| If you've ever seen or been a part of a conventional | | | | that someone new to the job would. The question |
| martial arts program, one of the things you may | | | | is,...if this is true in everyday life, why is it backwards |
| have noticed is the level of activity of the students | | | | in the areas of martial arts and self-defense? |
| according to rank. It seems like the white belts do | | | | |
| little to get results - they have the simple techniques | | | | The truth is that, in a life-threatening situation, the |
| - while the upper levels do more and more. And, | | | | key to winning involves the concept of "energy |
| while this is in some ways normal and natural, it's the | | | | conservation." That means that......the combatant with |
| way each level comes off the floor at the end of | | | | the greatest amount of energy or resources at the |
| class that makes the difference.In my experience | | | | end, is the winner. |
| with conventional martial arts training in several | | | | |
| disciplines, the picture was always the same. At the | | | | You just don't have the benefit of taking the long |
| end of a typical class, the white belts returned to the | | | | road and complicating things with longer strings of |
| locker room practically rumple-free, while the black | | | | techniques and tricks when your well-being is on the |
| belts were sweat-soaked and sore. Now, this might | | | | line. The key is in finding more and more ways to cut |
| be perfectly acceptable if all we were talking about | | | | corners and lessen the time and effort necessary for |
| was organized fitness classes, however; in the realm | | | | escaping or controlling your opponent. This means |
| of self-protection and personal defense, there are | | | | keeping the defensive situation under ten seconds - |
| several problems that should be considered.To begin | | | | under two or thee if possible - not two minutes as |
| with, it's difficult to imagine that a martial arts master | | | | most martial artists are used to in the context of |
| or self-defense expert would be expending more | | | | sparring and sport competition.In the realms of |
| energy than someone who is relatively untrained. | | | | personal protection, efficiency is the key. When |
| After all, in the real world, it's the "new guy" on the | | | | training for self-defense, learn to look for ways to |
| job who is working harder to get the job done. You | | | | reduce the number of moves as you get |
| would never see the professional, or the person with | | | | better."How can you do more with less?, is the |
| years of experience, working up a sweat. Even if a | | | | important question.In the long run, learning to "fight |
| last-minute project came in with a short deadline, you | | | | smarter, not harder" should be more than a training |
| can just picture the rookie running around trying to | | | | idea.It should be the serious student's motto.Jeffrey |
| "do stuff," while the seasoned, experienced worker | | | | M. Miller is the founder and director of Warrior |
| says, "Stop.""Here's what we're going to do.""You do | | | | Concepts International. He regularly conducts |
| "steps 1 thru 3" and I'll do "steps 4 thru 7,...""...and we'll | | | | seminars and training programs for individuals, |
| still have time for two coffee breaks." | | | | corporations and groups on both principle-based |
| | | | self-protection and unleashing human potential. He is |
| The secret here is that the professional has been at | | | | the author of the books "The Karate-Myth" and |
| his field for much longer and therefor developed | | | | "Controlling the Fight," as well as the videos "Danger |
| better and more efficient ways to handle things. It's | | | | Prevention Tactics" and "The Cutting-Edge: Surviving |
| only logical that he or she would be able to do | | | | a Knife Attack. |
| more......much more......without the same wear-and-tear | | | | |