From: eskrima-digest-owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com To: eskrima-digest@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Subject: Inayan_Eskrima/FMA-Digest V6 #275 Reply-To: eskrima@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Errors-To: eskrima-digest-owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Precedence: Inayan_Eskrima/FMA-Digest Sun, 27 June 1999 Vol 06 : Num 275 In this issue: eskrima: Intuition vs Imagination/Bias vs Reasoning eskrima: Adrenaline eskrima: Re: Inayan_Eskrima/FMA-Digest V6 #274 eskrima: Re: Inayan_Eskrima/FMA-Digest V6 #274 eskrima: Re: SD rules eskrima: Re: Inayan_Eskrima/FMA-Digest V6 #274 eskrima: Re: Inayan_Eskrima/FMA-Digest V6 #274 eskrima: . .......................................................................... Eskrima-Digest, serving the Internet since June 1994. ~1100 members strong! Copyright 1994-99: Ray Terry, Inayan System of Eskrima, Martial Arts Resource Replying to this message will NOT unsubscribe you. To unsubscribe, send "unsubscribe eskrima-digest" (no quotes) in the body of an e-mail (top line, left justified) addressed to majordomo@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com To send e-mail to this list use eskrima@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com See the Filipino Martial Arts (FMA) FAQ and online search the last two years worth of digest issues at http://www.MartialArtsResource.com Mabuhay ang eskrima! Ray Terry, PO Box 110841, Campbell, CA 95011 FMA@MartialArtsResource.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Kalki Date: Sat, 26 Jun 1999 13:37:21 -0500 Subject: eskrima: Intuition vs Imagination/Bias vs Reasoning > he apparently teaches us how to understand how our intuition works > and how to go with what we know but may not pay attention too - ie, just > how bad is "this" guy. He says that when you "just don't like someone!" > that you are responding to things that you see in him/her and recognize as > dangerous but don't "think" about...but that you can become aware of your > thought patterns and decisions and learn to trust these instinctive > survival skills more and better. One thing that people seem to miss is the extent to which everything perceived is "colored" by bias, expectations, and interpretations according to one's "world view" ... i.e., what one holds in mind as the way things are, what one "believes" about "reality" ... which in actuality is a store of previously colored perceptions of objective reality. It reminds me of what a supposedly "highly intelligent" MD/PhD once asked me in Miami: "If you see a [non-Caucasian] guy standing next to your car or a [Caucasian] gauy standing next to your car ... which one would you suspect of wanting to break into it?" My response was "Either ... both." The subtle/not so subtle point here is that what many people take as "intuition" is nothing more than -imagination-. Even what we call "instinctive" can be a function of learning ... and inaccurate learning at that. If you don't believe me, consider the mass social perceptions about people from other cultures, religions or other forces driving "tribalization." Essentially what I'm saying is that whatever "intuitions" we might develop along these lines will be built atop of our existing biasses and tendencies in our perceptions of other critters. For true intuition to operate we should first train to "zero" our perceptions (like calibrating a gauge) so that we can perhaps develop true intuition. In extreme situations when it's obvious that the fit will hit the shan everything that I've just said becomes irrelevant. OTOH, we can signal to someone else that we are the bad guy by moving in the direction of inappropriate conclusions which we ascribe to our supposed "intuition." I'm thinking in terms of intuition as "direct knowledge" ... that is, knowing without provision of information which points directly (or even partially) to a conclusion (knowing). ...and I think that I'll shut up about that because I ain't nobody special :-) I suspect that the next couple of years will be ++demanding whether or not we have any serious techological failures, so perhaps we need to promote rational thinking and behavior as much as possible. It is in that spirit that I posted this trivial comment, the job is far larger than my meager comments might affect ... but a little bit of reasoning can go a long way in changing outcomes, yes? if someone thinks that their intuition suggests a line of action (which said someone later learns to be ++inappropriate) they may do something that they'll later regret ... like the "expert" who knifed the street man not long ago. Unfortunate outcomes can be negated by more rigorous reasoning ... and that requires exercise in efforts made outside the fight training situation. CRITICAL THINKING. Who was it that said: "The true master trains his mind first" ??? If we start from or travel through false premises , only chance can take us to valid conclusions ... and the less accurate our premises, the greater the likelihood that chance will take us to faulty conclusions. The person that supposed intuition might have us perceive as "reaper" might be "rescuer." Aiya ... simpler to lump people into easy categories, eh? Yah, that's a source of human troubles. Trust the one who's like you somehow and it's easier for him to hurt you. Distrust the one who's not like you and it's harder for him to help you. Aiya ... how do we succeed? Shared values evinced by consistent behavior. Yah, I know that doesn't simplify things, nor does it necessarily apply to 'emergency' situations ... but it can help to prevent 'emergency' situations that should not be ... and it can help us to identify the situations that might actually yield an 'emergency' when we might otherwise not identify the 'emergency' potentials of the situation. Not disagreeing with Truscott's post or De Becker's teaching, just airing a little $0.01 worth of additional thought that someone might find helpful. In 47 years I've too many times experienced situations wherein someone took their assumptions (= imagination) for intuition, resulting in someone's unnecessary suffering. In human interaction, we can all wind up suffering due to stuff like that ... like the expert knifer ... suffering on both sides which might someday extend into effects on others' freedoms. BTW, according to one master whom I've had the good fortune of conversing with, to train the mind well it is appropriate to start with the mind of a scientist ... in other words, after having applied the mind in a process of rigorous training in reasoning with the background commitment to discourage bias and pursue fact/truth. Not easy, but perhaps worthwhile. Not always valued, but still perhaps, worthwhile. Supposedly, after rigorous training in logic and reasoning intuition just sorta "shows up." ;-) Kepping it "clean" can be a tough job, but that's what daily practices are about ... recalibrating to zero to "see" things more clearly. During my studies of the Chinese language Lao Shih had us write a poem in Chinese. I don't remember the Pinyin, but in English it went sumthin' like-a-this ... On good day I see all good things. On bad day I see all bad things. On clear day I see all things. Over & Out. Be well, Mik ------------------------------ From: Kalki Date: Sat, 26 Jun 1999 15:59:41 -0500 Subject: eskrima: Adrenaline Not to argue here, but muscle contraction requires acetylcholine (ACh). If ACh is low you can have all the calcium (Ca) and adrenaline (epinephrine, Epi) you want and be able to do nada. ACh mediates the signal from nerve to muscle to begin depolarization and the resultant contraction. True, Epi (and norepi) potentiate muswcular contraction, but that's after the ACh at the neuro-muscular junction has signaled the muscle to go zoom. Take the muscle out of the body (eliminate neuro-muscular junction) and no matter how much Ca and Epi are present, nothing will occur without an electric zap (initiated in the body by ACh). So, if we were to rank these 3, Ca, Epi and ACh for their importance in work it is probable that if we consider the intent to do work first, ACh is #1 followed by Ca. If we examine the chemistry and sequence of events in muscular contraction itself we find no mention of Epi, but ACh and Ca are "gotta have"s. Epi enters the story as a moderator of the effects of ACh, Ca and other things like what goes on across the muscle cell membrane (e.g., fat transport). One of the factors determining the amount of force a muscle can generate is fiber recruitment: How many of the muscle fibers present can be called on to "fire" simultaneously. The amount of neural discharge (ACh again) at the neuro-muscular junction can moderate recruitment, i.e., as the result of intention, concentration ... willful exertion. Reflex innervation, i.e., nerve discharge as a result of the amount of resistance fed back through joint receptors through spinal level "circuits" can also increase recruitment. This is why isometrics can help us to get stronger faster. Isometrics cause more maximal fiber recruitment. Fiber recruitment can become a learned thing, i.e., the organism becomes conditioned to respond with a pattern that involves more optimal fiber recruitment. It's an effect of experience, e.g., training, independent of Epi. Dynamic (with motion) overloads also have the effect of enhancing recruitment. Isometrics are a form of static overload (no motion). Dynamic tension can provide overloads with limited motion, some of which can mimic the patterns that we use in our 'game.' Try doing dynamic tension in flexing and extending the leg. If the difference in strength of quads and hams is great, be careful! Dynamic tension may help to remedy such imbalance. Epi can enhance all mechanisms involved in muscular contraction but it does not determine it. Look at it this way ... if you've got a lot of physical work to do, you definitely need the choline from soy and the increased release of epi by caffeine stimulation of the adrenals can be helpful but not required. OTOH something like curare will stop the ability to work by busting the ACh function at the (neuromuscular) junction :-) ... no matter how much Ca and Epi are on the scene. See what I mean? Soy, not only does it help protect breasts and prostates (isoflavones), but it also helps us think and do (choline -> ACh in brain and muscle action). Be well, Mik ------------------------------ From: Eagle556@aol.com Date: Sat, 26 Jun 1999 18:28:08 EDT Subject: eskrima: Re: Inayan_Eskrima/FMA-Digest V6 #274 << I was wondering if anyone has developed any drills or exercises that will allow a person to train accuracy but with power. >> My suggestion would be to hang a De Cuerdas stick. You could start out with a 6 foot length staff and as you got better you could decrease the length of the staff if desired. By decreasing the length it will speed up the reaction of the staff hence helping you to sharpen both your targeting and reaction. You can also try the numerous variations of the De Cuerdas. You can try mounting the staff in the middle of a hanging tire thereby giving you a more solid object to hit. You can hang one short stick in the middle of the main staff or you can hang two sticks, one at each end of the main staff. If this isn't enough, get a couple of machete blades, dull them down a bit and then mount them on each end of the staff. Of course if you try the machetes get a piece of aluminum to use as even the dulled blades will tear up your rattan and hardwood pretty quickly. Take care, Rob. ------------------------------ From: MdlAgdLftr@aol.com Date: Sat, 26 Jun 1999 19:18:21 EDT Subject: eskrima: Re: Inayan_Eskrima/FMA-Digest V6 #274 >>The alternative I have in mind...a metal frame...designed to support a standard heavy bag<< Careful with that metal frame, Paolo...I knocked one over once while hitting the attached bag. However, here's an idea to develop both accuracy and "heavy" punches and kicks...you can attach a "top-and-bottom" ball to the frame also. Use the heavy bag for developing power, then replace the heavy bag with the ball (you will have to rig up an attachment for the bottom cord of the bag...a couple of 25-lb. weight plates will do) for accuracy and to train responsiveness...bobbing and weaving. My old boxing coach was a big believer in the top-and-bottom bag, and drilled the daylights out of it. Consequently, he was extremely hard to hit; his upper body seemed made of rubber from the waist up. Kim ------------------------------ From: Kilap@aol.com Date: Sat, 26 Jun 1999 21:43:54 EDT Subject: eskrima: Re: SD rules Tim Kashino writes: << However, I disagree with the statement that "the rules go out the window" on the street. It is quite the contrary. The rules do not simply disappear, they change. The rules I am speaking of are civil and criminal laws. We are all accountable for our own actions under these "rules". >> A valid point. Standard disclaimers apply, Rhode Island is such that you are not to be held liable if you're acting in self defense in your own home. Outside that, all parties can be held liable, fined and/or possibly imprisoned. But, common sense withstanding, I would not hestitate to react quickly, with "extreme prejudice" if a stranger made a menacing motion within my personal space. My primary concern is survival. The old carried by six or judged by twelve. Someone needs to get over themselves and the comet bit. Reaching back here to the thread on Krav Maga but my meager two cents is this: It is good basic self defense. I like it that they hit hard, fast and repeadedly. Their knife kicking defense is going to suffer "Filet of Sole" though (Tuhon McGrath's joke) as another has already stated, they should check out FMA in this regard. That and the bending forward at the waist in their 360 degree defense is bad IMO, too easy to eat a knee or foot or elbow in back of the head. Otherwise good pratical stuff for the most part. On OOOoop ...iiiiIIPP ..I mean, SCARS there is some ok stuff but I'd save or spend my $ elsewhere. Just IMO. Let's see I could make some Silat video's . hype them up with mutilple page adds about some military stuff garantee not to get stomped ? ...and make over a million? NOT :) in this lifetime. It ain't silat btw, I think it was Ray pointed out, though perhaps it is some San Soo ..I see a little similarity to some stuff Bapak TerLinden did in his video's. Anyone got a recommedation on Muay Thai vid's? Vut Kamnark? Ajarn Chai have any on the the market? How about the one's from Rob Kaman, Peter Aerts, or Maurice Smith? Got a review or remarks please let me know. Like the NRA mags tout: Rape. Robbery. Aggravated Assault. Homicide. Every 18 seconds one of these crimes occurs in the U.S. (U.S. Dept. of Justice stats.) And Todd and Mary Lou are right something like 80% of people driven off (mostly women) ended up as worm fodder (this stat was in Bottomline). Peace and Regards, Travis Kilap@aol.com ------------------------------ From: AnimalMac@aol.com Date: Sat, 26 Jun 1999 23:34:41 EDT Subject: eskrima: Re: Inayan_Eskrima/FMA-Digest V6 #274 In a message dated 99-06-26 13:37:51 EDT, taoArt@aol.com wrote: A well thought out and well written post, BRAVA! I admit that my orignal post only addressed a certain segment of women I encounter. Meghan's addressed many elements that arise from the women who DO commit themselves to taking a self-defense courses Animal. ------------------------------ From: "G. Michael Zimmer" Date: Sat, 26 Jun 1999 21:49:07 -0700 Subject: eskrima: Re: Inayan_Eskrima/FMA-Digest V6 #274 > > From: Steven Drape > Date: Sat, 26 Jun 1999 05:10:42 PDT > Subject: eskrima: Re: length of fights > > Hello, one and all. > I've been off the Digest for nearly two years, living out in the > boondocks in the Philippines. Since I'm now back in an area where I have > access to a server, here I am. > Just to throw in $.02 on the fights from the past, there are cases of > both long and very short battles. > 1) Before WW II, in a fight that established Saavedra as the best > escrimador in Cebu, the two men went three full rounds and no one was badly > hurt. Welcome back Steve, long time no hear! 1 - Can you tell us more about Saavedra? Is this the one who taught Venancio (Anciong) Bacon and the Canetes? 2 - Can you tell me more about the fight where the fighter had his skull crushed? I am wondering if this is the one where Dr. Lopez bandaged the guy up after Anciong hit him. He said that the fellow went into convulsions, but he did not think that he had died. > From: "Tim Kashino" > Date: Sat, 26 Jun 1999 01:52:40 -0700 > Subject: eskrima: Self Defense and "the Rules" > .... When I was younger, my instructor made me research the New York State penal code before I could earn my black belt. He did this so I would > better > understand my "right" to self defense, and to define > my own use of force for self defense as a "trained" > individual within the parameters of state law. > I strongly encourage all members of the digest > to research the pertinent laws and even court rulings of the state (and even the count or municipality) > that they live in if they have not done so. Ignorance > of the law is not a viable defense in court. It is interesting that in Canada, the criminal law is country wide, not determined on a state by state basis. For those in Canada, my friend Ted Truscott has prepared a nice summary of Canadian case law on the right to self-defence. I think that he sells them , and he is a list member. Regards, G. Michael Zimmer ------------------------------ From: Ray Terry Date: Sun, 27 Jun 1999 07:04:34 -0700 (PDT) Subject: eskrima: . ------------------------------ End of Inayan_Eskrima/FMA-Digest V6 #275 **************************************** To unsubscribe from this digest, eskrima-digest, send the command: unsubscribe eskrima-digest -or- unsubscribe eskrima-digest your.old@address in the BODY of email (top line, left justified) addressed to majordomo@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com. Old digest issues are available via ftp://ftp.martialartsresource.com, directory pub/eskrima/digests. All digest files have the suffix '.txt' Copyright 1994-99: Ray Terry, Inayan System of Eskrima, Martial Arts Resource Standard disclaimers apply.