സ്ലീപിംഗ് വിത്ത്‌ യുവര്‍ WEAPONS

Early on in childhood, I took to bed with me toys and stuffed or similar animals,etc. but most of all my various 'toy' guns, cap pistols, wooden pistols, metal guns, dart pistols, water pistols, along with numerous jacknives flashlights, glow in the dark items, etc. and over the years I have only modified this practice and I wonder how many of you sleep with your rifles, shotguns, pistols, knives, swords, and other weapons? Probably some of you think that merely having such by your side is sufficient or under the bed and possibly under the pillow or under the mattress(along with your cash and gold,etc.)....but there is something else..... Most of us might well have proximity to lamps and lights,etc. to use at night, especially when it is pitch-dark or pitch-black and so rely on this rather than knowing how to grab weapons and use them in the dark, unless we have practiced doing such,etc. or have a fair amount of training.....do any of you recall, as I do, dismantling an m-1 and then, blindfolded, putting it back together,etc.? The same process for loading and re-loading revolvers and pistols might be of great advantage as well.....and how about balisong manipulations in the dark and other knife tactics that you might employ,especially from a PRONE POSITION, lying on your back(I know prone means for most lying on the stomach)...??? Can you grabe a stick or sticker and use it in the dark if needed....? Such undoubtedly works better for single guys or gals rather than those with marital mates or otherwise.....but sleeping with weapons is a must in some areas or don't you think so?

TRAINING FOR EYE ATTACKS

TRAINING in the way your fight and fighting in the way you train are, in my view, simply two sides of the same coin, for you seldom pick up skills from hit or miss episodes or fracases,but you can, after much experience, as some of the old arnis and other masters did, analyze and codify and format your techniques derived from the actual bouts you underwent as well as those defeats you may have suffered...Many only look at their victories and not their defeats....... Take simple fist fights as schoolboys(girls,clawing and scratching?) indulge in at various times....I have had quite a share of these and my losses usually came from the fact others interfered or intervened and separated the opponents or some other variables entered in..... Quite often 'the will to win is there' but the strength and ability of the other antagonist was too great or he was more skilled....therefore, seeking better ways to fight would be the logical thing to undertake and to get advice and information and knowledge in addition to experience and challenges....but too often we are dissuaded or discouraged or prevented from so doing....parents, elders, teachers, etc. all warn us of the dangers of fighting and defending ourselves,etc . as do other authorities..... In attacking the eyes, as has been mentioned, the finger thrusts of various kinds are used and the basic on is the separated index and middle finger to attack the eyes, depending on the range involved and the type of attack and so forth,but in the simple one-on-one confrontation, this thrust can be devastating and stop further aggression...but few use it these days for reasons discussed previously, such as, legal.... Strength and power, speed and timing, accuracy and precision, are things to develop in this training and there are numerous methods and training devices available and I shall mention a few of them..Some are traditional ones, while others are modern ones but all can assist the devotee to acquire some things he may not have had previously.....but the people who need this sort of thing seldom bother to train or learn or use this......I have mentioned these persons several times and only will again if someone raises questions that pertain to this aspect. Since this is a lengthy discussion of methodology, I shall come back to it another time....and those who read it will undoubtedly mention their favorite methods.........here, briefly are some: finger thrusts into sand, figner thrusts into suspended paper masks, finger thrusts and attacks on certain plastic/modern dummies, attempting to hit a suspended ball on a string,etc. with the finger tips, and also other devices too numerous to cover here now.

MORE ON THE EYES AS A TARGET

The eyes,are on each side of the CENTRAL LINE OF THE BODY and since most people with normal eyes that function have both of them, either can be attacked singly or doubly, and with a variety of methods, armed or unarmed....... Close range attacks to the eyes are needed when on used the fingers to jab or poke or attack the eyes, although sometimes flicking the fingers, waving an object or something to divert the eyes and to cause BLINKING can be done,etc. Few people have great control over their eyes and for this reason their eyes can be lead to look in certain directions, up,down, left, right,etc. by many simple manuevers and diversions......as every magician knows....and this also means that blinking is something few can avoid no matter what they do.....staring and fixation of gaze will not be discussed here,however. Various weapons, rigid, flexible, liquid,etc. can be used....few can withstand a faceful of acid, lye, ammonia,alcohol, etc. which if it hits the eyes makes the victim or opponent vulnerable to many followup techniques......even water from a spray bottle can upset one's vision and make one temporarily incapacitated. Whenever such are used, where should the spray be directed? Should it be directly into the eyes, or all over the face, or where.........and what ancient way of blinding the eyes of warriors was done that lead to certain adoption of part of a warriors' 'costume' ???? You may not see the connection with this discussion about eyes but it is there... Pepper sprays,etc. also used these days to attack the eyes....in order for police,etc. to subdue persons who are unruly, recalcitrant, troublesome,etc. but sometimes do not work due to various things, like wind,etc. interfering with the effectiveness,etc. If one is blind, all attacks on the eyes usually done in self-defense will not work, and this is the exception to the eyes being the most vulnerabl e spot on the body that is readily apparent to all and which can be used by young, old, weak, sickly, etc. without a good deal of training if at all....... Most people are visual oriented and dependent and seldom use the other senses.....HOWEVER, there are some blind martial artists who are able to defend themselves rather well when attacked but that is another topic that will not be covered or discussed here.................

'VULNERABLE' MIND

Some have commented on my postings about the 'vulnerable spot' and have postulated that the mind, whatever that is, is the most vulnerable and they give some examples and notions on this,which are interesting.....but are not 'practical' in that you can use and develop such right off....in terms of self-defense or in staging an actual attack... BUT,in some respects a sort of 'mind control' can be utilized to attack the eyes and,indeed, to launch an attack or defense, in a manner I shall describe and others can then test it out if they wish,with all due cautions in place, of course. Essentially, mind control means leading the mind in a certain direction, either by evasion or deception or some similar methods that grab one's attention......how this is done is important. People are always talking of the importance of the eyes and some groups emphasize watching the eyes of the opponent in one-on-one conflicts or confrontations, believing that by watching the eyes, how they move and where they seem to focus can assist in any attack or defense and this is true as far as it goes......but some experts knowing this 'tidbit' make use of this to divert the attention and then attack in a very different mannner,etc. We are all familiar with magicians(stage) and jugglers and others that maniuplate how we see things.....the hand being quicker than the eye in most cases.....martial artists can take a few ideas from these practitioners by diverting the vision and the gaze in certain directions by certain things, such as, snapping the fingers on an extended arm, stomping the foot heavily, kicking in a direction while actually punching, and a very many other things that will lead the eyes away from the defender or attacker in these situations...... In other words, by taking 'control' of the sight, the gaze, the vision in this manner the mind is lead or controlled enough to do som serious damage, even kill the opponent......more on this another time.....but the fact is, the eyes remain the more vulnerable portion of the body-subject to attack and injury...and once out of commission, the 'victim',the 'opponent' etc. is then usually rendered pliable and open to whatever you wish to do, even kill him..........

TRAIN AS YOU FIGHT;FIGHT AS YOU TRAIN

Many, if not most, martiala rtists,etc. tend to dichotomize things, and, in this case, tends towards one pole in preference to the other pole, citing various reasons and positions for either one......some based on actual experiences, while others based on system,style,school,etc. concepts and theories......usually derived after the old masters have fought life or death battles and then later on, decided to codify and organize their winning and 'secret' techniques into workable training programs for new students, pupils, heirs, and so forth....some with a commercial bent and flavor......all well and good......but.... Rather than accept one position as more 'logical', more 'accurate' etc. I think, for me, that these 'truths' about how to train and fight are essentially saying the same thing......but everyone is free to disagree and I expect such at any time ..... How do I fight and train at the same time? The term, LAGING HANDA, means always ready...so I am always ready to train and to fight, if need be....... Here is an example.....as I have mentioned, I consider the eyes the most vulnerable part of the body and since many attackers face us at times their eyes are a viable target and how can you do this if you have not trained or have not fought in such situations before? THE 'KEYS' TO TRAINING: Many of you will laugh at this, but here it is, and it is for those who really need such, women, girls, seniors, handicaps, children, etc...rather than big bury, conditioned athletes,competitive jocks, and highly trained martial artists and fighters ............. Simply take a set of keys,if you drive a car, or a similar device that can substitute(more on that another time) and hold them in your left hand when going to the car,coming from the car, and going around the mall,etc. etc. and have them ready to strike, thrust or jab into the eyes or if not reachable into other soft portions of the body, like the neck or under the breastbone,etc. you can also strike the kidneys,etc...... Using the left hand to hold the keys to strike has some advantages since many attackers believe you will use your right hand or arm and many persons do.........You can after striking the opponent in the eyes with your keys do many things, including running away, calling a cop on your cell phone, taking a photo of your attacker, and also following up with other strikes and things as well as kicks if needed...only you can determine how far to go and what you have to do,but the stress and environment may actually determine things as will the presence or absence of others....... You can carry your keys in your right hand also if you wish and do the same things........carrying your keys is legal and a weapon of opportunity and you need only say you were attacked and could not drop your keys or let them be taken by the attacker,etc...this will work if you are a teenager and a woman in many instances where the attacker is bigger, tougher, has a record,etc. After defending yourself and calling the cops you may have to engage a lawyer in this society in the US....good luck...

THE 'MIND' AS A POSSIBLE VULNERABLE SPOT

The existence of 'the mind' as real, objective entity has yet to be fully proven. It is a word that covers and attempts to describe a wide variety of processes, activities, and behaviors,etc.-all of which cna be better described as 'mental', which tend to concern what are called: 'ideas','thoughts' 'concepts' 'logic' etc. and very 'intellectual aspects' or 'mental apparatus', 'mental machine' etc. part of a SYSTEM-brain, nerves,etc. and usually apart from the EMOTIONAL,PHYSICAL, INSTINCTIVE, & SEX CENTERS that comprise people who are 'mechanical' in nature and generally 'asleep' that is, not really 'CONSCIOUS' or 'AWAKE',etc. To say that the 'mind' is the most vulnerable part of the body or or a person is not accurate-the mental processes and activities, described by various psychological studies and theories and systems, at AN EARLY AGE are more malleable, impressionable,and sometimes easily influenced-but once impressions and influences have entered the 'mind' that CONSTRUCT-called THE PERSONALITY, the 'mind's' supposed vulnerability becomes lessened and only certain things can alter the established patterns of life and habits, customs and mores, etc. despite notions of 'free-will' etc. being held by many usually those who cannot demonstrate such for all their verbalism and theories... Actually, we are 'CONDITIONED' by our ENVIRONMENTS as well as by heredity, far more than we realize or are willing to accept, believing that we can always alter circumstances,events, and habits,etc.. We do not always realize that environment can and does contain an almost infinite series of complexities, impressions, and influences....that affect us and not just those we tend to focus on and consider 'highly important',vital to our existence, and socially acceptable,etc. and though we may think that such affect us subconsciously or unconsciously, we all tend to ignore such....despite impulses, urges, inclinations and feelings, which are more frequently than understood confused with thinking or thoughts.... We can use drugs and hypnotism and certain other things to alter 'the mind',our perceptions, our physical states, and this may take ;much time and in life and death situations, this is not possible for most-as they tend to rely on action-reaction....... Although one may,indeed, have certain 'psychic','mental' etc. 'powers' adn the like the average person in self-defense situations and even venerable masters may not be able to exercise them in such responses as physical attacks, though 'mental' attacks(curses, hexes,enchantments,etc.) may be dealt with more easily by some, though most of us remain somewhat sceptical of such.......More on all this at another time.

THE EYES HAVE IT......

An old Armenian friend of mine, now deceased, gave me his hunting/fishing/etc. knife and I put it into a sheath my grandfather had made for me at the shop where he worked......years before this.....and this sheath housed another knife, partly made by me and my grandfather out of an old butcher knife....... My friend, had fled Armenia when the Turks began their controversial and systematic extermination of Armenians, and taking a ship to France, he jumped ship and eventually came to the US where he died........ He worked as cook in a local restaurant where my mother waited tables and where I sometimes ate and 'POP", as everyone called him, became my friend and we often went fishing on the Connecticut River in his boat, which I actually liked rowing more than fishing from it.......it was great exercise....he also had an outboard...but only used it now and then...... This is what he told me once....he had met a Hungarian in the port in France, apparently, and sometimes some kinds of fracas took place in such places as most might surmise......the advice the Hungarian always gave in such fights and bouts and melees,etc. was 'GO FOR THE EYES'! something I had learned from my father who served in WWI....but the difference was, instead of the usual two finger thrust, which is effective, the use of the knife was done......and one could also throw pepper from a shaker,etc. or packet,etc. into the eyes if one wanted to be less lethal.......... There is more to be said on this and some other time I shall discuss this topic further for many reasons......

THE MOST VULNERABLE PART OF THE BODY

What is the most vulnerable part of the body? It might not be what you think it is....but perhaps you might attempt guessing.........I will not supply the answer here now....mention how to think of this and why......this will be in terms of unarmed combat, possible killing arts, and life and death situations, attacks,defenses,etc....................................... If a person will stand before you and merely stay there, arms at the sides and facing you, of course, then ask the very same question....what is the most vulnerable part of the body as you are looking at it and what technique would you use right off to devastate, to weaken, to overcome and perhaps kill the person standing in front of you....you can also make assumptions of his threats, rage, intention to attack and possibly kill you and the like....you can imagine possible attacks he will make,etc. but the idea is to determine what technique and what part of the body must be 'pre-empted' or attacked in order to either defend yourself or attack,say smiling serial killer,etc....? I should be pleased to hear and read your answers to this question and your comments.......thanks in advance..at another time, I will give you my conclusion(s)....

FLESH,BLOOD & BONES-PART III

Striking,kicking, slapping, and attacking the FLESH in an unarmed situation where one is trying either to defend, attack, and also to kill someone,which I have limited to a 'one'on'one' affair....presents special difficulties to those who are not versed in special techniques, methods, systems, and styles or specific arts that allow for this to occur.......and hence, many things will prove extremely useless and ineffective in a 'life or death' situation or a 'do or die' circumstance or in a 'kill or be killed' combat....... Bruises and aches are apt to be more likely in such affairs unless one employs a destructive force and method that affects the flesh...that is, those part of the body that might be considered 'soft,likely, and vulnerable' to such things......provided that the resistance that will arise in such a fracas is prevented, stopped, delayed, overcome, or ignored...... If one then adds to the FLESH attacks,strikes,hits,etc. to the BONES or skeleton, than a better possibility arises to enable a 'victory' or 'conquest' or a 'kill' as the case may be.....But this, too, has some problems attached to it when it comes to being unarmed and attempting to attack the bones...... The third component of this 'three-pronged' attack is BLOOD and this also has specific problems when one is unarmed and confronting a situation in which one can be killed and one in which one must kill. The HARD approach, which is the result of specific and certain training methods and theories, may well work here better than the SOFT methods or approaches....if one does not take into account other factors that can be employed or used....such as, leverage, timing, force, agility, speed, power, etc. all of which are part of the full equation....but which appear ponderous as one thinks about them and theorizes about them, especially in an attempt to create 'maximum efficiency with minimum effort'.... Further discussion of these things will have to be done after this has been considered and mulled over and digested....and one should think or consider and possibly work out certain aspects of this for themselves to better come to an understanding based on experience and movement...if possible, without actually killing anyone at this time......so be warned.....that small efforts may not amount to much and yet, some small steps may be needed......

FLESH,BLOOD & BONES-PART II

We might also term this topic as Blood,Guts, and Bones, as I mentioned elsewhere, and some more 'observations' and comments are in order,none of which will appeal to most martial artists or to others,for obvious reasons. This discussion is limited to consideration of one-on-one defenses and attackes, unarmed, and possible approaches....of which everyone is entitled to their own specific opinion... If you are attacking an opponent,or an assailant/attacker, as an act of self-defense or in actual combat to kill someone(but without weapons) you modes of attack will be limited to certain things and conditions, a great number of factors and situations, no doubt.... If you only attack or strike or hit flesh you will soon see that some difficulties will present themselves. If you attempt to hit and demolish or injure bone(s) other things will arise, and attacking blood(veins, arteries, heart,etc.) will also present some factors so that the conclusion might well be that to merely strike just one component will not always be sufficient and certainly not lead to an easy death or destruction.....So, what is next? It seems logical to assume that an attack involving at least two of these components has a better chance of succeeding and furthermore an attack on all three will be the most successful if the goal is to kill or subdue or injure,etc. The next step will be, if it can be called a step, is to select or utilize effective methods, techniques, blows, kicks,etc. that will involve all three components of blood,bones, flesh as possible and as quickly as can be done..... There are two basic approaches to this and they are well-known and have advocates and partisans and experts,etc. but can be described as THE HARD SCHOOL and THE SOFT SCHOOL.......and the methods they use form the basis of many, if not most, martial arts systems, styles,etc. found in the world today, that is, those that are more deadly and dangerous and therefore, can kill people...... The training in these two methods or approaches varies considerably the more one investigates the killing arts. Of the the two approaches, the Hard School is the more popular and the more followed while the Soft School or approach is more complex and 'flowery' and proceeds along a different line usually....and then there are those who attempt to blend both and come up with various hybrids.....none of these I shall name or discuss beyond the general descriptions I will make use of here in this discussion as most everyone can supply their own examples and favorites...... In the next part, I will try to examine these things but for now it will be sufficient to 'digest' what has been placed here under this topic and the preceeding one on the same subject....

FLESH,BLOOD, & BONES

FLESH,BLOOD,and BONES are the three components that comprise the targets of the human body and compose physical existence for humans,both men and women, and children, something in common with animals, such as, mammals, and bird, etc. These three components, Flesh, Blood, and Bones, follow the LAW OF THREE, which can be symbolized, as many know, by a triangle, but more than this, is the fact that these are the foundation of the ART OF KILLING,whether with weapons or without(unarmed). Since the use of weapons is fairly well-known or common, I shall confine all this to unarmed tactics,methods, techniques, etc. and also restrict it to that of two antagonists, attackers or defenders,etc. that is, one-on-one,with both unarmed. The transformation of killing arts, martial arts, combat arts, warfare,etc. along this line is apparent to many and this means that such things are being transformed from lethal arts to system of exercise, sport(s), recreation, demonstrative, non-contact or semi-contact, or armoured, affairs, along with being placed on various media, such as movies, DVDs and video games and the like: ALL WITHOUT HAVING TO ACTUALLY KILL ANYONE OR TO BE LETHAL IN NATURE......so that people can kill others vicariously especially through fantasy sports, games, without having to suffer any possible consequences or implications....that is, by having killed someone in reality.... This transformation is somewhat inevitable,of course,as history shows that as controls of society become stronger and laws enacted and enforced, etc. a monoploy on the arts is given to certain groups,such as military or police....PART I-BY HALFORD E. JONES, BLOG WRITER 2010....
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TECHNIQUE VS THEORY

DEFANGING THE SNAKE; I have not heard or seen much discussion lately of 'DEFANGING THE SNAKE" which at one time reared its head early on in discussions, seminars, workshops, and articles about stick and knife fighting. This 'method',this 'series' of 'techniques' has been introduced as a conceptual and theoretical consideration by most instructors,'guros',etc. over the years since Westerners becamse aware of various Asian Martial Arts but mainly of Filipino and their related counterparts in certain areas. Simply making the comparison between a stick/knife wielder's opponent,attacker,assailant on a theoretical basis is not sufficient enough to arm anyone against such attacks in any practical manner. This 'concept', 'analogy', or 'theory' or 'description' is actually a series of techniques and skills that must be learned to be useful.

THEORY & PRACTICE: TECHNIQUES & CONCEPTS/PRINCIPLES

Recently, this topic has reared its head on FACEBOOK in several ways all of which are interesting for those who try to understand more and to learn more,but somewhat controversial as will be shown where such impinges on this topic. IT IS TECHNIQUE THAT DEFINES THE MASTER,NOT ;HIS THEORETICAL EXPLANATIONS! The special/specific techniques of martial arts masters(and for that matter of artists,sculptors, painters, craftsmen,writers,etc. are more priized than their concepts AND their masterpieces are more desired and remembered than their theoretical or aesthetic ideas and concepts......for most of humanity......usually.....possibly........ APPRENTICESHIP to masters,experts,etc. whether in crafts or labor or martial arts,etc. always consist of learning and duplicating specific and special techniques and not learning words and expressions of abstract notions. For those who think otherwise, I ask this question.....WOULD YOU RATHER HAVE YOUR KNIFE WOUNDS AND SWORD CUTS,ETC. RECEIVED ON YOUR BODY SEWED UP AND TREATED BY A SURGEON,MEDIC,HEALER,DOCTOR,ETC. WHO KNOWS AND USES ACTUAL TECHNIQUES OF ALL KINDS OR, a person well-versed in concepts and principles who has no real experience or mastery of techniques and fresh out of med/college/etc. studies???????

THE NUNCHAKU

I have decided to write some things on various martial arts 'weapons' or 'tools' and have chosen the NUNCHAKU as the first one to discuss,since a friend on FACEBOOK has asked me to assist him in learning and training with this device, which was immensely popular at one time and highly controversial, rendered illegal in most states and in some countries. Ironically, I carried and used such a thing while in the Philippines when it was under MARTIAL LAW and one should note that I was also teaching martial arts to various people in the Philippines as well. The ironic thing is that I had much more personal freedom at that time than I do now in the UNITED STATES. For instance, had I chose to do so, I could have carried a pistol or gun if I had joined a gun club in Manila,etc. during that time when guns were supposedly 'banned' and 'illegal'. I could also carry the BALISONG which is again a problematic,legal limbo for most would be martial artists in the US. I could also and did wear a bolo on the streets in many places and certainly in rural areas and I also had a sort of 'reputation' for carrying a spear that I had obtained in the Northern Philippines. I actually had wanted to acquire more of these plus head axes but lack of money and other things prevented from doing so at that time. THE HISTORY OF THE NUNCHAKU is still in need of more research and since most are alreay familiar with the basic legends and assumptions and claims for its origins, I will not go into this area unless it intrudes on things. Since I have written several articles that have been published on the nunchaku, I refer everyone to look at them and also at many other popular books,videos,etc. I acquired my first nunchaku during the 'BRUCE LEE CRAZE' when everyone was twirling such about. The nunchaku was also considered for use by law enforcement agencies but lost out in favor of the tonfa which was transformed into the Bradley Prosecutor, and similar police weapons. When I was a corrections officer some years back, special courses of certification were given to Corrections Officers, but I was not one of them at the time. Actually, I am grateful for not having such because those officers who did were the ones that had to go into the cells of recalcitrant and troublesome,hostile inmates and I knew full well that trying to use such in a regular cell had great drawbacks and some inmates, no doubt,could and would disarm the officer who attempted to use it for restraining purposes. I,personally, prefered 'empty hand/empty arm' methods and on some occasions did utilize such when needed and I had to control such inmates for various reasons. The Nunchaku is a weapon that really requires sufficient space to use in the manner that most manuals display and which most DVDs demonstrate. It can be used in a different manner than in the spectacular twirls and demos seen in tournaments but that takes a lot of practice and few really devote themselves to this aspect which is seen as being boring and sometimes self-evident by those who prefer the flamboyant uses. Ironically, one can make the nunchaku and its several variations and not buy the commercial ones, but these latter often have advantages as well as disadvantages. Small nunchaku can be more easily carried and concealed for use. Also, toy nunchakus can get you into trouble as well. Even if such are plastic,hard or soft,foam rubber, wielding them in public view and in public places can lead to brushes with the law in various ways. Attempts to ban the sales of all these things from real to toy still darken the horizons of most States and stringent laws are on the books in most cases everywhere. Dojos may or may not be exempt and some have 'a special dispensation' if the weapons are confined to the walls of the dojo as decorations, securely placed,etc. or used for practice and exercise in the dojos. As long as no one gets hurt, injured or killed and insurance exists then one can perhaps study and learn and practice such. For that reason, most things are not done in the manner conducive to active learning unless conducted in secret,and authorized sessions(usually law enforcement, and related military and security forces who are given a monopoly on such things,which the general public is prohibited. You figure it out. Amon my nunchaku collection I have one that I always take out to have 'hotshot performers' who twirl the light, plastic, aluminum,etc. devices in fancy maneuvers and dazzling arrays, use. Those who have experienced this device: THE IRON NUNCHAKU soon find they cannot wield this one in the ways they previously displayed, that is, without hittling the various parts of their bodies and receiving a number of impacts. The regular,standard nunchaku(s) do have a tendency to reverberate and sometimes strike the body of the user in ways they do not expect. For this reason, hitting heavy bags,wooden posts, trees, etc. is done to make one familiar with what can happen when something is actually struck rather than just free-flowing in the air unimpeded by solid objects. NOW, the nunchaku can be a great device for improving coordination and the like and since it requires a good deal of open area usually and also footwork, those who cannot really use these devices since they may be confined to wheel chairs, and other means of transport that do not allow them to make full use of footwork, if at all, or standing movements, and the like, plus other conditions that might prevent them from an effective use of such, some degree of reseach and experiment should be done by martial arts teachers and instructors, whom I am afraid avoid this and so neglect the actual needs of people in this situation. There have been some exceptions and these are rare where instructors set up classes for specific needs and special needs. So how does one who finds him or her self in this situation.

HOW MANY TIMES HAS A KICK TO THE GROIN STOPPED A RAPIST?

The answer to this question is: VERY FEW,IF EVER, TIMES! The reasons are that many women cannot kick high enough or effectively enough to incapacitate a determined and experienced and ready multiple rapist or attacker. Sad as it may seem, many of the self-defense moves and systems that women, girls, boys,etc. have taken simply do not prepare them for the brutality and shock of such attacks in various circumstances,etc. This is a complicated subject and various namby-pamby legalities are always raised in discussing this area. Here is my answer: I would rather be on trial for manslaughter with a jury of peers than in a funeral home while my friends and family attend my funeral.

HOW LONG CAN YOU HOLD YOUR BREATH?

This question might well appear to be meaningless to most people especially those who are not athletic in nature and for those who do not breathe deeply and so forth. The fact is that in any situation where someone has you by the throat and is trying to kill you, that will be the moment when you will have wished you knew and also what you could do about it as you will have probably at best around six seconds to escape, if at all. Sometimes these attacks are so overwhelming and the attacker so skilled and tough the victim can only die. The firs thing a rapist does usually is to overpower his victim, usually by grabbing the neck and the throat and trying to stifle in the case of women, their screams which are shrill generally and which could summon help or rescue, although in present society this doesn't hold water as many cases exist where people stood around and watched the thing. Protecting you neck and throat and being able to get out of such strangleholds and chokes,etc. is a priority in rape prevention and should be given to women along with very aggressive moves to effect release from attackers.

WHEN IT COMES TO CHI: DO ONLY WHAT YOU CAN DO & BE SURE YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING!

One can assemble a great deal of reference material,such as, books, photos, magazines, newspapers & clippings, and the like, not to mention anecdotes and testamonials galore, to bolster the claims of both distinct camps on the issue of Chi, Ki, Ghi, Prana, Kundalini, etc.,etc. These camps consist, of course, of those who believe wholeheartedly,if not fanatically, in the existence of such forces, powers, abilities, and the like, and of those who disbelieve entirely in such, which is dismissed a fraudulent, undemonstrable, explainable in physical or scientific terms or as sheer nonsense. Marvelous feats and deed, often described as psychic, supernatural, mystical, or magical, have a strong appeal for people, regardless of culture, religion, or socieity and the literature of nearly all peoples is apt to be most overwhelming. For those in martial arts, of whatever persuasion, style, school or system, especially for nearly all beginners, young or old, THEPATH IS FRAUGHT WITH PERIL for those who seek to cultivate extraordinary powers of any kind, beyond physical prowness and mental focus and strewn with both failures and successes as well as pitfalls awaiting many.

TAISHO (also, TAISO)

TAISHO is basically forms of 'ORIENTAL CALISTHENICS" designed to make the body lithe,agile, & flexible and should be prevalent or present in any MARTIAL ARTS TRAINING or program,whether group or solo! Done for conditioning,muscle-compounding exercises(also found in the martial arts forms and techniques) may also be done for one's own personal 'recreation'(in the actual sense of RE-CREATING) or in groups. There are several advantages of these exercises when done over a period of years, from an early age to advanced years, a LIFETIME actually, if possible and life permits. THESE FORMS can be varied, done slowly or fast, with rhythm and/or intensity, with or without tension, as well as performed with wrist or ankle or weighted vests and even with paired dumbbells, in sets of high or low repetitions and increase or decrease of weight amounts within one's limitations and desired goals or aims. Moreover, one need never consider su;ch as a basis for competition or award but as one's own ritual and training that needs little or no outside or extreme assistance from others, save in some rare and extreme cases or situations,etc.,such as, workijng around special or painful injuries and conditions,etc. You can do all of this in a very limited areas, in a closet or a bedroom or your living room,celler,or garage or backyard, patio or even attic. You can also do certain stepping and moving patters to break monotony and add other devices as well. Wearing weight belts and vests,for example. But nothing need be carried to any great extreme unless desired. You can do these outside or inside,in heat or cold, sunny or rainy weather, provided you can endure such conditions NATURE imposes. You can do them in darkness or in daylight as well. When you impose things on any of this training be sure to keep a record at first and also make note of your personal feelings, moods, energy levels,etc. until the time you reach an age where all such things can be dispensed with or ignored!

THE MOST IMPORTANT TRAINING DEVICE IN MARTIAL ARTS

The most important training device or tool is not what is usually considered in most discussions on martial arts. It is not what usually comes to mind in dojos, gyms, etc where exercise and equipment of all kinds abound. It is not mats, assorted punching bags, weights, ropes,weapons,etc. although such are useful and usual nowadays. Taking a tip from dedicated body builders of the past, the tool is simply this: A LARGE MIRROR. THIS MIRROR(we might well term it, a 'magic mirror' of sorts) is NOT for admiring your looks, yoiur physique, yourself,etc. but a way to look at certain things now apparent to the usual eye. THE IMAGE IN THE MIRROR is your greatest opponent and represents all opponents you will ever encounter if you will look further than to what initially 'meets the eye' and do not become beguiled by your self image reflected in the mirror as Narcissus of myth did). The mirror is important for special reasons. You can develop a technical precision in all your forms, strikes, blows, hits, stabs, kicks,etc. and you can also undergo marvelous exercise at the same time that will benefit you greatly. To understand how to deal with multiple opponents, take another mirror and position it so that you can see multiple images of yourself reflected in what appears to be an infinite series of images of yourself and you will see that each image represents all the opponents you need consider for purposes of mastery and self-defense,etc. if you analyze and work at things beyond the obvious. If you take average scenario of attack or defense and merely think in terms of just a single opponent or if you worry and fret over multiple opponents, always adding up, in this way, 'Oh, there are two guys, there are three, there are six,etc.! What shall I do?" and also if there is a mob, how do you survive and fight? Do you face each one separately or do you deal with all of them as is THEY ARE A SINGLE OPPONENT and for that you will deliver a SINGLE STRIKE OR USE A SPECIAL WEAPON OR WHATEVER IN THIS CONFRONTATION? In the early days of karate training KUMITE was just that and one eventually went to dealing with several opponents at a time, not just one or two. Then a progression on such was done to have everyone in the group or exercise fight each other at the same time, taking no side but trying to defeat everyone,going from one to another and back and forth,etc. You learned to take punches, blocks and kicks,etc. and to deal with sticks and knives,etc. as you progressed along this vigorous path. But all this presupposes that you have some understanding and mastery of THE BASICS! You can achieve mastery of the basics by using the mirror if you are fortunate enough to have one where you train,especially at home. You need not involve others in this special training. You will also see that no single target on your mirror image need be looked at but that you can develop the ability to see multiple targets and deliver multiple kicks and strikes, and blows,etc. to several in various successions and directions,etc. You will have to undertake your own efforts to understand and utilize what is said here. No one can do it for you. More on aspects of this SOLO TRAINING which is much neglected these days for group training and learning,which is apt to become mechanical and 'militaristic' in nature.