To all, Enforced Breaks Perhaps it’s not a secret as much as a principle. Training daily and especially, returning to a regular regimen is vital. I am bringing this up now that the holidays are moving behind us. When I was younger I could take time off on occasion and not seem to miss it. But as I got older, I found that if I missed workouts, it was harder to get back into it. This was emphasized when I had gone through a holiday spell of not working out. I finally learned that I had to schedule breaks at specific times of the year. For example; I’d work out for a few months and then take a week off. This enforced pause made getting back into the swing of things easier. Instead of having years of training standing in front of me, I’d only have a few months. Granted, when I was full of energy and enthusiasm, this was of little value. But when I was tired and not feeling up to my usually self, this trick helped get going. And once I was going, I was fine and I’d continue. This isn’t at all unusual and I have found that many people work and workout this way. But when I was first learning, this wasn’t something I’d have ever seriously considered. Well, I’ve lived and learned. Regards, MrE2Me2

Enforced Breaks
That is a great tip. I too have been feeling burnt out as of late due to work load and the holiday season. I have been forcing myself to train at home since our school closed for the holidays, but without any enthusiasm it can make training very hard and labourous.

Hello Pak Sau, I’m gad that you liked the idea. When you posted,” but without any enthusiasm it can make training very hard and labourous.” I could relate. Regards, MrE2Me2 To all, One of the things that I really enjoyed when I first learned Moh was the structure. There were principles for things and things fit when and where they were supposed to. At least, in the ideal stage they would. :-D A good example of this is the concept of position play. I was taught that good position play was left lead against left lead (or right against right). While bad position play was left against right or right against left. The idea that there were certain advantages inherent in this hadn’t occurred to me before. That this concept could be utilized with others was really quite stunning (to a white belt). In good position play I could use a lead leg front kick to the open side of an opponent. Or I could use a rear leg front kick to that same open side if I was in bad position play. Circled to the open side of an opponent in good position play represented specific risks. While using that same step on someone in bad position play was also dangerous. Yet it was dangerous in a specifically different way. Practice these specific examples of broad concepts made them real to me. It wasn’t enough that they were good ideas and theories. That was certainly a good place to start but it had to be real. The way I was taught Moh made them real to me. And they were real in that way when I taught one former student. She found herself facing a large drug addict holding a knife in his rear hand. As I had taught her to do, she circled away from the power side. She did this while watching for spinning attacks. (Then she got smart and threw her purse with a fin in it at him and he ran.) Regards, MrE2Me2

To all, One of the things that I like about Moh Kempo is its wide variety. I can adapt what I know enough to deal with many diverse situations. For example: If I’m confronted with a brawler, I can keep him at a distance. While if I’m dealing with a difficulty on treacherous terrain, I can stand and fight. In either case I’m able to achieve and maintain control. I was taught that there are basically three times to take control of a situation. These are before the other guy moves, as the other guy moves or after he has moved. These three times make it easier to be versatile. Another way to look at this would be in this manner. First off; I have to be aware of the danger posed. Then, if I control the distance and time I engage my opponent then I’m in control. And while control is not victory, it can go a long way towards that goal. Regards, MrE2Me2

To all, (L.O.L.! It's Wednesday, Feb 7 and I just double checked my work online. Sorry for the mislabeling :-D ) One of my more favorite books is a sci fi action tale called, “The Musashi Flex”. It is by a former Kajukenbo student who now practices Penjat Silat. His name is Steve Perry and I think he writes very well. This particular book is partially about dueling and it has a lot of martial arts action. One of the protagonists attempts to get an “unfair” advantage. By being a full beat ahead of the opposition, he would be the de facto winner (he hopes). Reading an opponent is mentioned in this book. But it has been my experience in real time that all too often, it is merely given lip service. The whole idea of zones in Moh Kempo was to make it easier to Read an Opponent. By knowing what someone could do, it made it easier to be ready and more in control. Basic Vertical Defensive Zones I was taught to divide the body into 3 basic horizontal defensive zones. From the top of the head to the top of the shoulders is the first one. Then from the top of the shoulders to the top of the hips is the middle one. And the bottom one is from the top of the hips to the ground. Side by Side Vertical Defensive Zones The centerline divides the horizontal zones into left and right sides. I have learned to think of the centerline as a middle zone between left and right. That would make it about four inches wide. For practice, this “center” zone allows me to maintain pressure upon my opponent. It also overlaps the left and right sides. Another way to think of it is that the left side ends two inches to the right of the sternum. While the right side ends two inches to the left of the sternum. Distances I am adding the concept of distances here. How far I am from my opponent can help me read what they may or may not do. For instance; throwing a fore elbow thrust at full distance is not usually effective (unless it’s a block). Ground range is not my favorite although I have fought here. Chest to chest is another range that I’ll try and stay away from. Quarter distance is good for elbows and short uppercuts, etc. Half distance is where I have the feeling I can reach out and touch someone without moving. Three quarter distance is a foot length back from half distance and is good for hand and foot strikes. Full distance is two foot lengths back from half distance and good for kicks or stepping strikes. Weapons ranges are almost an entire category unto themselves (so I’ll leave them for later). As well and for much the same reason, I have left out the concept of Hidden Distance. I have already posted about open and closed as well as position play and its importance. So I won’t go into those here. When I teach, I usually start a beginner out at kicking range. One of the hardest concepts for them to grasp is that they are in danger at that range. One can, of course, add the concept The High, Low Center Reach principle. This makes it easier to map out what an opponent can do (Reading an Opponent). Regards, MrE2Me2