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Messages - JDN

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1
Martial Arts Topics / police incompetence is rampant
« on: September 26, 2012, 11:27:57 AM »
The University of California will pay damages of $30,000 to each of the 21 UC Davis students and alumni who were pepper-sprayed by campus police during an otherwise peaceful protest 10 months ago, the university system announced Wednesday.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/09/uc-davis-pepper-spray.html

2
Martial Arts Topics / LEO shoots wheelchair schizo holding a pen as a weapon
« on: September 24, 2012, 08:14:15 AM »
"A Houston police officer fatally shot in the head a schizophrenic, wheelchair-bound double amputee threatening people with a pen at a group home for the mentally ill after authorities said the man advanced on the officer's partner, police said."

He had a black felt pen. This happened in a mental hospital.  The man was in a wheelchair.  While the Officer had a Tasar he decided to shot and kill him instead.   :?

And we wonder why cities are paying out millions of dollars for police incompetence.  Too bad the officer doesn't have to pay a portion out of his salary.  Instead, he
doesn't lose any pay or benefits and keeps his job.  A fifth year policeman,  this is the second time this officer has shot and killed someone.  Imagine if a staff member
at the hospital shot and killed this patient?  The employee would be fired on the spot; maybe arrested.  More police officers need to get fired in examples like this; not put
on "administrative leave" with full pay.

http://articles.cnn.com/2012-09-23/us/us_texas-amputee-shooting_1_police-officer-houston-police-department-john-garcia

3
10:24 AM ET 09.22 | Michael McClatchy was an officer for the Pickens Police Department in Pickens, S.C. On Sept. 3, McClatchy pulled over a vehicle for speeding. As it turned out, the driver of the vehicle was Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney, who claimed he was late to a radio show he was doing at the local Bi-Lo, which is where McClatchy had pulled over Swinney. Swinney had been doing 63 mph in a 35, and received his speeding ticket while signing autographs for fans waiting outside the store for his radio show.

Eleven days later, on Sept. 14, after rumors of Swinney's speeding ticket began making the rounds on message boards -- because what else is there to talk about on a message board? -- McClatchy decided he had to let the world know what happened. In the posting, the officer said he didn't plan on posting about the incident, but "wanted to clear the air for all involved." The officer said he believed Swinney "thought he would be excused for the violation and continue to his appointment." He said Swinney and his brother were asked to have a seat in the vehicle, which they did not. The officer also said the Bi-Lo store manager approached him and told him a city official was on the phone and would like to speak with him, but the officer declined. According to the officer, Swinney's brother said that he was a retired Alabama police officer with more than 30 years of experience and asked the officer to take the fact into consideration. McClatchy also wrote that Swinney gave him "an unfriendly glare" before leaving and entering the Bi-Lo.

McClatchy was then fired six days later for what police chief Rodney Gregory called a "violation of city computer policy, violation of code of ethics and violation of general orders."

CBS Sports

4
"The pepper ball hit the sophomore in the eye and caused permanent damage, eventually leading Nelson to lose a football scholarship and drop out of the university, the court said.

Writing for the court, Judge Stephen Reinhardt said police used excessive force. "A reasonable officer would have known that firing projectiles, including pepper balls, in the direction of individuals suspected of, at most, minor crimes, who posed no threat to the officers or others, and who engaged in only passive resistance, was unreasonable," he wrote.

Police officers generally cannot be held liable for damages in a civil lawsuit. They lose immunity if it can be shown that their actions violated a "clearly established" constitutional right.

The court said the police violated Nelson's 4th Amendment right to be free of unreasonable seizure, and that earlier court rulings should have alerted police that their actions were illegal."

I wonder how many millions of dollars, AGAIN, the taxpayers will need to pay out to cover gross police incompetence.  And often, usually, they don't even get fired.   :?

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-uc-davis-pepper-20120712,0,3671184.story

5
Martial Arts Topics / Police mistakes costs $millions
« on: June 30, 2012, 06:50:32 AM »
"The Los Angeles City Council agreed Friday to pay $6.6 million to the family of a woman killed by a speeding police car, the largest amount the city has ever paid to resolve a police traffic collision."

"Officer Brubaker and his partner, who were responding to a report of a possible stolen car about two miles away, had not turned on the car's emergency lights and so were not legally allowed to be speeding. Other drivers and a reconstruction of the crash, however, estimated the police vehicle was going about 70 mph, twice the posted speed limit, according to a lawyer for Lugo's family and a confidential city report about the incident obtained by The Times."

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-lapd-traffic-settle-20120629,0,1152162.story

"Officer Brubaker was not seriously punished by the department despite the finding that he was to blame. He received an admonishment."   :-o

If these were your employees wouldn't you fire them?  Our tax money paid over $6million for their incompetence.

6
Martial Arts Topics / Re: DBMA 2012 Summer Camp
« on: June 16, 2012, 09:16:41 PM »
Is there a one or two day price if someone is not interested in all three days?  For example, no offense, I have no interest in day one.

Day two and three sound quite interesting.

7
Martial Arts Topics / Re: Crime and Punishment
« on: June 12, 2012, 08:27:10 PM »
Yes, it was "PC's point precisely that there is a correlation..."

However, with all due respect to PC, I was hoping that in his reading he came across supporting documentation.  For example, has crime rate dropped greater in states with "pro self defense laws" as a percentage versus other states?  Is there ANY validation of PC's opinion?  I am not attacking his opinion, frankly, I may subjectively agree, but I don't know if that opinion has any basis.  If yes, then this is powerful.  But if there is no substantiation, then it's all conjecture without basis of fact.  An interesting opinion however....

8
A Texas father caught a man sexually assaulting his 4-year-old daughter and punched him in the head repeatedly, killing him, authorities said.

The father was casually acquainted with the alleged abuser, said Lavaca County Sheriff Micah Harmon.
The girl was left inside the family's house during the social gathering, while other members of her family were tending to horses, the sheriff said.
The alleged abuser was known for his horse-grooming abilities, Harmon said.
The father returned to the house, caught the man in the act, and stopped him by striking him in the head several times, Harmon said.
The man was pronounced dead on the scene, while the daughter was taken to a local hospital in Victoria, Texas, for examinations before being released.

The incident took place Saturday.
Harmon described the girl as "OK besides the obvious mental trauma."
Asked whether they would press charges against the father, the sheriff responded, "You have a right to defend your daughter. He acted in defense of his third person. Once the investigation is completed we will submit it to the district attorney who then submits it to the grand jury, who will decide if they will indict him."
Harmon described the dad as "very remorseful," adding that he didn't know the man was going to die.
Authorities were withholding the deceased man's name while they notified next of kin. Officials did not know immediately if he has a prior criminal history.
Lavaca County Precinct Judge Alene Lyons, who is coordinating information in the case including autopsy results, said Monday
that a preliminary autopsy report indicated the victim "died from blunt-force head and neck injuries."
"It will take six weeks to get the full report back because they also did a toxicology report," Lyons said.

9
Martial Arts Topics / Re: Crime and Punishment
« on: June 12, 2012, 09:55:10 AM »
JDN:

Forgive me, but your effort at a point here is tedius.  Does the correlation prove cause and effect?  No, but it sure as heck raises the question, as no doubt the question would have been raised had crime rates risen.

Perhaps I wasn't clear.  I am not disagreeing with the premise.  I am a concealed carry advocate myself.  I was hoping in PC's reading that he might have come across some scholarly articles indicating a direct correlation, or even an indirect correlation.

10
Martial Arts Topics / Re: Crime and Punishment
« on: June 12, 2012, 06:34:55 AM »
Woof,
 No mention of restoration of gunrights in most States and pro self defense laws being enacted.

Is there any provable correlation? 

11
Martial Arts Topics / Re: Condtioning for the stick
« on: June 02, 2012, 12:15:10 PM »
PTP?  Sorry I don't know that acronym.

12
Martial Arts Topics / Re: Condtioning for the stick
« on: June 02, 2012, 12:04:44 PM »
Mick:

Some things to consider:

In my experience, which may or may not apply to you, many people tend to have their shoulders somewhat internally rotated.  If when you stand without thinking your thumbs point inward instead of forward (i.e. parallel to each other) then to some degree probably there is internal rotation of the shoulder joint.  This then means that the joint tends to become annoyed by use.  Rest will allow the inflammation to settle down, but if the alignment issue has not been dealt with, then returning to working out will tend to annoy it all over again.

Why does the shoulder joint get internally rotated?

Typically because the hips are tilted forwards.

Why do the hips tilt forwards?

Typically because the hip flexors are tight and the muscles complementary to them (glute and one of the heads of the hamstring) have lost the ability to execute peak contraction movements well.

There is more to this analytical framework, but perhaps those thoughts may serve to help you find the cause and solution of your particular issues.


That makes excellent sense.  If I recollect, you mentioned that you focused a lot on alignment.  Do you have any particular exercises or books on the subject that you
recommend?


13
Martial Arts Topics / Re: Citizen-Police interactions
« on: May 17, 2012, 07:03:19 AM »
I wonder if a police officer can buy "malpractice" insurance?

 :-)
The insurance industry despite it's staid reputation is one of the last Frontiers for free enterprise.  If it makes money, let's do it seems to be their motto.
Plus, it's based upon the law of large numbers; there are a lot of police officers out there so I think the answer would be yes.   :-)

As for your comment Crafty, you are making presumptions that are not necessarily true.  Again, let's use doctors.  They have personal liability yet frankly it's still very difficult
to get into Medical School; the demand for that job is still there.  The best doctors don't drop out because of personal liability, if anything, it's the less talented doctors who drop out.  And if a few do drop out, well, there are plenty of applicants.

As for police officers, the hiring practices bewilder me.  It seems more like who do you know, what color or nationality you are, or how lucky you are versus raw intelligence mixed with reasonable physical ability.  Remember, you only need a high school diploma to quality leaving you a huge applicant base. 

As I mentioned on the CA site, as did others, public employees should be run like a business.  That includes police and fire. 

14
Martial Arts Topics / Re: Citizen-Police interactions
« on: May 16, 2012, 02:35:04 PM »

"As for the number of people willing to be policemen, well there is a long line of applicants, especially in this job market.  The pay is good, the benefits overly superb, and the job rewarding, albeit sometimes dangerous."

this I find glib.  Besides the fact that lots of applicants are less than desirable, there is also the matter of the willingness to act knowing that one's split second decisions could put into play one's life's savings and family financial security in the hands of a jury of Rodney King's peers. 

No offense, but I think your answer is "glib".  You are making an assumption that the applicants "are less than desirable".  I disagree, especially in this economy.  My brother has a landscape business.  He has healthy young guys with Master's Degrees offering to do hard day labor for him.  The requirements to join the LAPD, an excellent department, are minimal; a high school diploma is about it.

http://www.joinlapd.com/qualifications.html

We are ALL judged by our peers if we commit a crime.  Even in a civil trial we are all judged by our peers.  And if we commit an act that is determined to be gross negligence, our life savings and family security is in their hands.  Like a doctor who shows up drunk and performs surgery, or misses an obvious diagnosis (expert witnesses will influence that issue like they would a policeman's action) gross negligence should be punished.  ER doctors for example, make split second decisions that affect lives on a daily basis.  Frankly, much more often than the average policeman on the beat.  The system seems to work well; why are Police exempt?  Would you want a doctor to operate on you for a serious matter who knows that no matter how badly he messes up, he will never be personally responsible?

I don't want a doctor who thinks that he is not responsible for his actions nor do I think a policeman should be exempt in cases of gross negligence. 


15
Martial Arts Topics / Re: Citizen-Police interactions
« on: May 16, 2012, 12:03:41 PM »
Oddly enough it's not a matter of "unions" and "contracts" although I'm sure, like any private business, that would enter into the discussion.  Rather it is a matter of "due process".  Something I don't honestly understand.  Unlike a private citizen, public employees simply cannot be terminated for "just cause".  It's a long process....
http://www.coollaw.com/documents/185.pdf

Yes, I think it will lessen bad behavior.  Just like I think the Doctor subconsciously weighs his liability.  He thinks twice before making a mistake.  And therefore truly gross negligence is very unusual.

As for the number of people willing to be policemen, well there is a long line of applicants, especially in this job market.  The pay is good, the benefits overly superb, and the job rewarding, albeit sometimes dangerous. 

As to from whom the plaintiff get's to collect, I'm not the attorney here, but using my example of the Physician, in cases of gross malpractice, the Physician is named, the Hospital is named, and usually the kitchen sink is named too.  How liability gets allocated and the pot gets distributed I don't know.

16
Martial Arts Topics / Re: Citizen-Police interactions
« on: May 16, 2012, 11:34:52 AM »
Most on this site like/want government to be run like a business.  In many respects I agree.

What private business would give full pay to incompetent employees to stay home?  These four were not as of today criminally charged, but no one doubts their culpability. 
Simply put, if this was a private corporation, they would have been fired without severance a long time ago.  And everyone would say good riddance. 

_____

"Wolfe is the first officer seen in the video using physical force against Kelly Thomas, striking him with a baton.

"Why is Officer Wolfe still on paid administrative leave?" one resident asked. "Why is he on a holiday at our taxpayer expense? That's horrible, unconscionable and it needs to change yesterday."

Wolfe was one of four officers -- including Officer Kenton Hampton, Sgt. Kevin Craig and Cpl. James Blatney -- who were not charged in connection with the beating.

All four officers are currently on paid administrative leave.

Orange County Dist. Atty. Tony Rackauckas has not ruled out additional charges in the case.

The City Council also announced that it had approved a $1-million settlement resolving Cathy Thomas' legal claims in the death of her son. Ron Thomas has a separate claim that remains unresolved. The couple is divorced.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/05/kelly-thomas-case-angry-fullerton-residents-want-cops-fired.html

17
Martial Arts Topics / Re: Citizen-Police interactions
« on: May 16, 2012, 08:40:41 AM »
You are aware that the employer, the city of Fullerton here, would remain liable, yes?



Of course, just like a hospital would also remain liable for a grossly negligent staff doctor.  But that doctor would probably end up being responsible personally as well.  Police, government employees in general seem exempt from responsibility.


18
Martial Arts Topics / Millions paid out for incompetency
« on: May 16, 2012, 06:54:12 AM »
Maybe they should make the Officers personally liable for gross negligence just like any other citizen.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-0516-kelly-thomas-settlement-20120516,0,5351009.story

19
Martial Arts Topics / Re: Self-Defense Law
« on: May 11, 2012, 08:13:51 PM »
Corey (the Prosecutor) said she had offered Alexander a plea bargain that would have resulted in a three-year prison sentence, but Alexander chose to take the case to a jury trial, where a conviction would carry a mandatory sentence under a Florida law known as "10-20-life."

The jury was out 12 minutes.  She went BACK into the house and shot the gun.  That is NOT stand your ground.  There is no excuse to go back into the house.  That said, no one was harmed.  It's also family.

I think the penalty is  absolutely terrible.  However the Judge had no discretion.  Plus the Prosecutor was quite aggressive; she's good; she won.  Interesting, it is the same Prosecutor in the Zimmerman case.

Odd, Congresswoman Brown who vehemently complained about the Prosecutor in this case, however, "Brown has been more complimentary about Corey's work in the Trayvon Martin case, where her office filed second degree murder charges against neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman in the February 26 death of the unarmed African-American teen-ager."  Politics?

Again, I don't know the "facts" of that case either.

http://www.cnn.com/2012/05/11/justice/florida-stand-ground-sentencing/index.html?hpt=ju_c2

20
The City of Fullerton offered $1million to Thomas's family and they turned it down.  The amount is only rising.  No city can afford bad cops.

In private industry these individual cops/employees would have been fired a long time ago and left on their own.

http://www.cnn.com/2012/05/09/opinion/navarrette-police-brutality/index.html?hpt=hp_c1

23
Hopefully, the Officer's will be reprimanded and/or fired, especially Lt. Pike.

"The incident that propelled this police operation into national headlines was the use of pepper spray by Lt. John Pike against seated protesters on Nov. 18 as police cleared an encampment from the college quad. Videos and photos of Pike spraying the protesters went viral on the Internet and created a flurry of protests.

Regarding the spraying incident itself, police officers have argued that during the operation they "were surrounded by a hostile mob and that the use of pepper spray was necessary to create a path for officers and arrestees to leave the quad," according to the report. However, the report notes a number of facts that undermine this argument, including that officers were able to walk arrestees through the crowd for transport without escalation and an officer was able to step over protesters to meet with the officers from the Davis Police Department when they arrived. The task force agreed with the Kroll report, which concluded that "the deployment of pepper spray does not appear to have been an objectively reasonable use of force."

Furthermore, the Kroll report discovered that the large pepper-spray canister, the MK-9, that Pike used to spray protesters "was not an authorized weapon under UCDPD guidelines and that UCDPD officers were not trained in its use." The MK-9 is larger than the MK-4, which officers normally wear on their utility belts, and has a recommended minimum distance of application of 6 feet. As the video evidence supports, Pike "appeared to be spraying protesters at a much closer distance than 6 feet," the task force concluded. Pike declined to be interviewed by Kroll investigators."

http://www.securitydirectornews.com/public-sector/uc-davis-police-used-excessive-force-unauthorized-weapon-pepper-spray-incident-says

24
Seriously speaking, if you want fabulous food, a diversity of culture, fabulous weather, you can ski today and go to the beach all in the same day; if you want entrepreneurs all around you,
if you want excitement and opportunity, an international flavor, come to LA.  If you are a redneck, hate other cultures and minorities, if you don't like the sun, beaches, or ski resorts, if you are narrow in your thinking, don't come here.  It's all here; it's up to you.  Whatever you make of it.  And oh yeah, we have evil and deception too.   :-)  And you can still vote Republican; but you will be in the minority.   :-)

25
Martial Arts Topics / Re: Self-Defense Law
« on: April 13, 2012, 07:33:32 PM »
I' been doing some reflecting. We have the best trained police in the world. I don't know why we trust them to do their jobs. We need to believe in them. They are highly trained and efficient at what they do.


I agree, but what are you exactly saying?  Can you expound?  What is your point?

26
Martial Arts Topics / Unintended consequences
« on: April 06, 2012, 08:51:20 AM »
An award to a gangster

The city's payment of $4.5 million to a gangbanger would be a reminder that the actions of police officers are sometimes costly. It would also serve to remind us that police need incentives to perform well.

April 6, 2012

It is natural that some members of the Los Angeles City Council are flinching at being asked to pay $4.5 million to Robert Contreras, a gang member who committed a drive-by shooting, then fled police in a failed attempt to elude capture, only to end up shot and crippled. In a city that is scraping to preserve services through this economic downturn, it is a bitter pill indeed to pay off a gangster.

Yet pay him off the council should. This is ground the city has covered many times before, and though it's never pleasant, it's a reminder that the actions of police officers are sometimes costly, and there's no way to avoid paying that price.

Contreras was a gang member up to no good on a September night in 2005 when he ran from the police, but the officers that night failed as well, shooting Contreras when they believed he was turning on them with a gun. It turned out to be a cellphone, and Contreras ended up paralyzed.

Yes, it is Contreras' actions that started the chain of events that left him crippled. For those criminal actions, Contreras went to prison, as he deserved to. But a separate jury ruled that the officers were wrong to shoot him, and it awarded him $4.5 million for his injuries. The city can settle now for that amount or appeal and risk paying him much more.

Critics of the payout are irritated that the jury was not told of Contreras' crimes before it decided whether he deserved compensation. But those facts were not germane. His arrest and prison term were the consequences of his crimes; his lifetime of paralysis is the consequence of the officers' mistakes, at least in the eyes of the jury.

The understandable reluctance to reward Contreras in one sense parallels the unsatisfying resolution that occurs when police officers conduct an improper search, rifling a house, for instance, without a warrant. They may find guns or drugs that amply implicate a suspect in a crime but be forced to let the suspect go when the search proves inadmissible in court. Why should society be forced to see a guilty suspect go free just because police officers misbehaved?

The answer is that police need incentives to perform well. If they can violate a suspect's rights or shoot an unarmed man, there must be a price to pay. If not, they'll do so with impunity. Sadly, it's the city that pays the bill.

Copyright © 2012, Los Angeles Times

27
Martial Arts Topics / Re: DBMA 2012 Summer Camp
« on: March 29, 2012, 07:51:05 AM »
We/I'm not in a communist country YET....   :-)

AB 962 was struck down by the court as being "unconstitutionally vague" and therefore was never put into force.

Shoot away!    :-)


http://cheaperthandirt.com/blog/?p=6086

30
Martial Arts Topics / Re: Citizen-Police interactions
« on: February 17, 2012, 09:16:17 AM »
I usually do; note my previous post subject line "Citizen's right to record".

But this post was more for entertainment.   :-)  I doubt if anyone will be doing research on the subject.   :-)

That said, I will always try to summarize; I agree it really does help.

33
Martial Arts Topics / Police shoot citizen
« on: February 11, 2012, 07:14:15 AM »
"Sgt. Manuel Loggins Jr. was shot early Tuesday as he started to get into the SUV where his two daughters -- 9 and 14.

Amormino said Loggins was not armed and that it doesn’t appear the incident was alcohol- or drug-related.

A former commanding officer said Loggins routinely went to the school with his daughters during the early-morning hours to walk the track and read the Bible."

What did he do to deserve to be shot dead?



http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/02/marine-shot-.html


34
Martial Arts Topics / Re: Law Enforcement issues and LE in action
« on: February 09, 2012, 02:03:40 PM »
Sorry.....  It was said strictly in jest; tongue in check.  It never occurred to me that anyone would take my comment about advertising for tenants or employees between the ages of 21-37.  Nor was I imply in any way that you ever had or would even consider doing so.

Although, when flying, I long for the good old days. :-)

ps  It's different in other countries.  I have a cute friend who was hired by Sony Entertainment HQ in Tokyo to be their receptionist.  The ad directly said things like "cute" no more than 110lbs, and under age 23.  The previous receptionist, also cute, was let go because she turned 26; "too old" they said. 

pps I'm still a little upset that government agencies are able to impose rules like this but private employers are forbidden by law.  Hire the best available; if the 40 year old applicant can pass all the tests equal or better than the 37 year old, why not hire him/her?

35
Martial Arts Topics / Re: Law Enforcement issues and LE in action
« on: February 08, 2012, 08:53:57 AM »


http://www.usmarshals.gov/careers/exam_flyer.pdf 

No, I'm too old.  :-(

I always found it interesting that government agencies can discriminate on the basis of age, but private employers cannot.  Imagine if I posted
an ad for a secretary and said you must be between the ages of 21 and 37?  Or Doug advertised saying he will only accepted rental applications from females between the ages of 21 and 37?  :-)

Why not simply choose the most qualified person?




36
Martial Arts Topics / Re: Citizens defend themselves/others.
« on: January 04, 2012, 06:35:29 PM »
An Oklahoma 911 operator calmly advised a recently widowed mother who asked if it was permissible to shoot an intruder, officials said Wednesday.
"I've got two guns in my hand. Is it OK to shoot him if he comes in this door?" asked Sarah Dawn McKinley of Blanchard.

http://www.cnn.com/2012/01/04/justice/oklahoma-intruder-shooting/index.html?hpt=hp_t3

37
Martial Arts Topics / Re: MMA Thread
« on: December 28, 2011, 09:28:39 AM »

38
Martial Arts Topics / Re: Citizen-Police interactions
« on: December 27, 2011, 03:07:43 PM »
I think those are all good lessons, but in this instance he didn't even have a weapon according to the article.

39
Martial Arts Topics / Re: CNN Piece - Dog Brothers: Martial Arts to the max
« on: December 10, 2011, 06:40:29 AM »
VERY IMPRESSIVE.  I just noticed it in CNN today.  Further, on CNN's daily summary page for important news, it's highlighted. 
Plus, the video is now accompanied by a nice article.  Great publicity.  Well done!

Congratulations!!!

http://www.cnn.com/2011/12/08/us/dog-brothers-martial-arts/index.html?hpt=hp_bn2

41
Martial Arts Topics / Re: Citizen-Police interactions
« on: December 05, 2011, 07:36:08 AM »
What is left out of the tape is that a DIRECT ORDER was given to the campus police to do it peacefully.  The campus police disobeyed.  Therefore the perpetrator and the chief of police have been suspended (with full pay) for disobeying an order and may be fired.  Discipline and following orders IS important.

"We told the police to remove the tents or the equipment," she (their boss - the Chancellor) told the paper. "We told them very specifically to do it peacefully, and if there were too many of them, not to do it, if the students were aggressive, not to do it."  That seems very clear; if you meet resistance, you back off, you do not escalate.

42
Martial Arts Topics / Re: Self-Defense Law
« on: December 03, 2011, 07:35:42 AM »
"If a cop missed that little update it might help if you could hand him the statute, it could save you a trip to jail and working things out through a lawyer."
An important point.

I'll second that. In a similar vein I nearly always carry a folding knife.  I was at the local community
college when a staff person reported me. I was "arrested" by the ignorant campus police.  However, I do carry a copy of the
law pointing out that folding knives in the folded position are legal on college campuses among other issues.  After
a brief discussion I was let go and my knife was returned to me.

Without having a copy since they didn't know the law I would have wasted time and money.

43
Martial Arts Topics / Re: Yoga
« on: November 30, 2011, 07:36:11 AM »
I can appreciate the Logistics...

As a side note, I noticed today that Bikram Yoga (you referenced before) of Redondo is no longer Bikram Yoga but rather "Hot Yoga".

If you are not aware, you might want to check them out again.  Perhaps their approach won't be as rigid, as dictated by Bikram, as before...

http://www.livingsocial.com/cities/192/deals/179854

(note previous students are not eligible - I post the link just to reference the name)

44
Martial Arts Topics / Re: DBMA Winter Camp 2012
« on: November 29, 2011, 08:57:12 PM »
Registration links are up in the catalog.  We will be offering early registration discounts so stand by!   :-D

Sounds good; what is the early registration discount?

45
Martial Arts Topics / Re: Yoga
« on: November 28, 2011, 07:53:22 PM »
Oh, I thought you were in the South Bay; that should only be 30 minutes or less each way. 
Combine that with shopping/eating afterwards in Santa Monica on the weekend it might make sense.

But I agree, if it's an hour each way it simply is not worth it. 

However, I did think it was interesting that Jonathan knew you.  Small world.

46
Martial Arts Topics / Re: Yoga
« on: November 28, 2011, 08:19:48 AM »
I too enjoy, but feel constrained by Bikram.  "Lock out your knee" isn't always the solution.  Nor is "push is past where it hurts". 

Yoga Hop in contrast doesn't focus on form, although some participants are very good, or a set program, , but rather the focus is to keep moving.
The environment is artificially warm, but nothing near Bikram sweat box hot.  It's a fun alternative.

It's a good workout; a lot of twisting and stretching with some strength and abdominal exercises.  I believe they have another location in Santa Monica. 
That's not too far from your house.  You might try it.  I suggest the hour and fifteen minute class; you need to check since most of their classes are only one hour.
But I think you get a little extra work and it makes a difference.

47
Martial Arts Topics / Re: Yoga
« on: November 27, 2011, 11:48:18 AM »
I went to a Yoga class this morning; actually I've gone the past few Sunday mornings.  It's Yoga to music; sounds a bit strange, but actually for an hour and fifteen minutes
it's a great workout.  I guess the music helps the time go fast.  It's a nice change of pace versus the gym.

It seems the Sunday instructor and part owner of the franchise knows you Marc.  We talked for a few minutes; he seems he knows a lot about BJJ.  And he rides an Italian motorcycle so
we talked about riding and bikes as well.


"After graduating from Cornell University, Jonathan moved to LA in the early 1990s to study Brazillian Jiu-Jitsu and martial arts under Rickson Gracie, Rigan Machado and Dan Inosanto. After playing college football and over two decades of training in martial arts, Jonathan's passion is yoga and loves how YogaHop yoga enhances and strengthens athletic performance in martial arts and all competitive sports."

http://www.yogahop.com/pas/instructors.asp?id=6

48
Martial Arts Topics / Re: Law Enforcement issues and LE in action
« on: October 01, 2011, 07:28:53 AM »
GM - I thought I did stfu?   :-)   I did read your posts.

Have you heard from me recently on this subject?

49
Martial Arts Topics / Re: Law Enforcement issues and LE in action
« on: September 29, 2011, 01:22:37 PM »
I think you misinterpreted me or I wasn't very clear.  Sorry.   :-(

In my previous post (Zerby) I commented how, although sad, I understood the shooting.  Despite the outcries and sadness of the situation, IMHO no trial or indictment of the Officer is appropriate.  I assume there may be civil liability.

In the Ramos matter, although it is IS more serious and brutal, I merely pointed out that he has indeed posted bail.  Understandable.  Frankly I thought the 1M bail a bit high - more than sufficient given that the suspect is a Police Officer.  I thought the Judge would have reduced it.  Of course Ramos is entitled to bail.  And of course he is "innocent until proven guilty".  Then again I can have an opinion as to his guilt.  I mean I thought OJ was guilty too, but he was never found guilty in criminal court.  What do I know?

As for bail, 1M is tough.  Since he posted bond, he basically throws in the trash can 7-10% of that or almost $100,000.  I think it was nice of his fellow officers to raise the money and/or his Union to provide the money.  Or maybe he had saved the money.  In any event, it's a lot of money out the window.

But to reiterate, I have absolutely no problem with him making bail; good for him. 

50
Martial Arts Topics / Re: Law Enforcement issues and LE in action
« on: September 29, 2011, 07:49:37 AM »
On another matter, seemingly more egregious, Ramos posted bail.  I look forward to following this case.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/09/fullerton-officer-manuel-ramos-bails-out-of-jail.html

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