July 2008 Newsletter
The Okinawan Experience- one perspective - - Renshi Linda Hughes
Our Okinawan visit was filled with marvelous insights about the culture and
the training. In a country where small cars, roads, and buildings are the
norm, the IWKA headquarters appropriately fit in. This simple and modest
building, made of cement brick walls with a newly renovated floors, was the
perfect setting for Isshinryu classes. We were welcomed graciously into the
dojo by Master Shimabuku.
In temperatures that approached 100*, we ran, did repetitive punches and
kicks, stretched and practiced katas for much of the class. In this relaxed
atmosphere with no formal beginning or end to the class, the intensity of
the practice of kata and drills was understood. The presentation of kata in
front of each other must be precise and exact. This was expected of his
students and all of us. The pride with which he described his student’s
successes at tournaments was evident. We reviewed katas, piece by piece
until Master Shimabuku was satisfied with our form. He observed, made
comments and adjustments, all with kindness and humor.
The collection of photographs on his bulletin board, the simplicity of
the training hall, and the foundation of an awesome style all tied in
nicely. Master Shimabuku’s extra seminars after the regularly scheduled
classes were awesome. He hosted a reception with food and drink following
our final workout. The total experience was humbling and unforgettable.
Check out our photos from our Okinawa
trip.
How To Prevent Your Emotions From Alienating People
Vernon Howard - From Psycho-Pictography When we carefully examine
our negative emotions we always find them directed against some other
person. Even when we seem to resent our circumstances we secretly or openly
blame others for those circumstances. So it is important that we clarify our
feelings as they relate to other people. It clears everything in a
surprising way. It is strange how human beings miss the most obvious facts
about their negativities toward others. A hateful man seldom reasons,
“hatred toward others makes me miserable, so in the name of common sense I'd
better abandon it." Rarely does a resentful person think, “resentment of
other people drains my strength and destroys my mental powers, so I'd better
clear it from my life." Negative feelings so cloud a man with darkness that
he cannot see what he is doing to himself. Sooner or later, all of us must
see that negative feelings toward another person is like tossing dust at him
while the wind blows against us. It all comes back. This is not merely a
moralistic teaching or Sunday school lesson; it is a basic and inescapable
Law of Life. "It is a good sign. It means that you are challenging your
false notions - and they don't like it. Remember, all inner contradiction is
between the truth, which is in you, and falsehood. Keep challenging your
false ideas. As they disappear, conflict ceases. Then you are at peace with
the truth." Don't be afraid of the added anxiety that arises whenever you
challenge a false notion. It is temporary, just as you must temporarily
battle the waves in order to arrive at the calm sea beyond the shore. You
see, once you challenge your negative feelings they fight back, so your
pressure increases for a while. Most people run for cover whenever a
negative feeling is exposed to the light of consciousness, consequently,
they remain in darkness. You can be a hero. Dare to stand in the light.
After a while, you will see that the very light you once feared is the very
light of your life.
This is important information for females of ALL ages. When this
was sent to me, I was asked to share it to my students concerning
self-defense concerns teen aged and older females concerning a group of
rapists and date rapists in prison were interviewed on what they look for in
a potential victim and here are some interesting facts:
The first thing men look for in a potential victim is hairstyle. They are
most likely to go after a woman with a ponytail, bun, braid or other
hairstyle that can easily be grabbed. They are also likely to go after a
woman with long hair. Women with short hair are not common targets.
The second thing men look for is clothing. They will look for women whose
clothing is easy to remove quickly. Many of them carry scissors around
specifically to cut clothing.
They also look for women on their cell phone, searching through their
purse, or doing other activities while walking because they are off-guard
and can be easily overpowered.
The number one place women are abducted from/attacked is grocery store
parking lots . Number two: Are office parking lots/garages. Number three:
Are public restrooms.
The thing about these men is that they are looking to grab a woman and
quickly move her to another location where they don't have to worry about
getting caught.
Only 2% said they carried weapons because rape carries a 3-5 year
sentence but rape with a weapon is 15-20 years.
If you put up any kind of a fight at all, they get discouraged because it
only takes a minute or two for them to realize that going after you isn't
worth it because it will be time-consuming.
Keys are not a deterrent because you have to get really close to the
attacker to use them as a weapon. So, the idea is to convince these guys
you're not worth it.
Several defense mechanisms he taught us are: If someone is following
behind you on a street or in a garage or with you in an elevator or
stairwell, look them in the face and ask them a question, like what time is
it, or make general small talk: 'I can't believe it is so cold out here,'
'we're in for a bad winter.' Now you've seen their face and could identify
them in a line-up; you lose appeal as a target.
If someone is coming toward you, hold out your hands in front of you and
yell STOP or STAY BACK! Most of the rapists this man talked to said they'd
leave a woman alone if she yelled or showed that she would not be afraid to
fight back.
If you carry pepper spray (this instructor was a huge advocate of it and
carries it with him wherever he goes), yell I HAVE PEPPER SPRAY and holding
it out will be a deterrent.
If someone grabs you, you can't beat him with strength but you can by
outsmarting him. If you are grabbed around the waist from behind, pinch the
attacker either under the arm (between the elbow and armpit) OR in the upper
inner thigh VERY VERY HARD. One woman in a class this guy taught told him
she used the underarm pinch on a guy who was trying to date rape her and was
so upset she broke through the skin and tore out muscle strands - the guy
needed stitches. Try pinching yourself in those places as hard as you can
stand it - it hurts.
After the initial hit, always GO for the GROIN I know from a particularly
unfortunate experience that if you slap a guy's parts it is extremely
painful. You might think that you'll anger the guy and make him want to hurt
you more, but the thing these rapists told our instructor is that they want
a woman who will not cause a lot of trouble. Start causing trouble and he's
out of there. When the guy puts his hands up to you, grab his first two
fingers and bend them back as far as possible with as much pressure pushing
down on them as possible . The instructor did it to me without using much
pressure, and I ended up on my knees and both knuckles cracked audibly.
Of course the things we always hear still apply. Always be aware of your
surroundings, take someone with you if you can and if you see any odd
behavior, don't dismiss it, go with your instincts!!! You may feel a little
silly at the time, but you'd feel much worse if the guy really was trouble.
The elbow is the strongest point on your body. If you are close enough to
use it, do!
If you are ever thrown into the trunk of a car, kick out the back
taillights and stick your arm out the hole and start waving like crazy. The
driver won't see you, but everybody else will. This has saved lives. |
