Defending yourself successfully requires more than simply thinking you’re tough. It requires knowledge of what to do, how to do it, when to do it and even when not to act. Neutralizing an adversary with a punch requires more than pumping your fists or flailing your arms. To have a powerful punch mandates knowing the physics of power, how to construct a fist that won’t collapse on impact and much more.
When having to seriously injure an attacker is your only option to survival, all things being equal, the first target is the eyes. Drum this into your psyche: eyes, eyes, eyes! No one who gets hit in the eyes enjoys the experience, quite the contrary. Eye strikes with the fingers, pens, pencils, credit cards or other implements with either points or edges will all be devastating to an attacker.
He’s young, determined and … cute. He’s our new “Sai Guy,” Aidan the “Smasher.” So many of our current 63 Black Belts of the Kiado-Ryu began at a young age and grew to be talented martial artists. Aidan is a fine young man. His brother, Tristan, aka, “Raptor,” will be our 64th Black Belt sometime this year. He, too, started at a young age and has grown into an exemplary individual, thanks to his wonderful parents.
As every Karate Institute of America and King’s Karate student knows, to be successful in a self-defense situation, as well as keeping yourself safe, it is important to have a working knowledge of body targets—those areas of the body which, when impacted, yield devastating results. Knowing where to strike is just as important as knowing how to strike. Our “Body Targets” DVD illustrates the best targets on the human body and how to strike them for maximum effect.
Ah, yes! It is true—the pen is mightier than the sword … when used literarily. Indeed, words, via the pen, have changed the world. Case in point, the Declaration of Independence. But the pen has other practical and beneficial uses, one being an implement of self-defense. Our photo of the week features “The Pen Cushion” to make a graphically visual statement, which is that the pen is an impaling weapon when used appropriately and correctly.
“UNLIKELY WEAPONS” are common everyday implements you can use as self-defense tools to protect yourself and your loved ones. King’s Karate Unlikely Weapons, Volume 1 will teach you the dynamic power of simple pens, pencils, keys, clipboards, books, magazines and more. It is available on Amazon. It can also be ordered from our King’s Karate website in various formats. Check it out. Having this knowledge will give you the power of confidence!
90 YEAR OLD BLACK BELT! Dr. Milton Jacobson, aka “Super Zedha” just turned 90 years old on Christmas Day! Happy Birthday Dr. J.! Milt Jacobson, the 3rd of currently 63 KIA Black Belts, began his Karate Institute of America journey at age 54. He earned his first dan Black Belt ranking at age 60! And he’s still going strong at age 90, thirty years later. Milt is quite an inspiration, and he certainly leads by example.
Passages & Principles Martial Arts are more than life. This week we reveal the Passages & Principles taught at the Karate Institute of America and in the Kiado-Ryu system of martial arts. Each in its own way gives substance to our students in multiple ways. They are as much a part of the KIA way of life as the martial skills they support.
Having fun during their all-too-brief visit to California, the three Griffins show off their impressive high kick skills. From right to left are “Scholar,” “Badger” and “Gunner.” Obviously Scholar is setting the bar for her younger siblings. We’ll certainly miss these wonderful young people. They are quite talented, eager to learn, smart, respectful, dedicated and courageous—just like their other family members, especially aunt Anna “Wildcat” and uncle James “Psycho.” It was an honor to have them attend classes during their visit and we hope we will be able to work with them again in the future.
Anna “Wildcat” Griffin practices her knife-edge kicks during her recent visit to Southern California. Anna began her Karate Institute of America studies at age eleven. She became the 55th Black Belt of the Kiado-Ryu in 1998. After traveling abroad to Europe, she received her Masters Degree in German and served in the U.S. Army in a combat division. Humble by nature, Wildcat is one tough soldier and martial artist. She is a true hero.