Target Focus Training (part 6)

(Disclaimer: I do not own the philosophies and teaching of TFT. Everything belongs to Mr. Tim Larkin. This post is to inform only. Enjoy reading!)

Free Combat Training Principles -- Secrets For Staying
Alive When 'Rules' Don't Apply


Answering Your Questions About Target-Focus(tm) Training

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"The more laws and order are made prominent,
The more thieves and robbers there will be."

Lao-tzu, The Way of Lao-tzu
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1. From Greg in Key Biscayne, FL: I really enjoy your
newsletters but I am trying to figure out what makes
your Target-Focus Training different from any good
martial art or combat sport?

A: Focus is probably the main difference. I have made
the decision to only teach a fighting SYSTEM
specifically designed for when your life is on the
line. Much of the physical training includes strikes,
leverages, kicks, and throws that other arts or sports
teach.

TFT has specifically been designed around 2 "high
concept" principles that are supported by the 3
methodologies of strikes (punches, kicks etc...),
leverages (throws, joint locks) and physical dynamics
(maximizing the damage of the first 2 methodologies).

Most martial arts or combat sports focus only on the
physical end of training and rarely train for life or
death application. TFT teaches only in the environment
of your life being at risk. Anything less is a game.

2. From Josh in Butte, MT: Whom did you learn from and
how has that shaped your Target-Focus Training?

A: I've had a number of great instructors over the
years from the martial art and combat sport world as
well as the down and dirty approach from some of the
great military hand-to-hand close combat instructors.

My exposure to this wealth of knowledge is unique and
I've attempted to create a system of fighting that
clearly defines all the key principles that are
constant in good fighting systems.

I don't feel I've created anything new with TFT but
I've definitely created a different way to quickly and
effectively learn how to defeat a violent physical
attack that risks your life. How I present the
information is what makes TFT so effective.

You rapidly absorb the physical and mental aspects of
fighting for your life in a way many of my clients
with extensive M/A or C/S training have told me is
very unique and effective. My only goal is to have you
focus on what is really important:

***DESTROYING YOUR ENEMY BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY***

If I sound like a broken record, so be it. In my mind
there is no other purpose when fighting.

To understand what it mean to "destroy your enemy by
any means necessary" check out my TFT Striking DVD series
at: http://www.targetfocustraining.com/striking.html

It'll make you a 'juggernaut of destruction' regardless
of your size, speed, strength or skill.

Until next time,
********************************************

Free Combat Training Principles -- Secrets For Staying
Alive When 'Rules' Don't Apply


"Striking With Power And Quickness Versus
Blocking With Force And Speed"

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"An attack must be executed with quickness,
not speed. Attack with power, not strength. There
is a great difference between speed and quickness,
power and strength. Think this through carefully.
It is the essence of strategy"

Miyamoto Musashi

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Violence as your ultimate survival tool is greatly
enhanced when you employ POWER. Unfortunately many
continue to train using FORCE -- or strength -- as a
means of defending themelves.

It's the same with QUICKNESS, which is an essential
element in creating the necessary POWER in your
attack. Yet everyone focuses on SPEED (coupled with
FORCE) to try and defend or counter an attacker.

Ok... so what's the difference in POWER vs. FORCE, in
QUICKNESS vs. SPEED?

Am I headed off into some lesson in Physics?

Not at all.

You see, attacks using POWER don't rely on physical
strength. What they DO require, however, is an
understanding of the inherent weaknesses of the human
body.

Let me give you an example.

Imagine being backed up against a wall with a car in
front of you... racing its engine. The driver is about
to pop the brake and crush you against the wall.

Applying FORCE and SPEED to this situation you've got
2 choices: 1) You could try to jump up over the hood
(SPEED) or, 2) You could brace yourself against the
wall and push against the car (FORCE).

But now look at that same situation from an emphasis
on POWER and QUICKNESS. Here you: 1) Smoothly pop the
hood of the car (QUICKNESS) and, 2) Rip the
appropriate cables to kill the engine (POWER).

(OK, I hear all the protests from the motor heads but
cut me a little slack, folks... it's an exaggerated
example to help highlight a point.)

The point: if you rely on SPEED and FORCE then you've
ALWAYS got to be stronger and faster then everyone
else.

But by using POWER (being able to identify weak areas)
and QUICKNESS (think, 'timing') you can defeat a much
stronger and faster threat.

That's why I've built Target-Focus Training around
POWER and QUICKNESS because just like me, you WILL
face many threats that are bigger, faster, and
stronger.

The great Japanese warrior Musashi understood this
important strategic concept and lived to a ripe old
age after killing more than 60 men with his sword. Re-
read his quote at the top and really try to understand
it.

Until next time,

*************************************************************

Free Combat Training Principles -- Secrets For Staying
Alive When 'Rules' Don't Apply


Violence As A Game - The Illusion Of A Fair Fight

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"One of the biggest reasons for failure on the
battlefield is not knowing what to do next... This is
the result of not having been trained thoroughly in
what to expect on the battlefield."

General Orlando Ward

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Last week I was hanging out with a friend of mine, a
former NFL Defensive Lineman. Chuck had a reputation
in college as a brawler and never missed an
opportunity to use his fists to answer any
disagreement.

Chuck has definitely mellowed over the years and is
much easier to be around these days - but old habits
die hard. The conversation drifted towards my training
and he was giving me some feedback from a mutual
friend who attended a TFT seminar.

Our friend Tony loved the training and, since he
travels to some of the more dangerous parts of the
world, has unfortunately had to use his training. The
results were that he survived two unavoidable criminal
attacks using principles and methods from the TFT
Seminar.

Tony faced multiple attackers in one incident and a
knife in the other. Chuck was impressed that Tony
survived both incidents unscathed and then commented
on the side that had it been a "fair fight" Tony would
have lost.

I asked Chuck to clarify for me what he meant.

He went on to say that the three attackers were all
larger than Tony, as was the knife wielder, and that
in a "fair fight" Tony would have lost.

He pointed out that if Tony hadn't used all that
"unfair stuff" he got from my seminar he never would
of "won". Chuck said he was glad that Tony knew TFT
but that it really didn't prove he could fight.

Chuck went on to say that if it were just a "thumping
contest" -- "Ya know, Tim, a real fight" then the
bigger, stronger guy would always win. He was
disturbed by the fact that Tony had to kill the knife
wielder and that one of the multiple attackers had his
throat crushed by Tony.

That to Chuck proved it wasn't a "real fight" and the
fact Tony effectively used deception to disarm his
attackers before he attacked really disturbed Chuck.

"That's not fighting, it's just..."

"Violence?" I added.

"Yeah, it proves nothing about how good a fighter you
are," Chuck blurted out.

I know what Chuck was trying to say and it's sad when
I see anyone like him that has never gone beyond using
violence to dominate a social situation.

By choosing to use violence in a social situation,
guys like Chuck always run the risk of bumping into
someone who won't bother fighting a bigger, stronger
guy.

They'll just use violence in the only way it should be
used... as a survival tool.

Until next time,

Tim Larkin

**********************************************************

Free Combat Training Principles -- Secrets For Staying
Alive When 'Rules' Don't Apply


When You Finally Decide to Act -- Hurt 'em

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"Just Do It."

Nike Ad
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Ed B. recently wrote to say he really enjoyed my E-book
(http://www.tftgroup.com/products/ebooks/index.htm)

He described an event that happened in Miami years
back when he was thrown out of a 'disco' (jeez Ed,
this must have been in the 70's. Were you guys wearing
leisure suits?). Seems the fight that got them kicked
out of the disco was over a girl (big surprise
there, huh?).

He ended up out on the street with his 3 buddies and
about 15 guys wanting to separate their heads from
their shoulders. Doing the only prudent thing, the 4
decided to run for the hills; 2 went left and Ed and
his buddy went right.

Unfortunately about ten of the other guys decided to
run after Ed and his buddy. Not knowing the
neighborhood they ended up running around a corner and
down an alley smack into a high chain link fence with
barbed wire at the top -- DEAD END.

They had a choice: wait for the 10 to come around the
corner and see what would happen -OR- take action. Ed
decided to take action. He spotted a 4' pipe in a
trash heap along with a 2x4. He grabs the pipe and
tosses the 2x4 to his buddy (good choice Ed, I'd have
opted for the pipe also).

His buddy is dumbfounded and asks incredulously, "What
are we going to do?" Ed says, "We're getting out of
here" and runs towards the corner where they had made
the bad choice of streets. The first guy chasing them
is just turning that corner to "get them".

Ed catches him cleanly on the elbow with his pipe as
the guy tries to put on the brakes. Suddenly -- to
everyone's surprise -- the tables are turned! 2 guys
are chasing 10 down the mean streets of Miami, and Ed
survives what could have been a very different
outcome.

Ed asked if I'd agreed this was using "Cause State"
(there's a long interview transcription on Cause State
in the ebook noted above).

I have to agree: the decision to act and the effect
caused were the keys to their survival.

Notice the focus wasn't to DEFEND themselves, it was
to HURT the other guys -- pure and simple. I've
covered this before. Anything less and this becomes a
disaster.

Great job Ed!

Until next time,

Tim Larkin