Blog entries for KMSF

June 2007 Newsletter

KMSF

From Barny's Desk We are here to add what we can to life, not to get what we want from it.

Your life isn't just about you. If you want to be rich in the truest sense of the word, you must contribute to other peoples lives. To lose a close friend or family member is always an extremely difficult time. As friends of the person who has sufferedthe loss, we do our best to console them and offer our sympathies, somehow feeling that no matter what you do, it is not enough. Gabriel [...]

May 2007 Newsletter

KMSF

From Barny's Desk Choose your thoughts wisely.

You can choose to think in ways that will support you instead of ways that don't. When you are training, think about the right way to do the self-defense technique or the particular strike that you are working on, not about the mistake that you might have made. Think positive, and in your mindknow that you can do it. With practice you will make it happen. If you dwell on what you might have done wrong, you will have a tendency t [...]

April 2007 Newsletter

KMSF

From Barny's Desk

"Knowledge is memorized information; wisdom is knowing the right way to use it."

Learning self-defense is great knowledge. Learning how and when to use it is great wisdom. Once you attain a certain level in training, it is easy to become overconfident, a little arrogant, and unafraid of anything that might come at you. It isthen that you should reflect back on your original training. Remember, the best way to defend yourself is to avoid t [...]

March 2007 Newsletter

KMSF

From Barny's Desk

"Feel the fear and do it anyway."

The first time you find yourself in a situation that has the possibility of becoming violent fear is going to try to take over. Being afraid is natural and actually is a good thing. Adrenalin starts to pump and that can make you stronger than you ever thought possible, but only if you can controlit. Remember your basic training. Keep yourself at a good distance. Position yourself in a ready but non threat [...]

February 2007 Newsletter

KMSF

From Barny's Desk

"Good instincts usually tell you what to do long before your head has figured it out."

The first and probably the most important part of self defense is learning to listen to your sixth sense. If you feel like something is not quite right, take a moment to heighten your senses, look around your immediate area, and prepare yourselffor a possible violent situation. Very often you will avoid a situation before it even develops into a physica [...]

January 2007 Newsletter

KMSF

From Barny's Desk

"Do or do not; there is no try."
Star Wars Jedi Master Yoda

To try new things is always good for the mind and spirit. It is spawned by the curiosity that fuels us all. The point that was being made by Yoda was either do the absolute best you can or don't do it at all. To try to do something usually means you are notgiving every bit of your concentration to the task at hand, or the here and now as Yoda would say. When training st [...]

December 2006 Newsletter

KMSF

From Barny's Desk

There are no victims, only volunteers.

With the holidays coming fast, the violent attack rate will be getting more frequent. Muggers and thieves will be out in force to try and make an easy buck. Be aware of your surroundings and let your senses work for you. If it feels like something is not right be ready to do what ever is necessaryif you cannot avoid the problem. Statistics provided by law enforcement show that a person caught in a violent a [...]

November 2006 Newsletter

KMSF

From Barny's Desk

There is no security on this earth; there is only opportunity.

We can all follow the advice of the masters. If walking at night have a friend with you, only travel on well-lit streets, know your route and the public places that are open, walk close to the curb, if driving find your keys and have them in your hand before leaving the building... Even if you do all the right things there is no guarantee you can avoid a potentially violent situation. I [...]

October 2006 Newsletter

KMSF

September 2006 Newsletter

KMSF

From Barny's Desk

Most people don’t aim too high and miss, they aim too low and hit.

We have lost a member of the Krav Maga family. Marni Levine, one of the top instructors at the Krav Maga National Training Center and the wife of US Chief Instructor Darren Levine, passed away due to a long struggle with cancer. She set her sights high and achievedthe ranking of 4th degree Black Belt, and was becoming of the top officials of Krav Maga World Wide, the governing [...]

August 2006 Newsletter

KMSF

From Barny's Desk

"You don’t become a master by learning 4000 things...you become a master by learning how to do a dozen of the right things 4000 times."
-Trence Storm

Find several combinations that are comfortable for you and work them so they become automatic, then respond to the openings that are created from there. If you tryto master a multitude of combinations none of them will truly become part of you. Most great fighters only have 8 or [...]

July 2006 Newsletter

KMSF

From Barny's Desk

Whether you think you can or think you can't - you are right.

- Henry Ford

When training you should always think positively... stopping in the middle of a defense and talking about what you did wrong will more often than not cause you to do it wrong again and again. If you make a mistake stop, visualize the correctway to perform the technique. Talk your way through it to reinforce in your mind the right moves. You will find it e [...]

June 2006 Newsletter

KMSF

From Barny's Desk

Concentrate while being distracted.

On the street you may be approached by someone asking directions, a light for a cigarette, or even the time. This may be someone trying to distract you while a second person picks your pocket, steals your bag, or maybe even grabs you from behind. If you decide to talk to this person position yourselfso you can see everything around you. Use all your senses. If you feel something is out of place, it probably is. S [...]

May 2006 Newsletter

KMSF

From Barny's Desk

Success is a journey, not a destination.

Just learning defense techniques well enough to pass the belt test should not be enough. It takes time and practice to get to the point where you can respond effectively to a surprise attack without having to think. Pushing yourself over and over again in drills and realising that you can reactwith determination and ferocity is the only way to make sure you can survive a real altercation. It is always fun [...]

April 2006 Newsletter

KMSF

From Barny's Desk

What you see reflects your thinking.

When an unusual situation arises, it is easy to get tunnel vision and focus on one person or one thing that you see happening. Try not to panic, look around, and be aware of everything that is going on around you. What caught your attention first may only be a distraction from the real threat thatis about to happen. Remove yourself from the area whenever possible, otherwise be prepared to fight for your life.

March 2006 Newsletter

KMSF
From Barny's Desk

Dwell not on the past which cannot be changed, but on the future which is still in your power.

When training think only the proper way to strike or perform a defense technique. If you keep thinking about what you did wrong you will most likely continue to make the same mistake again and again. If you are having a problem stop for a minuteand think how to do it right, do it at half speed a few times and then slowly start going faster. If you still a [...]

February 2006 Newsletter

KMSF
From Barny's Desk

"Revenge is the weak pleasure of a narrow mind."

Being prepared to defend yourself is good, being prepared to talk your way out of a situation and walk away is always better. If you are attacked defend and counter in the most ferocious manner possible. When you feel you can get away run, because to continuing to beat on someoneafter that is revenge.

As a tribute to Gail¹s brother who died in January, I want to tell you ab [...]

January 2006 Newsletter

KMSF

From Barny's Desk

I want to wish everyone a healthy and prosperous NEW YEAR.

I would like to thank everyone for all of the help in making 2005 such a great year for Krav Maga in San Francisco. The membership has increased and the quality of our students is remarkable.

Darren Levine’s seminar was inspiring. He was very impressed with the student body here.

Two of our instructors now have the rank of Black Belt.

Room 3 [...]

December 2005 Newsletter

KMSF
From Barny's Desk

The holidays are upon us. It is a time of celebration, so celebrate, be happy, and be safe. There are a lot of muggings, car jacking, and home invasions during the holidays.

Here are a few tips to remember:

While shopping be aware of your surroundings. If someone looks suspicious avoid him/her by crossing the street or entering a store and stay there until you feel safe. If it is a group never walk through them always go around them. [...]

November 2005 Newsletter

KMSF
From Barny's Desk

Train hard but train well. It is better to slow down and get the punch, kick, or defense technique correct than to just go as hard as you can all the time. If an instructor corrects you, slow down and concentrate on improving your movements for a minute or two before you go full speed again. Muscle memory means doing something without thinking aboutit, so the more correct you are when working on a punch or a kick the easier it will be to perform it correctly un [...]