On Health, Fitness & Jeet Kune Do

The discussion continues  on the JKD Talk Forum.

I like the sheep-sheep dog-wolf analogy.

I agree with the belief that everyone is born with the survival
instinct but that not everyone is born with the  warrior mindset.  In
fact, I don’t believe anyone is really born with the “warrior”
mindset.  The warrior is forged from a certain kind of socialization,
experiences, and character development.  In my earlier comment I had
briefly alluded to the concept of self as potentially encompassing
something beyond our physical body.  In the case of the warrior, the
sense of self tends to encompass a much larger picture such as family,
honor, country, faith, etc.  When that sense of self is threatened, the
same survival instinct kicks in except that it may not be driven by a
need for food or shelter, but rather a need to preserve the larger
concept.

Take for instance, the example of the Todd “Let’s Roll” Beamer, that
was originally referred to.  Mr. Beamer obviously took the role of the
“sheep dog” and was most likely driven by a basic survival instinct,
however his sense of self at that moment may also have encompassed the
his fellow man or “sheep”.  On a darker note the terrorists that took
control of the plane, may not have seen themselves as “wolves” either.
Their sense of self was probably closely tied to faith and culture,
which in turn, warps their survival instinct into something rather
horrific to those that do not share their values.  It is conceivable
that they too see themselves as sheep dogs.

The concept of self and survival should be a simple matter, but people make it complex.

As for the getting the warrior mindset, I do believe it is something
that can be developed.  Some of us may have an easier time of it than
others due to our individual socialization, and the strength and
flexibility of our psyche/spirit.  At times certain things seem like an
impossibility, but I feel the concept of impossible is just an excuse.

Anyway, that’s just what I think.

In Health,

–
Nhan-Esteban Khuong, L.Ac.
www.SGVJeetKuneDo.com

There was a recent post on the Wednesday Night Group’s JKD Talk Forum that strikes at the heart of self defense training.

You can read the full thread here: Jeet Kune Do Forum

Basically, the poster asks the questions:

1. Would you use extreme/deadly force if necessary?
2. If you think you have this warrior/killer instinct how do you know?

Addressing the first question, I believe that self preservation is hardwired into all living organisms.  At the very least, an organism will attempt to preserve itself long enough to pass on its genetic
material.

Nature has produced many creatures with elaborate methods of self preservation, but human beings seem to have the most variation compared to any other single species of animal.  The most basic form of this killer instinct is simply to eliminate a threat with bare hands and raw, adrenaline pumped rage.

In the case of humans, social conditioning frequently interferes with this instinct.  In fact, many of the dysfunctions, diseases, imbalances, etc., existing today are most likely due to (directly or
indirectly) emotional/spiritual issues stemming from social conditioning.

What’s my point?

Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, has that warrior/killer instinct to protect self and extensions of self (ie. loved ones. friends, country, god/s, race, etc.)  The real question is, will your social conditioning allow that hardwired instinct to express itself, or will it interfere in such a way that it will be completely suppressed, mutated, weakly expressed, or anything in between.

Regarding the second question, yes.  As for how do I know?  I just feel it.  I’m pretty passive in general, but I know that I would act immediately and with deadly force, if necessary, to preserve myself and loved ones.

As for self defense, training should include a degree of mental/spiritual/social conditioning that will ensure access to the warrior/killer instinct when/if ever it becomes necessary to draw upon.  The ability to harness our primal energy, “emotional content” as Bruce Lee might say, is key.

–
Nhan-Esteban Khuong, L.Ac.
www.SGVJeetKuneDo.com

Kicking, by its very nature is far more telegraphic than punching.

A punch is initiated with the hand before any other part of the body is set in motion, thus making it extremely non-telegraphic with virtually no preparation.

In order to throw any kicking technique however, the base must change from two feet to one and the upper body must shift to counterbalance the weight of the striking leg.  So how do you kick without giving away your intention?

Here are a few simple, concrete strategies in the executing a non-telegraphic kick:

1.  Deception

2.  Avoiding the “chamber”

3.  Low-line targets

Deception: The art of deception is perhaps the most important concept for success in the fighting arts.  When two opponents with equal physical attributes face off, it will be the more deceptive of the two who dominate. appearing to be faster, stronger and more overall less telegraphic.

In Jeet Kune Do, deceptive attacks are generally categorized under “progressive indirect” (one of the five ways of attack).  A progressive indirect attack is essentially initiating a forward movement with one attack in order to shorten the distance between you and the target, then changing the target or weapon in order to penetrate an otherwise effective defense.

For example, the “progressive” part could be a feinted eye jab (which allows the fighter to close the distance to the target) but finally change to a side kick aimed at the knee, thus completing with the “indirect” aspect of the attack.

In this picture, I land a snap kick to the inner thigh by first, feinting a jab, stealing a step, then throwing the kick.

2. Avoiding the “Chamber”: The classical method of the art of kicking generally stresses the chamber position as an important intermediate step before a kick is fired.  Although there are certain benefits to chambering the leg, the movement is extraordinarily telegraphic.  By changing the trajectory of the kick to more of an arc rather than sharp angle you will still have path clearance and excellent potential for power generation.  Kicking in an arc does not mean kicking with a straight leg, but rather that the knee and hip cocking is not severe enough to bring the foot away from the target.  As a rule of thumb in nearly any strike, make certain that the striking tool is always moving towards its target.

Difficult to capture on camera, here it can be seen that my kicking leg is traveling in a short arc from the floor rather than from a chambered midway point.

3.  Low-line targets:  Low line targets are the best targets in a self defense situation.  Bruce Lee once said that kicking the head is like punching the foot.  It’s actually not quite that severe given that the legs are much longer than the arms, but the point is generally well understood.  With this in mind, targets below the waist (ie. groin, knee, and foot) are closer to the striking tool and require less body shift to kick, thus effectivley reducing telegraph.

In the following photograph, JKD practitioner Sean Foon executes a successful low line stop kick to my knee.

These are fundamental principles to self defense oriented kicking, however “knowing is not enough” so remember to practice.

In Health,

–
Nhan-Esteban Khuong, L.Ac.
www.SGVJeetKuneDo.com

Self defense is one of the those subjects that truly is far from easy to establish a definitive, proven, method.

Earlier, I wrote a post (that included a few videos) about knife defense that was mainly humorous but in a serious kind of way . . . if you know what I mean. You can see it here http://nkhuong.com/blog/knife-defense/

The main idea behind that post really applies to all aspects of self defense, not just knife defense.

Most self defense courses / methods, are based on a very specific understanding of what is needed to defend one’s self. These notions and understandings are as varied as there are people thinking about it.

Almost all of these ideas have value in them and add to the whole. Very few people, however, take into account the totality of the self defense world.

The reality is, that there simply is not enough research and unbiased evidence that points towards a clear path. Self defense and the art of fighting, are not simply about hurting and/or defending against getting hurt. The real challenge is not in the physical aspect of self defense, but rather in the mental and psychological elements.

Most of the information we know about self defense comes from the military and law enforcement. As valuable as the information is, one must consider the context from which it was gathered. Generally, this means war and very specific crime settings.

In war, the psychology of soldiers is very different from that of civilians in self defense situations during peace. Similarly, the mindset of a law enforcement officer apprehending a criminal will also be very different.

Even within the civilian self defense scene, we should consider the difference between a road rage based assault and the sexual predator. We should know the difference between the petty thief lurking in the dark and the religious zealot hidden in broad daylight. This is really only the tip of the self defense iceberg.

As with all skills, self defense also requires practice.

There is no such thing as the ultimate street fighting weekend crash course seminar that will leave you prepared for the worst.

Cultivation and maintenance are essential.

In Health,

–
Nhan-Esteban Khuong, L.Ac.
www.SGVJeetKuneDo.com

Health and fitness should be interesting and enjoyable.

It always amazes me how this aura of suffering and discipline combined with large doses of blood and sweat seems to have encased the fitness industry.

There are tons of new programs out there that are upbeat, innovative, and exciting, yet the default images that come to mind still seem to be grueling and bleak where only the strong survive.

I have to admire the self discipline that the people must develop who go to the gym everyday to pump iron and run on the treadmill.  I did it for a few years until I realized that I could utilize all the time spent, on my rat on a wheel routine, to learn something and develop usable skills, or at least have fun.  So, instead of spending hours per week strapped into a machine repeating two dimensional motions, I focused on sports, martial arts, and just trying new things.

Since I made the switch, I enjoy working out much more, my body is more defined, my strength is more functional, my martial arts skill level has increased significantly, and I know a lot more about how the body works.

Now, if you’re a competitive athlete or even just a weekend warrior who wants to improve his/her game, then a sport specific conditioning routine outside of game play would be appropriate.  Keep in mind that this still does not mean hitting the gym with the old “C’mon, c’mon . . . one more rep!” routine, it should be a varied and dynamic series of holistic movements that are specifically designed to increase, your speed, strength, agility, flexibility, etc.  What I mean by holistic is multi-planar, multi-joint, and utilizing a rate of movement and control that would be needed in real life.

In any case, if you’ve reached the stage where you want to improve your game, then you have probably already incorporated a level of regularly performed exercise that you enjoy.

For those of you who are still challenged by the “regular exercise” stage, I recommend getting out there and trying something new.  Go for a Yoga or Pilates class.  Try swimming, or a team sport.  Learn Boxing.  Go hiking or rock climbing. Go kayaking or learn to surf.  Join a bootcamp (they’re tough but fun!).  Landscape your yard.  The possibilities are endless.  In my case, I like honing my martial arts and self defense skills.  I also enjoy boxing, kickboxing, and submission wrestling among other less combative things like racquetball, hiking, ocean kayaking, body surfing, mountain biking, etc.

It’s true that classes tend to be more expensive than gym memberships, but here is a little known fact that I found out as a personal trainer:  most people sign two or three year contracts at large chain gym, then quit within the first three months.  Basically, the gym is making money over the course of three years despite the fact that their facilities were only used for a few months.  If your gym offers classes, that’s great!  It has been my experience, however, that class instructors at large gyms tend to be overworked, underpaid, and rather unenthusiastic about what they are teaching.

Most fitness studios that offer classes, on the other hand, charge monthly tuition without contracts, will often times give you a degree of personal attention that is largely absent of commercial gyms, and are generally passionate about their craft.

The take home message:  If you want a change from the traditional gym routine, go shop around for an interesting class and just do it.  If you’re on a budget, just get some friends together, go to the park, and use your imagination!

In Health,

–
Nhan-Esteban Khuong, L.Ac.
www.SGVJeetKuneDo.com

Here’s a great article that lists some compelling reasons to start getting physically active.

I would like to add that incorporating fitness via a self defense training program does wonders for self confidence and can be a very powerful tool for stress relief.

In any case, one of the best ways to get on an exercise program and stay on it, is to choose an activity that you enjoy . . . and better yet, take a friend.

Happy training!

The greatest challenge in developing a permanent exercise habit is finding motivation that lasts. It’s easy to get to the gym when you’re preparing for that big beach vacation or want to look great for your high school reunion. But what about the rest of the time?

For much of my life I followed a pretty consistent pattern:

• Get a bit fat.
• Start to hate the way I look.
• Hit the gym with a vengeance for a few weeks.
• Start to look noticeably better.
• Smugly enjoy my new found vanity.
• Lose motivation and stop working out for a few weeks.
• Repeat from beginning.

Vanity, it turns out, isn’t a great longterm motivator for most people. It wasn’t until I associated exercise with rewards beyond physical appearance that I was able to get myself to the gym 5-6 times a week without any lapses.

To help you bring consistency and enthusiasm to your exercise schedule, here are some powerful reasons to work out that have nothing to do with looking good.

Read the full article here: 10 Reasons to Work Out That Have Nothing to Do With a Sexy Bod

–
Nhan-Esteban Khuong, L.Ac.
www.SGVJeetKuneDo.com

The harsh reality is that self defense situations involving knives exist

With this in mind, there are tons of knife defense techniques out there; some of the stuff is coming from reputable sources while the grand majority comes from martial artists regurgitating the same old defense and disarm techniques that only work if the attacker initiates in a very specific predetermined way.

Despite the comedic emphasis in this video, there is an important lesson to be learned.

Enjoy!

–
Nhan-Esteban Khuong, L.Ac.
www.SGVJeetKuneDo.com