Is Martial Arts Training Fun for Men and Women?

Fun? Really? I guess it depends on what you are doing in the martial arts to classify it as fun. Or if you are a sick, twisted fool that is into self-abuse and mayhem, brutal martial arts training can be fun. It boils down to what your motivation for training is. If you are into competition, patches, trophies, name recognition and glory then a commercial school oriented to the sporting aspects of martial arts is where you want to go. If you want realistic self-defense training perhaps going to a dojo with fewer trophies on the wall is something you want to seek.

Different cultures have different martial arts and it may take a few tries to find one that fits you and your personality. Personally I have been seeking my path in the martial arts for over forty years. I have found some really great schools and top-notch instructors and I have found some schools that I would not waste another second investigating. But my motivation for martial arts training is not the same as everyone else's motivation. It may be similar but it is not the same.

My martial art training is not done as a hobby or a sport or even a pleasant past time. Sometimes it just plain hurts. Yes there is pain involved but that does not mean that the training does not have its own rewards. The camaraderie and bonding that takes place when you place your life in the hands of your training partner achieves a very high degree. It is true that we do not train for fun but occasionally we can have fun training.

If your goal in the martial arts is to achieve a fairly high degree of physical fitness, to maintain good muscle tone and flexibility then you may want to participate in such things as tournaments, and or demonstrations and that is an excellent goal. It can be fun and provide motivation for setting goals or meeting people of similar interests and abilities.

If your motivation to train in the martial arts is to provide yourself a venue to learn to fight and defend yourself you can still find an enjoyable experience but the bumps and bruises will be more extensive.

To seek "budo" or the way of the warrior your path will be quite different than if you were seeking the thrill of competition. The possibility of female participation is reduced but not eliminated. The concept of having fun is pretty much out the window. The training will be brutal by necessity. On the warrior's path you are not training to compete, you are training to survive.

Back in 1967 when I began training in Shotokan my goal was to become a professional soldier. Vietnam was in full swing and I knew if I wanted a military career, I would have to have combat experience. My dream was to join Special Forces (Green Berets) and to command an SFOD - A. I thought I would be more and better prepared if I had some real martial arts training. The club I joined was the Brigham Young University Shotokan Karate Club. There really was not a choice if I wanted good martial arts training. There was nothing else available. The training was brutal. If we did not draw blood during a workout, it was not a good workout. That intense training served me very well when I entered the military in 1973. I missed out on Vietnam (darn the luck! Shucks, I really wanted to go. Not!) as well as all of the other live fire exercises the United States became involved in up until 1990 when I was medically discharged. The martial art training during those early years was not fun but it saved my butt several times. Just being able to push myself beyond my perceived limits of physical endurance was a direct result of my martial arts training and it served me well. Now my martial art training is very different from that in 1967. It is more intellectual and spiritual and has much more potential for severe physical damage. It still is not fun because pain is involved but we can have fun during the training. The close-knit group of students who care about each other's safety is very much different than in the early days. I run classes in my dojo in the basement of my house and training is done by invitation only. Many of my students are prior or current military. Some have had law enforcement experience. The training is hard but the banter and joking provide an environment that is "fun".

Karate is up close and personal. Jujutsu is intimate. This makes some people uncomfortable until they get past the ma-ai barrier and learn to get close to their training partner and maybe their attacker. We must learn to leave our ego as well as our gender at the door. The focus should be on training and learning. Leave the sexist crap outside. That said, then training can become fun.

I have had several junctures in life that if I quit training, retired my uniform and belt and pursued other interests in life it would be permissible. I've broken my back twice, broke my leg really bad and dislocated my ankle, got hurt on a night parachute jump etc. etc. But I discovered that I can't quit. The martial arts have become quite addictive. Perhaps it is the flood of endorphins that keeps me coming back. Maybe I am just waiting for the fun to happen?

Larry G. Bethers
6th Dan Chow-Hoon Goshin Jitsu
Introducing principle based training and teaching.
http://www.oneartmartialconcepts.com

42+ years experience in the martial arts
former Green Beret Officer (Major)

Martial Arts Training is Not Just About Being Practical

I find it slightly amusing that quite often when I talk to other martial artists, some of them get so worked up about what's practical and what isn't. In one discussion, we were talking about martial arts weaponry including bo staffs and swords. This one fellow was commenting that swords are not practical since we don't usually carry around swords anymore but sticks can be found anywhere, which can substitute for staffs.

This is the same type of fellow who would discredit the fancy moves in many bo staff forms, especially the open and extreme style of weapons forms since they are not practical for the streets. Although he has a point in all this, he is missing something that will be very relevant for many martial artists.

Although many of the fancy moves in both weapons and non-weapons forms as well as unpractical weapons such as swords have very little use in real life combat or self defense situations, one should not forget that there are other purposes with these.

Many martial arts techniques and activities, no matter how unpractical they are, can still be done for the pure enjoyment. There's the exercise involved, which benefits health both physically and mentally. There's the show aspect, which entertains audiences (and what's wrong with entertaining audiences?).

There's the progression of skills involved, which help with confidence levels to do other things in life. This is certainly practical for one's own personal development.

There's also the lowering of boredom because a bit of variety in martial arts enables people to train and keep interested in training much longer. The evidence in this is for those who take up martial arts just to learn practical techniques and nothing else, their years spent in training are often relatively short because after they learn the practical aspects, they just become bored.

Yes, we've come a long way in the martial arts world in terms of realizing what exactly is practical and what is not. This may have started out with Bruce Lee when he pounced on classical and traditional techniques. Of course, he had strong points which ultimately led to mixed martial arts or MMA which are so popular these days.

At the same time, open style forms became more exciting and extreme in the competition circuits and this includes the introduction of Chinese wushu. These developments may seem to be in complete contrast to the MMA mixed martial arts movement.

These seem like two very distinct and distant camps in the martial arts world. As a result, many martial artists from the practical side would be quick to discredit the 'fancy' side. But really, there's no need to.

So there are many other aspects to martial arts besides just the practical techniques. The whole enjoyment that non-practical, i.e., the fancy stuff, should not be discounted. Martial artists can train with these other techniques no matter how useless they would be on the street just for the pure enjoyment. Train for similar reasons why people choose to play tennis or golf. For the pure enjoyment.

Clint Cora is a former member of the Canadian National Karate Team and a Karate World Champion as well as a motivational speaker and author. He has a martial arts information website at www.martialartsarticlesonline.com where he also offers a free World Champion Personal Growth Guide.

Martial Arts Over Training - Important Martial Principle While Driving a Car

The best martial artists don't limit their training to a few hours a week. They are constantly bettering themselves in the martial arts by learning to live their principles. After all, if it's good enough for the dojo or garage, then it's probably a principle that you could apply to life. I wonder how many martial-arts will ignore this sound advice for staying safe. Are you serious enough about the martial arts that you'd change your lifestyle to incorporate this martial principle?

Important Martial Principle When You Are Driving

I have two friends who look at me, when they talk -- while they are driving and I am in the passenger seat. They also look away from the road to notice beautiful females, sporty cars, and other distractions.

I also have friends and relatives who exhibit unsafe driving practices -- they are the "quick-motion" drivers, and the cellphone drivers (handheld phones in cars). Does all of this seem minor? Are you wondering how all of this pertains to over training and martial-arts principles?

Let's go back to the looking away from the road while driving...

Dangerous "Un-Martial-Arts-Like" Driving Behavior

This behavior especially bothers me, when they are approaching a red light. The cars in front of them are stopped or are slowing down. Do my friends slow down as they approach the brake lights in front of them?

No, not at all.

Do they at least keep their eyes on the car stopped or slowing in front of them?

Not a chance.

In fact they look away from the road. It's as if they ... "just checked the car in front, so they can look away, because nothing out of the ordinary could possibly happen that would cause the

car in front of them to suddenly hit the brakes and stop short." (Wishful thinking on their part.) Anyway, I was pondering all of this the last time I was in the car with a friend, as I grabbed the hand-grip above the passenger window inside the car, to brace myself in case we crashed.

I suddenly had an "Aha! Moment." A true epiphany.

Bruce Lee Martial Arts Principle

The reason that their cavalier driving makes me so uncomfortable is that I was taught in martial arts "never to take my eyes of the opponent." (Credit to Bruce Lee.)

In my mind, the car in front of me is like my opponent.

It's sheer folly to look away.

Note: Remember, I tend to avoid 'spinning' kicks and hits for the very same reason.

I want to keep my eyes on my opponent at all times....

And I want my friends to keep their eyes on the car in front of them, too.

Martial Arts Over Training

Now, imagine if you always reinforce the principle of keeping your eyes on your opponent. Every time you are behind the wheel, you make it a point to practice internalizing this principle. You'll over train the idea by imprinting it so often, and so blatantly on your brain.

You'll always remember to focus on your opponent. (And you might even stay alive while driving.) At the very least, you will be spending your driving time considering martial principles, rather than yapping on the cell phone, and possibly (if you have a hand held phone) endangering the rest of us.

Now, are there other martial principles you could ponder while driving, riding a bike, or walking? If you are looking to be prepared, just in case, then ...

Download my new, free ebooklet, Ready for Anyone and Anything in a Fight

For an article on martial arts improvement, read Martial Arts Improvement.

Here's a site about punching harder and faster ... Free Punch ebook.

Keith Pascal is a martial-arts writer and has taught martial arts for 25 years.

The Benefits Of Cross Training In Martial Arts

Wikipedia defines Cross Training as :

In mixed martial arts and self-defense applications, cross-training refers to training in multiple martial arts or fighting systems to become proficient in all the phases of unarmed combat. This training is meant to overcome the shortcomings of one style by practicing another style which is strong in the appropriate area. A typical combination involves a striking-based art such as Muay Thai, combined with a grappling-based art such as Wrestling and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Many hybrid martial arts can be considered derivatives of such cross-training.

Modern mixed martial arts training generally involves cross-training in the different aspects and ranges of fighting.

Some people train in multiple styles in order to become more rounded martial artists. The ability to be able to "hold your own" in any given range, from weapons down to striking, and finally grappling and ground-fighting, is something that you can rarely get from any one single art.

However, some would say this can result in a bit of a "jack of all trades" and not someone who is actually focusing and striving to attain expert skill levels in any one area. Moreover, some take it to the natural conclusion of studying multiple martial arts styles and systems so as to reach for expert skill levels in the world of mixed martial arts. A kind of expert "jack of all trades" if you will.

This, for me, is all perfectly fine and to see someone who has a supreme talent in whatever range you place them in, be it kicking, punching, or grappling, is fantastic to see and most certainly a fierce and dangerous adversary. Someone who can cope with an expert in any range and with the added ability of being able to take that opponent to a different range where they then become the superior force, is an art-form and a fine example of a martial artist.

However, there too, is absolutely nothing wrong with remaining focused on your one chosen art or range. In fact, we need true experts and masters (if one can every really attain such a level) in each and every style. After all, who else does the cross trainer go to when he needs the very best tuition in any one of his/her chosen combined arts.

Over my own martial arts career I have sought to gain knowledge in all of the main ranges and I have done this by seeking tuition from the best I can find in each of those ranges. I learned boxing from professional boxing coaches, I then learned to grapple from some of the best wrestlers and judoka I could find. I've taken myself to find the very best instructors in all of the arts I've studied and most of those have been specialists in their own chosen art.

So we need specialists and we need those who follow a path that is 'one art' and 'one direction'.

However - here's the twist.

When I suggest to a fellow Karateka that he may want to consider some roadwork to improve his endurance in the dojo; or to introduce a couple of weights sessions per week to improve his overall strength and explosive power, I get very few raised eyebrows.

And yet, when I suggest he go and study another art that may complement and enhance his own form and technique in his chosen art, this often still doesn't get the warm welcome that my previous advice received.

If my Kata contains throws, then why not pop along and take some advice from a judoka who does this for a living?

If my Kata contains hooks and uppercuts, then what should stop me from gaining some expert advice from the world of Western Boxing where they too do this for their primary art?

If my TKD sparring doesn't contain leg kicks or elbows, that is not to say that committing a few hours to a Muay Thai class to experience how they are done won't benefit the rest of my sparring game.

I have made a few statements above, not to single out the arts of Karate or TKD in any way at all, but merely to emphasise my point.

Cross Training doesn't have to simply be about leaving your main art behind to become a "jack of all trades" Cross Training is about complimenting you own style. About gaining more experience from the "Experts" who dedicate themselves to studying the things you wish to experiment with and bring back to enhance your own game.

In 2010, I was blessed to be invited to teach in Seattle alongside of some fantastic instructors from a wide range of arts and backgrounds. As I always teach in shorts and t-shirts now, and not a traditional gi, I think a lot of people forget where my origins and roots lie, that of Shotokan Karate.

So it was refreshing and wonderful to be sharing a dojo floor with a fantastic group of experienced martial artists, predominantly wearing their karate gi, and yet all of whom were massively receptive to the techniques and teachings being thrust in their direction from quite diverse styles and arts.

It showed me there is most definitely a place for Cross Training in traditional arts and not just that of using weights or hitting the road, but using other martial arts to enhance your own preferred style.

Cross Training: It's not selling out, it's buying in more!

Cross Training: It's not about detracting from what you are already doing, it's about adding to it!

Cross Training: It's not about watering down your traditional art, it's about enriching it with more flavours!

So I urge all the traditional martial artists out there to consider looking further afield; to widen your field of vision and consider delving into some other arts. It's fun to put on a white belt again, it's rejuvenating to start something new and it's a great way to enhance what you already have.

Stay Safe and Have Fun

Al Peasland is a Personal Safety Consultant and one of the UK's leading Self Defence Instructors.

Focusing on the latest techniques and concepts, Al's Company, Complete Self Protection, provides a fun and efficient way of learning effective skills that can better equip you to protect yourself and your loved ones.

You can visit his website at http://www.completeselfprotection.com.

Please feel free to contact Al Peasland via his website.

Are You Trying To Learn Self Defense? Here Are 5 Tips To Make Sure You're Training Is Street-Ready!

Are you serious about wanting to learn self defense - the kind of skills that will allow you to escape from an attacker who really wants to beat, break, or kill you? Effective street self-defense training is very different from what is typically being offered by the average martial arts, karate, or self defense class at the YMCA though.

Unfortunately, many students who get involved in martial arts or self protection classes with the intention to learn self defense, only end up being disappointed. They find out very quickly that what they are learning is either lessons for winning a trophy in a sporting contest loaded with rules, or...

...half-baked ideas from someone with absolutely no real-world self-defense experience whatsoever!

The problem with most self defense programs is that they focus almost entirely on technique, and not enough on teaching the student how to assess, control, and choose best options for specific encounters. If you are serious about developing skills that will allow you to survive a street attack, then you must learn self defense skills that go about step-by-step mechanics.

Here is a list of 5 considerations that your training must address for your self defense training system to be "street-ready," and worth the time, effort, and money that your pouring into it:

1) The techniques are based on defending against modern attacks and attackers - not 16th century Chinese, Japanese, or Korean warriors! You must make sure that you're self defense system is teaching you how to handle and survive against the most probable attacks that would be thrown at you TODAY - not hundreds of years ago!

2) Training is not limited to "classroom" or dojo ('martial arts training hall') study. Chances are that you're not going to be in a wide open space, in loose-fitting clothes and bare-feet when an angry, aggressive, or criminal attacker decides to jump on you!

3) Training assumes that you will be the under-dog, and not the superior fighter. No matter how much skill and ability you have, you must assume that when an attacker chooses you, that he or she already has the advantage - whether it be in size, strength, speed, ability, weapons, or allies that you don't know about!

4) Everything you do must at least consider the laws governing self-defense. If not, you may find yourself locked up instead of your attacker - charged with assault or murder - because you went too far!

5) Training must be "situational." You should be learning "options." You do not know who your attacker(s) will be, what the attack will look like, or where you will be, so you must train to handle as many situational contexts as possible!

Contrary to popular belief, or the sales messages being hyped up by so-called gurus online who are offering to teach you the ONE single move that will devastate any attacker - any time, the reality is that...

Effective self defense requires more than just a few "karate moves." It involves the ability to think strategically, and understand how to defend yourself with as little wear-and-tear on you as possible.

If you really want to know what most people don't know about how to master self defense and how to survive a real street attack, read my newest self defense book: "Fight Smarter - Not Harder!" It's available free at: http://www.warrior-concepts-online.com/street-fighting-self-defense-book.html

Jeffrey M. Miller SPS, DTI, is an internationally-known self defense expert. Each month he teaches literally thousands of students through live seminars, corporate training events, and his online self defense courses, the lessons to be able to survive in Today's often dangerous world.

Do You Know What Kind of Self Defense Techniques and Training You Need to Defend Yourself?

One of the biggest mistakes that you can make in learning to defend yourself is to just take someone's word. Regardless of whether the person you're talking to is wearing a black belt around his or her waist, is a 600th degree poo-bah in Tic Tac Toe, or is the creator of the latest, greatest, "kill-'em with one finger" self defense course, you must take responsibility for insuring that you get the kind of self defense techniques that will actually save your you-know-what, when the time comes!

This article sheds some light on one piece of knowledge that you should have so that you can make sure that you're not trying to learn self defense from some guy who just has a few "ideas," but has never really "been there" to prove that his stuff works! I can't guarantee that, after you read this, that you'll be able to spot a "wanna-be" from the real thing, when it comes to self defense experts. But, you will at least know where to begin to insure that your are learning the kind of self defense techniques that will match the types of attacks you are most likely to encounter!

And, before I go into this lesson any further, let's set the record straight that...

Self defense is NOT the same thing as "fighting!"

It's funny but, when I was a cop and I was pulling two guys off each other, every single time both of them would tell me that they were just "defending themselves!" Funny. You both looked like you were fighting. That means that neither of you looked like you were trying to get away from the other!

And, that same mentality is prevalent in the self defense world. Every guru seems to have a "self defense" book, video, or program. And yet, when you look closely at the lessons being taught, what you see are lessons for fighting - for beating someone down - not escaping.

But, if we're talking about self defense, we must include the context in which we are defending ourselves. We must also look at things like why we're being attacked, by whom, and with what kind of attack or weapon.

What I mean is that, to understand and therefor be able to look for the right self defense techniques for you, you need to ask the question, "under what condition or circumstances am I likely to be attacked?"

Here are several types of self defense paradigms. Each one comes with it's own set of needs, strategies, tactics, and purpose. And, these things in and of themselves, determine what "kind" of self defense techniques you need.

1) Self Defense for police officers and armed security personnel.

2) Self Defense for body guards and executive protection specialists.

** The above two types require almost the exact opposite when it comes to training, by the way!

3) Self Defense for the average citizen. (This is subdivided and can be further broken down to include self defense for women, rape defense, and self defense for children)

While there are general principles and concepts that are universal, regardless of which group you are in, the fact remains that if you are really going to learn the types of self defense techniques that you need to be able to defend yourself against "your" most likely attacker, who's throwing his most likely attack...

...you MUST begin by knowing who and what that is BEFORE you even get started!

Effective self defense requires more than just a few "karate moves." It involves the ability to think strategically, and understand how to defend yourself with as little wear-and-tear on you as possible.

If you really want to know what most people don't know about how to master self defense and how to survive a real street attack, read my newest self defense book: "Fight Smarter - Not Harder!" It's available free at: http://www.warrior-concepts-online.com/street-fighting-self-defense-book.html

Jeffrey M. Miller is an internationally-known self defense expert. Each month he teaches literally thousands of students through live seminars, corporate training events, and his online self defense courses, the lessons to be able to survive in Today's often dangerous world.

Self Defense Training - 3 Critical Differences Between Martial Arts Training and a Real Attack!

Do you have martial arts experience? Have you taken a self defense training program or two, but know that there is a difference between what you've learned and a real fight?

I understand completely. Because, before I got this area of my life figured out, I was in the exact same place.

When I was a police officer, I and my fellow officers would joke that, when it came to our self-defense training, we were "graduates of Thursday's class at 3 o'clock!" And, police officer or not, we need to know that what we're getting from our self defense training will give us the necessary tools, and maybe more importantly - the confidence - for actually succeeding in a real-life violent attack!

Here's a self defense tip that I used to get what I needed: I looked at what I was learning and compared that with what I actually experienced in a self defense situation against real attackers. Then, and here's what you have to do as well...

I found teachers that could give me what I needed to survive!

But, how do you know if the self defense training you're getting is right?

Here are several differences between conventional martial arts training and most so-called self defense programs. If the self defense training that you're getting overly focuses on these elements... run!

1. Pre-staged training. Technique training is important, but if everything you're doing involves step-by-step, memorized strings of moves with no allowance for variations or drills for creative response and decision-making under pressure, then you are not developing the critical skills you'll need to survive! If you aren't learning to apply the skills your getting in a chaotic, free-response, and stressful way, then what you're doing is really not self defense training!

2. Coddling. While your self defense training should be relatively safe, your instructor should not be coddling you and telling you how great you are. He should also not have to deal with whining, complaining, or other nonsense about you're not wanting to do certain skills for whatever reason. You either want to be able to defend yourself against a brutal attacker who doesn't care about you, or you want to look good and show off!

3. Emotionally-sterile. One of the most important missing elements from most martial arts and self defense training courses is emotion. The reality is that, a self defense situation is a highly-charged - highly emotional experience. It is one of the most emotional situations you could ever find yourself in.

And yet, the majority of time in most training is spent on step-by-step training and theory - not learning how to operate under certain types of psycho-emotional stress - each type limiting your body in very specific ways!

If you really want to survive a real-life attack, then you must find a self defense training program that will give you the tools you will need! You must learn things you never wanted to know, do things most people don't want to have to do, and experience things that will scare you, unnerve you, and make you feel uncomfortable!

But then, you know what your other choice is, right? And he's waiting out there for you!

Is your self defense training giving you the security, skills, and confidence to survive? If you're serious about getting the techniques, tactics and strategies that work, then I want to help you.

Do you want to know how I do it? You can learn more about defending yourself with this strategy and others in this powerful course called, "Foundations of Self-Defense Mastery."

Get this Self Defense Training Course!

This powerful course outlines 6 phases of an effective self defense strategy and training outline that I recommend if you really want to be able to defend yourself against real-world, brutal attackers who want to beat, break or kill you. And the best part is that it's free when you subscribe to my online self defense training newsletter.

And don't forget to get your free self defense DVD: "Danger Prevention Tactics: Protecting Yourself Like A Pro". Click here to get your free self defense training course and self defense DVD and learn how to really protect yourself! http://www.warrior-concepts-online.com

Don't Know Which Martial Arts Or Self Defense Training Program is Best? This Will Help You Decide!

Self defense training - especially in Today's often violent world - has to be less about your own personal preferences, and more about what you'll need to survive.

While they say that they're looking for effective self defense training, far too many people take up the study of martial arts or enroll in a self defense program for one of three basic reasons:

1. Convenience. The school or class is being held close to their home or job. Heaven forbid, we wouldn't want them to have to go out of their way to learn how to not die!

2. Preference. Often a self defense training program is chosen, not because it's effective, but because the student likes the "style" or approach. People who like wrestling will naturally gravitate towards martial arts like Judo, Jujitsu, etc. Others, who prefer the stand-up - knock-'em down approach will look for karate, boxing, and Tae kwon do, to name a few. I just hope that they will end up with an assailant who "plays fair" and comes at them with something they "like!"

3. The "Buddy-vote." Instead of going against popular consensus, often we might make a choice to do something, not because we like it, agree with it, or believe in it - but because all of our friends are doing it. Funny how we're still doing things mom yelled at us for when we were kids, huh?!

Unfortunately, getting the right self defense training is not the same as choosing a movie or deciding where to hang out on Saturday night. It will be way too late to blame your friend, the program, or the teacher after you find out during an attack that you made a bad choice!

The following 3 self defense tips are the minimum requirements for an authentic self defense training program that can teach you what you must know to survive a brutal attack - or worse!

These requirements cover the three situational factors present in any self defense attack. Each factor contains what I call "option sets" - variables that simultaneously cause each situation to be unique, and...

...allow you to choose from all of your skills, strategies, and tactics, the best ones to get the job done!

The Situational Factors/Control Sets are:

1. Environmental. This includes not only location but also range and surroundings. Are you indoors or out? Are you in the middle of a parking lot, between cars, or being pinned up against a wall or piece of furniture?

2. Emotional. Contrary to the way most martial arts and self defense programs are taught, we human beings respond to stress in exactly the opposite way from the way we learn. Your self defense training program must present the information in a do - think - feel manner that matches the way your learn...

...while simultaneously teaching you how to respond to a threat in a feel - think - do manner that matches how we respond to danger. Each emotional response "mode" will effect us physically, mentally, and at our core.

3. Attacker-Control. This involves having different options, tactics, and strategies for different types of attackers. It involves understanding everything from attacker-logic to knowing which targets to hit with your different body weapons.

Knowing which program is best requires that you first know what you're dealing with and what you'll need to be effective and ultimately successful. A good program will cover both physical and non-physical methods. And, above all, it will advocate avoidance, escape, and de-escalation tactics over physically having to fight your attacker off.

If it doesn't, I recommend that you look for another program!

If you're serious and want to learn how to do this effectively then I want to help you.

You can learn more about real-world self defense training that has been time-tested and proven to work in this powerful self defense video course called, "The Science of Self-Defense."

Get the Self Defense Training you need!

And get your free self defense dvd: "Danger Prevention Tactics: Protecting Yourself Like A Pro". Get your free video self defense training course and self defense dvd and start really protecting yourself! http://www.warrior-concepts-online.com

Real World Self Defense Training - Are You Learning How To Win?

Are you serious about real-world self-defense training? Are you serious about learning how to win in a real attack against a larger, stronger attacker?

Perhaps you're already enrolled in a martial art or self-defense program. If you are, then I congratulate you on taking a critical step toward doing what most people never do. And that's actually taking responsibility for your own safety and the protection of those whom you care about.

If you haven't already enrolled in either a self-defense martial art, or non martial arts-based self-defense system, then my question is...

...What the hell are you waiting for?!

Remember that the nature of violence is that it's random - that means you don't know where, when, or how it's going to happen - and you don't know what it's going to look like. So, if you're the kind of person who spends most of your time surfing the Internet and filling up your hard drive with video clips, free ebooks, and articles like this one, but haven't yet taken the action necessary to actually have real skill, then reading another article, or watching another video is the last damned thing you need to be doing!

So, for the moment, I'm only going to be speaking to you if you actually have some training under your belt (pun intended!). I'm going to assume that if you're reading from this point on, you actually have some training experience to base your understanding of what I'm about to teach you.

Okay. That being said, I'm going to assume that you're ready for the next lesson. Which begins with me restating the questions...

"Are you engaged in real-world self-defense training?" And...

"Are you really learning how to win against a bigger, stronger, violent attacker who doesn't care about rules, fairness, or you're well-being?"

Be careful here, because ego is going to want to jump to the conclusion that, "Of course you are!" After all, if what you're doing wasn't right, you wouldn't be doing it. At least that's what ego's logic is.

But, the reality is that most students who believe they're enrolled in a self-defense martial art, or those studying one of those so called "ultimate-killer" self-defense courses being sold on the Internet today, are in fact "NOT" learning how to win against an enraged, fully-determined, street attacker.

They are however, learning to be overconfident, deluded, and unprepared.

And the reason for this is simply that they are trying to learn from someone - a martial arts teacher or self-defense instructor - who has absolutely no street experience in handling the kind of violence that you're going to have to deal with in an actual attack situation.

I understand that this is not something you may want hear, let alone believe. But that makes it no less true. In fact, at least 80% of those teaching self-defense or martial arts have no experience in using what they think they know in the real-world.

And, regardless of how much these instructors know, what color or number is behind their belts, or how many trophies they have displayed in their windows, without this real-world self-defense experience, they really can't help you very much at all.

And if you train with them - if you trust them - and if you put your life in their hands...

You're going to be in a situation where it's a case of the blind leading the blind.

But how do you know if what you're learning is designed for real-world self-defense? How do you know if you can trust the techniques, tactics, and strategies that you've been learning to work when you need them the most?

Well, instead of trying to force a point of view, I'm simply going to ask you a few questions that will allow you to determine, for yourself, whether you're on the right track are not. How does that sound?

So, regardless of whether ego wants to believe anything I say or not - regardless of how much ego wants to hold onto what it thinks it already knows, the answers to these questions will determine the truth.

Fair enough?

Self-Defense Program Assessment Questions:

1) Are you forced to conform to a set "style", or does your training leave room for variation, adaptation, and practical application?

2) Are you learning multiple options for handling the same types of attacks? Or is everything based on the same block-punch/kick (or whatever) formula?

3) Are you training to defend against the attacks that are the most common today, where you live; or are you learning to defend yourself against attacks from 13th, 14th, or 16th century Japan, China, or Korea?

4) Have you been taught things like "attacker psychology," "controlling distance," "controlling your attacker's perceptions," and the "effective use of timing, distancing, and angling?" Or, do you spend most of your time practicing step-by-step, mechanical techniques and the official kata of the style you're learning?

5) Does your system of self-defense or martial arts take into account the size and strength difference between you and your potential attacker? Or, are you always matched up based on size, gender, and/or belt color?

6) Are you learning how to use your different emotional states as the hardwired, defensive modes that they are? In other words, are you learning how to defend yourself from the different emotional response states that you might find yourself in when you're actually faced with real danger?

As you can see, my job is not to force you to believe in whatever it is the I'm teaching. My job is to teach you what I know about actually surviving a real-world attack against a bigger, stronger, and more violent attacker. And, later on, against multiple attackers, assailants armed with different weapons, and other advanced subjects.

If what you're already learning is doing that, then keep doing what you're doing. If it isn't, it's my job to suggest some other options.

But either way, you need understand that your safety and self defense is your responsibility. Not mine, or anyone else's.

It's my job to make sure that what I'm teaching you is time-tested and will work against a real attacker, during a real attack - not just in the classroom or dojo. And it's my responsibility to understand that you're placing your trust, and your life, in my hands until you're actually able to do this for yourself. That's all.

The real work is to be done by you. And that includes making sure that you're getting what you need. Because, as I said, your life depends on it.

So again, if you're really serious about learning real-world self-defense and learning how to survive - learning how to win - then you owe it to yourself to be honest when answering the above questions and to take the correct action, regardless of how it feels or what ego thinks. Period!

Effective self defense requires more than just a few "karate moves." It involves the ability to think strategically, and understand how to defend yourself with as little wear-and-tear on you as possible.

If you really want to know what most people don't know about how to master self defense and how to survive a real street attack, read my newest self defense book: "Fight Smarter - Not Harder!" It's available free at: http://www.warrior-concepts-online.com/street-fighting-self-defense-book.html

Jeffrey M. Miller is an internationally-known self defense expert. Each month he teaches literally thousands of students through live seminars, corporate training events, and his online self defense courses, the lessons to be able to survive in Today's often dangerous world.

Women's Self Defense - 3 Critical Differences Between Self Defense Training For Men and Women

If you're a woman who interested in getting effective women's self defense training that will enable you to successfully protect yourself against a real-world attack - there are some important things that you need to know. The first thing is that, while many of the concepts and principles are the same, there are some critical differences between defensive training for men and women's self defense!

Unfortunately, it's not always easy to find solid, reliable information about self defense for women and teenage girls. This is true in both the online world and off. One school-of-thought tends to make no difference between self defense for men and women. This perspective says that an attack is an attack and the same techniques work, regardless of who's doing them.

The other primary belief is that there is a difference. Unfortunately, most of those taking this view tend to limit their focus to size. While size is a factor, men very often find themselves smaller, weaker, or less-skilled than their assailant as well.

So, size-aside, in this article, I want to shed some light on several critical differences in how self defense should be approached - especially for women. These differences, when lacking in a program that's supposed to be designed for women - or to at-least include women's self defense issues - can actually put you at greater risk than if you knew nothing at all!

Remember, the way you think about a given problem sets up everything else about the way that you'll go about solving that problem. And women's self defense is no different. That being said, here are 3 critical differences between self defense for women and training offered to men.

1) Attacker Intent & Strategy - In the realm of male-female interpersonal dynamics, there is an area where the way we think about the other gender, is a primary factor in how we operate without and around them. This is guided, in part, by gender roles that were learned when we were children.

When boys wrestled, got into fights, and participated in contests to see who was the biggest, baddest, and best - this was seen as "boys just being boys." Girls were taught that "hitting was not lady-like' and fighting was not the way to solve problems. And, while it was usually acceptable for boys to smack their friends around, it was never okay to hit a girl. While it may come as no surprise, it still requires saying that, attackers were raised in this same paradigm and belief system. So, it should come as no surprise either, that the male assailant will approach men and women differently when seeking out victims of his attack.

Generally speaking, men will most often be attacked where the goal is to "destroy the enemy," while women are usually attacked in ways meant to control, possess, and "take as a prize."

This intention, or strategy, must be factored into any self defense program - regardless of whether it is designed for men, women, or both.

2) Male-Female Strength Ratio - The "size-factor" that I talked about earlier is not what it would normally appear to be. In fact, when you think of size, you probably think of the woman being physically smaller than her larger, male attacker - right?

In reality, the strength factor is much more important than size. Not that size is not a factor - it's just very different.

Here's what I mean: The strength ratio between a man's body and that of a woman is 7:3. What that means is that, if you had a man and a woman who were the same...

Height
Weight

Build

Fitness level

...and all things considered...

The man would still be two and half times stronger than the woman!

Can you see why we can't rely on the so-called "size factor?" It's because, even if the size of the female defender was equal to her male attacker - she'd still have a distinct disadvantage!

3) Belief System - While both men and women can choose to abdicate their security and safety to others, men typically know that, when face-to-face with an assailant - they're expected to fend for themselves. Not so for women.

In fact, when the subject of self defense comes up, I tend to hear one of 2 typical responses from most of the women I encounter. The responses are either...

I'll just kick him in the "you-know-what," or...


"That's my husband/boyfriend's job"
Regardless of the fact that a man's groin is a relatively small target (no pun intended) and you have to be within your attacker's reach to effectively attack it, it seems to be the only thing women focus on. Contrast this with the fact that men learned somewhere around the age of 3 or 4 that this area was to be protected, AND the fact that hitting the groin may actually infuriate him, rather than shut him down, and you have the makings of a bad strategy.

As for the, "it's my boyfriend or husband's responsibility," all you have to do is ask yourself two questions to know whether this is something you want to bet your life on. The first question is:

"How many waking hours in a day are you with him?" And the 2nd question is:

"Does he have the skills to protect you AND HIMSELF should something happen?"

All too often, we try to "excuse" our way through certain problems. This denial or "escapism" only works to distract us from the real issue until we come face-to-face with it, and are forced to deal with it.

In the case of a situation that requires the need for skills designed for self defense for women..."too late" could be a position you can't afford to find yourself in!

Are you looking for solid, reliable women's self defense training? Do you want to be able to defend yourself against a bigger, stronger attacker - or even multiple attackers? Then you must know what questions to ask and have a system that's designed for your specific needs.

Download my new Self Defense Book that will put you on the right track and teach you about things you didn't even know you should be asking about.

Jeffrey Miller is an internationally-recognized self protection expert who teaches literally hundreds of students from every corner of the planet each month how to develop the skills that you need to be safe in this often unsafe world. Jeff says, "If you really want to feel safe, secure, and more confident, then you must be able to handle this part of your life. And I can teach you how to do just that!"

Women's Self Defense Training - Be Equipped

 Be Equipped: (necessities such as tools or provisions.) Being equipped with the proper personal security and self defense tools whether it is a lethal, or non-lethal, or an alternative self defense tool, can greatly impact your personal security in a positive way. They are an important part of an overall self defense strategy.
Lethal: (Capable of causing death.) Just the definition of a lethal Personal Secuirty and Self Defense tools causes some people to fear, with good reason. When you carry a lethal one there is a great responsibility that inherently comes with it. A lethal tool can be a very effective choice with proper training and practice.
·         Guns, particularly pistols are the most common lethal self defense device.
·         They come in a variety of different calibers and sizes to fit each individuals needs.
·         If you carry it for self defense; that would imply that you would be willing to use it, possible taking another humans life to save your own.
·         You must insure that you get proper training, required permits, store it properly to avoid any accidents,and practice with it regularly.
Non-lethal: Many people choose non-lethal self defense tools for obvious reasons.A non-lethal self defense tools can give you the opportunity to flee from a dangerous situation.
·         Pepper spray is a non-lethal non-toxic aerosol spray used for self defense. The active ingredient in pepper spray is a naturally occurring substance called Oleoresin Capsicum or "OC". Pepper spray comes in dispersal types: Fogger, Stream, and Foam. Pepper spray offers the most bang for the buck of all non-lethal security products.
·         TASERS are non-lethal electroshock devices for self defense purposes only that disrupt the body's neuromuscular systems using electrical currents. They come in three different models; the C2 which is fashionable compact, the ML18 advanced TASER resembles a gun in shape and size, and the X26C that is gun shaped and offers many features.
Alternative: An alternative personal security tool is anything you can find wherever you are. They can be both lethal and non-lethal depending on the self defense tool used, placement and power of the strike on the offender. When it comes down to it you do what you have to in order to flee. Let me give you some examples of possible self defense tools in your car, home, or on your person. Because of liabilities I won't be explaining how to use these items; however the element of surprise is usually on your side with one of these self defense tools.
·         In the Car; ice scrapers, snow brushes, keys, sunglasses, a hard sun glass case, CD or CD case etc.
·         At Home; any aerosol can, a tooth brush, T.V remotes, drinking glasses, kitchen utensils, books, trash cans etc.
·         On your person; would be your wallet, loose change, pen or pencil, cell phone, comb, umbrella etc.
·         This is by no means an exhaustive list when you consider almost anything can be used as an alternative self defense tools. The key to any alternative self defense tools is that they don't appear as self defense tools and give you the element of surprise. By holding correctly, striking with force in the right area they are effective.
In Summary, with any self defense personal security products you should follow the laws and regulations in your area, practice with it and realize the moral and legal responsibilities that you take upon yourself when you carry them. Though it is never guaranteed, these items can give you the upper hand and a chance to flee. In future articles, additional rules will help you maximize your personal security and safety. Remember the best time to learn your lesson about personal security and self defense is before something happens.







Adam Sisterhen is the president of Your Personal Security Store (s90x.com), self defense instructor, author of personal security and self defense articles and a Rotarian. He is a proud advocate and a firm believer in personal security and self defense training and products that help protect you, your family and your loved ones.
To find the products talked about in this article and a wealth of information check these links below.
For the quality personal security and self defense products visit [http://www.s90x.com] Security to the 90th power!
For insights into products and personal security and self defense visit http://www.yourpersonalsecuritystore.blogspot.com/