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How Positive Change Happens

9/8/2017

Step One:
Determine exactly what you want.

The first thing you need to understand about positive change is that it does not happen by accident. If you want something to happen, it must first be planned, and the first step to planning is to know exactly what you want. When making a proclamation of what it is you want, you are pouring emotional and psychological concrete that will act as the foundation that supports the remaining six steps throughout this entire process. It is also important that whatever is stated or declared must be able to be measured. After all, if it can’t be measured, how will you know if you are on track to achieving it or if you have obtained it?

For example, if you determine that you want to lose weight and if you shout it from the rooftops, this declaration is not enough because it cannot be measured. Even if you become more specific and declare that you want to lose 20 pounds, this is not enough either. In this example, “determining exactly what you want” would be to say that I am going to lose at least 20 pounds by a specific date.
By doing this, there will be no question as to whether you hit your mark by your predetermined deadline or if you are on track to doing so.

Determining exactly what you want must be the first step in the process of promoting positive change in your life. Imagine deciding that you want to go vacation so you begin the process of planning and budgeting. Nothing can move forward until you first decide where you want to go on vacation. By setting a specific geographical location—everything else can now fall into place within the planning process.

The same principle holds true for students who decide to take private self-defense classes or enroll in hand to hand combat training at our facility in Plano, Texas. When asked what their goals are, a new student will typically say something like; I want to learn to protect myself or I want to earn a Black Belt or I want to become more disciplined. This is when a qualified instructor should begin asking the new student a list of highly targeted questions to help them move from broad and vague answers to very specific ones, answers with laser-like focus.

Martial Arts vs. Martial Science...

1/30/2017

Martial Arts simply means “The Art of War” and numerous variations of this intriguing art form have been around for centuries. However, I must admit that as a lifetime practitioner and full-time instructor, I have never been too interested in the “art” aspect of this lifelong quest. In fact, I would say I’m more of a martial scientist than a martial artist. Don’t get me wrong, elaborate bows, flowing katas, and colorful uniforms all have their place. But, truth be told, I'm far more interested in learning how the central nervous system can be accessed with an index finger than I am memorizing the latest student creed.

Some would say that Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is the evolution of things to come, but I would disagree. MMA combines things from multiple styles and systems to create an all star cast of techniques--extracted from dozens of countries. For example, in a single five-minute round an experienced MMA fighter may throw an elbow from Thailand (Muay Thai), a front kick from Korea (Tae Kwon Do), a takedown from Japan (Judo), and a ground fighting chokehold from Brazil (Brazilian Jiu Jitsu). I totally understand the benefits and effectiveness of this new way of doing things and would be the first to agree that we have come a long way. However, in the end, I believe it will be science, not technique, that will have the final word.

So what exactly do I mean by martial science? I mean it’s time to move past the worn pugilistic side of the road and begin to strive for a smoother path. Lets delve into things like the Central Nervous System (neurology), Economy of Motion (physics), and the Adrenal Stress Response to Crisis (endocrinology), and so forth and so on. I will be the first to admit that in some instances, nothing beats a strong right hook to the jaw--but is this the best we’ve got? Have we figured it all out or is there more to be said? Has science had her say yet? If not, let’s hear her out. After all, we may be surprised what she has to say.

us military and law enforcement training...

12/19/2016

Click hereOne question I get asked frequently is; What style of martial arts do the United States police and military use? This is a simple question with a complex answer. First of all, it wasn’t until WWII that the U.S. began to fully realize the importance for this type of training. German bayonet’s and intense fox hole fighting played a major role in raising our awareness for this need.

Currently, the U.S. does not have a single uniform system in place for its military or law enforcement personnel. The Army does its own thing, the Marines do their own thing, the Navy is still contemplating if they are going to have a thing, and our Law Enforcement does a variety of things. Does this help? I didn’t think so, so let’s break it down in the form of a bulleted list (this always helps me).

· U.S. Law Enforcement / Defensive Tactics (No Uniform System In Place)
· U.S. Army / Modern Army Combatives (MAC)
· U.S. Marine Corps / Marine Corps Martial Arts Program (MCMAP)
· U.S. Air Force / Air Force Combatives (Adopted From Army Combatives)
· U.S. Navy Seals / CQB (Close Quarters Battle) or CQC (Close Quarters Combat)
· U.S. Navy And Coast Guard / Showing Interest In MCMAP

Now before you begin to jump to conclusions, don’t let this list fool you. Although it's true that as a whole we are not uniformed in our approach, we are very prepared as a nation. In a perfect world, I would like to see all of the branches of the military learning a single hand-to-hand combat system and all of our special forces learning their own unique system (or the same system at a much more advance level). But, until that day comes, I sleep well at night, every night, knowing that "One Of The Best Trained Fighting Forces In The World" has got things under control. After all, sometimes patchwork quilts are the warmest.

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use of force continuum...

11/14/2016

The use of force continuum is a standard that provides law enforcement officers from around the world with a set of guidelines for dealing with a subject that is either resisting verbal commands or arrest. It is also called force level continuum and is very similar to what the military refers to as rules of engagement. Keep in mind that there is no universal standard used at this time, which means these continua can vary from country to country and from state to state.

This linear progression model was first introduced in the United States in the 1980’s as a use of force policy. The objective was to establish a “stair stepping approach” for escalating force in a manner that was matched by or equivalent to the corresponding level of resistance offered by the subject. In training, the officer is taught to escalate and de-escalate their level of force to match the subject’s actions.

Here is what an escalation of force model looks like:

Level I: The Physical Presence of The Officer
Level II: The Use of Soft Hands (control and restraint techniques)
Level III: The Use of Non-Lethal Weapons (Mace, Baton, Taser, etc.)
Level IV: The Use of Hard Hands (punching, kicking, takedowns, etc.)
Level V: The Threat of Deadly Force (verbal threat while pointing firearm)
Level VI: The Use of Deadly Force (shooting to kill)

A common problem officers are faced with is dealing with a subject who passively refuses to obey a verbal command. An example of this would be when an officer instructs a subject to put their hands behind their head but instead, the subject crosses their arms while stepping away from the officer. Over the years I have invented two control and restraint devices that help officers deal with this type of scenario in a way that complies with levels II, III, and IV of the aforementioned continuum. Although I believe the force level continuum offers many important objectives to our citizens, its importance should never supersede another crucial objective, which is to get these heroes in blue home safely--each and every night.

U.S. Special Forces...

10/10/2016

If you ask ten random people what groups make up the U.S. Special Forces you will get a variety of answers. As you probably already know, the four main branches of the U.S. Armed Forces are the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines, each of which having their own unique Special Forces group(s). Technically, if we wanted to split hairs, the Army Green Berets are the only true “Special Forces” by name. All of the other groups are considered Special Operations Forces, otherwise known as Special Ops. Here are each of the elite fighting forces, listed by name and branch:

· Air Force / Pararescue
· Air Force / Combat Controllers
· Army / Green Berets
· Army / Airborne Rangers
· Army / Delta Force
· Marine Corps / Force Recon
· Navy / Seals

A question I get asked frequently is “which Special Forces group is the best”? This is like asking “which is a better vehicle, the Hummer or the Prius”? If my job required me to drive through rocky and muddy terrain every day, give me a Hummer, but if my job required me to drive 200 miles through New York City traffic Monday through Friday, you will find me nestled up in a Prius. Although they are both "specialized vehicles" by definition, each have very distinct features and characteristics that make them better suited for specific tasks. If you need to overtake an Airfield under hostile fire after arriving by parachute, you probably need to call the Army Rangers, but if you need to rescue a soldier who is stuck on the side of a snow covered cliff in the middle of a blizzard, it's time to call the Air Force Pararescue. Remember, they are all the best of the best, they are just the best at different things.

anti bullying programs...

9/5/2016

Statistics show that approximately half of all children in the U.S. are bullied some time during their school years and that one out of ten children are bullied on a regular basis. This goes to show that bullying is a real (and growing) problem that requires a real solution. Many schools make attempts to educate their students on bullying, but with limited resources and even smaller budgets, often times they are forced to use a teacher, the school guidance counselor, or free online material to get their message across. With the average “Anti-Bullying Assembly” costing around $1,500 it's easy to see why many schools are trying the “do it yourself” approach. The problem is, the kids these days aren’t an easy sell and need to be taught by someone they respect, trust, and believe.

If you are a school administrator and are looking for the right person to conduct an anti-bullying assembly for your school, here are some essentials you should be on the lookout for:

· Someone the kids will perceive as strong, tough, trustworthy, secure, confident, etc.
· Someone who has been bullied and can relate on a personal level--based on experience.
· Someone who can communicate in a language the student can understand and relate to.
· Someone who can soften the content with entertainment that is relevant to the message.
· Someone who ends the message by enforcing the school’s policy and not their own ideas.

Here is a good test you can do; Pretend that you are one of the children sitting in the bleachers for the entire program and that you are a silent victim of bullying. Is this someone you would listen to, trust, and believe in—perhaps to the point of reporting the problem after the assembly? If so, you’ve probably found the right person for the job. If not, you probably need to go back to the drawing board. After all, if you wouldn't buy it...

creed #3 / protect your hands

8/8/2016

I’m the founder of WarriorMakers.com, which is a combatives school that centers its teachings around 20 Creeds. From time to time I will be writing posts about each creed, individually. For this post, I will be discussing the importance of protecting your hands.

It always makes me CRINGE when I see an instructor teaching students how to throw closed fist punches toward the head and face region for the purpose of self-defense. Let’s think about this for a moment—one of your greatest assets in a combative situation is your hands, so why would you jeopardize fracturing or breaking them by punching a hard surface? There are only 206 bones in the human body and 54 of them are in your hands (27 bones per hand). That’s right, 26% of your bones are in your hands. If you injure one or both hands in a life or death situation, you will find yourself in some serious trouble. And, if you continue to practice these closed fisted strikes in the classroom, serious trouble is what you should expect.

So why do Professional Boxers and UFC Fighters wear gloves? Is it to protect the face of their beloved opponent? Not hardly. It is so they can make it to the end of the fight without breaking their moneymakers. At Warrior Makers we only teach open handed strikes or close handed strikes that utilize the outer edge of the fist (hammer fist), making it extremely difficult to cause injury during an altercation. A good test is to try your hand strike(s) against a surface that is at least as hard as the human skull (no gloves allowed for this test). If you can hit this surface with full force at least three times without causing injury, you have a great hand strike. If not, either remove it from your defensive toolbox or get into the habit of wearing really thick gloves.

self-defense and the law...

7/11/2016

In the United States there are specific laws relating to a person’s right to defend him or herself. And, since the definition of self-defense varies from state to state, it is important that you familiarize yourself with your states stance on this subject before an incident occurs. In the U.S. a person is granted the right to use REASONABLE FORCE in his or her “own defense” or the “defense of others” but where the waters get murky is when determining whether or not deadly force is allowed. There are also states that include a “duty to retreat” in their self-defense laws, and to make things even more complicated, your duty to retreat may be waived (depending on which state you live in) if the person is inside your home, which would fall under the “castle exception”.

If asked, most people would say they do not care about the law when it comes to protecting themselves, their loved ones, or their property. They would stand firmly by their “whatever it takes to get the job done” attitude and worry about the law later. Although this sort of bravado has its place (and I’ve been guilty of it myself from time-to-time), it is far better to learn the law and to work within the law than it is to fight back in a “no-holds-barred” manner, only to find yourself sitting behind bars for the next five years—leaving your family to defend for themselves. So what is the moral to this story? Am I saying you should not do whatever it takes to defend yourself and your loved ones? Absolutely Not! What I am saying is that each person should take a little time to read up on the laws of their state regarding this matter and get empowered. I know my states laws, I know my rights, and I will defend myself and those around me within the guidelines of those laws, lethally if necessary. Now that is empowerment!

pain threshold vs. pain tolerance...

6/13/2016

For self-defense practicioners and numerous other groups, pain compliance is one of the primary methods used to stop, break free from, control and restrain, and neutralize an aggressor. For this reason it is important that we have, at minimum, a general understanding of the difference between one’s pain threshold and their pain tolerance. Let’s begin by defining each term.

Pain Threshold – The minimum intensity or duration a sensory stimulus is needed to produce pain.
Pain Tolerance – A measure of the amount of pain that a person can withstand prior to breaking down either emotionally or physically.

Now let’s put it into layman’s terms. I could get a general idea of your pain threshold by very slowly pressing a thumb tack into the palm of your hand. Once you begin to feel the pain, we have identified your pain threshold. For the most part, the majority of individuals would begin to feel the thumb tack at or around the same time. Where we differ is the amount of pain we can withstand prior to yelling “uncle” and quickly jerking our hand away (pain tolerance).

Someone with a low pain tolerance may pull away the moment the pain is felt while someone with a high pay tolerance may allow me to deeply pierce them with the tack and possibly still not yield. This is why certain self-defense and pressure point techniques will work great on some people but won’t work at all on others. It also reinforces our need to learn which parts of the body are most susceptible to pain compliance and to focus our energy on them. Remember, hitting them where it hurts isn’t nearly enough. We must hit them where it stops them.

creed #4 / expect to get hit...

5/9/2016

For this post, I will be discussing the importance of expecting to get hit. For the most part, nobody likes to be on the receiving end of a punch—especially one to the face. The problem is, getting hit is hard to avoid, even for seasoned experts that have been training for years. There are far too many martial artists that are under the delusion that they can avoid being hit if in a fight. Most of the time their “land of make believe” makes me chuckle, but every once in a while I like to call them out on their claim of super hero status by putting their bravado to the test (in a friendly and non-injurious way, of course). Let’s not mistake martial arts for a red cape and boots and let’s not forget that in a fight, anything can happen.

Here’s the problem: If a person believes that he or she will not get hit if in a fight and the opposite happens (they take a big right hook to the noggin) what will be the outcome? This unexpected twist of events will catch them off guard and shake their confidence, giving the opponent a significant advantage. However, if the same person goes into battle expecting to take a few on the chin, what will be the outcome? They will maintain their composure while their confidence goes unshaken. In short, they will carry on with business as usual until the situation has come to an end. So, even if you are Clark Kent and you can thwart the toughest of opponents totally unscathed, wouldn’t it be better to expect to be hit and come out without a scratch then to expect perfection and get knocked on your butt? After all, even Superman has a bad day now and then.