Peter is one of the original members of KMSF, and also teaches Chinese Boxing. Peter is also the one who normally conducts all the interviews for our newsletter in addition to his column. This month, the interviewer finally becomes the interviewee.

KMSF: You're an instructor at KMSF, and one of the original members that came over from Chinese Boxing. How has your

As some of you know, I recently had surgery to repair a knee injury. I was very pleased to find out it was not damaged nearly as much as I thought at first. There are a lot of things we take for granted in life, and one of them is simple physical mobility. To be without it or to be compromised in that way is a major disruption to anybody who likes to train.

The injury happened during sparring, I was pushed and as I was flying backwards trying to gain my balance, I jammed my left leg straight back to stop my momentum. The two major leg bones clashed together, popping bits of the meniscus up off the surface. These frayed edges of cartilage became an irritant and caused swelling and popping and grinding sensations with certain movements. The stage was set the night before however, as I had taught several classes and taken a hard bag class as well. My legs were overtrained and tired, and I believe I wouldn't have landed so awkwardly if I hadn't been. Obviously, it is crucial to cycle training in such a way that high intensity activities like sparring are done relatively fresh.

Once I had finally forced my insurance to do what we pay them to do, I was able to schedule a surgery for a Friday morning. I arrived at the hospital at 6:30 am, got advice on how to use crutches, and was prepped for surgery. My surgeon, Dr. Jeffrey Halbrecht, came to my waiting area to escort me, announcing that he was "psyched" to do the procedure. I said "Let's DO this!" and walked with him into the operating room. The last time I had knee surgery I was unconscious before going into the OR. This time, they led me in and I got up on the operating table myself before they gave me anesthesia, which is a little disconcerting. I was out before they were done shaving my knee, and I woke up in what seemed like an instant later in a recovery room. As I blinked and looked around, a couple nurses were moving about, with one of them pronouncing my condition as "alert and handsome". Nice way to wake up huh? Made me feel better about closing in on 40 and having my 2nd knee surgery. I was out of there and having a latte in Laurel Heights with my girlfriend by noon. A week and a half later, I can walk without discomfort and I start PT this week.

The best lesson I can impart to you from this experience is this: we need to take care of what we have been given in the form of our physical body and respect limitations. I feel pretty lucky to be done with the hardest part, and looking forward to doing more of what I love to do.

KMSF: How long have you been doing krav?

Pam Tao: It's been about four and a half years. I started in October 2002 at the old school.

KMSF: Who did you train with first?

PT: I started originally with checking out the school. My M.O. was to show up and observe the classes first

The best defense is to not be there.

Most violent situations can be avoided by using your sixth sense. Stay aware of who and what is around you. If something feels wrong, it probably is. Walk close to the curb instead of next to the building, and keep your head up instead of looking down. At night walk only on well lit streets. If you see someone or something

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 suffered

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 mind

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 is

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 control

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 yourself

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 not