Mustering as much power and accuracy as possible while maintaining form and balance is the goal for every golfer. To accomplish this, you must be able to give the ball everything you’ve got, but without what is commonly referred to as “coming over the top”.

That describes a swing flaw which causes the clubhead to veer off to the outside of your target line during the downswing. The result? A horrendous slice.

Come From The Inside

The best way to avoid such a shot is to learn how to avoid coming over the top, thus keeping your clubhead from moving outside of the target line. This can be accomplished by simply working on a technique which is opposite of coming over the top: come at the ball from the inside.

More accomplished golfers can do this each and every time they try, but coming at the ball from the inside may be easier said than done for the beginner golf player. Practice, practice, practice is the key and once you get the hang of it, you can rid yourself of that terrible slice shot by making impact with the ball from a downswing which comes from the inside of the target line ever so slightly.

Train Yourself To Target The Inside

There are drills that you can practice which will help you train yourself so that you can come from the inside on your swing whenever needed. Below is a simple training procedure known as a swing path drill:

1. Take 3 tees and placed them into the turf approximately 3 to 4 inches apart from one another, and in a perfect line at a 45° angle with your target line. If you are a right-handed golfer then the line should be pointing to your left foot. Make sure that you have enough room in between each tee so that you can swing the club through.

2. Now it is time to find your swing path. Take out your 5-iron and initiate a few swings by attempting to hit the top portion of the middle tee. In order to do so, your clubhead must pass between the outside tees in a pathway best described as “in-to-out” in order to avoid contact with them.

By practicing this technique and hitting the middle tee in this fashion on a consistent basis, you are making contact correctly from the inside. If you happen to hit the outside tees then you are still coming over the top and need more practice on your swing.

Get more golf swing tips at http://howtoloweryourgolfscore.com/golftip/

They don’t teach you putting in a driving range. The putting practice areas are never the same surface as the greens on the course. So you are faced with this great opportunity to win a hole in your golf match and yet you do not have a strategy for giving it your best shot. Now I am not guaranteeing that these tips will make you the next Padraig Harrington but for beginners they will help you learn how to putt a golf ball.

Putting Tip 1. Aim straight at the hole

For 95% of your shots you should be aiming straight at the hole. As a beginner you will not have all the skills and experience to read the greens so why all the pretence. I outrage my playing partners on the golf course by simply looking at my putting shot from a standing position and getting a general view of it. I am more likely to be thinking about the pace of the ball and whether it is downhill or uphill rather than any sideways slopes. If it is blindingly obvious that you are putting across a sideways slope then make an adjustment – this is for the 5% of shots. But for most of them go straight for the hole.

Putting Tip 2. – Imagine the hole is a metre wide.

To get the pace right you should be trying to get your first putt to within a metre of the hole. By imagining such a large area as your target you will reduce your 3 putts and make a lot of them 2 putts. Most golfers would reckon they could get the ball into a 2 metre wide hole. So do that.

Putting Tip 3. – See the ball into the hole

Before I strike the ball I imagine its route of travel across the putting surface into the hole. I consider the pace that I will need to strike the golf ball in particular.

Putting Tip 4. – Hold your breath

So you know where you are aiming and you know how hard you are going to hit the golf ball. When you are about to hit the golf ball, hold your breath – or at least do not breathe deeply. I address the ball and do 2 practice shots. Then I line up my real shot aiming for the hole and assess how I can get it into a 2 metres wide hole. Then I take a conscious breath in and out, wait 2 or 3 seconds and strike the ball. My focus is completely on striking the ball cleanly and at the correct pace. Because I am not breathing (so to speak) or moving in any other way my bodies focus is on the putt completely.

Count up your putting strikes next round and then practice these tips. See if you can reduce your putts by 9 in the next 3 months

What do you do when you want to improve on your golf swing? Find a teacher of course. In these days we live in information is really at our fingertips. You have newspaper columns, magazines, ezines, and golf swing software, golf for learners books, and so on. So, the thing to do if you are a computer person is find you some good golf swing analysis software.

There are many types of golf swing software, like XBOX, Golf Simulator, and V1 Sports golf swing software. You could even set up your own digital video camera and film yourself, a friend, or a professional. Either way there is software that can help you.

Studying your golf swing mechanics with the use of software can open your eyes to some things that may be frustrating you. Look, listen, and learn. Using golf swing analysis software is only good if you take the time and practise after.

I have bought computer software before without the aid of a teacher, much more difficult. With a teacher skilled in the software and the game of golf itself you get the best of both worlds at your fingertips. Someone that can instruct you using the golf swing software to help analyze your game and help you improve. With a teacher will come usually a demonstration handling the golf equipment.

Golf Swing Tips:
1. Obtain Golf Swing Analysis Software
2. Find a Golf Instructor or Golf software trainer
3. Practise makes perfect
4. Find your own Rhythm to your own golf game

There is no sense in not enjoying the game. I have friends at work during golf season and wherever they can play otherwise, that it is important to them to not just have fun but a good golf game. So, it is worth using some golf swing software or equivalent to help you enjoy the game as well as learn the game of golf.

Feel free to visit our blog on more golf swing software tips and tricks and free articles.

By Robert Partain

Of all the golf shots in the world, the one I personally hate the most is the fairway bunker shot. I”m not entirely sure why I hate this shot so much, but I do.

Well, that’’s not true…I know exactly why I hate this shot so much. It’’s because they make me nervous. They always have, and I suspect they always will. Even so, there are a few tips that have helped me get out of these nightmares and perhaps they can help you as well.

If you are anything at all like me, the first problem you”re faced with when you land in a fairway bunker is which club to select. Your first priority in this selection is to make sure you have enough loft to clear the lip of the bunker. Take it from me, it doesn”t a bit of good to gaze down the fairway visualizing where you want the ball to land if it doesn”t clear the lip of the bunker first!

So, is there an easy way to determine the right trajectory that the ball will need to take in order to clear the lip of the bunker?

Actually, there is.

Pick the club that you think is going to work. Take this club outside the bunker (remember, you are not allowed to ground your club inside the bunker) and face the target on a line that is behind where your ball is. Put the club on the ground and “gently” stand on the club face with the shaft pointing in the direction of the target.

As you press your foot down on the clubface, the shaft will begin to come up at an angle. Look at this angle and compare it to the lip of the bunker. If the angle is above the lip, you have the right club and should be able to clear the bunker lip. However, if the shaft angle is below the lip of the bunker, chances are you won”t make it out of the bunker and you should take one or more club to increase the trajectory path.

Keep in mind (and I know I don”t need to say this) it’’s better to come up short of the green than it is to bury your ball in the sandy lip of the bunker.

Two things to keep in mind as well when playing out of a fairway bunker are: Don”t wiggle your feet too deep into the sand. This will only make you lower than the ball and you might hit the ball fat. Second, don”t try to hit the ball too hard or to “scoop” it out. Just take a normal swing, the same swing you would make if you were in the fairway. Trying to “blast” it out will almost always end up in a poor shot.

But, of course, the best advice to playing fairway bunkers is to stay out of them altogether! That’’s what I try to do.

About The Author

Robert Partain has been an avid golfer for over 40 years. He publishes a golf blog that is updated 4 times a week with tips, golf techniques, and information.

By Jeffrey Miller

I want to address a common parental concern that I continue to encounter, both in my role as a martial arts teacher, and as a fellow parent. This is in the difficulty that many parents often encounter in getting their youth student to martial arts class only to be even more confused at their child’’s enthusiasm when they are actually in class. “I have to fight to get them here,” or “He just wants to play with his friends,” are common complaints that I hear from frustrated parents.

Often, these parents consider letting their son or daughter quit but then come to find that’’s not what the child wants. “How,” they ask me, “can he want to keep training but fight me when it’’s time to come?”

They find it very difficult to understand the contradiction between having to fight to get their child to class and the fact that they have so much fun when they get there.

To solve the ”mystery” and eliminate the misunderstanding we must first understand the way a child thinks and the way their brain has developed to this point in their young lives.

What makes them resist coming to class but enjoy it once they are here? The answer is…

…timing.

And this, is linked to the physiological development and growth of their brain.

Quite frankly, children (and some adults) have not developed an understanding of the concept of scheduling and timing. That is to say that, once they have become involved in something, that is what they want to do. Anything else, regardless of how pleasurable or necessary, at that moment is seen as a hindrance to ”this moment’’s fun.” Whether it is watching TV or playing with their friends, or whatever, once a child becomes involved in something, anything, that “thing” gets ALL of their attention - period.

Don”t blame the child or think that you must be a bad parent or the only one dealing with this sort of thing. It is completely natural. The reality of the matter is that…

…your child cannot do what you ask because…

1) He or she is NOT an adult in a smaller body

2) The parts of the brain that process this type of information and data, quite literally, hasn”t developed yet, and…

3) He or she has been ALLOWED to get involved in something that you know will capture his or her attention before you need them to go to class

And, therein lies the secret for overcoming both the frustration and the confusion. Just don”t allow your young martial artist to get into anything that you KNOW will make him or her not want to stop when it’’s time to go to martial arts or karate class.

Won”t they go stir-crazy? What’’s a child to do while waiting?

Good question. And the answer is…

…practice “preparing for class.” This simple step will actually help your child to develop the skills you”re looking for and promote brain growth in those areas.

So, instead of letting them drift into TV Land or whatever, at least for the hour or so before you”ll be leaving for class, have them “get ready.” Make it a rule that they have to make sure that they have their uniform, belt, and equipment. Have them practice their moves by “showing you what they learned last class” or “what their favorite techniques are.”

We as parents and teachers, must help our children over these moments with gentle reminders of other commitments and necessities until they learn this for themselves. Unfortunately, until a child learns to project their thought processes forward to specific time periods (as opposed to the general “can we ____ sometime?” or “when will it be tomorrow?”) they will have to be taken away from things they are engaged in ”at the moment.” I know it’’s rough, but it’’s also “natural.” And, no amount of wishing for an easier job as a parent will make your child’’s brain work any differently. The fact is that, until this skill develops, YOU will have to be there as a stand-in to help them through.

So, the next time you have to do something like coming to martial arts class, try giving your child a “heads-up” before they become involved in any activity. Once they get in the habit of thinking ahead and preparing for a future event, they will do more and more of it on their own. Until then, it will take a little nudging, prodding, and reminding. But then again, if it didn”t, we parents would be out of a job!

About The Author

Jeffrey Miller is founder of Warrior Concepts Int”l. He specializes in teaching self-protection and personal development in a way that’’s easily understood by modern students. Subscribe to his newsletter at http://www.warrior-concepts-online.com

By Jeffrey Miller

What do you do when, you want to pursue the study of the martial arts or learn real-world self-defense and there are no schools near where you live? What do you do even if there are martial arts schools or self-defense classes being offered in your local area but…

…they”re just not up to par with what you want or need.

How can you get what you know you need without compromising quality and settling for what’’s available or, even worse…

…not pursuing your goal at all?

Well, you have two choices, really…

…you can accept defeat or the fact that maybe your standards are too high and settle for what’’s available, or…

…you can do what scores of very skilled practitioners have done before you. You can take advantage of the benefits of seminars and camps to get the knowledge you need from the best teachers there are.

Instead of “settling” and approaching your training with what amounts to a “victim’’s mentality,” you can take control of the situation. Instead of whining, complaining, and making excuses - you can take action - one of the main traits of a warrior.

With all of the power and rich information pool of the internet today, it is impossible to NOT find what you”re looking for in the way of martial arts training. There are literally hundreds of seminars, from half-day workshops to full weekend events, and from one and two-day intensives to full-blown ninja training camps; and they”re all there for the students who are willing to plan a little more, focus a little more, and be ready to travel a little farther than everyone else who HAS “settled.”

Can you really learn martial arts and self-defense from seminar training only? I know it’’s worked for me and many of the most proficient experts that I”m associated with. In fact, most of my training career, at least in the early days, was during a time when I was serving with the US Army and stationed in places like Korea and, what was then, West Germany.

Were there martial arts clubs and groups close-by? Absolutely.

But, I had a desire to not only train in the martial arts but, to train with the best. And so…

…I had no choice. I HAD to travel to get what I wanted and needed in the way of quality.

What I found was that I learned more during each training event because there was MORE TO learn. That was perfect for me because it gave me more than enough to work on in-between the martial arts seminars and Ninja Camps that I WAS able to attend. And, it also caused me to focus much more than the local students who were there.

Why?

I think it was because…

…they took their training for granted. Whereas I did not. Since I went through more in the way of time, effort and money to be there, I refused to let any of it slip by. As a result, I, and many of my friends who also traveled for training, developed our self-defense abilities much more fully - learning our martial art with much greater depth than many who had access to their teacher practically everyday.

Funny, really. Because it wasn”t until I became much more interested in the lives of warriors-past, that I realized that this method of training - traveling to one’’s teacher to spend short, but intense, visits to gain the lessons for mastery, is exactly the same way many of the most famous warriors in history…

…became Legends!

About The Author

Jeffrey Miller specializes in teaching self-protection and personal development lessons in a way that is easily understood and put to use by modern Western students and corporate clients. Subscribe to his newsletter here

By James Paul

The NCAA Basketball Tournament is among us. This tournament is a looking glass for human hope, excellence and positive social change. It is, in short, a microcosm of the human existence, with all of its exuberance, tragedy and triumph. The NCAA Basketball Tournament is American sports.

The excitement and tradition of “March Madness” or the NCAA Basketball Tournament as we know it today has been shaped by many significant events in NCAA tournament history: The first NCAA men’’s basketball tournament was held in 1939 with the first NCAA tournament championship game held at Northwestern on March 27, 1939. Only eight teams competed in two regions. Oregon defeated Ohio State in the championship game, and the West region held a third-place game.

Although the NCAA basketball tournament now determines the national champion, that was not always the case. Until the 1950′’s, the NIT was considered a more prestigious tournament than the NCAA basketball tournament, and teams often chose to enter the NIT and bypass the NCAA tourney. Because of this dichotomy, two of the best centers of the 1940′’s never met in an NCAA basketball tournament. George Mikan’’s DePaul team traditionally entered the NIT, while Bob Kurland’’s of Oklahoma.

In 1973, with the championship game held on Monday night for the first time, UCLA behind Bill Walton’’s 44 points on 21 of 22 shooting, won its seventh straight championship, defeating Memphis State. NC State, led by David Thompson, ends UCLA’’s title run in 1974, defeating the Bruins in the national semifinals in double overtime.

The following year, the NCAA tournament expanded to 32 teams, and then allowed more than one school from each conference to participate. Prior to this ruling, the restriction prevented several great teams from competing in the tournament, including the 1974 Maryland team. They finished the season nationally ranked #4, yet lost the ACC Conference final game to top-ranked NC State prior to the start of the tournament. After that, the NCAA began to allow more than one team per conference to participate. In 1976, Bobby Knight’’s Indiana Hoosier squad completed an undefeated season with a victory over Michigan in the championship game. The Hoosiers are the last team to go undefeated and win the title.

The tournament expanded to 40 teams in 1979, and teams were seeded for the first time. “Magic” Earvin Johnson leads Michigan State over Larry Bird and Indiana State to win the national championship. The game drew the attention of millions throughout the country; its 24.1 TV rating remains the highest ever for a college basketball game and is still considered one of the greatest match-ups in NCAA Tournament history.

Expansion followed in 1980 to 48 teams, and then in 1983, to 53 teams. In what many believe is the greatest Cinderella story in college basketball, North Carolina State’’s Lorenzo Charles dunks the ball as time expires in the 1983 championship game to lead the Wolfpack to a 54-52 win over heavily favored Akeem Olajuwon and Houston. Perhaps no one figure in college basketball history more personified the spirit of March Madness than Coach Jim Valvano. His underdog North Carolina State Wolfpack did what many consider a miracle by making an incredible run through the 1983 Tournament. Culminating in the defeat of the highly touted “Phi Slamma Jamma” squad from the University of Houston, Valvano was rocketed into the media limelight and quickly became the symbol of exuberance and enthusiasm. He discovered soon afterward that he had bone cancer, and for a short time became a commentator for college basketball. Before his death at age 47, he was named the recipient of the Arthur Ashe award for courage at the first ESPN ESPY awards. It was at this time he announced the formation of the V Foundation for cancer research.

In 1985 the tournament expanded to 64 teams. A Villanova Wildcat team shot a 22 for 28 field goal percentage to defeat Patrick Ewing and defending champion Georgetown in the championship game. Villanova remains the lowest seed (#8) to win the championship. In 1991, Duke upset undefeated UNLV in the semifinals and went on to win the national championship. In 1997, Arizona, led by Mike Bibby, Jason Terry and Miles Simon, becomes the first school to defeat three #1 seeds en route to the national championship, winning against Kansas, North Carolina and Kentucky.

The NCAA Tournament’’s popularity has grown to rival that of the World Series, the Olympics and the Super Bowl. CBS Sports in 1999 negotiated an 11-year, $6 billion agreement for television, radio, Internet, corporate marketing, licensing, publishing, home video and Hoop City rights for the Division I men’’s basketball championship.

Today the NCAA basketball tournament is one of the most watched tournaments of the year. Always exciting you never really know who is going to end up on top!

About The Author

James Paul is an avid basketball fan and always looks forward to the yearly NCAA Basketball Tournament Visit his blog to ask questions and learn more at
NCAA Basketball Tournament

By Dean R. Iggo

Starting in the game of golf can be confusing with all of the equipment available, people offering you free tips, and the feeling that you have to take everything so seriously. There are three golf tips for beginners that I was given by my instructor when I started, and that has really been a big help to me.

1. Don”t Break the Bank With Your First Set of Clubs

As a beginner, you are not going to get all of the benefits that come from a top of the line set of golf clubs. As a beginner, you are not going to have the consistent contact or club head speed needed. Instead, think about buying a cheaper set, or better yet, get yourself a used set. You may also be able to use a free set from one of your more experienced friends until you figure out which clubs would be best for you.

2. Be Aware of Who is Giving You Instruction

Your friends, relatives, and sometimes people who don”t even know you will think they have the golf tips for beginners that will fix all of your problems. Granted, if you have friends who are pretty good golfers, it may help to listen to them when you are first starting. However, to really understand the game, as a beginner, get your instruction from a professional. Golf pros are experienced in fixing swing problems and explaining things to you in terms of how they affect ball flight. Lessons are available at most any golf course, and even just a couple will really help set a good foundation for your game.

3. Enjoy Yourself

It may sound simple, but one of the best golf tips for beginners is to just have fun with the game. Keep in mind that you are probably not going to be getting your PGA card. Being competitive is fine, and of course you are going to want to continue to improve, but golf is a leisure game. Take your time out there and have fun with your friends.

These three golf tips for beginners can make all of the difference in the world. If you just get the right clubs to start, take instruction from those who know the game, and have fun, then golf will be a great way for you to spend your leisure time.

About The Author

Dean R. Iggo is a golf enthusiast with a single figure handicap. He is also the webmaster of www.improve-your-golf-swing.com a website providing unbiased golf swing tips, articles and training resources.

By Kevin Bauer

High handicap golfers often make the mistake of not accelerating their golf club head into the golf ball on the short shot into the green. I know that I often found myself pulling back at the last moment hoping that I would not over hit or miss-hit the golf ball.

The result was often a duff shot. The golf club digging into the grass behind the ball with the golf ball hopping forward - going nowhere. Or maybe- in the hesitation - and momentarily lifting my eyes off the ball - topping the ball and sending it skidding
across the grass. Sometimes even kissing the club head up against the golf ball in a kind of non-shot going nowhere. The outcome…

Me feeling stupid, maybe dropping a shot and worst of all - having to do it all over again.

Now I”ve seen the pro’’s do this on the golf course and they should know better.

But that is no comfort when it’’s my shot and it’’s my
partner looking at me with sympathy - or frustration if it’’s not the first time in the game.

The answer to this problem is to accelerate through the shot.

Too often I found myself taking an exceptionally long backswing and then sort of letting the club head drop down to the ball.

The correct way to approach this is to accelerate through the shot. Short golf shots into the green require a firm and decisive stroke. A smooth and rhythmical swing with a shorter backswing, accelerating down into the ball and striking it squarely just before the club head bites into the grass will produce the results you want. It’’s also important to keep your wrists firm on impact with a steady follow through.

This requires some courage though. Because if you strike the golf ball firmly and top it you could be picking the ball out of some rabbit’’s teeth on the far side of the green.

The trick is to vary the backswing to provide different flight distances rather than try to control the flight path with club speed. With a little practice I found that I could begin to relate
backswing to flight path distance.

And as I get better at this I know the strokes will begin to drop of my score.

………And the rabbit’’s feel safer……….

Have a go. It is working for me - and it should work for you.

About The Author

For more tips on slashing your golf scores visit Golfing Digest at http://www.golfing-digest.com

By Jeffrey Miller

Women’’s self defense issues are constantly in the news and a ”hot” topic for conversations. In fact, the number one concern from women, especially single women in the dating world, is rape.

It seems that everyone from police officers to karate instructors has his or her own philosophy and theories about the how’’s and why’’s of self defense for women and girls.

The truth is though, that many of the same techniques and tactics taught to men for self-protection simply will not work for a woman. Why?…

… because attacks perpetrated on women have, at their foundation, certain inherent problems, issues, and conditions that are often very different for men who find themselves in defensive situations. Women have to deal with things that, quite frankly, men don”t.

If this is something you”re really concerned about, you owe it to yourself to do some serious research to get more information about real-world self-defense for women designed around issues specifically related to womens self-defense.

Now, before some of you start rolling your eyes or nodding your head in agreement, this is not a women’’s lib issue or anything of the sort. It’’s simply the way it is.

What kind of things make self-defense for women different? I”m glad you asked.

Well, for starters, physiologically speaking, there is a 7-to-3 strength ratio between male and female bodies. That means that if you were to stand a man and a woman, having the same height, weight, and build, side-by-side, and all things considered (health, fitness, etc.)…

… the man would still be two-and-a-half times stronger than the woman!

This is not theory or one person’’s belief over those of others. It’’s scientific fact.

Next, women are more likely to be slapped, grabbed and pinned than punched or kicked. For men, it’’s just the opposite. The fact is that, most of us have been conditioned since childhood to act, play, and, yes, fight with each gender very differently. And attackers are no different.

The good news is that more and more women are being drawn to the life-enhancing benefits of the martial arts and basic self-defense programs for increasing their level of self-confidence and overall feelings of safety and security. The not-so-good news is that…

… there is a shortage of:

* Martial arts instructors who understand scientific self-defense, ”and” have the necessary life experience to be able to teach from a perspective that shares that experience.

After all…

… if an instructor has never been in a real-world self defense situation themselves, it will make it nearly impossible for them to teach real self defense to anyone - let alone self defense for women. It’’s kind of like going to a priest of counselor for marriage counselling who has never been married themselves. They both have information passed on by others but, neither has anyway of expressing that information based on real-word knowledge.

However, there is an over-abundance of…

…so-called self-defense experts who are of the tough-guy, fighter type or the “This is Reality - Deal With it! macho-type.

These people, by their very nature are the “slugger-types” who rely and depend on speed, strength and size to win. Since self defense situations usually involve a bigger, faster, stronger attacker victimizing a smaller, less-prepared target - and, that’’sexactly what most women are up against when they”re attacked…

… these instructors, and their “strike-first-and-crush-them-where-they-stand mentalities, are far from being suited, knowledgeable, or able to deliver the necessary lessons needed by women to effectively protect themselves from an assailant intent on dominating them physically.

Other Considerations for Girls and Womens Self Defense

The following is a partial list of some of the other major differences between self defense for women and men. The important thing to remember is that…

… a self-defense situation is very different from a sport or competition-based contest where the individuals are willing participants. They are evenly matched to insure for a “fair fight.” I have been in contests and I have been attacked and I can tell you without a moment’’s doubt that…

… there is nothing “fair” or “even” about a real attack. NOTHING! And, once your personal space is invaded by another human being wanting to beat you to your core, you will know what I mean and never, ever, buy into the crap that most of these so-called experts are shovelling.

With that said, please know that I have not said that every self-defense or martial arts instructor is full of it. Just that you must know what you need and make sure that that’’s what you”re getting. Remember - you”re not buying a couch that you can take back. A mistake in this area could literally cost you your life!

Here are some other differences between men’’s and women’’s training that a good program must address:

* Cultural Influences - girls have been taught from a very early age that fighting was not “lady-like.”

Oh my god! What would people think!

* Situational Self-Defense - rape and sexual assault are two of the biggest differences between the genders when it comes to suriviving an attack.

The fact that men are usually dealing with the more obvious situations (muggings and competitive (”oh-yeah! let’’s go!”-type fighting), while women, and more and more young girls, are required to deal with subtle tactics like date-rape or being ambushed by a group.

Add to this the strength differential discussed earlier, and you have a very different situation, requiring very different self-protection tactics.

* Incorrect Information - I believe that the majority of teachers and instructors mean well. They aren”t out to con you. It’’s just that they have no real experience to go on so they do what everyone does when they don”t know any better…

… they make assumptions that seem logical and rational within their own frame of reference.

The problem is that we”re talking about self-protection here…

… self defense for women…

… girls self-defense. Not…

… vegetable soup. Where, if you make a mistake, you can just dump the pot and start over.

As I said earlier, a mistake in a women’’s self-defense situation, in any situation requiring defense against an attack from an assailant bent on damaging you, could be very, very costly indeed.

About The Author

Jeffrey Miller is the founder and master instructor of Warrior Concepts International. He is the author of “The Karate-Myth” and the Danger Prevention Tactics video, among others. For more info, subscribe to his ezine here.

By Jeffrey Miller

This story is being offered in response to a request made by my teacher, Soke (Grand Master) Masaaki Hatsumi, during a recent training visit to Japan. During one of the training sessions, Soke was suggesting that everyone, regardless of rank, should make it a point to talk to those with actual combat experience and to learn from these people. The point was, if you do not know what a real fight is like, you will not be able to train properly for an authentic situation.

I was asked to share some of my experience in dealing with an attack and the following story came to mind. Though I have much experience with dealing with danger and dangerous people, this particular situation stands out as both a successful outcome where I was able to use some of my ninpo-taijutsu martial arts training, and a learning experience where I was actually able to control both my awareness and response, instead of mentally shutting down and “hoping” for the best.

The incident occurred many years ago while I was stationed in, what was then, West Germany. I was serving with the United States Army Military Police Corps. My partner and I were called to respond to a unit where a serviceman was assaulting others, including the officer-in-charge.

When we arrived at, what we thought was, the location of the incident, there was no one but the Charge of Quarters present. He had no idea about the incident. What none of us knew was that the ”problem” was occurring next door and moving in our direction.

While my partner and I were confirming the call with our superiors, the attacker entered the building where we were. He was obviously intoxicated and shouting racial insults and demanding satisfaction before he started a ”real war.” By the smell of him, he had been drinking heavily and primarily whiskey. His clothes showed signs of a struggle and at this point I wasn”t sure if I was facing an attacker or the victim of an assault.

I immediately tried to calm the individual and find out what the problem was. As I was doing this, several other soldiers, including the command duty officer entered the building and became involved. The belligerent soldier was going on with his racial attacks and how he was attacked by what he thought were his friends. It was then that he turned his attention to me and began implying that he had martial arts experience and “didn”t have to prove himself to anyone.”

During this, and later after interviewing witnesses, we found that the individual had tested for his black belt in another martial art earlier that day and was out ”celebrating” with his friends. Witnesses testified that the more intoxicated he became, the more he started “showing off” to his friends which involved hitting and kicking. Eventually, his friends had had enough and then attempted to stop his obnoxious behavior by pushing him away and leaving him behind. This only made him more “playful” at which time he jumped on his friends resulting in them throwing him down on the ground. It was this that finally enraged him enough to chase them to the barracks and begin attacking others.

As he was telling me that he didn”t have to prove himself, he also made statements that I only thought that I was tougher than him because I carried a gun, a nightstick and wore an MP helmet. I responded by removing my helmet and handing my night stick to my partner in an attempt to neutralize any perceived threat that I might be projecting and bring the soldier’’s anxiety level down. I informed him that the gun stayed where it was but that we needed to talk like civilized men so we could solve whatever problem was going on.

The soldier continued on with the “I”m a black belt and don”t need to prove how tough I am” speech when he closed the distance and, from about an inch from my face, stated that, “I”m going to show you how tough you”re not.”

I ordered the soldier back and before I knew what was happening, I sensed his fist coming up between our bodies toward my jaw. I rode off the strike which landed before I could evade and then backed out as he began to flail widely with both arms at my head and body. I remember taking up a hoko-like position (a guarding posture in ninjutsu designed to create a protective ”bubble” that is difficult for the attacker to get through) to cover against the incoming attacks and having to simultaneously deal with an officer who thought that I was the one doing the attacking!

At one point, I realized that his right arm had wrapped around my left forearm and that a ”musha-dori-like thing” (uplifting elbow - shoulder dislocating technique) was happening. I remember moving to capture his balance and laid him down when suddenly his feet went out from under him. Later I found out that, in an attempt to help, my partner chose that moment to sweep my assailant’’s legs out from under him. I felt the soldier’’s shoulder give way as I applied the lock and took him down. This didn”t help with the anxiety and emotional pressure I was dealing with as I was now worried about a possible ”police brutality” charge for excessive force.

This injury didn”t deter his aggression though as he continued to fight against our restraint. We were finally able to subdue him and get him onto his stomach to be handcuffed when his wife and young child entered the building. I don”t know how they found out about the situation but there they were. I felt sad for them and was only able to give a look of apology for having to do this. Again, more stress was added in that I didn”t want to have to physically hurt this man in front of his family.

Unfortunately, their presence only served to escalate the problem. When the soldier became aware of his wife and child, he blamed my partner and I for his “embarrassment” and began to fight against his restraint again. I am not a big man and this soldier’’s build was easily 150% of my own size and weight, so holding him was a serious problem. Having to improvise and immobilize the man, I placed my night stick between the handcuff chain and his back and applied leverage against his spine which created a situation where he would only hurt himself with his continued resistance. This was only necessary for a moment or two, as he passes out from his exertion.

As I related during my initial telling of the story at the Hombu Dojo (”main training hall”0 in Noda-city, Japan, my legs begin to shake and I can feel my breathing change as I recall this situation and many others like it. It does not control me or the way I go through my life in the ordinary sense that I am not afraid to associate with people or the like. What it has done is imprinted on me much more than just a step-by-step memory of the events, and I”m sure that my recollection of these is less than accurate because the experience was much more emotional and from what Soke has called “budo-nerves” orientation or perspective than from any sort of memorized technique string.

I will simply end this by saying that, this situation is one that has forever changed my perspective on how I should train, and as a teacher, how I should train my students. It has taught me that kata-like, step-by-step training is only a piece of the training puzzle but, anyone who believes that they will fight this way is deluding themselves. Conversely, it has also taught me that training that is just henka-based, where the basics like cover, distance and the like are not drilled until they become second-nature and the student just “does whatever” in an attempt to imitate (his or her teacher) is also deluded. This type of practice is necessary but, again, only a piece.

I am in complete agreement with Soke when he points out that it is the ability to go between the animal instinct response required for surviving an attack and returning to the civilized state to live a happy life, unstained by fear, defensiveness or antisocial behavior because of the attack that should be the goal.

Let me also say that, I respect Soke and the Shihan master instructors that I train with. But, not simply because they are Soke and the Shihan. I respect these people and continue to train in this art precisely because my own experience with having to handle danger tells me that what they have to offer is authentic and “on the mark” with that experience. Because I know that should I ever be attacked again, it will be the lessons that I have learned from them and not my admiration of them or their abilities that will help to insure that my family gets to have me around a little while longer. In a world filled with martial artists and instructors who want trophies, admiration and to ”look good,” it is comforting to know that there are still those who have what the true warrior needs to create a life worth living and the power to protect that life from whatever might harm it.

About The Author

Jeffrey Miller is the founder and master instructor of Warrior Concepts International. He is the author of “The Karate-Myth” and the Danger Prevention Tactics video, among others. For more info, subscribe to his ezine here.

By Jeffrey Miller

Contrary to popular belief, there is a big difference between a fight and a self-defense situation. While both may look the same on a physical, combative level, the reason that each participant is there is very different.

As a general rule, a fight is a contest involving two or more willing participants, all trying to “win” or prove that they are “right.” A self-defense situation, on the other hand, may involve more than one willing participant but, they are all on the SAME side!

The defender in a self-protection encounter is the unwilling target of an attack launched by another who is trying to take something from her. As a result, she is not trying to win or lose necessarily, as much as she’’s trying to get out of the situation altogether.

The following is a list of the six general phases of progression that one goes through in being properly prepared for a self-defense situation - beginning with the least amount of threat to the defender and leading to that which poses the greatest potential for damage. Each phase, or stage, itself, has the potential of reducing or completely eliminating your chances of ending up as a crime statistic as a victim of assault or some other serious crime.

If you are to be properly prepared to maintain a safe and danger-free life, you must insure that your training takes all of these phases into consideration.

1. General Awareness - Accept that there is danger in the world and choose to do something about NOT being a victim of it.

2. Awareness of Danger Potential - Tune-in and be aware of your surroundings. Know that the sooner you can be aware of danger that might affect you, the more choices you have for dealing with it.

3. Escaping to Safety - Know how to choose good escape routes from where you are. Have escape routes pre-planned from your home and everywhere else you frequent regularly. And, have multiple routes to and from places like work, the mall, school(s), and of course, your home.

4. Distraction Tactics - Don”t be in a hurry to fight. If at all possible, use humor, trickery, and other non-threatening, non-confrontational strategies to diffuse the situation or distract the attacker’’s mind away from you as the target.

5.Project a Confident Attitude - As a last resort, use firm, committed speech and body language to try to dissuade the assailant from going through with his plan to attack. Let him know, in no uncertain terms, that you will not be an easy target.

6.Physical Self-Defense - If all else fails, and you end up at this phase - be prepared to win.

It’’s important to note that “physical self-defense” comes at the end of the list. This is never the preferred choice for handling things as there is always the chance, no matter how good you are, of something going wrong.

As I said, the more options you have in being able to avoid or escape from a situation before it gets physical, the greater your chances of success with the least amount of wear-and-tear.

But, remember: If you must fight, then do everything in your power to go home safely. After all, this is about “defense”, right?

About The Author

Jeffrey Miller is the founder and master instructor of Warrior Concepts International. He is the author of “The Karate-Myth” and the Danger Prevention Tactics video, among others. For more info, subscribe to his ezine here.

By Jeffrey Miller

We”ve all seen the news stories. They fill a good portion of the evening news and the daily papers - both online and in print. Dating, working, on vacation - no life situation seems to be safe from the possibility of attack.

Have you ever wondered…

What if the victims in many of these stories had properly prepared themselves for the eventuality of being attacked, because…

1. They recognized the existence of danger in the world…

2. They knew that, based on the shear numbers of incidents that…

…danger could, and probably might, touch them, and…

3. They took steps to insure that they would be a survivor instead of a victim who’’s story would be laid bare to the world, courtesy of the press…

What if even one story ended like this…

“…she remembers learning how to get out of this type of attack and [automatically] reaches up to grab and pull his arm away from her neck. What she finds though, is that she cannot even begin to budge it in the least.

“Taking the short stick-like key ring that she habitually carries in her hand when there might be a need, she begins delivering a barrage of stabbing and grinding attacks to her assailant’’s body. As she feels his grip loosen, she expands her counter-attack to include stamping heel kicks to his instep, smashing headbutt strikes to his face behind her head, and maybe even a well-placed elbow or two to his ribcage.

“She finds herself free as her assailant is sent reeling from the painful blows. She stands there in her defensive position, watching to see what his next move will be, her eyes burning with rage and indignation. Her very presence communicates to her would-be attacker that, “what he is feeling right now is the nicest thing that he will feel if he tries to touch her again!”

Can you see how the assailant’’s own perception would be suddenly different, because…

Seeing what was supposed to be his victim standing before him, obviously prepared to do more than he has already experienced, the assailant’’s intentions change. What began as a defensive, anger-response to his own pain and a desire for retaliation, has now, with the realization that his victim is no-such-thing, he decides that his own safety is more important than what he wanted from “this” particular target.

He decides to let her go. And, besides…

…he will be able to find another, easier, victim…

…soon enough.

This story illustrates a common occurrence - more common, in fact, than most of us ever begin to realize. It describes, in one form, what happens to would-be assailants every day, who choose the wrong target and are left with the realization that not everyone will play the role of the “victim.”

Unfortunately, stories like this are usually never reported on by either the police or news people.

Why? Because they never even know about them. Because the intended victim handled things on their own and escaped safely, returning home to friends and family.

This article then, is a tribute to all those who have decided that, should something ever happen, they choose the outcome of this story to be theirs.

Can you imagine what the world would be like if even half of citizens were capable and prepared to defend themselves against danger? I for one can think of two types of people who would have to find new work…

…criminal attackers, and…

…reporters!

About The Author

Jeffrey Miller is the founder and master instructor of Warrior Concepts International. He is the author of “The Karate-Myth” and the Danger Prevention Tactics video, among others. For more info, subscribe to his ezine here.

By Jeffrey Miller

Imagine, if you will…

A woman walking across a dark parking lot late at night - perhaps on her way to meet her date. The lot, apparently occupied only by the vehicles parked there and the occasional cat hunting for an evening snack.

Then, as if from out of nowhere, she feels the hard, meaty arm slam into her throat from the front. While her mind races to determine exactly what’’s happening, she becomes more and more aware that she is not in control - her world has just changed forever.

The woman feels her muscles contract and, though she tries to move, is aware that much of her own body won”t respond to her brain’’s commands. As the adrenaline and other chemicals flood her blood stream in natural response to danger, she is overcome by a multitude of feelings and sensations that she has, quite literally, never experienced before.

As the initial shock response and wave of panic begins to ebb, she finds herself becoming aware of the sensation of her assailant’’s body behind her and the fact that his arm is coming from over her right shoulder. She can now hear his hot, rasping breath in her ear and perhaps the fact that he is saying something to her; though she’’s not quite sure what it is.

Since she’’s taken a few self-defense classes, she remembers learning how to get out of this type of attack and reaches up to grab and pull his arm away from her neck. What she finds though, is that she cannot even begin to budge it in the least.

“Wait a minute,” she thinks in a moment of clarity, “this isn”t right.”

“This isn”t right!”

“It always worked in class.” “This guy’’s holding me too tight!” “No one ever holds THIS TIGHT!”

She feels the next wave of panic start to grip her. Not because she is being attacked but…

…because she realizes that her defense doesn”t work.

“Why?” “What’’s going on?!”

“It’’s supposed to work!” “He said it would wo….”

As the darkness of unconsciousness overtakes her, she is left with the feeling of a warm blanket that is being pulled over someone who will sleep for a long while.

The preceding story, believe it or not, happens several times every single day in our country and around the world. To be certain, the details are different. Perhaps the victim…

…is a man - not a woman…

…never actually trained with anyone and just had their own assumptions…

…was attacked differently, but…

…the results are always the same.

Or, are they?

About The Author

Jeffrey Miller is the founder and master instructor of Warrior Concepts International. He is the author of “The Karate-Myth” and the Danger Prevention Tactics video, among others. For more info, subscribe to his ezine here.

By Jeffrey Miller

When it comes to your personal protection, the program you choose to study, the way you train, and the person who teaches you, all determine how well, and even IF, you will be successful in a real-world self-defense encounter. When seeking out a defensive tactics program, you must remember that you”re not shopping for a piece of furniture where, if it doesn”t work out for you, you can take it back.

A self-defense situation is also very different from the safety of a karate tournament. There is no “fair-play” and no referee to insure that each participant adheres to the rules.

The following is a list of principles that will be crucially important during your training if you are to be ready to face a violent attacker bent on crushing you in the real-world. Missing, or not knowing the importance of even one of these could, literally, be fatal.

1. Somewhere, someone is training to hurt another human being. If you”re not training to protect yourself and you meet him - HE will win.

2. Self-Defense is not a choice - it’’s a responsibility

3. There’’s more than one type of attacker - make sure you”re prepared for ANY type

4. Most so-called experts are not even close - don”t just check the instructor’’s credentials, check his background and experience

5. If you must fight, learn to fight “smarter” not harder

6. Your body knows how to defend itself instinctively - learn what that is and learn to use it to your advantage

7. There’’s more to defending than physical self-defense - train to also develop non-physical, distraction, and non-confrontational options

8. You can”t have a favorite technique - so don”t

9. You can”t have a weak side - avoid only learning things on your strong side

10. Most martial arts and self-defense programs don”t work - know what you need BEFORE you choose a program

11. Your assailant won”t care what color belt you have

12. Emotions, not logic, will rule the day - make sure they”re a part of your training too

13. You will defend yourself as you have trained - right or wrong - so make sure that what you”re learning is “right”

14. Step-by-step, memorized, Karate-moves won”t work - if your skills are not automatic, forget it

15. A street attack is not a contest with rules. It is a life-changing event, and the trophy is your life - train that way

16. A one-day seminar, video, or book will not suddenly make you an expert

17. The more options you have for any attack, the greater your chances of surviving

18. If you want to survive, you must be ABLE to hurt another human being (yes, I know… I”ve said this before…)

19. You can”t “pretend” to hit, kick, or grab - your assailant won”t be pretending

When it comes to self-defense, you have to know that what you”re learning is right. Not after the fact, but before you ever find yourself face-to-face with your worst nightmare.

Real-world training can still be very safe and enjoyable but, there are certain elements of the training that simply cannot be ignored. You may not like the idea of having to roll or the fact that you might get a bruise or two along the way but, as one of my female staff members points out to students…

… “which would you rather have - a bruise or two now from the training, or what’’s left over when your attacker is finished with you?”

The choice is yours. After all…

…it’’s YOUR life!

About The Author

Jeffrey Miller is the founder and master instructor of Warrior Concepts International. He is the author of “The Karate-Myth” and the Danger Prevention Tactics video, among others. For more info, subscribe to his ezine here.

By Jeffrey Miller

When discussing self-defense training, we really need to be discussing more than just learning some tricks and techniques for dodging punches or escaping locks and holds. Why then, are most instructors content with stopping at, and most students satisfied with learning, self-defense in a vaccuum?

Well, I have my own beliefs, mostly involving the fact that most have never been in a real-world self-preservation situation with an assailant out to do maximum damage with any technique or weapon they choose. Basically…

… they don”t know any better.

In this issue, I want to look at a foundational idea that the rest of our training philosophies should take into account if we are to prepare ourselves in the most efficient and effective way possible.

First, we need to consider the learning curve of the average human being. When we think about how we learn best, aside from the methods that we might have been exposed to along the way, it becomes obvious that the “natural” way to learn can be seen in the following pattern:

Do - Think - Feel

That is, the most effecient and effective learning model for most of us is to:

* Do the ”thing” in a hands-on fashion.

* Think about the ”thing” - work at understanding what makes it ”tick” and how it can be used - it’’s impact and use for us.

* Have an emotional response - we either like-it, don”t like-it, or it doesn”t matter.

So, what’’s the problem you might ask. That’’s the way martial artists train in just about every dojo or training center around.

The problem is that…

… the above formula is only half the equation!

The problem is that, we may learn best this way but, we operate very differently when under stress. I don”t mean just danger, but any time stress factors play on us. Whether we”re talking about fear, sadness, happiness, or whatever, we simply operate in a different way than we learn. And, this must be accounted for in the learning curve or we will simply be unprepared for a real-life encounter with an attacker.

The difference that I”m speaking of is really an exact opposite of the learning formula. When under stress, human beings operate by the formula:

Feel - Think - Do

This means that in a life-threatening situation we will:

* Have an emotional reaction - to the type of attack, the assailant, the environment, rules and regulations that we are bound by, and a hundred other factors.

* Access memories, beliefs, and mental functions - and then, based on what we think about the situation and what we know…

* We go into action - and do the best we can with what we know.

To say that the formulas are different, is more than an understatement.

What are we to do with this information? How can it help us to better train to be prepared for a life-saving situation?

Quite simply - we can make sure that we are producing and working under a particular emotional mode when training for self defense. This will require a training atmosphere akin to