| If you've ever been in a self defense | | | | anything for you. Forget about secret |
| situation and your techniques didn't work | | | | techniques and using the guy's strength as an |
| there are several reasons why. | | | | advantage, if your body lacks the raw based |
| | | | strength and proper conditioning you won't |
| Reason # 1 is awareness. By paying attention | | | | have the extra edge to win. |
| to your surroundings you can see "what is | | | | |
| wrong" with your environment and be able to | | | | Reason # 5 is having a lack of speed. Guns |
| detect the attack ahead of time and respond | | | | were invented because of the relatively |
| accordingly. Inner awareness is even more | | | | advantageous use of speed against an |
| important because if you're distracted by | | | | attacker. I train my students with the same |
| thoughts or if you're not able to remain | | | | principle in mind; a much faster fighter can |
| calm, the attacker will get the best of you. | | | | have the fight half won. I break the |
| | | | technique down into small parts, more like |
| Reason # 2 the fighting range is poorly | | | | breaking a film into small frames. When the |
| measured. If you are not able to fight in | | | | whole technique is done, the student puts the |
| your advantageous range at the moment of the | | | | frames back together into one fluid movement. |
| attack and your opponent catches you out of | | | | This basic understanding is what creates the |
| this range, the chances of you winning are | | | | theory of economy of motion because you can |
| very small. To avoid this situation, | | | | cut unnecessary frames or parts out of the |
| practice all ranges and become super familiar | | | | technique. |
| with them. Still, with all that preparation | | | | |
| there is a chance that you won't be able to | | | | Reason # 6 your sense of timing is not there. |
| defend yourself effectively if .... | | | | Timing and speed are twin brothers because |
| | | | if one suffers, the other does as well. |
| Reason # 3 you are unable to adjust. I | | | | Superb speed won't help you at all, if you |
| discovered that traditional blocks don't have | | | | don't know when to apply it. Timing drills |
| the pliability and "real time" applications | | | | are important to practice in class if you are |
| as other more simple blocks can have. I | | | | to become a fierce fighter. The best way to |
| remember being in this store and one of my | | | | develop timing is to spar as much as possible |
| friends who was training with me at the time, | | | | and to practice with different fighters to |
| threw a punch at my chest and I executed a | | | | test their timing against yours. You are |
| middle block in a traditional manner, as we | | | | getting real experience instead of just |
| do in Tae Kwan Do and the punch went through | | | | hitting targets. |
| and hit me. Even though, he was playing | | | | |
| around, I was bothered by it. That's where I | | | | Reason # 7 a demeanor of confidence and |
| learned that these blocks must be adjusted to | | | | fearlessness is non existent. I used to |
| fit a real encounter. A more natural way of | | | | complain that bullies picked on me all the |
| blocking is how boxers block, by simply | | | | time. Later on, I learned it was because of |
| slapping the punches with your palms. | | | | the way I carried myself in school. I used |
| | | | to be very shy, walked around with my head |
| Reason # 4 you are not in good shape. | | | | down, hiding from the world and I sent |
| Nowadays, with the craze of mixed martial | | | | signals that told the bullies, "here comes |
| arts, the idea of fitness is easier to | | | | Rosendo, we can smack him all we want." The |
| swallow in most training halls. Let's face | | | | next time you're walking in the street, walk |
| it, you can know millions of techniques, but | | | | on it like you own it, but don't call out for |
| if you are out of shape they won't do | | | | trouble to find you because it will find you. |