Breaking it Down to Basics

I wanted to post on some effective martial arts moves to share with readers. As I logged in, my mind was going over the “triangle / armbar series” from Brazilian grappling. This is a very deadly counter movement for fighters to apply from a grappling position – when the opponent (on the top) leaves an arm dangling for a little too long. Bingo – grab that loose arm and here comes the triangle choke – if he squirms out of that he’s ready for the armbar.

The problem is that these are fairly sophisticated techniques to teach to a beginner. Hmmm, let’s fall back to basics then. The words from Bruce Lee’s “Tao of Jeet Kune Do” or .. “The Way of the Intercepting Fist” echo in my mind. Well, that sounds like a title from a movie or book on counter-punching or something right? Let me assure you that it is much more than that. Bruce Lee wrote about psychology, proper training methods, breathing, stances, footwork, strikes and applications. In fact there isn’t much he didn’t cover in his writings.

Bruce covered many variations of techniques, like using them when on the offensive, or when in defensive mode as well. He taught methods of ‘baiting’ runners and harrying bigger, stronger opponents. So much material is covered that it still remains a best selling book over 30 years after his short life ended tragically.

The “Tao of Jeet Kune Do” is as much a book on psychology as it is a book about philosophy, as it is about a guideline to fighting. I would like to share this one excerpt with you; “a punch is a punch and a kick is a kick.” He wrote that when he began training a punch was a punch and a kick was a kick. After he had trained for several years, he no longer behaved that way – a punch was this or a punch was that and so on with kicks. He showed us that after serious training, most martial artists believe their punches to be “special” or “more than a punch” and that their kicks were more than kicks – some special or exotic foot strikes!

After Bruce trained long enough to “get it” he had returned “full circle” to his mindset that he began with – and is most likely accurate. That was that a punch was simply a punch and a kick was a kick. No more mysteries – no special Oriental translation describing the type of “special technique” – punches and kicks were back to their original and natural places in the Martial Artist’s repertoire. Bruce took the mystery out of his lightning fast, hard-hitting strikes and completely de-bunked the whole “ancient Chinese secret” thing, once and for all. His “proof was in the putting,” so to speak, and no one “put up” better than Bruce Lee did.

So where am I going with this? Simply reminding readers that they don’t have to be a cop to learn how to punch, use a handgun, or a telescopic steel baton for self defense. Bruce reminded us that some whole-hearted effort, a little time, and maybe a training partner or even a heavy striking bag, was all that was needed to develop strong, fast, punches and kicks.

After all, a punch is just a punch and a kick is just a kick – right? You bet!

Presidential Waiver Right is Reserved!

When President Bush last week signed the bill outlawing the torture of detainees, he quietly reserved the right to bypass the law under his powers as Commander in Chief.

After approving the bill last Friday, Bush issued a “signing statement” – an official document in which a president lays out his interpretation of a new law – declaring that he will view the interrogation limits “in the context of his broader powers to protect national security.” This means Bush believes he can waive the restrictions, the White House and legal specialists said.

David Golove, a New York University law professor, said that the signing statement means that Bush believes he can still authorize harsh interrogation tactics when he sees fit.

The signing statement is saying: “I will only comply with this law when I want to, and if something arises in the war on terrorism where I think it’s important to torture or engage in cruel, inhuman, and degrading conduct, I have the authority to do so and nothing in this law is going to stop me,” he said.

There has been quite a “flap” about this bill. Some Capitol Hill pundits have gone as far as saying that the bill President Bush signed, along with his “signing statement” is a slap in the face to all those who have tried to oppose this unrestrained Executive “Muscle” that Bush keeps flexing in front of everyone’s noses, refusing to back completely off of this issue and maintaining his authority to bypass the bill in the name of National Security – at his discretion.

For the full story from The Boston Globe’s Charlie Savage – look no further!

The Skull and Bones!

I ran into this little tidbit this weekend. Your first question might be “where has Ronin been”? Answer is I just – never heard of it. If I haven’t then millions of readers in America haven’t either – but I think they should!

From CBS News:

“As opposite as George Bush and John Kerry may seem to be, they do share a common secret – one they’ve shared for decades, and one they will not share with the electorate.

The secret: details of their membership in Skull and Bones, the elite Yale University society whose members include some of the most powerful men of the 20th century.”

And:

“Bonesmen, as they’re called, are forbidden to reveal what goes on in their inner sanctum, the windowless building on the Yale campus that is called the Tomb.

When 60 Minutes first reported on Skull & Bones last October, conspiracy theorists, who see Skull and Bones behind just about everything that goes wrong, and even right, in the world, were relishing the unthinkable – the possibility of two Bonesmen fighting it out for the presidency.

Over the years, Bones has included presidents, cabinet officers, spies, Supreme Court justices, captains of industry, and often their sons and lately their daughters, a social and political network like no other.

Read the full story at CBS NEWS – you’ll be intrigued if nothing else!

Self Defense Technology

I have seen many women come and go through the doors of karate and kung fu training halls for about 30 yrs now. Some never came back after a few classes and some stayed for awhile and learned some basic skills that could honestly save their lives or at least give them an edge at surviving an assault. Finally, I have seen some who on a good day, could have and have, annihilated highly skilled male opponents because of the superior quality of their fighting techniques.

It is to the gals who didn’t take the second class, or the first one for that matter, who comprise the majority of women – it’s to you ladies that I’m posting for tonight. Hey, fighting and training to fight is painful business and it’s not for everyone! That said; there are a variety of self defense products that you can employ that will give you a big edge over the biggest and toughest assailants.

Let’s look at personal alarms that emit eardrum shattering sound when the safety pin is pulled. That will often draw attention to your situation and give a criminal second thoughts about coming any closer to you. Especially if he sees you bringing to bear, a canister of Mace spray at the ready for use, if he were to continue any further.

Two things criminals do not want when evaluating a target are: having witnesses around – which makes the personal alarm a sound choice (no pun intended) and the second priority is: they want a victim they can bully and dominate, not one who will fight them tooth and nail. That canister of Mace sends a clear message to your would be assailant that you’re not going down without a fight. That is a second major deterrent.

For the small investment in these two items, a woman gives herself a huge advantage, even over a woman who is trained to defend herself. Sound means “look over here” and the Mace means “you’re going to feel some pain if you try to grab me!” You don’t have to be a fighter to fight back ladies – just a bit of help from technology can give you a fighting chance to escape safely!