Starting 2013 On The Right Footing

Gershon Ben Keren

Sun 30th Dec 2012

As we leave 2012 and enter 2013, I know people’s minds turn to improving and bettering themselves on the mats, so I thought I’d jot down a few ideas on how to help people up their game this year. Each training session set yourself a goal; some particular area of your game that you want to improve on. Be honest with yourself about the importance of these individual goals e.g. we all want to be able to hit harder but if in reality our biggest area of concern, or weakness, is movement then this probably deserves attention first. Train with and...Click To Read More

School And Airport Safety/Security Etc & How We Address Security Issues In Our Personal Lives

Gershon Ben Keren

Mon 24th Dec 2012

An extra-ordinary event often causes us to focus on our day-to-day security and safety. An event such as that in Connecticut has had many schools, including my 6 year old son’s, looking to do something – anything – that increases, or has the appearance, of increasing school security. I always understand the need to do something in light of a serious security breach (and disaster); however often the procedure, process or measure put in place does little to address the actual dangers and threats that may be faced. Whilst my son’s school has implemented some procedures that look to identify unwanted...Click To Read More

UK/US Gun Culture & Connecticut Shootings

Gershon Ben Keren

Mon 17th Dec 2012

I’m always dismayed at people’s first reaction to the events involving school shootings. The gun lobby, immediately go on the defensive and say, “this has nothing to do with guns”, and the anti-gun lobby straight away state that the only solution is to ban or restrict gun ownership etc. Firstly, and I’m aware I’m taking a patronizing, moral high ground approach etc, no event of this nature should have anyone rushing to their keyboard to make a Facebook post or twitter tweet to try and make their case or argument. Sometimes the best and most dignified response is to say...Click To Read More

Defense & Attack

Gershon Ben Keren

Mon 10th Dec 2012

In a fight there is no such thing as a “defensive” action; everything has to be offensive in its nature and its attitude: a block has to be an attack and an escape has to be an attack etc. If your intent is not to cause harm and damage in everything you do your head is in the wrong space. There are no passive or neutral actions in a fight. This week in class we have been looking at defenses against side-headlocks. It should always be remembered that strangles, chokes and controls are things that you should prevent from happening. They...Click To Read More

The Path To Black Belt

Gershon Ben Keren

Mon 3rd Dec 2012

For many people gaining a Black Belt is looked on as the end goal or pinnacle of martial arts training, just as gaining a Bachelors or Master’s Degree etc is seen as something conclusive in formal educational terms. Martial Arts training is a one of the most unique educational systems around as it uses a system of mentoring, where one person oversees the development of another; this is why humility is talked about so often in the martial arts – it requires both the student and the instructor to recognize the relationship and work within it. In Karate this is...Click To Read More