From Barny's desk

2005 has started out with a bang, and there are some exciting new classes to starting in April. For those who have been thinking about joining the Strike and Fight class and were concerned about just jumping in we will be starting an 8 week Introduction to Fight Class. This class will be held once a week and is totally designed for those with no experience. By completion all participants will be able to hold their own in Intermediate Strike and Fight classes.

There will be one Advanced Fight class for those who wish to train at a higher intensity level as well as adding in take-downs and ground fighting (not just grappling). This class will be monitored very closely and is only for experienced fighters only. Head gear will be required along with mouth piece, shin guards, groin protection and 14 oz gloves.

The schedule for these new classes will be posted by March 15th 2005, and will be a great addition to what we already are offering.

Volunteers Wanted for Compass Community Services

Compass Community Services helps San Francisco's homeless and low-income families achieve stability and self-sufficiency.

The agency's four interconnected programs support more than 3,000 parents and children each year by providing crisis intervention, emergency shelter, food and clothing, transitional housing, counseling, pre-employment training, enriched infant care and childcare, and permanent housing placement.

Currently we give the Compass staff a 4-hour training session once a month, but we'd like to do more. That's why we are starting a program for women & teens, so they too can benefit from the health and confidence of self sefense training. If any of the students are interested, we ask you to consider volunteeering to help us put this program together. We will offer training at least once a month but hopefully once a week depending on how many volunteers we get.

You can read about their many programs at their web site www.compass-sf.org

Please contact Gail, Gabe or Barny if you can volunteer for at least an hour a month.

Upcoming Seminars:

Gun 1 Seminar this Saturday, March 5th
Please Note: Gun 2 seminar is coming in May and and anyone that wants to participate must have taken Gun 1 to be prepared for the material in Gun 2.

Strike and Fight Seminar on Saturday, March 19th
Comprehensive fight training and conditioning seminar taught by Gabe.

Knife 2 Seminar on April 2nd

Krav Maga for Kids program is starting June 20th.
Call the school for more info.

Law Enforcement Instructor Certification Course
May 23rd - 27th
Are you prepared to defend yourself against some of the deadliest encounters faced by Law Enforcement officers every day? Learn how to defend yourself against deadly threats based upon the Krav Maga principles used by over 150 Federal, State, and Municipal agencies. The following Instructor Certification Course is being offered at the Krav Maga Official Training Center in San Francisco.

Combatives, Handguns Disarm and Retention
Date: May 23rd - 27th, 2005, Monday - Friday
Time: 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Fee: $700 per person
>Click here to download details and registration form. (Word Doc)

The truth about multitasking

When we are awake and conscious, there is only one idea or physical feature we are intent upon or actively thinking about at any given moment. This is called our locus of attention. Because humans have a locus of attention, there is no true multi-tasking. We can only concentrate on one thing at a time. What is multi-tasking is really a delegation of the tasks that we can do automatically to the background while we focus on one thing that is most interesting at the moment. Actions, or even long sequences of actions, can become automatic. Any actions that you repeatedly perform will eventually become automatic. Making commonly used actions automatic can allow you to perform more actions efficiently and free up your locus of attention to deal with the most critical task at hand, or maybe daydream about what you wish you were doing instead. That's called "multi-slacking".

Herein lies the problem; there are just as many inefficient actions that become automatic and ingrained. Human nature does tend towards the path of least resistance, this means some actions become lazier and lazier. We don't notice some of them until they get in the way of performing effectively, particularly in situations that are new or stressful. Other habits become noticeable when they lead to degenerative conditions such as low back pain or carpal tunnel syndrome.

How does this relate to self defense and fighting? This is where automaticity and locus of attention can become your best friend and your worst enemy. To fight effectively, physical tasks related to footwork, posture, and breathing must become automatic to free up the locus of attention to be aware of a series of things: recognition and defense against the attack, where are the openings to deliver combatives, then escape. However, if your footwork is a problem and you begin to lose your balance, that will suddenly become your locus of attention and another movement you were trying to perform will go on autopilot or possibly not be completed at all.

How do we use this ability to to get better? Training and consistency is required to create new patterns of thought and movement. Habitual movements need to become the locus of attention long enough and often enough so that the new patterns become automatic. When fundamental skills such as posture, footwork, and general movement become automatic, you are free to concentrate on strategic and tactical functions during a fight. If you are confident that your body is operating under control and with efficiency, you will observe more and react more quickly to the real threats in the confrontation.