Just read this piece about some Nebraska state legislation regarding their concealed carry laws. This is a good sign, and I hope it goes through. Slowly but surely Nebraska’s laws will improve.
self defense
Keeping your eyes involved and on the level
I was at the dojang today and because we only had a few people and thus space to do so, we spent time working with staff. One thing I did was work on a staff form, Joong Bong Il Hyung (middle staff, 1st form). You can see a portion of the form here:
Notice at the beginning of that clip how the gentleman is doing 360º turns? I spent a lot of time on that today because I always have problems with that movement. I know the theory of what to do, like a figure skater that you need to turn your head all the way and focus your eyes on some point, keeping your head level, and so on, yet still it gives me trouble. However something hit me today that worked like a dream.
I took a cue from my motorcycle riding. On a motorcycle you look where you want to go. Where you look, that’s where you will go. So if you look down, you will go down. If you look through the turn, you’ll glide gracefully through the turn. Looking is very important to motorcycle riding. I noticed when I was turning that while I looked, I was only looking at the end points… that I start facing north (if you will) and look north, then I perform the 360º pivot and work to lock my eyes 360º around at the end point. But what am I doing with my eyes during the turn? Well, I wasn’t looking at much of anything… my eyes just went, wherever, I couldn’t tell you.
What I did was ensured that as I turned, my eyes stayed involved. No I didn’t still focus on any points during the turn, but your eyes still have to do something… they will still be looking, they will still be taking in whatever whirrs past them. So what I did was kept my eyes level the whole time. My eyes were semi-actively scanning and taking in everything on a plane parallel to the ground… kept it all level, kept my eyes involved. And lo… I was steady. I could pivot and rotate without any problem.
This has other implications too. Not just for empty hand martial arts skills (e.g. helping with 360º spin kicks, turning back kicks, etc.), but even for other tactical matters. I did notice while I was turning, while I wasn’t actively looking at anything, I was certain that I was taking in a great deal of visual information… I was far more aware of what was going on around me (duh!). Just goes to show that we’re not always aware of what we’re doing, and these little things can matter.
Sohn Mohk Soo
The second set of techniques one learns in Kuk Sool (at yellow belt level) is Sohn Mohk Soo — wrist techniques.
Many people put down defenses against wrist grabs, and I can understand why. It’s complicated, and in a “real fight” situation a lot of it is unlikely to work unless you’ve had a lot of training, practice, and know how to set it up. There’s merit to learning how to escape from wrist grabs because they do happen, but you just don’t always need a lot of fancy flowery moves. If what you want is to just break their grip on your wrist so you can get away, there’s really nothing special: work against their thumb (weakest point of the grip), use your fully body (weight):
Other simple movements can work too, e.g. stomp on their instep.
Back to Sohn Mohk Soo.
What has to be considered here isn’t so much that you are learning “defense against wrist grabs” but that you are also learning body mechanics. Sohn Mohk Soo teaches more about how the body works: how the wrist, arm, shoulder work, or perhaps more importantly how they don’t work. It also teaches ways for you to move your body: methods of grabbing, methods of entry, body positioning. Furthermore, just because these techniques are set up from a same-side wrist grab position, that doesn’t mean they are only applicable in that instance: an arm bar is an arm bar no matter how you enter into it. When viewing and learning these techniques, don’t stop at the surface, look deeper. There is a lot taught and much to learn.
HB 1893 update
Went looking for information on HB 1893 and found this, which didn’t add a whole lot, then found this and this which was somewhat of a live blog of the hearing coverage.
Apparently it was not passed out of committee and the committee adjourned at 10:56 PM after hearing several hours of testimony.
So, I guess we continue to wait….
Interesting to consider some of the testimony mentioned in the hearing. Some was the same old claptrap from the anti’s, based on emotion and ignoring all facts and evidence. One interesting pro argument was the disabled on campus, wanting to ensure they could defend themselves. The live blog contains a lot of chatter, but it is interesting to review.
Updated: The bill’s official page has been updated to say it was considered in public hearing, testimony was taken and recorded, and it was left pending in committee. Hopefully just means the hour was late, everyone was tired and wanted to go home, and they’ll pick things up today. More updates as I find ’em.
As well, I see there are now 66 co-authors listed. There were 65 when I last checked.
Current tactics? Engage.
The nursing home rampage in North Carolina is a horrible tragedy. However, one bright spot (if you can call it that) is what Officer Justin Garner did that brought an end to the rampage.
He actively engaged the shooter.
He did not wait for backup. He did not wait for the SWAT team. He did not wait for anything. He was the first to arrive on the scene and entered the nursing home alone to bring an end to the situation. He was successful.
I’ve mentioned before how active shooter tactics have changed. What we see here is an application of those new tactics, and that they worked.
HB 1893 to be heard today
Texas House Bill 1893 is to be heard today. With 5 authors and 65 co-authors there’s some strong backing for this bill in the House. JR provides his input.
If you live in Texas and haven’t contacted your Representative yet, today is the day. You may also want to contact the members of the House Committee on Public Safety and let them know — briefly and politely — of your desire for them to support and pass this bill.
I know how my Representative stands on this. I just sent her a reference to a study containing much empirical evidence on the matter, but I don’t expect the facts, research, and evidence to sway how she feels.
Smart criminal?
Austin Police just arrested a man suspected of about 50 burglaries in the Austin area.
The interesting part of the article?
“Mr. Hill is actually not a violent person at all,” Det. Jarrett Crippen said. “He was very specific that he does not like breaking into people’s homes [he targeted small businesses]. He realizes this is Texas and any number of Texans have guns in their homes, and he didn’t want any part of that.”
Folks, you don’t have to fire a gun for it to be effective at deterring crime.
Sobering facts
Thanx to Xavier for bringing this to my attention.
I would love to get a hold of the full report. If you have a copy and/or know how to get it (my Google-Fu has been weak today), please let me know.
The facts presented are sobering:
- Handguns are the weapon of choice. None are obtained by “legal” means and no laws stop them from obtaining the gun; in fact, they laugh in the face of gun laws.
- Many offenders have formal training (e.g. military) and most practice on average at least bi-weekly.
- Their training is motivated by thinking police practice a lot. In reality, police don’t practice much at all. Just because their job requires them to carry a gun doesn’t mean they’re proficient with them.
- Offenders don’t use holsters, but they do have backup weapons.
- Offenders have a cold-blooded mindset. They have no problem killing you and killing you first.
And there are many more. Go read.
And I have to agree with Xaiver:
“They practice getting the gun out and using it,” Davis explained. “They shoot for effect.” Or as one of the offenders put it: “[W]e’re not working with no marksmanship… We just putting it in your direction, you know… It don’t matter… as long as it’s gonna hit you…if it’s up at your head or your chest, down at your legs, whatever… Once I squeeze and you fall, then… if I want to execute you, then I could go from there.”
Those are some chilling words. Remember them when you practice. Train like you fight, and you’ll fight like you train.
Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results
That’s the definition of insanity. It seems to be alive and well.
If there is some new era of urban conflict and we need to prepare ourselves for that conflict, there seem to be two courses of action. The course of action some want us to take is to disarm the good citizens and tell us that Government Will Save You™. Well, I offer my simple experiment as to why that won’t work. So the remaining course of action is to take some responsibility for yourself to get some training, knowledge, and ability on how to defend yourself.
It’s your life. How do you want to live it? You’re always welcome to join the insanity. Let me know how that works out for you.
Tony Blauer on the Close Quarter Range
Here’s a great article from Tony Blauer on the “Close Quarter Range“.
The more I read about Blauer’s approach to combat, the more I like it. It’s modern in approach, it builds upon natural body reactions and movements, but he also doesn’t totally dismiss more traditional arts. If there’s anything he dismisses it’s martial arts bullshit, which I appreciate.
For instance, Blauer understands the value of “forms” practice (kata, hyung, poomse). Many modern martial artists poo-poo the notion of it, but in the end any sort of repetitive practicing of movements is forms practice. IMHO there’s a lot of good in forms practice, so long as it’s a meaningful form and meaningful practice. If you’re just flailing and dancing, there’s no point to that other than perhaps some physical exercise and ego feeding. If however you are practicing actual martial movements to ingrain them as natural actions, if you train with the proper mindset, that has utility. Some forms practice is like moving meditation, and there’s utility in that as well (Kuk Sool’s Baek Pahl Ki Hyung is that for me). In the above-linked article, Blauer presents a “Close Quarter ‘Muscle Memory’ Form”. You must first obtain the correct mindset: visualizing where the strikes are landing, visualizing the reactions so you properly flow with their movement. Then imagine that you’re in a situation, you tried to avoid physical confrontation but the attacker/bully presses the issue and you must physically react.
Start from a “Submissive Posture”
Legend: YOUR ACTION ‑ opponent’s reaction
- SHORT LEAD FACE SLAP ‑ opponent flinches and closes his eyes.
- PALM STRIKE UNDER CHIN ‑ opponent steps back, growls and rushes in to nail you with a “big Haymaker.”
- Intercept with the S.P.E.A.R. ‑ opponent is jammed and hesitates.
- VERTICAL ELBOW ‑ catches opponent under the chin, snapping his head back.
- DOWNWARD RAKE (flows from same elbow #3) ‑ scratching attacker’s face, he flinches forward.
- HORIZONTAL ELBOW (opposite arm) ‑ hits opponent in the nose.
- REVERSE RAKE (same arm #5) ‑ causes opponent to clutch his face and turn away.
- DIAGONAL ELBOW (opposite arm/up and downward, slashing motion) ‑ hits attacker in the temple (clavicle, ear, etc.) region causing him to buckle.
- HAIR GRAB & KNEE ‑ grabbing the opponent’s hair, you drive a knee solidly into his face. He clutches his face and starts to stand up.
- LEAD FRONT KICK ‑ seizing the opportunity to attack the groin, you step in and snap a hard, quick kick to the groin. Your opponent doubles over, clutching his groin.
- REAR LEG FRONT KICK ‑ With the opponent doubled over, drive a powerful front kick, and use the shin as a striking surface, into his hands. Turn and run.
Is that a form? Sure is. Is it useless to practice? I don’t think so.
Blauer’s got an interesting approach. Well worth the read.
Updated: Found a video demonstrating the form. Tony himself made the video, narrates it.
Stuff From Hsoi 