Fantasy Island

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Imagine jumping into a ring and giving a boxer a beating without him hitting back.  Your effort increases, at least tenfold, once he starts moving, blocking and hitting back.  Use the same imagination with a ground fighter and you’ll soon find out that it is not a blow up doll you’re on the mats with.   All it takes is a bit of resistance or non-compliance and then you have a different ball game.  To be aware of this is to be aware of what lurks out in the real world. 

In support of a good martial arts education, a good Instructor needs to know what will work under pressure.  There are literally dozens of kicks and a vast variety of ways to execute them in a non-contact situation.  The number reduces when the contact increases.  The ring generally weeds out what can be used and how they can be thrown. The street eliminates, for almost everyone, any fantasy of throwing a kick to the head.  A school should not fall in the Fantasy Island syndrome where reality is only in the realms of their dojo.  But full contact fighting, whether it is kickboxing, wrestling or mma, is a great tool for Instructors to understand the reality of their own teachings; this does not mean a school or student should do full contact.  I am just as happy to see a student using their own imagination and coming up with their own stuff but my obligation as an Instructor is to ensure when and if they can use it.  I study full oontact events and look for things that can be used under pressure.  Unfortunately, real fights are not something you readily see on television so it is quite difficult for Instructors to eyewitness or study situations, and make determinations unless they have experienced first hand. 

It was very nice to hear from John Will yesterday, on his way to the Airport, checking up on my right tyre kicker.  I was very pleased to hear his son is also doing very well (there were times things weren’t going according to plan).  I believe I will see him on the mats in 6 months time.  John is doing his usual tour of duty in Asia, England and Norway.  Have a nice trip, John!
GA

All Padded up!

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It’s becoming popular to see personal trainers (PTs), in parks, providing some form of fitness to people who lack motivation or don’t seem to have time to attend a gym, etc.  The PTs probably do a pretty good job for some or most of these people, but how ordinary it looks to qualified and trained Martial Arts Instructors, when the PTs get the focus pads out and make their clients throw a few kangaroo punches; some of them make my grandmother look like a pro. 

Equipment which is used in the martial arts is designed by the people in the industry.  It looks like a ploy, by the Fitness Industry, to make people feel they are getting something special from their training.  It’s the sit-ups, push-ups and short runs that might be doing the job, not the use of the equipment but it certainly looks good when somebody is holding a couple of focus pads; makes people feel it's money worth spent.  The other issue is a false sense of security.  I have friends who feel good about defending themselves.  You ‘oughta’ see their punches!

I remember when TAE BO first came to Australia and how unbelievably popular it was.  I walked into a gym, one day, with over 50 in a so called, TAE BO class.  The first 20 minutes was no different to an ordinary aerobics class.  Then they started on a few knee raises.  If you could only see the big smiles on people’s faces, as if they have been signed up for a career in the martial arts movie industry!  What crossed my mind was ‘why would anyone not want to give the martial arts a try if this sort of training impresses them’.

Pads, focus pads and the likes are only props in the fitness industry.  In the martial arts, they are our tools of trade.  It is a shame that our tools are exploited by the untrained who have very little knowledge of what these items are intended for.  It takes years to get good at using them.  I take my hat off to any PT who has a good martial arts background.  There are many martial arts schools which now provide this type of Fitness Training.  Others just jump on the band wagon for a quick buck.
GA

‘a job well done’

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Words which inspire, encourage, support, compliment, reward, acknowledge, give confidence are all a big part of building a person’s character; this also reflect the person employing these words.

This is the best medicine for a patient, in time of need, despite the odds against recovery. We all know it too well, words of encouragement, have proven a positive outcome for many people.   If there is a fighting chance for someone out there then it must start with a positive environment.  We have already seen that with John’s son.  There is no doubt in my mind, all the positive thoughts and fan mail may have had something to do with that.    

In my work environment I beg to differ with managers who feel that it is not necessary for them to acknowledge staff, under my supervision, for a job well done.  They adopt the attitude, ‘they are getting paid for it; what else do they want?’  ‘Oh, yes, I can see how this is going to really blow their budget out!’  Perhaps an introduction to martial arts might change that point of view.

A simple compliment to a student can go a long way which is a reward in itself.  In the martial arts we have learnt to acknowledge people for who they are, what they have achieved and what they are trying to achieve.  Students are often rewarded with trophies, rank/belt promotions and other materialistic objects but without the proper words to go with them, it will not really mean much.  Imagine getting a Black Belt from the Teacher who has nothing to say about you. 

There’s nothing worse than walking into a room with a negative atmosphere.  It’s the job of the Teacher to use words which ensure a positive environment.
GA 

Double or Nothing

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I had a look at an interview with Geoff Thompson, the ‘boy from Coventry’ who invented Reality Based Self Defence.  He did it because of necessity to ensure survival working at the doors of the toughest nightclubs of England in the ‘70’s & ‘80’s.  My son, Jonathan, and I were talking about this and he said that if you need to defeat your enemy, the first thing you have to do is find out what they do.  In that case, you better know what the Boxers and Wrestlers do.  Jonathan referred to the classic TV Hogan’s Heroes show (not withstanding it is only fictional and comedy), meaning the prisoners did so well because they knew everything about their enemy.  In any type of warfare, there is a lot of intelligence gathered before a battle is engaged rather than just meet the enemy Ad Hoc.  Geoff Thompson’s ideology of self defence is very similar to any type of warfare.  There are many factors to be taken into consideration:

  1. Environment: type of place, space availability, ground surface.
  2. Who & how many you are dealing with?
  3. Aggressor’s motive.
  4. Any weapon or anything which may be used as a weapon?
  5. Is alcohol or drug a factor?
  6. Back-up availability.
  7. Escape route.

There is much more to this; any information is a luxury if you are able to get it in time and but this gets the point across that things are not simple as they seem.  However, Geoff Thompson’s principles simplify things when dealing with street conflicts. 

I was saying to Shihan Richard how we did not have to deal with the MMA style of fighter at the doors of nightclubs back in the '80's.  A story comes to Richard's mind where police in a suburb of Los Angeles were being taken to the ground by young louts.  The police didn't know how to counter double leg takedowns and went to Big John McCarthy for advice of how to deal with them; they had to, it wasn't a choice!

When we set time aside for Reality Based Self Defence, that’s when the mind should go in overdrive to pick up as much as you can because it's about dealing with the real world.

If you would like to keep up to date with the progress of John Will's son, you might want to read Ronin Will's blog.  Ronin is a very lovely young man and is working very hard at his recovery.  It is quite interesting to see what he says.  
GA

More Time on my Hands

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One leg, in plaster of paris, definitely has some advantages if you want to look at the bright side, if there is one.  To begin with, my work colleagues tell me how lucky I am to be off work.  I have more time for my website, more time to try and figure out the MAC’s software and I even get to speak to internationals when makng calls for technical support; emore time to blog!  Unfortunately, I had to do away with the weights because; carrying myself around on crutches, is hard work already. 

I can now sit down and watch BJJ & Kickboxing DVDs.  I must confess to dragging myself across the mats and going over some BJJ drills.  Of course, without the full use of my feet, I have to focus on particular techniques which I now have become very good at.   It is always a good idea for Instructors to set time aside for focusing on particular techniques to lift the student’s skill level.  It’s about paying attention to detail; that’s what separates us from the mediocre.

On another subject, my injury is next to nothing compared to what other people are going through, right now.  At least, I am not in pain, except for the feeling of inconvenience and frustration.  Blogging, at least, makes me feel in touch with students and friends. 
GA

It was a Good Friday

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Good Friday was a very interesting evening for me.  Normally, I would be at work, during this busy period, with my guys and assisting the Greek Easter street parades but having your leg in a cast has taken a turn on things for me this weekend. Instead, I picked up my very good friends, Richard Norton and his wife, Judy Green, from the Airport who have been invited by A young James Taylor and a young Richard NortonJames Taylor for his concert tour in the Hunter Valley.  My intention, just a cup of coffee, and then head back home.  I met with some very wonderful people, including the famous James Taylor.  I knew my queue when to leave but they insisted I stay for dinner.  However, my mind was made up and I walked (with crutches) back to my car, with Richard and Judy behind me, insisting I stay.  It took several goes before I changed my mind.  I returned only to be given the ‘welcome back’ treatment by these wonderful people. 

I was extremely impressed with the company.  Richard was James’s bodyguard in the ‘70’s and ‘80’s and has been a friend ever since.  It was interesting to hear James Taylor talk about the martial arts (apart from many other things) of how Richard used to train him whilst on tour.  He talked about his son doing Karate and Kung Fu for a number of years and now immersed into BJJ with Renzo Gracie in New York. 

The drummer of the band, by the name of Russell, was a wondeful human being.  He insisted on walking back with me to my vehicle where we had a one on one conversation.  Russ been great friends with Richard for a a very long time and he said, “If you are friend of Richard’s, then you are friend of mine.”  I told him he stood out from the rest of the crowd.  He said the same about me.  I replied, “I have no doubt” pointing to my foot (lol)!  He waited so he can tip the carpark attendant who brought over my vehicle.  I hope to cross paths with this man again. 

This might not mean much but what a lot of good I experienced that evening.  This is the same goodness I often come across in the martial arts.  I told James Taylor I am going to make him more famous by including him in my blog.
GA

Who’s Got Time?

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We always complain about time that there is no time.  That’s true when you consider the many things we have to do and the time constraints which we live by.  But living is also about doing the things we want to do.  It’s too easy to use excuses to put aside the things we love to indulge in but how many of us care to admit how much time we waste on the things that give us nothing in return?

The other evening, I spoke to one of our young Brown Belts, Ibrahim, and his father about how he needs to put in a lot of work in his education but I would like to see the same dedication to his martial arts training.  That energy should go hand in hand because if we learn to concentrate and focus through our martial arts training then that should be channeled in other areas such as study. 

If time is your biggest concern then you will miss out on the things you always wanted to do.  If you fight time, it will be eventually become your enemy so work with it, by managing it.  How many times have we heard people working (or have worked) 2 or 3 jobs?  In my case I was also teaching 4 martial arts classes a week.  I didn’t even give it a second thought.  I just didn’t waste the time, that’s how I did it. 

But there are so many dedicated people out there in the martial arts and I can tell you their life style and time constraints would be no different to anybody else’s.  These are the people who understand and have their lives in order setting aside special time for their personal interest.  Sometimes, we work too much just to impress our leaders/managers or a means to make more money.  Impressing someone does not last a lifetime and making extra money only means you are going to spend more of it if you get the chance to do that in the little spare time you have, anyway.

At the end of the day, you need to juggle between job, family/social life and special interest.  How successful will depend if you start weeding out excuses and realise not everything you do should be dominated by one thing.
GA

Thou Shall Not Miss Out Class

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Picked up my very good friend, John Will, on Friday from the Airport and then straight to Newport for a BJJ seminar.  I had to sit this one out on the sideline but it was just as enjoyable as participating – practicing my mental skills.  Then we went to dinner for big steaks.  John was figuring out how I could make better use of my crutches up and down the stairs because YouTube was no help.   

Next morning we parked the car to do coffee at GJ’s.  I was starting to whine about the crutches and I had a little laugh when John said he would piggy back me.  He came around to my side of the car ,on the crutches, and I was starting to get worried and expecting him to say, ‘hop on my back’.  Luckily, that didn’t happen; must’ve been a gee-up.  Anyway, John did a great job taking care of me.  Whe we arrived at Newport, a little late, I told John to make his way to the school whilst I park the car because I didn't want him to be any more late than we already were.  As I was reverse parking I saw John standing behind the car and guiding me in then helped me out onto my feet!  They're the little things that give a person big character.

Then it was our turn for a seminar at West Pennant Hills.  I was not allowed to be the ‘water boy’ and John had me, this time, participate.  I’m glad I did, what a great seminar!  There is no John Will taking back control of Ben Langfordsuch thing as ‘too many seminars’.  When I want to get good at something I have to do more than one thing.  The seminar is not like a regular class.   The content provided is from years of experience; you are not going to find it from books or YouTube.  Imagine doing a technique one thousand times over, usually in battle, just to find out which is the best way to do it.  I prefer, “PLEASE JUST TELL ME (I haven't got time to try it out a thousand times)”. 

A seminar is like a church gathering or special event.  There’s a purpose to it all and the people attending want something from it.  Once, again, I take my hat off to the people who came from the ACT, Danny Weir, Ben Langford (& his student) and our own guy, Storm.  These people must be very 'religious'. 

The seminar you miss or any class, for that matter, is not going to be every repeated again because each one is unique.  It's not like a movie when you cancel the morning session for the evening. 

I only believe in choosing the best persons for seminars.  It's all about improving everyone of us because martial arts is an ongoing quest for knowledge.

John and I had  a good discussion about the miraculous recoevery of his son, Ronin, who was stabbed to death recently (literally).  It's absolutely amazing to hear the whole story how this young pulled through beating the odds, one in 10 thousand chance of survival.
GA

Accidents do Happen

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Another mishap and little setback; this time my motorcycle fell on my foot fracturing a couple of bones whilst wheeling it out of my garage.  The irony is I clock up almost a thousand kilometres per month and something simple like this to happen to you is hard to accept.  Victor came to the rescue (it’s great to have friends like him) and took to me hospital to have it put in plaster.  You take it for granted when you see somebody on crutches.  That is hard work!  You’ve got to pre-plan everything, something as simple as looking for a hair brush or making a cup of coffee in the morning.  Then the hard part, how to use the stairs, YouTube didn’t help; the advantages of living in a double storey house!

When people demonstrate a martial art skill, you may not necessarily want to learn it but it’s usually difficult to appreciate the amount of time put in to learn that skill, not unless you live through the whole process of understanding what it takes to achieve that.  I am living the process right now.

A handicap, such as this, makes you more conscious because you can’t afford to be absentminded which could mean a lot of hard work if you forget where you leave your wallet or keys.  This is no different to a handicap in the martial arts.  In other words you have to slow down things in your mind to make sure every step of the way in your pre-plan is going to get you where you want to be.  This is the right mindset of a BJJ student. 

It will mean a few weeks off training but I can still get to my classes.  I'd like to lead by example and hopefully make students be a little more conscious when they feel the urge to take the night off. 

All goes well, the plaster comes off next week which will be replaced with a removeable brace.  Anybody is quite welcome to put their foot in plaster for tomorrow’s seminar.  John Will promises there is something he can show me on the mat tomorrow morning which doesn’t require the use of my legs (?). 
GA

Sorting Things Out

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As an Instructor I am always trying to find solutions for problems that pop up, in practicing the martial arts, whether it be my own or students.  I thought I might give it a try when I told my senior BJJ students to do a private workout with me the other night.  I thought to myself this will give me the opportunity to practice the higher level stuff and test my ability to be able to teach them.  In other words, I better know this stuff well if I am going to demonstrate them.  Everything went well and the session was extremely productive for both me and my senior grades.  We all had smiling faces at the end of the session.  It felt good! 

It was the process of doing this stuff which made me work on what I needed to do.  There was no threat or embarrassment if something did not work out right the first time.  You just drill, analyse and drill until it happens without putting a time limit as what usually might happen in a classroom.  Then we wrestled, taking it back a couple of notches, to maximise our skills and try something new without the fear of being 'hammered', The night turned out to be perfect. 

When I get stalemate I look for new methods to further advance.  This is not to replace anything I already do but it is another training method.  It’s great to be a student but I need to be an Instructor to become a great student.
GA