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Showing posts from 2014

10 steps to introduce street fighting for a new trainee

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Having taught KravMaga for many years and especially short-term courses to police and prison guards, who are constantly exposed to violent confrontations, I have arrived at a simple methodology of 10 steps, based on KravMaga principles.  KravMaga SreeRam training TamilNadu Police Commandos The dominant elements of this methodology is 'Survival' and "Safety' more than 'Fighting' . Street fighting Priorities by KravMaga SreeRam STAGES IN 1ST LEVEL TEACHING OF SELF-DEFENCE Step 1 - Safety in training Step 2 -  How to defend using hands & legs Step 3 -  How to strike using legs / hands Step 4 -  How to combine defence and Strikes Step 5 -  How to move in different directions without falling Step 6 -  Practice Sparring in predictable environment Step 7 -  Introduce reaction to unpredictable attacks Step 8 -  Train for reality - react from uncomfortable positions  Step 9 -  Introduce basics of multiple attackers Step 10 -  How to de-escala

When Stupidity catches up with Ignorance, its training burnout

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I see all these martial artists and fitness geeks going OOOH and AAAHH about PAIN, SWEAT and PUSHING ONE-SELF.  I will explain why it’s a put-off to anyone whose IQ is above 80, and stays there in spite of a testosterone surge. Most Instructors wont tell you this. Because its bad for business. Do I hear “You are an Oldy. Just shut up and move aside ”?! Even gym instructors who spend hours watching YouTube and munching bland boiled eggs think I am crazy to do all this at my age. I have been doing physical things (Weight-lifting, Rowing, Karate, long Bike rides, KravMaga) for 40 years now. But reducing these passions to a physical level is like declaring your love to a girl with vulgar hip-thrusts, in front of her face. "See how much I love you?!"  How to “Pace your Passion” Many days I teach for more than 8 hours. I realised the value of taking it like a marathon runner. Pacing steadily, conserving body and mind, and bringing them together in a focussed

4 questions to evaluate a street self-defence technique

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"Sir, I know how to get out of Nelson Hold. My uncle who knows judo taught me" "Master, in Systema there is another way of releasing the shirt hold" I often see my trainees come up with variations which they have seen in a movie, youtube or done by a friend. Instead of being cynical about it, which will dampen their enthusiasm, I analyse the pros and cons of that particular technique. "This release of Nelson will be tough, since your neck will be hyper-extended" "You are using both hands for this shirt hold release, so you are open to the opponents other hand" Sometimes, I also go further to teach them how to evaluate a technique.I will share those evaluation parameters with you now. Before getting into the evaluation of technique let me clarify , at the cost of repeating myself, what differentiates KravMaga; because, I will be evaluating a technique only from the 'street reality' perspective Basic Differentiators of KravMaga

TCS staff's murder - Why it is too simplistic to blame IT/ITES companies!?

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Uma Maheswari  Uma Maheswari’s murder in Siruseri IT Park, Chennai has provoked lots of opinions in the media. The public take a vicarious pleasure in gleefully pointing a finger at the IT/BPO sector, “These IT companies don’t bother about their employees’ safety. They just want to make money.” My question to these people is simple. Atleast 5 to 6 lakh people are working in IT/ITES sector in Chennai and suburbs. Chennai population is 46 million with another 15 million working and residing in Chennai.. So we can say around 10% of Chennai population is working in IT related companies. The murder statistics point out that around 200 homicides happen in Chennai annually.  So how can one expect that such a big chunk of population, of which 30% are women, be insulated from crime?! Even by a simple back-of-the-envelope-calculation 2 lakh women are employed in IT/ITES sector. How can one expect that there cannot be an aberration?  If murders of IT women are happening

Stress & Anger Management- KravMaga Fitness 1

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Why KravMaga TamilNadu is talking about Stress Management! KravMaga is pure street self-defence. It’s all about Kicking groins and Punching noses, right? Hmmm... No. Since street crimes are sudden and shocking, KravMaga training has to factor in the element of extreme mental stress , which freezes all mental and physical processes. In contrast, there is also a gradual, eroding Stress caused by worry, anxiety, frustration, fear and similar negative emotions. When these emotions prevail continuously unabated for some time, the Stress will affect the person’s Fitness.  I have seen healthy, brawny trainees become gradually silent, insulated and physically weak due to personal or financial issues. So, as a KravMaga instructor I study both Sudden Stress and Sustained Stress. Why KravMaga TamilNadu is talking about Anger Management! ROAD - RAGE !! Most people under Stress become Angry; and do something stupid ... something which is extremely and irrevocab