During class last night, we worked on a knife defense. Normally, we practice in the simplified format (beginner method) of right step forward and a right hand attack. As you noticed in class, even if they step in with the left foot — a more common form of attack — the technique works. You might […]
Month: November 2009
Kicking Notes
Just a few notes from class in regards to kicking. Crane before and after each kick for snap and to prevent someone catching the strike. If you let your leg dangle out near the opponent, eventually he will snatch it and apply a leg lock or counter strike. Keep the foot moving quickly and with […]
Kempo Karate for Toddlers
The PeeWee group consists of toddlers (three and four years old) and young children (five and six years old). Their class is a simplified version of regular children’s classes. It runs for 35 minutes: 15 minutes of warm-ups, 15 minutes of drills, and 5 minutes of “splash” time. Splash is a word I use to […]
Veterans Day: Honoring All Those Who Served in the Military
On this Veterans Day, let us honor the brave men and women who have served (and are serving) honorably and protected (and are protecting) our great country from harm. Some of those who served were wounded or made the ultimate sacrifice. Each of you has done what many Americans don’t do, to defend the freedoms […]
How to Control Fear During a Real Fight
The first time fear took over my motor functions was when I was a child. The observation tower at Magic Mountain was very tall, on a very tall mountain (from a child’s perspective). The top floor was a lounge, enclosed and comfortable. The lower deck was open-air and metal. The spacing between the metal plates […]
How to Control Fear
Fear is a cruel master. It can cause you to flee or react without planning. Fear just is a warning device. Do not let it control your actions and reactions. Accept the emotion of fear. Know that it is there for a reason and acknowledge it. Do not let it dictate irrational actions instead of […]
Class Review for Wednesday
Just to recap what we went over. Practice your Monkey Dance 5 and Monkey Dance 3. Common mistakes included: Turning the hips too much while in your half-moon stance Not snapping the hands back in elbow position while punching Dangling hands and arms Looking before moving Taking steps that are too big or stepping backwards […]
5 Ways to Distract Your Opponent
The best way to overcome your opponent’s guard and defenses is not to overpower or out run them. Rather it is better to defeat them through deception, distraction and confusion. Distraction is a key technique to disrupt the enemy’s defenses. Your opponent will lower his guard allowing you to attack with impunity. The next question […]
Training with Music and Drums to Develop Rhythm in Kata
During my time at the university, I attended a Filipino Folk Dance workshop where we learned traditional dances. Two stood out as very peculiar. First, we danced with two sticks, tapping them together and with our partners rhythmically. The second dance used a sarong that we tied and untied in several utilitarian configurations. These items […]
The Hidden Triangle
We all know that a tripod is more stable than a biped. This is evident in how a tricycle and bicycle are parked. The tricycle, with its three wheels, can stand on its own while the bicycle needs a kickstand to stand on its own. That makes it a tripod structure. But how does this […]