Month: July 2010

I train ten of the Children’s Center of Austin Faculty every Monday and Wednesday from 1230-130 pm. They are now in their fourth month of training. The ladies have offered diligence, dedication, and passion. Most of the ladies in the class have little or no martial arts background. To say that I am impressed at what they accomplish every single class is an understatement. They train with the work ethic and focus of seasoned martial artists. I think all ten would agree they’ve experienced changes to their physical selves, endurance, general fitness, and they’ve become more confident. That’s what martial arts does- breeds confidence, improved fitness, and mental strength. If martial arts were an easy and glorious journey, then everyone in the world would do it, and do it often. However, martial arts puts you in the position of learning a brand new skill set, refining and fixing that skill set, adding new layers and tools to the skill set, and making one realize that she is much more gifted and talented then she ever thought possible. Teaching someone to fight is an extremely primal tool, a tool that leads to spiritual and mental enhancement. Teaching someone to fight breeds confidence and security. It breeds public awareness. These are just a few of the benefits of joining a proper martial arts program.

Back to the ten teachers. I salute you. You’ve made this twice a week class exciting, fun, and enjoyable for me. You are now in the zone, where you learn more complicated combat strikes and self defense drills more easily. All ten of you are more confident, more secure, and truly represent the martial spirit. Plus, you’re enjoying the classes and the process.  Learning how to fight should be challenging, fun, and reciprocal. Once again Ten Ladies of the Children’s Center of Austin- you are doing a fantastic job. Now- upon completion of reading this blog entry- give me 59 squats, 2o pushups, 3o crunches, then partner up and give me 40 knee strikes!

Cheers,
Jett

What is a paper tiger? A paper tiger is a martial arts school and or instructor that is afraid to engage in sparring outside of their own dojo. The term was shared with me last night at black belt sparring by a fellow black belt, who’s son trains at Jett Garner Martial Arts.  Here is the deal- Jett Garner Martial Arts hosts black belt sparring every Friday at our dojo in Westlake. We usually have a turn out of six to twelve black belts from all over Austin. Recently, I felt the Friday Night Fights have been getting a little stale. So, I took the time to invite other black belts from other programs to join us. Every single invitation was turned down. Why? Jett Garner Martial Arts doesn’t have a poor ‘Cobra Kai- esque’ reputation. Because until recently weren’t very visible.  Jett Garner Martial Arts doesn’t participate in the Texas Weekend Sparring circuit because we’re not impressed by what it has to offer in terms of the martial arts growth.  So, it cannot be a poor reputation decision amongst these invitees.

The answer is paper tiger. Many schools preach and teach self improvement and a higher existence. But, once the instructors, owner/operators stop pushing themselves, cease their own cycles of evolution, then the school will follow. Our Friday night sparring is fun, challenging, and consists of a brotherhood that is hard to find anywhere else in life. The opportunity to practice techniques, and learn from more experienced fighters is priceless. Sure, we occasionally get hurt. Not often, but we do suffer the rare black eye, or bruised ribs, or sprained ankle. But, if you take the amount hours we spar, calculate the amount of techniques thrown in total hours, then look at the amount of injuries someone has had in the course of five years- well one in a million techniques leads to a small injury. Injuries that are more like badges of honor than anything else.

Paper tigers. Again, our reputation in the Westlake community is sound. Until 2010 we purposely flew below the radar as we just wanted quality not quantity. Now we want both. However, we haven’t been visible enough long enough to suffer a poor reputation amongst fellow martial art schools. My students have expressed an interest in having a friendship tournament with another school. The operative and key word is friendship. It could be fun and a great chance for two schools to come together, share, and learn. Again, I set out to contact about two dozen schools in Austin and was turned down by every school. Most of the schools did practice and believe in the value of sparring. Most of the the invited schools held the same core values about sparring that Jett Garner Martial Arts embrace. So, why the cold shoulders? Why did two dozen schools say no to a friendship tournament. This paper tiger attitude is certainly not unique to Austin, Texas. It is extremely prevalent amongst many martial arts schools.

I am confident in my own abilities as a Sensei, and as a student of martial arts. I am confident in my students. I am confident in their skills, in their mind set, and their level of sparring control. As school owner and as a student of martial arts I continually want to learn, grow, and experience other styles, techniques, ect. This is part of my evolution and the evolution of our students.  So, it doesn’t seem unappealing or nervy to want to spar with other black belts from other styles. It’s an opportunity to learn, share, and grow. We don’t want to host a friendship tournament with another school so we can go ‘cobra kai’. No, we want to learn, share, and grow.

Paper tigers. I believe this phenomenon exists out of fear. Fear that we may not be that good. Fear that we may lose a student. Fear that one might get injured. Fear that one might throw a hissy fit because he was hit too hard. Fear is not what martial arts is about. Martial arts is about perpetual evolution and conquering one’s fears. So, paper tigers open your minds. Challenge yourselves and your students. Share, learn, and grow.

Cheers,
Jett

Sparring is an excellent way to get in shape and learn to enforce your will upon another trained fighter. It also allows you to deal with a fight scenario with understood and known rules, without risking too much bodily harm. However, with sparring the occasional injury will occur. Does being a good sparring fighter or tournament fighter mean you will be a good street fighter? Absolutely not. Defending yourself on the street versus sparring in the dojo are as different as cats and tigers. Some vague similarities with a common genesis long ago, however the similarities stop there.

At Jett Garner Martial Arts in Westlake, we constantly discuss sparring techniques versus self defense techniques. We learn and practice drills and techniques specific to tournament fighting. We learn and practice drills specific techniques to street self defense.

Many schools across the globe refuse to spar and or allow their students to spar. The theory being the tournament fighting is not within the genesis of why martial arts were developed throughout the world by various cultures. To some degree I support this theory. If you were to take the time to visit most state side weekend tournament leagues, you will notice great athletes, with bad technique, and to some degree even worse attitudes. You will notice gloating in victory, hanging the head in shame of defeat, and arguing with high ranking judges about missed calls, ect. This list is not what martial arts is about. If it seems like the local little league, with parents standing on the sideline coaching their kids, well then it is little league- ish martial arts.

However, there is a happy medium to be struck between real world self defense, self improvement, and sparring.  I’m happy to say that at JGMA we have found the balance. As mentioned earlier, we constantly speak two languages at Jett Garner Martial Arts. Street fighting techniques and strategies versus tournament fighting techniques and strategies. My students know the difference. In sparring I demand that my kids learn how to be offensive, defensive, and everything in between. In sparring our students execute proper punches, proper kicks, and proper defenses that could serve them well should the gloves come off. In other words you will not see Jett Garner Martial Arts students throwing sloppy open handed back fits. There techniques have focus and drive. However, ultimately they must incorporate sound control, in order to protect themselves and their sparring partners.  Our students certainly know the difference between ring fighting and street fighting.

Sparring is a fantastic tool to practice a small portion of your tool box in a controlled and fun atmosphere. But, there is stress involved. The stress allows the martial artist to learn how to relax under pressure, and grow. The bottom line is this- proper sparring is as close as we can get to the pressure, speed, and stress of a street fight. However, the rules foster safety. It’s no different than striking pads that don’t swing back, or executing a front choke defense in class, when you know that you’re about to be choked. One must find a school that practices all areas of martial arts. Not just kata. Not just sparring. Not just conditioning. Not just self defense. Find a school the practices the entire spectrum. Then you will truly be preparing for an unknown attack by an unknown assailant at an uncertain time and place, that may or may not ever happen.

Cheers,
Jett

People ask me all of the time about the differences between our Krav Maga and my traditional Goju-ryu Karate program. There are some massive philosophical differences. This would take an entire essay to sort through. But, even more stunning than the differences are the similarities. I see massive similarities between Martial Arts and religion. Most of the mainstream religions I have studied or practiced have differences in philosophy, differences in traditions, but ultimately have the same goals. Those goals include living as a good person, with good values, avoiding sin, and hopefully living eternally with God after one’s death. Martial Arts has the same differences. Different names, different philosophies, different techniques, different drills, but ultimately have the same goals of fitness, self defense, building stronger humans, ect. So, for the similarities it is quite easy. Like religion,  a martial arts reflects the cultures and society in which said martial arts was founded and developed. As a Krav instructor and as a karate instructor I simply want to make a student stronger, fitter, and safer. Those are the goals. Now back to the differences between the two art forms. How do I marry the differences between the two styles that we offer at Jett Garner Martial Arts? My basic philosophy is I am a better traditional karate instructor because of my experiences with Krav Maga. I am certainly a better Krav Maga Instructor because of my thirteen years in Traditional Karate. There are things that are different about each system that I can respect and appreciate.  When two techniques and philosophies directly oppose each other I simply study evaluate and decide which one I like best for myself. That being said, I stick to the curriculum. Krav Maga students learn the Krav Maga way regardless of my personal opinions. However, I may offer my traditional insight should someone ask. My Traditional Karate students learn the Traditional Curriculum, and I will offer the ‘Krav Maga  point of view. For example, Krav Maga does not offer a back fist in their system. A back fist is a very important technique in Goju- Ryu. Traditional Students will learn the back fist, and Krav students will not. Krav Maga believes it is a risky technique as you take the back of the fist to the head. I understand their view, but I also know for a fact that a backfist to the nose does work, and it is a relatively simply technique for anyone to learn and utilize. But, I don’t allow these differences to impact my instruction in either program. I accept the philosophies of both, I acknowledge the differences, and I do my best to teach my people, regardless of the program, to the best of my ability within the context of the designed curriculum. But remember, the similarities between the two systems is astonishing especially when you consider that Goju-Ryu Kartate was formed in Okinawa during the early 1900’s and the beginnings of Krav Maga  was developed in the alleys of Europe during World War Two, then finalized and evolved in Israel. Ultimately, both styles are excellent, both are different, both are similar, and both want each student to be stronger, faster, better, and safer.

Jett Garner Martial Arts has had an opportunity to train with an active United States Marine during the last few weeks. He is on temporary leave as he and his wife are expecting a baby any day now. As most Marines, he has a desire to keep busy, fit, and engaged so to speak while on leave. So, for the last three to four weeks he has been training at JGMA.  He is ultra aggressive, very diligent, extremely committed to whatever drill we practice, and possesses a passion for kicking butt in class. This is the very mentality that we at JGMA try to attain for all of our students. He will be off to active duty soon, and no longer available to train with us. But, it gives me great comfort knowing that he, like most Marines, is committed to being their very best in all phases of combat. In class he once stated that, ” a fit man is a harder man to kill”.  Now, I don’t want to reduce the life and job of a soldier to a martial arts program in Austin. They risk life and limb everyday they are on the job. But, being fit, is a massive component to being prepared should the stuff ever hit the fan. Should one ever be engaged in street combat in Austin, or anywhere in this country, fitness and aggression are two of the most vital components. Secondly, a person who is fit and confident in his defensive abilities should be the last person a predator preys upon. I’m not saying that a confident and excellent martial artists will never be a target, but we’re in the business of reducing risks, and handling risks should one be confronted with real danger. Back to the Marine- it has been a treat for all of us to see how hard this man works in class. He has motivated his fellow students and motivated me as the instructor.  He will be missed by JGMA. However, it gives us all great comfort knowing that this is the type of Marine the USA is putting in place to protect this country. Whether you support the Middle East war or not is not the point of this entry. The point is, regardless of politics, the United States is still producing the finest soldiers in the world. They have a job to do, and they do it to the best of their ability. They love their country and they love their job. We are a better country because of the men and women who serve and have served this country.  So, JGMA would like to salute all soldiers of all generations, and we want to give a special salute to a Marine named Steve, whom has provided us with so much inspiration over the last few weeks.  Be safe my man, and congratulations to you and your family on the new baby boy.

Lastly, martial arts is preparation for battle. The difference between the preparations of a martial artist and a soldier is this- A soldier is likely to be entrenched in battle and are at risk every single day they are on the job. A martial artist simply prepares for an unknown predator at an unknown time and place, that may never show up so to speak. But, we still prepare for the battle. We should still train with the diligence and passion of a soldier.  Martial Arts schools everywhere should be blessed to have the occasional active duty soldier train within their halls.

We’ve entered our third month of being an Official Krav Maga Training Center. So far so good. Growth is good. The truly outstanding feature of this three month endeavor is the awesome work ethic of the Westlake Krav Maga students, and the level of commitment and passion they bring to their training. We’re slightly smaller than I had hoped we’d be by mid-July, however the quality of the members whom have signed up is extremely impressive.  We improve with every class. We get more fit and more confident with every class. We train harder with every class. Keep it up!!!!

Jett