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 threatening posture. In as strong a voice as you can tell the person to stay away. The biggest mistake most make is forgetting to breath, force it or you will lose the energy that the fear has given you. Do your best to stay calm and relaxed. The more you can relax the faster you can move. The faster you move the stronger your counter will be if it come to that. And last but not least, be ready to run away and get somewhere safe as soon as you can.

Barny

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Announcements and Events

Seminar Series Coming: We are developing a series of health related classes that will be delivered by students and local professionals. Subjects will include diet and nutrition, chiropractic care, and Chinese medicine and acupuncture. Participants will get educated in these areas, and receive examples, discounts and incentives to try these services.

Diet to Go Seminar
We’ll cook the food, you will eat healthy!


Join us for Lunch
Come to our Living in Balance Seminar
March 24th 1:30-3PM


Guided Meditation and Healthy Lunch from Diet-To-Go
Cost $5.00 to be applied to your order if decide to try our meal service
Plus 15% off your 1st weeks food


Make you reservations today
Contact the front desk

New Stretch and Flex class added

Prevent injuries by lengthening the muscles and improve range of motion. Taught by Instructor Kathleen Finnerty.

TaiChi for Krav Maga: April 28

Combat in the Mid-Range

Do you practice sparring or wish you did? Learn to improvise in applying your many Krav Maga combatives. The study of TaiChi "Pushing Hands" is an ideal way to bridge the chasm between combative techniques learned in Krav classes and the improvisational space of sparring and combat. Come learn partner exercises that emphasize ancient principles of the art of combat in a non-violent environment in which the Krav student can explore the flow of combat while examining sound principles in application of techniques.

The focus of this introductory seminar will be the relevance of close improvisational contact as it applies to fighting. Students will see demonstrations of solo and two-person Taiji and will have the opportunity to practice applications of TaiChi fighting. Emphasis will be on examining elements relevant to Krav Maga training.

Come see how the 'soft overcomes the hard' and how TaiChi training – the most ancient and obscure of martial arts – has a fascinating relevance to modern self-defense.

Philosophy of TaiChi as paradigm for conflict resolution Solo form fundamentals Two person training with applications of solo form movements Relevance to Krav Maga self-defense About the Teacher: Christian Nix Christian has been studying and teaching Taiji (Tai Chi) and Qigong (Chi Kung) for over a decade. He brings an innovative approach to the practice of Chinese arts. In addition to a license in acupuncture, he currently holds a teaching position at University of East-West Medicine and is also a Master's candidate for a degree in Integrative Healthcare Administration at the California Institute of Integral Studies. Art Show/Farewell Party Sunday April 1st, 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm City Ballet School 32 Otis Street San Francisco 94103 Long time Krav student Christina Gomez will be showing and selling her art work before her return to Spain. The art work is mixed media and some of her work can be previewed on her website here: www.mayacoa.com Food and wine will be served, bring a friend. Yellow Belt Test: March 10th 1:30 pm - 5:30 pm Orange Belt Test: March 31st 1:30 pm - 6:30 pm Schedule Changes in March: Kicking and Sword class moved from 5:00 PM Monday night to 1:00 PM on Sunday Adding Cross-fit – Monday & Wednesday at 5:00 PM Adding a Stretching and Flexibility class Monday and Wednesday at 6:00 PM Give Us Your Suggestions You can always ask for a survey at the front desk, or use this link: Suggestion Box to use the web site to give us any feedback that you might have for us any time. Interviews: A Few Gems I've done a dozen or so interviews since mid-2005 with students and teachers of Krav Maga. I learned a lot from all of them, and continue to do so. I think you'll agree that this community has a lot of character. Here are a few quotes from some of you about Krav Maga from the last year and a half. Mike Naughton: "It helps me to overcome situations that make me want to cut and run or bail out; it helps me hang in there." Cristina Gomez: "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. Instead of reading Baudelaire, now I will watch mixed martial arts fights. I used to see fights on TV, and think, 'disgusting', now I look closer. Now, I love to go to strike and fight and get in there, it is such a rush!" Mark Manning: "I had never hit anybody, I never even took a swing at anybody. I took my first Strike and Fight class with my boss. Barny had us standing there and hitting each other, and you're getting to hit your boss in the head, the hardest part was to stop laughing!". Rueben Delapena (police officer): "I've definitely been in situations where Krav Maga comes into play, it happens daily. I've been in a few fights, I've been kicked, I've been punched and thrown, and basically what it comes down to is what are you going to do, are you going to stand there and take it or are you going to react? It has helped me out." Geof Oppenheimer: "Krav Maga is without a doubt the most consistent real sporting thing I've ever done, and I'm certainly in better shape than I've ever been in my life. I didn't go here to get in shape, but it's a by-product. I came purely for self defense, and that is still what I am here for." Luis Recinos: "This confidence comes out in people, I see it in a lot of people that train at KMSF. I'm talking about the women here especially, I think its amazing that they are sparring with guys that outweigh them by 100 pounds. It takes guts, and I give them a lot of credit." Joachim Muller-Lance: "Krav Maga was a total departure for me. It's everything I ever hated about sports, like having nothing between me and the other party, sweating grossly, being watched, yelled at, having to touch total strangers, but -- I'm really attached to it. I like that it is defined as a flexible system that keeps developing. Gradually I am getting to see the creative side of it and how it connects with other things I do." Matvey Chaban: "There have been situations where I have been faced with multiple opponents, not necessarily of better skills - but in quantity, and I really wanted to learn the most effective way to defend myself without going down. So number one, I really wanted to learn how to prevent myself from getting into these situations, and number two, if I do get into these situations, what to do. Nowhere else did I learn multiple opponents against one. Krav Maga was the first place where I learned about multiple opponents." Nina Shirazi (regarding sparring): "I was just nervous about it, I was thinking I can't get hit! Then as I started to get more comfortable, I realized you're going to get hit even if you're the best fighter in the world. I realized I don't just have to cower back and be defensive, I can go in with confidence and do something, throw a combination, and if it doesn't work, find another way. So I have been going with that and I love it now!" Barny Foland: "My first trip to the national training center was nine days - I was exposed to pretty much everything in level 1 and level 2, and I was sold immediately. It was so practical, and so direct and easy to absorb. I knew that this system was perfect for everyone. " "We are not a martial arts center, we have no competitions, we are all here to learn how to defend ourselves, get a good workout and support each other." The Spiderman Speech "With great power, comes great responsibility." Uncle Ben Parker We develop capabilities here at KMSF that help bring us security, peace of mind, and physical health. We also learn how to beat the crap out of anybody that messes with us or our loved ones. Powerful stuff. And if you learn some groundfighting, you might actually do a few things that Spiderman can do. Though the quote comes from a fictional character, it doesn't make it any less true. Power should hopefully express itself in a graceful and controlled way. I'm sure we can easily imagine examples of the abuse of power, whether in individual cases or nations. If the use of power comes from a self-absorbed, dispassionate or aggressive position, abuses are sure to follow. A more selfless, compassionate or peaceful position is sure to bring better results for everyone. The conundrum that goes along with the Spiderman speech is this: as we develop these powers for ourselves, confidence also develops and we don't have to get angry, defensive, or feel as much fear. We share them and we learn to position ourselves so they are not necessary to use. Can you imagine if everyone practiced Krav Maga? How much do you think anybody would want to risk physically assaulting anyone else? So along with the possession of power comes the responsibility of restraint, of being able to hold back and find other more graceful solutions to conflicts. There is also the responsibility to use the power we have, the health and peace of mind we have gained, to share it with others.