The A.M. experiment.

A couple times recently my workouts have been rescheduled or had to be missed because of life stuff (family things, SWAT call outs, etc…).

Life happens, I figured that maybe if I did my workouts first thing in the morning before life starts happening I could get them done and out of the way.  That way no matter what happens after that I won’t miss my training.  No excuses bitches. 

I am very fortunate that I am allowed / encouraged to work out at work (over my lunch break).  I am also very fortunate that my Dojo is close to work.

So moving all my training to before work frees up time for extra credit training for lack of a better term.  If time allows I can go hit the heavy bag or swing some swords around.  If time is too tight, it’s no big deal because I already got my primary training in for the day

On the days I don’t work I don’t have to wake up early.  I do however, have to work out first thing in the morning.  Like the old military cadence song

 - Up in the morning I’m out if the sack, God only knows when I’ll be back. –

So, what have I learned from the experiment?

I have been running and core training in the mornings for awhile now, but I haven't done strength training first thing in the morning since high school.  I was afraid I would be way weaker training that early, but no real diminishment in reps.

I also get some stress inoculation and cardio benefit because I play “beat the clock”

- I have to get the entire whole body work out in 30 min or less - so I’m not late for work

I have been loving it, great way to start a day.  All of my training is specifically geared to make me a better Operator.  Looking this sexy is just a side effect.  I get excited about it and look foreword to the training.  Some days are harder to crawl out of bed than others but either way I have a sense of pride and accomplishment for having achieved difficult training while most mere mortals are still comfortably asleep in their bed.  Then I’m free the rest of the day to spend more time as a father, fight crime or just veg out guilt free and watch sci fi movie marathons.

Is this whole blog Kasey bragging about how awesome he is again? What is the moral of the story?    

Ok, a couple of things:

Time management. 

Body Weight calisthenics can be done anywhere, are free, and you can get a killer work out in a short amount of time

This is the schedule that works for me.  My suggestion is to find physical activity that you can be excited / passionate about and find a way to work it into your schedule every day (note appropriate rest is part of smart training) as if your life depended on it.  Because it just might

No excuses bitches

Last night at the Dojo

I'm working on a fairly lengthy blog on how to train professionals.  But I know you all are just begging for another budo blog so here is an oldie but goodie

 

Last night at the Dojo

 

by Kasey Keckeisen on Friday, June 12, 2009 at 10:52am

The Story

Disclaimers:
1) I am not bragging
2) There is no honor in picking fights
3) There is no honor in picking fights with people ½ your size
4) There is no honor in picking fights with people ½ your age (until your 50)

Having said that here is a humorous event that happened at the Dojo last night

We are doing test prep for the big test on the 27th. Senior students working together in one group, junior students in another. The junior students were by the back door which was left open due to the heat. A group of about 5-6 teen age skateboarders stopped at the back door and started watching. No big deal we have giant windows people can watch if they want, that is one way to generate interest. Then one kid starts running his mouth to Jeff about being a yellow belt and some other stuff. You can watch but don't interrupt / distract from my class. So I talk to the kid. I said, “Hey, are your guys interested in learning martial Arts? Every Thursday we have Randori”. He asked what is randori?
I replied ,“Frees style, where I kick the shit out of you. Wanna give it a try?” So the wise ass who was teasing Jeff says no but points at this other kid and says he does. The other kid asks what do I have to do? I told him all he has to do is take off his shoes and come on in. He takes his shoes off. I’m thinking are you fucking nuts a 215 lb shaved gorilla who happens to run his own martial art school invited you to get the shit kicked out of your self and you are excepting the invitation. He steeped on the mats. I shove him back out side. I told him he has to bow before he can step on my mats ( I know very Rex Kwon Do right). He bows with his fist to his palm like a kung fu movie. He comes in and we bow to each other. I ask are you ready, and he says yes. So with an open hand I smack him on his fore head 2 times real quick (That is Japanese sign language for I just broke your nose but I’m being nice). His eyes get kinda big and he backs up. So I mae geri (Sparta kick) him and clinch around his waste into Koshi Nage (hip throw) of course followed by a hold down (kesa gatame). I very politely told him if any things feel uncomfortable to please tap. He said he understood. I replied because that is about happen now. I sank all my weight into his low floating rips and cranked his neck.
Tap! Tap!Tap!
I let him up. We bowed to each other. The wise ass kid from before said, “Wow!, was that Jui Jitsu?” I told him yes, it is a form of Ju Jutsu. I told them all If they really wanted to learn martial arts we train Mon- Thurs 8-930 If they wants to run their mouths they should find some where else to do it. The wise ass and the kid I tapped asked about the times and dates again and then they left.

In conclusion:
1) I hope that kid comes back
2) I hope they don’t egg the Dojo
3) I hope I don’t get sued
4) Wouldn’t this be a great opening to a 80’s martial arts movie?

History lesson I should have known.

What is practical Budo?  Why do I do put all the effort into writing the practical Budo blog?  I define practical Budo as the adaptation of Japanese martial arts (Budo) for use by professionals (military / law enforcement) who’s life and the lives of others depends on the quality of their training.  The integration of firearms, edged weapons, and empty hand skills into a cohesive principal based method.  I write the blog because I feel this area of study is fairly cutting edge and needs to be shared with more people.  Other professionals, Trainers, and people who want to learn methods proven in the field to protect themselves. 

So what should I have known?

Apparently there was a British fellow by the name of W.E. Fairbrain.  Fairbrain was a police officer who practiced Jujutsu and other martial arts.  Fairbrain combined that knowledge with what he learned actually worked on the streets (he worked a major metropolitan seaport with high crime) into his own unique fighting system.  Sounds familiar right?  He described this system as primarily based on his personal experience, which according to police records included some 600 use of force incidents (fights), by his retirement at age 55 from the position of Assistant Commissioner.  This system and Fairbairn’s training methods were so successful he was recruited by the British Secret Service as an Army officer to train UK, US and Canadian Commando forces, along with Ranger candidates in close-combat, pistol-shooting, and knife-fighting techniques.  In that capacity he trained Rex Applegate.  Together these gentlemen devised training and tactics for military and law enforcement special operations teams. 

Very cutting edge right?  Exactly what I am striving for with practical Budo.  Oh, did I mention that Fairbairn and Applegate were doing this in……1943!!!

I’m so ahead of my time almost 70 years later.

I just started reading some of their books

http://www.amazon.com/Kill-Get-Killed-Rex-Applegate/dp/1581605587/ref=rsl_mainw_dpl?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER

http://www.amazon.com/Get-Tough-W-Fairbairn/dp/0873640020/ref=rsl_mainw_dpl?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER

http://www.amazon.com/Close-Combat-Files-Colonel-Rex-Applegate/dp/0873649982/ref=rsl_mainw_dpl?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER

Must reads for anyone who enjoys reading my blog.  The section on room warfare and raids was written 20 years before SWAT existed but reads like a text book for police special operations.

Here is some video of their training

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKUfAkbG1cg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1M8HPj5wmw&feature=related

Funny side story.  This is what I have always been looking for in martial arts.  In 1984 when I was a young lad of 10 on Sunday mornings after church USA network had Kung Fu Theater which I watched every week.  And after school everyday I got to watch the adventures of America’s highly trained special mission force code name – GI JOE.  All of the Joes were martial arts experts and one of the commandos (Snake Eyes of course) was even a ninja just like on Kung Fu theater. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGe8eFKBZmA

I was under the impression that all military people were trained this way and I wanted to learn.  I talked to kids I knew on the civil air patrol and they sent me to a guy in the Marine Corp youth auxiliary.  I asked him; if I joined would I be trained in hand to hand combat?  He looked at me like I had “special needs”.  I guess teaching kids how to maim and or kill with their bare hands was frowned upon.  So moral of the story: interest in Commando style hand to hand combat got me started in martial arts.  A life long journey in martial arts has lead to the development Keishoukan Budo (see also practical Budo).  Which I find out is really just a different name for Commando style hand to hand combat that has been around for over 70 years.  At least I know I can provide my students with the training I was always looking for….and knowing is half the battle  - Yo JOE!!!

Cato training

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2l5Yt6LBfo

The Kato - Cato Experiment

Last post I mentioned some exercises you can do to help develop operator mindset.  Today’s blog is an experiment I did 13 years ago that helped me start to understand some concepts about how violence happens in the world and how to adjust training methods to compensate for the difference

The Kato - Cato experiment.  I call it that because it happened in ManKATO and it reminded me of Cato from the Pink Panther movies

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2l5Yt6LBfo

Around 1997 – 1998 I was going to Mankato State University, I was a black belt in Aikido cross training in Goju Ryu Karate and Judo.  I had just read “Autumn Lightning: The Education of an American Samurai” by Dave Lowry.  In the book there is a story of a young Samurai who seeks out training from a sword master.  After the master finally accepts him as a student he begins a series of grueling and unusual training methods.  One of these methods was that the master would wait until the samurai was engrossed in one of the many menial tedious tasks (cooking, cleaning, gathering firewood, daily life, etc…) required of an apprentice, then jump out and whack him with a bokken.  At first the samurai would get knocked out.  Then he would barely get out of the way but spill all the food or firewood.  Eventually the samurai would evade or block the bokken with the lid from the tea pot or the kindling he was carrying continuing on about his business.  Only then would the master start allow him to pick up a sword.

I decided that I needed to recreate that training experience for myself.  At that time I was living at the fraternity house with 20-30 some odd guys.

I chose 5 guys that lived at the house, had classes with me, and knew my schedule.  Basically they had access to me 24 hours a day.  I gave these guys a big piece of neon colored chalk (the kind kids use to write on drive ways) roughly the size of a tanto.  I made a bet with them that if they could leave a chalk mark on me in a vital area (not just counting coop or point sparring) I would buy them dinner and they could sign the clothing they marked and I would have to wear it for 24 hours letting everyone know who “killed” the great and power full Kasey.   They got one chance for a lethal attack.  I had one chance to block / evade.  I promised I wouldn’t lock,throw, or strike them – just block / evade

Some lessons that stuck with me:

• Awareness
• Reading Terrain
• Improvised weapons
• Threat Assessment
• Counter Ambush
• Mid- Brain or Monkey brain  - My Kryptonite
• Violence Dynamics

I didn’t have terms to express the lessons I learned until I started reading and training with Marc and Rory.   Many professionals have experienced these concepts and reality for themselves.  However, it is difficult to express in words and even more difficult to convey to others.  Luckily Marc and Rory have been developing a common lexicon of terms to express the realities of violence.  Like Syd Hoar’s book the A-Z of Judo where he lists all the different names the same technique go by.  When I read that book I was like I know that technique only I call it x.  With the realities of violence its like, I’ve experienced x only I call it y.  I played this game in 97 but I will use terms I’ve recently adopted into my teaching method to convey the lessons I learned

 In the following Budo blogs we will tackle each topic individually but for now as Paul Harvey used to say here is the rest of the story.

Just playing the game improved my awareness.  Again, Becoming actively aware that you are looking for anomalies in pattern makes a tremendous difference in the identification and assessment.  First I was looking for those five guys which was fairly easy.  Then those guys would give the chalk to other guys I didn’t know were playing the game.  However, unless you’re a sociopath hunting and killing people even just playing at hunting and killing people is hard.  There are telltale signs.  Subconscious weapons checks, hiding hands, target glances.  They came at me when I was sleeping, they came at me when I was eating, they came at me at school and I was very successful at detecting and deflecting their attacks.  How was I killed you ask?  A lot of these attack prevention skills are used by your forebrain.  I was killed when I was forced into my Mid Brain or “Monkey Brain”.  Monkey brain is where the term monkey dance comes from.  Basically your monkey brain is concerned with the f’s.  Fight, Flight, Freeze, Feed, and Fornicate.  I used fornicate because my Dad say I use fuck too much in my writing.  I hear you thinking Kasey you didn’t answer the question how did you get killed?  Ok, so my buddy who is beautifully devious was dating a very attractive girl.  She reminded me of Nev Camble and she had a belly ring (this is back when belly rings were new and exotic and only for women who had nice tummies).  So he gives her the chalk.  She blatantly flirts and uses her feminine whiles.  All my Samurai skills awareness, threat assessment etc...(fore brain) turn off.  Monkey brain takes over.  All the monkey can handle is Fight, Flight, Freeze, Feed, and Fornicate.  So where my Fore Brain should have thought:

• I have a girl friend
• She has a boy friend (my good buddy)
• Why is she acting like this?
• Basically looking for anomalies in pattern

My Monkey brain thought:

• Boobies
• Tummy
• She totally digs me
• Ouch how did I get stabbed with chalk?

Good thing I had an understanding girlfriend (she eventually married me)

The “temptress” used social skills to commit asocial violence.  That’s how I got killed

And now you know the rest of the story.

So how can I prevent getting killed in this manner?  Learn how to prevent or delay the monkey brain from taking over.  Next blog will focus on tactical breathing / practical meditation

Commando style training.

 
The field of practical application of martial art is very narrow. I define this field as the martial skills used by professionals in the field. Professionals who's life and the life of others depend on the quality those skills and the quality of their training. This field integrates firearms, edged weapons and empty hand skills and has zero tolerance for nonsense. I pursue this field of study because I am a SWAT Operator and Police Officer. I also see the value of teaching skills proven to work by professionals to civilians interested in self defense as opposed to sport or maintaining tradition.

 However, recently it seems to me a lot of instructors are getting paid playing of the fears and fantasies of the uninformed. There are people who are afraid of violent crime that are willing to pay lots of money to learn the “secret techniques” of professionals. There are also lots of people who want to be Jack Bauer / James Bond who are willing to pay lots of money to be trained / treated like an elite paramilitary operator. I am not dissing these people, I understand being afraid of violent crime, and I want to be Jack Bauer / James Bond. I get it.  The cause of this rant is Instructors who exploit this fear / fantasy for fun and profit. They offer fear management as opposed to danger management and wish fulfillment instead of quality training.

It seems there is a simple formula. 

Step 1) be somehow affiliated with or claim to be trained by an:

v  Navy Seal

v  Russian Commando

v   Israeli Commando

v   WWII Era Commando

Step 2) Take whatever martial art you know, add rubber knives and toy guns, and lots of pushups and sit ups

Step 3) Come up with some sort of acronym to separate your super elite system from all the other just ok commando styles.

Step 4) have a "special" seminar every weekend to make lots of money
 
The inspiration for this blog is every week my facebook account gets filled up with invitations to the next big greatest kick ass high speed low drag commando type training only $750 for the weekend.
People send me videos of "tactical training". My favorite one so far depicts two lets use the term wannabes driving their personal cars recklessly into the parking lot of the commando school. The wannabes bail out of their cars and make entry into the school with airsoft pistols.  They address and shoot paper targets as the "clear" the building.  Let’s put aside the quality of these tactics for a second and ask the question?

WHY WOULD YOU TEACH ANYONE THIS?

 If you have to drive to a building, break into it, seek out and shoot armed threats (and you are not on a SWAT team) that is not self defense that is murder.  That is fanboy wish fulfillment bullshit. If you want to protect yourself from violence why would you go somewhere you know armed violent and dangerous people are?  That is just irresponsible teaching.  Pandering to base human needs.
 
To further make my point lets swap military / law enforcement for firefighting.  Imagine someone claiming to be affiliated with or trained by someone affiliated with an elite fire department.  This person is getting paid a lot of money to teach fire safety to a group of uninformed citizens that are either afraid of being burned or are fireman enthusiasts (they all have Dalmatians and model fire trucks at home).  Now this guy teaches the wannabes to fill their car with buckets of water kick down a door and run into a burning building.  That guy would get laughed out of the fire fighting community.  If we can apply common sense to one why can’t we apply common sense to the other?

We can.  Here are some suggestions how.

Developing operator habits.  You want to be a commando? then act like one.  Fake it until you make it.  The following are legitimate skill sets and knowledge that every operator needs. 

(If you have trained with me or have been following my blog you will know that the following information is largely borrowed from Rory Miller and Marc MacYoung with their permission)

Rules of engagement

                Understanding laws regarding self defense and use of force

                Knowing your capacity for violence

Awareness

                Threat assessment scanning

                                Consciously seeking out anomalies in pattern and discovering why things are different

                Reading Terrain

Escape and Evade

                Where are the exits

                How could I get out of this place?

                How would I attack this place?

Violence Dynamics

                Understanding social and asocial violence

                Understanding how violence actually happens

                                Harder,faster,closer, and by surprise

De-escalation

                Understanding / Controlling yourself

                Controlling / Manipulating the situation

Jack Bauer / James Bond does not bring unwarranted attention to himself.  Nor does he blow a mission be getting arrested for doing something stupid.

Fighting Skills

                Fundamentals

                Structure

                Speed

                Power

                Counter Ambush

                Ending Violence Quickly

                                Over in three motions

Physical Fitness

Strength and conditioning designed to specifically enhance your performance of fighting techniques.

Go muscles vs. show muscles

Body weight calisthenics and running are free. 

Operators don’t need someone to hold them by the hand through a fitness program.

Operators don’t waste dojo time with boot camp nonsense

So you want some Commando training?  Let me set some up right now

1) I am a team leader and training coordinator for a major metropolitan tactical unit (see also urban warfare commando)

2) I’ve spent the last 18 years of my life refining Japanese martial arts (Budo) to be applicable to CQB.  I bet my life on the efficacy of these techniques every day I go to work / every time my pager goes off.

3) Commando

Cultivating

Operator

Mindset

And

Neutralizing

Dangerous

Obstacles

4) Here is the best part kiddos.  The majority of this training you can do on your own for free.

To get you started here is a fun exercise to develop operator mindset

The next time you go out to eat (this really helps pass time while you’re waiting to be seated)

Locate all the exits, avenues of escape

Scan every one up and down once break sideways (don’t bring attention to yourself)

                Where are their hands?

                What is their physical description?

                Are they a threat?  Are they sending a creepy vibe (trust your instincts)

                How would you take them out?

How would you hold up the restaurant?

Is there anyone in places or doing things you would need to be / do to hold up the restaurant?

Is that weird?

Make a game of this every time you go somewhere.  Take pride in it.  After a month it will become habit and you will start doing it with thinking about it.

That is useful, legitimate, and legal Commando training all for free.  And I didn’t even fill up you facebook inbox.  If you feel guilty you can send me a check.

Practical Budo on TV

Lise and I only had three minutes (the other guest on the show was Vince Flynn) but I feel things went well.  We got to speak about:

• Awareness
• Threat Assessment Scanning
• Counter Ambush

Then Lise got to beat me up with a couple techniques.(she looked great)  Not bad for three minutes. 
Maybe Vince will cast me as Mitch Rapp :)

If you didn't get a chance to watch you can check out the link below

http://www.showcaseminnesota.com/show/client_article.aspx?storyid=880005