TMA versus MMA part deux

Folks,

You know I love a good rant, you KNOW that I do. But I would like to approach this from a business arena. With all of the recent popularity of MMA, a lot of TMA guys are calling foul. In their mind, TMA has spawned MMA ( and it has ) and that TMA still deserves the same respect. In my opinion TMA guys are correct on the matter. MMA COULD NOT EXIST WITHOUT TMA.

Anywho, this is what it is all about. TMA and MMA guys need each other. Because everyone will have their seperate likes and dislikes. Some people need the structure of the traditional martial arts. Some like the pure physicality and rugged nature of MMA. That is neither here nor there. But both of them seem to be warring with each other in terms of people attending their schools. I understand that there is a business involved with improving your enrollment. But the way that people are going about getting that business is all wrong. People have not come to the realization that EVERY business needs a good competitor.

Don't believe me? Let me help you out. First of all read the book " The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing." It is an eye opener. Coke and Pepsi acknowledge that they need each other. Microsoft has actually bought stock in Macintosh computers. Every good businessman knows the value of competition. MMA and TMA schools should learn from this. If they could arrange it, they should open schools right next door to each other. Between a good TMA school and a good MMA school, EVERY base should be covered in terms of the martial arts. What one school doesnt offer, the other will. And vice versa.

For those of you who are afraid of competition, dont be. There is something to be learned from Coke and Pepsi, Macintosh and Microsoft. Be well, and prosper daily.

Just to see if I still have it

Folks,

I am writing to talk about something personal. Not anything like" how much money I make" or "how my relationships are going." Nothing like that. I am talking about a personal test of my fortitude. Now, since my age is undisclosed, this may not seem like such a big deal to some of you. But after a lifetime of bumps, bruises, lacerations, fractures, breaks and a concussion or two, this is a little more difficult.

In essence, I am going to get myself into TRUE fighting shape once again. With a whole host of injuries and an entirely different lifestyle, I am all the way up to 220 #. Now, at 6 feet tall, and at my age, that is not that big of a deal to most people. But I am NOT most people. I used to tell my students daily that one should NEVER judge themselves by what the masses do. NEVER! In my previous fighting weight incarnation I was 195# with 8 percent body fat. Not too shabby. But I can do more, and I will.

So what does that mean exactly? It means that one more time. I am going to get into, and stay in, shape. One cannot maintaing optimum fitness all of the time. But they can stay in a good 75% of their fighting shape year round. Dont think so? Ask Floyd Mayweather jr. Or ask Marvin Hagler, They did it, so can I. It means that I am going back to two a day trainings 5 days a week. It means no pizza, burgers, white pasta, doughnuts or anything like that. I means that I am lifting weights, hitting the heavy bag, wrestling, doing kata and streching, every day.

I am serious about this folks. 195# is my goal. I WILL do it. Even with the broken wrists, ankles, fingers, shoulder and ribs that will make my job much more difficult, I WILL do it. My word is my bond. I will do it in 40 days. I will bet you. Mark it on your calendar. I will be writing victoriously soon. If I can do it....so can you. God bless!

Never enough time

Folks,

I love this one. Regardless of where you are in your martial arts journey, be sure of the fact that there is a lot more to learn. I have been in this business at this point for 32 years. And one thing that I can tell you for sure, is that I have only scratched the metaphorical tip of the knowledge iceberg. For example, for years I thought that Muay Thai was the premier type of kickboxing in South East Asia, and that it originated in Thailand. Turns out, there is a great deal of evidence that Pradel Sarey and Lethwei are even older. I guess an old dog (me) can learn new tricks.

Anywho, my point is that there is a LOT more knowledge out there than you think. Now any serious martial arts fanatic can tell you that the Yakuza ( minus two point if you dont know who they are) sliced off a portion of their pinkies. Now, most people think that it was as an act of devotion and obedience. And it was. But do you know why the pinkie? I do. And if you want to know, you will have to put comments on this post. HA-HA! Neener-neener! I am not telling.

Now, I have done a lot of arts. My base art is old school Kenpo ( recognize) but I have serious experience in Muay Thai, Jiu-jitsu, Sambo, Kali, Judo, Boxing and Wrestling. But in the near future, I am going to look for more. I am thinking of Kung-Fu, Capoeira, and perhaps Kendo. Whatever it is, it is going to keep me busy, for a while anyway. The point is, when out caskets drop, hopefully we will have had a full, full-filling life. But when that day comes, one thing is for sure, we wont have learned everything.

Assumptions about a criminal's attentions

Okay folks, I have a good one for you. It is about the nature of a street confrontation. I dont mean the physical nature of one, that has been studied exhaustively. What I am asking about is the thing that goes through your mind, the second a physical confrontation becomes a possibility. I was taught one thing very simply by my father: Be prepared to kill your opponent. That may sound a little harsh, but in fact it is not.

See, here is how it works. When you get to the point that you may not be able to avoid a fight, know one thing for sure: Your job is to survive with as little damage as possible. The best way to do that is to be prepared to go all the way. I feel obligated to say this first though: If a person pulls a gun on you and wants your wallet, GIVE IT TO THEM. I have been there, it is NOT a good time. But there was nothing in my wallet worth getting shot for. He got my money, I got to continue living. I got the better deal on that one. Anyhow, back to what I was saying. You never know what a person really wants from you. You must be prepared at all times to take a life in a physical confrontation if need be. That goes DOUBLE for you ladies out there. Just because a person pulls a knife and demands your wallet/purse, that is no assurance that they will stop once they have your money. Don't make that assumption.

Here are the simple facts, if someone larger, and stronger than yourself, you have no time to hesitate. You must be prepared to defend your life at all costs. I hear a lot of martial artists talk about "not wanting to hurt their opponent." Or sometimes they try to "do just enough to stop them." That is fine and dandy in a sportive situation. It can be fatal in the streets. If a person larger, smaller or the same size as me forces me into a confrontation, it is serious business. My first strike planned for a fight is always to the throat. ALWAYS. I practice my jab as much as anyone. But I only do that because that means in a non-sportive situation my half fist (panther fist) will land better.

I do NOT let size determine how hard I fight. The late great heavyweight boxer Jack Johnson once said that the hardest he had EVER been hit was by Sam Langford. Sam was 160#. I am fond of telling folks that the hardest I have ever been hit in my life was by 110 pound world champ Michael Carbajal. I was 6 inches taller and 70 pounds heavier. Do NOT judge a book by its cover.

But I digress. Here it is in black and white folks. When you are assaulted, go for the kill. Especially you ladies. If during the course of the you-to-them hind-kicking you learn that the person is NOT a lethal threat, THEN you can tone it down. Not one moment before. The reason unskilled criminals, thugs and street-fighters can defeat trained fighters sometimes is simple. They are totally willing to do grievous harm to you. As civilized folks, we often lose a bit of the killer instinct that criminal have spent so much time honing. As a result, they often have a mental advantage over "regular folks."

See, with the kill mentality you are already commited to doing everything and anything that you need to do to end a fight. End it quickly, and end it as violently as you need to. I once saw a fight go on for a considerable amount of time only to see the "loser" pull out a gun and shoot the other. You never know what the other person is going to do. Once the person wilts and folds under your vicious assault, THEN you can stop attacking and get the heck out of dodge. Not before. See, the civilized part of our brain says" Okay, this guy/girl is done. Now I can stop whooping hiney and the person will not be able to hurt me any more."

It is a lot easier to make that distinction while you are winning a fight, as opposed to losing one. The reason that comeback stories in sports are so popular, is because they are highly unlikely. If you go into a fight with the mindset of " I am just going to control them", or " I will just hurt him enough to stop", you could be in for a rude suprise. If the person is more ferocious than you planned, it is not easier to go UP a level in violence. Ask any policeman or law enforcement that you know. Trying to fight back while on the defensive is usually a recipe for disaster. Statistically, the person throwing the punches will win the fight. That is because the other person is on the defensive most of the time. So dont think that you will be the magical exception if that time comes.

If you have no idea what viciousness feels like, practice. I am not talking about that crap that sells questionable martial arts skills to the public. If you want to see what down and dirty can look like, check out the movie "Taken." The premise is simple, an ex govt. agent's daughter is kidnapped while in Europe. He then goes about doing whatever is needed to find her and bring her back safely. Needless to say, I was impressed with the man's resolve.

Let me paint a scenario for you. Have your partner put on a motorcycle helmet, cup, body protection, and gloves. When you square of with him/her, throw a front kick square to the groin. Follow with a elbow to the face. Try an osoto gari takedown and then practice kicking that person in the face and body. No, not kicking, stomping. After 20-25 good stomps mount your opponent and throw 15-20 full power elbows to the face, whether vertically or horizontally........ That is what fighting for your life looks like. For you grapplers out there, feel free to include arm locks and chokes. Choke as hard as you can with the idea of rendering your opponent unconscious as quickly as possible. Respect the tap out, but keep the proper mindset.

Get it? Your life is no joke. Neither is the health of your loved ones. If you have to fight, be prepared to take a life, so that you can go home to your family. Like Alan Goes from Brazillian Jiu-Jitsu fame says," Better his mother cry than yours." Well spoken sir!