From: eskrima-digest-owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com To: eskrima-digest@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Subject: Inayan_Eskrima/FMA-Digest V6 #279 Reply-To: eskrima@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Errors-To: eskrima-digest-owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Precedence: Inayan_Eskrima/FMA-Digest Tues, 29 June 1999 Vol 06 : Num 279 In this issue: eskrima: raising feminine warriors eskrima: Re: Improvised weapons eskrima: Re: Inayan_Eskrima/FMA-Digest V6 #278 eskrima: Re: Inayan_Eskrima/FMA-Digest V6 #278 eskrima: Legal ramifications eskrima: Feminine fighters... eskrima: Kun Tao Silat deThouars eskrima: Cat flap 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: TaoArt@aol.com Date: Tue, 29 Jun 1999 10:30:53 EDT Subject: eskrima: raising feminine warriors In a message dated 6/28/99 8:30:56 PM Eastern Daylight Time, eskrima-digest-owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com writes: << Which brings up an interesting question of how you raise a feminine daughter who can/will fight back?) >> Speaking as a mother of two daughters, this is not as difficult as you would think. Simply tie your child rearing habits into basic self defense concepts: Attitude, awareness, desire to succeed, be flexible, don't underestimate anyone, etc. I have two very different daughters. The older one is extremely "soft hearted". She gets emotional quickly and cries sometimes due to the slightest of injuries. The younger one is much more rough and tumble... she is also fearless. But phew, what a temper. I was concerned for the longest time about how my oldest would deal with conflict. We don't allow our children to watch any television other than PBS. We also have no toy guns in the house. (No, we are not arch-liberals: I plan on teaching my daughters to shoot when they turn 10 and will NOT have them thinking of it as a toy). My concerns were eased about a year ago when my daughter (who was then 3) was approached by a bigger boy who tried to grab a toy away from her. She held on and wouldn't give it up (did I mention that both girls have my stubborn streak?). The boy then pushed her. She hauled off a good solid shove that landed him on his butt. Whereupon he began to howl. His mom ran to him and made some snide comment about allowing my child to "escalate the situation". I patted my girl on the head and told the other mother that what my child did was defend herself. I will not allow her to be a bully (looking right at her own child) BUT I will also not raise a victim. There will be a day when my daughter understands that it is advisable to seek a higher authority WHEN they are available. But if she is alone, I can feel confident that she will have no inhibitions about protecting herself. Children have been raised in a world full of contradictions. We show them violence on TV and in the movies daily. They see their heroes doing it. But then we turn around and tell them that it is wrong to do it themselves. Girls particularly. We are afraid that if our little girl can roll around on the ground and get muddy and do all those other "Tomboy" things that she will not be "feminine". Well I guess that depends on what your definition of feminine IS. I am not submissive. I speak directly. I make eye contact. I can swear like a dockhand. I am confident. I am proud of my body. I am described as "willful" by my nicer acquaintances. I have fought for my life on more than one occasion and made the other person regret their actions. I wear jeans and a leather jacket. BUT... I am also a very attentive listener. I hate seeing things suffer. My favorite feeling is holding my sleeping baby in my arms. I enjoy wearing tight fitting gowns with long slits up the leg, heels and make-up. So by some, I would not be considered feminine... interesting enough - this is most often the judgment of other women, many of whom are intimidated by my straight-forward manner and desire to succeed in business. Few men I know consider me "masculine". Maybe it's the dress with the long slit. :) My point after all this is that our goal as parents should be to let our children be THEMSELVES. Let's not confuse them with conflicting messages. Let's not force them into roles that are determined by society. Let THEM decide what traits they have. I think you will be surprised by how many little girls out there are more than happy to roll around in the mud... while carrying their favorite doll. Why must it be one or the other? Anyone who wants to talk further about raising strong daughters, email me offlist so we don't take this thread too far from the origins of self defense. Balance, Meghan Gardner "Do or Do Not... there is no Try". Yoda http://users.aol.com/taoart/amwa/amwa.htm - A Comprehensive Martial Arts and Self Defense website: With an online bookstore, public bulletin board, articles, and over 1000 links. ------------------------------ From: Mike Casto Date: Tue, 29 Jun 1999 07:50:04 -0700 (PDT) Subject: eskrima: Re: Improvised weapons Michael Koblic wrote: << Roaring Girl wrote: >at home i would start by throwing one of my cats at attacker's face >(there's usually one draped on or around me) and hope that he (the cat) >would forgive me...;) > I must disagree here. Surely most experienced martial artists will tell you *never* to throw your weapon away! I would advise to grasp the said cat firmly by the tail and swing it either in a circular motion around your head (provided there is, indeed, room to swing a cat) or advance on the attacker using a figure of 8 motion. From your post I gather that you have more than one cat, in which case a siniwali move of some sort would seem in order. >> Ahh ... an addendum. Don't throw away your weapon unless you have another available. From the sounds of it, our friend Roaring Girl would have plenty of feline projectiles handy and probably wouldn't even have to get within arms reach of the attacker in order to drive him off. Mike "Don't throw that cat at me!" Casto _________________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com ------------------------------ From: TaoArt@aol.com Date: Tue, 29 Jun 1999 10:47:07 EDT Subject: eskrima: Re: Inayan_Eskrima/FMA-Digest V6 #278 In a message dated 6/29/99 9:48:53 AM Eastern Daylight Time, eskrima-digest-owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com writes: << The list of prohibited weapons is as follows:- Missile launchers, flame throwers, (snip) ___handcuffs____, (snip etc) You do not need to belong to an international martial arts organisation but simply be able to demonstrate need for possession. >> Ummm... is kinky sex a demonstrable need? :) ------------------------------ From: ABernabeo@aol.com Date: Tue, 29 Jun 1999 11:14:47 EDT Subject: eskrima: Re: Inayan_Eskrima/FMA-Digest V6 #278 Dear all: If you haven't seen it coming if they '''the government ''' can outlaw one weapon they can outlaw them all. Then the only one who will have them are the criminals who obviously don't care about the laws or the consequences. The laws that have been past lately really affect the people who abide by the law. ------------------------------ From: AnimalMac@aol.com Date: Tue, 29 Jun 1999 13:28:51 EDT Subject: eskrima: Legal ramifications In a message dated 99-06-29 09:50:46 EDT, you write: << BTW Does anybody know how the recent court case against Paladin went ? From Animal Yeah, Paladin's insurance company decided to settle. This is a real scary thing because they were waiting on the appeal to the Supreme court to reverse a lower courts decision. That decision held Paladin liable for the intention of the person buying the book. This is a scary thing folks, because it can extend to movies, videos, books and even newspapers. If you see something in a movie and then go out and do it, then by this decision, the movie company can be held civilily liable. Now while I will be the first to say the Hitman book was in poor taste as well as downright stupid and dangerous (if you followed it's advice). Apparently Voltaire's comment of "I might disagree with what you say, but I will fight to the death for your right to say it" no longer applies. >The one where a reader supposedly used info in one of their books to plan the murder of his wife ? >> No supposed about it. It was a hit, pure and simple. However I would like to ask the list's patience for a moment of background to put things in perspective because this issue can affect us as martial arts instructors. First Admendment implications against the media aside, we as instructors need to realize the border between us and being sued over the intentions of our students has just moved much closer. In fact, the sucker is sitting on our doorstep. This whole Hitman case revolves around "when someone says it isn't about the money -- it's about the money." To begin with the woman who was murdered was the estranged/ex of the guy who hired the hit. Her son (his step-son) was a vegtable on home life support system. This situation arose out of a supposed error on the hospital's part during a proceedure. Now I can't remember if the child had been involved in an accident, a proceedure went sideways or it was a flat-out blunder by the hospital -- however they had sued the hospital. I'm not sure if the suit was proven in court or again the insurance company decided to settle. (as you know an insurance company often settles because it is cheaper than going court - so you can't really determine guilt or innocence via a settlement). Now the wife is sitting on five million dollars. Her and hubby break up. Hubby a "record producer" (if you know anything about producers, I don't have to say more) is in dire financial straights. He wants the money before she changes the paperwork. Through some wierd links he contacts this clown who had bought the Hitman book a year earlier. Not because he had a this specific job on line, but just because he wanted to be a hitman when he grew up. They conspire and do the dirty deed, killing not only the wife, the kid, but a nanny. The moron follows the book for 22 of 26 points. Naturally once the cops figure this out they go out and get their copy of the book from their library and put together an airtight case. Both Nit and Wit go down on first degree murder raps and are now showering with guys with lots of tattoos. Keeping up family tradition of suing, the dead wife's sister turns around and sues Paladin. Paladin's attorney defends on a First Admendment stance. The lower courts find them liable. Believe it or not, there was a lot of support for Paladin. In many of the same ways that even though they disagreed with what they represented, the ACLU defended the Nazi's right to march, the major newpaper and media organizations rallied behind Paladin and said "we disagree with the book and we think Peder Lund is an ass, but if you find Paladin liable you will undermine the First Admendment." I'm talking Time/Warner and other mega-media corportations took this official stance and petitioned the courts. Now, the issue stands without appeal so the precedence is established. And for those of you who didn't see, the woman went on 20/20 and was asked "what about the First Admendment?" Her response, and I quote, was "I don't care about no First Admendment." Immediately thereafter she also said, "it's not about the money." To further muddy the waters, here in Colorado a school was found neglegent for not keeping a teenager from sexually harrassing another. Adding to the fires is the lawsuit against Columbine High School. Schools, liable for the actions of the students? Yep, the precedence has been established. As has been discussed on this forum before, legal actions in one state tend to have cascade effects in others. These two precedents are why I say this issue is now roosting on our doorsteps as martial arts instructors. It is a short step from publishers of dangerous information and schools to putting the two together and saying "What about suing martial art schools for the misuse of what they teach?" The thing to remember is that the legal system is squirrely. You can never tell when or where a jury will jump. Cut and dried cases, often go sideways. Paladin should have won on the grounds of the First Admendment and free speech and yet they lost. And that is why any advice on how to handle the legal ramifications of self-defense is such a hairball issue Not only do you have the criminal implications, but far more dangerous to your financial well being are the civil actions - which is exactly what the Hitman case was about. With this new legal precedence you can be found liable for the misuse of information that you provide to your students. You better have a good lawyer on retainer. P.S. For those of you who are wondering, my feelings about the Hitman book are pretty much like those of the media giants. I consider it a stupid, nasty, reckless and in poor taste. In short, a book that should not have been published. I furthermore think Paladin was moronic for publishing it and other books like "Be your own undertaker" and "Homemade C-4" because it was just a matter of time before someone did use it for illegal ends. Yes they are my publisher, but that doesn't mean I agree with them publishing those books. However, unlike many people, I still hold to Voltaire's ideal. ------------------------------ From: "Branwen Thomas" Date: Tue, 29 Jun 1999 16:53:39 -0230 Subject: eskrima: Feminine fighters... Kevin Davis wrote: >Which brings up an interesting question of how you raise a feminine daughter who can/will >fight back?) and David Fulton wants to know: >I'd like to hear some suggestions on this as well since it's one of my goals. Depends on your definition of feminine. If you mean shy, modest, quiet, subservient etc (i'm sure you don't ;) then I have no idea. If you mean one who is strong of mind and body, good self-esteem, respect for self and others...oh wait that's not just for girls... Obvious (and traditional) femininity is represented in the way we dress and comport ourselves .I hated wearing pretty dresses/girl clothes when younger, not because I didn't consider myself feminine, but because you can't run properly/climb trees/get dirty in a dress without being yelled at for being unladylike (eek!) or a "tomboy" (hated word). As an adult, when I want to I can be extremely feminine - and I also know that my heeled shoes make excellent weapons, and if I hit you with my purse you *will* get hurt ;) I also know that being "unladylike" does NOT mean "unfeminine". Not any more. I think the main thing is to let your daughters know that it's okay to be strong (mentally and physically) and that (other than peeing standing up ;) she can do most things that men can do, WITH THE CAUTION, of course (and for boys as well) that there will always be someone bigger/meaner/stronger/crazier, and to learn to avoid these things. Teach her to be the best she can be with what she has or can acquire - personality, character, intelligence, training etc. Hey wait, teach ALL the kids these things...:) Given these things, daughters should end up as feminine as they need to be, when they want to be. The only downside of being a strong, independent woman (to me at least), is that some men (lesser-evolved ones?) are intimidated; but as my friend says, "if they're scared off because you say what you think, then you're better off without them" Fine in a fight, but lame for your social life;) my, i'm just full of opinions this week...i LOVE this list ;) Roaring Girl * Purveyor Of Fine Books * Beater Of Bodhrans * Smiter Of The Wicked * * Owned By Angus, Most Elegant And Pleasing Of Cats * ------------------------------ From: Mike Casto Date: Tue, 29 Jun 1999 13:19:18 -0700 (PDT) Subject: eskrima: Kun Tao Silat deThouars Asian Fighting Arts will be hosting a seminar with Willem "Uncle Bill" DeThouars in Dayton, Ohio on August 14 & 15. For more information visit http://mike.berrynet.com/uncle.htm _________________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com ------------------------------ From: " Bad Karma " Date: Tue, 29 Jun 1999 14:13:44 -0700 Subject: eskrima: Cat flap Michael Koblic wrote: > I must disagree here. Surely most experienced martial > artists will tell you *never* to throw your weapon > away! I would advise to grasp the said cat firmly by > the tail and swing it either in a circular motion > around your head (provided there is, indeed, room to > swing a cat) or advance on the attacker using a > figure of 8 motion. From your post I gather that you > have more than one cat, in which case a siniwali move > of some sort would seem in order. ...and for a training video, may I recommend Monty Python and The Holy Grail. In particular, the scene where the old crone in the hovel is flailing a cat against a post. - --== Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ ==-- Share what you know. Learn what you don't. ------------------------------ From: Ray Terry Date: Tue, 29 Jun 1999 14:52:12 -0700 (PDT) Subject: eskrima: . ------------------------------ End of Inayan_Eskrima/FMA-Digest V6 #279 **************************************** 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.