| When it comes down to being in a bad situation | | | | relax my mind and body at will. At one point in |
| where your life is on the line, your brain becomes | | | | my martial arts training, I quickly realized that my |
| your best friend. There is a way to unlock the | | | | mind was my greatest weapon. The great Bruce |
| inner power of your mind and let out the savage | | | | Lee knew the importance of a relaxed body and |
| beast. Martial arts training is more than just | | | | he found that he was a much better fighter when |
| knowing a bunch of techniques, it's about opening | | | | his body was not so rigid, but instead was more |
| your mind with a new perspective. | | | | like water or soft cotton. |
| You've heard the old saying, that martial arts is | | | | In the world of street fighting, one must be able |
| 95% in your mind and 5% technique. At least | | | | to adapt quickly to the chaos and flow with it. In |
| that's what I was told when I first started out | | | | a street fight if you are all caught up in focusing |
| learning how to fight. What you are not being told | | | | on techniques, you may end up getting killed. You |
| today is that in the world of fighting, things are | | | | must develop sensitivity where you can feel your |
| not what they seem to be. Learning to free your | | | | attacker and as Bruce Lee once said, "don't think, |
| mind is the best martial art for self-defense. | | | | feel, it's about emotional content." I've been able |
| Whatever your martial arts background may be, | | | | to win a street fight, not because of some fancy |
| you and I both know that there is always room | | | | techniques, but because of being self-aware. |
| for improvement. Improving your perspective of | | | | Even the Russian martial arts stresses the |
| how you see your attacker, will greatly increase | | | | importance of relaxation. For example, when a |
| your chances for survival. One day a person tried | | | | person comes up from behind you and tries to |
| to attack me from behind and I could feel his | | | | give you a headlock, it is wise to immediately |
| presence, so I quickly turned grabbing his elbow, | | | | relax and move downward. If you allow yourself |
| then throwing him into a stack of pallets. How | | | | to become hard and rigid, your opponent will be |
| was I able to do this you may ask? | | | | able to maneuver you into a compromising |
| Through developing total body awareness, I was | | | | position. True self defense training starts in |
| able to thwart the attack and quickly gain the | | | | developing the correct mindset and then it is |
| advantage through being relaxed. A Tai Chi' | | | | possible to handle whatever situation may come |
| master taught me over 13 years ago how to | | | | your way. |