The Most Honorable Title I Have Been Given
The Most Honorable Title I Have Been Given Father’s Day arrives every year with the same gentle, slightly commercial warmth. Cards, a meal, a gift that gestures at a hobby. I have never objected to any of it, but I have come to suspect we are not entirely sure what the day is for. We […]
What the NY Knicks and the Bandwagon Effect Reveal About Human Nature
Everyone Loves Victory. Few People Respect the Journey I have been living in New York City for over sixteen years. When I moved here from a small village in Israel, the NBA felt like a different world. One of the first things I wanted to do was go to Madison Square Garden and watch the […]
Can Fake Combat Training Still Build Real Confidence?
The Bag Doesn’t Hit Back. So Why Train With It? One of the most persistent criticisms of martial arts and self-defense training is that most of it is fake combat. The criticism is usually correct. A heavy bag never counters your strike. Focus mitts never decide they have had enough and start attacking back. A […]
Situational Awareness – Starts With Self-Awareness
How to Develop Real Situational Awareness for Personal Safety Most people think situational awareness means looking around more. They picture the guy at the restaurant who sits with his back to the wall, scanning the room, tracking exits. That image has some truth to it, but it covers maybe ten percent of what awareness actually […]
Why Do Good People Do Bad Things?
Why Good People Do Bad Things Inside a Crowd Paris Saint-Germain F.C. won the Champions League, defeating Inter Milan 5-0. The fans were happy and proud, and many of them reacted in a strange way. They destroyed parts of the city they were supposed to be celebrating in. That makes me uncomfortable because of what […]
How Everyday Objects Can Become Tools for Survival
Weapons of Opportunity Most people think self-defense begins when the fight starts. In reality, self-defense begins much earlier. It begins with awareness, decision-making, positioning, and your ability to recognize opportunity under pressure. Violence rarely happens under ideal conditions. You may not have a weapon. You may not have time to think. You may not have […]
The Problem With Saying ‘Happy Memorial Day’
Comfort Makes Us Forget Who Paid for Our Freedom Every year, millions of Americans say “Happy Memorial Day.” Most mean absolutely no disrespect. They are being polite. They are wishing people a good weekend, good weather, time with family, and rest from work. The phrase became automatic, almost disconnected from the actual meaning of the […]
Courage Begins With The Question You Avoid
Courage Begins With a Question Most People Avoid At some point, almost everyone has a moment where they know they should act and they do not. They watch someone get talked over in a meeting and say nothing. They see something wrong happen in public and wait to see if someone else handles it. They […]
How Self Defense Classes Help With Social Anxiety
Martial arts training helps people build confidence, reduce anxiety, and feel more comfortable around others Most people who sign up for Krav Maga or self-defense classes think they are coming to learn how to fight. Some want to stop feeling vulnerable walking through New York City at night. Some want fitness. Some want confidence. They […]
The Invisible Curriculum of Martial Arts
The Invisible Curriculum of Martial Arts Nobody joins a gym to be shaped by a person. They join to learn a skill, to get stronger, to understand something about how to handle physical threat or physical demand. The instructor is understood as a delivery mechanism for that knowledge. This is a reasonable way to think […]
