Martial Arts-Review - Complete Krav Maga by Darren Levine and John Whitman

Krav Maga No Responses »
Dec 312007
Shawn Kovacich asked:

I just finished reading “Complete Krav Maga” by Darren Levine and John Whitman for the second time in as many weeks and I have to say that it is a very well done book covering the basic techniques needed to advance through the ranks of Krav Maga from yellow belt all the way up to and including brown belt. However, having said that, it should be noted that as the author so firmly states, “Krav Maga is not a martial art, it is a form of self-defense.”

I only have one small complaint with this book and that is that in one respect, it is no different from the vast majority of books out there that try and teach you too many things in one volume and don’t spend enough time on each individual technique. This one small detractor is greatly overshadowed by the sheer amount of good solid information that it does include, of which the importance of principles being stressed as far more important than technique itself is perhaps the most profound.

The authors have provided some very good basic information on the execution of techniques, although not as detailed as they should be, which is understandable in the context of what the authors were trying to get across to the readers. It should be noted though that this book is intended to be used as guide for the reader to learn and develop the self-defensive skills that they will be able to utilize effectively in a self-defense situation, not a certain number of techniques set in stone to advance to the next rank.

Although I enjoyed the vast majority of the material presented in this book, I personally liked the sections dealing with various ground fighting skills and defenses against various weapons the most. Another notable section of this book was the various training examples that were presented throughout.

Now I don’t know if I am going to offend a bunch of people here or not, but my personal take on Krav Maga is similar to that of Bruce Lee’s Jeet Kune Do, in that it borrows those techniques from various systems that prove to be most effective and combine them with a central “core” style and then add an outstanding set of principles to create an effective means of self-defense.

This is a very worth while book to purchase if you are interested in learning how to defend yourself against a variety of attacks. However, as I stated earlier, if you want to really learn how to correctly execute the individual techniques, you will need to purchase some additional books.

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Advanced Self Defense - The 4 Critical Skill Areas When Training For Self Defense With Firearms

Self Defense eBooks No Responses »
Dec 262007
Jeffrey Miller asked:

One of the worst areas of training in the world of martial arts and self defense, is that involving the use and defense against firearms. It has been my experience that most of the self defense techniques being taught are unrealistic, dangerous, and lack any sense of big-picture strategy which could put the defender in even more danger. If you want to develop a sense of mastery in using firearms for self defense, you must make sure that you are training in the four critical skill areas you may need in the real world.

Let me ask you a question. Actually, I’m going to ask a series of questions. And, while I’m talking about firearms training in this article, I would suggest that you take these questions to heart in any and all areas of your self defense training. My questions are simple, but extremely important to your skill development and mastery. If you’re ever attacked…

1) How will you be attacked?
2) Where will you be?
3) Will you be armed or unarmed?
4) If you are armed, what if you can’t get your weapon out before he has his on you?

Do you see a pattern here?

You won’t know the answers to these questions until you’re face-to-face with your aggressor. But, since you know that any of these things is a possibility that you may have to handle, you must make sure that your training covers each of them.

Keeping that in mind, we can see that there are four general areas of training that should be a part of a solid and effective gun training curriculum. They are:

1) Weapon familiarization. This area includes proper grip, quick and efficient reloading (under fire!), instinct shooting (without sights), and more. In addition, knowing how to operate more than just your own favorite weapon is essential. You may find yourself with your attacker’s weapon during the course of an attack and need to know whether or not the safety is engaged or not, how to check to see if the weapon is loaded, and more.

2) Shooting skills. This is where most people focus when training. But, if you are not training to shoot – and hit your target consistently – under the effects of stress, then you are not training for defensive combat! Can you maintain a four inch shot group at a range of 21 feet or less? Can you effectively neutralize the 3 types of recoil? These questions, and others, are important factors to whether you’ll be effective with your shooting skills, or you’ll be doing what I affectionately refer to as “spraying and praying!”

3) Firearm retention. Are you prepared for the possibility of the opponent attempting to take your weapon away from you? How about an accomplice grabbing your weapon when you are trying to control, who you thought was your only threat? I routinely have students in my own courses who are ***** shots – even those who have trained with top, international, special forces and police groups – who have “never” considered this area of skill development!

4) Weapon disarms. This is the flip-side if retention. But, you need to avoid the idea of limiting this training to situations where he is armed and you are not. Remember – merely carrying a firearm does not make you safe or invulnerable to incoming fire! What if he pulls a gun on you before you can go for yours? How do you draw your weapon in the middle of your defensive action, instead of before it begins?

Self defense is all about strategies, tactics, and techniques – not just techniques. Whether we’re talking about defensive use of firearms, other weapons, or unarmed self defense – the way you think about the problem will determine in large part, how you will prepare yourself for it.

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Combat Sports - Ancient Greek Pankration Fighting

Self Defense Street Fight No Responses »
Dec 242007
Brian Garvin asked:

Pankration Combat Sports started at the Greek Olympic Games in 648 B.C. This sport represents a mixture of Boxing and Wrestling. Pankration means “all powers” in Ancient Greek Language. It is also referred to as power or strength. The sport has quite a few variations and this term is used to describe these as well. What makes this sport so special is that is that many people considered this the very first full combat fighting system in human history.

Many people also believe that this was the first athletic event that came as close to hand to hand combat with no rules. These days modern MMA Competitions still use a lot of the methodologies that have originated from the Pankration Combat Sport that originated in Ancient Greece. Greek Mythology believes that Heracles and Theseus started Pankration and that it used both Wrestling as well as Boxing to be used against their opponents.

Yet another name for Pankration was Pammachion or Pammachon which meant total combat. Back around 1700 BC is when they feel this sport originated, so it is very old. This Combat Sport originated because people in this society during this time had a real need to either view or participate in a violent sport. This sport filled the need of being a “total contest” sport, whereas boxing or wrestling done separately didn’t quite fit the bill back then.

In fact, there is evidence that suggests that Pankration used in not only Sports but also in Combat was around since 2000 BC. In addition to combining both Boxing and Wrestling, this sport also included techniques such as blows to the lower extremeties, which make this sport of the ancients very similar to the modern day Mixed Martial Arts Competitions that you would see mostly on Pay Per View. Other tactics used in Pankration Competitions included Joint Locks, Takedowns and Chokes.

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Self Defense Products Designed For Women

Self Defense Street Fight No Responses »
Dec 222007
Jack Krohn asked:

You might be asking yourself why would self defense products being designed specifically for women. Whether you know it or not, women are the targets of violence by any 9 to1 margin over men. Look at any police blotter or study the crime section in the newspaper and you will see firsthand what I’m talking about. Or watch the evening news.

Of all the women that you know or have your life from work, church, your neighborhood, friends and relatives. There is probably enough anecdotal evidence to convince you that that statistic is correct. It is sad to say about women are the victims of violence from regular street assaults to domestic violence. Everything and anything in between, women are the preferred targets.

It is no wonder then that self defense product manufacturers like Mace brand, Taser international, Stun Master and others have recently started focusing their manufacture and marketing on self defense products geared specifically towards the female market.

Perhaps the very best example is the introduction of the C2 taser by. Over 12,000 law enforcement agencies throughout this country carry tasers designed for law enforcement. Those same nonlethal self defense weapons are sold in at least eight other countries and growing every minute. It was only a matter of time before trees or design something for women.

The law enforcement models are rather big and bulky. The C2 is small enough to fit in the palm of your hand. It was specifically designed for the female market. It has many color choices, one of which is hot pink. It does everything that the police models due without all the bells and whistles. It is still nearly 100% effective, which is why everyone loves tasers.

Mace brand is particularly famous for their pepper sprays. The Mace pepper gun has a color choice of pink and the newly introduced personal model in hot pink has become a huge seller.

One of the best-selling stun guns on the market today is by stun master called the pretender. It comes in a color choice of black or pink. The pink version sells like crazy.

Oh I know it sounds silly, but women are very color conscious and it seems like the color pink is readily associated with females.

Get some self defense products to protect your loved ones and you from assaults.

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Posted by admin at 7:01 am Tagged with: , ,

The Terrible Truth About Self Defense DVDs

Self Defense Street Fight No Responses »
Dec 192007
Nerode Abraham asked:

All over the internet, there is constant buzz about different self defense systems. Its present in every forum, and every community that you can picture. People ask themselves… Is it really true? Can I learn to be a ball-busting super commando in just three short days? Super mystery special ops guy tells me that I can.

And so every day, countless people fork over upwards to $200 for this piece of this state-of-the-art top secret info. Every day people get these courses in the mail and every day they are convinced that they have what they need. Unfortunately, some of these people find out to-little-to-late that they need more than just a DVD to teach them correct self defense.

There is an ongoing debate about the validity of seminars and fighting instructional DVDs. There are a lot of people out there who would tell you that in three days you can learn how to defend yourself effectively on the street, when that cannot be further from the truth.

Now, dont get me wrong, I am by no means stating the fighting instructional DVDs and seminars are not excellent tools to use when learning self defense. In fact, I believe that they are excellent tools, but they are by no means the whole enchilada. Self Defense DVDs should be used in conjunction instruction from a teacher from a real school. Now, there are several reasons why this is important.

A school can teach you how to effectively use your technique. You have people you can practice with. You can learn what the right or wrong punch feels like. Even more specifically you have an instructor that you can work on a day-to-day basis. A commando tape can not do that for you, and a Seminar can do that only for a few days. It takes time before mastery of any art can be achieved.

So, before you try out your latest technique from your favorite fighting instructional DVD on some jerk on the street, you need to think before you act. People need to understand that there is no magic pill to a difficult thing such as self defense. To learn effective self defense one needs time to learn the reality of what can really happen to them on the streets. They need to know both the pros and the cons of doing the right or wrong thing in a self defense situation.

It is also important to understand that the right self defense dvs and weapons can often be more practical and even more effective when used in conjunction with effective training and advice from professionals. So even a consumer should call and inquire before they decide to pick any self defense product, including a DVD.

Remember, in self defense, knowledge is power. The more you know the better prepared you are in a confrontation, and the greater your chances are of getting out of a violent situation alive.

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Posted by admin at 11:45 pm Tagged with: , ,

Alternative Self Defense Technique You Must Know

Self Defense Street Fight No Responses »
Dec 192007
Imran Al asked:

The importance of self defense cannot be underestimated because we are often faced with dangerous situations on a daily basis and we have some conventional techniques of incapacitating an attacker to prevent further assaults. However, self defense techniques are not limited to the use of force or using physical power; we have many other ways in which attackers can be confronted with sustaining any damages.

One of these methods is by keeping pepper spray or stun gun handy all the time, especially if you are used to walking around. The only precautionary measure to be adopted in this case is to be very careful because some self defense moves can be deadly and can do allow more harm that good, therefore must it must be executed properly. You can also consider screaming or using voice or body language to deflect an attacker from carrying out a dastardly act. This method is know in the field of self defense as de-escalation or conflicts management.

Moreover, in a situation where you are not bothered to apply some self defense techniques, the best weapon to be used in this case is avoidance techniques. The attacker could be more armed, stronger or can call for reinforcements – in case you are proving very difficult for him, in a situation like this you are totally powerless against them and you can easily get injured or lose you r life in the process. The best solution in this case is to avoid walking in a dimly lit places or places that are too secluded. If you are in your home you just have to get all your doors locked up and refuse to entertain any unknown visitors – visitors must be well identified prior to visits, otherwise don’t give audience until you are comfortable to enough to do so. You must never walk alone; always have someone to walk with especially on the night.

Furthermore, you can also adopt the use of personal alarms to scare off an attacker or intruder for self defense. You ability to scream might be incapacitated by your human ability. Therefore, the use of these alarms can generate a high pitched noise so that neighbours can hear from afar. For example the tactics adopted by some local security men in one of the African countries is adopt the use of high pitched whistles to make distress calls. This way you scare away an attacker(s) and get the attention of authorities.

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Posted by admin at 11:33 am Tagged with: , ,

5 Quick Self-Defense Tactics That Can Save Your Life

Self Defense eBooks No Responses »
Dec 052007
Ryan J Macdonald asked:

Like anything else in life, first learning the rules for any given endeavor is crucial to a successful outcome. Self-defense is no different, yet so many people don’t realize how quickly they could end a dangerous or potentially life-threatening situation, if only they understood the core concepts of self-defense.

Be alert and ready to respond. Regardless of whether you’re walking alone at night, you’re in an unfamiliar place, or you’re approached by a stranger, be prepared for anything by constantly rehearsing a mental “what if?” scenario. Being caught off guard is the number one reason people fail to react appropriately to a threat.

Appear confident. Studies have consistently shown that outward confidence is the best deterrence for a potential attack. Making someone second-guess the decision to try and harm you is the fastest, and easiest way to avoid an attack altogether. However, you must have inner confidence as well, believing in your ability to overtake an assailant should there be a danger. The best way to build your self-confidence is by practicing weekly defensive tactics.

Use an authoritative tone. Employing a loud, deep, and confident ‘command’ voice has a devastatingly powerful psychological effect. Human beings (much like animals) are inherently afraid of two things in particular. The first one is a fear of falling, but the second one is a fear of loud noises. Yelling at an assailant will often stop an assault as soon at it’s started.

Don’t be afraid. This is a tough one. Anyone will feel naturally afraid if they’re put into a dangerous situation, but that fear (again referring to psychology) can be that mental edge an attacker needs to gain an advantage. Instead, convert your fear into adrenaline-based anticipation so you can react swiftly and defensively.

Fight to win. Choosing to give up, or expecting that your assailant may give up puts your life at risk. Is there anything more precious on this earth than your own life? You need to confirm with yourself that if only one of you has the opportunity to walk away from the confrontation, it will be you.

While these principles on their own are extremely powerful, they need to be combined with proper physical self-defense techniques for maximum effectiveness. Using these fundamentals, you can now make the most of your self-defense training.

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Posted by admin at 5:07 pm Tagged with: , ,

Types of Self Defense

Self Defense Street Fight No Responses »
Dec 052007
Jim Wilkinson Sr. asked:

There are many different types of self defense you should learn how to use if you are looking for methods of personal protection. These different types of defense include pepper spray, stun guns, and tasers. These are very effective methods of disabling a person so you can run away.

Pepper spray is a self defense spray that is made of cayenne pepper. This spray is in an aerosol can and sprays in foams and even streams. This solution burns so bad that it will cause temporary disabling effects on a person for up to several hours. A person will be temporarily blinded, choke and gasp for air, and their skin will even burn. All of these effects are temporary and a person will not experience anything that is permanent to the person. You can stand up to 15 feet away from an assailant and the spray will be effective. You do not have to be close up. This type of self defense mechanism works for up to 30 minutes to several hours and gives you plenty of time to get away.

Tasers are 100% effective in disabling a person and best for police work and catching someone. A taser works by sending jolts of electricity into a body and disables the nervous and the muscular system. Of over 3,000 people tested with a taser, not one person was not disabled and able to function with the jolts. A taser looks like a handgun. You hold it like a handgun, and you shoot it like a handgun. When using a taser you don’t have to be touching the assailant. You can get someone from 10 feet away if you want to.

Stun guns also send a jolt of wattage throughout the body but the stun guns only affect the nervous system. They are not considered to be as effective. Someone who is on heavy drugs or has a big build may not even feel the effects of a stun gun like they would a taser. Stun guns work very well on some people but they are not ideal. The reason is that the stun guns provide a shock and can disable a person for just a few seconds. You have to be touching the person physically with the stun gun for it to work which can be dangerous to get that close to find that the stun gun doesn’t work and not the attacker has you.

There are many different types of self defense personal protection items you might consider. The most common are the stun guns, the pepper spray, and the tasers. All of these three types of self defense do not provide any permanent damage to a body nor do they lead to death. They are extremely safe methods of personal protection that give you enough time to escape the attacker. The pepper spray is the cheapest method and the most effective to use if you are looking for something that lasts a long time. A taser is the most effective and guaranteed to work but it only works when both darts are in the body.

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