[dkatman]

Re: Why punch with knuckles?

quote CJs Dad:

The average person however instinctually (one of our KM principles) will punch. That’s just a fact, people want to punch things.

I think this said it for me personally….It is so satisfying….well, in class.

I have always used the saying that nobody ever broke a hand by hitting someone with an elbow.

Dave

[dkatman]

Re: Has there been a decline?

You are right. I apologize. I got a little busy with work and I got pretty lazy. I will try to get back in really soon.

Thanks for looking for me and calling me out.

hahahaha

Dave

[dkatman]

Re: "Relax, you’re very stiff…"

Fantasic post Mike!

Yli, I remember hearing that…mores, my shoulders looked too tense. I could only respond that the other guy was trying to hit me…it was a very tense situation. 🙂

They were pointing out to me that I was expending too much energy while just standing there.

I wonder if you might benefit from slow motion drilling. I work with a particular partner who is fantastic. He will often talk about flowing like water. He is smooth. He will focus on the fluidity of the movement and talk about how it will still come out under stress.

I have found that instructors can sometimes confuse us as we are starting out with the statement to “be explosive”. I was quite certain that my fast, erratic motions were very explosive. If you have an agreement with your partner that you want to cut down to half speed, you may benefit. Forget about explosive. Just go through the proper motions as you want them to flow from you. After some repetition, trying increasing the speed.

Good Luck,

Dave

[dkatman]

Re: Bear hugs and hair grabs?? necessary??

Thanks, Mara. I have just been really busy with work (still training) and not coming here as much in my “free time”.

Lions, I am currently tested into taking up to level 3. I have been seen in level 4 a few times, but I stopped doing that and am waiting until I actually test into that…assuming I will.

I will say I tested too early from 1 to 2, was still excited to test from 2 to 3 and I am very happy with the instruction and material I learn between 1, 2, and 3.

Good luck to you,

Dave

[dkatman]

Re: Have you used KM in real life

Ha! I am stuck somewhere between “Lighten up, Francis!” and just plain are you serious?

I am normally above online mudslinging and so I will try to maintain some self respect.

I remember the threads referenced quite well. I probably should have chosen my words more carefully. But somehow when I am trying to conjure the image of Liam Neeson in Taken and you are visualizing Dexter, you may be the one who needs help.

I find it very how I have been made out to be the psychiatric patient because of the images you see when you read my words. I apologize for trying to use a metaphor instead of a simile (it is always easier to understand a comparison when words such as “like” are used). Yes, I really meant neutralizing the threat. I have no interest or desire in stopping anyone from living or from causing there death. I did not become “excited” by the awareness I had.

I have a coworker who likes to pop out as if to attack my a la Kato (that is a Pink Panther reference for those who are still sure the voices speak to me; the Francis reference is from Stripes….that is also a movie). He does not really attack me, but is like “what would you do then” from a safe distance. I always tell him that the first hit is free…Frankly I am sure I don’t have any option other than taking the first shot I have no reason to expect…it is what I do from there that I can control.

I was really looking to add that I still benefit and use Krav Maga without striking anyone.

While I used that example, I do not always visualize people attacking me. I do work in downtown LA. There is a wide variety of people and characters. Sometimes it is just being vigilant in noticing what people have in their hands as they walk by. Is that a cell phone? Is it a blade? Are they walking with a closed fist? What is their demeanor? I had a former coworker who was cut by a needle from someone on the street a year before I started work there. I do not live my life in fear that this will happen to me. I do not fantasize someone will try it. But I do try to keep an eye on my surroundings (you know, when I am not typing emails as I walk along the street) and try to have some kind of a plan if……

It is way easier to defend an overhand knife attack when the instructor says “attack your partner with an overhand stab with your right hand” than having some randomly or not randomly pull out a knife and stab at you. But we don’t really train for the “partner” attack. We train for the instances we may be thrust into using what we have learned. While I like to think I will respond appropriately, every day I don’t have to strike anyone is a day that it all worked to perfection.

Good Luck to you and thank you for the concern.

Dave

[dkatman]

Re: Bear hugs and hair grabs?? necessary??

Lions, I must like your contributions because I think I just responded to 3 of your posts.

I will say a few things to your original topic:

I believed that bear hugs have the prominent place you have noticed because statistically it is more likely to happen to you than you might think. Also, there are subtle differences that make all the difference in the technique. It would be a shame to be perfectly prepared in bear hug #1 only to have someone put bear hug #4 on you only for you to explain they are doing it wrong.

I also agree with your perceptions of where you are in your training. You are happy with what you are learning and you are striving to be as competent as you can be. That is good. As you also progress, I am sure you will not become bored, but you will find an interest in expanding your skillset. The good thing is that you are also free to continue taking level 1 classes as well. In fact, it is encouraged.

On a side note: Yes, Sean is a fantastic instructor and a deadly individual. I have had the pleasure of taking a class with him and the humbling opportunity to spar with him. I am by no means a tough guy anyway, but man! When he store in front of me and kicked me in the back of my head…. I was happy to wait until I got home to cry. 😉

And it is funny that you should mention both bear hugs and hair grabbing. Those are both two of the most important things I have covered with my daughter. She might be the size someone might just try to pick up and take away. And someone might grab her hair. It is realistic. And for me, anyone who has the thought to come over, pick me up, and slam me down scares the crap out of me. I am not huge at all (just shy of 6’1″, 190 pounds). how big is the person who figures on picking me up? That is a big person in my mind.

Dave

[dkatman]

Re: Have you used KM in real life

I think I use KM most moments of most days.

Last night, I was walking to the restroom in a comedy club. As I walked through, I did visualize how I would kill each person I walked by as I made my way to the restroom if they jumped out at me. Luckily for all of us, we never found out if it would have worked.

This is funny and really happened. I am not sure why the thought crossed my mind at the time, but I am just illustrating that Krav is also about the awareness and preparedness. In that, I truly do feel I actively use it all the time.

Dave

[dkatman]

Re: What is your favorite part of KM

I would probably go with getting kicked in the groin. It’s difficult to find somewhere you can get kicked so often for so cheap. And throwing elbows at people(pads). I really like to step in and throw a nice elbow.

Water breaks are really nice. 🙂

Dave

[dkatman]

Re: Black Belt Hall of Fame

quote CJs Dad:

I appreciate the kind words but really I just carry the bags of those who walk before me.

I like being in the background

Iíve had the privilege of training with many of you and always try and walk away from the experience feeling like I learned something.

Although there are those days when Iím fortunate enough to stand in front of the class I still just suit up and show up ready to learn.

Thank you guys for the opportunity to train together.

Sean
“no longer a legend in just his own mind”

Oh yes, I remember that time I taught you when there is a guy just standing in front of you, you can kick him in the head.

Congrats. It feels a little better now in retrospect to have been kicked in the head by a Living Legend.

I guess the getting cracked in the nuts by the “Outstanding Achievement in Martial Arts” wasn’t bad either.

I can’t wait for classs tonight.

Dave

[dkatman]

Re: Fight Science

I thought it was mostly good. I found the science behind it interesting: Measuring the torque and equating Kelly’s hip rotation to that of a Major League Baseball player swinging a bat; Showing the extra force applied by using a smaller surface area; Discussing the damage to the body striking certain areas; Seeing just how much a key wants to find the eye socket.

I just get upset at shows like this that stretch out their material, shooting 20 minutes of film for an hour show. You know, showing the 20 second teaser of what they will show after the break. Then coming back from the break saying remember this teaser we showed you (and showing it again). Then, let’s roll it all back from the start to show you that teaser part a third time along with the 5 seconds afterwards we were teasing.

That, and the computer graphics they add. They are cool. it is a cool effect. But then after a while, I just felt like they were doing it because they could. They make the computer animations of the muscle covered skeletons going through the same motions you just saw Amir and Sam go through and describe what is going on. And then there was another one depicting the inside of the body and what happens when Amir strikes me to the nose….Cool, but then just felt overboard to me. I guess I am satisfied with an instructor in class saying if you strike the nose, they will tear up and get dizzy, without having to see a graphical representation of a nerve ending inside the nose becoming irritated.

It was fun though. I liked it. I would definitely watch a part two.

Dave

[dkatman]

Re: Has anyone taken intro to fight in LA or Sherman Oaks?

I have been through intro to fight in West LA a few times…mostly in stages (It reminds me of all of those years in the second grade).

I have taken an entire 10 week track and I have taken the track again with missing a week or two while completing.

Let’s be serious: EVERY instructor that would teach this track at either of these two centers is going to be top notch.

I have mostly taken it with Junior. I did have Sean sub for Junior at one class.

I am pretty certain I was at least in Level 2 classes at the time I started. For me, I really thought it was good to have the experience of being in level 2 classes (not necessarily completed and in Level 3) before starting the classes. I am sure you could still be fine without this. But I do think there is a level of competence from having completed some level 2 instruction (and level 1 test) that prepared me a little better for intro to fight. That said, it did take an even pace that progress at a steady rate. I just think knowing the four punch combination and basic leg defenses helped a whole lot in feeling comfortable going forward.

Most all of the other students were pretty good ( their mentality). You see that people you work with have different paces. The instructors did well in maintaining a mellow environment that everyone could learn from. It was not about going in and trying to take someone’s head off. But people do get excited when someone is throwing punches at you (even at 50%). The instructors will caution to slow down and maintain control, even step in if necessary. Some people will go a little harder than others. I think I tended to go harder against people I knew more and we knew each others ability. And that was still reasonable. And yes, some people will go harder than you may want. It is a comfortable environment to say “Hey. can you slow it down a bit?” And more than that, it is more likely the instructor will say so before you need to.

Overall, the classes did follow a progression. It is a good idea to take the track through.

Now having said all that, I have been told that they have been very excited about the fighting program and some new things they were going to be doing with it. I don’t know what this is. And I wasn’t told too much, other than it was going to be awesome.

Dave

[dkatman]

Re: Out of Krav

Mike,

I have been in and out of the Forums. I was not aware of this at all, but wondered why I had seen much less from you when I have stopped by.

I am glad things are definitely on the upswing for you.

I look forward to seeing more from you around here…and maybe sometime at the West LA Center as well.

Dave

[dkatman]

Re: 2 handed punch

I think you would be missing the umph off either of those punches. Which one would get the body rotation? I think it is that full rotation that gives the strength behind the punch.

In regards to 360 plus counter (although I still envision the straight punch with counter), I think the main point is still that it is better to counter and turn the tables from defensive to offensive quickly. So it is more important for the speed of the counter than the power of the counter.

Also, when I throw my left to the chin, my right should be somewhere close to me, providing protection.

I do recommend you give your idea a try with a heavy pad, or with a friend holding focus mitts. I would mix it up: Throw three double shots. Then throw three combos to the chin to the body and see what feels like it accomplishes what you are looking for and feels comfortable doing.

Good Luck,
Dave

[dkatman]

Re: Good days and bad days?

Man! I have days/nights so bad that I wonder why I waste my time coming in and wondering how I felt so confident during my last class.

Sometimes it can be as simple as an instructor saying “OK, let’s do side kicks”.

So either it happens to a bunch of people, or just you and me.

Dave

[dkatman]

Re: Total Noob

I started out without any experience at all. After a few years, some people might say I still don’t have any 😉

I have seen some people come in appearing to be somewhat out of shape. Sometimes it is absolutely amazing to see the transformations people make once they get hooked.

Go For It!!!

Good Luck,
Dave

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