The Unconscious Power Of Assumed Constraints

Assumed constraints – the unconscious power inside you!

Combat Training Principles — Secrets For Staying Alive When “Rules” Don’t Apply

People often ask me for the best way to “protect” them in some imagined criminal assault.

They want me to respond by giving some perfect technique that handles their particular imagined scenario.

They’re often disappointed at first when I don’t respond the way they want me to answer their question. They don’t like to hear the truth — that violence is random and thinking only in terms of “techniques” to use against a random act is a good way to get you killed.

The problem with practically everyone’s approach to dealing with violence is not that they’re incapable of learning techniques – it’s that they don’t understand this way of responding to violence — real asocial, maim, cripple, or “kill you now” violence — is seriously flawed.

That’s because when it comes to violence, we (meaning you and me, the productive, law-abiding members of society) live lives of ASSUMED CONSTRAINTS.

We are taught early on by parents, teachers, and our legal system that if we want the benefits of living in a society like ours then we need to constrain our violent impulses when things don’t go our way.

And obviously, this is a very good thing.

It’s the reason you don’t kill the obnoxious jerk that steals your parking place, you wait patiently for the light to turn green at an intersection, and you don’t shoot the neighbors Labrador for digging up your rose garden.

When it comes to the subject of violence, we are controlled by society much like circus elephants are controlled by their handlers.

These trainers know the most reliable way to handle an elephant is to “condition” it when it is very young.

They put a shackle on the baby elephant’s leg with a short chain that is held in the ground by a very long spike. The baby elephant tugs at the chain attempting to break free.

After a short while the elephant breaks the skin around the shackled leg and gives up. But the pain of attempting to break free is never forgotten.

Later on, that same method is used to control the now fully-grown elephant, even though the adult beast could pull the spike free with no more effort than you and I use to remove a thumbtack from a corkboard.

And the same approach is taken with all productive members of society regarding the tool of violence.

We are “shackled” at a very young age — first at home, later in ours schools, and finally at our workplaces.

When faced with violence, most of us respond SOCIALLY.

We attempt to communicate with our attacker in hopes of avoiding the use of violence. We may threaten to use this tool but we really don’t want to since that shackle is still firmly attached.

The sad part of ASSUMED CONSTRAINTS is that most martial arts, combat sports, and, yes, even most “reality fighting systems” teach you to respond — WHILE STILL SHACKLED!

It doesn’t work.

I learned long ago the first order of business is to teach my clients how easy it is to break those ASSUMED CONSTRAINTS when the threat warrants such an approach.

Because the real threat to society is when we run up against some “rogue elephant” that has never been “shackled” and has no problem using violence to get what he wants. And imagine how easy it is to fight someone if they have their leg shackled.

Remember first and foremost — violence is rarely the answer to most situations, but when it is the answer, it’s the ONLY answer.

Once you understood that (and as a reader of this newsletter you have heard me say it numerous times) you then must be able to rip off those ASSUMED CONSTRAINTS and free yourself so you can utilize the tool of violence when required.

I can assure you the methods and principles taught in Target-Focus(TM) Training Live Seminars and our various other products do EXACTLY that, allowing you your best chance to survive an asocial, violent threat.

Take some time to digest this message, read through it again — then look within to see if you can truly break free from your “shackle” if the need arises.

If you’re not sure — really sure — then get some help to do this because you don’t want to discover those shackles are intact with a 9mm pressed against your ribcage.

Until next time,

Tim Larkin
Creator of Target-Focus(TM) Training

Target Focused Training
TFT Human Weapon Defense System
Live Target-Focus Training
TFT Striking
Using Your Bodyweight as a Sledgehammer!
TFT Throwing Series.
The Art of Head Trauma:Dumps, Drops & Throws

TFT Weapons Self Defence.
Discover secrets for destroying anyone attacking you with a weapon!
Surviving The Next 5 Seconds Of My Life!
The Survival DVDs
Surviving the most critical 5 seconds of your life!
The Survival Book

Learning To Fight… Or To Dance?

Are You Learning To Fight… Or To Dance?

Why you should take a look at Target Focused Training

I saw a commercial for one of those dance instruction programs that guarantees you’d be able to dance as well as any member of the most popular boy-bands.

The program showed a group of students following the instructor step-by-step to learn some pretty complex moves, choreographed to perfection. The result was that by memorizing the steps and combining the moves you could mimic the formerly difficult routine.

It reminded me of watching a Wushu team practice their show. For those of you that aren’t familiar, Wushu is a Chinese martial art that is delivered via a stage performance. The fights are very elaborate and it takes a great deal of practice to put on a convincing show.

As I watched the team practice it was interesting to note that whenever someone wanted to screw around all they had to do was execute a move different from the routine. Literally you would be watching a fight scene you’d swear was pitting two highly trained fighters in mortal combat when all of a sudden one of the guys would move differently… maybe slap the other guy in the face like the Three Stooges used to do.

Everyone would laugh, then take a break.

But that slap also woke me up out of the dream state I was in as I watched the performance.

I realized that this was exactly the method in which most martial arts or combat sports are instructed.

Especially when they train “self defense”.

Basically there are set patterns you memorize in response to various staged attacks. Memorize those responses and you can look pretty impressive.

But what happens if you vary the attack?

Most students freeze.

Why?

*** BECAUSE THEY WERE NEVER TAUGHT TO FIGHT! ***

Nope, they basically were taught to ‘dance’ and as long as everything went according to the ‘routine’ you could do okay. But we all know things never go exactly as planned.

Fighting is no different — whether you are on the mat at your training center or on the street locked in mortal combat with the other guy(s). The only variation is that when you fight with your training partner you don’t actually maim, cripple or kill. You still target and simulate those exact strikes, just at a pace your partner can handle.

If, however, you’re operating in a ‘training’ mode where you are memorizing a ‘set’ response to an attack, you are learning nothing but a ‘dance’ move. In Target Focused Training such training is viewed as “coordination training” not fighting.

If you don’t know the difference, you can easily fall victim to the “now it’s for real syndrome”. That’s where you face an imminent attack yet hesitate… as your brain tries to accept the fact that “this is for real”.

Contrast this to the well-trained fighter who simply sees all this as merely fighting and proceeds to:

1) find his targets and
2) strike.

The only difference to the fighter is the fact he can now strike with full power.

That’s because the well-trained fighter never sees himself as ‘training’ — he’s always fighting. Understand this concept and you’ll always be prepared… no matter what the situation.

Until next time,

Read all about Tims stuff on his site: Target Focused Training

TFT Human Weapon Defense System
Live Target-Focus Training
TFT Striking
Using Your Bodyweight as a Sledgehammer!
TFT Throwing Series.
The Art of Head Trauma:Dumps, Drops & Throws

TFT Weapons Self Defence.
Discover secrets for destroying anyone attacking you with a weapon!
Surviving The Next 5 Seconds Of My Life!
The Survival DVDs
Surviving the most critical 5 seconds of your life!
The Survival Book

Generating Maximum Power

Generating Maximum Power

I remember for much of my youth my martial arts training revolved around speed. I was always trying to punch and kick faster. Often you were judged on how many strikes you could deliver in a given amount of time.

We’ve previously already discussed the importance of striking a specific target on the other guy’s body, so lets talk about speed. Where does it factor in when you fight?

First a little physics is in order — Force x Velocity = Power.

Most instructors in the combat sport and martial arts world focus on just one aspect of the equation… Speed. (Speed is how fast an object moves, velocity is how fast an object moves from point a to b.)

Why?

Because most of those disciplines are taught in what Target-Focus(TM) Training terms the Effect-State(tm). The Effect-State revolves around you reacting to an event that already has occurred. In fact, it can be argued that most of society operates in this defensive state of mind. That subject would require a separate post altogether.

In a fight it is natural that if you operate in a Effect-State you will try to compensate for your waiting to see what the other guy is doing — with speed.

Problem is… speed without force is only a portion of the equation, and even if your targeting is accurate, you strike with static force. In fighting, a static-force strike would be a punch using only your arm speed to strike rather than putting your entire bodyweight behind the punch.

Essentially, in the context of fighting, a speed-only response equals FEAR. I’m not saying it can’t be effective sometimes, just that you are counting on ALWAYS being able to be faster than the other guy.

I don’t like those odds.

Target-Focus(TM) Training was developed with the idea that you may not be faster or stronger than the other guys but you compensate for those realities by operating in the Cause-State(tm), striking with dynamic rather than static force.

I’ve touched on operating in the Cause-State in earlier newsletters so lets explore using dynamic force.

Dynamic force allows you to strike with the full power equation, putting your bodyweight behind each strike to maximize damage and minimize the length of the conflict.

The key to generating dynamic force is understanding how to properly lock your body and transfer your body weight into each strike. This can be accomplished quickly with some basic exercises and on-the-mat training at a Target-Focus(TM) Training seminar.

Although it is beyond the scope of this newsletter to try to instruct this method, I will say that one way to start the process is to SLOW DOWN your free-fight sessions, hit your targets, and leave your body weapon on the target until your opponent MOVES AWAY from your body weapon.

Most people strike and quickly take their body weapon off the target. This does not allow for the force of the blow to penetrate the other guy’s body. It is the other guy that should move from the force if you want to generate maximum power. This also gives you feedback as to whether you are in balance when you strike.

You may do this at slow speeds and get the feedback without injuring your training partner. Quickly, you and your training partner can increase your speed AND deliver maximum power.

So let Hollywood entertain you with SPEED but make sure you TRAIN for POWER.

Until next time,

Tim Larkin
Creator of Target-Focus(TM) Training

PS. If you’re planning to attend a live training session, don’t put off your registration. Classes are limited. You can register today at:Live Target-Focused Training

Target Focused Training
TFT Human Weapon Defense System
Live Target-Focus Training
TFT Striking
Using Your Bodyweight as a Sledgehammer!
TFT Throwing Series.
The Art of Head Trauma:Dumps, Drops & Throws

TFT Weapons Self Defence.
Discover secrets for destroying anyone attacking you with a weapon!
Surviving The Next 5 Seconds Of My Life!
The Survival DVDs
Surviving the most critical 5 seconds of your life!
The Survival Book

Target Focused Training London Session Report

Stefano Agostini from Italy attended the recent London Live Target-Focus Training
session and just sent in this comment:

“First, I am a professional instructor of martial arts and I have 40 years experience in martial arts, combat sports, and self-defense methods.

“In my opinion, 99% of the self-defense methods around are just a bunch of b#@%#t: the only difference among them is that some are more funny and more sellable than others, and that is all…

“I had read about Tim for many years, and I usually agreed with all he writes, but I was really doubtful that he could sell such intelligent stuff: normally stupid things sell well, while intelligent ones don’t.

“Well, the seminar in London was simply brilliant: it exceeded all my expectations!”

“If that’s how this professional with 40 years of experience rated the class, imagine what your reaction will be… even if you’re a complete novice.”

And don’t forget, you’re completely protected. On the mats with our 1-of-a-kind training format that lets you “fight for your life without ever risking it.” And with our complete money-back guarantee, the only one of its kind in the self defense industry. You risk absolutely nothing.

Read all about Tims stuff on his site:

Target Focused Training
TFT Human Weapon Defense System
Live Target-Focus Training
TFT Striking
Using Your Bodyweight as a Sledgehammer!
TFT Throwing Series.
The Art of Head Trauma:Dumps, Drops & Throws

TFT Weapons Self Defence.
Discover secrets for destroying anyone attacking you with a weapon!
Surviving The Next 5 Seconds Of My Life!
The Survival DVDs
Surviving the most critical 5 seconds of your life!
The Survival Book

The Ultimate Weapon

Combat Training Principles
Secrets For Staying Alive When ‘Rules’ Don’t Apply

The Ultimate Weapon

There is one weapon that trumps all others, if not directly then at least potentially. What is it, you ask, and where can you get your hands on one? Well, the good news is you already own one. But whether or not you know how to wield it is another thing entirely…

When training people I like to ask some specific questions to better gauge where their heads are at when it comes to criminal violence, and how best to handle it. One of those questions is:

“What weapons do you have at your disposal?”

The answers tend from the obvious (items they routinely carry with them, from pepper spray, to tasers, to handguns) to the improvised (body tools like elbows and boots, as well as briefcases, umbrellas, pens, etc.).

These answers come not just from the uninitiated, but from highly trained and competent military commandos and law enforcement personnel alike.

The primary difference between the operator and the civilian is that while the civilian tends to go for common, everyday objects, the operators will usually categorize the weapons available to them as primary (rifle or submachine gun) and secondary (sidearms, knives, etc.).

Click to read about Target-Focus™ Training

To find the real answer to this ‘trick’ question, all you have to do is figure out what all of the weapons named have in common–and, indeed, what all weapons, everything from a heavy club all the way up to a nuclear warhead, have in common.

If you answered, “They’re for killing people,” I appreciate the way you think, but you’re still heading in the wrong direction on this one.

The most powerful weapon–the one that the highly trained operator and uninitiated both fail to list–is the human brain.

That’s what every weapon ever devised has in common–a common origin point. All weapons arise from the ultimate weapon, the human brain.

Unfortunately, this ultimate weapon is often overlooked in modern martial arts and combat sports where the focus tends toward the ancillary tools used by the mind–the various fists, elbows, knees and feet and the many techniques that can be done with them. The flaw is not in the tool–a fist through the throat is going to be a great start to taking care of a bad situation–but rather in where this puts your focus. If you’re training to think primarily about the end of your arm, with drill upon drill for blocking and countering what the other guy is doing, your focus is racked to the wrong position. You’re not thinking deeply enough. You need to be thinking not about the space between the two of you where you’ll attempt blocks and counters, but through the man. You need to focus on shutting off his brain. You need to be thinking inside his skull.

Training for that middle ground–and ignoring the real problem–puts you firmly on a defensive footing. You’re going to be stuck reacting to what he’s doing. In other words, you’re training yourself to let the other guy call the shots. In competition, with rules, this can work out okay. In fact, the rules tend not only to protect the defender, but also work in his or her favor.

But when there are no rules–when that other guy is a killer–you could wind up dead.

While competitive play may favor the defensive, real violence favors the one doing it.

Click to read about Target-Focus™ Training

In the ring, waiting for your opponent to overextend themselves so you can take advantage can allow you the opportunity to counter. On the street, waiting to see what happens next gets you stabbed in the neck.

And in that awful situation, if your focus is stuck in that intervening space between the two of you, you’re going to get stabbed again and again and again as you try desperately to block or counter having just been stabbed. Here, being a half-step behind on a defensive footing makes you easy meat.

In criminal violence you want to be the one doing it to the other guy, not the one getting done. And in order to make that happen you need to train your mind to focus on ACTING instead of REACTING.

Instead of a defensive, ‘wait & see’ attitude you need to cultivate a constant state of attack. You need to shift your focus from countering what he’s doing to shutting off his brain.

Use the ultimate weapon to turn the tables and make him worry about what you’re doing. Make him go defensive and try to protect himself from you.

Until next time,

Tim Larkin
Creator of Target-Focus™ Training
http://www.targetfocustraining.com

PS. If you liked this update to our original email series and would like to receive it regularly just register below.

Your Critical Combat Training Decision

Combat Training Principles – Secrets For Staying Alive When ‘Rules’ Don’t Apply

“You do things the way you train.” It’s Your Critical Decision!

You need to know something about principles — about the ‘why’ — of what you’re doing, as well as the techniques. It’s training your mind along with your body. Without it, you’re doing what everyone else is doing — just learning techniques for specific situations. So before we even consider the principles of any good fighting system or martial art, you must first answer this question:

“What is my goal for this training — to enhance my athletic competition skills or to learn to effectively deal with potentially lethal physical attacks from one or more thugs hell-bent on harming me and/or someone I love?”

It truly amazes me how many people just stumble into various martial arts or combat sports never having once considered the above question. Yet your answer to that question makes all the difference in determining whether you really get what you want from training.

Here’s why.

If you answered “for competition” – then understand you’ll find numerous martial arts and combat sports that provide excellent instruction and challenging forms of competition. There you can SAFELY match your skill level against another competitor, within agreed upon RULES and under the supervision of a judge or referee.

The combat sport athlete has my greatest respect, and you can certainly learn some very effective lessons in competitive strategy and tactics from these sports and disciplines. I know many of you may also enjoy the sometimes-extensive physical training these arts require in order to excel in competition.

Unfortunately, if “sport fighting” is your thing … if it’s your answer to my first question, well, you won’t find Target Focused Training of much use. No hard feelings. Read a little more though to understand more of the reasons “why”.

Now, let’s return to the question.

If you answered that your goal for training IS to learn to effectively deal with real life or death threats, then Target Focused Training is the right place.

There’s one more group I must address. It’s those of you who answered the question, “I want to train for BOTH athletic competition AND life or death attacks.”

Why am I concerned?

It’s simply this … YOU CAN’T DO IT!
*********************************

That’s right. And the reason is very simple:

“You do things the way you train.”

Let me repeat that — “You do things the way you train.”
***************************************

If you train in a combat sport or martial art that has rules restricting you for reasons of safety during competition, then you’ll react to a violent criminal assault …

— Restricted By Those Very Same Rules!

But understand, those rules only apply to you. Not to your assailant.

He has NO restrictions.

That’s why you must to be extremely careful when physically training for self-protection.

You see, there’s a coding process that gets ‘installed’ when training — and it’s this process that ultimately determines your responses under stress.

Examples? There are many.

But one of the more disturbing involved a major police department’s firearms training program.

The range where this city’s police officers performed their firearms training was run by a rangemaster more concerned about keeping his range clean … than keeping his officers alive!

During practice with their revolvers, the officers were required to shoot all six rounds, then eject these spent cartridges into their hands and put them into their pockets.

This ‘RULE’ was enforced because the rangemaster didn’t want his pristine range littered with empty cartridges.

Problem was — in a REAL life or death gunfight, an officer must reload his or her weapon as fast as possible. And to do that with a revolver, you obviously just dump the empty cartridges on the ground while quickly reloading with your free hand.

But surely these highly trained police officers would not let their training impact them negatively in a real situation, right?

Unfortunately, it wasn’t until 2 officers were shot dead in a gunfight that the facts were revealed …

— “You do things the way you train.”

Both dead officers were found with empty cartridges in their hands, EXACTLY as they trained on the range, even though they faced a life or death situation where those extra seconds may have been the difference.

So return to my initial question, and make your decision: “What is your goal for training?”

Until next time,

Tim Larkin
Creator of Target-Focus™ Training
http://www.targetfocustraining.com

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