By the early 1980s, there was increased interest in coordinating activities to raise awareness of violence against women. As a result, time was set aside during October to raise awareness of violence against women issues. Over time, October became the principle focus of domestic violence awareness activities. Sexual assault advocates looked for a separate time to focus attention on sexual assault issues.

In the late 1980s, the National Coalition Against Sexual Assault (NCASA) informally polled state sexual assault coalitions to determine when to have a national Sexual Assault Awareness Week. A week in April was selected. Over time, some advocates began focusing attention on sexual violence throughout the month of April. In the late 1990s, many advocates began coordinating activities throughout the month of April on a regular basis, promoting an idea for a nationally recognized month for sexual violence awareness activities.

From 2000-2001, the Resource Sharing Project (RSP) and the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) polled state, territory, and tribal coalitions and found that the color teal was the preferred color for sexual assault awareness and prevention and that April was the preferred month to coordinate national sexual assault awareness activities. As a result, Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) was first observed nationally in April 2001.

Since then, the NSVRC has continued to promote a degree of national unity in voice and action regarding SAAM activities, to encourage interaction and feedback from across the nation, and to build momentum based on previous years’ activities. The NSVRC has provided resources to advocates nationwide to help them plan SAAM activities in their communities during April and throughout the year. These resources have included publications (e.g., newsletters, booklets, and directories); prevention materials (e.g., palm cards and online resources); and awareness-raising products (e.g., pins, posters, stickers, and postcards).

Additionally, the NSVRC has taken an active role in making sexual violence awareness and prevention resources available to the U.S. territories and the healthcare community. Over the last few years, the NSVRC has placed increasing emphasis on the prevention of sexual violence. As a result, the SAAM campaigns have included a greater focus on prevention.

The following text is from the official Sexual Assault Awareness Month website or http://www.nsvrc.org/saam/sexual-assault-awareness-month-home.  Please visit this site for more information about Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention.

Regards,

Dean

IKMF P1
IKMF P2
IKMF P3

Basic

Left Straight/Right Cross/Left Hook
Left Straight/Right Cross/Left Hook/Right Cross
Left Straight/Right Cross/Left Hook/Right Uppercut
Right Uppercut/Left Hook
Right Uppercut/Left Hook/ Right Cross
Left Hook/Right Hook/Left Hook

Muy Thai Combo – Basic
The basic combo is as follows: Left Straight/Right Straight/Left Hook/Right Cross
So your partner calls a number and you do that many punches followed by an opposite side kick.
#1. Left Straight/Right Round Kick
#2. Left Straight/Right Cross/Left Round Kick
#3. Left Straight/Right Cross/Left Hook/Right Round Kick
#4. Left Straight/Right Cross/Left Hook/Right Cross/Left Round

Muy Thai Combo – Advanced
Add a Left Hook/Right Cross to the end of the combo continuing with opposite sides.
#1. Left Straight/Right Round Kick/Left Hook/Right Cross
#2. Left Straight/Right Cross/Left Round Kick/Right Cross/Left Hook
#3. Left Straight/Right Cross/Left Hook/Right Round Kick/Left Hook/Right Cross
#4. Left Straight/Right Cross/Left Hook/Right Cross/Left Round/Right Cross/Left Hook

The last combo I will share is one of my favorites. It is good for Krav Maga because it closes the distance well and is very aggressive.

Left or Right Front Kick (or groin kick, it doesn’t matter)/Left advancing Straight Punch/Right Cross/Left Hook/Right Elbow (advancing to the outside)/Knee

The possibilities are endless, as you practice these you can start to combine them in different ways. Make them as long or as short as you want and as always have fun training!

As a makeup we will be offering a 3 hour knife defense seminar on Saturday September 18th from 9am-noon. The event will be free to members and $20 to non-members so let your friend know.

Shirts are in.  I have a limited supply of Women’s shirts and plenty of regular t-shirts.  Cost is $15 each. 

Regards,

Dean

 If you are not familiar with the Burpee exercise please check this Crossfit link for a demo.

http://www.crossfit.com/cf-info/excercise.html#Exer

Click on “Burpee Demo”

 The Workout:

 BEGINNING:

 2.5 Minute Rounds

-30 seconds Burpees

-30 seconds shadow boxing/kickboxing (this is not for rest so keep the intensity up)

-Repeat

-30 seconds push-ups or v-ups (alternate each round).

1 minute break

 Work 5 rounds

 INTERMEDIATE:

 Same as before but continue to work until you can do 10 rounds comfortably.

 ADVANCED:

 Once you get where you can do 10, 2.5 minute rounds pretty easily then up your rounds to 3.5 minutes for 5 rounds.  Continue to work that up to 10 rounds.

 Good Luck and Regards,

 Dean

Be sure to check out Kates blog:

http://www.krdo.com/springslife/index.html

Thanks again to Kate, Joe and Mireya!!!

MMA fighters are hands down some of the toughest people on the planet.  The training regiment that fighters are subjected too in order to be competitive in their sport could only be compared to what Spartan warriors must have done to be battle ready. It means hours on the mat, lifting weights and working cardio.

The original Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) had very few or no rules and they where not commissioned by any governing body.  Many people were outraged by this. After several years of adding occasional random rules the UFC was feeling the pressure.  As a result the UFC was nearly bankrupt. 

They wanted to legitimize there sport and make it more mainstream.  In order to do this they went through the Nevada State Boxing Commission.  The Boxing Commission required that they implement certain rules including weight classes and timed rounds.  Additionally they made striking certain areas of the body illegal along with striking from certain positions (for instance knees to the head of a downed opponent) as they were deemed dangerous to the fighters.  Since they wear very little protection (4-6 ounce open hand gloves) rules protecting the fighter was obviously very important.  Do these rules make MMA fighters weak or unable to defend themselves?  Absolutely not!  In a self defense system these targets are what we train to strike because of their effectiveness.

Self defense practitioners on the other hand spend much less time on the mat training.  An MMA fighter will spend countless hours on the mat.  Self Defense students may spend as little as 2 or 3 hour’s training weekly.  For many people it is just a hobby to get in shape and have some fun.  Although a lot of that time will likely be spent on striking. A great deal of that time will be spent working on things that a fighter would never need to know (for instance gun or knife defense).

With basic self defense knowledge could a Krav Maga practitioner get in the ring and effectively fight an MMA fighter? … Not a chance.  I have seen a few exceptions to the rule, but the individuals that would have done pretty well against a fighter were naturally tough people.  They were people who would have done well, even without training.

If we changed the scenario and that same MMA fighter attacked a Krav Maga student on the street would the Krav Maga student stand a chance?  Absolutely, they definitely stand a chance!  To understand that answer you have to understand the nature of self defense.

Self defense works on a few things that give it’s practitioners a fighting chance in “street” situations.  Let’s begin with the element of surprise.  Surprise is an essential part of self defense and it becomes even more important when there is a large size difference. Just like in MMA every action has a counter action. What makes your technique work is the element of surprise or the “setup”.  Take the last scenario used above. What happens, if the attacker grabs the victim and the victim gouges them in the eyes or punches them in the throat?  Do you think the attacker was expecting the counter attack?

The next big difference in Krav Maga training is the approach to the fight.  In Krav Maga we are trained to throw several very powerful strikes. Make sure every single one counts and quickly evade to safety.  The longer an attack is the more likely it becomes that someone will be seriously injured.  This is obviously very different than the fighter locked in a cage ready to fight a full 15 minutes if necessary.

  Another big difference is the use of weapons.  Most Krav Maga students do not carry traditional weapons (e.g.…knife, gun).  However, as an example, most of us carry keys. These and other personal effects can become very useful weapons in an attack. In fact, many Women are taught at a young age to have their keys in their hand when they walk to their car.  The reason is they can get in their car faster or they can use them as a weapon in an emergency.  Krav Maga students are taught almost from day one to recognize every day items to use as weapons if necessary. 

Another key element is basic situational awareness. It may sound elementary but even advanced students can forget to pay attention to their surroundings and will stay focused on the original attacker. If we are not aware of what’s going on around us or we are not paying attention for possible threats we are far more likely to become a victim of one. Do you park in well lit areas? Do you avoid walking in between people when walking down the street? Do you recognize these things as a possible dangerous situation?

The people that are trained fighters are a very small portion of society.  It is highly unlikely that a violent attacker would be is a trained MMA fighter.  Most attacks are a result of people affected by drugs, or alcohol.  While some come from people with abusive tendencies. 

A real fighter already knows that a street fight is a waste of their time; should an injury occur it could prevent them from doing the type of fighting that gets them paid or worse they go to jail and can’t fight at all.  On a personal note, most of the quality fighters I have met are some of the nicest most humble people I have known.  There are still unfortunate exceptions to that rule.  However, most of the “exceptions” aren’t quality fighters.  They are fighters whom felt like they needed to prove something in the street because they couldn’t prove it on the mat.

There are a couple videos on you tube with names like “Krav Maga Fighter vs. MMA Fighter” or “Krav Maga Fighter vs. Judo Fighter”. There are no Krav Maga fighters. Krav Maga training does not produce fighters.  There have been or are fighters who train in Krav Maga and there are Krav Maga practitioners who have also trained in fighting. Krav Maga for civilian use is all about personal safety and the safety of loved ones.  Krav Maga students learn as much about prize fighting as prize fighters learn about gun defense. 

Almost everyone who trains is a critic and will try to make comparisons to what they train in. What’s really important is that you train in something, learn something that works for you and you have fun doing it.

Regards,

Dean

History Channel was kind enough to share several clips from this show.  I highly recomend them and encourage to get on you tube and check them all out.

-Dean

Krav-Maga includes the subjects of:

• Prevention, avoidance, escape and evasion.
• Dealing with throws and falls to all directions and angles.
• Attacks and counterattacks, performed to all targets, distances, ranges, heights, angles, directions and in all rhythms. Executed from all positions and postures. Use of all sorts of common objects for defensive purposes.
• Defending all unarmed attacks: punches, strikes and kicks. Releases from all sorts of grabs and holds. Defending all armed attacks and threats of knife and sharp objects; of sticks, bars and other blunt objects; all kind of firearms.
• Dealing with the above attacks when sent from all possible directions and places; When are performed by a single or multiple attackers; When occur in all possible places, positions and postures. Including in confined or open areas; in an ally, staircase, car; On all types of grounds; In water; When free or in limited space of movement; While standing, on the move, sitting down, laying down on the back, side or facing down.
• Physical and mental control and disarm.
• Krav Maga prepares the trainees to function in all circumstances and scenarios, in all combat and fighting environments, according to their needs, risks they are facing and job descriptions. KM enables and brings technical, tactical, physical and mental growth.
• Krav-Maga contains special approaches, tactics, techniques, subjects, drills and training methods for the different sectors: Civilians of all ages, men and women, young and old; Law-enforcement officers; Military personnel and units; Correction service officers and wardens; Security officers; As well as: Close protection officers; Undercover agents;  Anti terrorists groups; Air-marshals; Special and commando units.