My friend Beverly is getting her MBA in Digital Media, which I frankly did not even know existed as a degree, but she has become a window through which I view a whole world outside my own.  


See here her blog entry detailing how she taught me to join the current century. 


If there's one thing I've learned in this job it's that people have talents and skills that make life brighter and better and that they're almost always happy to share them with you.  This girl is going to do big things one day, mark my words (you heard it here first!).

Get 'Em While They're Young

My gift to you: a video of a 4 year old and a 10 year old smacking me.  


These brothers are learning to practice defense against headlock from the side, a common schoolyard hold.  Once you tell a little kid they can hit you as hard as want and they won't get in trouble they'll take that ball and run with it.

The belly strike they're giving me is meant to be a groin strike, which we usually train striking the top of the thigh if your partner is not wearing a cup.  Since my legs were black and blue from training arm pulls with them last week, we moved the hits up to my stomach.  Once the technique is learned I'll put a cup on and let them make the groin strike. 


The video wouldn't load to the blog, so click this link to view it on my Facebook page. Enjoy.


Click here!

Guess What?

I was awarded Instructor of the Year at Fit and Fearless last night at the staff Christmas Party!  Yay!  Thanks, y'all!

New interview

A couple of years ago a cop friend of mine told me something that's been clanging around in my head ever since.  She said, "The police are not responsible for your safety.  YOU are responsible for your safety.  The police are just there to clean up the mess."  


That made a huge impression on me and has seriously influenced my philosophy when I teach.   Since most of us don't walk around with a cop at our sides, we need to be proactive about our own safety.  


Sometimes people we live with are the ones that pose a danger to us, and that can leave us feeling totally vulnerable and alone.   Yesterday I posted an interview I did with Lisa Lucas, formerly of the Domestic Violence Unit at the Travis County Sheriff's Department (she is now a patrol deputy).  


There's a lot of good information in there about what to do if you find yourself in danger at the hands of a loved one.  Even if you are not in that situation and don't expect to be (of course, who does expect to be?) it's still worth a listen.  The information you learn may help change the life of someone you know.  


Check it out here, and thanks to Officer Lucas for taking the time to help us out.

Mean Girls

This has happened to me twice... I'm chatting with a girl I just met & she asks what I do for a living.  Once I tell her I'm a Krav Maga instructor she gets all tickled and says she ought to train, and tells me what she does for fun:  she goes down to Sixth Street on the weekend and picks fights with guys.  This is to say, she says or does something so irritating or offensive to a male stranger that he tells her to shut up, go away, etc.  So she punches him in the face as hard as she can.  


Since a guy will get hauled off to jail if he punches a female, he feels like he can't retaliate (or, in this case, defend himself) so she "won".   And these girls were pretty proud of themselves when they told me this & expected me to applaud them.  It was everything I could do to restrain myself from removing their teeth.


The truth is, I was so shocked and offended by them that I really had no idea what to say.  So I got very quiet and still and said that if they act like that they can't train at our school.  


Really, I chickened out.  I tend to say cruel things when I'm really angry and I want to avoid that, plus I was so stunned by their behavior that my brain shut down.  Saying Fit and Fearless won't accept students who bully and attack others its true, but it was still a cop out on my part.  Here's what I'd like to say:


*If you punch people in the face for fun you deserve to get punched back.  I don't care who you are. There are people who engage in this behavior because they are with a friend who trains in martial arts & the puncher assumes they're immune from retaliation because their friend will "take care of it".  If I see someone acting like this I will not help them.  After they get their ass beat, I'll tell their mother on them.


*Young lady, the man who is not punching you back is not refraining because you're so tough.  He is using self control because he doesn't want to go to jail and/or he's been taught not to hit a female under any circumstances.  The fact that you're exploiting this makes you a bad person.  I will now refer you to the previous point.


*You're making me look bad.  Many people assume that women who engage in the "hard" martial arts are crazy or mean angry bitches with a chip on their shoulder.  I make a point to dress very girly and be nice and friendly so that people understand that normal girls like to train, too.  Your behavior is reinforcing the stereotype of the angry-nutjob fighter girl.  


*You are preventing other women from training.  Yes, this is a continuation of the previous point, but the last one was mostly about me.  This is about every female who has been told there's something wrong with her because she wants to train.  It's for every female who has hidden or downplayed the fact that she trains because she doesn't want to be judged as being damaged or warped or hating men.  Getting women to walk in the door of a martial arts studio and accept that it's okay to hit and be hit on the mat is difficult enough.  If other females believe that it's okay for normal women to step on the mat and go hard they're more likely to give it a try.  The fact that you assault people then brag about it makes sane women want to avoid anything that even resembles you.


*I'm not quite sure how to put this, but I also believe that a person who has been subjected to an injustice, as the men you assault have been, tends to adopt a "never again" attitude.  I don't blame them.  What this means to me is that he is more likely to strike a woman in the future, and it will probably not be a woman who is as prepared for violence as you seem to fantasize you are.  Violence against women is endemic in the human race.  I suspect you may be cementing the belief batterers hold that we all have it coming.  


I think that about covers it.  If anyone can tell me how to say that in under one minute and without resorting to the swear words that are so dear to me, I'm taking suggestions.

Just Do Something

"While Barkley continued to straddle the woman, who was crying, two women walked by on the street and did nothing, the affidavit said."


http://www.statesman.com/news/local/man-jailed-in-attacks-on-women-in-west-1969085.html


Just a few days ago, two women walked by a man obviously assaulting a woman near the UT campus.  They didn't bother calling 911.


Now here's the thing:  I know why people act like this.  Anyone who has ever been subjected to my Kitty Genovese drill knows, too.  I don't care, it's still infuriating.


(I'm not the only one who's angry.  Read my friend Jennie's blog on the same subject.)


What happens is this...you're minding your own business and something shocking happens.  Someone is suddenly assaulted right there in front of you.  Probably it begins and ends before you even understand what's going on.  This is why people just stand around there looking around in YouTube videos when "something bad happens".  It's been over for several seconds before the bystanders even start whispering among themselves "did you see that?!".


Or maybe it's not over that fast and you have the opportunity to help.  But you probably don't.  Seriously.  The more shocked you are by that statement the less likely you are to actually be of any use under pressure.


Because...your brain freezes.  (Whaaaaa?...)


Then  denies.  (No, that can't be happening...I've misunderstood.  Are they filming a video?  You know, the film industry has been booming in Austin.  But it looks like he's really punching that guy...no, I'm imagining that, it's not that bad)


Then it freaks & goes numb.  (What am I supposed to do?  Nobody else is doing anything.  I don't want to get hurt. I don't want to get in trouble. He could have a knife! Nooooo.....just keep going, he'll be fine.)


This is normal.  Unfortunately, most people get stuck here.  


What it comes down to is that people don't know what to do, so they do nothing.  


But as I tell my students after the Kitty G. drill, you are going to have to live with your decision, whatever it is, for the rest of your life.


If you're reading this blog, you probably have some knowledge of or at least an interest in self-defense training, and therefore some clue of how and when to intervene.  


But what if you are unable or unwilling to physically jump into an assault in progress?  Should you just pretend you didn't see it?  Not if you want to sleep at night.


Try this:


*Just yell STOP!! as loudly and commandingly as you can.  Do not make a request.  Make a COMMAND.  I was shocked when this actually worked for me once out in public.  Let them know you see them and what they're doing.  If you are not actively in immediate danger do not leave the area until it is safe for you and for the victim.  Stay on the job like a dog on a bone.


*Hold up your smartphone like you're filming or taking pictures & say you got them on film.  Hopefully you actually do.  You may have to run like hell if they turn on you, so be ready.  In the time it takes them to process what just happened & shift gears you can have a nice head start.  Yes, I'm being completely serious.  


*Call 911 & say loudly that you're doing so.  Remember, you're not just trying to catch a criminal, you're trying to stop a crime in progress.


*Recruit anyone else who may be around to help you.  Bang on doors or wave down cars if necessary.  Remember, you are not making a request, you are ordering them to act:  "Call 911 NOW, I'll watch where he goes." People are astonishingly obedient.  Mostly they just want someone to tell them what to do.  Again, I'm being serious.  The more sudden and frightening the situation, the more obedient they become to clear and authoritative orders.


Please know I'm not talking about consensual fighting.  If two people you don't know are in a brawl, I'm not convinced that's your problem.  


But if a man is straddling and choking a weeping and struggling woman on the sidewalk and you just stroll on by, you should carry around business cards that say Rotten Bastard so the rest of us can avoid you like the plague you are.


Please do one thing for me by Sunday.  Please start a conversation with someone you know that goes something like this..."Did you hear about that woman who was attacked near campus?  Those women saw it but walked by and did nothing! Can you believe that? What would you do?  I wonder what I would really do?  Well, I guess I could get out my phone..."


Plant the seed that blooms into citizens who know what they can do in an emergency.  This is the first step to a person actually doing something.   


And if you are someone who is willing to jump in physically to help a victim of crime, I hope you train, and I hope you're training with me.  You're the kind of person that's awesome to have around.

The Flip Side

What goes up, must come down.


Let's talk about an important and often overlooked aspect of training:recovery.  In Krav we are all about GO GO GO, grrrrr HARDER!!!   It can be easy to burn out.


Some people look at rest and recovery as something for the weak, when they are actually critical to remaining strong. This becomes even more important as we pass our mid-twenties.  As I've gotten older (I have a polaroid of myself riding a dinosaur to the local tar pit) I find it's not difficult to perform while training, but recovering takes longer, which can hinder the next session.


If you haven't built active recovery into your training, don't wait...do it now. 


Try these methods: 


Stretch.  You have time to stretch.


Speaking of stretching...you have time to stretch.  Do it.  Ballistic stretching (not bouncing, but not holding a stretch for long periods either) before training, and extended, longer-held stretches after training.  This will keep your body supple and prevent the pulls and tears of muscle and tendon that will keep you off the mat.  We do not have post-class stretching in Krav simply because there isn't enough time.  Do it on your own, preferably immediately.  You can plop yourself down in the lobby or go outside.  


During my morning combatives/conditioning classes (ahem...Mondays & Wednesdays @ 6:15 a.m.) we always spend the last 5 minutes of class stretching.  Do it do it do it.


Massage


For "normal" sedentary people massage may be an extravagance, but for us it's a godsend.  Massage will work out the kinks that inevitably develop through training.  You've undoubtedly been told by your instructor to "not be so tense" when you punch.  The tension in your shoulders sticks around, particularly on the arm with which you throw the cross.  Have the therapist work on that - also I have them do extra work on my forearms, wrists & hands, and calves & feet. Those areas take a lot of punishment in training, so help them out.


My husband & I go to Massage Envy once a month, but if you feel that's more than you want to pay, try going to a massage school.  Their treatments are half the price or less of a regular massage and they do a fantastic job - because you have to fill out a grade sheet for them afterward & they want a good grade.  Also, there's no tipping, because they aren't professionals yet.  I used to go here every two weeks & was never disappointed, but there are loads of other schools in town.


If you want hard-core extreme-o napalm massage, try Airrosti.  When you see people walking around with what looks like colored masking tape all over them, pity them and envy them.  They've probably been to the Airrosti guys over on Bee Caves Rd.  It hurts and it's expensive, but it works.


Chiropractic


I've been seeing chiropractors Dr. Bob Levine & Dr. Colette Zygmont for years & I'm always looser & in less pain when I walk out of their office than when I walk in.  Dr. Bob has his office right in the Fit and Fearless studio, and charges students only $20 for an adjustment, which is a steal.


Yoga


If you haven't tried the Yoga for Athletes classes at Fit and Fearless, do yourself a favor & get in there.  The class is included in your membership so you're already paying for it, and it will help you become more flexible and stronger.  


We are incredibly lucky to have Dr. Jonci Jenson teaching yoga here.  She's a Naturopathic Doctor, so she really knows her way around the human body, and her class is not about wearing cute yoga clothes and saying om.  Dr. Jonci has also trained in Krav Maga and MMA (as has Dr. Bob) , so she knows where you hurt and will teach you how to take care of it.  For general health issues you can listen to her weekly radio show or visit her office.  Fore more information click here.


Any yoga you have access to will help your flexibility, strength, and breathing, so give it a try. 


Sleep 



Loads of stuff has been written about the importance of getting enough sleep, so I'll just say this.  One night this week, just go to bed half an hour earlier.  If it makes you feel better, do it again.


Drink water


Try this:  get a large plastic glass & put it by your bathroom sink.  In the morning fill up the glass & slam it as you get ready, before your coffee.  In addition to everything else you drink that day, slam one more glass during the day & one in the evening.  It'll help your insides not feel like all the plants outside look.


Supplements


I am a supplement maniac, but this is a pretty controversial subject, and one that people on all sides can be loudly passionate about.  If you don't care to supplement, be sure you're eating a very nutrient rich diet & hydrating all day.  I will say that when the economy tanked our income shrank so I cut out our supplements.  I didn't recover as well from training, so I put them back in. Do whatever you want, but it works for me. 


Do something different


People who train in Krav Maga are usually pretty obsessed with it.  It easily gets to the point that it's all you think about, talk about, and want to do.  As fun as this crazy thrill ride is, it's also a ticket for a ride on the Burn Out Express.  Regularly do something completely different, both physically and mentally.  Personally, I walk my dogs on the greenbelt, looking for new plants & animals and also attend a montly book club with nice ladies who don't do Krav and don't want to.  Taking yourself completely out of a training environment (or work, or the one person you spend all your time with) gives your mind and body the break they need to make the best of your time on the mat.  It will keep you from becoming a one-dimensional person & push the reset button on your brain.  


This is a list of all the stuff I do (though the sleep thing often eludes me).  Try the ones that make sense to you, and I'd love to hear anything you do to recharge so I can try it too.