Boundary Setting is fundamental for human success both on an individual and societal level. Societies that effectively use Boundary Setting create progress and advance civilization (think of Rome). They are able to build upon ideas and inventions. Societies with ineffective Boundary Setting descend into chaos and mayhem (think of barbarians). Individuals that utilize effective Boundary … [Read more…]
I have a love-hate relationship with teaching. I love teaching, or I’d make my living another way. Watching people grow stronger is one of the coolest things to watch, right up there with desert sunsets and ocean storms. And feeling even a tiny bit of responsibility for that growth is a huge ego stroke. No … [Read more…]
There are many ways in which people try to solve problems in their lives and in the world. But, there are two widely used methods that take completely opposite approaches. The method used is usually a function of the person’s Locus of Control. Internal Locus Problem Solving (ILPS)- Someone with an Internal Locus of Control … [Read more…]
It’s not rocket science by any stretch. It is a simple concept. In many situations, after a certain point increasing the magnitude or intensity of a particular factor results in a negative decrease in the overall effect. But before the point, the increase corresponds to a positive increase in overall effect. For example: Increasing the … [Read more…]
What is Your View of Self-Defense? Self-Defense View #1. It’s simple. Self-defense is having to fight off someone who attacks you. Martial Arts teaches students how to fight. Thus, Self-Defense instruction is Martial Arts training. This limited view is epitomized by this video: Self-Defense View #1A. Self-defense is having to fight off someone … [Read more…]
He is big. He is loud. He is scary. He starts yelling at you from twenty feet away. You tell him to “BACK OFF!!!” He walks straight up to you. He stands directly in front of you and reaches to grab you. You punch him in … [Read more…]
“The best offensive is to eliminate your opponent’s defense.” Offense is the concept of actively forcing an action or event on the Target. Defense is the concept of actively resisting this action or event by the Target. The concepts of Offense and Defense have no attached or intrinsic value judgments of good and bad. When the … [Read more…]
COMMENT by Erik Kondo Many social violence dominated Monkey Dances can be very intense. Each combatant is working very hard to assert his or her dominance. Despite landing and receiving wide variety of multiple blows/strikes, the combatants emerge relatively undamaged from the encounter. Some reasons for this happening are: 1. It is hard … [Read more…]
COMMENT by Erik Kondo This video graphically illustrates the nature of asocial violence. The victim is dehumanized by the predator. The attack is asymmetric (man vs. woman). The predator ambushes the tenant from behind and uses brutal means to incapacitate his victim. The predator is not a lowly motivated attacker that is easily disrupted … [Read more…]
I love teaching cops. Teaching martial artists I am aware that most of them, from rank beginners to ‘modern combat masters’ are getting nothing more than a handful of details to add to their daydreams. A few (and they are damn few in any given class) will need it– but they aren’t the macho posturers. … [Read more…]