(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
"Defining Effectiveness"
******************************************************
"Readers are plentiful; thinkers are rare."
- Harriet Martineau (1802 - 1876)
******************************************************
Effectiveness seems to be a reoccurring theme in the
questions sent to me by my newsletter readers. Typical
questions run along the lines of:
1. Tim, what are the most effective targets for me to
hit?
2. Tim, how can I make my punches more powerful, and
is a fist or palm more effective?
Again there are over 170 viable targets on the human
body that can cause a predictable response when trauma
is delivered to the target. So what is the most
effective to strike?
... THE ONE YOU CAN
===================
Yeah, it really is just that simple.
Again, you never want to limit yourself to a specific
set of finite targets because you are attempting to
predict what will be available to you in a violent
conflict. That is one factor that will always vary.
If you understand that the principle is to cause a
spinal reflex reaction (an involuntary or autonomic
response) in the other guy then you have a principle
that works regardless of the targets presented.
So the "high concept" here is to not limit your
targeting options... and thereby increasing your
effectiveness.
Next, let's deal with how to make your punches
(strikes) more powerful and effective. Here's a good
first step:
... FOCUS ON HITTING YOUR TARGETS
=================================
Yeah I know, sounds like a broken record, right?
Well I can't believe how many of you spend hours
attempting to get stronger or faster yet breeze over
the targeting aspect.
If you pay attention to the military actions taken in
the last year by the US you keep hearing the same
thing over and over...
TARGETING
=========
Why? Because the military has found that it can be
more deadly, more effective, and take out enemies much
faster... the better they can target and deliver their
munitions.
And here's the kicker -- they are often able to do
this with less overall power (less bombs, firepower)
because they can target the specific threat and focus
all of the weapon's power into that exposed area.
So yes, there are ways to get more effective but I
would have you explore the first 2 options above
before I help you with the physical dynamics of
increasing your strength and power.
Until next time,
***************************************************
Free Combat Training Principles -- Secrets For Staying
Alive When 'Rules' Don't Apply
"The Four Horsemen Of Response"
******************************************************
"No passion so effectually robs the mind of all its
powers of acting and reasoning as fear."
Edmund Burke (1729 - 1797)
******************************************************
People often ask me about the "Fight or Flight"
response when it comes to responding to a violent,
imminent threat of physical attack. When I tell them
that there are actually four responses to this type of
threat I usually get a confused looked.
As a life-long student of violence I constantly
research sources from the academic and literary world
that deal with this very controversial subject. Some
of my research has led me to the fallacy of people
assuming "Fight Or Flight" is the response regardless
of the threat. So lets clarify:
"Fight Or Flight" is a viable response but only when
the threat occurs between 2 different species. If you
are walking through the woods and a Kodiak bear starts
to rush you, you would quickly either fight if you had
a weapon or run (flight) if you did not. Yes, you can
use the other 2 responses but for the most part the
meeting of 2 different species results in "Fight Or
Flight".
That being said lets look at the "Four Horsemen Of
Response" when two members of the same species meet
with one side posing an imminent threat. The other can
respond as follows:
1. Fight - The challenge is assessed and the
response by the target is to fight back.
2. Flight - The challenge is assessed and the
response is to evade the threat and run.
3. Posture - The challenge is assessed and the
response is to feign or posture aggressively with
the ultimate goal being to avoid having to fight
or flight.
4. Capitulate - The challenge is assessed and the
response is to freeze, lie down, and hope that by
submitting to appease the aggressor.
Most are familiar with the first two options but lets
explore the latter two options. How many times have
you seen a person issue a threat and move towards
someone aggressively and that person's response is to
yell back and strike an aggressive, threatening
stance?
This is very common in social violent situations where
there is much posturing for dominance. Often the real
objective is to get one side to back down, with verbal
threats and aggressive postures used to convey
dominance. That is a classic example of the Posture
Response.
This is a dangerous gambit for both participants
because it delays the fight option and often wastes
valuable opportunities to end the situation with the
Fight Response.
The next response to explore is the all too common
Capitulate Response. This is where an aggressive
threat is met with complete and immediate submission
to the threatening party.
This response is very dangerous when used to avoid
getting harmed because it literally puts you at the
mercy of an aggressor. You rely on their moral code to
respect your capitulation and have that be a
sufficient way to satiate their desire to aggressively
dominate you. Very risky.
However, when used properly the Capitulate Response
can be an extremely effective manner to get your
aggressor into a vulnerable position to execute the
Fight Response. Basically, you're getting the
aggressor to expose vulnerable areas of his body to
attack by your feigned capitulation.
Other newsletter issues have dealt with how to take
advantage of these opportunities but it is instructive
to have a complete understanding of the "Four Horsemen
Of Response" to round out your fighting knowledge.
Until next time,
****************************************************8
Free Combat Training Principles -- Secrets For Staying
Alive When 'Rules' Don't Apply
"Are You Bored With What Works?"
******************************************************
"The only reason a warrior is alive is to fight, and
the only reason a warrior fights is to win. Otherwise,
why be a warrior? It is easier to count beads."
-Miyamoto Musashi
******************************************************
I get invited to a lot of different training events
and try out lots of new weapons that are used in the
special operations arena.
Recently I shot a modified weapon that is currently
all the rage in some of the personal protection
circles. It is a large caliber assault rifle that is
making the rounds in some of the current "hotspots" of
the world.
I thanked the guys who let me use the weapon but came
away with a nagging feeling that it was really not
that effective for the mission. The special technology
needed to use the weapon system seemed to me not worth
the expense and hassle.
Sure enough, I called a friend (with extensive combat
experience) who recently retired from a counter-terror
unit and is currently working as a highly sought
'consultant' and asked him if he agreed with my
assessment.
He told me that not only did he agree but that there
was a better option that the US Army had developed in
the late 60's.
He went on to explain the superior aspects of the
already developed, less expensive, readily available
technology that had better ballistics, better power,
and better accuracy.
He ended the conversation by telling me some people
just get bored with what works.
That hit home.
I get tons of questions about weapons technology
(which firearm is best, what knife should I carry, is
it better to punch or kick, etc) but the questions are
always about a tool rather than a principle.
I can't tell you what the 'best' combat folding knife
is on the market, 'best' firearm to carry, what
caliber is optimum for your needs, whether you should
use a punch or a kick in a given circumstance.
What I'm more interested in is what can you do with
those tools? Can you hit your target? Do you
understand the effect of the trauma you can inflict
with those tools? What is your focus when using your
tools?
If your focus is to DESTROY YOUR ENEMY BY ANY MEANS
NECESSARY then the tools will work their way into the
mix.
As for me I don't even carry a knife nor would I know
which knife is 'best'. Me, I have an aluminum pen that
the security people gladly hand me as it goes through
the weapons check at the airport.
Doesn't look very cool; in fact it's kinda yuppy-ish
looking. But it writes well -- and I have a sneaking
suspicion it'll help accelerate the trauma I want
to inflict should I need to fight.
Yeah, it's boring -- but it works.
Until next time,
No comments:
Post a Comment