Get ready for summer 2014

Thought for the weekend

"It is easy to notice the faults of others

but seems to be difficult to see one's own faults

One show the faults of others like chaff winnowed in the wind

but one conceals one's own faults

as a cunning gambler conceals his dice"

Unknown poet

Our heroes

I do not fear those who exercise daily 1000 techniques, but the one who exercises daily 1000 times a technique.

     - Bruce Lee

Our friends from Bridport Sports

Bridport Sports in Bridport, East Street is definitely the place to go, if you need anything for your sports equipment. Always good choice in stock and 100% customer service. That's what counts nowadays. We from Ichinen Bridport support Bridport Sports.

It was grading time again. Two new yellow belts in town!

Last Thursday the 19th of September we held our latest belt gradings at Ichinen Bridport. This can be a nervous time for even the most experienced Jiu-Jitsu-Ka. And in this case, this was their first ever taste.

It is encouraging to see for the growth of our club, that with the help and support of all of us, students and me, Master Horst, the graduates have worked so hard on their Martial Arts journey.

Clive Ashley (Westbay) and Liam Blazey (Shipton Gorge) have both trained hard and concentrated towards this special day. The standard delivered again here at Ichinen Bridport shows the good quality and high standard of performance.

After the whole syllabus was shown by both students, they received their first Jiu-Jitsu grading certificate from Master Horst Lindenau.

All gradings are officially recognized by the AMA (http://www.amauk.co.uk/). Students obtain a certificate and the grading result will be entered in the personnel AMA record book.

Congratulation to both of you to the 5th Kyu in Jiu-Jitsu, Clive and Liam! I am proud of your achievements. My Grandmaster used to say: “In your students you recognize yourself”.

Once a year hammered

There is a transmission from ancient Japan. In a monastery near the town of Niu Sentep, where the monks studied and meditated in the most serious way all over the year. And their day begun at early hours with the bell ringing at 3.30 am and this was done every day.

All days? No! One day of the year all of the monks been aloud  to leave the monastery and experience the world outside the walls. They went to see some prostitutes and  as well they got hammered. Sounds good eh? 364 days meditation...

So, we are not ancient people anymore, we are not in Japan and we live a different life today. And therefor I thought we should give ourselves a little treat and meet up once a month beside our hard training for socializing. I like to see you all every last Friday of the month at my place, 86 North Allington, and maybe we will watch a Martial Arts movie together, have a good chat and of course some drinks! Members only!

Self defence in Bridport = Ichinen Bridport

I remember very well last year, when we had a safety seminar at West Bay with members of bar staff and doormen from Bridport. Here is a link to the post from April 2012. And I remember well what the head of the local police said about it. In other words: "Not necessary in Bridport".

And here we are. Saturday night in Bridport there was a knife incident near Mountfield. Three people got arrested, a helicoptor was involved and luckily no one got seriously hurt or injured by the knives the thugs had been carrying. You'll probably read  the whole story in the Bridport News this week.

What comes to my mind being-prepared-is-better-than-not.

These are the 10 most common (street) attacks according to law enforcement

As we say, we here at Ichinen Bridport do not want to “invent the wheel new”; therefore the following listing of common attacks will be the first set we concentrate on.

This is based on information supplied by Law Enforcement.

We set up scenarios that mirror the top 10 street attacks. Students will learn and understand the dynamics of the situation as well as the techniques that can be used to deal with these nasty most common attacks.

1. One person pushes, hands to chest, which is normally followed by the pusher striking first, to the head.
2. A swinging punch to the head.
3. A front clothing grab, one handed, followed by punch to the head.
4. A front clothing grab, two hands, followed by a head butt.
5. A front clothing grab, two hands, followed by a knee to the groin.
6. A bottle, glass, or ashtray to the head.
7. A lashing kick to the groin or lower legs.
8. A broken bottle or glass jabbed to face.
9. A slash with knife, most commonly a 3 to 4" lock blade knife or kitchen utility knife.
10. A grappling style head lock.

Learn Martial Arts 1:1

Not everybody has got the time to attend to a regular class of Martial Arts. Therefore here at Ichinen Bridport Master Horst Lindenau makes a special offer. If you are able to train during the daytime or certain hours in the evening, you can book now a private tuition with the Master directly. For times and conditions please call 07968 235486 and let's have a chat about your needs. Sessions are either held in the Bridport or Loders Dojo. Even at your home if it is suitable. Do something for your self. Learn Martial Arts.

Photo: Master Horst Lindenau and students at Jacobs University 2008

Commando test

The "commando challenge" of the Royal Marines is something we want to join in this year. So get ready for the bog one on the 5th and 6th of October this year. We from Ichinen Bridport try to get a team of five together, but still looking for volunteers from outside the club to join us and support us on the days. the commando challenge will be held at Woodbury in Devon. More information about it at the official web page http://www.commandochallenge.co.uk/

Meditation with Master Horst

ADVISE FOR STUDENTS

Don’t think that one training you attend in the week will make you fit. Fit enough to challenge the aim you have sat yourself. To become a martial artist, a warrior, a fighter in life you will have to master the discipline.
Therefore you can (should) do the following:

1. Make sure you attend at each single lesson. Give yourself the discipline to do so. There is only one reason not to come to the class, when your mother dies! I gave up martial arts training during my way through life for certain reasons several times. And I regret it! Reasons like, a new fiancee, work, interest in other things and as well of cause too lazy! Unfortunately I did not have the master to tell me what I tell you now.

2. Establish daily routine with some kind of exercise. I change between press ups, sit-ups, chin-ups on the bar.

3. Do breathing methods. More information about that you can find on our blog and there are lots of good books available and we learn it too in the class.

4. You don’t gain enough physical fitness by one class per week. So try to attend to another venue, which fits in your weekly routine. This can be swimming, another kind of sport.

5. My biggest idol, Master Bruce Lee said: “Jogging is the best method to get and stay fit.” Do it. It doesn’t cost anything.

6. Pick up meditation. Mind over matter. There are new appointments for meditation with Master Horst Lindenau available now at Ichinen Bridport.

Picture: Meditation chamber at Symondsbury School of Art at 1994. This room was part of the Japanese Zen Garden, which was created by Master Horst and his students.

You need to drink!

As we really enjoy this hot summer, our training sessions in the Dojo can become quite tough sometimes. Especially when the thermometer climbs up towards 30°. But as I say, stop moaning, what shall all those Jiujitsukas say they live in countries, where it is always hot as now here just over the summer?

So as we train more or less the same way than on ordinary days, the body needs definite more liquid to drink. And here the best you can do is, just drink clear plain water. Bring a bottle of water or use the tap water in the hall. You do not need any so called energy drinks or special designed "sport drinks" They are useless and only suck your money. Cheers water!

New at Ichinen Bridport

As from the 6th of June the Jiu-Jitsu training at Ichinen Bridport now is extended for half an hour. The regular class still is from 7-8.30pm followed by half an hour training for those they like to stay on. We will use these 30 minutes extra time to do things, they usually come short in the regular session like preparing intensiv for a grading, study katas or randori.

Stone of recognition

Ah!

Dress code at Ichinen Bridport

As we train the traditional Art of Jiu-Jitsu, we wear generally a Jiu-Jitsu Gi, which is much the same than a Judogi. Usually a white one, but as from blue belt level upwards it is fine to wear the black one too. Black is more suitable for the outdoor sessions, a blue belt student and higher has to perform.
The Gi is held together by a belt. The student colours are:
white, yellow, orange, green, blue, brown. The Master shows a black belt.
Additional we use light boots to protect the feet and too for hygiene reasons. Those they haven't the boots yet, should wear black socks or train bare feet.
For the warming up we use a black T-shirt. Any decoration, like finger rings, ear rings etc. need to be removed before the class or covered with a plaster (ear rings) if not removable.

There is no need to mention, that the uniform has to be kept clean and in good order at all times. It's fair towards your friends on the mat and a good sign of discipline.

On the left side of the jacket we show the AMA badge.

Of cause any beginners may train in any suitable sports wear. You only need the Gi when you start for your first grading.

New location for our training in Bridport

We are lucky and can move our Jiu-Jitsu training now "downtown". Although Loders isn't this far away from Bridport, it seems a location closer to town or in this case in the town center of Bridport is more suitable for many people.

So, from now on we are in the British Legion Hall, Victoria Grove, Bridport.

Training starts at 7.00pm and finishes at 8.30pm every Thursday.

And I like to say, we have been before that at Loders in the Loders Village Hall. And we had a great time there. The hall is very much suitable for all sorts of events and of cause Martial Arts. And I like to give a special thanks to Pam, who always locked after us in a professional and friendly way. Thank you Pam from the whole Jiu-Jitsu group.

See you in the British Legion Hall next Thursday!

We need you!

Get fit for the   Summer*

* With the Martial Art of Jiu-Jitsu

* Self Defense education at its best!

* For all man and women over 16 years

* Only 3.99 an hour

                  * New course starts 2^ndof May

                     * Phone 01308-459781

* Training given by a professional sports teacher (BAE)

   and Black Belt with 24 years teaching experience

          * Thursday 7–8.30pm British Legion Hall

                                        Bridport

*Beginners very welcome!

"The philosophy of our Jiu-Jitsu is to keep the mind always open and to practice all sorts of systems in order to get the essence of it. Anyone who focuses only on one star is in danger of missing the entire universe."
Master Horst Lindenau 2013

This picture shows two fighter demonstrating the system "Atemi Combat". A radical and direct self defense technique. Atemi was taught in the  WCA (world Combat Association), where Master Horst Lindenau used to be a member for two years and was graduated as a second Dan in Atemi Combat.

It's for sure useful and good to become a 1. Dan in a specific system first, to have a solid base for further studies. But after that do not hesitate to learn as much as you can from other systems too.

Photo: Atemi Combat Master Enno Voigt and Frank Burdorf (Germany) show an arm lock. Both Masters have started their Martial Arts career with Master Horst. Frank was the very first student trained to Master degree by Master Horst.

How do you manage fear in a self defense situation?

What is fear is. “Fear is an emotional response to stimuli either external or internal. Fear has certain physiological responses such like increased heart rate and/or increased respiration.”
There are various mental responses to fear as freezing up. Not being able to move at all, though your mind may be telling to run, block or fight!

Anger and fear are very closely related. A reaction to fear of anger will at the very least help you to survive better than freezing up, but it could also inhibit your thought processes and get you even more in trouble.
If you trained to react on fear, your body relaxes, your mind focuses. Adrenaline increases your strength and speed making you a capable individual.

There are two ways of training to use fear. Place yourself in life threatening situations on a regular basis. I don’t really mean it. Or place yourself in life threatening situations on a regular basis mentally. This method has the advantage of extending your training career while at the same time possibly saving your life.
Many martial artists spend their lives learning to block and strike. Going through situation after situation. Attacks from the front attacks from behind, from the side, multiple attackers.

Some martial artists don't even practice these scenarios. Assuming the same defensive reaction from the front will work from the side and from attacks from behind. Some martial arts instructors when asked "what if" by their students will simply say, "just don't put yourself in that position". If that were the answer there would be no need to take self-defense at all.

For those martial artists who do practice situational self-defense training, many of you are not allowing for the mental aspect of a physical attack.
Mental preparedness for a physical attack, I believe, is very much the same important than the physical side of preparing for an attack. Why do you think it is that a trained martial artist would fear a seasoned street fighter. Because the street fighter has been in REAL fights. The few tricks he has picked up to win a street brawl have actually been executed by him under the mental stress of a life and death situation Most martial artists, fortunately, have not had this misfortune.

But let us look back at the physiological effects of fear again. Increased heart rate and respiration were two major physiological responses to fear. A tensing of voluntary muscle groups is another, more so in the untrained individual.

So first a slight tension of voluntary muscle groups. Now increase your breathing. Short shallow breaths are best to emulate this physiological response.

Now to the Mental Aspect

You need a padded up live partner. For this drill I would often take an air shield and tie it to the front on an advanced student. Than your partner must do some acting as well. He must look both in the face and body language as though they intend to hit you and hurt you. Even emulating the foul language you might hear from an attacker in an attempt to intimidate you would help.

Now you put it in your mind that your partner is not your partner. He's a stranger that intends on doing you harm, mugging you, raping, beating you senseless and unless you defend yourself and hit just as hard as you can and don't get hit yourself that's just what's going to happen.

Start with a prearranged attack and counter-attack, but, put it out of your mind that you actually know what's going to happen. Feel the fear and tension before the attack, then block or evade like you mean it, like your life depends on it and counter attack.

Now put some pads on and remove the air shield. Do one step variations again. Same mental stress of a real situation, but strike anywhere and pull the technique so you don't hurt your partner.

Ready to Become More Dangerous?

Start again with all of your self-defense drills. Emulate your fear for at least 10 seconds to put yourself in a life threatening mental attitude. Than relax your muscles and breathing. Now start again and add a mental aspect to begin working with your fear and stress. Begin again with your drills and this time take your fear and turn it into anger. It's not the final solution yet, but it will give you a better chance of survival than being frozen in place solid.

Turning fear into anger takes practice, but is actually not that hard to accomplish. As I said earlier the two emotions are very similar. Basically this can be accomplished with an example such as this:
Instead of, "Oh my gosh, this guy wants to hurt me!" Your better response to this would be: What? This nut lowlife scum wants to hurt me???

Now add your rapid breathing to this and slight muscular tension and remember: YOU'RE ANGRY!
Now do your steps to relax and attempt to control your breathing while remaining angry. This training method, when done properly, will take a lot out of you. I do not recommend using this method all of the time, but definitely put it in your training schedule and practice the method on a regular basis.



Photo: Stone of courage, former Symondsbury Zen Garden

Pussy Galore

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pussy_Galore
That's for those they want to find out more.
Honor Blackman's book of self defense, mind you, it's from 1965! By that time I could not proceed with my Judo lessons, as my father wouldn't buy me a Gi and pay the fee. So I was left in the street instead.

But that was good. Could I find out that way, what the real thing was. Not just sport and fairness. But if I compare the style from those days with modern time violence and fighting techniques, there is hardly any compare. In Honor Blackman's book of self defense you can find the odd moves, sure they work(ed), but today it is a different cup of tea. Streetfighting and the ugly nasty appoach with it has changed. And so have our ideas about self defense at Ichinen Bridport. But if you like, have a little stroll in the past direct to Pussy Galore.