Today I am grateful for living in a free country.

Today I am grateful for a caring professor to help my journey into the physical therapy world (still at least 2-3 years away before I qualify to apply).

Also grateful for a caring family.

Also grateful for a very cool email from Guro Marc.

I am grateful for many things.

Grateful for the summer break between classes.

Grateful for public computers at the libraries until my PC can be resurrected.

Source: ABC News


This happened over the weekend in Northern California.

Store clerk involved in shootout honored by community

Source: http://kstp.com/article/stories/s430496.shtml?cat=86

Greetings Matt,

I have both DLO 1 and 2. 

The material in DLO 1 is awesome.  This is a 3 DVD set.  The first 2 are packed the info on a two day seminar.  The 3rd DVD has bonus material with interviews of Gabe Suarez and Marc "Crafty Dog" Denny.

Do you have a training buddy? One thing to have the knowledge in your head, it's another thing to have your body do the moves.  Your training partner can help you here.  You will definitely want to test out the material.  You need to know you can do the techniques before you encounter a bad situation.  Nothing is guaranteed.  You are trying to increase your probability to survive.

The reason I got the DLO series:

1) Marc "Crafty Dog" Denny (it's his name and reputation on the line).  I have met the man and respect his skill and knowledge.

2) The reviews I read from LEOs (law enforcement officers).

3) I wanted to learn a default application to deal with a knife in the real world.

I am currently in finals so I did not finish watching DLO 2.  The little I have seen impressed me.  I have not heard of Gabe Suarez until this DVD. 

I'm in the process of writing a review of DLO 1 for another internet forum and will be finished after my finals.

I am grateful for study buddies since my finals are coming up.

Here's a post by Southnarc on Managing Unknown Contacts:

http://www.totalprotectioninteractive.com/forum/showthread.php?t=770

You have to register at their site which is quick, but you can't see the pictures until an admin ok's your profile which can take a few days.

You can still get a good idea from Southnarc's posts.

My knowledge of knife work is very limited.

The straight blade - grab and stab

Karambit - harder to disarm.  Very effective slash.  I was told this was used to surprise your opponent, but any hidden blade could do the same.

Push blade - extremely hard to disarm. You can grab and stab.

Generally stabs are more lethal than slashes (but there are of course exception like cutting a major artery).

I am still deciding which knife for an everyday carry.  I prefer to carry at least 2 just in case.

Grateful for understanding professors.

Friends that I can share martial art knowledge for mutual benefit without having to deal with egos.

Has anyone have any experience with hexgloves?

http://www.hexarmor.com/

Source: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-shoot18-2008may18,0,2906491.story


Glad to see people willing to do what is necessary to end the threat.

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I just learned about the importance of barefoot walking from reading Crafty Dog's NY Mag link.

So I did a Google search for more info and came across this Barefoot Links by mrienstra at http://www.pponline.co.uk/forum/talk-injury/please-help-re-creating-arches-for-flat-feet#comment-4242

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Good Barefoot Links
Sun, 2005-05-22 22:29 by mrienstra

Some good links on going barefoot: (they may seem a bit over-the-top, but there is some good science here, and several of these articles are written by podiatrists, so just keep an open mind, and then you are welcome to try to dig up some conflicting viewpoints -- post back here if you find any)

http://www.unshod.org/pfbc/pfrossi2.htm (Why Shoes Make "Normal" Gait Impossible, By William A. Rossi, D.P.M.)

http://www.barefooters.org/key-works/case_for/3.health.html (A Case for Bare Feet, Section 3: Health. See 3.4 in particular for the disadvantages of only training in shoes)

http://www.unshod.org/pfbc/toysaw.htm (Take Off Your Shoes and Walk
by Simon J. Wikler D.S.C.)

http://www.barefooters.org/medicine/ (excerpts from published papers in medical journals)

http://www.barefooters.org/faq/ (Barefoot FAQ)

Here's an article dealing with foot pronation written in 2005.

http://www.healthandlifestyle.co.nz/e-books/footpronation.pdf

I am grateful that my car has air conditioning. 

Grateful for all the amazing teachers that are pouring into my life at the moment.

I am grateful for my friends and family that hang in there with me during hard times.

Reminded of a John Wooden quote, ""You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you."

A kind sincere word is free to give and can definitely put a smile on a fellow human being.

I am grateful for being raised by a loving mom.