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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 v asocial violence” where u say that TFT is not for bar-room brawling. If martial arts training or similar can get u killed as discussed in above newsletter and TFT is not for bar-room brawls what type of training program or technique or art or sport or combat fighting does that leave to perhaps defend or protect oneself against low-level harm without jeopardizing the TFT training for extreme situations?
Tom S. (Australia)
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Tom, I’ve got a couple of people who asked roughly the same question. The point of my newsletter and my free DVD is to deal with this very issue.
I guess it was lost on you so let me try to cover the main point again.
There is no ‘safe’ way to use violence. Even pushing may result in someone unintentionally falling over and braining themselves on the concrete. TFT attempts to clearly define a social situation as one where you have the choice to respond with violence (responding to an insult, aggressive actions in a social setting etc …).
Just because your ego is bruised doesn’t mean you don’t have a choice. If you choose to respond with violence of any form (from whenever you learned ‘the response’) you risk it ending up the same as an ‘extreme’ situation. Asocial violence doesn’t involve choice — you either use the tool of violence or it’ll be used on you. I always counsel my clients to know the difference.
Knowing you defended your manhood at the local pub is of little value when you are facing manslaughter charges. And your girlfriend, mates, or whoever else ‘egged you on’ to do so certainly won’t be there for you when the criminal justice system comes calling.
Of course Tom, being well schooled in using the tool of violence makes it much easier to be courteous in the face of ignorance (see the quote above). TFT can go a long way to making it easy to walk away when you have a choice, funny that knowing how to ‘drop someone’ and END them gives you such freedom to actually live a more peaceful life.
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Tim: This probably sounds weird, but I was wondering if the TFT nuclear DVD set I purchased from you also may apply to dog attacks? I’ve had a few close calls before I knew about your program. (Once I was coming out of a hunting field and had my rifle, but the other time I was with an empty muzzle loading rifle and a child…fortunately we “beat feet” to the truck in time to avoid those snarling beasts).
Thanks!
Nick
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Well Nick the question is not so weird; I tend to get a lot of these. The short answer is violence works on all forms of animal life. TFT is designed to deal specifically with humans. We are the top predators on the planet and the biggest threat to each other.
We designed tools to defeat animals because they usually possess greater reflex speed, strength, and power.
When you find yourself without such mechanical advantages then it comes down to getting an injury on the beast as quickly as possible. There are numerous reports of people surviving encounters with all types of wildlife. It all comes down to the surviving human inflicting an injury on the animal and getting away or ending the animal’s life.
The most amazing account I know of was in a book I read about South African Commandos where one soldier survived an attack by a huge crocodile. The story was incredible as was the pictures. This guy was able to relax and get his target (eye of the croc) while the teeth of the croc dug into his torso. His use of violence to survive was amazing under extreme conditions.
I personally have had dogs released on me and was able to hold them at bay by charging them. I had no choice at the time and luckily the dogs weren’t well trained. But to specifically design training for dealing with animal attacks is just not something I would ever use my time and resources to cover.
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Tim-
” – Speed does NOT equal power ”
This was quoted in the last newsletter, “The List of Brian.”
I learned from (my instructor) that circular moves got tremendous power over the more linear versions because of the acceleration the circle allows. An example he often used was the chop: Comparing the straight, flicking style of Korean and Japanese styles with the large, circular Chinese style, especially when well-rooted and using the strength of the hips and waist, it became obvious when striking anything how powerful the latter was. It was devastating in comparison.
So, when you refer to “speed” when you say (or Brian quotes you saying) “speed does not equal power,” are you referring to the fast, flicking motions or those that gain speed through acceleration? Or do you mean something different?
Thanks in advance,
Steve
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Steve-
I’ve written about this in other newsletters. Your instructor’s points are well taken. Flicking light punches or kicks rarely produce an injury as defined by TFT. Only if the ‘flick’ results in the other guy losing his balance and getting injured while colliding with the planet will the effort be effective and that would be pure luck.
We define striking as using the triad of violence (injury, penetration, rotation) with the base engine of violence: your bodyweight. I’ll be releasing our TFT striking series very soon which will cover this critical idea. There are numerous ways to employ your bodyweight into your strikes. The circular movements and employing the waist/hip area are just a few.
We need to injure the other guy if we want to survive violence. Flicking motions and lightly striking the area of the body can score points in a competition but have disastrous effects if used to fight for your life.
I’ve elaborated more on this in earlier newsletters so please re- read my thoughts.
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Ok now I’m off for an ocean swim … now Nick’s question has me looking for sharks — thanks Nick, way to ruin a good swim!!!!! Until next time
Tim Larkin
Creator of Target Focus(TM) Training
http://targetfocustraining.com
PS. My ‘Nuclear’ Weapons video series clearly defines all Target Focus Training system principles. Read more about it at:
http://www.targetfocusweapons.com
PPS. In just one weekend you can learn to defeat any attacker using the Target Focus Training system. See how at:
http://targetfocustraining.com/livetraining
