Warrior Concepts - Blog

3 Keys To Effective Self-Defense

2011-10-09T22:29:00.000-04:00

By Self-defense expert Jeffrey M. Miller SPS, DTI
(C) Warrior Concepts Int'l, Inc.

When you think about self-defense situations, what are the top three considerations for being effective? Is it having strength, stamina, power, or a ton of way-cool, tricky, martial arts techniques?

While all of those things help to one extent or another, none of them really touches on the priorities that will help you to prevail in a life or death, self-defense, struggle.

Don't get me wrong. It certainly helps to be the bigger, faster, stronger, or more skilled combatant. But these things are only helpful if you're in a situation where they will serve you.

Let me explain it a different way.

Strength only matters if you are in a position or can grab your assailant in a way that allows you the use of your strength. And as for power...

... power is derived from size and motion. If an assailant jumps you and pins you to a wall or the floor, you will find it difficult to generate any sort of power as we normally think of it.

Stamina only matters if you're in a fight that's going to last minutes instead of seconds. Typically, karate and boxing tournaments have two minute rounds or bouts. That's an eternity in a life-and-death, self-defense situation where the goal is to get things over and done with in..

...less than 10 SECONDS!

As for knowing a lot of techniques, what can I say? Information is power, right?

But, what if you're new to this whole idea of self-defense? What if you just started taking classes or learning how to get away from a dangerous attacker? Or...

...what if, no matter how many techniques you know...

...your attacker is a better, more skilled, more experienced fighter?

Then what?

A Simple Formula

I've written extensively about what I call, "The 6 Phases of an Effective Self-Defense Strategy." This is designed to lead my students through just that, the phases that a self-defense situation can go through, and how to make sure that we have sufficient training to be able to operate effectively in each phase, or stage, of an attack.

Admittedly though, the 6 phases are the ideal - the best case we can hope for. They all function as they should when you have warning from your assailant and you can see things coming.

Often though, attacks happen with little or no warning at all. So, how do we trim even more off the top and come up with the minimum elements necessary to be able to come out of a situation with as little wear-and-tear as possible?

The key here is to focus on the situation that we're talking about. In the "6 Phases" formula, we can see the attack, or potential for danger, coming. So, we attempt things like...

Escaping to Safety,

Confusing the attacker, and...

Dissuading, or convincing him find another victim

This is just a quick outline for our discussion here. If you aren't familiar with the "6 Phases For Effective Self-Defense," you can learn about them in "The Karate-Myth." It's a great resource for understanding the "science of self-defense" and how to make protecting yourself as easy as possible. And, of course, it's loaded with some really great and easy-to-learn techniques for stopping an attacker and putting him where he belongs... on the GROUND! Click the link to read more about "The Karate-Myth" and the valuable bonus reports that go with it.

Just the Basics

When the attack comes with little-to-no warning. When it comes at us quickly and ferociously and we don't have the time for escape, let alone trying to distract or talk our assailant down, we need just the basic-basics.

So, the 3 Keys - the unbreakable elements of an effective self-defense strategy are...

1) Situational Awareness - Pay attention to what's going on around you. Actively look at people, instead of avoiding contact as is the case in most social situations.

2) Stay Focused - You could also call this step "Controlling Your Fear." If you notice someone or something that could be a threat - perhaps someone who looks angry or suspicious, keep your eye on them. You don't have to stare-and-glare, but you should be aware of them and what they're doing. I talk about this concept quite a bit in my video, "Danger Prevention Tactics: Protecting Yourself Like a Pro!"

This also extends to the actual attack. Stay as calm as possible so that you can watch what's happening. For many people, their reaction is to close their eyes and "hope for the best." I didn't say this was easy, just what you MUST do to be successful.

And finally...
3) React Immediately and Decisively - As soon as the attack happens, start your defense. Don't try to figure out who this person is or why they're attacking you. You must immediately do three things if you stand a chance at winning. You must...
- A) Neutralize the effects of what they're doing. Cover your targets or ride-off the blows that are landing.
- B) Keep your head. Stay focused on what you can do and as soon as you have an opportunity...
- C) Take whatever targets open up. If he leaves his throat open and your can hit it - hit it! If you can kick his groin, kick his groin. Whatever presents itself, take THAT thing! And keep taking targets until he's down and out or help arrives.

Sounds simple, I know. But that's what training and a good teacher is for - to help you to do the tough things like controlling your fear, focusing under pressure, and teaching you the most effective ways to hit certain targets.

Remember, you can have whatever theories you want in life. You can have your favorite style, teacher, techniques, or whatever. But, when the rubber-meets-the-road, so-to-speak, and you're face-to-face with your worst nightmare...

...you must pay attention, stay focused, and do what works!

This article is copyright (C)by Jeffrey M. Miller and Warrior Concepts International, Inc. It is free to use in it's original form, with no alterations or additions. If it to be used online, all links must be active and without the use of "no-follow" type coding which would prevent the reader from accessing the resources being referenced.

For additional information about how Jeffrey Miller or Warrior Concepts can help you create the life you've always dreamed of living and how to protect that life from anything that would harm it, go to the Home page or call WCI at 570-988-2228

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Suggestions for Laying the Best Foundation for Your Ninjutsu Martial Arts Training

2011-10-04T00:16:00.000-04:00


Bujinkan Shidoshi Jeffrey M. Miller

In this post I will be discussing some very important areas of study. These areas should form the foundation of your training. That way, your progress and the skills you develop will be strong, balanced, and ready for the ultimate test – having to defend yourself against a real-world attacker!

Aside from the lists of “ninja” techniques, tactics, and strategies contained in the scrolls or curriculum that you will be introduced to long the way, a true practitioner of ninjutsu must also be proficient with the common skills learned by those studying the more conventional martial arts like karate, tae kwon do, aikido, kung-fu, etc. As you can see, if you're going to master the self-defense system of the Ninja, you have a little more to work on than most students of the martial arts.

Regardless of whether your a beginner or advanced student, the Advanced Sanshin / Kihon Happo Home Study Course - a 12 dvd video training program - will teach you more about these important training models than most black belts have ever learned! Ninjutsu Training

But, if you're serious about your training, you won't let this scare you. Because, one of the unique things about real ninjutsu training – the kind of training that goes beyond mere body movement and unarmed self-defense training – is that you learn both viewpoints – the conventional and the Ninja's unconventional approach – at the same time!

To ultimately master something, especially something as complex and all-encompassing as the art of ninjutsu, you must lay a proper foundation. Just like building a house, if the foundation is weak, or you just throw a bunch of sticks and other parts together...

… you will find that, when a good wind comes along, that your house comes tumbling down.

And, in the context of self-protection, that wind will be in the form of a real attack – an attack coming from someone who wants to harm you or your loved ones. And, unless you want to just get by with a false sense of confidence, or you only care about how cool you look to others when you're training, the last thing you want to happen is for all of your knowledge, training, and skills to fail you because they were wrong.

If you want to master the art of ninjutsu, also known as Ninpo in it's higher, philosophical and life mastery form, then you must focus on getting your training regimen structured so that you can progress and grow in the right direction. Here are a few of the beginning steps toward mastery in Ninjutsu:

First, you need to understand the make-up of the art and the principles and concepts upon which it is based. After all, there are only so many things that you can do with, and to, a human body. And, you can find all of those things throughout the martial arts and fighting world. But, you must be able to answer the question:

“What is it that makes Ninjutsu different from all the rest?"

Next, you need to have a mentor, or several of them – people who really understand the art and it's practice – so that you don't fall into the trap of just throwing a bunch of things together and calling it Ninjutsu. Your teacher will show you how to apply the many techniques, tactics, strategies, and skills contained within the system.

He or she will also introduce you to the weapons and tools that will allow you to be more effective than you could be with unarmed skills alone.

And, finally, you must be clear about where you are, and what you should be focusing on at each level as you progress. The idea with Ninjutsu training is that you should be living and training “intentionally” rather than just being 'spoon-fed' by your teacher.

Ultimately, you and you alone are responsible for your own training and progress. Your teacher and fellow senior students can only guide you and provide you with pieces of the puzzle.

If this article was helpful and you want to learn more about what it takes to progress toward warrior mastery in the martial, self-defense, and life mastery system of ninjutsu, then I suggest that you check out this ebook that I'm giving away: http://www.warrior-concepts-online.com/becoming-the-master-subsc.html

Or if you are looking for a home study program to help you with your ninjutsu training, then check out this ninjutsu home study course: Sanshin Kihon Happo

I look forward to training with you very soon.

NINPO-IKKAN!

Shidoshi Jeffrey M. Miller SPS, DTI
Founder and Director
Warrior Concepts Int'l, Inc.
Bujinkan Moki no Tora Dojo
362 Market Street
Sunbury, Pa. 17801 USA

Master-teacher
Bujinkan Dojo Internationa
http://www.warrior-concepts-online.com

If You're Looking for "Cool" or "Pretty" Ninjutsu Martial Arts Training...It Isn't Here!

2011-04-16T18:22:00.012-04:00

I don't know about you and your goals. Well, not unless you're one of my personal students with whom I've been working closely with for a while now.

But, when I came to the Ninja's martial arts, I was a police officer. That means that I wasn't looking for fluff, "official" kata, or "soft-training."

I was looking for close combat training and hand-to-hand self-defense techniques that worked. I was also looking for self defense tactics and training that the other martial arts and self defense programs that I had been through just didn't teach.

That being said, I wanted to give you a little more background as to why, how, and some of the reasoning behind my own focus and training. Of course, if you're not looking for real self-defense training, or you're looking for the movie or storybook Ninja - if you want to dress up like a 16th century shadow and take on the mafia single-handedly...

Then, for better or worse...

I can't help you!

You see, unlike many people in the martial arts world, I didn't come to Ninjutsu or Budo-Taijutsu from a sense of love for the martial arts. I didn't set out to become a martial arts teacher or even have one of the "beyond mastery" ranks after 10th degree. Hell, when I first started in this art, I couldn't see beyond Nidan - 2nd degree Black Belt. But, then again...

Ranks meant something very different when I began training in 1980.

So, what was it that brought me to this training? Well, in a word: "Reality!"

Understanding what I mean requires that I share a little bit of who I was before training. It also means that I need to step down off of the pedestal that many have placed me on.

You see, I grew up in a very abusive home (mentally, physically, and emotionally). I was the victim of every bully in school. So, I had the chance to see some of the worst that humanity could be capable of, very early in my life.

Like others in the art, Soke Hatsumi included, it was this need to become strong in the face of danger, and to protect myself from real harm that sent me looking for answers. That, and my exposure to an old television series in the 1960's called, "Kung Fu."

You see, I wasn't attracted to the martial arts, including Ninjutsu, from some sense of becoming a Ninja Turtle, Power Ranger, or another lick-ass Bruce Lee or Chuck Norris wanna-be. I came to this training out of a need for self-protection, but without becoming a fighter. Very different things.

So, starting in Junior High School (we didn't call it "middle" school back then), I discovered the martial arts and joined the karate club. That lead to my search through many different martial arts styles, systems, schools, and teachers... but not feeling "at-home" in any one of them because they just didn't match what I experienced in the "real world."

Then, while stationed with the U.S. Army in South Korea in 1980, and while trying to figure out how to make tae kwon do serve me on the streets as a Military Policeman (without getting nailed for brutality charges for kicking perpetrator's heads in!), I discovered Ninjutsu. And, not only was I impressed with the self-defense and combat aspects of the art (they were presented in a way that dealt with real-world, modern attacks back then), I was also drawn to the composite and dynamic nature of the training - things that went far beyond the scope of conventional martial arts.

But, I didn't stop there.

My years as a street cop, and then eventually as an undercover investigator, private detective and body guard allowed me to go beyond the dojo mentality and really get to experience how these techniques, tactics, and strategies work - against modern attackers, on the street, in the 20th and now 21st century. And, there was even a time where I and a few of my friends spent some time...

...trying to prove this art WRONG!

Instead of being blind believers and followers, we put the art to the test by getting together with other practitioners, by going to other martial arts classes, and by trying to beat the techniques ourselves. And, do you know what we came away with?

We came away with a new-found understanding of the reality and true nature of the training. No illusions. No "pipe-dreams." No super-hero delusions.

That's why you won't see me getting upset because somebody wrote to me to tell me how "bad" my taijutsu is - or that I'm not doing this or that kata "right."

Because I'm not doing this to look like everyone else. I am, and always have been, engaged in this system of self-protection and personal mastery from a realistic perspective that's focused on producing real-world results. And, because it has proven itself to me, not through a politically biased association with certain teachers that I know, like, and trust, but because the lessons that I received from those teachers has proven themselves again and again in the only place that matters -- on the street and in real situations that strip the facade off of those who have other agendas.

Again, I don't know about you, but...

I don't want to look "cool" or "pretty" with my training.

I train the way I do so that my training can "serve" me, and produce the results I need when I'll need it to the most!

Does that sound familiar? Are you learning Ninjutsu and getting the kind of real self-defense tactics and hand-to-hand training that teaches you how to defend yourself with the least amount of wear-and-tear on you?

If so, and you're not already receiving my email newsletters containing self defense tips and strategies for real street training, then now's the time. And, if you do, you can also grab two of my most popular free ebooks on how to protect yourself.

This one is from the purely street fighting self-defense perspective. It's called, Fight Smarter - Not Harder!

And this one discusses the advanced abilities and training as you progress through real ninjutsu training. It's titled, Becoming the Master.

After you download your books and get a chance to see what the best self defense and close combat training programs should be teaching you, perhaps you'll feel driven to go ahead and reserve your place at one of my upcoming ninja camps, and take the next step on the Path of Warrior Mastery!

In Mastery!

Shidoshi Miller

Warrior Concepts Int'l, Inc. / Bujinkan Moki no Tora Dojo
362 Market Street, Sunbury, Pennsylvania 17801 USA
(570) 988-2228

The Path of "Greater Sameness"

2011-02-08T12:13:00.004-05:00

Do you know why it's getting more and more difficult to find the "best" martial art or self-defense system?

Do you have any idea why, if your attacker has been paying attention and not living under a rock somewhere, that it's getting harder and harder to have the advantage in a fight or self-defense attack situation?

It's because...

Everyone is doing the same thing!

I don't mean that all the martial arts styles and self-defense systems are doing exactly the same thing, but...

When you look at each style or system, you very quickly see that vitually everyone is focused on applying the same skills, against the same targets, and in practically the same way... REGARDLESS of what they're calling what they do.

On top of that, if you take a good, hard look at the way Ninjutsu, Ninpo-taijutsu, or Budo-Taijutsu (whatever you want to call it) is being practiced today, by and large, most teachers and students are doing the exact same thing. Everyone is saying that their art or system is "best," when in fact they are going about things that the teachers and students in the conventional martial arts are doing.

I call this, taking the Path of "Greater-Sameness."

Everyone wants to do the same thing as everyone else... only better.

The problem with this is that, every fighter, attacker, and potential threat to your well-being... has seen your moves before.

He may not have seen your stance or kamae, but he's seen one like it.

He certainly expects you to "block" or counter what he's doing - regardless of whether you call it a "block" or a ken-nagashi, or whatever.

In fact, if he can see what you're doing - at ALL -even a little bit...

whether he's trained or not...

He's NOT going to let you do your cool moves... BECAUSE he can see them coming.

So...

What's the answer?

Well, I can tell you that, for starters, it does not lie in or on the Path of "Greater-Sameness."

In fact, if you're going to be able to survive, you absolutely must think differently.

About fighting.

About conflict.

About Self-defense.

And about "Surviving violence."

You must think about these things from the perspective that no one else is doing. Not other martial artists. Not other self-defense "experts" and practitioners. And not even others studying the same art that you are!

That goes for the everything from the way you punch, kick, and apply a joint lock, to the way you actually think about and assess a violent situation.

My "Inner-Circle" students know this. My in-house, dojo students know this. And those who attend my intensive seminars and yearly Ninja camps know this.

And now it's time for you to know and understand this fundamental truth, if you're going to get out of the same trap that every other student and teacher of martial arts and self-defense are caught in.

Now, if you think that you don't need to know this... that what you're doing is perfect and unbeatable... or if you think I'm "full of it," then I wish you all the "luck" should you ever find yourself in the "thick of things."

But, if this is something that you think you want to explore, to know and understand, to Master...

Then, I have a special treat for you. Because...

I just conducted a free, online training seminar where I taught students how to avoid this trap. This was a special, closed-door, private and personal tele-seminar for serious students only - people who (I hope) are just like you - students and teachers who know that something is wrong with the way things are being done and taught in the self defense and martial arts world...

...and now they know why.

So, what's the treat?

The treat is that, if you're serious about your training, then I'm offering you a complimentary copy of the recording from this class.

All you have to do to claim your free audio training seminar recording is to shoot me an email with the words, "Greater Sameness" in the subject block, and then a short note requesting the recording.

That's it.

In Mastery!

Shidoshi Miller

Real Self Defense Training - 5 Insane Self Defense Techniques That Even My Dog Won't Try!

2010-08-29T18:40:00.000-04:00

Every day, well meaning individuals just like you and I enroll in self defense and martial arts classes in order to learn real self defense training. The idea is to learn how to not get beaten, broken, or killed by a crazed lunatic who doesn't care that you have a life, dreams, and people who love and depend on you.

And, more often than not, what they end up learning are some of the most insanely stupid techniques that will never work against a serious attacker. After you read this article, you'll know why you must find an expert who has more than a certificate or black belt to teach you how to defend your self. You need someone with real-world experience doing what you want to be able to do!

Here are 5 of the most insanely stupid techniques that I have seen being taught to sincere students every day. Learn them if you want. But, use them at your own risk!

1) Putting your keys between your fingers as weapons! I don't know where this one came from but, all you have to do is try it sometime. First of all, when you're under pressure of attack, you're not going to have the time or coordination to get them where they're supposed to be. And second - you'll find that they just don't work very well in that position.

If you want to use your keys - just hold one like you normally would. It's strong, reliable, and if it's already in your hand - it's VERY destructive!

2) "X-Blocking" a knife stab from overhead! Now here's a technique that has been passed on by martial artists who have absolutely no idea where their art and it's techniques came from. And, while your arms may be very strong in this position, you lack the one thing that ancient warriors had when they did this technique - a helmet to catch and deflect the knife when it comes flying out of his hand! It's a matter of natural physics that says that the shock to his wrist that occurs when his arm slams into yours, will open his hand and inertia will propel the knife right into your head or face!

If someone is coming at you with a knife, get the hell out of the way!

3) Taking up a boxers position with your hands. For this one to work, he has to believe the same thing that you do - that your arms are actually indestructible shields! The smart attacker knows that your arms are flesh and blood just like everything else on you, and will just start pounding on your forearm bones to shut them down. Then, once you've lost the use of your arms, he moves in for the kill!

Your arms are good shields, but they must be positioned so that they are protected as well. If you're going to use your arms for cover, then position them so that the attacker has a much more difficult time trying to damage them!

4) Kicking the head! Yeah, let's do that. In an attempt to kick somebody in the head, we're going to sacrifice our groin, femoral artery, base-leg knee, and balance! Again, here's another case of martial artists being absolutely clueless about where their techniques and skills came from and why they were developed in the first place! The high kicks in Tae kwon do, and other forms of karate, were designed for unarmored fighters to kick someone on horseback! So, unless you've got something between your "mommy-daddy button" and the attacker's weapons - don't use these fancy, "look-at-me-ain't-I-cool" kicks on the street!

If you want to kick the guy in the head, take out his legs first. and then when he's down, kick him anywhere you want!

5) Carrying a gun for self defense with no combat training! This one is only asking for trouble. It's amazing how many people have a tremendously false sense of confidence - cops included - just because they're carrying a firearm. It's stupid. Absolutely insane! And the reason is that THE number one skill that is under-practiced, if it's ever practiced at all, is...

...drawing the weapon under pressure!

If you want to carry a firearm for self defense, make sure that you have the training to draw the weapon, aim without the use of sights, and hit your target every time the weapon fires - and be able to do these things while UNDER PRESSURE - not with your gun in one hand and a beer in the other, while you plink cans and bottles off a tree stump with your buddies!

Self defense is more than just learning cool moves or packing some "heat." It involves a mindset that understands not just what to do if something happens - but also what a real situation is like!

So, the question you have to ask yourself is, do you just want to think and feel like you can protect yourself or do you really want to have the skills that will allow you to protect yourself and others of your choosing when it matters the most?

The truth is that...

Effective self defense requires more than just a few "karate moves." It involves the ability to think strategically, and understand how to defend yourself with as little wear-and-tear on you as possible.

If you really want to know what you MUST know to survive a real street attack, read my newest self defense book: "Fight Smarter - Not Harder!" It's available free at: http://www.warrior-concepts-online.com/street-fighting-self-defense-book.html

Jeffrey M. Miller is an internationally-known self defense expert. Each month he teaches literally thousands of students through live seminars, corporate training events, and his in-demand Self Defense Success Secrets Home Study Courses, the lessons to be able to survive in Today's often dangerous world.

New Online Ninja Training & Ninjutsu Home Study Course!

2010-06-20T00:25:00.002-04:00

Are You Looking For The Secrets To Unlocking The Power of Ninpo-Taijutsu - the Ninja's Self-Protection method?

Advanced
Sanshin no Kata
& Kihon Happo

Video-Based
Ninjutsu Home Study &
Online Ninja Training Course

Are you looking for a solid foundation in the armed and unarmed, self defense methods of the Ninja?

Do you want to become a master of the art of Ninjutsu?

Have you tried learning from books and videos but still couldn't get the full benefit of the lessons?

Are you already a student of the art looking to take your training to the next level?

If so...

Do you think you know the Sanshin no Kata & Kihon Happo, the so-called "basic training models" of Budo and Ninpo-taijutsu?

Think again!

Because, regardless of whether you've been training in this art for years, or you're looking for a place to start - there are correct lessons, strategies, and skills which make up what are known as the "basics" - skills which have absolutely nothing to do with the forms - but make the forms EXACTLY what they are!

Let me ask you something critically important?

Get the rest of the info here...

Why Escaping From a Grabbing Attack Isn't Always The Best Move

2009-12-16T01:19:00.003-05:00

by Jeffrey M. Miller

Self defense is a very deep and often complicated subject. Contrary to all of the books, videos, and programs out there that promise to "make you a master in 30 seconds or less," effective and authentic self defense training involves much more than learning a couple of "cool moves." This is not to say that you can not learn some important lessons that will allow you to be successful fairly quickly - it's not going to happen over night. In fact, this article discusses a strategy that you just won't find in the "drive-up window-style" self defense products.

In most self defense and martial arts programs, grab defenses are usually approached from the same perspective. The techniques are generally designed to effect your release from the grab. Regardless of whether you're defending against wrist or clothing grabs, body grabs like "bearhugs," or other restraints, the primary focus is usually on escaping.

This escaping and freeing yourself from the assailant's grip is not a bad idea. In fact, it should be the primary goal for the beginning student who wants to put as much distance between herself and her attacker.

But, as you grow in both ability and comfort level with "being attacked," the advanced training should offer you strategies that allow you more control of the situation, and...

...step outside the attacker's perspective.

One of these strategies is in the way we handle a grabbing attack. Where the beginner and the technique-oriented self defense systems focus on escaping, the advanced student sees that there are several benefits to NOT escaping from your aggressor's hold.

Some of those benefits include:

2) You know where the grabbing hand is. In a self defense situation, you want to keep track of where his body weapons are at all times. That way, he can't pull a weapon or attack without you knowing it.

3) When you counter attack, he won't let go. This is very difficult to explain in print, or even in a demonstration and should be experienced to be understood. Suffice it to say that, since he "has you," psychologically he is almost conditioned to hold on all the way to the end.

The key to quickly, efficiently, and effectively defending yourself against a street fighter, or any assailant who has experience, is to be able to think outside the box and do things in a way that they have not seen before. This begins with seeing the situation with different eyes than everyone else uses.

Are you serious about learning real world self defense? Download my new ebook, "Fight Smarter - Not Harder."

Self Defense Training

Jeffrey M. Miller is an internationally-recognized personal protection expert and one of the top 10 self defense instructors on the internet today.

Jeff says, "If you really want to be able to defend against and survive a real attack, then I can teach you how to defend yourself against virtually any attacker - guaranteed!"

Self Defense Tips - Street Fighting and Modern Street Self Defense Tips From the Art of Ninjutsu

2009-11-16T16:18:00.002-05:00

You don't have to be a Ninja to get some very powerful street self defense tips from the ancient art of Ninjutsu!

It's true. There was a time when I was discouraged with what was being offered as traditional martial arts masquerading as effective systems of self defense for today's world. I saw a huge difference between what we practiced in class and used in the tournament ring, and what was really needed for surviving a street fighting self defense situation.

Do you know what I mean?

But, here's something that I found out. Not all martial arts were created equal. More to the point, most of the conventional systems of martial arts training that we see today, were modified and radically changed from their original combat forms between the mid-1800's up to as late as the 1950's! Fortunately for us, the art of Ninjutsu, a counter-culture to the ruling Samurai, never made the change.

What that means for those of us looking for effective and, more importantly - proven - self defense tips, is that what is being taught today is the same thing that was being used by people who had to save their lives from attacks practically every day. It means that what we're learning and putting to use in our modern street self defense situations worked again and again. And...

Anything that was tried by an ancient warrior that didn't work - we don't know about. Why? Because it died with him!

Here are 3 powerful self defense tips right from the Ninja's art of Ninjutsu that I seriously recommend adding to your self defense skills. They are not step-by-step techniques but rather concepts that will make any technique better, and they will make techniques that are already good - more powerful and effective than you can imagine!

1. Nagare - "Flow": This is the relaxed natural transition of one movement into another without the jerky, start-stop, robotic action of karate-kata. You naturally slip your attacker's attempted punch, grab, or kick, and then, without stopping, respond with a counter attack of your own.

2. Ritsudo - "Rhythm" or "Timing": The ability to move, defend, or attack at just the right moment that makes both your attack a surprise and impossible for your assailant to defend against!

3. Kotsu - "Essence": The technique behind the physical movements. The idea or strategy that we're applying. Instead of "counter-striking his attacking arm," the Ninja sees this as "neutralizing the force of his attack." This way, it's not "how" we're doing what we're doing, but "what" we're doing to him - and "why."

If you're looking for powerful self defense tips that are effective, time-tested, and proven, then I recommend that you explore the world of Ninjutsu and the Ninja's ability to adapt to, and deal with, modern street fighting self defense attacks.

Do you want to know how I do it? You can learn more about defending yourself using the principles of Ninjutsu in this powerful course called, "Foundations of Self-Defense Mastery."

Self Defense Tips

And don't forget to get your free Ninja training dvd: "Ninja Camp 2004". Get your free course and ninja camp dvd and learn how to really protect yourself - Ninja-style! Go to: http://www.warrior-concepts-online.com

Self Defense Training - 3 Critical Differences Between Martial Arts Training and a Real Attack!

2009-10-29T00:46:00.002-04:00

Do you have martial arts experience? Have you taken a self defense training program or two, but know that there is a difference between what you've learned and a real fight?

I understand completely. Because, before I got this area of my life figured out, I was in the exact same place.

When I was a police officer, I and my fellow officers would joke that, when it came to our self-defense training, we were "graduates of Thursday's class at 3 o'clock!" And, police officer or not, we need to know that what we're getting from our self defense training will give us the necessary tools, and maybe more importantly - the confidence - for actually succeeding in a real-life violent attack!

Here's a self defense tip that I used to get what I needed: I looked at what I was learning and compared that with what I actually experienced in a self defense situation against real attackers. Then, and here's what you have to do as well...

I found teachers that could give me what I needed to survive!

But, how do you know if the self defense training you're getting is right?

Here are several differences between conventional martial arts training and most so-called self defense programs. If the self defense training that you're getting overly focuses on these elements... run!

1. Pre-staged training. Technique training is important, but if everything you're doing involves step-by-step, memorized strings of moves with no allowance for variations or drills for creative response and decision-making under pressure, then you are not developing the critical skills you'll need to survive! If you aren't learning to apply the skills your getting in a chaotic, free-response, and stressful way, then what you're doing is really not self defense training!

2. Coddling. While your self defense training should be relatively safe, your instructor should not be coddling you and telling you how great you are. He should also not have to deal with whining, complaining, or other nonsense about you're not wanting to do certain skills for whatever reason. You either want to be able to defend yourself against a brutal attacker who doesn't care about you, or you want to look good and show off!

3. Emotionally-sterile. One of the most important missing elements from most martial arts and self defense training courses is emotion. The reality is that, a self defense situation is a highly-charged - highly emotional experience. It is one of the most emotional situations you could ever find yourself in.

And yet, the majority of time in most training is spent on step-by-step training and theory - not learning how to operate under certain types of psycho-emotional stress - each type limiting your body in very specific ways!

If you really want to survive a real-life attack, then you must find a self defense training program that will give you the tools you will need! You must learn things you never wanted to know, do things most people don't want to have to do, and experience things that will scare you, unnerve you, and make you feel uncomfortable!

But then, you know what your other choice is, right? And he's waiting out there for you!

Is your self defense training giving you the security, skills, and confidence to survive? If you're serious about getting the techniques, tactics and strategies that work, then I want to help you.

Do you want to know how I do it? You can learn more about defending yourself with this strategy and others in this powerful course called, "Foundations of Self-Defense Mastery."

Get this Self Defense Training Course!

This powerful course outlines 6 phases of an effective self defense strategy and training outline that I recommend if you really want to be able to defend yourself against real-world, brutal attackers who want to beat, break or kill you. And the best part is that it's free when you subscribe to my online self defense training newsletter.

And don't forget to get your free self defense DVD: "Danger Prevention Tactics: Protecting Yourself Like A Pro". Click here to get your free self defense training course and self defense DVD and learn how to really protect yourself! http://www.warrior-concepts-online.com

Know How to Defend Yourself Against a Bigger Attacker? 1 Secret Makes it Easier to Defend Yourself!

2009-10-28T00:37:00.001-04:00

Do you want to able to defend yourself against a bigger, stronger attacker?

I know how you feel. I have always been short and, even though I have been involved in the martial arts and self defense since my teen years, when I became a police officer I found it nearly impossible to use what I learned in conventional martial arts against bigger attackers - let alone guys my own size!

I'm sure you can imagine just how confused and frustrated I was. All that time, effort, and training - for what? So I fully understand your own uncertainty at being able to defend yourself in a real self-defense street fight.

But, I have a secret for you... and here it is:

I learned what it takes to protect myself against a violent attacker who was bigger and stronger than me, and you can learn to defend yourself too!

Get this, almost 90% of attacks can be handled with basic skills because most attackers are opportunists. That means that if you make it difficult for them, they will go look for an easier target!

So, this is excellent news for you and I - especially since we want to know how to defend yourself quickly, easily and, more importantly, effectively! And, we can use this fact to our advantage.

I want you to think about a time when someone startled you or you were nervous or scared of something. Your body didn't charge in or stand still like an emotionless robot did it?

Typically, martial arts and self defense training classes that you could take to learn how to defend yourself take up this static positioning from which to defend. And I understand why. It's easy to learn the moves this way. But your body just doesn't work this way in a real-world, violent attack - especially when you're trying to defend yourself against someone bigger than you.

So instead, let's use this secret strategy from the martial art of ninjutsu - Japan's ancient Ninja - to defend yourself!

What is this secret? It's this:

Strategic Distancing

And, all strategic distancing is, is using proper distancing to control the attacker's ability to get at you while you're defending yourself. You can do this is by...

1. Being too far away so the assailant has to make up the distance before his attacks will land, or...
2. Getting in too close so that he doesn't have the room he needs to do what he's good at.

Warning: Do not neglect the above strategies! Be sure to take this critical, life-saving skill seriously and add it to your self defense training if you're serious about being able to defend yourself against a violent attacker who's larger than you.

Can you defend yourself against larger, stronger attackers? If you want to learn how to do this effectively then I want to help you. Do you want to know how I do it? You can learn more about defending yourself with this strategy and others in this powerful course called, "Foundations of Self-Defense Mastery."

Defend Yourself

And don't forget to get your free self defense dvd: "Danger Prevention Tactics: Protecting Yourself Like A Pro". Click here to get your free course and self defense dvd and learn how to really protect yourself! http://www.warrior-concepts-online.com

Reality-Based Self-Defense: A Two-Fold Approach For Successful Personal Defense

2009-10-18T22:48:00.002-04:00

by Jeffrey M. Miller
Director
Warrior Concepts Int'l, Inc

Many people, including karate and so-called self-defense teachers really aren't sure where to begin when it comes to mastering the ability for protecting yourself against a real-world violent attacker. This article takes a look at the two-fold approach that I suggest for clients who are serious about getting through a street attack.

To explore the common approach to martial arts and self-defense instruction, the typical approach appears to be to simply get a few of tricks and techniques, earn some cool-looking belt or maybe a certificate of some kind, and presto, you're set. Right?

If that's true, then why are so many trained individuals becoming victims to real attackers? Why, if this stuff works in the dojo or self-defense class, are their infalible skills failing miserably on the street, when dealing with real-world attacks thrown by serious, real-world assailant?

There are lots of possibilities but I think the primary one is that, for the most part, these classes are simply a case of the blind leading the blind. What that means is that individuals, who have no experience with dealing with violence, are attempting get something from self-defense instructors who, themselves, are lacking street experience at overcoming and winning real world attack situations.

So, what do you need to survive a real self-defense situation?

My own view on the whole self-defense learning curve, and what I teach my clients, is two fold.

Initially, be trained in as many options as possible so that you can react in different situations and against a variety of assailants.

Also, in the moment, when an attack is happening, the defender must be able to respond to and manage the violence itself - no matter where it comes from or what's behind it.

Like a double-edged sword, each side is critical if the practitioner is to be truly successful. The first part, your class training should arm you with not just tested skills, but an understanding of the critical principles and concepts that are being taught by the classroom models. In this way, you won't have to rely the taught techniques themselves, but you will be able to operate during the attack, not against a stylized attack but, against the actual assault your attacker is throwing at you. Several of these foundational ideas include:

1) Shielding

2) Strategic angling and positioning

3) Timing and responsiveness

4) Proper distance

5) and others

The second is associated with attitude, or "heart." Regardless of how sure you are, or feel in class with your friends, peers, and junior students, what matters in a real self-defense situation is how you respond and deal with the pure, animalistic violence being thrown at you by a serious, angry, and violent human being who isn't pulling their punches and couldn't care less about your safety at all. Will you focus or freeze? The only thing that will matter is what no one else but you will do when that moment is on you.

Reminds me of the plane ride I found myself on to the tiny island of Grenada when I was in the Army several years ago. While I sat there, looking at the other side of the plane and reviewing what I would do when I was actually in a deadly combat zone (assuming we didn't get blown out of the sky first), I heard other guys farther back in the aircraft actually crying. Ironically, these were the same super-troopers who, during practice field exercises where we practiced our combat skills, ran around playing John Wayne and Steven Seagal, acting tough and telling everyone that they were ready to go to war right then and there. Well, here we were - heading for the real thing - and they were the least-prepared to deal with the intense reality of the situation.

Your training must make sure that you can deal with both his punches, kicks, cuts,or whatever the attack may be, and you must be able commit yourself to winning by dealing with the rage and raw brutality that is a natural part of combat. Two sides to the same coin. Both necessary for success.

So, examine what you've trusted up till now, and insure that you do so with the eyes of a critic, not a blind believer. See what's in the news. Ask some law enforcement or security professionals, bouncers, or even military personnel who have seen combat what you can expect to experience inside a actual self-defense situation with someone who wants to beat, break, or kill you. Then, all assumptions aside, begin to learn what you'll need to fill in the gaps to make sure that you'll come out on top, and not end up face down on the sidewalk!

Do you want to learn the attitudes, skills, and knowledge to master this part of your life? I have just completed my brand new online e-course to self-defense mastery, "Foundations of Self-Defense Mastery"

Download it free here: Self Defense Course

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Reserve your place now in my upcoming EDR Self-Defense Intensive Training Weekend - Nov. 14th - 15th, 2009. Here's the link to get all the details:

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Jeffrey Miller coaches private students, organizations, and martial arts teachers how to not die or fall victim in a brutal attack situation. Mr. Miller says "If you really want to learn what you must know to be a self-defense expert, I can teach you how to master the skills necessary to successfully protect yourself against any attacker, guaranteed"

Self-Defense Within Martial Arts Training Demands a Real-World Perspective

2009-03-04T01:12:00.001-05:00

This story is being offered in response to a request made by my teacher, Soke (Grand Master) Masaaki Hatsumi, during a recent training visit to Japan. During one of the training sessions, Soke was suggesting that everyone, regardless of rank, should make it a point to talk to those with actual combat experience and to learn from these people. The point was, if you do not know what a real fight is like, you will not be able to train properly for an authentic situation.

I was asked to share some of my experience in dealing with an attack and the following story came to mind. Though I have much experience with dealing with danger and dangerous people, this particular situation stands out as both a successful outcome where I was able to use some of my ninpo-taijutsu martial arts training, and a learning experience where I was actually able to control both my awareness and response, instead of mentally shutting down and "hoping" for the best.

***

The incident occurred many years ago while I was stationed in, what was then, West Germany. I was serving with the United States Army Military Police Corps. My partner and I were called to respond to a unit where a serviceman was assaulting others, including the officer-in-charge.

When we arrived at, what we thought was, the location of the incident, there was no one but the Charge of Quarters present. He had no idea about the incident. What none of us knew was that the 'problem' was occurring next door and moving in our direction.

While my partner and I were confirming the call with our superiors, the attacker entered the building where we were. He was obviously intoxicated and shouting racial insults and demanding satisfaction before he started a 'real war.' By the smell of him, he had been drinking heavily and primarily whiskey. His clothes showed signs of a struggle and at this point I wasn't sure if I was facing an attacker or the victim of an assault.

I immediately tried to calm the individual and find out what the problem was. As I was doing this, several other soldiers, including the command duty officer entered the building and became involved. The belligerent soldier was going on with his racial attacks and how he was attacked by what he thought were his friends. It was then that he turned his attention to me and began implying that he had martial arts experience and "didn't have to prove himself to anyone."

During this, and later after interviewing witnesses, we found that the individual had tested for his black belt in another martial art earlier that day and was out 'celebrating' with his friends. Witnesses testified that the more intoxicated he became, the more he started "showing off" to his friends which involved hitting and kicking. Eventually, his friends had had enough and then attempted to stop his obnoxious behavior by pushing him away and leaving him behind. This only made him more "playful" at which time he jumped on his friends resulting in them throwing him down on the ground. It was this that finally enraged him enough to chase them to the barracks and begin attacking others.

As he was telling me that he didn't have to prove himself, he also made statements that I only thought that I was tougher than him because I carried a gun, a nightstick and wore an MP helmet. I responded by removing my helmet and handing my night stick to my partner in an attempt to neutralize any perceived threat that I might be projecting and bring the soldier's anxiety level down. I informed him that the gun stayed where it was but that we needed to talk like civilized men so we could solve whatever problem was going on.

The soldier continued on with the "I'm a black belt and don't need to prove how tough I am" speech when he closed the distance and, from about an inch from my face, stated that, "I'm going to show you how tough you're not."

I ordered the soldier back and before I knew what was happening, I sensed his fist coming up between our bodies toward my jaw. I rode off the strike which landed before I could evade and then backed out as he began to flail widely with both arms at my head and body. I remember taking up a hoko-like position (a guarding posture in ninjutsu designed to create a protective 'bubble' that is difficult for the attacker to get through) to cover against the incoming attacks and having to simultaneously deal with an officer who thought that I was the one doing the attacking!

At one point, I realized that his right arm had wrapped around my left forearm and that a 'musha-dori-like thing' (uplifting elbow - shoulder dislocating technique) was happening. I remember moving to capture his balance and laid him down when suddenly his feet went out from under him. Later I found out that, in an attempt to help, my partner chose that moment to sweep my assailant's legs out from under him. I felt the soldier's shoulder give way as I applied the lock and took him down. This didn't help with the anxiety and emotional pressure I was dealing with as I was now worried about a possible 'police brutality' charge for excessive force.

This injury didn't deter his aggression though as he continued to fight against our restraint. We were finally able to subdue him and get him onto his stomach to be handcuffed when his wife and young child entered the building. I don't know how they found out about the situation but there they were. I felt sad for them and was only able to give a look of apology for having to do this. Again, more stress was added in that I didn't want to have to physically hurt this man in front of his family.

Unfortunately, their presence only served to escalate the problem. When the soldier became aware of his wife and child, he blamed my partner and I for his "embarrassment" and began to fight against his restraint again. I am not a big man and this soldier's build was easily 150% of my own size and weight, so holding him was a serious problem. Having to improvise and immobilize the man, I placed my night stick between the handcuff chain and his back and applied leverage against his spine which created a situation where he would only hurt himself with his continued resistance. This was only necessary for a moment or two, as he passes out from his exertion.

*************

As I related during my initial telling of the story at the Hombu Dojo ('main training hall'0 in Noda-city, Japan, my legs begin to shake and I can feel my breathing change as I recall this situation and many others like it. It does not control me or the way I go through my life in the ordinary sense that I am not afraid to associate with people or the like. What it has done is imprinted on me much more than just a step-by-step memory of the events, and I'm sure that my recollection of these is less than accurate because the experience was much more emotional and from what Soke has called "budo-nerves" orientation or perspective than from any sort of memorized technique string.

I will simply end this by saying that, this situation is one that has forever changed my perspective on how I should train, and as a teacher, how I should train my students. It has taught me that kata-like, step-by-step training is only a piece of the training puzzle but, anyone who believes that they will fight this way is deluding themselves. Conversely, it has also taught me that training that is just henka-based, where the basics like cover, distance and the like are not drilled until they become second-nature and the student just "does whatever" in an attempt to imitate (his or her teacher) is also deluded. This type of practice is necessary but, again, only a piece.

I am in complete agreement with Soke when he points out that it is the ability to go between the animal instinct response required for surviving an attack and returning to the civilized state to live a happy life, unstained by fear, defensiveness or antisocial behavior because of the attack that should be the goal.

Let me also say that, I respect Soke and the Shihan master instructors that I train with. But, not simply because they are Soke and the Shihan. I respect these people and continue to train in this art precisely because my own experience with having to handle danger tells me that what they have to offer is authentic and "on the mark" with that experience. Because I know that should I ever be attacked again, it will be the lessons that I have learned from them and not my admiration of them or their abilities that will help to insure that my family gets to have me around a little while longer. In a world filled with martial artists and instructors who want trophies, admiration and to 'look good,' it is comforting to know that there are still those who have what the true warrior needs to create a life worth living and the power to protect that life from whatever might harm it.

Jeffrey M. Miller is the founder and master instructor of Warrior Concepts International. A senior teacher in the Japanese warrior art of Ninjutsu - "the art of the Ninja," he specializes in teaching these ancient, proven, and time-tested self-protection and personal development secrets in a way that transforms his students into modern-day Ninja warrior masters themselves.

Want to master the science of self-defense? Get your copy of my free e-book, "Fight Smarter - Not Harder" by going to http://www.warrior-concepts-online.com

For additional information about how Jeffrey Miller or Warrior Concepts can help you transform yourself with the secrets of the ancient Ninja Warriors, go to the Home page or call WCI at 570-988-2228

This article is copyright (C)2005, 2009 by Jeffrey M. Miller and Warrior Concepts International, Inc. It is free to use in it's original form, with no alterations or additions. If it to be used online, all links must be active and without the use of "no-follow" type coding which would prevent the reader from accessing the resources being referenced.

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Self-Defense: Your Body's Own Natural Self Protection Modes

2009-01-22T18:59:00.003-05:00

Contrary to common belief, the human body has a set of default, hardwired defense modes that can be used in your defense against a real-world attacker. Here, I'll briefly describe these modes and how you can use them to win against a dangerous attacker.

If you look at most martial arts and self-defense programs, you can easily come to the belief that all you have to do is learn a few moves or techniques, train until you can execute them well, and...well, that's it. You're a master or self-defense expert.

However, there is one aspect that's generally missing from most self defense training. And that is the addition of your body's emotions as tools for defense.

In the past few years, systems and programs have been developed that focus on what's known as "adrenal response training." These programs, however, tend to concentrate on only one of these emotional states, or modes.

There are actually four of these modes that we can find ourselves in when confronted with danger. Each state is a natural response to several factors including things like your:

1. Perception of danger or level of threat
2. Personality type
3. Rules and restrictions that you're aware of as a part of your job

And others

Each of these modes is more than a mood, state, or condition which we might find ourselves in. They also control, in many ways, how we process information, and even work to free or hinder certain types of body movement.

The Four Emotion-based Defensive Modes Are:

Stable/Confident

Adaptable/Defensive

Direct/Aggressive

Slippery/Evasive

As I said, each of these modes is both a reaction to the current situation, and a strategy for handling a situation in a very specific way. As a general outline, I'll quickly explain each mode from both a responsive and a controlling perspective.

Please note that the following modes are in no particular order of importance, nor is one better than any of the others. But you may find that a particular mode or two feel more comfortable or "natural" for you, each should be seen as an option that can be pressed into service in a self-defense situation. And, as I've said time and again, the more options you have in any given situation, the greater your chances of getting the results you want.

Stable/Confident "Earth" Mode.

This defense mode is marked by a general sense of relaxed calm. You really don't perceive a threat and you are in firm control of the encounter. Notice that I didn't say that you were stubborn and forced a sense of command. In what I call the "earth-mode," you use superior positioning and relaxed strength to stop his attacks and direct your strong points against his weak ones, using leverage and crushing pressure to put an end to his plan to hurt you.

Adaptive/Defensive "Water" Mode.

Just like the water, you adapt to his movements. You use long-range, defensive angling to pull away from his attacks and then crash back in with powerful strikes and kicks to his vulnerable weak points. This mode is often present when you feel intimidated by his size, strength, or other factors. You instinctivelly want to create time and distance between you and your opponent so that he has to work harder to get at you.

Direct/Aggressive "Fire" Mode.

Either out of fear, anger, or a need to react first, you move in and direct the fight to the bad guy. In this "fire" mode, you are almost pulled in by a sense of urgency and a need to get things over with quickly. When I say "aggressive," I do not necessarily mean destructive, but rather a direct, committed, "go-for-it" attitude which sends you directly in to meet the assailant before he can really get started. Again, this mode could be triggered by anger just as easily as it could be initiated out of a feeling of being cornered and needing to take action right away.

Slippery/Evasive "Wind" Mode.

This mode is marked by a very carefree, open movement with a sense of last-second timing to slip, avoid, and wrap up your opponent with his own attacks. The body position associated with this mode is very open and looks very different when compared against the conventional martial arts and self-defense stances that you usually see. This mode could be caused by a complete desire to avoid the situation altogether. It could also be used in a playful, confusing manner as you effortlessly evade your attacker's punches, kicks, and grabs only to catch him with your own attacks from unseen and confusing directions.

Like I said, there is no one best mode. Each is a natural response that is hardwired inside us and a part of our overall natural human self-protection mechanisms.

While each of us has steered toward one or another of these modes as we've moved through our lives, and perceive our chosen one as the "only natural" for us. The truth is that, with proper training, each mode can be developed, enhanced, and added back into our arsenal as a very powerful strategic option for dealing with a real-world self-defense situation with a very real-world attacker.

Are you a private individual, law enforcement or security professional, member of the military, or corporate manager looking for real-world self-defense training that works?

Get the information you need to survive a real world self-defense situation.

Get 3 self-defense bonus reports when you get the Complete Self-Defense Training Library

Jeffrey Miller is an internationally recognized self-defense expert. He is the creator of the unique EDR: Non-Martial Arts Defensive Training System and teaches individuals, security professionals, companies, and organizations how to survive danger in Today's often unsafe world. Go to his web site at => www.warrior-concepts-online.com

Martial Arts: Are You Learning To Get Your Arms Battered In A Real-World Fight Or Self-Defense Situation?

2009-01-21T22:35:00.003-05:00

When it comes to defending targets against an opponent's attacks, especially punching attacks, a martial art student focusing on real-world\effective self-defense must be careful that you're not overlooking one. While this particular target may be virtually invisible to most attackers, not to mention martial arts students and instructors, facing a skilled attacker who knows how to exploit this weakness can have you on the losing end with a broken arm, if not more, when everything is said and doneit's all over.

What is this target?

And how can the bad guy get to this target and you end up with a broken arm, or close to it, as a bare minimum?

Before I answer that question, here's one for you.

Have you ever seen a boxer's stance? Have you ever watched boxers move around during a match?

I'm sure you have.

Now, where are their arms?

Up. Right?

And they do it for cover - to protect their heads and faces from being pummeled by their opponent's fists, right?

Of course.

One more question.

Have you ever seen pictures or film footage of one of the old-style fighters? You know, like Joe Lewis, or even those before his time? Have you ever seen how boxers stood back then, or positioned their arms...before boxing gloves were used?

If you haven't, you really should do some research so you can understand what I'm talking about. Especially if you're serious about being able to survive against an assailant who's serious about beating, breaking, or even killing you.

To get to the point, I'll tell you a little about the old school, bare-knuckle fighters. Even those who used gloves, didn't have the kind of padding that we do today. So, they held their arms and fists in very different positions than today's fighters.

Why?

Because they knew that holding your arms up and out in front of your attacker's fists, would get them beaten. They also knew that if their arms were hit while in this position, that they also stood the chance of punching themselves in the face with their own knuckles!

What does this have to do with you learning self-defense. Simple. Because many teachers are teaching their students to fight or defend themselves with their arms in this modern boxer position.

"So," you might be saying, "what's the problem?"

The problem is that not understanding why something is done, or why it's effective in one context, can lead you to think that it works all the time. And, especially in the realm of self defense and not-dying at the hands of some crazy maniac, this is certainly true.

The reason that modern boxers can hold their arms the way they do is precisely because of their gloves. Sport martial artists fighting in competitions can get away with this also. It's because the opponent's knuckles are covered with padding that protects your arms. So, these fighters never go for the arms as a target. They know that it's pointless.

But, without the gloves, the knuckles can deal a lot of damage to the narrow bones of your forearm. Something that's just not an issue in in a sport fight.

The point here is that, if you're studying martial arts to win trophies or to get belts, do whatever style you want and all the luck to you. However, if you're trying to develop the ability to protect yourself against a brutal assailant who will do anything to brutalize you, there are certain mistakes you can't afford to make.

So, regardless of what you've been taught, avoid holding your arms vertically or at least turned with the broad back of the forearm out and use distance to keep the bad guy from going after your arms. After all, it's going to be very difficult to throw your own punches with arms that have been beaten or even broken because you put them out there for him to beat on.

Are you a private individual, law enforcement or security professional, member of the military, or corporate manager looking for real-world self-defense training that works?

Get the knowledge you need to effectively handle a real world self-defense situation.

Get three self-defense reports when you get my Self-Defense Super Library

Jeffrey Miller is an internationally known self-defense expert. He is the creator of the powerful EDR: Non-Martial Arts Defensive Training System and teaches individuals, security professionals, companies, and organizations how to be more safe in Today's often unsafe world. Go to his web site at => www.warrior-concepts-online.com

The Unseen Value of Martial Arts Training - A Lesson From Ben Franklin

2008-08-17T16:54:00.002-04:00

During one of my recent trips to Japan for training with Bujinkan Grandmaster, Masaaki Hatsumi, one of the themes he touched upon in class was in the value of our training. And, how much like a good investment, the longer we participated, the more value we received.

Ironically, most students who come in to the academy, as with most things in their life, are looking for "quick results." Or, more to the point, a "quick fix." They say they're looking for self-defense and the ability to protect themselves from the ever-growing threat of danger in our world. But, what they're really looking for is a greater feeling of confidence. And, once they start to feel like they can handle themselves, which is usually after learning a couple of techniques well...

...they quit!

Soke ("head-of-lineage") Hatsumi, my teacher and the grand master of the Bujinkan Dojo, reminded us that...

..."there is a huge difference between "feeling" like you can handle yourself, and the ability to actually do it."

He said that most students are not willing to put enough time, effort, or energy to really understand what it feels like to live a life where, not only are they able to deal with danger should it happen to them, but that they don't have to worry about attackers appearing at all!

It's amazing, but true. As I have climbed the ladder in both rank and skill, there is one thing that I've noticed above all else. And that is...

...the greater my skill, the less I've had to use it for self-protection!

As a 12th degree Black Belt, I can't tell you how long it's been since I've had to deal with the threat of someone wanting to do me harm. And this is not limited to a physical assault, but extends into every area of my life.

I can hear many ask, "Why bother training at all, if you never have to use your skills for self-defense anyway?"

"Why bother at all? Why not just take your chances?"

While these questions sound logical, they are asked from the viewpoint of convenience. And, as we all know, what sounds good in theory, is often the furthest thing from reality.

The reason we train is twofold:

First, we train to realize that ideal life where we won't have to worry about danger because, even if it did occur, we knew we could handle it. And,...

Second, we're not there yet and may need to protect ourselves along the way to attaining our goal!

Benjamin Franklin, one of the acknowledged Founding Fathers of this great nation, once said, "They that are on their guard and appear ready to receive their adversaries, are in much less danger of being attacked than the supine, secure and negligent."

The truth is, the longer we train and the better we develop our skills, the safer we will be. This is true both of our self-defense techniques as well as our personal development skills.

In fact, I believe that it is precisely those traits and qualities that the martial arts have helped me to nurture, grow, and develop - traits like confidence, discipline, respect, commitment, and a host of others - that actually act as my shield against most attackers. It is these more than any physical skill that communicates to others that I am a confident, powerful person in control of his world, that determines who will want to connect with me, and for what reason.

Why learn the often-violent methods associated with the martial arts then, if all I had to do was to develop those inner qualities that keep me safe? Again, same reason as I mentioned before...
...until I do, I am at-risk from those forces that would seek to harm me.

Ironic, isn't it?

We come to self-defense training to be ready and able to protect ourselves from harm and, at the same time, are preparing ourselves for a day when few would ever want to. Because it is precisely our ability to handle ourselves, that creates the end result. Not the other way around.

Be careful. Only looking at the obvious parts of training will cause you to miss the big picture and the unseen value that it holds for you, and the rest of your Life!

Get more free articles like this one at www.warrior-concepts-online.com/articles.html

Also...

You can now subscribe to my new podcast radio show called "KUDEN". You can read more about it and the upcoming web-based seminars that I'll be offering by scrolling down a bit to the prior post with that information. Please note that, due to technical difficulties, the release dates had to be changed from what's listed in the original announcement. I just recorded the first show and it goes live on Wednesday, August 20th, 2008!

Other no-cost training resources:

Are you subscribed to my self-defense and ninja training newsletter? If not, you probably haven't received the free gift that you get when you subscribe. What is it?

It's a 7-part ecourse called, Foundations of Self-Defense Mastery" and it's my gift to you for becoming a member of WCI's growing group of online students and teachers. At this point, we have over 6,000 members and growing!

The newsletter itself is a fantastic way to keep informed and add to your knowledge and training database about topics like learning self-defense, online ninja training, women's self-defense, and even tips for parents on child safety. Add to that, this free course and the other books, videos, and live training programs offered through WCI, and you've got a one-stop place for all your self-defense, martial arts, and Ninja Training needs!

Alright. Enough of telling you why you're crazy if you haven't subscribed. Here's the link to get the newsletter and the free ecourse: Learn Self-Defense!

Until next time.

Peace, Happiness, and Success!

Shidoshi Miller

3 Keys To Effective Self-Defense

2008-08-04T11:25:00.002-04:00

By Jeffrey M. Miller
(C) 2008 Warrior Concepts Int'l, Inc.

When you think about a self-defense situation, what are the top three considerations for being effective? Is it having strength, stamina, power, or a ton of way-cool, tricky, martial arts techniques?

While all of those things help to one extent or another, none of them really touches on the priorities that will help you to prevail in a life or death struggle. Don't get me wrong. It certainly helps to be the bigger, faster, stronger, or more skilled combatant. But these things are only helpful if you're in a situation where they will serve you.

Let me explain it a different way.

Strength only matters if you are in a position or can grab your assailant in a way that allows you the use of your strength. And as for power...

... power is derived from size and motion. If an assailant jumps you and pins you to a wall or the floor, you will find it difficult to generate any sort of power as we normally think of it.

Stamina only matters if you're in a fight that's going to last minutes instead of seconds. Typically, karate and boxing tournaments have two minute rounds or bouts. That's an eternity in a life-and-death, self-defense situation where the goal is to get things over and done with in...

...less than 10 SECONDS!

As for knowing a lot of techniques, what can I say? Information is power, right?

But, what if you're new to this whole idea of self-defense? What if you just started taking classes or learning how to get away from a dangerous attacker? Or...

...what if, no matter how many techniques you know...

...your attacker is a better, more skilled, more experienced fighter?

Then what?

A Simple Formula

I've written extensively about what I call, "The 6 Phases of an Effective Self-Defense Strategy." This is designed to lead my students through just that, the phases that a self-defense situation can go through, and how to make sure that we have sufficient training to be able to operate effectively in each phase, or stage, of an attack.

Admittedly though, the 6 phases are the ideal - the best case we can hope for. They all function as they should when you have warning from your assailant and you can see things coming.

Often though, attacks happen with little or no warning at all. So, how do we trim even more off the top and come up with the minimum elements necessary to be able to come out of a situation with as little wear-and-tear as possible?

The key here is to focus on the situation that we're talking about. In the "6 Phases" formula, we can see the attack, or potential for danger, coming. So, we attempt things like...

Escaping to Safety,

Confusing the attacker, and...

Dissuading, or convincing him find another victim

This is just a quick outline for our discussion here. If you aren't familiar with the "6 Phases For Effective Self-Defense," you can learn about them in "The Karate-Myth." It's a great resource for understanding the "science of self-defense" and how to make protecting yourself as easy as possible. And, of course, it's loaded with some really great and easy-to-learn techniques for stopping an attacker and putting him where he belongs... on the GROUND! Click the link to read more about "The Karate-Myth" and the valuable bonus reports that go with it.

Just the Basics

1) Situational Awareness - Pay attention to what's going on around you. Actively look at people, instead of avoiding contact as is the case in most social situations.
2) Stay Focused - You could also call this step "Controlling Your Fear." If you notice someone or something that could be a threat - perhaps someone who looks angry or suspicious, keep your eye on them. You don't have to stare-and-glare, but you should be aware of them and what they're doing. I talk about this concept quite a bit in my video, "Danger Prevention Tactics: Protecting Yourself Like a Pro".

This also extends to the actual attack. Stay as calm as possible so that you can watch what's happening. For many people, their reaction is to close their eyes and "hope for the best." I didn't say this was easy, just what you MUST do to be successful.

And finally...
3) React Immediately and Decisively - As soon as the attack happens, start your defense. Don't try to figure out who this person is or why they're attacking you. You must immediately do three things if you stand a chance at winning. You must...
- A) Neutralize the effects of what they're doing. Cover your targets or ride-off the blows that are landing.
- B) Keep your head. Stay focused on what you can do and as soon as you have an opportunity...
- C) Take whatever targets open up. If he leaves his throat open and your can hit it - hit it! If you can kick his groin, kick his groin. Whatever presents itself, take THAT thing! And keep taking targets until he's down and out or help arrives.

This article is copyright (C)2008 by Jeffrey M. Miller and Warrior Concepts International, Inc. It is free to use in it's original form, with no alterations or additions. If it to be used online, all links must be active and without the use of "no-follow" type coding which would prevent the reader from accessing the resources being referenced.

For additional information about how Jeffrey Miller or Warrior Concepts can help you create the life you've always dreamed of living and how to protect that life from anything that would harm it, go to the Home page or call WCI at 570-988-2228

Get more free articles in Shidoshi Miller's Article Archive!

Get Self-Defense Training & Learn Ninjutsu Online

2008-07-21T10:21:00.002-04:00

Podcasts & Webinars

Just a quick note to let everyone know that I'm in the process of upgrading the ways that my students, clients, and friends can get information from me about self-protection and personal development training.

In addition to the free newsletters that you can subscribe to at:

http://www.warrior-concepts-online.com/newsletter.html

I am teaming up with two of my Black Belt students to produce a podcast radio show (called "Kuden") and a series of online seminars, also known as "webinars" on self-defense and Ninjutsu, the Japanese martial art of the Ninja. Future plans also include adding programs for my personal development, Mikkyo, and Corporate Workplace Violence clients.

Right now, the planned schedule will be:

Newsletters - 2 to 3x week

Podcasts - 1 per week

Webinars - at least 1 major one per month (with the possibility of a few smaller freebies)

The newsletter is of-course FREE.
And, when you subscribe, or go to the website at http://www.warrior-concepts-online.com you can sign-up for free online training courses that are delivered via email.

I'll have a page up soon about the podcasts (also "free"), including a very professional "opener" that you can download and listen to, to get an idea about the quality and "feel" of the shows.

Thanks again for your trust and support.

Peace & Happiness,

Shidoshi Jeffrey M. Miller

"3 Lessons of the Ninja's Kamae", and more...

2008-07-01T10:02:00.002-04:00

by Shidoshi Jeffrey M. Miller

In the Ninja's art of unarmed combat known as ninpo-taijutsu, or budo-taijutsu, there is the core lesson of kamae - the use of effective body positioning. While other martial arts might refer to this strategic positioning of the body as dachi or "stances," the Ninja sees his or her kamae as an outward manifestation of the inner workings of his or her heart, rather than a fixed position dictated by one's style.

Progress through any educational endeavor is often seen as merely learning the lessons that the teacher gives us. Nothing more. Nothing less.

Rarely does a student question the relevance of any given skill or its relationship to other skills and lessons being taught at the same time. And this is no different in the martial art world.

This is especially true when it comes to the skills commonly referred to as "the basics."

In fact, it's these "basics" that often go overlooked by students and teachers alike as being anything more than merely base elements of a particular style. In fact, they're often seen as nothing more than...

...the stuff to learn so we can move onto "the cool stuff."

I know that I, myself, used to believe that. That is, until I went from conventional, sport-oriented, martial arts, to the art of ninjutsu.

Of course, in the beginning of my training, kamae were just that...kamae. I really didn't see them as any different from the "stances" of my earlier training in karate, tae-kwon-do, and other arts. Even though my teacher spoke of "taking up" the kamae and repeating the "idea" of kamae as meaning "mind-body-spirit attitudes" - being the physical manifestations by our bodies of how we felt and what we thought we could do in any given moment.

It wasn't until I had years of training under my belt, so-to-speak, and found myself hitting a wall in my progress and growth that I finally decided to take another look at the obvious - at these things called kamae.

I began by looking at all of the positions that I had been taught. Each had a name and came from a particular lineage, or school of combat that had been passed down to my teacher.

I pulled out my notes and reread passages in books by my teacher and others who had written about the Ninja's art of ninjutsu, or ninpo, as it's known in its higher, life-centered, order.

But, it wasn't until I took a step back from my role as a student trying to get rank - trying to learn the next kata or "fight-example" - that everything started to become clear. It wasn't until I switched my brain from "learning" to "experience" mode that things started to make sense.

************************************************
You can't beat experience when it comes to something as vitally important as self-protection. In my book "The Karate-Myth" and the bonus materials that come with it, I share over 30 years of study, research, and practical experience garnered from my experience as a police officer, undercover investigator, and body guard. Get more info about the Karate-Myth here
************************************************

When I looked at my experience as a police officer and body guard and the lessons that I had picked up in "the school of hard-knocks" I suddenly realized that, regardless of form...

...regardless of whether a kamae came from the Gyokko-ryu, Kukishinden-ryu, or Koto school, they all were teaching the same lessons.

And then something else hit me.

Even the basics, the things we think of as obvious lessons, are themselves teaching us lessons.

I realized that buried within each lesson - within each skill - whether it be rolling, walking, cutting, shooting, or kamae...

...were lessons that were universal in nature and yet invisible unless you either knew what to look for or had a teacher with real-life experience who could help you to see them for what they are.

It was then that I realized that each and every kamae was teaching the same lessons. Some of these lessons were at deeper levels and required more understanding, but there were three that stood out for the beginner.

These three basic lessons of kamae are:

Cover - the ability to effectively shield oneself and make it difficult for an attacker to get at you
Stability/Balance - the ability to properly position and align the parts of your body for maximum effectiveness and minimum effort, and...
Attitude - the ability to communicate your intention to your opponent with your body

Once I uncovered these three jewels, everything changed in my training. I was no longer trapped by the ignorant eyes of the beginner who, years before saw what he thought his teacher was doing. I was then able to correct my kamae and take up positions that had strength, power, and the ability to control an attacker's perceptions, decisions, and actions, without even touching him.

Are you trying to learn as much as you can about the lineages that make up the Bujinkan Dojo?

Learn to fight smarter - not harder!

Check out the Takagi-Yoshin Ryu Shoden no Maki DVD

It was shot live during one of my training seminars and includes the techniques, strategies, and foundational lessons of the Takagi-Yoshin school, one of the 9 lineages contained within the Bujinkan Dojo.

A note of warning though, if you're looking for motion picture quality sound and video, you'll be disappointed. But, if you;re like most and are looking for the information, then this DVD will provide you with enough to keep you busy for months! It breaks through the myth that the jutaijutsu is a grappling art, and sheds light on the skills you'll need to bring this centuries old art to life in the 21st century!

Get your copy today!

Accident Update

Well, here it is... June. A full 9 months since my accident and I'm think I'm finally getting over the hump of things. I've been referred to anesthesiologists for what is known as "pain therapy." What that means is... they've decided to focus on the neuro-muscular issues that I've been telling them about. These doctors have put me on a stronger regimen of muscle relaxers, steroids, and neuro-adjusters (whatever they are). They gave me two weeks to improve before they consider a shot directly into the damaged area of my back, which they say they have to do under X-ray.

At this point, I don't think the shot will be necessary. The current medications seem to be working (except for the almost constant daze and fog I'm under with them). I've been slowly increasing my time on the floor with students, and adding to the skill sets to see what I still can and cannot do without causing more injury to myself.

I want to thank everyone who has been there for me and those of you who have been checking in on a regular basis. I also want to apologize to those of you who have called to leave messages or have sent emails that I just didn't get back to. It has been a rough road, but improvement, as always, is ongoing.

New Books and Videos Coming Soon!

There have been many projects either on hold or moving alng very slowly due to my accident. We were working on the first of dozens of new books, special reports, videos, and training programs back in September of 2007.

As my health has been improving, I've been able to refocus on a few of the projects nearest to completion.

Here's a list of a few of the new books and videos that I'll be releasing in the next few weeks:

Surviving Under Fire!" 3-DVD Set

This training course on DVD is a compilation of 3 seminars that I taught covering the "4 Pillars of Handgun Defense." Each DVD covers a specific aspect or pillar.

Disc 1 covers the introduction to the subject of self-defense using the handgun. Topics also include: Neutralizing recoil, aiming, instinctive shooting, combat distance, drawing, and more.

Disc 2 covers the principles, concepts, and strategies of effectively disarming an assailant with a handgun.

Disc 3 covers the mirror opposite of Disc 2 - retention. This DVD teaches the lessons necessary for holding onto your weapon when an assailant is trying to forcefully take it from you.

Ninja Hiden Juroppo-ken

This book will focus on the "16 Secret Fists of the Ninja." Each fist or body weapon is not only described and shown but you'll also learn the correct way to make the fist, the best targets for each fist, and the lineages and alternate names for each.

The Absolutely Unbreakable Laws of Self-Defense

This book focuses on what matters most - principles and ideas that work. These are the rules to live (or not) by. Instead of focusing on techniques and strategies, this book outlines the reason behind every good technique.

In preparation for the release of these new training resources, I've decided to bundle many of my current books and special reports with the popular Danger Prevention Tactics DVD, into a Complete Self-Defense Package. You can still purchase the items separately but I've made it easy to have the whole set for over 50% off the regular price.

And, if you order before the price goes back up, I'll even throw in a Kubotan self-defense keychain, 2 special reports, and the shipping for the keychain and DVD for fr*ee.

For more information or to order the Self-Defense Bundle, use this link: Self-Defense Package

Until next time,

Shidoshi Miller

A Case for Ninjutsu Over Simply Practicing Budo-Taijutsu

2007-12-10T13:47:00.000-05:00

This post should probably be called: "What's a master Ninja martial artist do after surviving a near head-on car crash?" Before I answer that question though, let me tell you what prompted the idea behind what I'm about to say.

Since 1997, a little over a decade now, the average martial arts practitioner within the Bujinkan Dojo has been lead to believe that what they are studying is limited to the armed and unarmed martial art skills that everyone sees when training in Japan. In fact, most students have been convinced that the last remaining Ninja in the world, Soke Masaaki Hatsumi, doesn't even teach Ninjutsu, also known as Ninpo in its higher form.

This, to me is amazing. It's amazing because this is the same teacher that I, and several senior practitioners have been studying with and under...

...since 1980/81...

...when the art was first introduced to the Western-world!

But, I digress. Before I discuss what people believe and don't believe they're studying and practicing...

...I should probably talk about the two things I've been discussing already. Yes?

Ninjutsu and the Art of the Ninja

In the world of martial arts and self-defense training, where arts are generally broken down based on their primary fight techniques - where...

Karate is known for punching and kicking
Judo is known for its throwing
Aikido is general seen as a locking, throwing, restraining art, and...
Tae Kwon Do is known for it's high, flashy kicks and aerial maneuvers...

The Japanese art of the Ninja, known as Ninjutsu, pronounced "neen-joo-tsoo," has all of these aspects and more. Where modern martial arts can be seen to have become specialized in their focus and application, the art of the Ninja is still rife with all of the options and contents used by ancient warriors who were battling for life and survival, not belts or trophies.

Ninjutsu is what you might call a composite martial art. It is, as pointed out by the grandmaster of the art, "true budo" or true martial ways. Instead of merely focusing on unarmed skills with a hint of weapons training thrown in, the art of Ninjutsu contains a whole slew of sub-arts that make it up. I like to tell my students that...

"...it's like Ragu spagetti sauce. Name a skill, weapon, or strategy, and if it's a viable, usable application for dealing with a real-world assailant...

...it's in there!"

While it IS true that ninjutsu is typically the methods for information-gathering, historically, the ninja combatant was required to know, not only the 18 fundamental skills that all warriors of the time were trained in, he or she was also schooled in another set of 18 skills that were reserved for advanced ninpo practitioners to insure that the operative was truly prepared for just about anything.

Do a little research and you'll find that most arts being taught today focus on umarmed and armed fighting skills. Ninjutsu, on the other hand, also teaches the use and understanding of such arcane methods as...

Goton-Po "Escape and Evasion, Wilderness Survival, and Use of Nature"
Hensojutsu "Disguise and Impersonation"
Teppojutsu "Firearms"
Seishin Teki Kyoyo "Spiritual Refinement and Personal Development"
Omyo Do "Balance and the Forces of Nature"
Kuji '9 Syllable Seals' (Tapping into the Secret Powers inherent within the human being's body, mind, and spirit)
And so much MORE!

It All Begins with Ninpo/Budo-Taijutsu

Laying at the foundation of the advanced levels of power and ability attributed to a Ninja - a Master Warrior - is the art of Taijutsu, or simply...

..."The Ninja's Body Art."

This is the realm of physical training that most practitioners of the art are familiar with and ficus their attention. However, within the grand scheme of things...

...taijutsu is merely a sub-art making up the whole.

And...

...while it is a significant part of the whole, and an essential piece to accessing many of the higher levels of training...

...it is NOT everything.

How do I know this? How can I say such a thing when doing so borders on heresy in the world of the Bujinkan?

Simple. I have real experience dealing with real problems in a very real world.

Experience Changes Everything

As long as anything can remain in a theoretical realm for a person, he or she is free to play what I call "mental gymnastics" with that thing. In the context of martial arts, you can do things like:

Imagine yourself a modern-day Samurai (without really knowing what that is or was)
Create impressive techniques (that work well in the sterile confines of the dojo but will fail miserably in a real-world encounter with a murderous attacker)
Choose favorite techniques or skills (without the understanding that a real assailant will have his or her own agenda and force you into areas that your not familiar with)

Get the picture?

Now, back to our regularly scheduled program.

Why am I going on about this?

Why another comparison between Ninjutsu and Budo-Taijutsu?

Well, you see...

...I'm in the process of recovering from injuries sustained in a near head-on collision with another driver that, through lack of awareness, turned his car into the path of my own at the end of September.

"So? What's that got to do with martial arts training?" I can hear you asking.

And my answer is...

...it depends on how you see your martial arts training.

But, let me give you a hint:

How much good do you think my kamae (postures/stances), strikes, kicks, joint locks, or throws were when the accident was occurring?

Right...

...they were worthless!

In fact, at this very moment, I am physically incapable of doing most of what took me years to perfect.

Now, before you get too sympathetic, all is not lost.

Why?

Because I don't just study Budo Taijutsu. I personally have been studying the full gamut of skills and lessons within the art of Ninjutsu since the beginning. And while my taijutsu training has had to take a back row seat due to severe back trauma and what the doctors are calling Post Concussive Syndrome - a result of my being knocked unconscious - I am able to shift my focus to things like meditation, honing my weather-reading, disguise and impersonation, and interpersonal communication skills.

And never leave the realm of Ninjutsu at all!

Because, in this "attack," my assailant was not throwing punches, kicks, or a knife-edge at me. He wasn't even trying to hurt me.

No. What I was, and continue to have to survive and get through, is an attack from a human being who was throwing ignorance, inattentiveness, and a two-thousand pound car at me!

As I always tell my students, the goal of a Ninja student is to...

Become a NO-LIMITS Person.

And that, my friend, requires training and exploration in more than just physical fighting skills.

The question is...

...are you training to be able to handle a fight, or are you training to be able to survive anything the world might throw at you?

I know my answer. How about you?

If your focus IS on self-defense, check out my book called "The Karate-Myth." In it I point out why most martial arts and self-defense programs are wrong and how you can be truly safe in today's world. Click here to get your copy today.

Until Next Time...

Peace & Happiness,

Shidoshi Jeffrey M. Miller
www.warrior-concepts-online.com
www.wcinternational.com

All Martial Arts Were Not Created Equal - Exploring The Roots Of The Takagi-Yoshin Ryu of Jutaijutsu

2007-06-30T19:47:00.000-04:00

Today, I wanted top talk to you about the importance of understanding where your martial lineage came from. Unless your teacher invented the art you're studying, (and if so, what real-world experience did he or she base it on?), there is a lot of years between you and the founder of the school or style you're trying to master.

Here's a story of the founder of one of the lineages that I have permission to teach. I think it's significant because it breaks through a lot of the mystery and misguided beliefs that many have about who founded these powerful and schools and why.

You see...

Not all martial arts systems were created for the same reason. Each system, or lineage, was created by its founder to deal with specific situations and types of conflict, with one intention in mind......TO WIN! And...

The Takagi-Yoshin-Ryu, founded in the 15th century by Oriuemon Shigenobu Takagi, was no exception.

Imagine...

...living in a time when brutal assailants would do anything to win and no place was safe from either

Rogue warriors engaged in terroristic acts,
the strife of civil war, or...
...the ever-present plague of bandits and thieves looking to pounce on the unsuspecting traveler.

Can you imagine a place or time like that?

Sounds a bit like the world of today, doesn't it? And yet, it was exactly the same in the days when Takagi-Sensei set out to create a system for survival against, not just anyone, but assailants who would attack with the strategies and tactics most common for the times. And ironically, we are at a point in history where things are repeating themselves and these tactics are the perfect answer to today's common attacks.

BUT...

Believe it or not, and contrary to popular belief, not all systems were founded by the perfect warrior who never lost a battle. In fact, the Takagi Yoshin Ryu stands out as an exception because it's founder did not die as most did - at the hands of his opponent who had the greater skill!

No. He survived his humiliating loss and decided to re-examine what he always held to be true about the teachings he received. And THIS is one very important reason why the TYR stands out as one of the most powerful and unique lineages ever developed.

You see... similar to the story of Bujinkan Dojo founder and grand master Masaaki Hatsumi, WCI founder Shidoshi Jeffrey M. Miller, and more than a few other modern warriors, Takagi's search for excellence and, what we might call, "True Budo" came not out of years of study in a single martial system...

...but in defeat at the hands of a superior opponent.

This is where true warriors are born. Not in the theory and blind faith of the everyday student.

A Long Time Ago - In a Land, Far, Far...

Oriemon Shigenobi Takagi was a master teacher in the school of Jutaijutsu ("grappling arts that became modern-day, soft-style karate") during Japan's Sengoku-Jidai warrior-states period in the mid-1600's. And, like all accomplished warriors of his time (and UN-LIKE most martial artists and teachers today), he already had several "heads-in-his-closet." Meaning that, he had already survived combat and killed opponents with his skills many times over.

As was common in those days, as both a means of gaining a reputation as an accomplished warrior to be respected and feared, and as a means of keeping martial arts honest during times when the survival of a school depended directly on the effectiveness of what they practiced...

Takagi was challenged to a dual by a visiting practitioner of the Masaki Ryu jutaijutsu.

Long story short...

In this battle, Takagi was beaten so severely that it rocked him at his core. He came to the realization that...

...there was something VERY WRONG with what he had been learning all those years. As a result, he left his school and all the time, effort, and practice he had put into it and set out to find the techniques, tactics, and strategies of True Budo - the "real martial way" of surviving.

What Takagi-Sensei finally realized was that...

...the martial arts were not a game of who can look the best,

...who could run a school with the most students,

...or who can create a system of this-or-that "jutsu" or "do."

It was about having only one life, one chance to do something with that life, and he set out to develop that understanding into something that was more in-touch with what we might call a "martial sense" more than what has become, martial "faith."

After spending much time travelling and watching what others were doing, he finally went into seclusion on Japan's famous Mount Hiei, home of the Tendai School and mother of Japanese Buddhist thought and practice (a very important connection for much of Ninja history). He spent months in continuous practice, training, and reflection until, one day, he came to the realization that...

...before he could win against a skilled opponent, he had to upset his opponent's way of moving...

...AND THINKING!

But, he also realized, if his opponent was too big or too strong, this omote, or "outer" - "obvious" - method of breaking balance would not be enough. He realized that he would also have to be able to...

...upset his "OWN" way of moving and thinking to be able to execute that unexpected move that would take the opponent with him as he fell or was hit.

These realizations, derived from his own personal experience became an important part of his personal way of surviving during hostility.

Armed with this new insight, Oriuemon became a great fighter and survivor. This truth is witnessed by the survival of this powerful lineage for the next 17 generations until now, when today's students are able to learn its secrets.

Secrets that were born out of chaos, confusion, and failure. Only to be turned around into one of the greatest fighting systems the world has ever seen!

I've produced a video about this powerful martial lineage. Footage was taken directly from a live seminar that I conducted at the Academy. The video covers all of the techniques on the Shoden no Maki (1st level scroll), the most important lessons in any lineage. In addition to the kata, I also taught several variations and discussed the ideas and strategies behind each. An important insight if you're ever going to get past the rigid, step-by-step training that 90% of martial artists limit themselves to.

Anyway, check out the page I put up about it (it also includes this article, so just scroll past it if you don't to read it again). Here's the link:

www.warrior-concepts-online.com/takagi-yoshin-ryu

While you're there, don't forget to check out the Article Resource Center for more articles like this.

Stupid Things Parents Do

2007-06-24T22:59:00.000-04:00

This is just a short message to let you know about a very important subject that I get a lot of email and questions about. And that subject is...

Child Safety

Now, you might not be a parent yourself, but I bet you know several who could still use what I'm about to share with you. If I'm wrong, just delete this message and get back to what you were doing.

Still with me?

Excellent!

What I wanted to share with you is that, over the past 20 years or so, both as a self-defense teacher and as a police officer, I've had the opportunity, much to my regret, to observe some of the things that are putting our kids in harm's way.

Unfortunately, what I've found is that, very often, it is lessons learned from a child's parents that do the most damage. As strange as that sounds, and as much as I wish it wasn't...

...it IS true!

And, before you dismiss this because "you've got it all handled," you might want to make sure that you're not one of those I'm talking about!

In fact, I've identified no less than 10 areas that parents have complete control of in their child's life where they can either turn their child into a victim, or a survivor should some twisted individual decide to attack.

I've written a book, well, more like a special report, called "10 Really Stupid Things Parents Do To Place Their Child In Danger Without Even Knowing It!"...

...where I pull out all the stops and discuss these areas unlike I've ever done before. I've also written the book in a very unique way. In fact, if this report doesn't offend, shock, or at least turn a few heads, and wake up more than a few people who read it...

...I've done something seriously wrong in the process!

You can read more about the book and some of the really stupid things that parents can and actually do that increases their child's chances of becoming a victim right here:

http://www.warrior-concepts-online.com/children-safety-parent-10stupidthings-report.html

If you're a parent who's serious about making sure that your child is as safe as possible in Today's often unsafe world, you need to read this book. Make sure you're not doing some of the things that could actually be endangering your child.

Again, here's the link to read more:
http://www.warrior-concepts-online.com/children-safety-parent-10stupidthings-report.html

Oh, and after your read it, forward this post to all your friends who have kids. They'll thank you for it!

Don't forget to check the web site often. There's plenty of information, free articles, and of course you can subscribe to the free newsletter.

While you're there, check out the new Article Resource Center for articles on such topics as:

Self-Defense
Women's Self-Defense
Child-Safety, and of course...
The Martial Art of NINJUTSU!

Until Next Time!

Shidoshi Miller

www.warrior-concepts-online.com

Aiming for the BEST Targets!

2007-06-16T22:38:00.000-04:00

When discussing self-defense for beginners and those new to the realm of self-protection, I'm often asked...

"If I just want to get out of there and need to shut this guy down fast, what are the best areas of his body to hit?"

I love questions like this, because it tells me that the person asking it is thinking "strategically" rather than simply mechanically. If you ask questions, not related as much to "what" it is that you can do but, "how," "where," "when," and "why"...

...it tells me that you're thinking about results, effectiveness, and efficiency...

...all signs of a true martial arts master or self-defense expert.

Well, before answering this all-important question, let me tell you that I'm writing several new books focused on this very important, and often overlooked topic. In fact, the demand for such books is so high, that I just can't get things done fast enough!

The following are just a few of the topics currently on the "get it out there so they can use it" list:

Ninja Juroppo-Ken "The 16 Fists of the Ninja"
Stop, Drop, & Run! "The Best Targets to Attack for Escaping a Self-Defense Situation Quickly!"
Shuriken-Jutsu "The Art of Mastering the Ninja's Throwing Stars"
Hanbo-Jutsu "Using Short Sticks and Cans for Self-Defense"

I really DO have quite a list, and it keeps growing every day.

I'll be releasing information about each book or video as it becomes available so be sure to stay informed.

I'm also asking readers to post comments telling me what you'd like to see included in the above books. While you're at it, if there's a topic (book, weapon, etc.) you'd like me to write or produce as a video, tell me that too. (Oh, and for all of the spammers out there, your sales pitch posts will be deleted so... save your time and ours and keep moving!)

Now... where was I? Oh, right... excellent targets.

As I see it, there are seven body targets that are perfect for the beginnner to focus on if they're looking to be able to drop an assailant quickly and effectively. As a quick side-bar, let me also say that there are many ways of attacking each target and selecting the best one in an attack situation will take more than just knowing it's there.

That being said, here are the 'Dirty 7':

1. Nose - Nothing stops an assailant, or anyone else for that matter, like a quick shot to the nose - in ANY direction! Even a light shot instantly brings tears to the eyes and disorientation. And... NO! It's not generally considered a killing shot by 'real' experts!
2. Eyes - Human beings are generally sight-oriented creatures. And, our bodies are hard-wired to protect our eyes from even the slightest danger. Even the mere threat of attacking your opponent's eyes will have him changing his tactics as a minimum, and running for the hills as a best-case scenario!
3. Jaw/Tip of Chin - A well-placed palm-strike to the tip of the chin, or even a thumb-tip driven up under the jaw-line will send an attacker realing in pain or knock him out cold!
4. Throat - Just as with the eyes, our bodies are wired to protect the most vulnerable areas. The windpipe, arteries, and veins that pack the neck and throat area are all life-sustaining systems. And... they are exposed to the world and without their own defenses! A firm grab or sharp blow to any of these systems can shut an attacker down - permanently!
5. Sternum/Solar Plexus - The bottom tip of the sternum, or breat bone, is called the xyphoid process (pronounced "zie-foid"). It's a small, triangular shaped, boney protrusion that actually has some flex to it. It points at the top of the abdominal cavity which, itself, is sensitive. These defensive "alarm" triggers are there to warn the body of attacks to the heart, lungs, and other organs NOT protected by the ribs in this region. Even a light punch or kick to this area can leave the assailant breathless - or worse.
6. Groin - Do I really need to describe the effects of a grab, punch, or kick here? Didn't think so. However, it would be a good idea to get the notion that this is only effective against men, right out of your head!

And finally...
7. Knees - That's right... the knees. Everyone seems to think the knees are only weapons and yet, size-for-size, they're one of the weakest joints in the human body. In fact, it only takes about 65 lbs of pressure to pop an adult knee joint. And I don't care if we're talking about mine, or Arnold Shwartzenagger's!

Well, there you have it. A quick list of the best targets for quickly ending a self-defense attack. Now... all you have to do is learn "how," "when," "where," to attack.

When's that book coming out again?

As a quick reminder, don't forget to check out the main site at www.warrior-concepts-online.com for more great information, articles, and products for increasing your personal safety and security.

While you're there, don't forget to check the schedule for my upcoming seminars and camps. If you don't live close enough to me for regular training, my weekend seminars and camps make excellent training opportunities for my long distance students.

Until next time...

Peace, Happiness, and Success!

Jeffrey M. Miller, Shidoshi
Founder and Master Instructor
Warrior Concepts International
Self-Protection & Personal Development

www.warrior-concepts-online.com

www.wcinternational.com (Workplace Violence programs)

Check out my newest video taken from a live seminar:
Takagi-Yoshin Ryu Shoden no Maki Kata

Here's the link: www.warrior-concepts-online.com/takagi-yoshin-ryu-dvd.html

Summer Self-Defense Warning

2007-06-03T23:45:00.002-04:00

It seems only common sense to make sure that awareness is at the very foundation of our self-protection studies. And, while this is a given for most people, I've found that the majority tends to focus on watching for actual dangers.

What I mean is...

...everyone is watching for the obvious, when it comes to being on the alert for potential danger.

The truth is that, the farther away we can be aware for the possibility of danger, the more prepared we can be to escape from it, or even avoid it altogether.

But, instead of merely watching out for the aggrevated individual who has already blown his or her cool, why not increase - or deepen - our level of awareness to the conditions that might cause a person to become aggitated to the point of physical violence.

While it's true that there are countless variables, situations, and conditions that might trigger violent behavior, I thought I'd discuss just one of these today. It seems only fitting that I choose one that you can practice focusing your awareness on right now because of its presence. And that factor is heat.

All Is Not Fun in the Hot Summer Sun

It's common knowledge, and therefor important to remember, that the heat of Summer can put people on edge. And the higher the mercury, the shorter fuses can become. We could say that heat, even in human beings, has the very real potential for triggering and explosive response - even from the coolest things.

Being aware of this fact can help you to do two things:

1) Keep yourself cool and collected to avoid exploding for no reason other than physical discomfort, and...

2) Focus your awareness on those individuals who seem to be the most uncomfortable due to the temperature.

The warning signs are pretty easy to spot and include irritability; quick, short, abrasive answers to simple questions, complaining, and more.

If you think you might be in the presence of someone becoming agitated by the heat, there are several things you can do right away to increase your safety or control the situation:

Suggest that the conversation or interaction move indoors, or at least under cover with shade

Change your vocal tone and ask the individual if they're feeling alright. Merely asking can often make the other person more self-aware and therefor more likely to take steps to alleviate his or her discomfort

Increase your distance physically so as to not be in the "blast area" should they explode and become violent

Please remember that I'm only suggesting that the heat of Summer can increase the likelihood of physical aggression. Most people are calm, rational, and in control of themselves. However...

...stimuli like excessive heat can trigger an abnormal tendancy toward violence in even the most benevolent individual. Whether it's through the heat itself, or some secondary condition resulting from it (like dehydration), this time of year can bring with it the impitus for danger and from directions that we would never expect.

Take care and be safe.

Until next time.

Jeffrey M. Miller, Shidoshi
Founder & Director
Warrior Concepts International
Self-Protection & Personal Development

Check out my latest book "The Karate-Myth" at http://www.warrior-concepts-online.com/self-defense-karatemyth.html

and the re-release of the most important safety video you could ever own, "Danger Prevention Tactics" at http://www.warrior-concepts-online.com/self-defense-video-dpt1.html

"Master Your Self - Master Your Life!"

Life Can Be, Well... Life.

2007-05-21T23:51:00.000-04:00

As many of you know, I haven't posted here in quiet some time. It seems that, in an attempt to grow and provide more to those who look to me for everything from lessons to piggyback rides, I lost track of several key pieces of the puzzle I've created to get this information out to the world.

But...

...I'm back.

To be brutally honest, I think the thing that motivated me to get back in the saddle (so-to-speak) was an incident I witnessed just a few hours ago. Maybe it was the fact that I was doing my Monday, daddy-daughter thing, that did it.

Before I tell you the story, let me just say that, I take my role as dad and parent VERY seriously. My kids mean the world to me and I would do anything to make sure that they're safe. That's why...

My kids take martial arts
My kids have been taught to stay with me or someone that I trust for their safety, and...
My kids are not allowed to pretend to think that they're in-charge and make the decisions for themselves that are my responsibility to make.

Sound too strict? Maybe.

But after watching a little girl, no older than three or four, run around a restaurant, completely out-of-sight of her parents for nearly an hour, I guess it finally got to me. Maybe it was watching mom and dad miander toward the door with the look of, "Oh, she's around here somewhere," that told me what I've come to know and believe...

... some parents do some very stupid things that put their children in danger without even knowing it!

As for these particular parents, there was no thought of the fact that their cute, blonde, little angel could have been miles away in the back seat of a stranger's car, taking her God knows where, by the time they realized she wasn't "around here somewhere. If only you could have seen the "not-a-clue" look in their eyes as they past me - me thinking, "It's a good thing that I've been watching her."

It's this kind of thing that caused me to write a special report called, "10 Really Stupid Things Parents Do To Place Their Children In Danger Without Even Knowing It!"

You can read more about it here.

And don't forget that you can get more information about:

Child-Safety

Real-World Self-Defense Training, and...

Books, Videos, and Training Supplies

At Warrior Concepts Online

To the Successful Achievement of Dreams!

Jeffrey M. Miller, Shidoshi
Founder & Director
Warrior Concepts International
Self-Protection & Personal Development

Check out my latest book "The Karate-Myth" at http://www.warrior-concepts-online.com/self-defense-karatemyth.html

and the re-release of the most important safety video you could ever own, "Danger Prevention Tactics" at http://www.warrior-concepts-online.com/self-defense-video-dpt1.html

"Master Your Self - Master Your Life!"

5 Tips for Increasing Your Level of Safety and Self-Defense in These Uncertain Times

2006-08-24T22:50:00.000-04:00

Everywhere it seems, people share their concerns about "what the world has come to." With battles raging both across the sea in far-off lands and here on our own streets, it seems that more and more people are looking to the government to make them more safe and secure.

This, however, is the wrong place to be looking. As harsh as it sounds, when it comes to self-defense and so-called "homeland security," the responsibility for personal security and safety rests with the individual - not with the government.

While we, as citizens, can do little more than show our support for the thousands of troops fighting our country's many battles around the world, each of us can take a more proactive role in dealing with the hostilities and assaults that are going on all around us right here at home. Here's a list of 5 tips for anyone who wants to make themselves more safe and secure, regardless of whether they're traveling or staying at home. This list is part of the "10 Tips for Increasing Your Safety and Security," available at www.warrior-concepts-online.com.

Tips for Increasing Your Ability to Survive Danger

1. Acknowledge that danger exists in your world and has the potential of touching you or someone that you care about. Ignorance, when it comes to avoiding and escaping from danger, is not bliss.

2. Stay informed about the types of dangers, including criminal activity, prevalent in areas where you find yourself. Knowing what you're most likely to face is the first step to being able to handle it should it happen.

3. Establish multiple routes to and from the place you frequent most. As a minimum, everyone should have at least two routes to and from home and work. This makes it more difficult for you to be pinned down by someone who knows your routine.

4. Acknowledge that it's your responsibility, not that of the police, to keep yourself safe. As a former police officer I know that the police cannot keep you safe from anyone who truly wants to harm you. Realize that you, and you alone, will be the first one "on the scene" of the assault or other danger and responsible for dealing with the attack.

5. Learn a few tactics for effectively avoiding or escaping from danger that do not require physically fighting with your assailant. There are some very good books and videos available, like "Danger Prevention Tactics: Protecting Yourself Like a Pro," that can provide professional advice you can use to keep yourself more safe and secure.

Get the remainder of the "10 Tips for Increasing Your Level of Safety and Self-Defense" by going to www.warrior-concepts-online.com/10tips.html

In Today's often violent world, self-defense is no longer a choice - it's a responsibility. Accepting the reality that, with the addition of terrorism to the ever-present threat of gang activity, drug wars, and the myriad of other crimes of violence, it's each person's responsibility to be personally capable of defending themselves should that need arise.

For those interested in more information, the video "Danger Prevention Tactics: Protecting Yourself Like a Pro," is available through it's producer, Warrior Concepts International. The video is available through the company's website at: www.warrior-concepts-online.com/self-defense-video-dpt1.html

Don't forget that you can get information about, not only ninjutsu and the art of the ninja, but...
Child-Safety

Real-World Self-Defense Training, and...

Books, Videos, and Training Supplies

At Warrior Concepts Online

What Skill Was the Ninja Best Known For?

2006-08-23T22:58:00.000-04:00

In the Mastery-Leadership curriculum at Warrior Concepts, there is a series of questions built into each level that students are responsible for. These questions range from historical details to those related to the science that lies behind the arts we study.

One such question posed to students approaching the Shodan, or 1st degree Black Belt level is...

"What skill was the Ninja best known for?"

While the public at-large, including martial artists of all styles, assume the answer to somehow be related to stealth, the use of weapons, or even assassination, the real answer couldn't be further from the truth. And, yet, despite the fact that the Ninja became part of the first organized police forces in Japanese history, aided by this most powerful skill, the truth still eludes most people, Japanese included, today.

Find out what it's like to train, eat, sleep, and breath the art of Ninjutsu, the "art of the Ninja," at this year's Fall Ninja Camp 2006. From Friday, November 3rd through Sunday, November 5th, you'll be able to train with some of the best Ninja teachers and senior students of the art. What's it like to train at a real Ninja Camp? Here's the link to find out...

So, what was the primary skill of a Ninja?

What were these shadowy figures, feared by most and held in awe by many, best known and sought after for?

Any ideas?

Would you believe...

"Information Gathering." The ability to collect and translate information. Plain and simple.

Not using the sword.

Not unarmed fighting.

Not the use of throwing stars and other exotic weapons.

While it is true that they were known to be experts at all of these things...

...the Ninja, first and foremost, was sought out for his or her ability to get information about what was going on in the world of their day. And... the ability to translate that information so that they and others could produce results with the least amount of wear and tear.

Want to learn more about the Ninja? Subscribe to my new online newsletter called Shadow Warrior News and learn the secrets of the most powerful warriors ever created! To subscribe, just click on the button to be taken to the subscription page...

If you want more information about the WCI Ninja Training Camps in general, here's the link:
http://www.warrior-concepts-online.com/ninja-camps.html

For information on how you can be a part of this year's Fall Ninja Camp 2006, check out this link:
http://www.warrior-concepts-online.com/fall-ninja-camp-2006.html

And finally, don't forget that you can get information about, not only ninjutsu and the art of the ninja, but...
Child-Safety

Real-World Self-Defense Training, and...

Books, Videos, and Training Supplies

At Warrior Concepts Online

Defending Against a Knife - Protecting Your Targets

2006-07-17T23:22:00.000-04:00

One of the greatest fears involving defending yourself against an assailant armed with a knife or other bladed weapon is...

...the fear of being cut.

And, while this is a serious concern, it's important, as with everything else involving self-defense, that you not let the fear immobilize you. Doing so will only make you a proverbial "sitting duck" for the attacker's slashes, stabs, and cuts.

As every one of my students who has gone through knife-defense training knows - the one thing that you can count on in a knife-defense situation is...

...you WILL be cut!

As harsh as that sounds, to believe otherwise, would be foolish. But, just because that's the reality, doesn't mean that you are doomed.

Not by a long shot.

The important thing to remember is that there are only so many really good targets on your body. By that I mean that there are only a few that, by themselves, will cause you to shut down very quickly if they're hit.

Every other target either requires more work on your attacker's part, or isn't important in the overall scheme of things and will not hinder your defense or escape attempts.

Your High Priority Targets

So, just what are the targets on your body that will require your utmost attention? Good question. The good news is that, there are only a few. They are:

The Neck
Insides of the arms
Torso below the ribs (stabbing-only), and...
Insides of the legs

These specific targets are locations on your body where the organs, major vessels, or "air pipes" can be accessed directly. These are what we call the "life-sustaining systems." Protect these literally with your life. Because, to allow one to open up to your attacker's weapon, increases your chances of being shut down almost immediately.

It's virtually impossible to show how to position your body relative to your attacker using only the printed word. That's why I've just produced and release a great new video called "The Cutting-Edge: Surviving a Knife Attack." It was designed to get to the point (yes, pun intended!) and teach you the most important lessons for dealing with an attacker armed with a knife or other bladed weapon. Here's the link:

http://www.warrior-concepts-online.com/knife-defense-video.html

The most important thing to remember when facing an assailant threatening with a knife, is to take up a position that will allow you the greatest cover for your primary targets. A good position would involve "blading" your body (angling it) toward your attacker and lifting your forearms from the elbows so that they cover both your lower torso and your neck. The forearms themselves should be turned in so that the backs of your hands point at the assailant.

For those of you familiar with the Ninja's defensive kamae, this the Hoko no Kamae of the Koto-Ryu school of Koppojutsu.

From this posture, you are better positioned to take cuts to exposed areas without the fear of taking life-threatening damage. This isn't to say that you want to take a lot of cuts, just that you will have minimized the damage you will take as you work to disarm or escape from your attacker.

Of course, anything that you can do to further minimize his ability to get at you, like wrapping a jacket or other material around your forearms, is always a good idea, if...

...you have time and material available.

I'll continue with this topic over the next week, but until then, check out the new video. Here's the link again:

http://www.warrior-concepts-online.com/knife-defense-video.html

This topic is such an important one that I'll be dedicating the next several issues to at least some part of the realm of knife-defense. In the meantime, you can get a free knife defense technique video clip, as-well-as a couple of unarmed defenses by going to this page:
http://www.warrior-concepts-online.com/self-defense-videos.html

Are You Registered for the Upcoming Emotion-Based Defensive Response Seminar?

This powerful training weekend will wake you up to a realm of self-defense that few people even know exists. It was designed based on over three decades, that's 30 years, of research and study in both the fields of defensive tactics AND human bio-physical response to danger.

Simply put... there's nothing like this program, anywhere!

Use the link below to get all the details and make arrangements now to be at the WCI Training Academy, Sunbury, Pennsylvania on Saturday and Sunday, July 29th & 30th for a Level 1 Certification Intensive.

Here's the link for details: http://www.warrior-concepts-online.com/edr-self-defense-intensive.html

Can't Make It Here for A Seminar... Call to Find Out How You Can Bring This Powerful Program to You. Just call the Academy at (570) 988-2228 for information about having me teach a day or weekend seminar for your school or organization. You can choose from one of my popular programs or tell me what you want to work on and I'll tailor something specifically for you and your group.

But, you must hurry. My 2006 seminar schedule is filling up quickly. Don't miss out. Call the academy for more information.

Until next time...

To the Successful Achievement Dreams!,

Jeffrey M. Miller, Shidoshi
Founder & Director
Warrior Concepts International
Self-Protection & Personal Development

Check out my latest book "The Karate-Myth" at http://www.warrior-concepts-online.com/self-defense-karatemyth.html

and the re-release of the most important safety video you could ever own, "Danger Prevention Tactics" at http://www.warrior-concepts-online.com/self-defense-video-dpt1.html

"Real Training for Real People in a Real World!"

Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes...

2006-07-05T00:58:00.000-04:00

Hello everyone...

Just a quick note about the newest updates on the WCI homepage.

The page itself has been reformatted and the text cut back to be a little more "pleasing" to the non-readers. Also, the main picture, which used to be the our logo, has been changed to one of "yours truly" striking a sword pose.

The pose, by-the-way, is called hasso or tenchi no kamae in the lineages that I teach. It has other names within other martial lineages as-well. (I'll be releasing more information about this posture,as well as others, in an upcoming sword video I'm releasing)

Anyway, check out the changes and let me know what you think.

I've also made some changes and added to the information at:

The WCI Online Store

The Self-Defense Videos page

Until next time...

Peace, Happiness, and Safety,

Jeffrey M. Miller, Shidoshi
Founder & Director
Warrior Concepts International
Self-Protection & Personal Development

Check out my latest book "The Karate-Myth" at http://www.warrior-concepts-online.com/self-defense-karatemyth.html

and the re-release of the most important safety video you could ever own, "Danger Prevention Tactics" at http://www.warrior-concepts-online.com/self-defense-video-dpt1.html

"Real Training for Real People in a Real World!"

Non-Combative Self-Defense

2006-07-02T23:53:00.000-04:00

Hi Everyone.

It's been quite a while since I posted anything new. Life has a way of getting in the way of even the most sincere intentions. Know what I mean?

I've been very busy working on some of the self-defense video subjects that many of you have been asking for. I've also added a couple of sample self-defense technique video clips on the website.

You can access the free self-defense video clips at this link:

http://www.warrior-concepts-online.com/self-defense-videos.html

You'll find the links in the upper right section of the border.

I've also been thinking about the unique needs of my corporate clients. These folks are always asking about the non-combative side of self-defense. Although I truly believe that, no matter what technique - passive or aggressive - you should be prepared for any situation as any technique can fail.

Here's an article I've just written on the subject of "non-cmbative self-defense."

Non-Combative Self-Defense

At first glance, it would seem that the only logical approach to successfully defending yourself against a dangerous attacker is to learn and get really good at karate or some other form of physical self-defense. After all, when you look around at what's being offered, seen on TV or in the movies, and described in the media, that's all that can be seen.

The truth is that, when it comes to really knowing what self-defense is all about - when it comes to knowing what true survivors know - there are many more options available to you than meets the eye. In fact, there is an entire realm of non-combative self-defense tactics and strategies that can be thousands of times more effective than any arm-bar or knock-out punch.

The problem is that, even though many of these non-combative tactics are discussed, all too often they receive little more than lip-service or are discussed in ways that oversimplify them. Just because we call them non-combatives doesn't mean that they are not skills worthy of the same kind of study and practice as their physical counterparts.

Here's a list of the 5 areas of non-combative techniques and strategies that I teach to my clients:

Non-Combative (NC) Skill Area #1 - General Awareness. Recognizing the different types of danger in the world and knowing which ones are most likely to touch you.
NC Skill Area #2 - Awareness of Surroundings. Moment-to-moment conscious attention to what's going on around you.
NC Skill Area #3 - Escaping to Safety. Recognizing and planning escape routes and avenues away from danger.
NC Skill Area #4 - Distracting the Attacker. Skills and strategies for controlling a would-be assailant's perceptions and neutralizing a dangerous situation without being confrontational.
NC Skill Area #5 - Dissuading. Use of verbal and body-language skills, as-well-as the direction of intention to neutralize an assailant's desire to fight.

As I said, these five skill areas, when developed to become virtual weapons, can do more to help you control and avoid a physical attack than any conventional, step-by-step, self-defense technique. In fact, when done at the right time and in the right context, each of these can be so powerful that you never get to use your physical techniques at all. It's also important to remember that, no technique, whether it's a karate move or one of these non-combatives, is perfect and may fail. Just as it's important to add non-combatives to your physical self-defense training, it's equally important to make sure that, should you non-combative tactics fail, you're still able to protect yourself against the punches and kicks and cuts from a determined assailant.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jeffrey Miller is a 10th degree black belt and founder of Warrior Concepts International, a self-protection and personal development consulting company specializing in teaching you how to be a survivor. He is the author of "The Karate Myth" and the "Danger Prevention Tactics" video among others. For information about sponsoring a seminar, attending a live event, or any of his other products or services, visit his website at http://www.warrior-concepts-online.com

This article may be freely distributed as long as this section is included as-is, with no changes including active links.

As many of you know, my unique EDR Program addresses both the non-combative, purely defensive side of "self-defense," as-well-as the latest information about the body's own psycho-emotional defensive response mechanisms that, when combined with certain physical self-defense moves, makes the job of learning effective self-defense...

...extremely quick and easy. You can read more about EDR, or Emotion-based Defensive Response training here

I think that's it for now.

Peace, Happiness, and Safety,

Jeffrey M. Miller, Shidoshi
Founder & Director
Warrior Concepts International
Self-Protection & Personal Development

Check out my latest book "The Karate-Myth" at http://www.warrior-concepts-online.com/self-defense-karatemyth.html

and the re-release of the most important safety video you could ever own, "Danger Prevention Tactics" at http://www.warrior-concepts-online.com/self-defense-video-dpt1.html

"Real Training for Real People in a Real World!"

Celebrating a Milestone Offering Online Ninjutsu Training

2006-03-22T09:57:00.000-05:00

Hi Everyone!

Normally, I don't get too excited about things in general and am not much of a "journal-keeper," especially here on the blog. However, I am very excited about reaching, what for me is, a major milestone in my goal of helping others to learn ninjutsu - the art and ways of Japan's Ninja families - online.

What's the milestone in this Ninja teacher's life? Glad you asked.

You see, for the past twenty years, I have been helping those in my local community to see and experience the value of this martial art of ninjutsu that I've been teaching. Having studied many of the most popular forms of martial arts throughout my life...

... arts like, karate, aikido, tae kwon do, jujitsu, and even Bruce Lee's art of jeet kune do for a short while.

In January of 2005, I took my knowledge to the net and to the worldwide community of people who are searching for this type of information. In so doing, I began to not only write fresh content, but to transfer many of the articles that I had written for my "in-house" students over the years onto both my web site and to article directories for others to use on their own sites and in their ezines.

One such site that I use quite heavily is http://www.ezinearticles.com

To date, I have 50 articles posted there that are free for anyone to download for personal use or to use within their own website and/or ezine.

So? What's the big deal?

Well, the deal, for me at least, is that those same fifty articles, ranging in topics from:

And...

Ninjutsu - The Ninja's Mikkyo Mind-Science and the Magic of Asking "Why?"

... in the areas of personal protection to training-related articles, like...

...OVER 10,000 times!

That's right! Sometime on Monday, March 20th, 2006...

...these 50 articles were accessed, read, and many posted throughout the world wide web - OVER 10,000 times!

I don't know about you but, to me, that's just amazing!

And, that doesn't count the articles that were posted with other directory sites like http://www.articlecity.com

To read these and the many others that I've posted at ezinearticles.com, just click here. You can click here or on my name under any of the articles and be taken directly to the master list of all the articles (saves a ton of time on searching for them individually!). The other cool thing about ezinearticles is that, from the master list page, you can click on the RSS feed icon and add a feed to your site, etc that will send you any new articles I post almost immediately!

Anyway. Just had to get that off my chest.

What this all means for you, my loyal readers, is this...

...if you're not already doing so, take advantage of all the information available to you on the web - both mine and the works of others. Use it to increase your knowledge and awareness of what's available to you - good and bad.

If you aren't taking advantage of article directories, I highly suggest the wealth of information available. Especially when it comes to ninjutsu training online or martial arts training online in general, there is a whole world of information in the form of articles written by others with the knowledge you want.

As for me, I plan to continue to write and post more and more about ninjutsu and ninja training online at directories. In fact, I have a goal to have 250 articles online by mid-May, 2006. That means that I have 200 more to go!

I'll make it too because I have over twenty years worth of articles from materials written for my local students, just waiting to hit cyberspace. So...

...set up those rss feeds...

...check the article directories...

...subscribe to my newsletter

...and check the Warrior-Concepts-Online.com website for more online ninja training opportunities available to you.

Until next time...

Peace, Happiness, and Safety...

Jeffrey M. Miller, Shidoshi
Founder & Director
Warrior Concepts International
Self-Protection & Personal Development

Check out my latest book "The Karate-Myth" at http://www.warrior-concepts-online.com/self-defense-karatemyth.html

and the re-release of the most important safety video you could ever own, "Danger Prevention Tactics" at http://www.warrior-concepts-online.com/self-defense-video-dpt1.html

"Real Training for Real People in a Real World!"

Key Moments & Phases in a Self-Defense Situation

2006-03-17T10:21:00.000-05:00

How to Go From One Strategic Phase to the Next in a Self-Defense Situation - From Attack to Victory

(An excerpt from the book, "Controlling the Fight: The 5 Keys of Effective Self-Defense Strategy")

You know, when I first started learning how to protect myself, the training was almost entirely focused on the memorization and performance of the technique. What I mean is...

...the lessons revolved around the step-by-step mindset. Even testing was centered around the correct "performance" of the technique in question. But, that performance was tied more to duplicating a string of "moves" than it was on...

...the successful resolution of the situation based on what was going on!

I remember a friend of mine during those days. He was very good at the art that we were studying and much further along than I was at the time.

He was testing for his black belt and everything was going well. His "performance" was flawless - at least as far as I could tell.

Then, during the last part of the final kata ('preset fight scenario'), he changed the move from a strike to a shoulder throw. The throw was awesome and his partner never saw it coming. It was great!

He told me later that, everything was going along as it should be and he knew what was to come next but...

...something was "off" with what his partner was doing with that last punch.

He literally "found himself" executing the throw, and remembered thinking, "this isn't right."

Well, long story short...

...he failed that test.

I couldn't believe it. According to the judges - the panel of "experts" who were supposedly teaching him to be able to "go with the flow" and defend himself...

...He failed!

I didn't get it. I was in martial arts for self-defense, having been growing up in the inner-city and being beaten up - or threatened with harm - almost weekly. I mean...

He took a surprise situation,
adapted to it,
and still maintained control of the flow of things...

...in a way that ended with him being the victor.

What more could you ask for?!

"Yes", said the judges, many of whom were our instructors, "that's true. But he didn't do the technique correctly."

Martial Arts vs. Self-Defense Training

This was one of the most significant moments of my life. When I realized that, the reason I was there for training - to not die in a violent situation - was not the focus of the training...

...at least NOT at that school.

My friend's story also points to another pivotal point in my learning process when I realized that there was something more going on than just the punching, kicking, and whatnot, that makes up conventional martial arts and self-defense training. In fact, once I saw it happening, my mind shifted away from the typical orientation toward this "style" or that, and started looking beyond the techniques themselves to...

...what was being "done" by each move in a technique string.

The question I began to ask was...

"What's the logic behind the moves?" And, ...

"Why are the moves where they are in this particular string?"

And THAT is what this book is about. The keys, or bridges, between one phase - one strategic moment - in a self-defense situation, and another. The pieces of the fight that must be strategically managed in the correct order, and at the correct time, if you are to be successful.

What are these critical moments within the flow of the fight? Let me first tell you what they're NOT.

They are not...

...when you're fist makes contact with the surface of your assailant's body...

...when you lock his joints to immobilize him and prevent him from continuing to fight...

...when you take up your "way-cool" stance...

...the way with which you've been taught to hold your weapon, or...

...a hundred other "things" that most books, videos, and schools of martial arts and self-defense focus almost exclusively on.

But, they are not NOT these things either. And, if you don't understand what I'm trying to point out here, you won't see it.

Confused? Don't be.

The point here is that, behind the move or technique itself - the punch, lock, throw, etc...

...there is a "reason" that THAT particular technique is being done at THAT particular time. There is something that the technique is either doing 'for' us or 'to' our attacker that gains, maintains, or accentuates our control of the situation. In short...

...there is something that makes a particular technique RIGHT and APPROPRIATE for any given moment.

And, make no mistake here. We are talking about a scientific application of principles that work, and have worked for centuries. And, this science works...

...for whoever is knowledgeable of and in control of it in the fight!

What that means is this...

...if you know how to use this scientific application and make it the logic behind your strategic use of your skills and techniques, then you will probably win. If you don't and your assailant does, you will lose.

So again, what are these key moments or critical phases? They are...

1) Your ability to assess your situation and understand what the assailant is doing or attempting to do to you.
2) Your defense against his incoming attacks. This is your ability to neutralize the effect that his attacks were to have on you.
3) How you unbalance him, physically, mentall, or emotionally, in a way that prevents your assailant from going on with his own strategy and literally puts him in a position of weakness.
4) The actual counter-attack that you use to knock him back or take him to the ground. This is the phase where you actually take the fight to him.
5) Your ability to assess the effect that your technique has had on your assailant and what your next move (escape, restrain him, or prepare for another barrage of attacks) should be.

In my attempt to learn how to really be successful at defending myself and others, I was lucky enough to find some teachers who could point the way towards many of these answers. Unfortunately (or fortunately, as this caused me to have to really look), we're not talking about the step-by-step mechanics of the "style" here, as these can be taught by practically anyone to almost anyone else. What we ARE talking about is something that cannot be seen unless you know what you're looking for. It's invisible to the naked eye but there nonetheless.

Just know this. Each of these critical moments - these keys - is an important, no crucial, element in any overall defense strategy. But, where the book "The Karate-Myth" focused on the big-picture defense strategy that lead from General Awareness to Actually having to Deal with the Attacker (remember?), what I'm talking about here is the little-picture strategy of phase 6 - "dealing with the attack."

To read more this subject, read "Controlling the Fight". It's fr.ee as an added bonus to my latest book, "The Karate-Myth: Why Most Martial Arts & Self-Defense Programs Are Wrong"

Here's the link for both: http://www.warrior-concepts-online.com/self-defense-karatemyth.html

Don't forget that you can also get additional information about:

Women's Self-Defense Issues

Self-Defense and Martial Arts Weapons

Learning Ninjutsu Online

And, don't forget that you can learn about these Key Moments & Phases in a Self-Defense Situation by training with me at this year's Spring Ninja Training Camp. The camp is scheduled from June 2nd - 4th, 2006 and includes all training, lodging, meals - even a commemorative camp T-shirt! Click here for more information and to book your place at this powerful training opportunity.

Stay up-to-date and informed about all aspects of self-defense, safety, and how to live with the Warrior Mindset in the 21st Century by subscribing to the fr.ee Warrior Concepts Online Newsletter while you're there.

Until next time...

Peace and Happiness,

Jeffrey M. Miller, Shidoshi
Founder & Director
Warrior Concepts International
Self-Protection & Personal Development
www.warrior-concepts-online.com

"Master Yourself - Master Your Life!"

Can You Really Learn Martial Arts and Self-Defense From Seminar Training Only?

2006-03-08T23:17:00.000-05:00

What do you do when, you want to pursue the study of the martial arts or learn real-world self-defense and there are no schools near where you live? What do you do even if there are martial arts schools or self-defense classes being offered in your local area but...

...they're just not up to par with what you want or need.

How can you get what you know you need without compromising quality and settling for what's available or, even worse...

...not pursuing your goal at all?

Well, you have two choices, really...

...you can accept defeat or the fact that maybe your standards are too high and settle for what's available, or...

...you can do what scores of very skilled practitioners have done before you. You can take advantage of the benefits of seminars and camps to get the knowledge you need from the best teachers there are.

Instead of "settling" and approaching your training with what amounts to a "victim's mentality," you can take control of the situation. Instead of whining, complaining, and making excuses - you can take action - one of the main traits of a warrior.

With all of the power and rich information pool of the internet today, it is impossible to NOT find what you're looking for in the way of martial arts training. There are literally hundreds of seminars, from half-day workshops to full weekend events, and from one and two-day intensives to full-blown ninja training camps; and they're all there for the students who are willing to plan a little more, focus a little more, and be ready to travel a little farther than everyone else who HAS "settled."

Can you really learn martial arts and self-defense from seminar training only? I know it's worked for me and many of the most proficient experts that I'm associated with. In fact, most of my training career, at least in the early days, was during a time when I was serving with the US Army and stationed in places like Korea and, what was then, West Germany.

Were there martial arts clubs and groups close-by? Absolutely.

But, I had a desire to not only train in the martial arts but, to train with the best. And so...

...I had no choice. I HAD to travel to get what I wanted and needed in the way of quality.

What I found was that I learned more during each training event because there was MORE TO learn. That was perfect for me because it gave me more than enough to work on in-between the martial arts seminars and Ninja Camps that I WAS able to attend. And, it also caused me to focus much more than the local students who were there.

Why?

I think it was because...

...they took their training for granted. Whereas I did not. Since I went through more in the way of time, effort and money to be there, I refused to let any of it slip by. As a result, I, and many of my friends who also traveled for training, developed our self-defense abilities much more fully - learning our martial art with much greater depth than many who had access to their teacher practically everyday.

Funny, really. Because it wasn't until I became much more interested in the lives of warriors-past, that I realized that this method of training - traveling to one's teacher to spend short, but intense, visits to gain the lessons for mastery, is exactly the same way many of the most famous warriors in history...

...became Legends!

Check out what's new at Warrior Concepts, both locally and at warrior-concepts-online.com

I and my staff have been busy (too many "VERY" late nights) getting some new video DVDs and courses ready for everyone. Currently, we're working on getting one of our recent Ninja Camps to video as well as the footage from a weekend seminar I did on the techniques, strategies, and tactics of the Takagi-Yoshin-Ryu, one of the nine lineages taught in the Bujinkan Dojo system of my teacher, Soke Masaaki Hatsumi.

These powerful training resources will be ready to go in a few weeks. So, check back often at the site if this is something of interest to you.

Also, the following seminars and training opportunities are on the schedule over the next several weeks and months:

Defensive Combat Handgun The 4 Pillars of Mastery

This weekend intensive will be held on Saturday and Sunday, March 25th & 26th, 2006. The focus will be on...

Basic handling and familiarization of handguns, and...
Shooting Skills...

...From the perspective of a real-world self-defense situation - NOT "target shooting!"

You'll also learn the basics of...

Disarming a weapon-wielding assailant, and...
Weapon Retention and the ability to hold onto your own firearm

Click here or on the event name to get all the details.

And, DON'T FORGET...

The Annual WCI Spring Ninja Training Camp is just around the corner!

Scheduled for the weekend of May 19th - 21st, this year's camp theme is: "Becoming One with Nature." Click here or on the event name to get more information and to download the flyer for this year's WCI Spring Ninja Camp!

You'll also find that we've made it even easier to register for seminars and camps than ever before. With our new PayPal secure server link buttons, you'll be able to guarantee your place in an upcoming event before it gets sold-out.

Remember...

"You are either what you want to be, or what you have allowed yourself to become."

Until Next time...

Peace and Happiness,

Shidoshi Miller

What's New at WCI? Check it out and see!

2006-03-07T00:54:00.000-05:00

Just a quick note for all of you die-hard fans out there to let you know what I've been up to over the past week or two.

In short...

...I have been giving the site www.warrior-concepts-online.com a major overhall.

These renovations will be a top-down upgrade from the homepage to the Ninja Camps page and all points in-between.

It will take me a few months to complete all the changes so, check back often to see how you will be getting even more from this awesome site!

And, don't forget...

You can also get information on-site about such topics as...

The The Best Self-Defense Video for Escaping Danger

My latest book, "The Karate-Myth" which explains Why Most Martial Arts and Self-Defense Courses Don't Work and How to Be Safe in Today's Often Violent World

And...

Information for Subscribing to the WCI Online Newsletter

We're even adding a dedicated FORUM for you to discuss important issues with others! Give me and my staff another week or two for this incredible addition to the site and register for a username and password of your own. I promise that you won't regret it!

So, come see the new site as it unfolds to be one of the best self-defense and Ninjutsu sites on the web!

Peace and Happiness,

Jeffrey M. Miller, Shidoshi
Warrior Concepts International

"Real Training for Real People in a Real World!"

Desire to Begin Martial Arts Training...What's Stopping You?

2006-02-28T01:53:00.000-05:00

Everyday, hundreds and perhaps thousands of men and women think about taking martial arts lessons. I know because I hear from them constantly, either by way of email, phone, or in letters mailed to the academy.

The vast majority are, more-often-than not, trapped in this "thinking about it" stage and will never take that next, most important step to making it happen. And, it's sad really.

While the reasons vary as to why each person wants to involve themselves in the martial arts...

1. Self-defense...

2. Life skills...

3. An affinity for the East or the concept of Warriorship, and...

4. Many more too numerous to list here

...the point is that each sees what he or she needs to feel more confident, powerful, or in-control of his or her life through the study and practice of the martial arts.

Why then, are these well-meaning individuals stuck in, what Dr. Seuss called, "The Waiting Place?"

Perhaps one of the reasons is that each believes that he or she must have certain skills or abilities before they can begin.

Perhaps they believe that their situation, with work schedules, a limited budget, or their physical fitness and level of health, is unique to themselves.

Maybe they believe that they should already possess certain life-skills like discipline, focus, and anything else besides their apparent heart-felt desire to begin.

And maybe, just maybe, they're afraid that others with more experience in the academy will make fun of them, or look down on them in some way because they're a beginner and don't know very much.

As a senior practitioner who has been involved in the study and practice of the martial arts for self-defense and every other reason listed here for over two-thirds of my life, I'd like to quite possibly be the first to say that...

You don't need any skills and abilities, life or other BEFORE beginning your training. You don't need to be in any sort of "perfect shape" or have rock-solid discipline, commitment, or focus, either. That would be like putting the cart before the horse for these are the things that you will be learning...

...as a part of your martial arts study!

No. The only thing that you need to match, what apparently is a heartfelt desire to begin your martial arts training, is a willingness to take that first step. And, where else, but as a "beginner" would you start? We were all beginners once and I think the best of us stay that way, in heart, mind, and spirit - forever.

I do know this, however. If you wait for the "right time." If you wait to be properly "motivated," or for your schedule to "free up," or to have more money...

If you... (fill in the blank for you)...

... It will quite-likely never happen for you and you will live out one of the fears that keeps me and many other successful people moving...

... the fear that, on my death-bed, I will regret NOT following my dreams - not living the life I always wanted.

You see, where most people are stopped by the fear of failure, the fear of fear, all the "things" that become the "reason" for NOT doing...

I am driven by the knowledge that I will forever regret NOT taking action.

So... It's time to decide.

Take action, or...

...live with yourself for not doing so.

The choice is yours.

To learn more about seminars, camps and other subjects related to the martial arts, self-defense, personal development & self-improvement, visit the website at http://www.warrior-concepts-online.com

To subscribe to the online newsletter, go to http://www.warrior-concepts-online.com/newsletter-subscribe-self-defense.html

Until Next time...

Peace and Happiness,

Jeffrey M. Miller, Shidoshi
Warrior Concepts International
Self-Protection & Personal Development
www.warrior-concepts-online.com

"Real Training for Real People in a Real World!

Don't forget to check out my latest book, "The Karate-Myth," here

As a New Sun Rises...

2006-02-17T10:19:00.000-05:00

Hello Everyone.

It's been a few weeks since I've posted. But, not for lack of interest in doing so.

What have I been doing? Thanks for asking.

As many of you know, I've been involved in teaching people, well, quite frankly...

...how NOT to die...

...for the past 20 years.

I've decided to make my knowledge and real-world experience available to those outside my local area and in forms other than just short articles on www.warrior-concepts-online.com and elsewhere on the net.

In that light, I've been busy over the past several weeks and months, coordinating several projects that, I'm happy to say, are coming along nicely.

The first project is the re-release of my video, "Danger Prevention Tactics: Protecting Yourself Like a Pro," on DVD.

The video was originally released by a less than customer-oriented production company ONLY on VHS. And, at a time when DVD was rapidly becoming the format of choice!

Ah well, you live-you learn.

If you haven't checked out the information for Danger Prevention Tactics, you can do so by clicking on the link. It will take you to a page where you can get lots of information that will help you understand the principles behind, not just self-defense (because there are no physical techniques for handling a violent assailant on this video), but using awareness to avoid and be able to escape from danger with the least amount of wear-and-tear possible.

Now, isn't that what self-defense should be all about?

Here's the link:

http://www.warrior-concepts-online.com/self-defense-video-dpt1.html

The latest project though, is my new book called "The Karate-Myth." And, I'm sure that this one single work is going to spark more controversy than anything else I've done to date.

Why?

Because it specifically tells you "Why Most Martial Arts and Self-Defense Programs Don't Work and What You Can Do to Insure Your Safety in Today's Violent World."

The fact is that, most so-called "experts" are missing the one vital ingredient necessary for teaching ANYBODY how to deal with a violent assailant. This one crucial element, if missing from the lessons you receive, can literally spell disaster for you in a real-world situation.

No matter...

How many step-by-step techniques you know

What color your "way-cool" karate belt is

How long you've been training

How BELIEVABLE the lessons were

Without it, you're literally playing with your life!

What is it?

It's...

...EXPERIENCE!

Actual real-world experience handling real-world attacks from real-world assailants who want to do real damage.

It's not about winning trophies or earning the next belt.

It's about going home safely with as much of you intact as you can.

If you want to read more about this new, groundbreaking book, just click on this link and you'll be taken directly to it's page:
http://www.warrior-concepts-online.com/self-defense-karate-myth.html

You know, every day there's more and more in the news about the number of people falling victim to assault, muggings, beatings, rape, and even murder.

The police can't protect you. I know. Because, I WAS a cop for almost a decade.

That's why I do hat I do now. I realized that I was always getting there AFTER the attack happened.

Can you imagine what it feels like, day-after-day, to always be looking into the eyes of "victims."

I rarely, if ever, did reports on "survivors" of attacks. Do you know why?

It's because THEY, themselves, handled the situation and didn't need me or anyone else to help them. I never even knew these incidents took place at all.

And, that, is what I teach my clients and students to do now. And you know what?

It feels great. Because, now...

...I know I'm making a difference in people's lives.

I'm finally doing what I became a cop for in the first place...

...to protect people from "the bad-guy!"

But, I can't protect them. What I can do is...

...teach them to protect themselves BEFORE that skill is needed.

That way, they are ready and ABLE should the need ever arise.

Thanks to everyone who has supported me. I hope you'll really take the time to check out my new books and videos at www.warrior-concepts-online.com

And, don't forget. You can also get information about other topics like...

The most powerful self-defense course that focuses on your natural responses to danger

Training Opportunities to increase your knowledge and ability to be safe and secure in today's world

and...

The Japanese martial art of Ninjutsu

Until Next time...

Peace and Happiness,

Jeffrey M. Miller, Shidoshi
Warrior Concepts International
Self-Protection & Personal Development
www.warrior-concepts-online.com

"Real Training for Real People in a Real World!

Upcoming Seminar & Training Opportunities

2005-11-15T04:50:00.000-05:00

Hey everyone!

Just a quick note to let you know that the site has been updated with the flyers and information for the upcoming seminars I'm doing at WCI's Academy Central.

To save you some time, here are the direct links for the flyers:

KUBOTAN: Self-Defense Keychain Workshop

Friday, November 18th at WCI Central. Click to see the course flyer.

Learn the Secrets of Defending Against the Long Staff with the Smurai Sword! A Special Seminar w/ Shihan Miller

Saturday, November 19th at WCI Central.

DAIKOMYO-SAI! Celebrate the Grand Master's Birthday - WCI Style!

Friday thru Sundday, December 2nd - 4th at WCI Central.
(with an optional Japanese Dinner on Saturday evening)

EDR: Non-Martial Arts Defensive Training Program
Level 1 Certification Course

Friday & Saturday, December 10th & 11th at WCI Central.

For more information about the powerful Self Program that changes all the rules and sets the new standard, click Here

Register Right Now to Reserve Your Place in Any or All of These Great Programs!

Call the Academy at (570) 988-2228

******************************************

For those of you who still don't receive the online newsletter (tsk, tsk...), you can subscribe now and stay up-to-date on all of the new information that's coming out.

To get it, simply go to www.warrior-concepts-online.com/newsletter

Visit the site often as there's always a lot going on.

Until next time...

Peace, Happiness, and Safety,

Shihan Miller

I'm Back.....

2005-11-10T01:24:00.000-05:00

Hey everyone!

Well, the worst is over and I'm ready to get on with things with a renewed gusto.

For those who have been following my life-story over the past few months, you know that, although my sister is still with us and doing pretty much the same, I have gone through a divorce and have entered a new "do-over" phase of my life.

BTW - I'm a huge advocate of the "do-over." VERY powerful!

There is balance in the universe though as I returned from Japan in September as a new 10th degree Black Belt! It's been a long road to get to this level and, even though a know that I have more to do, it's nice to be recognized for the hard work and achievement.

Anyway, if you're a subscriber to my online self-defense newsletter, you should already have received both the "Urgent Update" and Issue #7 by now.

You will notice a change in the format to a more interactive one that puts you at the center of the learning process (where you SHOULD be!)

If you're not a subscriber...

shame on you! LOL

But, all is not lost. All you have to do to start receiving all of the great information for making yourself and your loved ones more safe and secure is to go to my website at www.warrior-concepts-online.com and subscribe.

It's free and worth literally hundreds of dollars a month in information, tips, and insights.

As a subscriber, you will get important information FIRST about upcoming seminars and training, self-defense books and videos, and - more importantly - the ability to send in questions and comments that you need answers or feedback on.

Oh, yeah - you'll also receive, as my gift to you, a free 7-part self-defense e-course that will teach you some very important lessons for making you more safe and able to protect yourself right away.

So, go there and subscribe right now. I mean it. Do it!

*************************************************

Now, back to what I'm here for...

Don't Forget: You can also find additional information about:

EDR:Non-Martial Arts Defense Training

The EDRTM program was designed to teach you how to couple your own natural responses to stress and danger with simple, effective self defense techniques that are proven to work in real situations. It is delivered in hours instead of months or years to empower you with the skills necessary to defend yourself against over 95% of the assaults that happen every year in the US.

Self-Defense for Women

Contrary to popular belief, what is being taught in most martial arts schools and self-defense programs is totally wrong. Click on the above link to find out how many of these programs are putting women at more risk than they are helping.

Child Safety

Child Safety issues are everyone's concern. But, kids, like women, have some very special needs when it comes to learning how to properly defend themselves against the most common threats to their safety. If you're a parent, grandparent, teacher, or care-giver, you can't afford to remain ignorant of this information.

Until Next time...

Peace, Happiness, and much safety.

Your friend on the Path.

Jeffrey M. Miller, Shihan
Warrior Concepts International
Self-Protection & Personal Development
www.warrior-concepts-online.com

Training Alert!

2005-07-21T17:42:00.000-04:00

Sorry for the last minute notice but...

I will be teaching an intensive workshop at the Kageyama Martial Arts Academy in Toronto, Ontario on Saturday, July 23rd, 2005 (told you this was last minute!). The focus for this powerful training experience will be on the secrets and science of positioning for safety. This is called kamae or kurai dori within our Ninja self-defense arts and usually given only a cursory glance by beginners and advanced students alike.

The cost of this 3-hour intensive is just $20 Canadian! (That's like 38 cents US, right?!) Seriously, I will be teaching stuff that has taken me years and literally thousands of dollars to learn and figure out. You would do well to do everything in your power to attend. Your other option is to stumble around and try to piece this information together like I did, and for a lot more than $20 dollars Canadian!

To reserve your space, call Kageyama Martial Arts at (416) 963-5680. We're looking to fill the place to capacity so, I'm sure they'd be Okay with you just showing up at the door.

Again, to register, call Kageyama Martial Arts at (416) 963-5680 - or, to find out how you can sponsor this same course in your area, call Warrior Concepts International / Bujinkan Kuryu Dojo today at (570) 988-2228.

You'll also find more information and details about this year's Fall Training Camp scheduled for November 4 - 6th, 2005, here

See You There!

DON'T FORGET: You can also get program information on-site relating to this and other topics by clicking on any of these links:

link to Warrior Concepts Online

link to EDR:Non-Martial Arts Defense Training

link to Self-Defense for Women at Warrior Concepts Online

link to EDR:Non-Martial Arts Defensive Training

Peace and Happiness,

Jeffrey M. Miller, Shidoshi
Warrior Concepts International
Self-Protection & Personal Development
www.warrior-concepts-online.com

"Real Training for Real People in a Real World!

New Ninja Self-Defense DVDs!

2005-06-13T15:16:00.000-04:00

I forgot to mention in the last post that the new Ninja Camp DVD's are ready!

This awesome 2 disc set contains enough material, techniques, and lessons from the Warrior Concepts Spring Ninja Training Camp 2004 to keep you busy training for months!!!

Get yours today. Call the Academy as (570) 988-2228.

Keep Training.

Shidoshi Miller

It's Not How Good you Are . . .

2005-06-11T03:55:00.000-04:00

I can't tell you how tired I am of hearing how good people are when it comes to martial arts and self-defense training. When it comes to anything for that matter!

In the realm of success and personal development training, whether it be through the martial arts or something else, it can be difficult to stay focused on the ultimate goal and not the temporary accomplishment or stage you've achieved. This is what most people do - even those who profess to be working on personal development.

Do you know the story of the trained flea?

No?

Well, it's not really a story as much as scientifically proven fact that I and many others use to convey a very important lesson. The question is...

... are you a flea?

A flea? What do you have in common with a flea?

Do you know what happens when fleas are placed in a jar that itself is covered with a lid? Right...

Those fleas do what they do best - they jump. And they jump high.

They continually jump and bump into the lid of the jar. They do this again and again and...

Well, you get the idea.

But, do you know what eventually happens?

The fleas accept the fact that they can only jump so high and...

... they stop jumping any higher than "just enough."

You can actually take the lid off the jar and they won't jump out. Because of a few bumps on the head, they discover the 'way' to jump high without hurting themselves. But, they stop trying altogether. They stop at that level and, even after they have the opportunity to once again exceed their current level...

... they don't.

Have you stopped jumping. Do you jump as high as you can - Today? Or, have you chosen to be satisfied with your "PAST" achievement?

You know you're good. I believe that you're good. And I'm sure that others know you're good. But, the question here isn't "how good you are"...

The question is "how good do you want to be?!

DON'T FORGET: You can also get program information on-site relating to this and other topics by clicking on any of these links:

link to Warrior Concepts Online

link to EDR:Non-Martial Arts Defense Training

link to Self-Defense for Women at Warrior Concepts Online

link to EDR:Non-Martial Arts Defensive Training

Peace and Happiness,

Jeffrey M. Miller, Shidoshi
Warrior Concepts International
Self-Protection & Personal Development
www.warrior-concepts-online.com

"Real Training for Real People in a Real World!

Newsletter is Ready!

2005-06-03T03:15:00.000-04:00

Just a quick note to remind everyone to check your inbox for the new issue of the Warrior Concepts Self Defense Newsletter. It's a little late but you'll see why when you read it.

What's that? You're not subscribed?

Go here

Until Next time.

Shidoshi Miller

Update & New, Lower Price on Self-Defense Video

2005-05-08T17:45:00.000-04:00

Wow!

It's hard to believe that it's been almost three weeks since I posted here last! I apologize for being out of the loop but, as many of you know, I have been trying to help the family with a sister who has a terminal brain tumor. On top of that, I recently lost my grandmother (see previous post), one of my life heroes. And, most recently, I became a grandfather for the third time. This time to a little boy (Ty Matthew) who is now a week old.

Life always presents its little balancing act. That's just the way it is. Good thing I work on my balance!

Anyway...

... for those of you who might be interested in learning what it takes to be safe and danger-free...

DANGER PREVENTION TACTICS is on-sale!

I've decided to lower the price of the Danger Prevention Tactics video to just $19.95! It was previously selling for $39.95. And...

... the best part is that...

It still includes the bonus package!

You'll get all of the knowledge, skills, and strategies contained in the best professional safety video available today. Within minutes of pushing 'play' on your VCR (sorry, it's not available as a DVD yet), you'll be learning some of the easiest, yet most important and powerful lessons for preventing and escaping from danger. You'll be learning the same tactics that keptme safe during my years as a police officer, undercover investigator, and body guard. All of the information is presented in an entertaining format that will show you what to do with live-action recreations of the actual tactics. This is definately not another boring 'how-to' video. Shot on-location, this video was designed to make learning as easy and quick as possible.

In addition to the DPT video, you'll also receive two special bonuses, absolutely free.

First, I'll include what is called a "Kubotan" keychain. This little "toy" is one of the most inconspicuous little weapons ever developed for self-defense. It was originally developed as a non-lethal replacement for the batons carried by police officers. Use it to quickly gasin control over an assailant through the use of pressure point attacks and simple restraining moves. Made of turned aircraft aluminum, one of the strongest materials ever created, this little gem is virtually indestructible.

Second, I'll also include a special training manual which will show you simple, easy to apply techniques for your Kubotan keychain weapon. These techniques are so simple, our youth students can do them in a matter of minutes. You will feel more confident and secure knowing that you can protect yourself without the need for years of dedicated training once you have the techniques in this powerful manual.

To order, just cli.ck on the paypal link. You'll be taken to a secure ordering page to get your Danger Prevention Tactics Combo Package. Then, as soon as we receive the confirmation from Paypal, we'll send out your video and self-defense materials right away.

You can get your self-defense package here: www.warrior-concepts-online.com/video order page

___________________________________________________

Have you subscribed to the Warrior Concepts Self Defense Newsletter yet? If not, you're missing out on a wealth of information that yours absolutely free, just for being a subscriber. Each issue gives you articles, tips, strategies, and product reviews so that you can be as safe as possible in this not-so-safe world. And everything in the WCI Self-Defense Newsletter has been proven with decades of research, study, and actual real-world experience. Sub.scribe today!

Oh yeah - I almost forgot! As a new subscriber, you also receive a special 7-part eCourse called "Foundations of Self-Defense Mastery." This single course contains more than enough information to allow you to develop a complete danger prevention plan. It is the perfect compliment to the DPT video package or, for the tire-kickers, a great foundation to build your future safety upon.

Don't forget!

The WCI Web Site is loaded with fr.ee information covering many aspects of self-defense. You'll find information for parents about child-safety, self defense for women, and much more.

Well, I think that's more than enough to bring everyone up to speed. Don't miss out on the next issue of the newsletter, which will be out tomorrow. And, don't forget the new sale price on the Video Package. Order yours right now while you're thinking about it!

And remember, at warrior-concepts-online.com...

You can also get great information about:

The most powerful self-defense course that focuses on your natural responses to danger

Training Opportunities to increase your knowledge and ability to be safe and secure in today's world

and...

The Japanese martial art of Ninjutsu

Until Next time...

Peace and Happiness,

Jeffrey M. Miller, Shidoshi
Warrior Concepts International
Self-Protection & Personal Development
www.warrior-concepts-online.com

"Real Training for Real People in a Real World!

Another Successful Spring Ninja Training Camp!

2005-04-18T02:10:00.000-04:00

Well, it's Sunday night, the 17th of April and I just got home from Ninja Camp. This year's camp was a huge success! In addition to a great group of participants, we were blessed by the teaching talent of Shidoshi:

J. Courtland Elliott (Toronto, Ontario)
Greg Tremblay (Toronto, Ontario)
Matt Woodard (LA, California), and...

... of course, your's truly.

Topics included:

Defense against multiple attackers
Gyokko-ryu basics (sandan kamae, etc.)
Shuriken practice to improve rolling and striking
Incorporating and combining rolls with shuriken use
Universality of Technique
Sparring drills (including weapons)
Stealth Movement
and much, Much, MUCH MORE!

If you haven't already done so, go to the main site and subscribe to the newsletter to get fr*ee articles about these and many other topics delivered to you on a regular basis.

ALSO: As many of you know, we record the highlights of our seasonal camps. These videos are being edited and will soon be offered through the Warrior Concepts Online site for those who were not able to make the training event but would still like to benefit from the knowledge. Until then, don't forget that you can order the powerful "Danger Prevention Tactics" video. It will teach you just about everything you need to know to be more safe be preventing danger from touching you in the first place! If you order it now, you'll also receive a really cool self-defense keychain and a training manual that teaches you how to use it to literally stop an attacker in his tracks.

If you've been following these posts, you will remember that I'm using the money from the sale of this video to help my family provide a nice memorial for my late grandmother's grave-site.

Well, that's it for this post. In the upcoming issues of my newsletter, you'll be able to read some of the comments about the recent spring ninja training camp from some of the participants. To download the flyer for the Fall Camp, go here.

Peace and Happiness,

Jeffrey M. Miller, Shidoshi
Warrior Concepts International
Self-Protection & Personal Development
www.warrior-concepts-online.com

Memorial Post

2005-04-11T15:30:00.000-04:00

Hi Everyone!

For those of you who have been following this Blog, you know that I recently lost most grand mother this past week. I just returned from Delaware for the funeral services and family matters. No matter how much danger i think I can deal with in the world, I still have problems dealing with the loss of those close to me.

Whether it's the loss of a student who allows life to get in the way and decides to cut training - the one thing that can fix, not only the current problem but future ones as well - or this loss of someone who was instrumental in guiding me through life to become the man that I am, the pain and emptiness is... well, I'm sure you know.

This post then, serves as a memorial to my grandmother, Vivian M. Oringer - one of the silent heroes of my life. Her lessons and love will always be there, guiding me now, as they have throughout my life. I will always remember her love of flowers when I see them. She was a true fighter - being at death's door several times, only to come back and share more of herself with her friends and family. I am thankful that she died, as she lived, quietly and peacefully in her sleep. She was almost 90.

What I am doing now is making a special effort to raise enough money to purchase a terrific memorial head stone for her and my grandfather, who will be 88 at the end of the month. He is fine now but for a few health issues. I hope to have several more years with him but, after losing the love of your life for over 60 years, I'm not sure how that will work out. It is the least I can do to return the favor of their light and guidance in my life.

My main source of revenue for this endeavor will be through the sale of my Danger Prevention Tactic: Protecting Yourself Like a ProTM video. The video has been discounted by 40% and I've thrown in a bunch of free bonus gifts to make it even more valuable. My goal is to sell 200 packages which, after production and shipping expenses, should allow me to get a memorial befitting these great people.

Please consider helping me to provide a tribute to one of the greatest women I will probably ever know and at the same time help yourself to be more safe and secure in your own life. You are important in the life of someone else. This video and the special bonuses that come with it will help you protect yourself. They'll appreciate having you around - especially after something bad happens that you've learned how to escape from.

Please visit the site at www.warrior-concepts-online.com/self-defense-video-danger-prevention-tactics.html

Thanks for being a part of my life and I only hope that I can be as helpful to many of you as my late grandmother was to me.

Peace and Happiness,

Jeffrey M. Miller, Shidoshi
Warrior Concepts International
Self-Protection & Personal Development
www.warrior-concepts-online.com

Ninja Seminar Events Postponed

2005-04-07T12:10:00.000-04:00

Hi Everyone.

Just a quick note to let you know about some postponed seminars (at-least one). The Ninja Board-Breaking Clinic scheduled for Friday, April 8th will have to be postponed due to a death in the family. I will not be posting until after the weekend due to being in Delaware for the funeral of my late grandmother, Vivian Oringer.

To get information about the reschedule date for this event, check the seminars page over the next few days. Also, I've uploaded several flyers for upcoming events (they're in .pdf format so you'll need a reader although they should open in IE and netscape and compatable browsers I think).

Anyway, I apologize for the inconvenience.

Peace and Happiness,

Jeffrey M. Miller, Shidoshi
Warrior Concepts International
Self-Protection & Personal Development
www.warrior-concepts-online.com

New Beginnings!

2005-04-05T15:25:00.000-04:00

Spring is one of those times when the lessons I've received from my teacher over the years are directly reflected in the simplicity of nature. As I watch the world reawaken from its cold, frozen slumber and experience the warmth of a new Spring, I remember that even the worst of times - the less than pleasant - will pass and give way to new opportunities for growth and beauty.

Our training reflects this same lesson. Students, both beginner and experienced, comfortable in their set patterns of habitual actions, experience the discomfort associated with the 'new.' But with attitudes firmly set on attaining the prize and characters predisposed to facing challenges and overcoming difficulty, they find that, with time and diligent study, the discomfort turns into newfound abilities and the opportunity to do more than before.

This Spring, like many milestones in the history of WCI, marks another series of new beginnings which will make 2005 our best year ever. Since the New Year, we continue to welcome more new members to the WCI family. Add to this the pride we feel as many of our students approach their Black Belt exam, and you have the makings of a truly remarkable atmosphere! As the size of classes and the number of dedicated students seeking an education in martial increases, so does our need for upgraded systems and procedures for making our students' experience as positive and powerful as possible.

As we move confidently into the next few months, you'll want to keep your eye on the training events and opportunities that make being a part of WCI, not just an investment in your future safety and security, but FUN! It's also time to reactivate the demo team for highlighting the academy in the surrounding communities. We are already receiving requests for demonstrations at some of the upcoming events. This is a sign of how well we are perceived in the area and I am very proud to share it with all of you!

So, if you're local to us, I hope that you'll join us for training. If you're not, I hope you'll make the effort to be with us for a seminar or two in the near future.

And speaking of training, here's a great seminar for you to consider:

Spring Ninja Camp April 15th - 17th, 2005!

But, time is running out! We must have our total numbers in to the camp this week for meals and lodging - and to the screen printer for shirt totals and sizes.

Be sure to check the site often as it is growing by leaps and bounds. I will be adding several event flyers to the seminars page at:

Seminars at Warrior Concepts International

And, coming soon - I will be seeking dedicated partners to help market WCI events in other areas! You'll be able to join in the success and growth of Warrior Concepts by arranging, setting up, sponsoring, or selling WCI products, services, and seminars! More Information to following in the coming days.

As always, be safe.

Peace and Happiness,

Shidoshi Jeffrey M. Miller
Master Instructor
www.warrior-concepts-online.com

Record Visitors for Self-Defense Site!

2005-04-03T15:00:00.000-04:00

Hi everyone!

Well, the traffic has finally subsided but with substantial growth. If you've been following the news at the academy, you know what I'm talking about. For everyone else, the news is that a press release, posted at PRWeb.com, about our upcoming Spring Ninja Training Camp resulted in a record 1,018 unique visitors (NOT hits!) on Saturday, March 26th. Prior to this, our daily unique visitor count ranged between a low of 9 and a high of 80. Needless to say...

... I was ecstatic!

For the next several days after, we continued to get between 3 and 4 hundred visitors per day. And, speaking of camp, the site has been a major boost in letting the world know about these powerful, yearly events. We've already received calls from Texas, California, and other places considerably farther than our "regulars" travel from. I'm looking forward to the continued growth and opportunities that the Warrior Concepts International's website will be creating for us over the coming weeks and months.

There is still space available at this year's Spring Ninja Training Camp. You can view and download the flyer for the event here. To register, call the academy at (570) 988-2228 and use your VISA or Master Card to make sure that you have a place at this year's camp.

Remember, the camp will be held April 15-17th, 2005 right here in central Pennsylvania. We are under the wire though as the weekend is fast approaching. If you are to get a commemorative T-shirt and we can make sure that we have the correct number for meals...

... you must call to register this week.

I have added several new pages to the site, including some original articles that I had written for a now-defunct online newsletter several years ago.

To check out what's new, go to the site now.

Until Next Time,

Peace and Happiness,

Jeffrey M. Miller, Shidoshi
Warrior Concepts International
Self-Protection & Personal Development
www.warrior-concepts-online.com

Women's Safety Open House Update

2005-04-03T04:35:00.000-04:00

We held our Women's Safety Open House today amidst the downpour promised for our area. I don't know how much or little the rain and threat of flooding had to do with the turnout but, out of about ten women preregistered for the event, only four actually came in.

The event included two free self defense clinics - 1 focusing on rape prevention and the other on the concept of emotion-based defensive response.

The programs were received very well by all involved and we have at least one more student who will be attending future seminars and events like this one.

I want to publically thank all of my SWAT assistants who were present to make the day a success. Thank You. I couldn't have done it without you.

For more information on my perspective and approach to womens safety and self defense, click on these links:

www.warrior-concepts-online.com/womens-self-defense

www.warrior-concepts-online.com/self-defense-for-women

For information about my Emotion-based Defensive Response (or EDR)program, go here.

And remember, if you haven't already done so, subscribe to the Warrior Concepts' Self-Defense Newsletter to stay up-to-date about training opportunities, articles and suggestions to maximize your training to be the absolute best that you can be. As a special gift for subscribing, you'll get a link to enroll in the all new "Foundations of Self-Defense Mastery" eCourse - absolutely free. This a $120 value just for becoming a subscriber.

To subscribe, you can go to any page on the site (let me know if I missed any with the subscriber boxes), or you can go to the dedicated subscriber page here.

If you want to get information about the eCourse, click here.

Stay Safe and, Until next time...

Peace and Happiness,

Jeffrey M. Miller, Shidoshi
Founder and Director
Warrior Concepts International
www.warrior-concepts-online.com

"Master Your Self - Master Your Life!"

Reviving Old Articles

2005-03-23T04:25:00.000-05:00

As many of you know, I've been writing for well over 20 years now. As a martial arts teacher and seminar leader, I've produced everything from articles about the martial arts and self-defense to manuals, books, and worksheets for my ninjutsu students.

I've just begun the process of reviving many of these older pieces of work. Looking at them, I almost can't believe that I wrote some of them. They make me really proud as I have had to change little about them when it came to substance and content. The changes, sadly, have mostly involved grammar and flow of ideas. Perhaps the writing skills have improved over the years.

Anyway. I will be releasing a dozen or so of the articles over the next month. They will be offered free at both the web site and through ezinearticles.com. (If you don't find it on the main page as a new submission, just do a search under author for Jeffrey Miller and you should find them)

The newest addition to the free-for-use materials that I've put up is a 3-part series that focus on two Eastern metaphysical systems used to classify and understand energy and its phases. The articles were originally published about ten years ago in a now-defunct online Ninjutsu newsletter called Ura & Omote. I have updated them and posted them to the WCI site and part 1 to ezinearticles.com.

I'll keep everybody posted as I release addtional articles in the days to come.

Dont't Forget! You can enroll in the new "Foundations of Mastery" e-Course at site-central. It comes with a subscription to the Warrior Concepts Self Defense newsletter. Current subscribers will already find a free link in the current and upcoming issues.

Well, that's it. Talk to you soon.

Jeffrey M. Miller, Director
www.warrior-concepts-online.com

Free e-Course to "Go-Live' this Friday!!!

2005-03-16T17:23:00.000-05:00

Don't forget!

The all new and free 7-part "Foundations of Self-Defense Strategy" e-Course goes live on Friday, March 18th, 2005. I will NOT, however, be posting another reminder here. To receive this powerful course and start being properly prepared for a safer, more secure life...

... you must be a subscriber to the WCI online newsletter. To subscribe, go to the WCI website (by clicking on the link above to go directly to the subcriber form or, at the bottom of this post to be taken to the main page) and click on the "Newsletter" button.

Well, that's it - see you in the next issue of the Newsletter (on Friday!)

Here's to Mastery!

Jeffrey M. Miller, Shidoshi
Founder and Director
Warrior Concepts International
www.warrior-concepts-online.com

"Master Your Self - Master Your Life!"

A Public Disservice!

2005-03-13T03:15:00.000-05:00

Just spent a few days trying to sort out why a public agency - one designed to help with social issues, be more interested in promoting a "victim-based" program than one that would help to prevent the problem for occuring in the first place?

I'm referring to a Women's Discussion Panel that's been put together by a local chapter of the United Way here in Sunbury, Pa. But, before I tell you what I think of their approach and where they are doing the disservice, let me ask a few questions.

Regardless of whether you are a man or woman, tell me:

1) What do you think - what comes to mind - when you see this title for a program:

"Sexual Assault & Women's Safety Discussion Panel"?

Now, one strictly for the women (sorry guys):

2) Do you feel that you know what to do to prevent a rape or sexual assault attack? If you are currently in or have received training in the martial arts or self defense, answer the question from the viewpoint you had before you enrolled in the program.

*******************************************************
Now, here's what WILL be covered at this particular event:

- A Rape victims story

- A sex offender's story

- The rehabilitation process for sex offenders

- A psychologist who will share how rape victims are treated

- A nurse explaining the rape evidence collecting kit and procedure

- A women's advocacy representative explaining their services

- Law enforcement's role in the investigation process

*******************************************************

Now, is it me or...

... is there something missing from the agenda? (I and several others called the organizers and were assured that we didn't miss anything - the listing is exactly what will be presented)

What I'm referring to here is anything relating to "prevention." It's not there!

It won't be there!

What we were told was, the program is really about awareness. And, to here these people's stories (the victim and the offender) is both heart-wrenching and heart-warming.

I'm sure they are, but...

... who wants to be in there shoes (especially the victims)!

Every women that I've talked to so far, both in and outside of WCI, has, after hearing the title of the program, assumed that information about the types of attacks and prevention and defensive measures and suggestions would be at the forefront of the discussion. They were shocked to find out that this would not be the case.

In fact, after looking at the program agenda, a few even calling the United Way to make sure that I had not been mistaken, were confused and angered. "Why," they asked, "would someone call a program, obviously focused on the post-assault legal and psychological aftermath, a 'women's safety' discussion"?

The other thing we were told by the folks at the United Way was, "every woman knows what to do as far as prevention and safety goes. You know, carry your keys in your hand in parking lots, etc." One of our women who called the office was even told, "we already covered defense and prevention at last year's Bully Awareness event."

"Bully awareness?"

Now, honestly, how many of you would think "women's safety and rape defense" when you hear that someone is doing a "bully awareness" program. Come on, be honest.

When told that it didn't make sense and that, according to the female student who got this response, she didn't attend last year's event; my student was simply dismissed with an, "hum, sorry." "But, to hear these women's stories is just..."

Now, please know that I am not knocking the program that they are promoting. I'm sure that it serves a very important purpose. But, I do believe:

1) It belongs in the hands of a rape crisis center as of their public education programs

2) They are going to upset, scare, and outright disappoint the audience that they will draw based on the title of the program, and...

3) It is irresponsible to present issues relating to something as terrible as sexual assault WITHOUT also providing suggestions for prevention and defense. Maybe it's just me. And, to top this all off...

... the event will be held on a college campus. One of the breeding grounds of sexual assault incidences with 1 in 4 college girls being raped or sexually assaulted during a four-year period - and over half of these happening in the freshman year!

The sad part about this whole thing is that, this office of the United Way, staffed by three women (women - not men!), is perpetuating two of the most damaging myths preventing women from really being able to put a stop to this horrible crime:

1) That a woman WILL be raped, and...

2) Most women already know what to do to be effective against a male attacker. But even so...

1) That a woman will be raped anyway!

Many of you already know how I feel about the amount of misinformation being taught in the form of self defense - and even more exists for women. If not, check out these pages on women's self defense issues and what a self defense program for women should focus on.

Anyway, thought I'd vent to folks who are looking to understand the issues. Thanks for listening.

Talk to you soon.

Peace and Happiness,

Jeffrey M. Miller, Shidoshi
Founder and Director
Warrior Concepts International
www.warrior-concepts-online.com

"Master Your Self - Master Your Life!"

Defensive Combat Handgun Seminar

2005-03-12T21:00:00.000-05:00

Just a Reminder...

Don't forget about the Defensive Combat Handgun Seminar scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, March 19th & 20th, 2005. The event will be held at the main training center here in Sunbury.

Topics will include:

1) Retaining your firearm when an assailant tries to overpower you

2) Safely disarming an armed assailant

3) Instictive shooting (engaging a target without the use of sights)

4) Neutralizing the effects of recoil to keep your rounds on target

5) Understanding the effects of combat-related stress on your ability to engage and armed assailant

6) And more...

Instead of trying to tell you that this program is for you, I'll let you decide. If you are a law enforcement and security professional, military combatant, or anyone who relies on a handgun for self-defense or is thinking about purchasing one for self-protection...

... you do not need to attend this course if you can correctly answer the following questions:

1) How many types of recoil must your grip be able to neutralize in a combat situation?

2) What is the only benefit of carrying a semi-automatic over a revolver? (hint: it's not the number of rounds - if you're a lowsy shot, "You can't miss often enough to win!)

3) Why are the movie depictions of the hero shooting the bad guy first - even when he has his weapon trained on an armed assailant who IS NOT pointing his weapon - wrong?

If you would like to learn the correct answers to these and many other misconceptions to be able to use your weapon effectively in a life-threatening situation, you can't afford to miss this event.

Cost of the event is only $150.

Participants will need to bring an approved handgun (semi-autos are prefered by a quality double-action, six-shot revolver is OK), two magazines (clips) or a speed-loader, hip holster and gun belt, hearing protection, and at least 100 rounds of ammunition. A quality handgun mock-up will be required for the disarm and retention training on Saturday. Equipment may be purchased at the academy.

Targets and markers will be provided by WCI.

To register for this event, contact Warrior Concepts International at (570) 988-2228 before Friday, March 18th, 2005.

For more information about the real-world self-defense training available at Warrior Concepts, visit our website here.

REMEMBER: "Somewhere, someone is training to do damage and harm. If you are not training, and you meet him - you will LOSE!"

See you there!

Jeffrey M. Miller, Shidoshi
Founder and Director
Warrior Concepts International
www.warrior-concepts-online.com

"Master Your Self - Master Your Life!"

Self-Defense eCourse Coming Soon!

2005-03-12T20:25:00.000-05:00

It's almost finished!

I've been working on getting some real-world martial arts and self-defense information out to my friends and clients over the past several months. For those of you keeping up with these posts, you've seen the focus on women's self defense issues. Along these lines, there are many issues that are really not gender specific and are needed by everyone to better protect themselves and their loved-ones.

I have already discussed several perspectives related to women's self defense both here and on the website itself. One such page is here. This page also focuses on self defense for women.

During this next week, I'll be releasing a special 7-part eCourse on the Foundations of Self-Defense. The course will be available free of charge to subscribers of my newsletter and will focus on the 6 Phases of Effective Self-Defense Strategy. Each lesson, including the introduction, will lead you through understanding one of these phases, its importance in your overall defensive plan, and considerations for handling danger at that point. This is information that is available through many other programs but not in such a scientifically applied form. Instead of trying to piece-meal several different programs and theories together, why not just get the one program that takes care of everything for you. No confusion. No Need to fill in any gaps in your practice. Just train and make sure you get all the lessons.

So, make sure that you visit the website at www.warrior-concepts-online.com this week and watch for the launch of the new eCourse.

Don't Forget: The Danger Prevention Tactics video is ready! This powerful video was professionally produced to be both educational AND entertaining. Not another boring "How-to" video here! Unlike most self-defense videos that limit information to defending against human attackers, this video extends far beyond to take into account the full gammet of self-protection.

You'll learn:

1) How to Avoid the most common attacks involving carjackings...

2) How to Escape Accidents involving public transportantion like planes, trains and buses...

3) How to Avoid being trapped by gangs...

4) How to prevent being robbed at ATM's...

5) And Much MORE!

Get more information and order the Danger Prevention Tactics Video here.

COMING SOON! The Warrior Concepts Life Mastery curriculum is all on tape. All we need to do now is edit and finish each module's information for it to be ready for release. This progam will be a tremendous resource for clients and students already involved in training at Warrior Concepts. It will also be released as a full Black Belt Home Study Course for those looking for a martial arts self-defense program that they can study at home in their own time. I'll be posting updates about this awesome program in the newsletter. So, if you haven't already subscribed, you can do so by clicking on this link:

Subscribe to the Warrior Concepts Online Newsletter

Peace and Happiness,

Jeffrey M. Miller, Shidoshi
Founder and Director
Warrior Concepts International
www.warrior-concepts-online.com

"Master Your Self - Master Your Life!"

Spring Ninja Camp

2005-03-07T17:30:00.000-05:00

This year's Spring Ninja Training Camp will be held Friday, Saturday and Sunday, April 15th - 17th, 2005. As usual, it will be held at Camp Mt. Luther in Mifflinburg, Pa.

The theme for this year's camp will focus on understanding the natural progress of the development process and how to use it as a tool to supercharge your advancement toward the mastery levels.

I'll be posting the flyer today which you can access at www.warrior-concepts-online.com/ninja-camp.html. For those of you who access the flyer through this link, I have a $49 discount for you to use when you call to reserve your place at this powerful event.

Guest Instructors for this year's camp include Shidoshi J. Courtland Elliott and Shidoshi Greg Tremblay from Kageyama Dojo in Toronto, Ontario; Shidoshi Matt Woodard from Todai Dojo in California; and Shidoshi-ho Peter Beck from right here at WCI headquarters.

Each instructor will be conducting their own break-out session topics which will allow each participant to decide what he or she needs for their own progress. In addition to the breakout sessions, there will be a special session on stealth tactics, followed by a Ninja Night Exercise which will allow you to test your stealth skills!
_____________________________________________________________________

Don't Forget: You can also find additional information about:

The unique and powerful EDR:Non-Martial Arts Defense Training Course. Learn to defend yourself in hours instead of months or years! Why not sponsor a seminar in your area and make money for yourself or your organization? Find out right here.

The EDRTM program was designed to teach you how to couple your own natural responses to stress and danger with simple, effective self defense techniques that are proven to work in real situations. It is delivered in hours instead of months or years to empower you with the skills necessary to defend yourself against over 95% of the assaults that happen every year in the US.

Find out what special considerations are needed when it comes to Self-Defense for Women

Contrary to popular belief, what is being taught in most martial arts schools and self-defense programs, when it comes to women's self-defense, is totally wrong. Click on the above link to find out why many of these programs are putting women at more risk than they're helping.

Child Safety issues are everyone's concern. But, kids, like women, have some very special needs when it comes to learning how to properly defend themselves against the most common threats to their safety. If you're a parent, grandparent, teacher, or care-giver, you can't afford to remain ignorant of this information.

________________________________________________________________________________

Hope this helps and that you take the time to visit the information page for information about the "new" self defense video, Danger Prevention Tactics: Protecting Yourself Like a ProTM

As an additional note, we will be setting up PayPal through the main site as well as with dynamic links through from relative pages that will allow clients and students to register for seminars online in a completely secure environment. This should be up in the very near future.

Until Next time,

Jeffrey M. Miller, Shidoshi
Founder and Director
Warrior Concepts International
www.warrior-concepts-online.com
www.masteryourlife.org

"Master Your Self - Master Your Life!"

Accident Update

2005-03-05T02:58:00.000-05:00

Thanks to everyone for the support.

I wanted to give a quick update on my recent accident. To all who were concerned, as I didn't really identify any injuries in my account of the incident, I am fine - really. The extent of my injuries were limited to a (very) small brush-burn on the inside of my left elbow and a sore area over my left rear floating rib region that lasted all of about a day. Not bad for rolling a car down a near vertical, snow-covered embankment - neh?

I really do attribute my ability to walk away from the accident virtually unscathed to the benefits of my martial arts training and the lessons that I have received and been fortunate enough to be able to pass on to my students. Of course, the generally accepted idea of self-defense never entered the picture as the danger did not involve a human assailant. But, I would like for the incident itself to serve as a reminder and tribute the to overall benefits of the training and its service to and in our lives in the grander scope of self-protection. It's really not until something like this happens that we appreciate all that we have gained in the way of skills and abilities that go virtually unnoticed in our day to day happenings.

Even if this and other like incidents were to never occur in my life, when it comes to my training, I live by the motto:

"Better to have the training and never need it, than to need it and not have it."

So, again, thank you for the concern and well-wishes.
Peace and Happiness,

Jeffrey M. Miller, Shidoshi
Founder and Director
Warrior Concepts International
www.warrior-concepts-online.com
www.masteryourlife.org

"Master Your Self - Master Your Life!"

Broken Links Fixed

2005-03-05T02:40:00.000-05:00

Hi everyone,

Just a quick note to let you know that I have fixed the broken links that were prevelant in the articles. I apologize as this is my first attempt at a web present, especially with the addition of html coding, blogs, etc.

Here are the repaired links:

link to EDR:Non-Martial Arts Defense Training

link to Self-Defense for Women at Warrior Concepts Online

link to Child Safety Information

link to Self Defense Seminars

I hope that, if you have visited the posts in the past and had a problem accessing the additional linked information, that you will return to see what's new and take advantage of the new pathways.

I apologize for any and all inconvenience that this might have caused you.

Take a moment to subscribe to my Self-Defense Ezine to stay up-to-date on training opportunities, articles, and the like. Here's the link to subscribe:

Subscribe Page

Peace and Happiness,

Jeffrey M. Miller, Shidoshi
Founder and Director
Warrior Concepts International
www.warrior-concepts-online.com
www.masteryourlife.org

"Master Your Self - Master Your Life!"

The True Meaning of Self-Protection

2005-02-28T01:55:00.000-05:00

On Friday, February 25th, at approximately 4:30pm EST, this blog, and everthing that you look to me for in the way of self-protection and personal development, as well as friendship, almost came to an ubrupt end. How? Why?

As I was travelling to Toronto, for a weekend of relaxation, the company of old friends, and to teach a seminar on the tactics and strategies of the ninja's self-protection methods, I lost control of my vehicle on a snow and ice-covered section of roadway. Sliding across toward the edge of a mountain drop-off, I desparately tried to regain control of the vehicle until, at the road's edge, the sliding not quite over, I was about to discover what it meant to surrender to the "forces-that-be."

Following my own lessons, at the moment I realized that there was nothing left for me to do but ride out the innevitable as my car began to roll to the left and over the edge, I felt myself instinctively relax. Eyes wide open and trying to sense direction and possible danger, I experienced the ride as the car rolled down the nearly vertical embankment, glass spidering as the safety layers in the windshield and the tinted driver's side window shattered.

As soon as I felt the car coming to a sudden stop, caught by a broken tree stump that, only inches differently positioned, could have come through the windshield rather than hanging up on it and the edge of the roof, I quickly gathered my wits and gave myself a once-over for damage before reaching for my cell phone to dial 911. Being on a back country road after missing my exit and deciding on a parallel route, I had to let people know where I was. The angle of the embankment, the fact that I should have been on a different roadway, and wasn't expected at my destination for hours, made it imperative for me to make my whereabouts known. The only problem - no cellular signal!

Then, I felt the car, now resting on its driver's side door, begin to shift. I was positioned about two-thirds of the way down the embankment with a more acute drop just feet away - my car poised to slide between trees and ready to slide or topple end-for-end into an icy creek below. I had to get out.

After trying to make sense of my situation - orientation difficult as left was down, up was side, etc. As I felt the car's shifting and began hearing the crunching and crackling glass moving as the weight of the car shifted around the single point of the tree stump that was keeping me from continuing on my downward plunge, I tried to orient myself to the interior's reference points. I found the rear hatch release (thankful to have chosen a hatchback version) and pulled it hoping that nothing was preventing it from opening. Then, I heard it swing free and quickly - telling me that gravity was helping it along.

Moving carefully but quickly, I moved to the rear of the vehicle and climbed out onto the cold, snow-covered ground. Two or three steps away from the wreckage and the car was released from it's anchor. I looked as it shifted away from the stump and then slid farther, only to be stopped by the heavy trunk of a waiting tree. There it stayed, still on its driver's side, undercarriage against a tree, leaving me to look at it's top-side as though looking at it from a second or third story window. Now, to get up the slippery thickly snow-blanketed embankment without falling into the icy creek below. No gloves, the last houses I had seen lying miles away to the south, and no regular traffic travelling this stretch of roadway - the chances of a passing motorist slim to none.

Thus is the memory that will serve as validation for what I have been learning and teaching for over two and half decades of my life. It is the reason that I favor the phrase self-protection over self-defense when describing what I do and share with others. As the saying goes, "you live - you learn." And, thanks in large part to my training for more than defensing against human assailants, I am still here - able to share my experience as a lesson for all to learn from.

For many, there is no difference but, based on what I see and hear, it's obvious that the common idea of self-defense is the protecting of oneself against the attacks from human assailants. But, as defined by me and many of my students, self-protection is broader in scope - encompassing all that could threaten or endanger oneself. Lesson learned. My passion for what I to and thankfulness to teachers past for not limiting my training to escaping from criminals, renewed and more passionately enflamed to continue.

Let me just end this post with a "thank you" and deeply heartfelt appreciation for all of you who are a part of my life - to all of you who support me and to those who appreciate what I have been trying to accomplish. I may not have spoken the words often enough but the gratitude has always been there. However, since I have been given another chance to say it:

"Thank You"

And, in final closing, I can tell you that I am much happier knowing that my final thoughts, even if the ending to this story were to be different, were to carry out my training. I can't imagine the panick and shear terror of someone who's last thoughts were, 'I should have..."

Now, back to what I'm here for...

Don't Forget: You can also find additional information about:

EDR:Non-Martial Arts Defense Training

The EDRTM program was designed to teach you how to couple your own natural responses to stress and danger with simple, effective self defense techniques that are proven to work in real situations. It is delivered in hours instead of months or years to empower you with the skills necessary to defend yourself against over 95% of the assaults that happen every year in the US.

Self-Defense for Women

Contrary to popular belief, what is being taught in most martial arts schools and self-defense programs is totally wrong. Click on the above link to find out how many of these programs are putting women at more risk than they are helping.

Child Safety

Child Safety issues are everyone's concern. But, kids, like women, have some very special needs when it comes to learning how to properly defend themselves against the most common threats to their safety. If you're a parent, grandparent, teacher, or care-giver, you can't afford to remain ignorant of this information.

Hope this helps and that you take the time to visit the information page for information about the "new" self defense video, Danger Prevention Tactics: Protecting Yourself Like a ProTM

And, coming soon - a new book inspired by the above incident...

The 48 Absolutely Unbreakable Laws of Self-Defense

To be released as soon as I put the final touches on it. This powerful ebook (also to be released on audio)is based on my thirty years of study and training with some of the best teachers alive, and tempered by my own personal experience to prove each lesson. If you're serious about being a survivor - if you really want to know what you must know, and often believe at your core, to make the right choices and learn the necessary lessons, you will want to read this book again and again.

Peace and Happiness,

Jeffrey M. Miller, Shidoshi
Founder and Director
Warrior Concepts International
www.warrior-concepts-online.com
www.masteryourlife.org

"Master Your Self - Master Your Life!"

New Self Defense Video Launch!

2005-02-24T00:37:00.000-05:00

Well, it's done!

A new page has been added to the Warrior Concepts Online website for a very unique self defense video. It's been a long time coming as the project itself was started just after the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center and the US Pentagon in Washington, D.C.

Without going into the gruesome details of why one should check out potential business partners, insure that you always have a written contract which assigns duties and lays out penalties for non-fulfillment, etc., let's just say that, after three and half years of no action (and no promotion) of this very powerful video, I have taken matters into my own hands.

The video that I'm talking about is called...

... Danger Prevention Tactics: Protecting Yourself Like a Pro - or, DPT for short.

It was created to specifically fill a void in the world of self defense training. It seems that most instructors are content to just teach physical defense techniques, as though the only danger that you might have to face is that which comes from a criminal assailant.

Actually, the video contains little to no physical defensive action - instead teaching you to pay attention and prepare yourself through awareness of the potential dangers which exist and some easy, proven, and effective strategies for escaping and avoiding them that are used by security professionals and defense experts to stay safe and alive everyday.

DPT was created to allow anyone interested in learning real-world self-protection principles and concepts to begin their training exactly and precisely where it should start...

... with "Awareness and "Escape Tactics" - not with difficult, tricky and/or hard-to-learn 'karate-style' techniques that are more flash than functional in a real-world situation.

Everyone from police officers to self-defense experts who have seen it agree that it is unlike any of the hundreds of boring "how-to" videos being sold today. And...

... many have said that this one video should be in every home, school, and business as the authoritative resource on the subject of pre-emptive defensive response.

*************************************************************

And, as much as I'd like to trumpet the virtues of this powerful video, I have to tell you that, after a full day of creating, uploading, and debugging the information for DPT - not to mention installing the code and checking links through PayPal to make sure that everything works, I have come to the point where, at least for today, I'm ready to let the page speak for itself. So...

... if you'd like to see what makes DPT different from every other self defense video that I know of, you can check it out here.

You can also find additional information about:

EDR:Non-Martial Arts Defense Training

The EDRTM program was designed to teach you how to couple your own natural responses to stress and danger with simple, effective self defense techniques that are proven to work in real situations. It is delivered in hours instead of months or years to empower you with the skills necessary to defend yourself against over 95% of the assaults that happen every year in the US.

Self-Defense for Women

Contrary to popular belief, what is being taught in most martial arts schools and self-defense programs is totally wrong. Click on the above link to find out how many of these programs are putting women at more risk than they are helping.

Child Safety

Child Safety issues are everyone's concern. But, kids, like women, have some very special needs when it comes to learning how to properly defend themselves against the most common threats to their safety. If you're a parent, grandparent, teacher, or care-giver, you can't afford to remain ignorant of this information.

Hope this helps and that you take the time to visit the information page for the "new" self defense video, Danger Prevention Tactic: protecting Yourself Like a ProTM

Peace and Happiness,

Jeffrey M. Miller, Shidoshi
Founder and Director
Warrior Concepts International
www.warrior-concepts-online.com
www.masteryourlife.org

"Master Your Self - Master Your Life!"

New Free-for-Use Articles

2005-02-19T19:26:00.000-05:00

Just an update to remind everyone to keep an eye out for the latest additions to the free-for-use articles that I am continuing to release. I've been posting primarily to this site: (ezinearticles.com) but have recently discovered several more related sites. So, in addition to the likelihood that these articles will start to show up in niche related newsletters and ezines, you can go to either the above url or any of the following to read and download the latest in-demand articles:

link to ezinearticles.com
link to www.zinos.com
link to www.xongoo.com
link to www.articlefinders.com/
link to www.articlecity.com

**Please Note: If you do go to ezinearticles.com, or any other site that allows you to rate the articles you read, please do so. It helps me, and any other author, by showing the site that the information we're providing is in-demand and well-received. So, please - take a second or two (really, that's all it takes) and click on the box to rate the article. Thanks.

The following is a list of the articles available to date. Note that the topics have been varied to be of the greatest benefit to everyone assaociated with my teaching and the Warrior Concepts Mastery Programs available through the Headquarters Academy.

link to The Keys to Martial Arts Mastery - Key #1:

The Power of the Leader Within

link to The Keys to Martial Arts Mastery - Key #2:

CHARACTER And the Ninja's Law of Interdependence

link to Self-Defense-Within-Martial-Arts-Training-Demands-a-Real-World-Perspective

link to The Role of Zen in the Martial Arts

link to The Importance of Friendship

And the latest, and in some circles sure to be the most controversial...

link to Why Most Women's Self-Defense Programs Are Wrong

Check them out and let me know what you think. If there's a topic you'd like me to address, just let me know by going to the main site (Warrior Concepts Online) or by posting a comment here.

You can also get program information on-site relating to these articles by clicking on any of these links:

link to Warrior Concepts Online

link to EDR:Non-Martial Arts Defense Training

link to Self-Defense for Women at Warrior Concepts Online

link to EDR:Non-Martial Arts Defensive Training

*********************************************
And, just a quick reminder to our female visitors: Remember to visit the previous post and take the survey relating to women's self-defense issues and concerns.
*********************************************

Until next time -

Peace and Happiness,

Jeffrey M. Miller, Shidoshi
Founder and Director
Warrior Concepts International
www.warrior-concepts-online.com
www.masteryourlife.org

"Master Your Self - Master Your Life!"

Ladies - What Are Your Concerns When It Comes to Women's Self Defense?

2005-02-15T20:34:00.000-05:00

I'm conducting a study on what women are, and are not, looking for in a women's self-defense program. Please help me by posting your responses through the comments link at the end of this article, and to insure that we have them should anything happen to the blog, etc., please email them as well.

The reason for my request is that I am putting together several new resources designed just for women on the topic of self-protection for women and girls. Products and services will include ebooks, downloadable directly from the internet; manuals and videos focusing on the issues that bother women the most and tempered with what I know to be true about how assailants attack and brutalize women; articles and special reports about what you can do to keep yourself safe and "off the radar" of attackers, rapists, and muggers; as-well-as live and teleseminar-based presentations that will allow you to learn my methods first-hand and become more confident, powerful and able to control a self-defense encounter with some of the most effective techniques, strategies and tactics ever developed.

As a minimum, please comment on the following - please be sure to match your numbering to this list so that we can follow along on this end. Your comments and input are greatly appreciated. Of course, you need not identify yourself and may limit your response to a comment posted here. However, if you would like to be added to our datebase, email your response to me at survey@warrior-concepts-online.com. Your email address and information will be protected and we never share our database with any third party groups.

Everyone who provides information for this survey (as-well-as who they are) will receive, absolutely free, a special report that I will be writing using the information submitted by you and others concerned about women's self-defense issues. This report will be sold to others outside of the contributing group but will be given away to those who help to create it.

_______________________________________________________________________

Please answer the following questions, being as honest and detailed as possible. Remember, if you have something to say, regardless of how little you think it will matter, say it. I want to make sure that what I'm offering as help to women about self-defense and personal protection is not only effective and based on real-world statistics, but also something that they will find tremendous benefit in, want to learn from and feel confident in using. So, even if you think it's a little thing, if several hundred other women think it's also a 'little thing' and you all speak up, then - it's not so little is it?

Webmasters and Ezine Publishers: Email to let me know that you would like to offer this survey to your subscriber base and I will allow you to link to this survey from your website. At the end of the survey period, I'll share my findings with you and give you a free copy of the special report.**

** Please remember that the information contained in this blog is protected by federal and international copyright laws. It may not be used, copied, reprinted, transmitted or adapted without the express, written consent of Jeffrey M. Miller and Warrior Concepts International. The data provided through any joint venture will be yours to do with as you please; however, the special report may not be used in violation of copyright laws.

_______________________________________________________________________

Okay, now that that's over - let's begin...

1. Have you ever participated in a martial arts or self-defense course, program or class? If yes, please complete the following questions. If not, skip to #2.

1a. If so, do you know it's name?

1b. How long was the program that you participated in and did you complete it?

1c. What did you like or find most useful in the program?

1d. What did you dislike or feel was missing from the program?

1e. How did you hear about the program?

1f. How much did you pay for the course/class/etc?

2. Do you have books, videos, etc. on the subject of self-defense in general and/or women's self-defense specifically? (If "yes", please answer the following questions - if not, please proceed to #3)

2a. What books, magazines, etc. have you purchased or aquired on the subject?

2b. What do you like or find useful in them?

2c. What do you dislike or feel is missing from them?

2d. On average, how much have you spent, or would you spend on a book or video about women's self-defense?

2e. Have you ever purchased an ebook or other internet-based informational product on this subject? Regardless of your answer, how likely are you to purchase one if it had what you were looking for?

3. Have you, or any group that you're affiliated with, ever sponsored or hosted a women's self-defense program, seminar, workshop, or series of on-going classes?

3a. Would you consider doing so as a way to help those in your community to be more safe and secure?

4. How confident are you in your ability to defend yourself in a general self-defense situation (punching/slapping, mugging, etc.)?

5. How confident are you in your ability to stop a rape attempt?

6. How serious are you about learning how to keep yourself safe from predators and others who might try to harm you?

7. What is/are you greatest concern(s) when it comes to womens self defense issues? In other words - "what scares you the most" when you think about being attacked?

8. Are you a parent? (If "no", please skip to #9)

8a. Do you have (a) daughter(s) that you're concerned about?

8b. How old is/are she/they?

8c. What scares you most about what they might have to deal with now and as they grow up and move out into the world?

9. Thinking about this subject, what thoughts would you like to add to help us to understand your thoughts, feelings and concerns about womens self defense that we have not already asked you for?

_______________________________________________________________________

Thank you very much. Remember to bookmark this page and check back here often to see what others are saying.

For additional information about reliable, effective, and powerful reality-based self-defense training for men, women, and children, check out these links:

link to Warrior Concepts Online

link to EDR:Non-Martial Arts Defense Training

link to Self-Defense for Women at Warrior Concepts Online

link to Child Safety Information

link to Self Defense Seminars

Peace and Happiness,

Jeffrey M. Miller, Shidoshi
Founder and Director
Warrior Concepts International
www.warrior-concepts-online.com
www.masteryourlife.org

"Master Your Self - Master Your Life!"

New Ebooks, Reports, & Training Videos

2005-02-13T01:45:00.000-05:00

As many of you know, I have been working on several things lately. One of the biggest things is in organizing all of the materials, information, manuals, etc. that I've created over the past twenty plus years. It seems like I'm always creating something that would be helpful to my students in one form or another. The problem is that, most often, I finish one thing, get it out to a few students, and almost immediately start something new.

The end result?

Boxes, shelves, and filing cabinet drawers filled with stuff that others could be using to help with self-protection, personal development, and their martial arts training in general. But, where to begin?

Since there is so much, and from so many perspectives and topics, I've just decided to pick something and go from there. So, the first two projects that I'm currently working to finish right now and soon to be released are:

1) A Black Belt Home Study Course contained on 5 video/DVDs with an accompanying workbook for each. This program is being designed so that it will benefit both my in-house, hometown, students as well as all of you who would like to train with me but live too far away to make it practical. We are finishing up the final shooting of the raw video this Tuesday (2/15/05) and then we will be turning our focus to the editing and final packaging.

2) An ebook and basic training manual focused on women's self defense issues. Right now it looks like we will be bundling a manual with a special report on choosing a women's self defense program or martial arts school, and a very effective self-defense keychain weapon. The manual will discuss many if the real-world issues and considerations necessary for women to be able to effectively defend themslves in a reality-based self defense scenario. It will also include photo series showing techniques for dealing with the ten most common attacks that are used against women. At this point, I'm not sure if we should add the special techniques for the self-defense keychain to the manual or put it into a different format (like it's own book or on video). If you have any suggestions for this, please visit the main site (click here to provide feedback) to let me know what you would want.

link to Warrior-Concepts-Online

We will be taking pre-orders and you can put your name on a waiting list for these great training resources at a significant discount. Don't worry, I'm not looking for anyone to pay anything up front. The way it will work is this...

... anyone on the list will get a pre-release notification offering the materials for around 40% off the release price. Anyone who orders at that point will get the discount. Then, we will clear the list and forget that we ever heard from you. No hassles, no contact, no unwanted email about information that you obviously did'nt really want.

Sound fair.

So, if you are in the least bit interested in getting some great information from my archives, go to the main site and get on the mailing list.

I envision one to three new resources in the form of ebooks, video/DVDs and/or reports coming out ever two to three months after the release of the above items.

Find information about:

link to EDR:Non-Martial Arts Defense Training

link to Self-Defense for Women at Warrior Concepts Online

link to Self Defense Seminars

...and more.

Peace and Happiness,

Jeffrey M. Miller, Shidoshi
Founder and Director
Warrior Concepts International
www.warrior-concepts-online.com
www.masteryourlife.org

"Master Your Self - Master Your Life!"

Free Articles Available for Ezine Publication

2005-02-10T01:29:00.000-05:00

I have begun posting free-for-use articles to the site EzineArticles.com at http://ezinearticles.com

To date, there are three articles available with more to come over the coming weeks. Ifyou have an ezine and would like to use any of my articles, just follow the instructions for publishers found on the hosting site and send me a confirmation email so I'll know that you've found something of interest to your subscribers.

It would also be helpful to know a little bit about your ezine, the typical subscriber you serve, your total number of subscribers at the time you used the article and anything else you would like to brag about. If you'd like me to consider recommending your publication for inclusion on our links page for my clients, email me several copies for review. However, until we agree to a link exchange, etc., this in no way gives you permission to use, sell or otherwise share my address. Also, this review in no way constitutes my subcribing to your publication. Of course, if I like what I see, you are likely to gain a new reader.

If you like my articles, I would also appreciate it if you would take a few seconds to rate them. Also, feel free to email any or all of them to friends and associates who you think would benefit from the topics.

Of course, the warrior-concepts-online.com site is designed to be an informational site with article-like content and real-world useable information.

Find information about:

link to EDR:Non-Martial Arts Defense Training

link to Self-Defense for Women at Warrior Concepts Online

link to Self Defense Seminars

...and more.

Here's to making our world a better place - filled with more confident, powerful, and purposeful people.

Peace and Happiness,

Jeffrey M. Miller, Shidoshi
Founder and Director
Warrior Concepts International
www.warrior-concepts-online.com
www.masteryourlife.org

"Master Your Self - Master Your Life!"

Have You Seen the News Lately?

2005-02-06T19:01:00.000-05:00

It seems that every time I have a chance to catch the news, there's another series of stories about innocent men, women & children being victimized by those who would rather prey on others than to produce something of benefit in the world! Average citizens, just like you and me are either seen as targets or are caught in the cross-fire between warring criminal factions.

It's amazing, really. The government passes a law that requires each and every driver to be insured. This is to protect us against the negligent acts of others. IF something ever happens.

But...

... most of us never even begin to take steps to make sure that we can protect ourselves from the elements that WILL probable touch us sooner or later.

Amazing isn't it?

Hope this gives some of you serious food for thought.

link to Warrior Concepts Online

link to EDR:Non-Martial Arts Defense Training

link to Self-Defense for Women at Warrior Concepts Online

link to Self Defense Seminars

May you find the peace and happiness you seek,

Jeffrey M. Miller, Shidoshi
Director and Master Instructor
Warrior Concepts International
www.warrior-concepts-online.com
www.masteryourlife.org

"Master Your Self - Master Your Life!"

Self-Defense Begins With Personal Responsibility

2005-01-31T05:21:00.000-05:00

I have been studying the martial arts for self-defense for over three decades now. I have personally studied, reviewed, or experienced many of the systems, styles, schools-of-thought, and teachers out there. What do I have that many others teaching self-defense don't?

In a word: experience. Real-world experience will temper and validate (or invalidate) any theory more quickly than it can take that theory to manifest in the mind.

If you're reading this, I can only assume that you have an interest in the topic of self-protection or that I have peeked your interest into at leat exploring the topic a bit further.

Regardless of your level of involvement in the martial arts or whether or not you have ever studied or attended a self-defense class or course, you have to admit that there are a whole lot of ideas about the subject out there. Not to mention, the sheer number of sites that you can visit on the topic here on the web.

As a first topic to share my opinion on, I thought it would be best to begin where I believe it does begin. Because, whether or not you acknowledge that there is danger in the world, stay informed as to the types of danger prevalent in your little corner, prepare yourself with the knowledge and skills to deal with it should it appear, you will have to accept personal responsibility for your actions (or non-actions) for the rest of your life. And, like the man said, "It's better to [have a skill] and not need it, than to not have [it] if you ever need it."

Self-defense, like everything else in our lives, starts with personal responsibility. As an ex-police officer, I can confidently say to those who believe that the police will protect you, "bull!" It just isn't true and can't be done. In fact, this simple, basic truth, is one of the main reasons that I stopped doing police work. Because, in over seven years of duty and literally thousands of calls related to assault and worse, I could count on ONE HAND how many times I was there to prevent the damage from occurring. In 99.9% of the cases, I was simply a secretary filling out a report after the person had been victimized.

You know what? One day, I decided that I had had enough. Now, I teach people how to NOT become victims. That was the second phase in my own personal responsibility. The first was in doing something to make sure that I was safe and able to protect myself and my family. The second, was in changing the way I chose to protect others. Police work was definately not doing it so, here I am - providing real training for real people, in a real world.

Thank you for your interest and I hope to hear from you if you have any comments about this post. Feel free to check out the links to some additional information onn the topic of self-protection and personal development for men, women, and children. And, always remember... no, that's not right... never forget, that...

... you, and only you, are your own first-line of defense.

link to Warrior Concepts Online

link to EDR:Non-Martial Arts Defense Training

link to Self-Defense for Women at Warrior Concepts Online

link to Self Defense Seminars

Peace and Happiness,

Jeffrey M. Miller, Shidoshi
Director and Master Instructor
Warrior Conecepts International
www.warrior-concepts-online.com
www.masteryourlife.org

"Master Your Self - Master Your Life!"

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