Northwest Connection Edition 3

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BU SINESS NAME

J U LY 20 10

NW Connection I N S I D E T HI S IS S UE :

“Networking For Northwest Martial Artists”

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Violent Encounters MMA For Health Hammerfist, Part 2 Training To Stunts, Part 2 Meaningful Kata Practice Do You Have A Temper?

Training Ideas Reason, Faith, & Confidence

Passion For Boxing Women’s Self Defense Martial Aspirations

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Women’s Self Defense, by Guro Ben Fowler, Lakan Arnis “To Bring Pacific Northwest Martial Artists Together As One Family, Regardless Of Style, Method Or Origin”

“NW Connection”

I SSUE #3

“To Bring Pacific Northwest Martial Artists Together As One Family, Regardless Of Style, Method Or Origin”

“NW Connection”

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Welcome To Northwest Connection, Edition #3 “To Bring Pacific Northwest Martial Artists Together As One Family, Regardless Of Style, Method Or Origin” The premier, and only, networking avenue of it's kind. Through "Northwest Connection", Martial Artists of all styles and methods can share, learn, and connect with one another.

The mission of "Northwest Connection" is to build a strong network of Martial Artists all over the Pacific Northwest. There are many great Martial Artists throughout Oregon and Washington, with so much to share. It is about time that we start connecting with one another.

The articles contained within are primarily the work of Northwest Martial Artists, sharing their ideas, experience, theories and methods.

You will also find within, a listing of Martial Arts schools and related businesses that Martial Artists will find useful.

Also, there is space to advertise upcoming Martial Arts related events, such as seminars, workshops, and gatherings.

If you would like to be placed on a distribution list for upcoming editions, would like to list your school/business, would like to place an ad within or just have other questions, please contact us.

Northwest Connection has been started as an open outlet for Martial Artists to share their views, express their ideas and grow as individuals and as a whole collective unit. It is the goal that we can all come together and share with an open mind, seeing the value in each person‘s contribution. It is understood that not everyone will agree or have the same views, but that is the whole premise and point of this publication – to have a place that we can express and share regardless of our style, training methods, personal views, etc. It is believed that we all have something to give and the fact is that we all have plenty to learn. In order to foster this positive learning, it is imperative that we maintain an open mind and give each other the opportunity to voice our views.

It is also to be understood, however, that there are certain guidelines to this open sharing. There will not be any racist remarks allowed, no vulgar language, no slander of any person (group of persons or organization), no attacks of any kind on anyone, or any such expressions.

All articles submitted will be reviewed prior to publication and are subject to editing and/or rejection.

It is also to be understood that Northwest Connection does NOT endorse any articles/views contained, but is merely a sounding board for this process of growth.

We ask that everyone comes with an open mind and can see the whole picture of this endeavor. The mission of uniting and networking is a very admirable one, and it is hoped that it can be seen for what it is. Please do not judge the endeavor by small pieces that may be contained, but rather by the mission.

This publication is offered for FREE to any school/business that wants one. Additional copies are available for schools/businesses and individuals for only $3. For your convenience, you can purchase these copies on our website, via PayPal. If you prefer, you can also mail a check or money order (payable to Envision Innovations, LLC) to our contact address. In addition, a FREE PDF version is available via email to ANYONE who would like to receive it. To get your FREE PDF version, send us an email request to be placed on our contact list.

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“To Bring Pacific Northwest Martial Artists Together As One Family, Regardless Of Style, Method Or Origin”

“NW Connection”

I SSUE #3

Violent Encounters In any violent encounter, you must minimize both the time frame and the entanglement. Striking first with speed, power and accuracy ends most violent encounters, but you must decide to use these principles when taking a course of action.

Avoid teaching submission and joint locks on the ground - grappling increases the time and complexity of the encounter and will increase the chance of disaster. For example, a grappling situation could take a bad turn if more opponents show up and get involved – no one can out wrestle two opponents on the ground! If you do find yourself in a grappling situation, look for weapons of opportunity that may be lying on the ground such as bottles, rocks or other sharp objects. Also your opponent will be doing the same thing. Another reason to avoid ground fighting is because it takes more energy to wrestle and strike from the ground. This increases the fatigue factor and may decrease your likelihood of defeating your opponent.

There are some concepts in dealing with violence: avoidance, negotiation and action. If you see the potential for a bad situation developing, avoid it. if you are found in a bad situation, try to negotiate your way out of it. Ask the individual ―What do you want?‖ or ―Why are you doing this?‖ If you can get the person talk-

ing, this buys you time to look for a way out. If the person is not negotiating and keeps coming at you, be aware that you are dealing with someone in which violence is the only thing on the agenda. At this point, you must be aggressive and strike first with speed and power to the vital targets.

The person who strikes first and causes the most damage wins in these types of encounters.

In order for an attack to occur, an ―attack triangle‖ is usually present: motive, opportunity and desire. The assailant has a motive to attack, an opportunity presents itself, and finally the desire to carry it out and complete it . If you are engaged in any use of force or violence it should be reasonable, necessary and justified.

Use the following 3-pronged test that is used in a court of law to determine your actions: Reasonable. Was your response reasonable in the particular situation? Was it something that a reasonable person or a law enforcement officer would do? Does your response fit the action? For example, if someone pushes you and you thrust your fingers in his eyes causing severe or permanent damage, do you think this is reasonable? The courts will ask this question.

Necessary. Was it necessary to engage in violence? Were there other options or was this your last resort? Could you have walked away?

Justified. Was it legally and morally justified? Did you have the legal right to act at the moment you did and not later on when the moment had already passed? For example, if someone breaks into your house and you shoot him while he‘s climbing over the fence and running away, do you think this is justified?

I am going to add in one more important test: a moral test. Perhaps your response was that your actions were reasonable for the situation that was occurring. However there may be other factors that come into play such as if the assailant was a very young juvenile, an old man, or a pregnant woman trying to attack you. Yes, you were probably justified by law to take the actions you did, but was the amount of force you used really needed? Just some things to consider…

By Professor Bryan Davies Master Law Enforcement Instructor

Kelly Worden Seminar Follow Up A great time was had by all! The seminar curriculum was solid and consisted of focus mitts, power punching. Trapping, foot traps, and combative principles. The main focus was on standing grappling from the clinch position. Local legends Pref. Lenard Trigg and Jim Martin (and crew) stopped by to show their support. Always nice to see fellow brothers in the ―way‖ supporting one another.

All in all it was an action packed fun filled day of learning. In a world full of paper chasers and wanna be‘s it was a real privilege to train with a real dragon not a paper one.

By Ben Fowler, Lakan Arnis For more information in upcoming events seminars and classes please go to www.lakanarnis.com

“To Bring Pacific Northwest Martial Artists Together As One Family, Regardless Of Style, Method Or Origin”

“NW Connection”

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The CAGE: MMA For Health In Connection With Alive MMA Readers may be forgiven for raising their eyebrows at the title and subject of this Inside the Cage column. After all, isn’t the whole point of MMA to pit two fighters against each other to see who can inflict the most damage or best demonstrate that one could kill the other?

Damage is, by its nature, emphatically not healthy. Sure, those competitors may look to be in absolutely terrific shape, but they seem to be putting all that power directly to work hurting each other as much as they can. Health?

Indeed. First of all, those athletes don’t just look to be in great shape, they are in much better shape than they look. Like CrossFit and other functional exercise programs, MMA training does not just develop “beach muscles” or the appearance of a blown up physique. The emphasis is on complex motions and high intensity intervals of cardio training.

Every piece of MMA training increases joint strength, bone density, stabilizing muscle strength, coordination, and the kind of flexible strength that is the best response for the unpredictable demands of fighting. The result is lean, dense muscles that are capable of an incredible amount of work in a short time with the fastest possible recovery.

The damage in fighting is real. Without a doubt, strikes are an insult to the body.

Fortunately, MMA impacts are much fewer in number than say, boxing or football. Furthermore, there is considerable evidence to suggest that chronic insults, particularly head trauma, are much more damaging in the long term than sharp, acute insults. More impor-

tantly, we have learned a lot since the old days of hard banging in the gym. Nowadays, even professionals train with progressive resistance and take much less damage; most of the benefits of MMA training are available without risking even that reduced damage.

At Alive MMA, we focus on minimizing damage and maximizing the benefits of training by teaching the arts that comprise MMA in an atmosphere of relaxed play. Perhaps more important even than the fitness results are the mental and physical benefits of regular play. There is considerable evidence to suggest that people need to play at least as much as we need to exercise. It certainly feels that way to me. I don’t want to “work out” as much as I want to play. I have been grappling for most of 20 years and I still can’t wait to get on the mat and wrestle!

It’s altogether common to hear laughter in the middle of training, and I’m convinced that laughter itself is an excellent sign of health.

Without a doubt, the limits of the body have to be respected, especially if they are to be expanded. Nowhere is that clearer than in the fast twitch, whole body, diversified workouts of MMA, especially those involving a resisting partner. Sometimes we just have to tap, not only from an intentional submission, but just from a bent-back or overextending joint. No problem. We have a clear way to do this and a culture in which playing safely is respected. Everybody gets caught sometimes, and everybody has to “safety tap” in certain tight spots. Actually, I think this less-ego-full

practice of tapping influences other fitness activities in the gym. Athletes are taught to consciously learn and pay attention to their physical limits. They literally get to know themselves by frequently pushing against those boundaries. A frequent mantra that I employ in Yoga and MMA goes “You are where you are, not where you want to be.”

Healthy stretching increases the range of motion, but overstretching does precisely the opposite, with the real possibility of injury. Injury is no fun.

I might conclude with a note concerning weight loss. MMA training tends to burn so many calories, and to be so compelling that students train more often, that the issue is usually not losing weight but rather not losing weight too quickly. The idea is to move toward a healthy weight and equilibrium. When students catch the training bug, they often start losing weight faster than I like to see, so I generally become concerned that the body will act like it is starving instead of maximizing recovery and optimal function. I sometimes have to remind people that all that extra exertion does need fuel, and I encourage them to add a few servings of healthy food, especially vegetables plus lots and lots more water than most people drink (like enough to keep your pee clear.)

MMA training does not have to be as healthy as it can be, but, by God, let’s make it so.

Bill Bradley Alive MMA

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“To Bring Pacific Northwest Martial Artists Together As One Family, Regardless Of Style, Method Or Origin”

“NW Connection”

I SSUE #3

“Hammerfist”, Part 2 of 3 Powerful Natural Body Weapons In part one of this series of articles, we examined the hammer fist and explained some of the reasons why it is such a powerful natural body weapon. In addition, we looked at several ways the hammer fist can be applied in a variety of self-defense situations.

For part two, we’ll take a look at the forearm as a striking tool. Most of us seem to use this body weapon mostly in our blocking response. In fact, it seems some styles and systems in the more “classical” schools use this part of the body almost never in their set of striking tools. I’ve seen it used more in some of the Chinese styles as well as Southeast Asian styles such as Silat and Kali. This strike is called a hack, forearm hack and hacksaw depending on who you ask and how it’s being used.

Let’s look at a strategy we’ll name the “smack and hack” approach.

This name is not new, and is used in many of the more progressive systems of self-defense. It involves a slap or smack defensive check or parry to the attacker’s hand or arm as they punch or grab you. The checking hand stops and redirects the incoming blow while the other arm moves in and hacks at the attacker’s neck

or head. I prefer to target the side of the neck, and it’s important to step into your attacker and drive them backward with this blow.

Primarily, it is used in an entry where you move into the attacker and jam their attack while you deliver your own “defensive” counter measure... the forearm hack.

movement. As you move, swing the other arm like you were throwing an underhanded pitch. It does not matter so much if your hand is open or closed, as you’ll be striking with the inside of the forearm to the groin or inner thigh area. I like this one a lot, and if you apply it properly, you can stop the attacker with this movement alone.

The smack and hack to the side of the neck also has the same potential.

Look again at the smack and hack on the high line entry, using this strike to the head. The photo shows one response that I have seen Fairly often, which again will work very well when properly applied. Again, the beauty of looking at a movement for physiological potential Is that you can unlock so many possibilities, and distill your responses down to what may seem like a smaller set of responses, that you Can use to defend against a Another good way broad range of atto unlock some This alone ...apply the concept tacks. ways to use this can really help imtool, is to apply the that every block is prove your reaction concept that every also a strike... time during a vioblock is also a lent encounter. strike in our training. This provides us with an opportunity to With a little effort and ingenuity, examine the movement and deyou can begin to examine the rive options based on their physiomovements you already practice logical potential. If we look at the and see how you can apply the movement and how it can be efforearm as a striking tool in your fectively applied to counter differown repertoire of self-defense ent attacks, we’ll find that we need tools. We’ll look at another powerfewer responses to handle a variful body weapon in the third and ety of attacks. For instance, if we final part of this series respond to an incoming right of articles. Until next time, have punch to the face by applying a fun, train well and stay safe! smack to stop and redirect the Steve Miller blow, while stepping into the attacker and on the entry angle takIntrepid Self-Defense Systems ing us offline from the attackers

Newberg, OR

“To Bring Pacific Northwest Martial Artists Together As One Family, Regardless Of Style, Method Or Origin”

“NW Connection”

I SSUE #3

“To Bring Pacific Northwest Martial Artists Together As One Family, Regardless Of Style, Method Or Origin”

“NW Connection”

I SSUE #3

From Training to Fighting to Stunts An interview with Keith Cox, Martial Artist and stuntman, Part 2 of 2 NWC: So, now you are working as a stunt man, tell us how you found your way into that?

KC: Kind of a stagnant point in training. I was working a lot. I just didn‘t know what direction I wanted to go in. I was looking for the next thing. I‘ve done a lot of exciting things in my life and nothing has happened. My instructor John Daniels asked me if I‘d like to do a wild west show with him at Rossi Farms. They had this big show every year for charity and so I said sure, so we would go out there and we would do stick fighting, axe fighting and this whole little thing in front of thousands of people. That and the seminar training and the demonstrations kinda geared me for the stunt work I‘m doing now. So we did that and through a local stunt man contact we got in touch with a Hollywood stunt coordinator named Kevin Jackson.

He not only became my mentor but a good friend of mine. He met us and we gave him our head shorts and we said we, uh, if you want to see what we can do, we brought our equipment.

He said ―I got 5 minutes.‖ So I went and grabbed my stuff and JD and I went out on the parking strip with this guy and we did our thing. We did some sticks and shinai fighting and he, uh, looked at us and said ―let me get my camera‖ and 45 minutes later he said ―thank you very much, I‘ll be in contact with you.‖ That was for the show Leverage. 2 days later he called me up on the phone and asked me if I‘d meet him on the set – that‘s how we got started.

NWC: What shows/movies have you worked stunts on?

KC: I‘ve been on Leverage, in the last 2 years so far I‘ve been on 5 times. 2 times being a stunt double and 3 times playing a character. And I‘ve done local stuff. I‘ve done Animus Cross, uh, a web series, I‘ve done Bank Run, which is an I-Phone application, kind of a game, and let‘s see, what else have I done-some local tv appearances, things like that.

NWC: You are working on the show “Leverage”, tell us a little bit about that?

KC: Like I said, I got lucky. I got on the 1st episode last year-got to work with Kevin Jackson and Christian Kane and, uh, Christian Kane is really easy to work for because he‘s professional. I was kinda worried because this is an actor who does his own stunts. Well, I didn‘t know what the guy knew or anything. From the moment I got on set with him he made me feel at ease-and we work really well together, and uh, it was a great experience. On the first one-a crowbar fight, and I was on episode, I think it was 206, and I was in an elevator fight. That was my favorite fight. Then I stunt doubled last year one time. My first episode this season, stunt doubling for a prison guard. That premiers on the 20th. And then I just got through being a character militia man that gets taken out & blown up.

then we come back the next day and we walk through with the actor and because Christian is so good, by the time it‘s time to shoot he‘s got it down and we go through it. So about 2 days.

“it‘s like 4 different phases and each phase I enjoyed immensely.”

NWC: So how many “takes” does it usually take to finish a single fight scene?

KC: Usually they have at least 3 camera angles, so and we‘re lucky we‘ll do it in about 3 takes. So we‘ll do 3 takes in one shot and one angle, so about 9 takes.

NWC: Real fighting and stunt fighting are 2 totally different things, what’s the hardest part about stunt fighting? And was the transition very easy for you?

KC: Yes. It was easy for me because I‘ve been training for so long that it‘s not hard for me to, let‘s see, how can I put this?

The camera sees in 2 dimensions, it‘s not 3 dimensional. So I can throw a punch at your head at 2 feet away, but because the camera is filming it and it doesn‘t see depth it looks like I hit you. So a lot of the punches and the throws and the weapons that you see coming at people are actually about 2 feet away. So, it‘s really, uh, for me it was a easy transition because I pinpoint where the punch is gonna be and I don‘t have to concentrate on missing the actor because it‘s not that close and like I said, the actor that we work with is so good. I can throw and I can throw hard and he‘s good enough that I know he‘s gonna be out of the way.

NWC: Have you ever been injured during a choreographed scene or injured a partner?

KC: No, not at all, nothing. I‘ve never been hit, I never hit anybody. There has been accidents, a few accidents on different projects that I‘ve seen, but nothing on ours.

NWC: If you could change anything about your Martial journey, would you and if so, what would you change?

KC: Um…. Well I would change, first of all I would change my cocky attitude when I first joined, or when I first started doing Martial Arts. Uh, but I think that took care of itself ya know. Uh, and I don‘t know, that‘s a tough one. I‘m pretty happy with the way things went.

NWC: In regards to fighting/M.A., how experienced are your co-workers? Considering your experience level, I’m sure you pick up the choreography pretty quick, do you have to spend a lot of time going over techniques with the actors and/or other stunt men?

KC: Well, for tv they have a tight time limit and so we usually figure out the scene in 1 day and we practice it for a day,

NWC: So, you went from training to sport fighting to full contact to stunt work-quite a wide spectrum and journey. What part of that journey did you enjoy the most?

KC: Well, I‘m enjoying the stunt work right now the most. But, like I said, um, it‘s like 4 different phases and each phase I enjoyed immensely. So this is just a continuation, just another phase.

“To Bring Pacific Northwest Martial Artists Together As One Family, Regardless Of Style, Method Or Origin”

“NW Connection”

I SSUE #3

From Training to Fighting to Stunts An interview with Keith Cox, Martial Artist and stuntman, Part 2 of 2 NWC: What do you see as the next step for you?

KC: I made some really good contacts, um, and I have been submitted for some feature films this year, and so I‘m hoping to continue my career that way.

need to spend the money on an agent at first. Get out there and do demos. Find out, you can always start as an extra and meet people that way. Um, ya know, it‘s really just the luck of the draw and I got lucky.

NWC: Any pointers for anyone wanting to find their way into stunt work?

KC: Hmm, it‘s really who you meet and who you know. Um, get a good head shot, uh, put together a little routine. Get a good head shot, um, stunt guys don't need uh an agent because we kinda work differently.

Actors need agents. Stunt guys kinda go through stunt coordinators. So you don't

NWC: Well Keith, thank you very much for your time today and for the glance into your life. We really appreciate your sharing.

KC: Alright, thanks.

With Derek Sasaki and Joe Fay

Keith Cox, interviewed by Northwest Connection

Victory!! 2009 Lopez Tournament

Boxing with Jana Simms Playing with Aldis Hodge

From the last edition: In the “Cold Eyes” picture, Jerry Bell jr. appears with Keith Cox.

Training with Aldis Hodge

In “Bank Run”

Playing around with Aldis Hodge

In the “Animus Cross” picture, Jerry Buxbalm appears with Keith Cox.

Stunt Training

“To Bring Pacific Northwest Martial Artists Together As One Family, Regardless Of Style, Method Or Origin”

“To Bring Pacific Northwest Martial Artists Together As One Family, Regardless Of Style, Method Or Origin”

“To Bring Pacific Northwest Martial Artists Together As One Family, Regardless Of Style, Method Or Origin”

“NW Connection”

I SSUE #3

Meaningful Kata Practice When I was young, I used to struggle with kata (or as they were called when I was studying Taekwondo, hyung). We had many pre-arranged forms. Some had functional techniques and movements one could use while sparring, the majority did not. I eventually discarded them from my practice completely after I found myself using only my boxing skills, a lead-leg front kick, and a random roundhouse kick when I actually had to save myself from some twolegged predator at school.

Later on, while I was learning Thai-rules kickboxing, my coach told me that shadow boxing was in fact a type of ―kata‖. I could wrap my mind around this interpretation of kata, because it directly applied techniques and concepts I would utilize in the ring (and on the street).

Years later, as part of earning my black belt, I had to learn all 5 katas created by Enshin Karate's founder Kancho Joko Ninomiya. I enjoyed his type of kata also, because it too directly applied techniques and concepts I would use. As I progressed, I realized that some of the chains of techniques and transitions of positioning contained in the katas required too much technical skill and precision that what I could effectively bring to bear during a truly adrenalized state.

When I designed the 10 katas for my particular expression of Modern Karate, I started with some core principles contained within Ninomiya‘s original Enshin Karate katas:

Third, I told myself to remind my students often to think of kata practice like playing scales on a piano or chords on a guitar. Like playing any instrument, precision and control are required for effective kata practice, especially when first Use of a modified boxing stance for learning a new movement or series of quick movement and a lowered center of movements. gravity for resistance to low kicks and takedown attempts.

Real fights are generally fast, sloppy, and potentially life-threatening; so the Combining strikes, kicks, grabbing, point of kata practice is to ‗program‘ in takedowns, and to dome (finishing-off specific muscle memory (example: techniques) in a logical, progressive se- straight palm strike) and ‗reprogram‘ quence that places emphasis on continu- spontaneous muscle memory (example: ously off-balancing the opponent. taking the act of waving an insect away Attacking or counter-attacking from an from ones face and turning it into a angle and/or immediately the taking the block), in order for the student to be blind-spot position for a quick, powerful, much faster, more efficient (i.e.- economy of motion), and less sloppy than devastating finish. his/her opponent(s). Kata is also a good Second, I decided to update kata so they opportunity for students to become more more closely imitate real-world physical acutely aware of their breathing, posithreats, including weapons. This meant: tioning, weight distribution/center of gravity, and proper use of a closed kiUsing only techniques that are sim- netic chain when delivering any strike, kick, or takedown. ple to apply and effective regardless of height or body weight of the threat.

Make your kata practice meaningful, not Stringing techniques together in a monotonous! logical progression of target acquisition, increasingly powerful weaponry, and Sensei Gregory C. Lewis 21st methods of delivery.

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Martial Arts Trivia Here are some basic trivia questions relating to Martial Arts. Seek the knowledge that you don’t possess-and have fun!!

Who was the founder of Aikido?____________________ What one individual can all modern day Kenpo schools trace their lineage to?____________________ What were the three forms of ‗Te‘, prior to Karate?____________________ When was ‗Praying Mantis‘ developed, and by whom?____________________ Afaqsirat was created by a Pacific NW Martial Artists, who?___________________ Originally there were no colored rank belts, who introduced the ranking system to the world?_________________

Be sure to check your answers in the next edition!!

“To Bring Pacific Northwest Martial Artists Together As One Family, Regardless Of Style, Method Or Origin”

“NW “NWConnection” Connection”

#2 I SSUE #3

Do You Have A Temper?

A Student came to his instructor and complained: "Teacher, I have an ungovernable temper. How can I cure it?” The teacher replied, "You have something very strange, let me see what you have?" "Just now I cannot show it to you,” replied the student.

"When can you show it to me," asked the instructor. "It arises unexpectedly,” replied the student. "Then,” concluded the instructor, “it must not be of your own true nature. If it were, you could show it to me anytime. When you were born you did not have it, and your parents did not give it you, so where did it come from? Think that over.”

This Zen story I came across is simple and has a powerful message as it relates to the concept of having any kind of what is considered an uncontrollable emotion like a ―Temper‖. Anything not IN our control is OUT of control. We give up our bodies in training and sometimes our pride and ego creep in setting us off because someone is getting the better of us where everyone gets to watch. Some people are just not comfortable with that and someone‘s temper will sometimes get expressed. When we train the marital art techniques & prin-

ciples as instructors we must monitor not only the physical state of each student but we also must monitor the mental state as well. In todays sue happy culture a student with a temper can be a loose cannon that can threaten the harmony of the dojo. I realize we all are not psychologists (although I know some that are) students look to us for guidance in more ways than sometimes we realize. As martial artists I believe in having high standards that are made clear up front about the behavior in the dojo especially concerning taking advantage and allowing misguided emotions, like a temper, to be tolerated. There are many ways to confront these emotions head on through various communication styles, training exercises, and tasks that help the student become conscious of the negative behavior. We can deep dive as far as a student will let us as I have been involved with a student‘s school counselor with much success over the years. Sometimes however our only recourse is to ask a particular unruly student to leave our dojo and that I must say is very sad.

Circling back around to the behavior itself a person‘s temper is truly a learned response. We must guide the in-

tensity of the discipline needed to train through such an experience. You feel the way you feel by choice, no one person on this earth causes you to feel anything emotionally. Having those up front high standards and using the training to expose and make conscious each and every time when someone has a temper, this process much of the time will work itself out but again the instructor must watch closely for CYA purposes. Guiding the student to realize they are the one who chooses the behavior each and every time, then through guided self inquiry we can sometimes find the origin of these feelings and help the student realize what conditions and processes occurs where they can catch themselves and dissipate the behavior positively through their training all the while keeping everyone safe.

So the honest question I have for you today is ―Do you have a temper?‖

With Respect & Honor,

Professor Tim Gagnier

Training Ideas The Tracy's Orange Belt Technique "Japanese Strangle Hold" a defense for a forearm choke from the rear, over the years, has had different versions that I have, that are not in the standard manual at the present.

ideas on how to do opportunity movements when felt there is an opening:

thumb side up the arm from the wrist) hard strike to the upper triceps near the deltoid muscle and right index knuckle (1) Use one of the back horns of the strike to the temple ideally with the same head targeting one of the eyeballs which motion. Sensitive area and you can bang will get the socket and part of the bridge the nerve against the bone and rub and of the nose. stretch such.

I feel that a more active controlled attack (2) Slap strike the forearm with both of should be introduced. That is involved the defender's hands one on the back of with a controlled struggle. I am a firm the wrist the other on the upper forearm. I may put some other ideas later on but you can see there are a lot more things believer in giving some subtle fillers Dig the fingers into the upper forearm that can be done then just try to do the when you feel the space while doing the and with the thumb and fingers of the technique as is. As long as you are going technique version. For instance, as the other hand press against bones just there you might as well take advantage choke is applied tuck the chin in to the above the wrist, pull down with both of the opportunities and finding ways to chest and turn the head to the side and hands putting an elbow into the atroll the shoulder to be against the jaw tacker's ribs and slamming your butt into train to have the skill to improvise on the fly. making it impossible to get to the neck. the attacker's groin pelvis area.

These little movements I try and teach as (3) The defender can step back between soon as possible. Little nuances take less the attacker's legs and pull down, and or Professor Brian Baxter time to do then obviously more large butt slam, move the body down and 8th Degree Black Beltmovements. around in a horizontal circle to get a Kajukenbo instructor in kind of figure four lock throw.

The following motions will give some (4) Try a right forearm (Radial Bone Seattle, Washington

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Reason, Faith and Confidence Martial Arts and The Study of Knowledge Any well-developed martial art maintains confidence despite an absence requires long-term study. It stands to of proof. It can be difficult to reconcile reason that one must have a great deal this behavior with modern rationality. of confidence in a system before investRather than faith, this is an ing so much time and effort. But how example of inductive reasoning. Inducdoes a martial art earn tive reasoning is a “a student won’t get anyour confidence? simple process, and

where by expecting instant one which we use We can asgratification. To be humble every day. It allows us sume that not all martial arts are worthy of to make probabilistic is to suspend judgment” our confidence. Given assumptions based on this premise, a martial artist must be incomplete evidence. Take, for examskeptical in order to separate the wheat ple, the scenario given by Bertrand Rusfrom the chaff. Skepticism lies at the sell in his book, The Problems of Phicore of modern reason, and without it losophy: If the sun has risen every day we would have to rely on blind faith. of our lives, then we should reasonably But even as an avowed skeptic, I have assume that tomorrow, the sun will rise. to admit that skepticism has its limits.

However, we can never be certain of When studying a new system, for examthis. The more days that we observe the ple, isn‘t it presumptive for a martial sun rising, the higher the probability artist to judge a martial art in the short will be that this is an unbreakable rule. term? Many underlying principles are However, we can never be certain that not easily observable or understood, there isn‘t an exception to this rule. Perespecially to someone without prior haps one day the sun will fail to rise. Let martial arts experience. How can a beus set aside the fact that on that day, ginner even expect to know what critehumans will likely have greater probria by which to judge a martial art? Isn‘t lems than epistemology. If the sun fails this kind of skepticism antithetical to to rise, then we will have to revise our humility? The study of a martial art is a beliefs to account for this new data. process of discovery, one which cannot Perhaps we failed to account for the occur if the martial artist is unwilling to possibility of a solar eclipse, or even admit ignorance. So, if a martial art that the Earth suddenly stopped rotating. cannot be thoroughly and accurately Even under such a scenario, we could judged in the short term, what good is never be sure. Inductive reasoning can skepticism at determining whether a never be truly reliable. All we can do is collect as much data as possible before system merits long-term study? making a hypothesis, thereby increasing At first glance, faith seems to the probability that it is accurate. In be the alternative. Certainly, those of us other words, the best that we can hope who attempt to be humble must suspend for is an educated guess. judgment at times. It seems natural to assume that an instructor is knowledgeable, and that it might be wise to accept their claims at face value. Many martial artists would say that they have confidence in a particular martial art, even despite a lack of concrete proof. But what is faith? Faith can be defined as a belief held in absence of or opposition to evidence. When, as a beginner, I temporarily suspend my skepticism in order to give a martial art the benefit of the doubt, is that faith? Certainly, this is a situation in which the martial artist

In martial arts, we establish a base level of confidence through observation and practice. Intellectually, we learn that many of these arts developed under violent and unforgiving circumstances, which lends them further authenticity. We draw confidence from the endorsement of generations of fellow martial artists around the world. And most importantly, we see the masters, perhaps even practice with them, and through them begin to understand the difference that long-term training can

make. By making these observations, we realize that even if a martial art seems ineffective in the short term, it may be devastatingly effective after serious, long-term training. Although on the surface this appears to be a faithbased approach, it is entirely based on reason and observation.

Even an ignorant or misled martial artist employs inductive reasoning, though his conclusions may suffer from a low quantity or quality of supporting evidence. The crucial element is reason. It is only when reason is discarded that faith comes into the equation. However romanticized it may be, faith is the least reliable option available to us. But a purely faith-based approach is rare. Most of us establish our beliefs through reasoned assumptions, however strong or weak these assumptions may be. Faith tends to come into play when one makes an inductive assessment and refuses to amend it upon discovery of evidence to the contrary. We are all information gatherers, and it is important to remember that as the information changes, so must our conclusions.

If we are to entrust a martial art with our confidence, it is critical that we do so with purpose and reason. But a student won‘t get anywhere by expecting instant gratification. To be humble is to suspend judgment, and to suspend judgment is to admit that you may not have enough data to make a conclusion.

We can never be certain that our conclusions are correct; all we can do is continue gathering data over the course of our lives to support these conclusions.

And when we encounter evidence to the contrary, we can weigh both sides and make a reasoned assessment. The process is slow, and may test the patience of the diehard skeptics among us. But it is this very process which cultivates informed and independent martial artists.

Michael Heveran

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Finding a Passion for Boxing at 43 Years of Age: A Woman’s Perspective I haven‘t encountered many women my age who train at MMA Gyms.

But something inside me gave me the courage to walk through the doors of Alive MMA one year ago.

I had no training in any martial art, no exposure to boxing, MMA or any of the other forms listed on the vast schedule. But after 12 years as a professional Flamenco dancer, I knew that I wanted something challenging in my life, something to get my body moving again and to help me find the passion, love and respect I had for Flamenco for so many years. Never in a million years did I think that would be boxing.

And I don‘t mean the popular boxing ―fitness‖ craze, I mean real training. Sparring.

Punching. Getting Punched. Immersing myself in an art form that challenges me mentally and physically, but also inspires me to continue even though I am often the oldest person in the class, and often the only female.

foreign and intimidating of possible situations is a rare gift.

In my years of teaching Flamenco, I was fortunate enough to be told many times that I inspired my students, changed their lives, and made them believe that they could learn one of the most complex dance forms in the world. I feel the same way about my teacher, Jana Simms.

There is an art to teaching completely exclusive of performing or competing. It requires many of the same components, but to find a teacher, coach or trainer, whatever you may call it, that you connect with, that inspires you, and makes you feel comfortable in the most

that I never even knew existed. I have watched my classes fill with women and men, young and older, who all train with heart, dedication and something one would never expect: compassion and humanity; sensitivity and kindness.

In my year of taking classes at the gym, I have encountered some of the most honest, real, and giving people I have ever met. I have never felt self-conscious like I did in so many dance classes I tried over the years, whether that be when I was 4 or 43.

I learned to love and respect a sport that I once perceived as simply violent; and learned about martial arts

I believe that there are countless women and men out there who search for something to inspire them to exercise, to actually be excited about working out. For many people, like myself, they feel that a fitness gym doesn‘t offer that experi-

ence. We try and try, join and let memberships expire, only to find ourselves back where we started: with the desire to exercise both body and mind, but nothing that inspires us to do so.

Yes, for me it is boxing. I love the sport. I love the complexity, the challenge and the camaraderie. I miss it when I cannot be there. I have no fear because I know my coach is there; and I have gained self -esteem, courage and finally found a form of exercise that I love. I attend fights. I watch the sport on television, follow it with enthusiasm, and hope to get more involved in the sport in any way that I can at my age.

For other women my age, I encourage you to take that first step into the gym. I am someone who literally hated to exercise. My husband could barely get me to take walks with him. Yes, even with age and wisdom behind us, it is scary. But you never know, you may just discover a passion you never thought existed. And at the halfway point of my life, discovering something new, taking a risk, and finding joy in that experience is priceless.

By Laurena Marrone Campos

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Women’s Self Defense

C B A

D

E

Pic A: Suddenly grabbed from behind Elle from lucky devil must act fast…

Pic B : Elle strikes the back of the attackers hand using the edge of her fist causing severe pain and weakening the attackers grip Pic C : upon striking the attackers hand Elle “sticks” to the attackers hand peeling away at his fingers securing a finger/s and compressing it into her body.

Pic D/E : Elle pivots and turns hard to her right dislocating the finger/s of the attacker and follows it with vital point striking in this case using the web of the hand to strike the adams apple securing her escape.

Arnis Guro, Ben Fowler teaches several classes a week at Third eye Jujitsu & Portland Small Circle Jujitsu. For more information please go to www.lakanarnis.com Models: Elle (from Lucky Devil) & Justin Norton, Arnis Instructor

Photographer: Silence “To Bring Pacific Northwest Martial Artists Together As One Family, Regardless Of Style, Method Or Origin”

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Martial Aspirations: Embodying The Art In Everyday Living Individuals differ in their lating their behavior or not, and that propensity towards hostilely and viothey could eventually learn new interlence. My belief is that violence is a actional patterns with others. learned behavior with a universal geIronically, as someone who netic predisposition, and that the frehas been practicing martial arts for quency and intensity of its expression several years, a subculture many outis largely determined by culture and siders believe promotes and glorifies modeling after others‘ behavior. Geviolence, I feel that I am actually netically, all individuals are born with much less likely to be hostile in any a propensity toward self-preservation, given situation than many non-martial of which hostile and aggressive behavartists would be. Although there are iors are a form of, and these will be always exceptions to the rule, I believe activated to different degrees dependcultivation of this attitude is a coming on the social climate and environmon implicit theme across most marmental conditions. If an individual tial arts styles, and I have seen this in grows up in a violent household, this the vast majority of people I have is the behavior he or she learns, and all trained with. One aspect inherent in too often perpetuates onto the next martial arts is discipline and control generation. Similarly, one may grow over one‘s power and negative emoup in a social climate where it is nections. This notion quickly becomes essary to fight in order to preserve internalized, perhaps through modelone‘s physical needs and social standing from senior instructors, or through ing. Evolutionarily, obtaining rethe realization that if you injure your sources and increasing social status training partners, you will run out of both relate to reproductive success, people to train with and cease to proand any behaviors that result in obtaingress. There are also group norms ing these things are quickly reinforced. pertaining to the level of power to use There may be certain genetic causes of in training and of how to react (or not increased hostility, such as individual react) to this contact, as it is part of differences in affect intensity and training. One learns to obey these regulation, and the rare (except in behavioral norms in order to be inprison) extra ―Y‖ sex chromosome cluded, because no one wants to spar (men having XYY instead of XY, rewith someone who is going to loose sulting in a natural sort of ―steroid their head every time they get tagged, rage‖), but I think a much larger deteror someone who exercises poor conminant of the expression of hostility trol. This mental disposition expands comes from environmental factors, throughout the course of training; as such as modeling behaviors of family one gains more skills and more lethal members, and knowledge, one becomes “more than just learning operant condiless prone to using them fighting techniques; it is about in any situation that does tioning, where transcending hostility, panic, not demand it. Perhaps an individual learns that hos- and ego-centric behavior” this comes with intile behavior creased awareness of the can be an effective means to an end. adverse consequences of fighting, or Although hostility and aggression are the realization that the best way to never out of the control of any individway to win a fight is to keep cool, ual, there is little incentive for somethink, and avoid it through the deone who knows only violence to escalation of a hostile situation. Howchange his or her survival strategies ever there is also another implicit when they are immersed in a culture training in martial arts at work here: of it. They may fail to perceive that mastery over one‘s ego. A martial they actually do have a choice in reguartist who is confident in his or her

ability does not need to prove themselves and can let slights that may enrage others pass. Similarly, a seasoned martial artist does not engage in behaviors such as boasting or intimidating others because a tempered ego no longer needs this sort of attention.

In many ways, a martial artist serves as a liaison between this subculture and the larger society. The cool-headed confidence carried forth from the mat to the office or street influences others around him or her, and is a quality looked for in leadership. This attitude and how one carries him or herself in daily living is, ultimately, more integral in representing the art, than one‘s fighting ability.

At the same time, a martial artist is able to recognize and respond to situations that do require physical interventions, and to instantly respond with the correct level of intensity; the least severe but most violent action required to end the altercation. There are too many stories about a crowd of people that looks on, walks by, or fails to notify the police when a person is in need of help, all of them diffusing responsibility and waiting for someone else to step up first, or assuming that someone else has already called 911.

In these circumstances, it only takes one person to take action and do the right thing, and others will quickly follow. This is not limited to physical altercations, but includes accidents and other emergencies as well. If such an occasion arises, a martial artist should feel confident to take appropriate action, and not get caught up in the crowd, onlooker mentality. By emerging as leaders in both crisis and noncrisis situations, a martial artist demonstrates that his or her training is about more than just learning fighting techniques; it is about transcending hostility, panic, and ego-centric behavior, modeling right action, and promoting positive change in others and society.

Mike Crockett

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School & Business Listings Realm Of The Tiger Kajukenbo

Lakan Arnis

Sifu Trent Junker (503) 839-6359 Portland, OR Specializing in Kajukenbo and ―street‖ based training

Guro Ben Fowler (503) 730-1793 www.lakanarnis.com

Kajukenbo Self Defense Academy Professor Tim Gagnier (503) 320-0438 Yamhill, OR

Intrepid Self Defense Sifu Steve Miller (503) 547-9543 Newberg, OR

Portland Eskabo Da’an Professor Mike Morrell (503) 381-9145 Portland, OR Filipino Arts

FISTS FOR LIFE KENPO

Northwest Budokan The Northwest Budokan is a member of the OSMKKF. The OSMKKF hombu is in Okinawa City, Okinawa and is headed by Master Fusei Kise. The NorthWest Budokan was founded by 7th Degree Black Belt, Shihan Jay Gravelle and is based in Everett, WA. Classes are taught at 5 locations in the Everett, Mukilteo and Bothell area just north of Seattle, WA. Okinawa Shorin-ryu Matsumura Seito is a very traditional style of karate and is taught with a "Real World" attitude for today's world rather then tournament style. No long stances or high kicks! We teach a range of traditional aspects; empty hand karate, kata (forms), tuite (selfdefense/joint locks), bag work, one steps, kick drills, change body and kobudo (weapons). www.NWBudokan.com

Human Performance Academy, Inc dba, Port Townsend Athletic Club

Russian Kettlebell Training Teresa Hoffmann, Owner, ACE, RKC, CK-FMS Cell: (360) 302-1291 teresa@porttownsendathletic.com Gracie Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Professor Steve Maxwell Alive MMA www.porttownsendathletic.com 5607 SE Woodstock Blvd., Portland, OR 97206 229 Monroe St. Port Townsend, WA (503) 740-3004 Our goal is to provide an environment where all people-of any background, (360) 385-6560 experience & fitness level-can learn and train in the combat sports that comprise Mixed Martial Arts-the core of which can be: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Wrestling, Judo, Boxing, Karate, and Muay Thai SELF DEFENSE IN HARMONY WITH HEALTH AND FITNESS LOCATED IN SE PDX CONTACT 503- 208- 3099 OR EMAIL FISTSFORLIFE@YAHOO.COM

Sensei Gregory C. Lewis' 21st Century Martial Arts of Seattle http://www. karatemeansemptyhand.com

Academy of Kung Fu Teaching Kajukenbo Tum Pai 1236 14th Ave Longview, WA 98632 360-577-8323 Email – longviewkungfu@comcast.net www.longviewkungfu.com

Sifu John Hopper Kajukenbo Tum Pai/Tai Chi Chuan 604 E. Main St. Suite 101 Battle Ground, WA 98604 360-241-0461 www.hopperskungfu.com

Alan Nibler Vancouver, WA (971) 212-2056 Instructing Kajukenbo, Private and Group Lessons Available.

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Event Listings 4th Annual Mt. St. Helens Open Martial Arts Tournament July 24th, 2010 Mark Morris High School 1602 Mark Morris Ct. Longview, WA Registration starts at 8am, competition starts at 10am longviewkungfu@comcast.net (360) 577-8323

“Northwest Kajukenbo Family” Seminar IV Date TBA Located in Portland/Vancouver area, exact location to be announced at a later date.

For information, contact Trent Junker at (503) 839-6359

INTERNAL MARTIAL ARTS INTENSIVE September 2-5, 2010 Contact: Port Townsend Athletic Club 229 Monroe St. Port Townsend, WA 98368 (360) 385-6560 www.porttownsendathletic.com teresa@porttownsendathletic.com Call to Register! Save $$ Early Bird cut off July 25th!

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www.northwestconnection.net Disclaimer: Do not attempt any techniques discussed or illustrated herein without the assistance of a professional trainer/instructor. Northwest Connection assumes no liability for the safety of any information, techniques or ideas herein. Northwest Connection assumes no liability for the accuracy of content, as articles are submitted by individual sources outside of Northwest Connection and are taken on good faith. Northwest Connection does not endorse any information herein, unless specifically stated otherwise.

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