| Subject | Date Asked |
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| Square on stance or Side way stance? | 11/6/2009 |
Q: how is it goin' I am curious about the pro and cons of a square on stance (a la wing chun) or a ...
A: Okay I'm going to cook your noodle here. The reason is what I am about to say can change your entire ...
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| Aikido Technique | 10/26/2009 |
Q: i have dabbled in a few martial arts and recently spent about four years doing aikido which seemed ...
A: If the Aikido you were learning still retained the physics to take control of someone's balance it's ...
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| 'Hard' Martial Arts. Vs 'Soft' Martial Arts. | 10/25/2009 |
Q: I've been reading about different martial arts for quite some time now, yet I still haven't decided ...
A: Wing chun is an art that I studied over 20 years ago. Back then what it was for was a lot less ...
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| 'Hard' Martial Arts. Vs 'Soft' Martial Arts. | 10/16/2009 |
Q: I've been reading about different martial arts for quite some time now, yet I still haven't decided ...
A: Honestly, try them all. If you're talking about a life long process then pick and choose what system ...
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| Secondary Location | 10/14/2009 |
Q: On your website you mention that you should never allow yourself to be taken to a secondary ...
A: A common one is in robberies. The criminal promises to lock everyone in a room so he can 'get away' ...
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| Physical Self Defense | 10/14/2009 |
Q: Although I know that physical self defense methods are the last resort after avoidance, ...
A: If I might suggest, forget once-a-month practicing striking. First off, a better self-defense ...
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| Psychology- Sociopaths | 10/11/2009 |
Q: Mr. MacYoung, since you know a lot about psychology as well as violence. I've read your entire ...
A: "Nature vs. nurture" is a long standing question. Is it biology that creates behaviors or is it ...
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| Boxing skills | 10/7/2009 |
Q: I'm going to be getting into boxing just for the sport and health aspect. Now I figured from reading ...
A: Step one. Boxing is a sport. The purpose of a sport is A) to protect the participants from injury B) ...
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| General information | 10/3/2009 |
Q: Mr MacYoung. I'm writing a story where someone is beaten up and is then given some basic pointers ...
A: Here's the booger about violence. It's never the same. From once incident to another, it's always ...
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| Avoiding violent gang attacks? | 9/30/2009 |
Q: Obviously in places or streets where gang activity is high, staying away from those areas are a good ...
A: Well there are any number of ways, but unfortunately I can't exactly speak about details because I ...
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| General information | 9/27/2009 |
Q: Mr MacYoung. I'm writing a story where someone is beaten up and is then given some basic pointers ...
A: sorry for the delay getting back to you. I woke up three states back this morning. That's me saying ...
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| Lyoto Machida, and getting off the line. | 9/19/2009 |
Q: Mark, first thanks again you gave me some really eye opening and crucial advice a while back. Now ...
A: It's a hard concept to explain in words without demonstration. What's more there are many ...
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| Lyoto Machida, and getting off the line. | 9/19/2009 |
Q: Mark, first thanks again you gave me some really eye opening and crucial advice a while back. Now ...
A: Well no, not really. I watched part of the first clip of him in the ring (it was downloading real ...
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| knocking out | 7/10/2009 |
Q: how do you knock someone out with a punch or put them to sleep with a sleeperhold with out killing ...
A: Short answer, get training. Lots of it. The mechanisms of both are very specific AND can be ...
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| adrenal stress training | 7/9/2009 |
Q: I was wondering what the best adrenal stress training is. Would you recommend taking up boxing with ...
A: Real life. I was sitting talking with Peyton Quinn (one of the pioneers of adrenal stress training ...
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| self defense | 6/6/2009 |
Q: i'm a young kid heading to college and was wondering what martial art was right for me. what is the ...
A: Sorry for the delay, my office printer blew up and I've been caught dealing with computer issues. ...
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| Punching with first two or last three knuckles. | 4/28/2009 |
Q: I have been taught to hit with first two knuckles but i recently read Get tough form Jack Dempsey ...
A: Okay first things first NEVER try to learn a new way of hitting by yourself. Find someone who really ...
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| disciplines available | 4/21/2009 |
Q: In my area I have a Hapkido school, a Modern Arnis school, a traditional Wing Chun school and Muay ...
A: For self-defense? None of them. For fun, enjoyment, exercise, socializing and a mental challenge, ...
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| Re: Knowing if you've got the power. | 4/20/2009 |
Q: I couldn't reply back properly because my email provider didn't seem to be working. Yeah I guess if ...
A: Damn, all experts ate my original answer Boxing gym will help you understand the dynamics of ...
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| Knowing if you've got the power. | 4/7/2009 |
Q: I'm just wondering if there's a way of telling you have decent punching power? I don't do any ...
A: Wow, in just one seemingly simple question you've asked about sixteen complicated ones. The short ...
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| Dimmak, Kyushu, pressure points | 3/23/2009 |
Q: I actually have several questions regarding the subject. The first, the obvious one: Does it ...
A: AAARGHH!!! I wrote you a long and full answer to this and Allexperts ate it. While I normally copy ...
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| Gun defense | 3/22/2009 |
Q: Mr Macyoung I have 3 questions that have been botheing me for a while 1)In most videos I see ...
A: The answer to the question is "It depends" By that I mean it depends on where you are, who is doing ...
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| Attack Proof, Guided Chaos | 3/17/2009 |
Q: I read you more or less covered this before, but after reading this: ...
A: Well, I still haven't read the book. I did follow the link. And well, gosh, while they're talking a ...
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| Gun defense | 3/11/2009 |
Q: Mr Macyoung I have 3 questions that have been botheing me for a while 1)In most videos I see ...
A: First guns at that close range are not unheard of, but it is more common with robberies. ...
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| Systema, ballistic striking, and other stuff. | 3/5/2009 |
Q: I recently saw some videos about a russian fighting system called (quite bluntly in my opinion) ...
A: The technique is valid. But I'm not enamored with the explanation. It also looks a whole LOT more ...
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| what systems work on the street | 2/22/2009 |
Q: Do you think systems like tai chi and aikido and gigong as well as kung fu are good for the street? ...
A: It takes a long time to embed the neural pathways that make for effective movement. Effective ...
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| what systems work on the street | 2/21/2009 |
Q: Do you think systems like tai chi and aikido and gigong as well as kung fu are good for the street? ...
A: Let me start by saying 'effective physics are effective physics.' I know Tai Chi players who will ...
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| regarding self-defence | 2/15/2009 |
Q: can you explain briefly,describe briefly,discuss,evaluate,outline how can self-defence is justified? ...
A: Briefly? No. That's because 99% of what people think they know about the subject is wrong. My ...
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| different martial arts | 10/13/2008 |
Q: Marc, I have studied several martial arts. Whatever was available in different places. I ran into ...
A: Again you ask a simple question with no simple answers. Get a cup of coffee ... in fact, brew an ...
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| telltales of intxication/drug use | 10/10/2008 |
Q: Marc. What are some common telltale signs that a person is under the influence of some form of ...
A: Sorry for the delay, I was out of town this weekend and am catching up on stuff. You ask a simple ...
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| is there a difference between male and female violence? | 10/10/2008 |
Q: When I was younger I worked as an "attendant" at a laundry/arcade where people of low income, as ...
A: A difference in the goals of violence? No. A difference in the motives for violence? Again no. How ...
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| power | 10/7/2008 |
Q: I 20 years old and I am strictly a Jun Fan JKD practionar. Iv done wado karate as well. When I first ...
A: *sigh* The eternal question. Muscle vs. Momentum. It's time to go to science class About 90% of ...
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| guns - always run? | 10/7/2008 |
Q: I have been reading safety tips for women on internet and a comment was written saying you should ...
A: Generally speaking running from a superior weapon IS the smart thing to do. This is especially true ...
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| drills for self defense | 10/3/2008 |
Q: I am in a somewhat isolated area that has the usual types of martial art classes available. There is ...
A: *sigh* For the sake of clarity, I'm limit what I'm saying to blocking punches, but this applies to ...
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| drills for self defense | 9/28/2008 |
Q: I am in a somewhat isolated area that has the usual types of martial art classes available. There is ...
A: Okay, let's start with the fact that 99% of the people you are training will lose in a physical ...
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| Dangerous Situation/No help | 9/15/2008 |
Q: I'm still a bit pissed off with something which happened last Friday night/early Saturday morning. I ...
A: From the sounds of it, the security guys just saw a group of young people talking -- especially if ...
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| Street Situation | 8/16/2008 |
Q: Heya, I've got a few questions to ask. 1) What should I do if i'm caught against multiple ...
A: Question one: Draw a line on the ground. They stay on one side of it, you stay on the other. You're ...
|
| tunnel vision | 7/27/2008 |
Q: How you doing today? During fight i have tend to have tunnel vision(i just concentrate on opponent,i ...
A: You're running into a problem that has been created by bad training. That's because there's a ...
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| tunnel vision | 7/27/2008 |
Q: How you doing today? During fight i have tend to have tunnel vision(i just concentrate on opponent,i ...
A: The answer is you don't. It's a preprogrammed response to help you focus on danger. There are all ...
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| help | 7/23/2008 |
Q: I am going to high school this year, and there is a move where you ram your hand into your opponents ...
A: Hey CJ, I just answered Nick about "Good Target" which will answer most of your questions. I also ...
|
| Good target. | 7/23/2008 |
Q: I wanted to ask you that what accoring to you are the best targets on the human body in terms of ...
A: Okay, realize you're asking about THREE different levels. 1) Pain 2) Injury (pain caused by ...
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| Hapkido & Kung Fu San soo | 7/11/2008 |
Q: These are the two arts I am looking at starting. I am 43 years old and have never trained before. ...
A: Okay, there's going to be SOME overlap between the two. But the approach is totally different. AND A ...
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| Suggestions for Training... | 6/22/2008 |
Q: Marc, I am another expert here on all experts. My specialization is personal defense using ...
A: Actually, I'd recommend looking into grappling for starters. I often tell people that grappling ...
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| corect offensive kicks | 6/14/2008 |
Q: I enjoyed reading your book 'taking it to the street'. I totally agree with the wedge and reading ...
A: People who live in a Newtonian world (everything is a giant machine that can be taken apart and ...
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| leg broken | 5/8/2008 |
Q: I know you are a street fight expert and not a MMA one but still let me ask a question since you ...
A: Which 'wicked trick' are you talking about? The chi na-like diving forward roll, scissoring leg trap ...
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| question regarding fighting | 4/22/2008 |
Q: I have read two of your books and I have been enriched by those very much. I thank you for that. I ...
A: Sorry about the delay getting back to you, the wife is in the hospital with a hip replacement ...
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| defense | 4/11/2008 |
Q: Self-defense deals mostly with defense against close threats. But what does a person do when ...
A: Well first of all you need to determine if they are shooting at you or there is just shooting in the ...
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| I'm lost here | 4/2/2008 |
Q: I have read your book on effective offense, as well as done some research on the way you teach. I ...
A: It's more how they are taught. I've heard a several interesting versions. One is that extra things ...
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| how to use | 3/31/2008 |
Q: what is another good target besides legs.....
A: For what purpose? Are you hitting? Are you grabbing? Are you sport fighting? Are you bouncing? Are ...
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| strength | 3/3/2008 |
Q: First and foremost I have been studying your website and I spread it to people I know because I ...
A: Think of a mountain ... how many ways up it are there? Great physical conditioning is one of those ...
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| strength | 2/29/2008 |
Q: First and foremost I have been studying your website and I spread it to people I know because I ...
A: It's not that you are wrong ... it's that you are half right. You're right enough to see what ...
|
| "Attack Proof" / "Guided Chaos" by John Perkins (part 2) | 2/19/2008 |
Q: I might just as well be a little more specific concerning my questions (as long as the book rests on ...
A: Okay this I can answer in general terms ... 'cause face it, I still ain't read the book. The trick ...
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| Baton defense against a knife | 2/19/2008 |
Q: I am in a motorcycle club where the weapons of choice seem to be a knife (within the law to carry). ...
A: Okay, let's start with the fact that in order to effectively and reliably achieve lethal ...
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| Dangerous techniques | 2/12/2008 |
Q: Marc, I do sports MA and recently I've been reading about the differences between MA and self ...
A: Okay, first let's start off that I'm sorry it took so long to get back to you, the flu that is going ...
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| a little advice...? | 1/8/2008 |
Q: I am 25 y/o man and I am about to move from a small town (Fyffe, AL) to a city (Tuscaloosa, AL). I ...
A: Yeah, my biggest piece of advice is get a cup of coffee and go to www.nononsenseselfdefense.com (I ...
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| ufc/street | 1/4/2008 |
Q: I realize that ring fighting and street environment fighting are 2 very different worlds. But since ...
A: The answer to many of your questions is "Find the right tool for developing the attribute you are ...
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| ufc/street | 12/31/2007 |
Q: I realize that ring fighting and street environment fighting are 2 very different worlds. But since ...
A: Okay, let's start with the fact that ANY training is a tool. And tools are what you use to get the ...
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| self defense dvds | 12/23/2007 |
Q: Mr.Macyoung, I am trying to decide which self defense dvds to buy.I am trying to choose between John ...
A: This is going to sound like a wishy washy answer, but "All of them, none of them." The reason I am ...
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| dvd | 12/5/2007 |
Q: Can you tell me the best contemporary street fighting dvd on the market? I am looking for realistic ...
A: The short answer is No. The reason I say this is that about 99% of what is out there is the ...
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| Questions on The SPEAR System | 11/27/2007 |
Q: Hi. I have two questions. One, what is your opinion on Tony Blauers SPEAR System(Both empty handed ...
A: Oh boy, you ask a simple question that doesn't have a simple answer. However, I will start by saying ...
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| important question | 11/19/2007 |
Q: I was wondering if you could tell me a good way to approach my kenpo instructor about something. ...
A: Sorry for the delay getting back to you. I was on the road for two weeks of constant shows, business ...
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| bringing up a child in a violent world | 7/31/2007 |
Q: As a parent I think it's kind of my responsibility to preserve my daughter's innocence as long as ...
A: Oy! Oy! OY! Why don't you ask me something simple, like how to explain quantum physics? That is a ...
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| refusal to comply with attacker | 7/11/2007 |
Q: I am writing a book which contains a short section on how resisting or complying with an attacker ...
A: The overall answer to your question is "It depends." You can't make absolute statements about what ...
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| Richard Lee Mcfield aka marter lee | 6/20/2007 |
Q: every heard of this fella? teach out of raytown, mo. He studied a year and half. Then his teacher ...
A: In cases like this...you don't. The stories, the pitch, the claims, all are totally unprovable. ...
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| choosing what style | 6/15/2007 |
Q: well I've done trainning with kung fu,before got a green belt, but i dont think the techniques are ...
A: Okay, sorry about the delay getting back to you, I had a house guest from Malaysia drop in. Playing ...
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| Fighting large people | 6/13/2007 |
Q: I need help, defense-wise. I want to know if size really matters when you fight, because I have been ...
A: Size matters in a contest... that is why there are divisions and weight classes in sporting ...
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| seeking advice | 6/4/2007 |
Q: Marc, I'm going through this early life funk right now (I'm just turning 30, married with 2 young ...
A: Yes, I have recommendations, but you're not going to like them. The problem isn't with "proving ...
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| Martial Arts, Help please. | 5/29/2007 |
Q: I'm feeling a little dopey asking or messaging you about this subject, but oh well. I'm not sure if ...
A: I'm sorry for taking so long to get back to you. I had incredibly bad luck with two computers ...
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| kata | 4/20/2007 |
Q: I would like to know the importance of kata? How will it help me in sparring and on the street? ...
A: It ENTIRELY depends on two factors. 1) The kata itself 2) Your instructor's understanding If the ...
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| Training to defend myself | 2/11/2007 |
Q: I've been wanting to train/learn self-defense etc, for quite some time now, but have never got ...
A: Okay, first thing you do ... go into the kitchen, make a BIG pot of coffee, come back to your ...
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| fear of what | 2/6/2007 |
Q: i am blackbelt holder in karate(1996).From that year i m practise on and off and right now i am not ...
A: It's not cowardice to be afraid of danger, it's common sense. I'll give you a bit of information ...
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| Peyton Quinns combat course | 1/26/2007 |
Q: I have a question about Peyton Quinns Combat course. I have purchased one of his DVD's(which also ...
A: To start with, Peyton and I have radically different fighting styles. Having heard reports of ...
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| boxer fracture/proper striking technique and prevention of the injury | 1/23/2007 |
Q: MacYoung, I do not seek violence, nor am I prone to altercations. However, I recently was ...
A: Hard hand, soft target. Soft hand hard target That's the general rule of how to hit with what. ...
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| strategy | 12/10/2006 |
Q: I enjoy studying strategy and really liked your book on effective offense. Can you give me a top10 ...
A: Sun Tzu Art of War (with or without commentaries) Carl Von Clauszwitz on War Machavelli on War The ...
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| Who would win? | 11/18/2006 |
Q: Marc: Hi.Thanks for taking the time to read this e-mail. You've probably ...
A: Questions like this are almost impossible to answer. It isn't just a matter of hand speed, but the ...
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| Which Martial Arts should I go for? | 9/16/2006 |
Q: I'm a 20year old boy willin' to learn Martial Arts. Reason: Self Defeance, Power, Bodyfitness, Body ...
A: Well that's a tough one... The reason is, it's kind of like asking "What car should I buy?" There ...
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| What To Take | 8/27/2006 |
Q: I'm a rather , for lack of a better word, weak woman living in the city in my late teens. I've been ...
A: Okay, first things first, there needs to be a mindset shift here. Take a gander at these Webpages. ...
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| grapling | 8/11/2006 |
Q: MARK,do you think its better to have strong powerful legs for mma and grapling,reason being i have ...
A: Sport arts like MMA, grappling, boxing and muay Thai require an overall degree of fitness. And by ...
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| how can i train? | 7/21/2006 |
Q: this is very good. but how do i know when i am moving from my hips, and not my shoulders(even in ...
A: Well to your first question... The bag crashing into you should tell you that you're not moving from ...
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| how can i train? | 7/21/2006 |
Q: i am a 16 year old boy living in south africa. can you please send me a training schedule (and a ...
A: Okay on the fitness and diet stuff, that is my friend Wim Demeere's department. ...
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| What is you view on women defending against stronger men in a real situation? | 7/20/2006 |
Q: I really enjoyed your input on WC and it's practicality. I've been studying WC for 3 years and have ...
A: It's the same as a smaller man trying to fight a larger one. DON'T TRY TO FIGHT HEAD ON The ...
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| Self-defence against politically moivated knife-wielding attacker | 7/10/2006 |
Q: I live in Isreal and there is a lot of instances of politically(nationalistically) motivated knife ...
A: Okay you ask several difficult questions all rolled into one general idea. First off the best ...
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| self defence | 7/9/2006 |
Q: some who are bigger and stronger than me, in big groups, will want to pick a fight with myself or my ...
A: Well the long and short of it is move in groups with your friends. If you can, avoid the areas that ...
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| Fighting | 6/2/2006 |
Q: How can i learn to defend myself? can i learn by myself? can i teach myself? How long will it take? ...
A: Okay, now that's a good example of "train for what happens most, so you can handle most of what ...
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| Fighting | 6/2/2006 |
Q: How can i learn to defend myself? can i learn by myself? can i teach myself? How long will it take? ...
A: I will tell you something that Col. Rex Applegate (the father of WWII combatives) told me ten years ...
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| Learning self awareness and control... | 5/26/2006 |
Q: My question pertains to self awareness. I am a 225lb 5ft 11inch 35 yr old. I ve been in 3 fights my ...
A: A lot of the issues you are asking about in this post are closely linked to your other post. Like I ...
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| Learning self awareness and control... | 5/26/2006 |
Q: My question pertains to self awareness. I am a 225lb 35 yr old. I ve been in 3 fights my entire life ...
A: You're asking a simple question...the problem is there isn't a simple answer. There are a lot of ...
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| Martial Arts | 11/27/2005 |
Q: First let me say I enjoy your website tremendously and refer all my friends to it. I want to take ...
A: First off last time I checked, there are something like over 2,000 forms of "kung fu" So the "which ...
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| School Yard Self-Defense | 10/11/2005 |
Q: My two sons have not started kindergarten yet and I am already thinking about self-defense for them. ...
A: Well first off your children's best defense against bullies is social skills. The more adept they ...
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| Need Help | 6/6/2005 |
Q: I heard that if i fight with some one stronger than me i can Knock him down by some way depending ...
A: "Fighting" a bigger stronger guy is a sure way to get your butt kicked. By fighting I mean going ...
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| Comtech Stinger | 4/3/2005 |
Q: MacYoung. Thanks again on answering my last question on Wing Chun. I write today to ask whether you ...
A: My answer to any question regarding "strike enhancers" is the same "Learn how to hit." Proper body ...
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| Stripping down Wing Chun | 3/13/2005 |
Q: Macyoung. After hours of enjoying your writings, I'd like to get your perspective on the tricky ...
A: Realistically, I am still finding new depths to stuff that I learned in Wing Chun years ago. I am ...
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| street fights, | 3/2/2005 |
Q: my name is ekachai Promli, and am 16 years old, back wehn I was 13 - 15 I had about 4-5 school ...
A: Get the anti-graffiti paint.... Call the cops on them...a lot. In time, the extra heat will cause ...
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| defence | 2/3/2005 |
Q: I live in quite a bad area of London, and was recently a victim of a street robbery – for the third ...
A: Bottomline....move. Get out of there ASAP. Bugger cheap rent, exciting night life, or any other ...
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| Expandable baton use | 3/16/2004 |
Q: I have a steel baton that expands to 26 inches. If I was to defend my self, what are the best ...
A: Legs...for a variety of reasons. First legal, if you go for the head you will have all kinds of ...
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| Bouncer resources / training | 3/10/2004 |
Q: MacYoung, I would like to know which resources you would recommend to someone who would want to ...
A: Yeah, go to my website, www.nononsenseselfdefense.com scroll down to the bottom and click on ...
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| back issues | 1/17/2003 |
Q: I apologize for my engilsh is bad. i want shopping " back issues " abut : " Training Kung Fu ...
A: You can go to the publisher themselves... but that can get expensive. Another thing you can do is ...
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| video training tapes | 6/8/2002 |
Q: please sir,,recommend a number of good home-study video courses by well-respected martial arts ...
A: Bottomline while you can get lots of good information from tapes, there is no way that it is as good ...
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| BEST BOOK | 7/26/2001 |
Q: sir.pleas answer my1-WHAT IS THE BEST BOOK ABOUT ( MARTIAL ARTS )? 2-WHAT IS THE BEST BOOK ABOUT ( ...
A: The problem is that you have to train with people. Books can give you intellectual learning, but ...
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