The use of proper technique

Size and srength alone means little in a fight if you do not know how to move, punch or kick properly. Fighters who rely on external power become weaker as they age, but people who use internal power, proper biomechanics and focused techniques become stronger as they gain more knowledge and skills. With superior technique, age matters not.

Training mind set

There are three kinds of people. Those who think. Those who don't think. And those who think they think.

That saying can be modified to: There are three kinds of people. Those who do. Those who don't do. And those who think they do.

And unfortunately, that last group is made up largely by people who mistake training for doing.

The reason that the people who regularly stake their lives on their training are more open minded is
1) They know every decision must be worth your life (including the
decision to have an open mind).
2) They've experienced enough live-fire danger to know that 'doing' is
a whole lot more complicated than they were told in school.
3) They know unknown unknowns can kill them. So they are
always on the look out to turn unknown unknows into known unknowns -- or better yet, knowns.

On the other hand, people who don't have to worry about what-they-don't- know-killing-them are not only under less pressure to think, but are more prone to believe what they know is 'the whole of the subject.' This delusion passes for their reality. They not only lack anything to prove them wrong, but this intellectual fantasy is all that they can see. Worse, they often believe that what they know about a particular subject extends out into knowing about other subjects too.

People who understand they are staking their lives on their training
tend to be more open minded about training. Whereas the most
closed-minded and dogmatic are those who are safely ensconced
far away from doing.

Should you use violence to defend yourself

"Should you use violence to defend yourself?" is easy to ask, but impossible to answer correctly. To start with, the terminology is wrong. The term should be 'force,' not 'violence.' The difference between violence and force is kind of like the difference between racing and driving. While many of the components are the same, the application is radically different. But until you understand the differences you are going to mistakenly lump them together as so many people do. Strictly speaking one never uses violence to defend oneself. That's an oxymoron. Violence is the tool of the aggressor, not of the defender. As such the terms 'violence' and 'defend' cancel each other out, making it a meaningless question. This might sound like something a lawyer would try, but -- as you will see -- the distinction between force and violence is critical. While violence is almost always in the wrong. This not always the case with force. In and of itself, force is neutral. It is how you apply it that determines if it is violence or not. Force can be a necessary and valuable tool -- especially against violence.
This is why it is important to understand the difference in terminology. If your understanding of the terminology is incorrect, then by extension your assumptions about the subject will also be wrong. And when your assumptions and understanding are incorrect, then so too will be your actions. When misapplied and amplified, force becomes violence.
What are the circumstances of the situation? What is the level of threat? Where do you need to stop using force before it crosses over into violence? These are just a few of the issues that that simplistic question lumps into one poorly defined mess. Each of the issues must be individually assessed and its influence on others considered.

Self defense isn't about empowerment, personal gain, winning,
revenge or teaching those who have hurt you a lesson. Those
are the motivations of an attacker. Self-defense is about effectively
ending an attack, quickly and with minimum damage to yourself.



Marc MacYoung

Muscle memory

"I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times."
--Bruce Lee

Again...practice practice practice. Develop good habits and good muscle memory. It will serve you well in time of need.
Muscle memory is simply a habit, a reflex you develop. Similar to being able to keep your balance when riding your bike. It was not always so. When you first tried riding a 2 wheeler as a child, you probably fell often. Then you developed that balance, that sense that you are in control of the bike, not the reverse. To properly defend yourself you need to develop appropriate muscle memory as to respond quickly, without even thinking.

Are self defense classes rubbish or real?

There is a lot of talk about this subject. And yes, there are a lot of self defense classes that are rubbish. They will teach you things that look cute but will get you killed. But there are also good classes out there that will teach realistic and practical self defense. I offer such a class. The things I have learned are the same techniques taught to police officers and we know they need those skills to go home alive to their family every night. So I know my material is not just Hollywood fluff. I have been studying martial arts for 13 years. I have seen a lot of good and a lot of bad. I have the pleasure and honor to train with some rather large gentlemen, the best police officers in the State and a fantastic Sensei, so I know that what I do works. They make sure it does. And NO, you don't have to study martial arts for that long to be able to defend yourself.
Plus in the process I have lost 35 lbs and have become in top physical condition. I am 52 years old and can run circles around kids one third of my age. It's defeinitely worth it!!!

TESTIMONIAL

This testimonial is being written on behalf of Kasey Keckeisen and Lise Steenerson from the Keishoukan Dojo Martial Arts Studio in New Brighton, Minnesota.

For the past 10 years, I have been teaching an Elective Physical Education class called Renaissance Performance at White Bear Lake High School. One of the units consists of a variety of different martial arts. For the last 3 years, I have been privileged to bring in Kasey and Lise as guests into my classroom. Kasey brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience. Kasey and Lise have a special ability to connect with teenagers and special populations by creating a safe and positive atmosphere. They are able to bring out the best in my students by getting them excited and motivated to participate all while being respectful.

This definitely is one of the highlights of this class. Both Kasey and Lise are matter of fact when speaking to the class about personal safety and self awareness and discipline. A portion of their demonstration is hands on teaching basic self defense techniques. These techniques are easily remembered and are practical if ever encountering a compromising situation.

Some feedback from the students was: “It was awesome.” Shong Lee. “It was fun.” Amber Wild. “They showed me a lot of new moves.” Kyle Inks. “They were great instructors—it was the bomb.” Cris Landeros.

In these times when we are trying to battle childhood obesity, it has always been my philosophy as an educator to continue to expose students to opportunities not only in school but in our communities. The partnership between Keishoukan Dojo and the White Bear Lake Schools provides a valuable community connection for kids as well as creating the foundations for a healthy lifestyle.

Individuals like Kasey and Lise who give so much of their time make our communities a better place to be. Thank you for making a difference with our students.



Sincerely,



Carla Nordenstrom
Physical Education/D/APE Specialist
White Bear Lake Area