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. Walk close to the curb; give yourself a chance to move away from a problem.

Do not park your car next to a van or large truck. Always find your keys and have them in your hand before you head towards your car.

Lock all accessible windows and deadbolt your doors when leaving or going to bed.

Announcements and Events

Not to be missed!
United States Chief Instructor Darren Levine is coming to the SF Training Center December 12th. Don't miss the opportunity to train with the top Krav Maga Instructor in the US. Darren has incredible enthusiasm and energy to go along with many many years of self defense teaching experience. He is one of the top students of Krav Maga founder Imi Lichtenfeld, and was the only one entrusted by Imi to deliver the Krav Maga methodology in the United States.

Monday December 12th, 6:00 ­ 10:00 pm

The seminar will cover:
Knife and Gun Defenses
Availability is limited to only 30 participants so sign up now!!!
Special one time price of only $125.00

Holiday schedule:

We will be closed for the following holidays:
Christmas Eve, Saturday December 24th and
Christmas Day, Sunday December 25th
New Year's Eve, Saturday December 31st, and
New Year's Day, Sunday January 1st

Christmas Gift Drive

Twice a week kids from the Home Away From Homelessness program come to the training center to get an hour of exercise and instruction. Counselor Allesandro Bresba says, "We are thrilled that you continue to be so generous to the kids in our program. They love Krav Maga, and always come back exhausted but proud of what they've learned." We'd like to help these kids have a happier holiday season and ask you to join us in contributing to them this year.

If you wish to contribute, please purchase giftcards to clothing stores (like Old Navy and Gap) and bookstores (like Green Apple and Borders). This way the kids would be involved in choosing the gifts. They can take ownership of their gifts by figuring out for themselves in what way they should spend the giftcard: dealing with money is a skill our kids need to practice. They can also claim the things they buy as their own - many have little or nothing they can claim as theirs. Finally, in the case of bookstore giftcards, they will be motivated to read. They will take time and care to choose the books they want. This will mean they will read them because they want to, not because they were told to. Thank you for your support of these children.

Student Focus: Cristina Gomez

I asked Cristina what originally attracted her to Krav Maga in the first place. She said at the time she was living by herself out in the avenues and wanted to take classes in Golden Gate Park that ended at 10 pm at night. Walking through the park by herself at night made her think it was time to take action! She didn't want to live in fear anymore. Coming from Barcelona, Spain, she noticed a big difference in the level of threat in her environment when she came here. No one is allowed to own or carrry guns there and the level of violent crime seemed much lower. She remembers being able to play out in the streets with friends until midnight without worrying about anything. It has been twelve years since she came to this country, and she says some of it is just that the world in general has changed in that time, and Spain is no different. While she was growing up there, the Basque resistance would sometimes set off bombs in various locations and she recalls one that hit in Barcelona.

I asked if her attitude has changed in any way since she was inspired to join. She tells me she continues to use caution but says, "I know now if anything happens I will not be a victim, I will always do something about it." Krav Maga has exposed her to scenarios of training that were stressful but showed her that she can persevere in ways she never thought possible. "Before I came here, I never thought I could take pain and exercise and push through it. Now I know I have this ability to get pushed, or punched and and keep going, it's very powerful to me." Looking back at herself ten years ago, she says she would have thought herself crazy to love this kind of training. Laughing, she continues, "Instead of reading Baudelaire, now I will watch mixed martial arts fights." Welcome to America! I'm so proud. "I used to see fights on TV, and think, 'disgusting', now I look closer," she says, showing a little boxing body english. "Now, I love to go to strike and fight and get in there, it is such a rush!"

Cristina has been doing Krav Maga for almost 3 years now, and has passed her Green belt, and is now working on Blue. Besides the specific skills she has learned here, she says she has a deeper appreciation of her own body, and in a far less superficial way than she used to. She says, "I used to look at my body and be critical, like I'm not the right size or whatever, but after surviving some of this training, I pat myself on the back and say thank you!." Working through fears and fatigue has opened her mind up to new experiences and given her a less passive attitude towards life in general. Cristina has been a painter and an art appreciator most of her life but in recent years had become less involved. So in the last year she has dedicated herself to a career change. She feels she has an instinct to see talent and help promote artists, and decided it was time to go for it and really develop it into something more formal. Cristina is an art agent now, and has her first client working away on his portfolio. She has been approaching galleries, and just secured a spot for him in a show coming up in December. It's at the Amaru Gallery in the Mission on Thursday, December 15th from 7 - 10 pm. Check out www.amarugallery.com for more information.

I like to think that Cristina's journey with Krav Maga, although unique in many respects, mirrors many of ours in significant ways. Most of us grow up learning that it is a virtue to stop and think before we act, and to care about others. This is a good thing most of the time, but when it creates too much caution or indecision when we are being threatened, it is more than just passive, it's dangerous. Cristina mentioned during her training that Barny or Eric would often say," You're thinking too much!" Knowing she can act under those difficult circumstances, she says now she has the confidence to take action in other situations, to just go for it. Self defense training is a model for dealing with conflict, whether it is with others or within ourselves. Knowing we can stand up to the pressure and the fear of the moment and pass through it makes a lot of life's other trials and tribulations that much easier to overcome.

Cure for the Holidays

This is a busy and potentially stressful time of year. Family visits, gift-gving, and work responsibilities can all combine to create a higher level of tension in our lives. Don't forget to take a little time for you. One of the most important parts of this season is sharing yourself, your time and your positive energy with your friends and family. None of us can remember all the gifts we gave or received over the years, but I'll bet you could remember who was there and how they spoke with you and laughed with you. Some of us have lost someone close this year or in years past, and the holidays remind us a little more than usual that they are missed.

So what do we have to give if we do not take care of ourselves? If you can get in a few workouts, even if it is less than you are accustomed to, you will have the energy and the peace of mind to be fully present and enjoy the moments that the holidays can bring. To all of you that train or work with us here at the San Francisco Training Center, have a very happy and safe holiday season. Peace to you and your family. We look forward to another great year in 2006. Be ready to train hard and have fun.