Greetings, I have been watching you for a year, I practice every day. Cane,Jo, Hanbo,Tanbo.This is great😊 video .. Thank you Bill,Las Vegas I am 82 and still going.......
Four great answers and an excellent video Gary. There's an old saying: "The best fight you'll ever have is the one you don't have to...." If we come across a madman who has a firearm and is willing to use it.... well, maybe that's our fate. It happens all the time. But from 20ft, if he starts to cross the road towards you, the least you can do do is make a clear statement, "Yes you may take me down, but you're coming down with me!" It might just make them hesitate for that crucial second.... Thanks again Gary.
The best trained martial artists, are rarely required to physically defend themselves. They have the keen awareness to identify potential and probable harm situations and to avoid them before an imminent threat arises. If someone was approaching me with a firearm (especially a hand gun); hopefully, I would have seen them coming BEFORE they closed to within 20', which would have given an opportunity to run away with an irregular zig-zag pattern or disappear around a corner. Unless well trained, most handgun users are terrible shots, especially if stressed or under the influence, and complicated by trying to hit a moving target. If within 20', I would have to immediately determine, if running away or charging the assailant was worth the risk. It would all depend upon his body and gun position at that precise moment. But I pray, none of us ever have to make that decision. A key aspect of successful self-defense is to act quickly and decisively when needed, which is developed through training. My Hapikido instructor used to train us to move our bodies as fast as we could. Ed Parker, the founder of American Kenpo, was also quoted, "He who hesitates, meditates in the horizontal..."
Thank you again Master Hernandez. Excellent points! The abilities to recognize potential and escalating threats, to keep safe distance, de-escalate, and avoid physical confrontation are ALWAYS the top winning strategies. I also appreciate the 'critical' concepts of green, yellow, and red threat zones, to "stay alert and ready", to keep a body position prepared to best protect yourself at any moment, if imminent aggressive contact cannot be avoided.
Just small, deliberate movements can deter the one(s) casing me. The simple flip from one hand to the other works for me. It shows them I'm used to handling it, plus as you mentioned, not needing it for mobility. I absolutely feel relief in my knees and back when walking or standing with a cane, especially for periods over a half hour. Trying not to make oneself a target by wearing flashy attire. As you mentioned, walk with confidence. I'm 64, lift weights and eat lots of protein, so my arms and shoulders are solid. I try to look like a handful of trouble, for a potential attacker. Having that "look" helps keep potential victims on the safe side of the fence.
Great advice. The can spinning and figure 8s reminds me of the Indiana Jones movie where the bad guy in black and vail as I remember was spinning his sword at Indiana to display his expertise with the sword and Indiana pulls his revolver and shoots him. So much for intimidation! Is why I changed instructors to your school. Not fancy, but practical and straightforward.
