| There are literally dozens of reasons to study the | | | | I point out on my knife-defense DVD called "The |
| martial arts. Everyday, countless numbers of | | | | Cutting-Edge," your attacker will almost always |
| children and adults take up the practice and study | | | | come to your world. That means that you will |
| of such martial arts as karate, judo, aikido, as well | | | | most likely be attacked in familiar territory - |
| as many other mixed or ecclectic forms. And, for | | | | where you live, work, and play. Take a good look |
| the most part, a student will probably find what | | | | around your world. Knowing where danger is likely |
| he or she is looking for in the program that they | | | | to come from, and in what form, is a crucial |
| choose. I say "for the most part" because, the | | | | element to being ready if and when it |
| one area of study that cannot be left to chance | | | | does.Researching the School, Program, and |
| is that of self-defense.While just about every | | | | TeacherI find it disconcerting to watch people |
| form of martial art can help a student to develop | | | | take more time trying on jeans to find just the |
| personal success traits | | | | right fit than is done in selecting a self-defense |
| like...ConfidenceDisciplineFocus, and...RespectNot | | | | program. According to statistics, students chose a |
| every art, or teacher for that matter, is cut out | | | | martial arts or self-defense program based more |
| to teach you what you need to know to survive | | | | on comfort and convenience, than for |
| a life-threatening situation.Now, before you go off | | | | effectiveness. Effectiveness, they assume, is the |
| all half-cocked because you think I dishonored | | | | same regardless of school or program; so the |
| your art or school, or because you think I just | | | | decision most often comes down to location of |
| said that you can't learn to defend yourself by | | | | the school and scheduling.It's important to |
| taking karate, give me a minute to explain where | | | | remember that, selecting a school, program, and |
| I'm coming from. As a former federal police | | | | ultimately a teacher, is not the same as buying a |
| officer and undercover operative in the areas of | | | | pair of jeans, or a hundred other decisions that |
| drug suppression and black market investigations, | | | | you could make. Why?Because this decision, if not |
| as-well-as plenty of street-time as both a | | | | made properly, could cost you more than you're |
| uniformed police officer and bodyguard, I can | | | | willing to lose.What it comes down to is whether |
| assure you that, there is much more to defending | | | | or not you want what you need, or you just |
| yourself than learning a few punches, blocks, and | | | | want to feel like you've done something. The |
| kicks in a karate class.So, how do you make sure | | | | choice is yours. The martial arts, in their most |
| that what you're getting out of a martial arts | | | | original form, were designed to deal with |
| class or so-called self-defense program will work in | | | | dangerous assailants and for the preservation of |
| a real-world situation? How do you make sure | | | | life. If an ancient warrior didn't practice enough, |
| that you're not going to be spending your | | | | failed to learn an important lesson, or wasn't |
| hard-earned time, money, and effort on | | | | prepared for the attack or attacker he was |
| something that, when the time comes, will be as | | | | facing - he died. Plain and simple.In Today's world, |
| worthless as not having trained at all? The answer | | | | we don't have to deal with physical danger on a |
| is......you're going to have to do some work ahead | | | | day-to-day basis like our martial ancestors did. |
| of time.If you're going to get what you need to | | | | And, quite frankly, that's a good thing. However; it |
| survive a street attack in Today's world, you're | | | | also produces a situation where underskilled, |
| going to have to do some research in three | | | | inexperienced, and sometimes unscrupulous |
| important areas. They are...Knowing What You | | | | intructors can pass off lessons that are more |
| NeedExamining Your Life and Lifestyle, | | | | harmful than good. But, that does't mean that you |
| and...Researching the School, Program and | | | | can't find good, quality, accurate instruction. What |
| TeacherI go into these areas in great depth in the | | | | it does mean is......you, and no one else, is |
| book, "The Karate-Myth: Why Most Martial Arts | | | | responsible for your own safety and self-defense |
| and Self-Defense Programs Don't Work and How | | | | education.Jeffrey M. Miller is the founder and |
| to Be Safe in Today's Violent World." To read | | | | master instructor of Warrior Concepts |
| more about it and these important topics, just go | | | | International. A senior teacher in the Japanese |
| here.Let's take a look at each area to see what's | | | | warrior art of Ninjutsu, he specializes in teaching |
| really needed if you're serious about getting | | | | the ancient ways of self-protection and personal |
| control over this part of your life.Knowing What | | | | development lessons in a way that is easily |
| You NeedThis area requires that you direct your | | | | understood and put to use by modern Western |
| awareness at your community and the types of | | | | students and corporate clients. Through their |
| attacks that typically occur in your little corner of | | | | martial arts training, his students and clients learn |
| the world. Remember, you're probably not going | | | | proven, time-tested lessons designed to help |
| to be attacked by a kung-fu stylist launching a | | | | them create the life they've always dreamed of |
| crane fist. However, knowing that 98% of | | | | living, and the skills necessary for protecting that |
| attackers in North America use a hooking or an | | | | life from anything that might threaten it. To learn |
| uppercutting punch will take you a long way | | | | more about sponsoring a seminar and other |
| towards learning techniques and defenses that will | | | | related subjects, visit his website. |
| actually work.Examining Your Life and LifestyleAs | | | | |