HE GAVE MUGGERS ALL HIS POSSESSIONS BUT THEY WANTED MORE… HIS LIFE

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When the situation is obscure, attack! -General Heinz Guderian
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One of my Expatriate UK clients forwarded this story of a murder that recently rocked both the residents and media of London.

What made this murder so shocking?
Just this: the victim did everything you all THINK you should do in this type of situation.

Why You Don’t Want To Slap A ‘Croc’ In A Barfight

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“Courtesy comes from a position of power” -attributed to Nietzsche
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I’m currently traveling in the Caribbean (yes for work!) and thought I’d answer some questions as I look out on this tropical setting from my window. So here it goes Tom from Australia is up first: Tim -

Still confused re: above newsletter plus DVD discussion “social [...]

The Unconscious Power Of Assumed Constraints

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“One should always play fairly when one has the winning cards”-Oscar Wilde
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People often ask me for the best way to “protect” them in some imagined criminal assault. They want me to respond by giving some perfect technique that handles their particular imagined scenario.

Do You Want To Protect Yourself – Or Win?

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“The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing.”-Albert Einstein ************************************************************

It’s always great when you have readers who take the time to respond to one of my newsletters. Tony wrote in to further comment on another reader’s assertion that I should [...]

A Couch Potato’s Guide To Self Defense and Other Stories

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“For great aims we must dare great things” -Clausewitz
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Hey Guys,

Been getting quite a few questions about dealing with edged tools like knives

Controlled Violence: the Surprising Catalyst to a More Enjoyable Life

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“Learning is not compulsory… neither is survival.”-W. Edwards Deming
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I was watching an Instructor Class the other night with one of my great friends from the fighting world and we discussed how difficult it is to talk about fighting to most people.

Your #1 Self-Defense Questions Answered

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“Success is neither magical or mysterious. Success is the natural consequence of consistently applying the fundamentals”-Jim Rohn
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A response to your #1 self defense questions you’ve been sending in.

Why Learning Effective Methods For Using Violence Is More Important Than Trying To Navigate Self-Defense Liability

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“DEFENSIVE POLICY of the US – does not alter PACIFIC POLICY of the US. Be as pacific as you please but don’t let the other guy catch you unprepared.” – Lt. General Bullard, 1911
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I’ve received some great questions from you folks! So I thought I’d pick 2 that are representative of many of the emails [...]

How Even A ‘Master’ Is Stumped By The Self Defense Industry

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“Advertising may be described as the science of arresting the human intelligence long enough to get money from it.” -Unknown
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Here’s a question I got that I wanted to share with you all as I think my response will be helpful to many of you. The question is from Brian:

Does A Hyena Need To Be Taught How To Target The Young, Weak, or Old?

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“He, therefore, who aspires to peace must prepare for war.” -Flavius Vegetius Renatus
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Hey Folks, I seem to be getting a lot of questions like this one from Andrew in San Diego:

How Getting Stabbed Taught Him The Key To Survival

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‘Never does nature say one thing and wisdom another.’ -Juvenal
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An email came in a while ago from a client who had bought our TFT ‘Nuclear Weapons’ package. In it this client talked about how he loved the information, then he went on to say how he ‘…finally understood our approach to self-defense.’

Are You A Sheep, Wolf, Or Sheepdog?

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“It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees!”-Emiliano Zapata
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Are you a Sheep, Wolf, or Sheepdog?

According to a recent article written for law enforcement officers by LTC. Dave Grossman, author of “On Killing”

An Ounce Of Prevention Is Good For Your Dental Plan!

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“It is by no means self-evident that human beings are most real when most violently excited; violent physical passions do not in themselves differentiate men from each other, but rather tend to reduce them to the same state.” Thomas Elliot
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I’ve been traveling outside the US for the last month and have really enjoyed the military [...]

What Color Crayon Should I Use For A Ruptured Spleen?

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Everyone is entitled to be stupid, but some abuse the privilege. -Unknown
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Internet chat rooms are interesting arenas.

I received an email the other day from a client who forwarded some comments made about the TFT Mastery Program

Why TFT Is About Avoiding Violence

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“He who excels at resolving difficulties does so before they arise. He who excels in conquering his enemies triumphs before threats materialize.” – Sun Tzu, ‘The Art Of War”
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Some people think just because I train the use of violence as your ultimate survival tool that it means all Target-Focus Training(tm) is about is fighting.

Striking With Power And Quickness Versus Blocking With Force And Speed

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“An attack must be executed with quickness, not speed. Attack with power, not strength. There is a great difference between speed and quickness, power and strength. Think this through carefully. It is the essence of strategy” -Miyamoto Musashi
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Violence as your ultimate survival tool

Are You Bored With What Works?

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“The only reason a warrior is alive is to fight, and the only reason a warrior fights is to win. Otherwise, why be a warrior? It is easier to count beads.” -Miyamoto Musashi
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I get invited to a lot of different training events and try out lots of new weapons that are used in the special [...]

If My 10-Year-Old Can See James Bond Using TFT… You Can Too!

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‘Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler’ – Albert Einstein
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‘Hey Dad, James Bond has that bad guy’s shoulder in a Base 4 Leverage’ spouted my 10-year-old son…”

Answering Your Questions About Target Focus Training

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“The more laws and order are made prominent, The more thieves and robbers there will be.” -Lao-tzu, The Way of Lao-tzu ******************************************************
1. From Greg in Key Biscayne, FL: I really enjoy your newsletters but I am trying to figure out what makes your Target Focus Training different from any good martial art or combat sport? [...]

Why You Can’t Learn To Take A Punch

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A fool always finds one still more foolish to admire him. – Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux
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Basically, the point of one show was to highlight martial arts teachers who taught their students various ways to ‘condition’ themselves to ‘take a hit’. The finale of the show was when four guys simultaneously punched the master in the neck and he walked away.

Self Defense Questions From You

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“You can tell whether a man is clever by his answers. You can tell whether a man is wise by his questions.”-Mahfouz Naguib ******************************************************

The response to this self defense newsletter has been overwhelming and I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your feedback. I thought this issue would be a good place to stop [...]

Defining Effectiveness

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“Readers are plentiful; thinkers are rare.”- Harriet Martineau (1802 – 1876)
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Effectiveness seems to be a reoccurring theme in the questions sent to me by my newsletter readers. Typical questions run along the lines of:
1. Tim, what are the most effective targets for me to hit?
2. Tim, how can I make my punches more powerful, and [...]

When Positive Thinking Falls Short

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‘Let the fear of danger be a spur to prevent it; he that fears not, gives advantage to the danger.’ – Francis Quarles (1592 – 1644)

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As I travel throughout the world presenting seminars to various clients I get a common response to my seminar topic ‘Using Violence As A Survival Tool’.

An Old Dog Barks One Too Many Times

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“Rashness succeeds often, still more often fails.” – Napoleon
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I was in New York the other day going to a meeting with some clients and business associates when I saw yet another reminder of people that just don’t get it when it comes to physical violence.

I had just finished a seminar that weekend for about 60 [...]

Asocial Violence vs. Anti-Social Behavior

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‘The smart ones ask when they don’t know, and sometimes when they do’ -Malcolm Forbes
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I’m going to answer a few questions in this issue.

Do You Have To Be In Shape To Use Violence?

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“Whenever I get the urge to exercise I sit down in a comfortable chair and wait for the urge to pass” – Sir Winston Churchill ******************************************************
We just got done shooting a new video series this week. In between shoots my friend [and world class Olympian strength coach] Charles Staley was hanging out and marveling at [...]

First Things First

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“The harder I work out and the better my diet is, the more my genetics improve” — Unknown

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The above quote was on a power point presentation given at a seminar by a colleague who is one of the countries top nutrition experts. His point was that many people use the excuse of poor “genetics” to [...]

The Threat Of Violence

“Having a plan for asocial violence is a commitment these clients take quite seriously. Not because they ever want to have to use the knowledge but when you see rival candidates for mayor kill off each other and their family members you realize there are those out there in prominent positions who are very comfortable solving any conflict with violence.”

The Evolution of a Fighting System

The Evolution of a Fighting System
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“Nothing endures but change.” – Heraclitus (540 BC – 480 BC)
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“So what makes your Target Focus Training different from the other training you used to teach?”
We get this question at least once a day from emails or phone calls so I guess it’s about time I break my silence on [...]

Violence As A Game – The Illusion Of A Fair Fight

I know what Chuck was trying to say and it’s sad when I see anyone like him that has never gone beyond using violence to dominate a social situation.

When You Finally Decide to Act — Hurt ‘em

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“Just Do It.” Nike Ad
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Got an email from Ed who wrote to tell me he enjoy My Newsletters and wanted my thoughts on something.
He described an event that happened in Miami years back when he was thrown out of a ‘disco’ (jeez Ed, this must have been in the 70’s. Were you guys wearing leisure [...]

The One Little Used Training Principle

The One, Little-Used Training Principle That’ll Leapfrog Your Combat Fighting Progress
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“The way to avoid what is strong is to strike what is weak.” – Sun Tzu
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When most people think of martial arts training they envision a class arranged in rows going through various punching and kicking drills. Form is emphasized to an incredible degree. I [...]

Seeing Through The Chatter

Failure to make a decision plagues you in many arenas. And when it comes to the most critical 5 seconds of your life this indecision often proves fatal.

Chris Ranck-Buhr’s Blog Post

Master Instructor Chris Ranck-Buhr’s 2-part series:
What’s The Difference Between Furious & Fizzle?

Can You Crosstrain Violence?

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“Look at all the sentences which seem true and question them.” -David Reisman
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I haven’t answered questions in a while so let’s take a look at
a few now. The first is from Shaun Haynam on cross training:

How To Leave The Other Guy In A Wheelchair Even if you are on Cruthces

I have damaged my ankle joints and have had surgery on it but need more and it is going to take some years but in the meantime I am on crutches… Whilst I was out the other night, one of my friends got beaten up – in front of me and some other mates… I realized that I didn’t have a clue what to do and what made it worse I was on crutches…

Why We All Just Can’t Get Along

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‘War means fighting, and fighting means killing’-Lt. General Nathan Beford Forrest (1821-1877)
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War! I thought after 9/11 our country was finally back on track when it came to fighting a war. But now I’ve realized I was sadly mistaken.

The Secret To Beating ANY Criminal Exposed On National Television.

But here’s the HUGE take-away: Had YOU landed that same liver strike on some thug on the street you could have done anything you wanted to him. He would have been completely helpless… just as De La Hoya was unable to do anything other than react to the trauma triggered by the strike to his liver with a highly predictable spinal reflex reaction.

Viewing Raw Violence – The Nick Berg Decapitation

That’s why I have always counseled my clients to never identify with the losing end of violence when viewing images of violence. Always identify and make your observations on the winning side of the equation. If you have anything to comment on about the act, criticize whether or not the winning side of the equation was skilled at the violence they used.

YOUR CRITICAL DECISION

Your Critical Decision
Combat Training Principles — Secrets For Staying Alive When ‘Rules’ Don’t Apply

Below is the first issue of what I trust will be the most useful ezine you’ll ever receive, packed with insights into a world you may not have had much exposure to.
In this article I’m not just going to give you [...]

BBC One Interviews Tim Larkin

Hate to interrupt your Sunday but I’ve had so many requests to hear the UK radio/television interviews that when I finally got my hands on one I wanted to get it right out to you.
It’s posted over at the TFT blog here:
http://www.targetfocustraining.com/blog
I left a few thoughts there for you.
You’ll note the councilman they interview live [...]

Two Different Types of Violence

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“There is never a convenient place to fight a war when another man starts it” -Admiral Arleigh Burke
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It’s funny listening to men recount their experiences with violence.

I’ve noticed there are 2 distinct experiences — those that survived a true life-or-death confrontation and those who participated in social violence.

The first group usually never speaks about the [...]

Creating Anarchy in the UK Media’s Self Defense Debate

The uproar in London continues over whether or not the tool of violence should be available to citizens.
Seems I’m fast becoming the poster child for “Extreme Self Defence” in the UK (yes, that’s how they spell ‘defense’ over there; with a ‘c’).
The debate has attracted the BBC, the Sunday Times, 2 separate documentary filmmakers (for [...]

I Live In A Great Neighborhood…Violence Will Never Happen To Me!

If people haven’t experienced violence in their life or have a preconceived notion that it’s going to take years and years for them to learn to be effective at countering violence, then it’s very difficult to convince them it’s worth getting training. It’s just hard to get them to seek out some of our information [...]

In A Violent Confrontation… You Always Do What You Train

I was introduced to this concept when I was just a kid. I was very fortunate that I had a grandfather who very early on introduced me to combat sports, particularly American boxing. I remember as a very young kid he would give us boxing lessons. He would look at us and he’d say “Now [...]

Training for Scenarios… The Great “What-If” Fallacy

It’s very popular in self-defense training and martial arts training to do what is often called one-step sparing. Sometimes it’s called training certain set scenarios. And that’s really just what it is. It’s pre-determined, pre-programmed responses to simulated attacks.
It makes people feel good because what they try to do is to imagine one of the [...]

Weapons Aren’t Scary… They’re Just Another Tool

I think one of the things that TFT clients appreciate most about our system is the fact that we clearly define what most people see as weapons fighting. Whether its knife fighting, club fighting, stick fighting, firearms or any of the other tools that are out there, people think in and of itself this requires [...]

Why Learning TFT Is Quick And Easy

Our initial live training program is 2 days long and we guarantee that in those 2 days you really can understand all the principles and that you can actually be highly effective in that short amount of time.
Of course, you hear many people, especially those with a lot of combat sport or martial arts training [...]

Cause-State vs Effect-State:

Controlling Fear Is NOT About An Aggressive Mindset Or Positive Thinking
I think this is probably one of the areas where TFT can really clear things up for you when it comes to protecting yourself.
There is this idea [...]

Why You Must Learn Self-Protection…

NOT Self-Defense
What you have as a distinguishing feature of Target Focus Training is the tool of violence. Understanding how to use this tool of violence is really what you’re after whether you call it self-defense, martial arts, combat sports. It’s all about seeking how to protect yourself… specifically, how to protect yourself against somebody else [...]

The Surprising Paradox…

Making Violence Your Ultimate Self-Defense Tool
We make a lot of controversial statements in Target Focus Training centered around the word violence because violence the word itself has such a stigma about it. People look at violence and they associate it with so many negative things, especially in the media.
But we look at violence as merely [...]

Everything Revolves Around Striking Targets

Well, obviously we thought so much of the importance of targeting that we actually incorporated it into our name… Target Focus Training. It really tells you exactly what we’re all about. We’re all about hitting specific targets on the human body.
Basically we said, “okay, what’s the most effective way that we can use this tool [...]

It’s All About Principles…NOT Techniques

This is the guiding idea behind Target Focus Training. When I started getting into combat sports and martial arts—self-defense—it became readily apparent that everybody was really kind of into—memorization. The whole idea was, “If you memorize a couple of good techniques, it’s going to get you out of everything.”
There’s a comfort in that because everybody [...]

“When Violence is the Answer”

While we may not have a gun problem like the United States, there’s no denying that street violence is out there in our communities and many claim it’s on the increase. It was one long-time martial artist’s disillusion with traditional and sport-based martial arts and their inability to transfer techniques effectively from the dojo to [...]

Self Defense Tip #7: Are You Learning to Fight or Dance?

“In our peacetime tactical training we should use
difficult, highly imaginative situations and require
clear, concise and simple orders. The more difficult
the situation the more simple the order must be. Above
all *** Let us Kill everything stereotyped; otherwise
it will kill us ***”
- Adolf von Schell, Battle Leadership, 1933
I saw a commercial for one of those dance instruction [...]

The List Of Brian

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“Courage is the human virtue that counts most – courage to act on limited knowledge and insufficient evidence. That is all any of us have.- Robert Frost
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You meet certain people along the road called life who for some reason or another decide to help you out. They just do it because they believe in whatever [...]

Self Defense Tip #5: Generating Maximum Power

“Excellence is an art won by training and habituation.
We do not act rightly because we have virtue or
excellence, but we rather have those because we have
acted rightly. We are what we repeatedly do.
Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.”
- Aristotle (384 BC – 322 BC)
I was watching the Bruce Lee classic, “Enter The [...]

Self Defense Tip #4: The Unconscious Power of Assumed Constraints

“One should always play fairly when one has the winning cards”
-Oscar Wilde
Combat Training Principles — Secrets For Staying Alive When
“Rules” Don’t Apply
People often ask me for the best way to “protect” them in some imagined criminal assault.
They want me to respond by giving some perfect technique that handles their particular imagined scenario.
They’re often disappointed at [...]

How To Protect Your Child from Predators

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“Children might or might not be a blessing, but to create them and then fail them was surely damnation.” — Lois McMaster Bujold, 1991
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Recently in the news we have seen another child fall prey to a predator. This time the little girl was at a carwash and the abduction was caught on tape.
Whenever such an [...]

Self Defense Tip #2: Every Confilict is Won or Lost with this One Weapon

There is one weapon that trumps all others, if not directly then at least potentially.  What is it, you ask, and where can you get your hands on one?  Well, the good news is you already own one.  But whether or not you know how to wield it is another thing entirely…
When training people I [...]

Self Defense Tip #1: Your Critical Decision

Below is the first issue of what I trust will be the most useful ezine you’ll ever receive, packed with insights into a world you may not have had much exposure to.
Combat Training Principles — Secrets For Staying Alive When ‘Rules’ Don’t Apply
In this article I’m not just going to give you a few [...]

You Never Know How Many People You’re Fighting Until You’re Fighting Them All

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“You can have a life plan or a fight plan, but when the action starts, you’re down to your reflexes — your training. If you’ve cheated on your training in the dark of the morning, you’ll be found out under the bright lights.” – Heavyweight Boxing Champion Joe Frazier
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I’ve hammered home the importance of the [...]

New blog post (and broiling London controversy)

In 1839, Edward Bulwer-Lytton wrote his often-quoted phrase, “…The Pen Is Mightier Than the Sword.”

Thing is… there are frequently a few things left out by those who use this quote.
I uploaded my thoughts on it in a new blog post earlier this week. I think you’ll want to see it.
If you didn’t catch the blog [...]

Often When You Try To Teach Someone A Lesson, You’re The One Who Ends Up Getting Schooled

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“It’s all fun and games ’til someone loses an eye”- Mom
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I was meeting with one of my master instructors and some business associates the other day. We were hashing out the schedule for the coming year and elaborating on the requirements for the new TFT Mastery Program. This program allows clients the ability to expand [...]

Are You Learning To Fight… Or To Dance?

Free Combat Training Principles — Secrets For Staying
Alive When ‘Rules’ Don’t Apply
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“In our peacetime tactical training we should use difficult, highly imaginative situations and require clear, concise and simple orders. The more difficult the situation the more simple the order must be. Above all *** Let us Kill everything stereotyped; otherwise it will kill us [...]

Graphic video from our live self defense classes

For years I opened each live training class with 30-45 minutes of lecture about what everyone could expect.
I’d talk about how this stuff wasn’t pretty but it was the only way to learn it. And after a couple morning sessions on the mats everyone pretty much understood the tone of things and was doing well.
Then [...]

More Of Your Self Defense Questions

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“The real object of education is to have a man in the condition of continually asking questions.” -Bishop Creighton
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Thanks to every one of you who stepped up and made the effort to attend my last TFT training seminar. This newsletter was designed to reach those people who I’d probably never be able to instruct. [...]

Generating Maximum Power

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“Excellence is an art won by training and habituation. We do not act rightly because we have virtue or excellence, but we rather have those because we have acted rightly. We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.”- Aristotle (384 BC – 322 BC)
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I was watching the Bruce [...]

“The Importance Of Mind Games”

Free Combat Training Principles — Secrets For Staying Alive When ‘Rules’ Don’t Apply
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“Everything I ever really need to know I learned in
Kindergarten.”- Robert Fulghum
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One of the most revealing training exercises I ever conducted occurred while working with a law enforcement unit assigned to protect a high profile politician from another country.
In this particular country assassination [...]

The Difference Between A Weapons Fighter And Fighting With Weapons

Combat Training Principles — Secrets For Staying Alive When ‘Rules’ Don’t Apply
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“Men have become the tool of their tools” – Henry David Thoreau

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Fighting with weapons is a subject that has generated volumes of writing in the combat arts world. What is interesting to note is that for the most part weapons training is treated as [...]

What Is the Ultimate Motivation in a Life-or-Death Fight?

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“We must be eager to kill, to inflict on the enemy – the hated enemy — wounds, death, and destruction. If we die killing, well and good, but if we fight hard enough, viciously enough, we will kill and live. Live to return home to our family and our girl as conquering heroes — men of [...]

Your Roadmap To Destroying The Other Guy

Combat Training Principles — Secrets For Staying Alive When ‘Rules’ Don’t Apply
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“Hit quickly, hit hard and keep right on hitting. Give the enemy no rest, no opportunity to consolidate his forces and hit back at you. This is the shortest road to victory” – General Holland M. ‘Howlin’ Mad Smith, USMC
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Most instructors don’t advocate ‘hitting [...]

New Blog Updates

Last month we opened up blog comments for the first time on a video with an opening screen that shows, Warning: GRAPHIC CONTENT.
121 comments later we’ve decided to begin adding more of these and other posts to the blog on a much more regular basis.
As with anything new, it even took us a while to [...]

Almost Every Conflict Is Won – Or Lost – With This One Weapon

Combat Training Principles — Secrets For Staying Alive When ‘Rules’ Don’t Apply
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“Its not the size of the dog in the fight, its the size of the fight in the dog.” – Mark Twain
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To truly prepare yourself for life or death confrontations you must take inventory of those weapons readily available to you.
When my trainers ask [...]

The Mindset To Survive And The Will To Win

Combat Training Principles — Secrets For Staying Alive When ‘Rules’ Don’t Apply
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“A man who waits to believe in action before acting is anything you like, but he’s not a man of action. You must act as you breathe.” – Georges Clemenceau
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So what was lacking in the training of the 3 survivors mentioned in my last [...]

Last Call for Hawaii live training

Only a couple spots remain in the Hawaii class being held on the Island of Oahu the weekend of July 18-19. I expect both to be gone before this weekend’s up if not today.
This full, 2-day seminar is our premiere live training experience and a fabulous opportunity for you to kill 2 birds with one [...]