After taking a break for vacation and birthdays, i'm back to my normal schedule. Tonight we did a 50 minute high stress warm up (woohoo!) followed by front scissor (full guard) escape and then some basic hold escapes using the yawara stick.

I also put some flyers up on the community bulletin boards at a few local grocery stores. I'll go around some more this week and put some more up in the area.

class was awesome tonight. We got some new focus mits and muay thai pads so I put them to good use.

Ran through breakfalls 1-6, and 8.

We then shifted to boxing. 4x2min rounds, jabs, crosses, hooks, upper cuts.

Using the thai pads, we did front kick both legs and knee kicks.

We then worked bear hugs from the front, over and under arms, and lifting.

I then got Colby and Trevor doing hip throws. Once the hip throws were flowing relatively smoothly, we started with uke throwing a hook, tori defends with a high forarm block, steps in for the hip throw, knee drop, stamping kick, and then into the supine arm bar.

Helped Sensei Mariedke with an Introduction to Self Protection seminar at her work.

No adults showed up, so I helped Sensei Mariedke with the junior's class. We covered roundhouse kicks, knee kicks, and the first 8 movements of te waza.

Weight training session at lunchtime today. I'm not as sore as I was when i resumed on Friday. I worked on a lot of jiu jitsu-related exercises also: bridging, kicking, and other core exercises along with the usual weight training.

Tonight was a somewhat disappointing class: it was the first class after the Easter break and I was really pumped to work with the guys on some new techniques. Only two of the juniors showed up tonight. I worked with Sensei Mariedke with the juniors reviewing breakfalls, knee and front kicks, wrist grabs, and 2 hands on the throat (close).

After class was finished, we washed the mats and called it an evening.

Today I held a basic intro to self protection seminar for my co-workers. We had about 18-20 people attend. The lesson plan was as follows:

Date March 19, 2008
XSensor Technology Corporation

Introduction of Instructors:
Tim Gorjanc, 1st Dan Jiu-Jitsu, 8 years experience

Other Instructors in attendance:
Mariedke Dalman, 2nd Dan Jiu Jitsu, 8 years experience
This one hour class will be considered a: SELF-PROTECTION SEMINAR!

SEMINAR: Short intense course of study.

SELF DEFENSE Vs SELF PROTECTION
SD: allow attack to happen before reacting
SP: be proactive in preventing the attack from happening – i.e. not walking down dark alley

• In the real world attacks happen in a split second and can be random and unprovoked (on drugs, etc). You must act with confidence and conviction.

• We use the principle of commonality of techniques - one technique for everything. this prevents “brain stalls” when you are in a high stress situation.

• Difference between martial art and martial sport. Embrace “dirty” techniques. No Rules, Only Results. The techniques you will learn are man-stoppers

• Being alert at all times will prevent you from being caught off guard.

• Learn to use your eyes and ears. Trust your instincts.

• Don’t be a victim – physical and mental state of mind and body.

• If attacked, use the mentality that someone has just assaulted your child.

Cooper Colour Code of Awareness: white-yellow-orange-red
White: unaware
Yellow: aware & relaxed <- should be in this state
Orange: in danger, threat evaluation, decision to take action
Red: in a conflict, fight or flight, carry out decision.

Be aware of your surroundings (exit paths) and potential threats – not paranoid.

You will practice gross motor skills: hands, knees and feet to specific anatomy targets which are proven to be effective maximum effectiveness. These are large targets that do not require pinpoint accuracy which you will not have under a high stress situation

The 3-minute rule:
If I can’t teach a technique to you in 3 minutes or less and you can’t emulate it in 3 minutes or less.


Techniques
1. Defensive stance.

2. Moving in the defensive stance.

3. Shadowboxing using jab and cross with open hand strikes.

4. Open hand slaps to the side of the head & palm heels to the jaw (with partners – touch pressure only!)

(break class in half and then switch)
5a. Open hand slaps on interlaced hand pads (Let Me Go Now!!!!)
5b. Open hand jab and cross on focus mitts (Let Me Go Now!!!!)

(break class in half and then switch)
6a. Front kick on medicine ball (Let Me Go Now!!!!)
6b. Shin kicks on large shield (Let Me Go Now!!!!)

7. Knee kicks on large shield (Let Me Go Now!!!!)

I hope you enjoyed yourself and have learned some self protection principles.

I hope that you never have to use any these techniques, but if you ever do you will have the ability to nullify the situation and escape unharmed.

Questions/Comments