An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Benjamin Franklin. One of the points we emphasize at our self-defense school is that we hope you never get involved in a physical confrontation. Avoidance, as Rory Miller writes, is
“Don’t Stand So Close to Me” The Police During every self-defense class, we emphasize that our primary goal is not to teach you how to “win a fight” but to get you home safe. One way to preserve your safety
When you see a trained fighter throw punches they seem to flow with ease. Punching, as many of us learn, is not as easy some make it look. One reason is that it is not a natural movement. If you
Last summer (2018), I was exiting a train at the Bloor/Yonge subway station. It was crowded and as I walked toward the stairs I accidentally bump into a man. I turned to apologize and saw him squinting at me with
This year the NBA’s Toronto Raptors went on an incredible playoff run culminating with them winning the NBA Championship. For the duration of the playoffs, fans gathered in Jurassic Park, an area outside of the Air Canada Centre in downtown
Scan: to look at intently or quickly Rarely, perhaps never, does a class go by when an instructor doesn’t remind a student to scan. We sometimes sound like those pull-a-string dolls that repeat phrases over and over again. Yes, it
.Kinesics: the study of body language We often say avoidance is the best self defense. Avoiding involves being aware of signs of danger. Vital to this is the developing field of kinesics. The body can indicate when a person is
As self-defense practitioners we all have our favourite striking combinations. These are the ones we have frequently practiced and feel most confident performing. Some people feel very comfortable punching but are less adept at kicking. Others might want to rely
Holidays offer many of us people an opportunity to travel. Some Torontonians fly south to enjoy warmer climates (sadly missing some of our colder winter days). A vacation offers a well-deserved break from the rigours of our daily lives. It
Testing can be an effective way to evaluate your progress and highlight what you need to work on. To prepare for testing I suggest the following: Consistent training. Would you run a half marathon without training? I did 15 years