. The other programs provide stimulation only to the musculoskeletal system. When you are performing Isometric workouts you apply your force against an immovable object hence using only a set of muscles in the body.

Calisthenics or weightlifting also emphasize only on the individual muscles although they provide a wide range of motion to the muscles unlike Isometric exercises. All these exercises do not improve your overall physique. Only Tai chi helps building your physique totally.

The advantages of Tai chi are innumerable according to the Medical Academy of Shanghai. Studies conducted by them show that Tai Chi regulates the blood pressure, reduces stress and tones the musculosketal system in the body. The blood circulation in the body is smooth. The central nervous system is stimulated and it eliminates all the gastric problems if present.

According to the tradition of Chinese medicine, the ‘chi’ is known as intrinsic energy and very essential to the body to keep you always fresh and healthy. If the cycle of chi is disturbed it results in various illnesses. Therefore the main objective of tai chi is to maintain the smooth functioning of this cycle at all times. Tai Chi is indeed an unique exercise program.

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People want me to train them privately or show them some special move that will make them have a “supposed” unfair advantage on an adversary. People ask what the secret to fighting is or the secret to Martial Arts is or are their one style that is superior then all the others. My personal favorite is show me something that you know, of course the only thing you can show them is simple techniques or a form but you know that’s not what they want to see. They want to evaluate you and see if they should fear you or not it’s like a right of passage for men to see if you could be their match or are you just a punk, that’s all talk. The problem is what you show them is only relevant to what you know and if you know too much then you could seem arrogant and lead yourself into more trouble. I usually smile and tell that person to join my class if they want to see what I know. Then if their persistent I explain what I have learned through martial arts mental and physically in words not actions.

First, I like to give them a brief (very brief) background of my self and the styles I know. Mainly how long I have been taking it and the fact that I love to teach and ONLY teach now that I’m older. That gives them an idea of my knowledge level from the years I have studied, plus lowers any testosterone that might be building up by saying that I teach not compete. Then I will let him talk and 90% of the time they will tell you that they are also a Martial Artist but have only studied for a short time or just OUT and OUT lie to you and say there a master of poop-fu or something no one has ever herd of.

Next, I will explain to them the two of the main aspects of martial arts. One is that Practice makes perfect. I will do this by letting him know how often I practice and how much of my life is consumed in martial Arts. From conditioning, to speed drills, to studying, and to practice in class. Secondly I will follow up with my ability to react to properly to a situation from that constant practice. Kind of hinting that you don’t want to go down that route but at the same time asking him if he understands what I am talking about. The majority of interrogators want to understand and are not looking for a fight they just want respect and they probably think you won’t give it to them because they think that you think you are better then they are. Everyone in life who has been in a fight understands that your reaction and the time it takes to do are important. So they will agree with you or by this point just want to walk away and end the badgering.

Finally, I will let him explain some things in his life that relate to the subject steering away from anything aggressive or physical. At this time I will put on my intellectual face and switch the conversation to everyone else. This puts you and him on the inside as a team and everyone else on the outside looking in. This also allows you to judge your interrogator by there responses. I will do this by saying statements like:

These questions are great conversation pieces for real Martial artist and the answers they give to these comments will dictate their knowledge of Martial Arts. Then you will know if there a martial artist, a punk or a drunk. At this point I either leave or have made a new friend.

My name is Robert Blizzard I am the owner of R.B.I.B. Inc and I am one of the chief instructors at Dragon Storm Karate Club. We are Based out of Maryland and work with our county’s Park and Rec. Department, our link is http://www.dragonstormkc.com/

I also have a few other sites:
One that deals with personal training and class certification http://www.combatspecialist.com/
One that is a blog site discussing every day matters of life that can be helpful http://www.capnobvious.com/

Everyday, hundreds and perhaps thousands of men and women think about taking martial arts lessons. I know because I hear from them constantly, either by way of email, phone, or in letters mailed to the academy.

The vast majority are, more-often-than not, trapped in this "thinking about it" stage and will never take that next, most important step to making it happen. And, it’s sad really.

While the reasons vary as to why each person wants to involve themselves in the martial arts…

1. Self-defense…

2. Life skills…

3. An affinity for the East or the concept of Warriorship, and…

4. Many more too numerous to list here

…the point is that each sees what he or she needs to feel more confident, powerful, or in-control of his or her life through the study and practice of the martial arts.

Why then, are these well-meaning individuals stuck in, what Dr. Seuss called, "The Waiting Place?"

Perhaps one of the reasons is that each believes that he or she must have certain skills or abilities before they can begin.

Perhaps they believe that their situation, with work schedules, a limited budget, or their physical fitness and level of health, is unique to themselves.

Maybe they believe that they should already possess certain life-skills like discipline, focus, and anything else besides their apparent heart-felt desire to begin.

And maybe, just maybe, they’re afraid that others with more experience in the academy will make fun of them, or look down on them in some way because they’re a beginner and don’t know very much.

As a senior practitioner who has been involved in the study and practice of the martial arts for self-defense and every other reason listed here for over two-thirds of my life, I’d like to quite possibly be the first to say that…

You don’t need any skills and abilities, life or other BEFORE beginning your training. You don’t need to be in any sort of "perfect shape" or have rock-solid discipline, commitment, or focus, either. That would be like putting the cart before the horse for these are the things that you will be learning…

…as a part of your martial arts study!

No. The only thing that you need to match, what apparently is a heartfelt desire to begin your martial arts training, is a willingness to take that first step. And, where else, but as a "beginner" would you start? We were all beginners once and I think the best of us stay that way, in heart, mind, and spirit - forever.

I do know this, however. If you wait for the "right time." If you wait to be properly "motivated," or for your schedule to "free up," or to have more money…

If you… (fill in the blank for you)…

… It will quite-likely never happen for you and you will live out one of the fears that keeps me and many other successful people moving…

… the fear that, on my death-bed, I will regret NOT following my dreams - not living the life I always wanted.

You see, where most people are stopped by the fear of failure, the fear of fear, all the "things" that become the "reason" for NOT doing…

I am driven by the knowledge that I will forever regret NOT taking action.

So… It’s time to decide.

Take action, or…

…live with yourself for not doing so.

The choice is yours.

Jeffrey M. Miller is the founder and master instructor of Warrior Concepts International. A senior teacher in the Japanese warrior art of Ninjutsu, he specializes in teaching the ancient ways of self-protection and personal development lessons in a way that is easily understood and put to use by modern Western students and corporate clients. Through their martial arts training, his students and clients learn proven, time-tested lessons designed to help them create the life they’ve always dreamed of living, and the skills necessary for protecting that life from anything that might threaten it. To learn more about his seminars, camps and other subjects related to the martial arts, self-defense, personal development & self-improvement, visit his website at http://www.warrior-concepts-online.com To subscribe to his online newsletter, go to http://www.warrior-concepts-online.com/newsletter-subscribe-self-defense.html

There are many self-help books on the market, especially in the martial arts, that purport to teach readers self-defense.

I believe most are well-intentioned, and much of the advice is honorable and helpful.

But there is no book of wisdom that can make you the warrior you’ll become through steady, long-term practice under expert guidance in a dojo or martial arts studio.

There are several reasons I say this:

(1) Your reflexes will become much faster with consistent practice. If you’ve seen the movie with Brad Pitt & Angelina Jolie, “Mr. & Mrs. Smith,” you’ll remember the dinner table scene when Pitt drops a wine bottle and Jolie snares it out of thin air, without any muss or fuss. Instantly, Pitt’s character knew she had training, and he needed to be wary.

If someone throws a punch at your face, your body needs to know exactly what to do without the intervention of conscious thought. Dojo training is behavioral, reflex-building training, and no book can teach that to you.

(2) In dojos you practice with other people, with partners. You just can’t act and react the same way, by yourself, with a book or by watching video.

(3) You can actually see what happens when people get angry or temporarily lose control. I’ve broken ribs, and mine have been broken, twice. It’s amazing how little force is required to do this, or to put people in the hospital.

(4) Your misconceptions about the glamour of violence can be dashed, safely. Fights aren’t pretty. That’s a great lesson for any punk who thinks he can get away with intimidating people and never get hurt, himself.

(5) You can get so good that the odds of using your skills diminish, tremendously, making you and those around you, much safer.

I’m sure there are other reasons for joining a dojo, but these come to mind. If you’re ready to learn, poke your head into a training hall, and get your nose out of books!

Dr. Gary S. Goodman, President of http://www.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 in the United States and abroad. 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