Martial Arts Professional Magazine

I want to congratulate and thank NAPMA for awesome monthly packages in April and May. I know that you have to vary the content, since NAPMA members come from different styles and backgrounds; yet, you catered directly to my interest these with Kathy Long’s reality-based self- defense and Danny Driggs’ functional training. Let’s not forget The Champions’ Reunion (with Jeff Smith, Bill Wallace and Joe Lewis).

I was amazed to see the similarities between Kathy’s techniques and attitude towards a street situation and the way I was taught kung fu. I have taken Kathy’s class at the NAPMA conference before, yet, I had never seen her self-defense. I am showing the video in all my teen and adults’ classes to convince them not to forget their cups, and to show them how aggressive women should be when faced with a street altercation. It is also great to show my students a World Champion kickboxer and celebrity using kung fu self-defense. Let me share a little bid of history of what Kathy demonstrated. Being certified in Israeli martial arts, it is interesting to see the similarities between a reality-based kung fu style and the Israeli arts. Krav Maga came from World War II Combatives. WWII Combatives were developed in China from kung fu and some judo. You can see the practicality and resemblance of some reality-based kung fu styles, Israeli arts and WWII Combatives, which were not developed for sport, and all work great in the street. Enough history, how about asking Kathy to do a class on self-defense during the next conference?

I also loved Danny Driggs’ MMA fitness drills. That is what I’ve been doing for approximately four years in my XFT class, when my kickboxing class slowed. As you know I’m a kettle bell pioneer in South Florida. Years ago, on my Web site, miamikettlebell.com, articles in my column in my community newspaper and on other Web sites, I predicted that the gyms of the future would be like the gyms of the turn of the last century: open space, kettle bells, plyometrics, medicine balls, Indian clubs, etc. It was great to see this, yet, what impressed me the most were some new moves on the ladder and high hurdles that I learned from this video. Does anyone know how high the hurdles were in the April video? I would like to make some. I’m always looking for new moves for my fitness class. I’m a student for life and truly appreciate what NAPMA is doing. I know that some people enjoy the traditional one-step self-defense and the old fitness kickboxing, and you will continue to satisfy all your members; yet, I wanted you to know how much I learned, enjoyed and used from the April and May packages. Keep up the great work and give us more. After 9 1/2 years as a NAPMA member, I am still excited with my packages.

Thanks for putting my testimonial in the little Ninja info brochure. I would also like to let you know that in my two Junior Black Belt promotions this year, most of the promoted students were Little Ninjas. The kids from the Little Ninjas Program are usually my best students and Black Belts.