Motivation and Passion for Excellence.

Ever since I can remember, I've always loved quotes and words. I am drawn to their powerful images. The thoughts that they produce. The emotions they invoke. I have always considered myself a good listener and secretly (or not so secretly) have had a desire to be a motivational speaker some day. Through words and deeds come motivation. My payoff, if there is one, is to see other people succeed and be happy with their choices/lives. If I can add anything that will help them with this, then that's all that matters.

My father bought me a book of quotations when I entered university. That book got used so much that it literally fell apart over the 21 years of using it. Yes, I still have it-taped and bound to keep its tattered pages together. Words are important.

I look forward to adding many of my favorite quotes, pictures and tales in the days, weeks, and months to come....

Be Excellent. Always.

Motivation (topic): Stress Management and the Flow

I recently attended an interesting talk about stress management and coping mechanisms. The orator, a doctor in psychology, was animated and up beat. His style wasn't what you'd typically expect from someone who was from that type of "academic circles". He entered the room and his first words weren't hello or how are you? He simply looked at us and said:

"Fuck off."

We all laughed. He went on to explain that everything else that came out of his mouth for the rest of his lecture wouldn't be that hard to swallow or listen to. The use of an unexpected vulgar phrase immediately set a tone which everyone could relate to: He was just another person in the room who had a grounded sense of humor.

I couldn't help but smile as I listened to him as much of what he said resonated with a number of personal beliefs that I have. It's not a secret that I am hyper positive in everything I do. Its like an addiction really. Hard work leads to success. Dreams are made to tackle. Friends keep you healthy. Love makes you drive on. But on the journey to your goals, you'll encounter a ton of road blocks. Those may be negative people who live off the poison of cynicism, hate, prejudice or anger. 

Every time you try to climb out of your small hole that you seem to be in (we will call it life "set backs"), there are some people who want to throw dirt on you to keep you buried.

But situations can also lead to stress, be it financial, personal, or a combo of factors. These all lead to emotional cracks that become bigger over time.  How do we identify them? Let's take a look.

Am I a "used to" person?

When someone asks you what your hobbies are, how do you answer? If you find yourself saying "I used to hike. I used to play music. I used to do jiu jitsu" then you've fallen into the stress tornado. The past tense of the word "used to" indicate that the emotional toll of whatever is bothering you has taken over what kept you healthy originally.

Over time, as the stress builds up, you language about the people around you changes also. It starts like this:

There is me, my partner, my friends, and then the assholes.

Then as time and stress builds, your view changes more:
There is me, my partner, and then the assholes.

And then finally:
There is me and then there are the assholes.

Stress breaks down your relationships and cynicism creeps in more. Did you know that there is a test they can do to test your hormonal stress levels? They do this by taking a swab of your saliva. 

There are ways to keep the stress down however.

Sleep Hygiene:

The biggest culprit in stress elevation is lack of sleep. I could write a 1000 pages on the subject but its already been done. A couple of tips I've learned with shift work and productivity.

-Electronic devices before bed are a no no. They give off a signal that the brain interrupts as "I guess we aren't going to sleep because its day time". Grab a book if you need that stimulation before bed. 

-Eating: while a heavy meal may make you feel sleepy, its one of the worst things to do before bed time. It shunts the bodies function to digestion thus taking away from what it should be doing: repairing and resting the body.

-Hydrate before bed. Make sure those cells get enough H2O. It will help with body function and not feeling hung over or head achy when your rise.

-Melatonin:  an excellent way to reset and keep the body in deeper REM if you have a messed up sleep schedule.

-If you have things on your mind, write them down on a pad of paper beside your  bed so you can 'let them go', and tackle them the next day. Many people lie in bed, wide awake in the dark, playing over situations or thoughts in their head from the day. They think that if they don't think them out, they'll never get solved. They problem is, you aren't really in a good place to do that when your tired. Write it down, let it go and take it up when rested.

Breath. No really. BREATH

We hold our breath. I see it all the time. I see it in jiu jitsu or when people are doing target practice or when they talk with people, or when they are nervous. Taking small breaks (2 mins), to just sit, close your eyes, and breath will help center yourself in the chaos that may be your day. 

Hobbies = Healthy:

It has been proven that doing certain hobbies will reduce stress levels. You don't want to tackle super stressful hobbies when you are already stressed however as this will only jack up your already elevated hormones.  Yoga, martial arts, playing an instrument, casual board games, light hearted movies, dinner with your loved one, good wholesome conversations with friends...these all lead to lowered the stress levels that build in the body.

For me, training Jiu Jitsu is a massive stress release. So is listening to jazz or ambient music in front of the fire place and thinking about good memories from my past or dinner with my number one. You need to find yours.

Your mind will answer most of your questions if your learn to relax and wait for the answer.

Self Defense (topic): Does Jiu Jitsu REALLY work as a self defense?

 
I recently stumbled upon a blog of a well know Jiu Jitsu practitioner ( I decided to keep his name out of this post  because I don't think its important). I read a really interesting post of his and it really made me think. Now, I can respect his reasons for taking Jiu Jitsu but I wholeheartedly disagree with his view on the art.

In the eight years I've been active on martial arts internet forums, I've said many times that I'm not interested in self defence. It isn't something I train for, firstly because I find it dull, and secondly because I'm dubious about the benefits. I'm small, weak and passive, so if some huge drunk with a broken bottle wanted to smash my head in for knocking over his pint, I doubt there is much I could do beyond running away.

Rickson Gracie said : if size mattered, than the Elephant would be king of the jungle. Yes, I realize that this is a nice poetic way of giving the small guy hope in Jiu Jitsu. We've heard countless times of how Helio Gracie was small and weak but really truly could handle himself in real fights in Brazil (not match fights).

I don't take issue with the blog writer not finding reality fighting interesting but issue with that he is dubious about the benefits. I'm small, weak and passive, so if some huge drunk with a broken bottle wanted to smash my head in for knocking over his pint, I doubt there is much I could do beyond running away.

Granted, the writer admits to not having interest in self defense nor do I believe he has ever had to use his skill set in a real fight. The writer is articulate, analytical, and opinionated. He is what I would refer to as an intellectual and sport BJJ player. Again, I have no issue with this.

Without having direct empirical evidence or having experienced this type of conflict on a regular (or even semi regular) basis, it makes sense that he would come to this conclusion. It pains me to think think that his "small, weak and passive" approach to life wouldn't be able to stand up to someone larger than him.



Actually, he is right. He most likely wouldn't fair well because a fighting mind set is where all fighting starts. A negative and defeatist attitude has you on the wrong end of winning to begin with. An amateur thinks IF he can take you. A professional thinks HOW he can take you. I see this a lot.

I have no doubt that the writer is very accomplished at his grappling game and probably has "more medals" than most. Knowing him, I am sure his personal took box is sophisticated and well thought out. He probably is a wonderful person to roll with too (that is the sense I get). But having been involved on the RBSD side for 20 years (including Japanese Jujutsu!) I can tell you from my direct experience that I have seen plenty of weak, passive and small people 'beat' larger people. And I mean plenty.


My martial arts experience has saved me many, many times (Japanese Jujutsu and Gracie Jiu Jitsu/BJJ)  against men who are MUCH larger than me. It is not that I am a tough person but I have learned to use my knowledge in a way that has kept me safe for many years. I have seen people (literally 5'4 130lbs) take out larger people (200lbs plus) because of speed, technique or a good combative mindset. This knowledge has led to confidence.

I implore people like the writer of the blog not to sell themselves short. Doing 8 years of Jiu Jitsu has probably given him more tools than he is aware of. If conflict can be avoided ('running away'), that is fantastic. But violence sometimes doesn't give you that option.

Real fighting always starts with confidence. Real losing always starts with the words I can't. Get your mind in check and see what follows.

Motivation (topic): The Superman in All of Us

When I was four years old, my parents brought me to the movie Superman. I remember clearly being totally engrossed in the film and finding a connection with the Man of Steel. He was able to do anything he wanted-he could fly,  he had x ray vision, and he was impervious to wounds. As you can imagine, as a four year old, I lost myself in countless hours of day dreaming after seeing this film.

Rule 1: Find something that will spark and interest in you...and never let it go when the fire is started.

I flew around my home in my superman underroos and cape and made "swooshing sounds" as I passed my parents and sister. The film had such an impact on me that I actually demanded my next 3 birthday parties to be "Super friends" theme only. As you can imagine, I was the Man of Steel.

As a young child, I didn't see a separation between super powers and goals. I wanted to be "great and excellent". I wanted to save people and stop bad guys. It was engrained within me and I always thought about it.

Rule 2: Excellence is what you say and what you do.

Motivation comes from many places, but mine started as a spark that jumped off the silver screen into my little blonde head. This spark was nurtured by the support of my parents of course. My mother constantly encouraging me to become an "actor" or tackling projects that others may have seen as "too much as a fantasy." I just never ran into a situation where I thought "that is crazy." I looked at situations as "how can I tackle them?"

I remember as child pulling all the encyclopedia Britannica off the shelves and reading them. I can still clearly see the dark brown leather bound covers with red and gold letters and numbers adorning the spines. I still remember the date of the edition: 1967. I loved learning about science, dinosaurs, space, and history. This was my internet of the day.

Rule 3: Learn as much as possible. Take that knowledge and teach others. Make a difference. (my motto I came up with when I was 10)

When I was nine, I was on vacation in Las Vegas with my family when I saw Chuck Norris. Pulling on my Dad's pant leg, I pointed at the action star. I remember walking over to him with my Dad. Chuck said "Do you do martial arts?" I shook my head "no" although I had seen every karate, kung fu, and ninja film that had come out. Chuck said to me "When you start, don't ever stop." The next year, I took my first martial arts class. That was 30 years ago and I am still going.

Rule 4: There is no end date or finish line in motivation. Its a building and expanding thing.

My daydreaming never, ever stopped. I remember in the 4th, 5th and 6th grades talking about cool subjects in the "challenge classes". I would write stories and pictures of futuristic vehicles and devices. I'd spend my lunch hours playing Dungeons and Dragons with my core friends (something I did for 20 years). I remember discovering how important loyalty was at this age. I also remember standing up for my friends like a rabid wolverine when I would see bullying on the play ground.  I hated it.

Rule 5: Imagination MUST be constantly used. Its what replenishes the mind. 

I didn't like to follow trends or popular groups in school. I wasn't a loner but someone who liked to surround himself with other like minded and smart people. I liked different things. I remember drifting towards the "noir" during my teenage years. Dark films, vampires and industrial music. I would spend hours listening to music and write. 

Rule 6: Take moments and be alone to refine the mind. Take moments to be with people and laugh.

My passion for music led me to radio. I started hosting my first radio show at 19. It was called Laced In Darkness and once a week, we'd broadcast from 3am to 6 am at the local university. I was involved with radio for almost 7 years and it lead me to interview bands and groups which I would have never been able to do otherwise.  At 21, got to interview one of the founding members of the pioneering industrial group, Skinny Puppy, cEvin Key. 

My radio partner and I had a hook up through our radio station with the label Nettwork. I remember having one of the employees asking me "Hey, want to meet cEvin?" I jumped at the chance. It was a cold fall evening as we took an elevator up to the 18th floor of a high rise in downtown Vancouver. As the doors opened, we walked into a large room. The windows overlooked the city. The only light in the room was coming from the sound boards that were situated around the room. I could hear dark wave music coming from one of the monitors. From the darkness, a 6 foot 5 figure emerged. This was cEvin Key. I was able to talk and chat for about 2 hours with him. It was a surreal moment for young kid who loved music so much. cEvin was articulate, soft spoken yet had mystery about him. 

Rule 6: Find mentors and don't be afraid to reach out to them. Ask advice. Be ready to say "I don't know and I need help"

When I asked him how he got to where he was, he told me "I kept going and didn't let anyone tell me what was right. What the hell is right? Who has the right telling you that what you are doing is odd or has no chance on succeeding? Keep at it."

I realized that I wasn't lucky-I simply kept following the path which was set out for me at 4 years old. It simply is what I did. Follow your dreams. Do what makes you happy. Surround yourself with like minded individuals. This allowed me to tackle what I wanted.

When I entered university, I wasn't the best student on "paper" but I knew that I liked knowledge so much, it led me to philosophy. My university years were pretty awesome because I got to tackle my love of reading and thinking outside the box. In fact, I recall learning about lucid dreaming and how to do exercises to control your dreams.  It was at 19 that  I was first able to have a flying dream (a la superman) and control where and what I did. A pretty cool experience.  Of course, what does a philosophy degree get you? 

Rule 7: If you are under-estimated, that's ok. Hard work will pay off.

It gets you 18 years as a bouncer. (grin).

My time on the ropes was such a defining moment in my life. It forged some of my closest friendships and best times. It allowed me opportunities that I can't ignore. I loved my team and helping people. It even lead me to write a book on it. I often laughed when people said "your just a bouncer". They had no idea I also wrote, ran a successful martial arts academy, spent time in radio, was a private investigator, worked in film....never judge a book by its cover.

Rule 8: Pause. Reflect. Honor the past. Live the present. Look toward the future as something positive. Yes, be POSITIVE. Negativity of thought. People. Situations. These are the biggest drain on your pool of motivation.

I found that that motivation is built on moments between moments. When I was working the ropes, I was formulating ideas for other business or goals. It was while working as a bouncer that I decided to start a you tube site that grew into one of the most viewed on the planet. I've been able to help many people and that that keeps me going.

Rule 9: Never a wasted moment and never boredom. 

I tackled another dream at 39 to enter law enforcement and did. It was a dream I had for over 20 years. You are never too old to tackle that to do list. The time is now. Don't keep waiting for something better. Make BETTER. Timing is everything in life and the ability to know thyself is key. And trust me, I've got a lot more to do before I am gone.

There is a superman in all of us....you just have to be willing to fly.

Self Defense (topic): The State of Gracie Jiu Jitsu

The State of Gracie Jiu Jitsu

Originally written: April 5, 2014 at 8:07pm

Several years ago, I wrote an article called "The State of 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu." It basically covered the need to be open minded and accept the evolution of what is going on in the Jiu Jitsu world. I have to give Eddie Bravo credit for popularizing, exploring and, in some cases, inventing, positions and techniques that weren't common place among GJJ and BJJ players. I trained under Eddie for over 5 years and learned a ton under him. What it did was ADD things to my game.

As I age, get better at Jiu Jitsu and listen to my body, my game is changing. Like I recently said, "Jiu Jitsu is a finger print, unique to all who do it. Not one game will be the same as the other. Trying to do so is like smashing a square peg in a round hole."

Its no secret that I am extremely open minded when it comes to learning. Not everyone is like that. That may be for political reasons. It may be for moral ones. It usually is because of internal belief structures that prevent the acceptance of moves. That's fine. Its your game, not mine. Its your journey, not mine. That is why the debate on the internet about what is better (style of Jiu Jitsu or game types) gets the award as the most infantile banter out there. I have no time for it.

I trained with Royler Gracie today and he put it best "I am comfortable on who I am. I know who I am. I have to do what it right for me. I love Jiu Jitsu. Its my journey. I hope I can share to help yours."

So, what is the state of Gracie Jiu Jitsu?

Within this very large and complex family, there are styles, types and some rather large personalities. As is the case with all founders of systems, each student (in this case, Helio and Carlos Gracie's sons), each took something different from their fathers. Depending on age or what they excelled at, each one took something different from the teachings. Of course there are some commonalities we see (and there are lots). But as each of these brothers age, their style evolves in to something....like a finger print.

Some of the Gracie's focus on self defense. Some venture into competition. Some mix. Some are 'old school.' Some are 'new school.' But in the end, we all are drinking from the same well. It just depends how close we are from the source and where along the stream we are gathering.

Gracie Jiu Jitsu, in some cases, will focus on self defense and basics and fundamentals. Others will venture in a different direction. I have had the opportunity to train with many Gracie family members or those people who trained under Helio or Carlos. It is amazing to see what they bring to the table.

Gracie Jiu Jitsu is alive and well because it caters mainly to the regular person. This is huge in martial arts. It doesn't stress that you have to do 'x' move in order to get a belt or achieve something. There is MUCH room for tweaking the move to fit your game. This is what makes it so alluring for people who do it. The sub styles and games of BJJ/GJJ teachers recognize this and do the same. (I plan on writing an article on the State of Japanese Jujutsu as well FYI).

I have pulled SO much great material from so many excellent teachers (insert dozens and dozens of names here). DO you like the gi? Self defense? Competition? Nogi? Fast games? Slow games? Its all there for you. You just have to find the right part of the stream to drink from.

I have had so many life changing things happen to me because of my involvement in Gracie Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.  I categorically refute that one style can teach me everything. If we strictly look at one aspect, then you'll miss the big picture. Be humble. Be open. And be willing to learn from these amazing teachers. I know I will.

I look forward to meeting many of you in the future on my journey of Jiu Jitsu.

Keep on rolling!

Self Defense (topic): The Jiu Jitsu Quiz: What Kind of Student Are You?

Training Jiu Jitsu is akin to living and growing up in a family home. Your parents raise you, guide you, take care of you and offer advice. They discipline and ground you at times. Like the parent, the Jiu Jitsu teacher runs the house. Its his/her home, and as such, they makes the rules which the kids (students) must follow. The kids have to be willing to live by these rules in order to train under that roof. No parent (coach) is perfect but they don't have to be. They busted their asses to create a space that the kids can enjoy. It takes a tremendous amount of energy being a parent of an academy. Time, money, emotion, blood, sweat and tears.

The Coach of an Academy doesn't have to answer to anyone because they built the house. Its the perk of owning your own place.

Gyms (studios, academies, dojos) are and extension of that family dynamic. Sometimes its dysfunctional but mostly its run by caring and passionate people who want to make the world a better place. Sometimes the kids never leave home. Sometimes they venture off to see the world. Sometimes they start their own families. And sometimes, they make bad decisions. Sometimes they are disloyal, inappropriate, violent or immature. You see, the Jiu Jitsu academy is no different.

In my 30 years of doing the martial arts, I've been apart of a few families. I've grown up in several homes. But for me, I have always been loyal to my coaches. Once I start with someone, I stick with it. In the 11 years of teaching, I've seen my fair share of child (student) drama from schools. I've been lucky not to have a lot at mine because I make it pretty clear what type of house I run. But you can't have perfect kids all the time.

So, let's talk about the different types of kids in the Jiu Jitsu home!

The Home Body Kid

This student is one that will be with you forever. They have no desire to leave the city or train elsewhere. They have found their 'home' and family. They are happy, loyal and form the backbone of your academy. They do things around the gym not because they have to but because they want to. They are persistent or leaders within the academy. They have (or will) train for a life time. There is no goal or end-only constant refinement. As a parent (Instructor), you smile every time you see them and are thankful for their involvement. They are the fame that hold up the rest of the house.

Off to college Kid!

There are the students that love what you offer and they LOVE the academy but life, relationships or career nudge them in another direction. They leave your academy or city to venture out and experience new things. They may return months or years down the road but whatever is pulling them away is important. They are loyal people who love your academy. They love the coaches. But they are in a searching phase and they will most likely train at other gyms or uproot to another city. They will always speak highly of their "first gym" and will always be welcomed back.

Starting a Family Kid

There are those kids that leave the academy because they are seeking new career paths but they just don't want to just do jiu jitsu, they want to TEACH. With the blessing of their coach, they venture off to a new city and start anew. They build their own clientele and start their own journey. These kids are totally loyal to their original gym and will call themselves 'affiliates' of their home school or instructor. They will support the home school and keep in contact. They will always be family. They will bring their coach out for seminars and introduce him/her to the new set of students. Its one way to expand and spread your love.

The Excuses Kid

This student has excuses for everything. They show up seldom and progress at a very slow rate. They don't understand that there is a direct correlation between getting better and mat time. They seem to think things should be easy but fail to live by "what you put in is what you get out."  Every house has these students and if they realized the wonderful opportunity that lay in front of them, they'd shelve the excuses and come more.

The Troublemaker Kid

These kids have had all the support as their fellow brothers and sisters but for some reason, keep making bad decisions. The seem to be drinking too much. Partying too much. Or getting mixed up with the wrong people outside of the academy. The trouble they get in is nothing major but enough to start affecting their training and how often they show up to class. The coach tires to talk with them and offer guidance but the kids just seems to fall into the same pattern. Eventually, this kid quits jiu jitsu because the outside forces pull them away from the mats.

The Bully Kid

This kid fails to see the message of jiu jitsu and can't shake the inner demon of bullying. They get a thrill out of dominating others but get absolutely crushed by the alpha dogs in the school. They get angry when they get tapped out and aren't smart enough to figure out what the process is about. Coaches spend time trying to change the pattern of the bully but understand that change starts with the student and their willingness on being humbled. The bully either quits pretty shortly after starting or gets kicked out of the house/academy for not being a team player or caring for the rest of family.

The Know it all Kid (Creonte)

The know it all is the kid who constantly tries to manipulate the household. They are young and mixed up and think they know everything at the tender age of white belt/blue. They haven't spent any time in the art but seem to think they know more than their coaches. They set unrealistic goals and set demands on those who are running the house hold. They either get kicked out of the house or leave only to realize they made a huge mistake but won't be able to return to their original home. They drift from school to school, home to home, looking for something they aren't even sure what it is. They continue on a pattern of disloyalty and will change from school to school, year after year because of the self centered attitude they possess.

As the old saying goes, if you look around the room and don't see the asshole, its probably you.

The Rebel Kid

The rebel is the kid that trains with you for a while and seemingly looks like a home body kid. You put a ton of effort into them. You help them. You coach them. You offer them advice. You pay for tournaments. You give them swag. You simply place a lot energy into them because you see their potential. But the rebel has plans...big plans. They want more. They want the world and they are going to break out and start their own family. With the knowledge and love you put into them, they have returned it by simply ignoring they ever trained with you. You raising them is simply excised from their minds and lineage and they seek a new parent and banner under them. Unlike the  starting a family kid, the rebel shows their true colors by not having the honor to respect their roots.

So, not every kid will agree with the rules you set out in your home.  Some will leave for their own purposes. Most will stay and you'll build a strong family because of it. You WILL have kids that get lost. You WILL have kids that will become dishonest and disloyal but your focus should always be on the kids that want to be there and want to help keep the jiu jitsu family unit at your school strong.

If you want to get a really GOOD sense of a Jiu Jitsu home, the coach of the academy will NOT be shy on complementing their own coach and telling you who they have learned from.  

All I know is like attracts like and you reap what you sow. Support your home and for goodness sakes, be a good kid!

Self Defense (topic): Weaponizing the Mind and Body

Repost of an article I wrote some time back.

 Weaponizing the Mind and Body

How much do you really know about yourself if you’ve never been in afight?
-Tyler Durden, Fight Club

            In the 30 years I’ve been involved in martial arts training, my number one goal for doing so has never changed; self protection. I truly enjoy the sportive aspects of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, the aesthetic movements of Aikido and the classical applications of Japanese Jujutsu. But, my goal and primary reason has always been to ‘weaponize’ my mind and body. This is done by connecting the mind (purpose) and body together in one single goal.

            Weaponization is the process of adding tools to your mental and physical ‘toolbox’ which will allow you to be as combat ready as possible when violence comes your way. Martial training is as much mental training as it is physical.  If you break under pressure, all the training in the world will do you no good.

            Violence, in its truest form, is quick, unpredictable and messy.

              My weaponization started in 1992. I was in my late teens when I was confronted and surrounded by 3 males in their early 20’s whilst I was driving to work one evening. I came to a stoplight and they jumped out of their car. They began to yell and curse at me. Their alcohol-fueled rage led one of them to punch out my passenger side window. As you can imagine, I felt helpless, victimized and unsure of myself. It was a form of bullying that I promised myself I’d never stand for it again.

            I took my martial art training much more seriously after this. I began to read and study literature on combative mindset, violence, gang mentality, law and conflict. I watched and studied literally thousands of hours of footage of violent encounters. I asked questions of experts in the field. I trained harder on the mats. I began my career as a bouncer that introduced me to a completely different side of humanity. I was involved in hundreds of physical altercations over my 18 years on the rope. After each one, I debriefed myself, trying to understand what happened and how I reacted.

         That experience working the ropes shaped my martial art training and application. I discarded techniques that were cumbersome, impractical or didn’t survive the pressure test of reality. I got bashed around in those early years before I figured out the groove of violent encounters. I faced drunk, sober and high individuals during this time. It all added pieces to the puzzle.

            Some 10 years after that initial bullying event, I was again faced against 3 males while standing outside for a breath of fresh air at my work’s Xmas party in 2003. This time, the stakes were much higher. One male approached me from the left and ask for the time. His two buddies moved in from the right and were stone faced and quiet. I moved back and to the side as to align them ‘in a row’. Being surrounded isn’t something I am fond of.

            One of the quiet one’s lunged at me. The other two tried to swing at my head.
“Get his money,” one yelled. I was in the middle of a mugging. I was alone. And the stakes where high. The potential for serious injury facing three opponents was no joking matter. I head butted the first male six times as fast and violent as I could. My purpose and goal was to utterly destroy my target with a level of violence that exceeded his.  I moved in a circle avoiding being pinned down in one spot. As the other two grabbed and swung at me, I threw punches and elbows to keep them away. I used a method called SPEAR which was made famous by Tony Blauer to keep them off angle.

            After what seemed like an eternity (time often speeds up or slows down when adrenaline dumps occur. Its called ‘tachypsychia’ or time in the mind), one of my fellow bouncers emerged from the club and grabbed onto one of the assailants. We were entangled in a scrum of some sorts. That’s when one of the male’s reached into his pocket and pulled out a six inch blade.

            I yelled ‘Knife, knife, knife’ to my partner and I kicked the blade-wielding male with everything I had. My bouncer partner then tossed him 10 feet down the street.Injured and rattled, the group scattered.

            This situation made it perfectly clear to me that specific moves are not planned when violence occurs suddenly. Your flinch response and training will dictate how you react before you realize what is going on. The one thing that was clear was my mind telling me to ‘survive’.

I had put in a lot of training and personal effort to weaponizing. I was by no means the toughest person on the planet. But I didn’t have to be. I just needed to be tougher and SMARTER than the situation I was faced with.


Weponizing the Body:

Train with purpose. Train smart (or try). I have a litany of injures from training. Its something most people have if they do combat arts long enough. I am not proud of them but physicality of this nature will cause the body to break down. Accidents, trips, falls, joint locks, strikes….they all add to the list. However, it allows you to understand the limits of your body.You need to train and repeat techniques over and over in order to have it kick in WITHOUT thought when its go time.

One of the advantages to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is that it’s an art that allows full resistance of another person. You get to understand body movement, proper breathing under stress, and the aspects of grappling, joint and choke manipulation. It is awesome for combat training. One of the advantages to Japanese Jujutsu is that it gives you an understanding of standing movement,throws, weapon protection, strikes and to be honest, lethality of technique. I use the two in conjunction as my toolbox. Yours may be different.

Work out. Build up your body to be as strong as possible. The tougher the body, the more it can take when physicality comes your way. After so many years of martial arts, I finally started working out at the gym on a regular basis. I am now stronger, bigger, faster and have more endurance than I ever have had. This was a game changer for me. Combine your healthy living with your martial training. Its important.

Weaponizing the Mind:

Preparing for violence is a strange thing. You never know how you’ll react until you are in the middle of it. Physical training will help you but it is no guarantee that you’ll be ready to rock when attacked. Proper mental preparation using visualization is key. In my opinion, there is a desensitization that needs to occur. We don’t all have the ‘benefit’ of being in professions that have violence in them so you need to start to see what it looks like. You need to understand that you are in control of your mental mindset. Re-enforcement of positive  (never say die) attitude is of utmost importance. Your drive could be personal survival (which it should); it could be family related (your need to return home to see them), or the drive to protect others from harm. You need these basic goals to be burning like a supernova in your brain.  History is replete with examples of human endurance under the most extreme situations.

            So, in order to weaponize the mind and body, you need to get them in synch with one another. I am not suggesting everyone’s goals are this. You may train martial arts for sport, exercise or personal growth. Self-defense or weaponization maybe low on your list. That’s fine.

            Just make sure you surround yourself with someone who has it high on his or hers.

Stay Sharp.
The Vorpal Blade

Mindful Musings (topic): Excellence Matters: The Start...

I've always been fascinated with the adventure we call life. I am just starting to see the pattern in all this chaos. And boy is it beautiful. I don't particularly follow an avenue. I just sort of float around, and pick up up tid bits of wonderful teachings as I sail along.

I've always loved writing. I've been doing it for over 25 years. I also have an absolute insatiable desire to learn and teach. It brings me joy like nothing else. I see motivation in everything. I think the power of words and kind speak go very far. My purpose, as I see it, is to make a difference. My payoff is seeing others succeed and do well. To live a happy life.

But don't get me wrong. I know there are crappy things in this universe. Evil. Destruction. Badness. But I've always been that guy who cheered for the underdog. Who appreciated the good guy even if he or she was a bit of an anti-hero. Life isn't as cut an dry as we'd like. I sure have a mixture of feelings and thoughts in my head.

My blog is going to focus on one main topic: the universe as I see it. This will invariably include my favorite quotes, my views on self protection and martial arts, artistic and dark brooding films, geek culture,  music, authors, ufos, vampires and everything else in between.

This blog is called the Vorpal Blade. Its an homage to an old magical sword that cut through just about anything. That's what this blog will do-cut through whatever I like.

Welcome aboard travelers.

Its time to Be Excellent.