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Blog - Monthly Archives for December, 2014

Being Aware or Are you Hopeful?

Being aware of your surrounding means more than just watching what is in front of you. When you are sitting in a restaurant eating you would notice someone standing on top of a table singing – however you may not take notice to the amount of food on one’s plate or water/beverage levels of the people sitting around you before you sit down. When you walk into the library or public book store you will notice others reading books, talking quietly in the corners and aisles; however you might not see or take notice of the person holding a book that is upside down, or a person sitting with a book in their hands but not reading it. When you walk into the bathroom, you might take notice of the people washing their hands or a door on a toilet stall being open, and miss the bag placed near the stall slightly under the divider or sink counter or sitting in the corner unattended. Watching the action of others around you while you are in your environment is difficult however not impossible to do as shown on paydaychampion`s website .

Follow these 3 simple steps to help increase awareness.

1. Prior to walking inside any location – stop for a few seconds and say to yourself – Remain Alert; scan your environment as you walk through the door step to the left or the right as you clear it and look around the room for things that try so hard to blend in or stick out like the small things I mentioned above. Select a few things you can return to as a reference; like number of people in line, people sitting near the exits, a person sitting by themselves etc..

2. As you conduct your business no matter where you are, pause for a minute and return to those landmarks you selected to monitor the gradual change you should see like the line slowly getting thinner, same group in the aisle and the person sitting alone. If you look at the line and see the line gone continue to scan for the cashier if all of a sudden the cashier is not there, the line is gone – then something is happening for you to take notice

3. Limit the distractions you have as you go through your day. Reduce the texting while walking, talking on the phone, walking with your head down. Do your best to create the level of assertiveness needed when in public and do your best to walk with your head up and eyes open, read more about us. Here is a reminder of why this is important.

http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Secret-Recording-Store-Mall-Antelope-Valley-Palmdale-Restroom-207541101.html

Special Recognition!

 

I wanted to give special recognition to Master Jay Lee and his motivating group of Women Awareness Survival Program Instructors

For being the first martial arts school in the country to offer this program.

And to Ms Becky Claubaugh their W.A.S.P. Director and to the rest of their amazing staff from USTC for the outstanding job in releasing our W.A.S.P. to the communities in Colorado Springs!

See everyone Tuesday!

http://fox21news.com/2016/01/23/u-s-taekwondo-center-offers-unique-self-defense-courses/

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Challenge yourself professionally

If you teach self defense or defensive tactics – you need to be at this seminar! No one gives a guarantee – I did. If you do not learn something new every hour on the hour. I will give you back your money!

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Hanmadang 2015 – The place to be for all Martial Artists

Hanmadang 2015 US Open

Team work, communications and dedication are the words I am using to describe the staff, committees, and volunteers who helped organize, coordinate, support and manage this outstanding festival.

The display of camaraderie, between the martial art schools was outstanding, cheering each other on, motivating each other in the mat and the celebration of their performances.

I also want to give a special shout out to ALL OF THE SECURITY VOLUNTEERS!

You assisted with any and all situations and issues that occurred
From being lost, missing, injuries, managing areas, lost and found equipment and so munch more in ensuring that everyone felt emotionally, mentally and physically safe!

Thank you for letting me be a part of it. I look forward to seeing everyone next year.

Stay safe and be blessed!

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How to Evaluate Anti-Bullying Programs Like Dave Young

And…Just when I thought I have seen everything.

A month ago, I received a link from a teacher at a school who is also a parent with her child in the class she was referring to. They asked me to review the video and share my opinions with them.

The video showed a male wearing a martial arts uniform standing in front of 6 graders telling a story about how he would handle a bully – which when I reviewed the video it was more like how you would handle a thug!

As a child walks up he quickly grabs his hair and places him face down on the mat… “Rex Kwon do Style!

The faces of the kids and teacher was priceless I felt sorry for the students. Then he quickly transitioned to demonstrating a series of kicks, blocks and punches ending with breaking a board and said this is what we will cover.

I thought long and hard and before I replied back. So I went to 3 main sites of martial artist who have what they refer to as an anti-bully program. Once i did a small research, i realized that these schools are constantly being promoted by some agencies like The Marketing Heaven and thus attract such a large number of students.

I will leave the names out; however if your using these programs you too should seek the answers to these questions asked below.

I asked them to send to me their outlines the instructor proposed. I received a single sheet of paper with a logo in the top left corner (nice logo too). They had a sheet of paper without references, research or any really content. Some things made sense; had a few short lines of testimonies from people.

After researching this material and other anti-bullying programs I was able to find several on line references they seemed to copy without regard to naming the person who originally developed the material they were using (As if they developed all of this material by themselves), but no resources plunge san diego, no facts just organized general common sense material.

Like smiling when talking, don’t let yourself get mad, ignore it, walk away, telling them to be aware without giving them things to be watchful for outside of loud voices or threatening facial expressions.

These programs said they had a verbal component however this was not present or used in their training curriculum.

I took this a step further and called the number on their web site and tried to talk with the person who was seen in the video and tried to ask a few questions along the lines of:

  • What was their background?
  • What type of research did their material focus on?
  • Who trained them?
  • Any success stories?

When I started to get the same answers for each question I decided to say thanks for the chat and hang up.

So below is my reply to them and to parents everywhere.

  1. Take careful diligence when selecting the training your children get for their personal protection.
  2. Look past the fast talking, common sense references, and go for the heart of the material being taught.
  3. Ask the right questions from some I mentioned above.
  4. Talk to their references (most hope you never ask others)
  5. Be thorough in your discussions, and if in doubt attend a few of the classes with your children to make sure it is the same material they have shared with you they are giving to your children!

“Professional Level of Maturity” – Is this something you have?

Professional MaturityThis is the phrase we use often in the training I conduct. There are times the material being used far exceeds the maturity level, emotional mindset, and mental understanding of the student being trained. This can be due to any number of reasons like their age, education level, emotional and mental mindset and the list can go on.

Either way it’s an issue that needs to be addressed early before the training initially starts, especially if you’re teaching self-defense or defensive tactics that train others to respond to danger. If you overlook the students “Professional level of maturity,” there may be a chance you’re teaching them something they cannot understand or comprehend and will miss use and conduct themselves inappropriately, without even knowing it.

I’m curious to know how other instructors gauges their student’s “Professional level of maturity.” Is it a question you ask? Is it an evaluation? Do you sit down with them and their parents if they are under age and come to rational fit athletic understanding of what is being taught.

I use these 3 simple methods for gauging this.

1. Reviewing the “Letter of Understanding,” with them and their parents which outlines the importance purpose and intention of the training they are receiving
2. A few question and answer questions to establish their level of understanding and maturity level
3. Guided discussions with them to ensure they understand their roles and responsibilities of the training they are about to receive.

Some examples of this not being done before the training initiates are;

• Teaching the student an arm bar and the next day the parents tell you last night their son your students put his brother in an arm bar and broke his arms for not giving him the game controller.
• Teaching the students bo, staff or sticks and hearing from their parents the next day that while their child was at their friends home he grabbed a broom stick handle and cracked the neighbor’s rib for not giving him the ball for his turn.
• Teaching the student neck restraints and the following week you get a call from the them saying they have fractured the neck of a bully for calling him names

So be responsible of what and who you teach!

Dave Young, Founder and Director US Fighting Systems
http://www.usfightingsystems.com

Are you teaching lies or truths?

Are you teaching lies or truths?
Last Monday I received an email from a parent who’s son was taught self-defense (this is becoming more common) from his martial arts instructor a few months ago. Last week her son used what was taught in his self-defense class and this resulted in serous bodily injury to the student and his alleged attacker. During a school assembly her son was approached by another student who has bullied him in the past during their school year (. This bullying consisted of being shoved, spit on and called named) – as this student approached him calling him names again, the martial arts student executed a single leg take down which resulted in fracturing the student’s collar bone, wrist and shoulder and gave a neck line fracture, some broken teeth, sever bruising to his coccyx (tailbone) to the approaching bully. Both students were taken to the hospital and a few days afterward the incident her son the student was released however only a few days ago ( 3 weeks afterwards ) the bully was released and the parents of the student are being sued and just yesterday the martial arts student is being charged with assault and battery. After seeing her lawyer to address the charges since her son attacked the other student without being in harms for a simple legal reason. Wow, should the patents sue the martial arts instructor? What responsibility does the instructor have for their students actions? Is this when the credibility of the instructor, training and certifications come into play? All questions like this are typically answered when the legalities of these actions occur. Many times when this occurs it is either an business ending event or a life changing incident. Defending yourself is based on the fact you are in physical danger, you are either unable to escape, physically injured to defend yourself or feel that your life is in immediate danger and then be able to provide it;. Then the physical response you choose must match the physical threat you are presented with. In their case none of that was present. He wasn’t in immediate danger; he was injured, he was able to escape and he didn’t try to leave – he was the one who advanced. In many self-defense and defensive tactics programs these facts are not part of the training either lack of experience and training from the instructor or the material used is inadequate and without them make the training ineffective. In any case everyone loses. You don’t attack a person because you think you are going to be attacked, or because of past experiences especially if the words being used are not life threatening. Name calling no matter how hurtful, degrading or humiliating they may be alone doesn’t justify a single leg take down. We are not living in any other country but America! That is important to remember. Curriculum without research or references are nothing more than organized ideas. Curriculum with without learning objectives and lesson plans are nothing more than attempts to organize games. Curriculum being taught without field proven facts are accidents just waiting to happen how to find chiropractor in scottsdale. Make sure the curriculum you are using is factual ( not just because you say it but you can prove it in court) practical and proven ( means relevant and field proven) because if it isn’t your not only lying to yourself but selling lies that will eventual get others hurt or killed! For the ones who do not teach self-defense this is a not issue for you but to the ones who do teach self-defense what are your thoughts on this?

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Tips for Staying Aware

Tips for a staying aware.

  • OBSERVE your own area and neighborhood;
  • PREVENT the incident from happening to you

In any confrontation – there are many different obstacles and issues to think of –

  1. The most important is you ingredient for your safety is YOU. Have confidence; be alert, aware of your surroundings, conducting your risk assessment of the area and a threat assessment of your attacker.
  1. Threat– watch their stance, hand positioning, facial expressions, listen to the words they are speaking both verbally and non-verbally, any weapons they either have in their hands or access to.
  1. Environment – Surfaces that are flat, unbalanced, gravel, slippery, soft, uneven, hard, tile, concrete, etc…tables, chairs, people, stairs, weather, temperature
  1. Clothing – does this fit to tight, is it loose, baggy, does your clothing restrict your movement or help it, does it reduce or increase your flexibility, footwear – like the type of shoes dress, sport, sandals, jewelry your wearing necklaces, rings, watches etc…
  1. Location – Parking lot, mall, grocery store, movie theater, bar, club, play, park, home, school, workplace, church – remember many times where you are will have a lot to do with how mentally prepared and alert you are take being in church as compared to being in a social setting – both places have people however you will be more alert in a social setting then in church.

In all of our training we help break down each of these into the level of detail, understanding and focus you need. So as my close friend and mentor Gary T. Klugiewicz from Verbal Defense and Influence says Remain Alert – Be Decisive and when time to act makes sure you are responding with a preplanned practiced response! Enjoy your weekend.

Dave Young
US Fighting Systems, Founder and Director
http://www.usfighitngsystems.com