Face Your Fears...an ongoing process...

Rockwell · 06-26-2002, 03:56 PM

Burt, just wanted to update you on something with me in relation to an article you wrote a few years ago. When grappling, I was having a panicked, claustrophobic reaction when being pinned on the bottom for any length of time, and it really took away my confidence and desire to train. I was really ashamed of this, I was supposed to be this tough fighter, but I would have to tap out just to compose myself. Your "Face Your Fears" article really helped me with that, making me realize that I shouldn't be embarrassed for feeling that way...only embarrassed if I didn't do my best to face that fear and "slay that dragon", so to speak. Well, now it's a few years later, and while I'd be lying if I said that fear has been completely eliminated, it has been reduced so drastically that it's almost never a factor. First of all, it made me concentrate a lot on my escapes and posture while on the bottom, so I don't find myself stuck nearly as often. But more than that, it's a mental thing. I look at the bottom escapes as the "cool techniques" instead of the flying armbars and rolling kneebars. I begin and end nearly every training session with those, putting myself in bad positions purposefully, facing that fear so often it's become casual. I am more elated when I pull off a slick escape than when I do a slick submission. In addition, I use some of the positive visualization ideas you talked about to help me. Since I no longer feel ashamed of that panicked feeling, I can calmly realize when it might be about to happen and start doing things to calm myself back down. Ever seen the movie Happy Gilmore? Well, I've got a "Happy Place" I go to in my mind...which looks very similar to the Hawaiian beach you are always training on in all the pictures...but in my place, my girlfriend is there...bringing me a Corona...wearing a...well, I digress.

Anyway, don't mean to ramble, but just thought I would share that with you on this forum so others could see it as well. I know that hearing other people say they had a similar feeling sometimes helped me out a lot, made me feel like less of a pansy while I was dealing with it. Honestly, I feel I am stronger having acknowledged this fear and facing it than if I had never had it at all. Thanks again for your article and your advice, it continues to help me every day I train. And sometimes, on days I don't.

Best,

Jeff

Burton · 06-26-2002, 04:16 PM

Jeff,
That is amazing. Thanks for being so courageous and "together" to share it with everyone. This is what the spiritual side of martial arts is about; taking those things in ourselves that we don't like and changing them for the better. You are a great example to follow Jeff. Thanks for the inspiration.

Erica · 07-11-2002, 03:15 PM

Hi! I was wondering if you know where I can get a copy of the article "Face Your Fears" ? I think this might be an article that we can have the students and instructors in our ESCAPE Self Defense Program read. Many of our students are survivors of rape and many are from abusive relationships. Many times these students are trying to work through their fears during the class. The article might be helpful for instructing and for the students to read. I might bring it to the local rape crisis center library too.
Thanks!
Erica
ESCAPE Self Defense Programs
Atlanta, Georgia
770-433-9371

Burton · 07-11-2002, 04:16 PM

Hi Erica,
You can find the article on my website at www.jkdunlimited.com. It is listed under "offerings". I hope you find it helpful.
Thank you for doing such wonderful work. The world is a better place due to people like you. Aloha!

Erica · 07-11-2002, 05:37 PM

Thank you! The article is very good.
Smiles!
Erica

Burton · 07-12-2002, 05:21 PM

Let me know if I can help in any way.

Erica · 07-16-2002, 11:25 PM

We - the ESCAPE TEAM-would really appreciate it if some of your women instructors would make some hardcore combat self defense videos. Our women students would be more inspired seeing women instructors instructing in the videos - and there is very little hardcore women's self defense tapes out there. Have you seen Graciela Casillas new self defense tapes? We would like to know what you think of them.

Fighter · 07-17-2002, 01:56 AM

Yeah girls get out there and make some videos. When Im old enough thats one of the first things im gonna do. Only Im a guy but I cant wait.

Burton · 07-17-2002, 05:52 PM

Hi Erica,
Early next year we are going to put out a new series on women's self-defense, by women. This will be the real stuff, not posed techniques that only work when an "attacker" stands there cooperatively. I believe that we will revolutionize the concept of women's self-defense.
I have not seen Graciella's tapes, so cannot comment. I do know that I have never seen anything remotely similar to the realism that will be displayed in the new series. Aloha!

Erica · 07-17-2002, 06:47 PM

COOL! I am sooo excited!

I will let everyone know about them. We -the ESCAPE TEAM- will buy some copies!

I volunteer with the Dekalb Rape Crisis Center (right outside of Atlanta, Ga) and it would be really wonderful for you to donate a tape set to them to use for their volunteer training.

Just in case you decide to-

Dekalb Rape Crisis Center
PO BOX 1291
Decatur, Georgia 30031
404-377-1429
Attn: Fatima Cody (Prevention Education Director)

Thank you for your time!
Erica

Fighter · 07-18-2002, 01:27 AM

Did you hear that ladies......look out for those tapes!

Burton · 07-18-2002, 05:08 PM

Erica,
Please remind me of the group when the tapes come out and I will gladly send a complimentary copy. I don't make much money on tapes, but I put them out so that others will be better prepared to defend themselves. Aloha!

Erica · 07-18-2002, 05:57 PM

Hi! Thank you! I will do email you when the videos come out!
Smiles!
Erica

Fighter · 07-21-2002, 02:52 AM

Dont forget to post the date aswell I would be interested in seeing how good they are.

06-26-2002, 03:56 PM	#1 (permalink)
Rockwell Novice Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Northern VA Posts: 32	Face Your Fears...an ongoing process... Burt, just wanted to update you on something with me in relation to an article you wrote a few years ago. When grappling, I was having a panicked, claustrophobic reaction when being pinned on the bottom for any length of time, and it really took away my confidence and desire to train. I was really ashamed of this, I was supposed to be this tough fighter, but I would have to tap out just to compose myself. Your "Face Your Fears" article really helped me with that, making me realize that I shouldn't be embarrassed for feeling that way...only embarrassed if I didn't do my best to face that fear and "slay that dragon", so to speak. Well, now it's a few years later, and while I'd be lying if I said that fear has been completely eliminated, it has been reduced so drastically that it's almost never a factor. First of all, it made me concentrate a lot on my escapes and posture while on the bottom, so I don't find myself stuck nearly as often. But more than that, it's a mental thing. I look at the bottom escapes as the "cool techniques" instead of the flying armbars and rolling kneebars. I begin and end nearly every training session with those, putting myself in bad positions purposefully, facing that fear so often it's become casual. I am more elated when I pull off a slick escape than when I do a slick submission. In addition, I use some of the positive visualization ideas you talked about to help me. Since I no longer feel ashamed of that panicked feeling, I can calmly realize when it might be about to happen and start doing things to calm myself back down. Ever seen the movie Happy Gilmore? Well, I've got a "Happy Place" I go to in my mind...which looks very similar to the Hawaiian beach you are always training on in all the pictures...but in my place, my girlfriend is there...bringing me a Corona...wearing a...well, I digress. Anyway, don't mean to ramble, but just thought I would share that with you on this forum so others could see it as well. I know that hearing other people say they had a similar feeling sometimes helped me out a lot, made me feel like less of a pansy while I was dealing with it. Honestly, I feel I am stronger having acknowledged this fear and facing it than if I had never had it at all. Thanks again for your article and your advice, it continues to help me every day I train. And sometimes, on days I don't. Best, Jeff __________________ "When all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail."

06-26-2002, 04:16 PM	#2 (permalink)
Burton Moderator Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Honolulu, Hawaii, USA Posts: 617	Jeff, That is amazing. Thanks for being so courageous and "together" to share it with everyone. This is what the spiritual side of martial arts is about; taking those things in ourselves that we don't like and changing them for the better. You are a great example to follow Jeff. Thanks for the inspiration. __________________ "If you want to learn how to fight, you must practice fighting against someone who is fighting back!" Burton Richardson

07-11-2002, 03:15 PM	#3 (permalink)
Erica Novice Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Atlanta, Georgia, USA Posts: 64	Re: Hi! I was wondering if you know where I can get a copy of the article "Face Your Fears" ? I think this might be an article that we can have the students and instructors in our ESCAPE Self Defense Program read. Many of our students are survivors of rape and many are from abusive relationships. Many times these students are trying to work through their fears during the class. The article might be helpful for instructing and for the students to read. I might bring it to the local rape crisis center library too. Thanks! Erica ESCAPE Self Defense Programs Atlanta, Georgia 770-433-9371

07-11-2002, 04:16 PM	#4 (permalink)
Burton Moderator Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Honolulu, Hawaii, USA Posts: 617	Hi Erica, You can find the article on my website at www.jkdunlimited.com. It is listed under "offerings". I hope you find it helpful. Thank you for doing such wonderful work. The world is a better place due to people like you. Aloha! __________________ "If you want to learn how to fight, you must practice fighting against someone who is fighting back!" Burton Richardson

07-11-2002, 05:37 PM	#5 (permalink)
Erica Novice Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Atlanta, Georgia, USA Posts: 64	Thanks! Thank you! The article is very good. Smiles! Erica

07-12-2002, 05:21 PM	#6 (permalink)
Burton Moderator Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Honolulu, Hawaii, USA Posts: 617	Let me know if I can help in any way. __________________ "If you want to learn how to fight, you must practice fighting against someone who is fighting back!" Burton Richardson

07-16-2002, 11:25 PM	#7 (permalink)
Erica Novice Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Atlanta, Georgia, USA Posts: 64	Instructors We - the ESCAPE TEAM-would really appreciate it if some of your women instructors would make some hardcore combat self defense videos. Our women students would be more inspired seeing women instructors instructing in the videos - and there is very little hardcore women's self defense tapes out there. Have you seen Graciela Casillas new self defense tapes? We would like to know what you think of them.

07-17-2002, 01:56 AM	#8 (permalink)
Fighter Advanced Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Australia Posts: 593	Yeah girls get out there and make some videos. When Im old enough thats one of the first things im gonna do. Only Im a guy but I cant wait. __________________ "A dream without action is useless, An action without a dream is useless" Email me any time at: Fighter@jkd.com.hk

07-17-2002, 05:52 PM	#9 (permalink)
Burton Moderator Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Honolulu, Hawaii, USA Posts: 617	Hi Erica, Early next year we are going to put out a new series on women's self-defense, by women. This will be the real stuff, not posed techniques that only work when an "attacker" stands there cooperatively. I believe that we will revolutionize the concept of women's self-defense. I have not seen Graciella's tapes, so cannot comment. I do know that I have never seen anything remotely similar to the realism that will be displayed in the new series. Aloha! __________________ "If you want to learn how to fight, you must practice fighting against someone who is fighting back!" Burton Richardson

07-17-2002, 06:47 PM	#10 (permalink)
Erica Novice Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Atlanta, Georgia, USA Posts: 64	AWESOME!!! COOL! I am sooo excited! I will let everyone know about them. We -the ESCAPE TEAM- will buy some copies! I volunteer with the Dekalb Rape Crisis Center (right outside of Atlanta, Ga) and it would be really wonderful for you to donate a tape set to them to use for their volunteer training. Just in case you decide to- Dekalb Rape Crisis Center PO BOX 1291 Decatur, Georgia 30031 404-377-1429 Attn: Fatima Cody (Prevention Education Director) Thank you for your time! Erica

07-18-2002, 01:27 AM	#11 (permalink)
Fighter Advanced Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Australia Posts: 593	Did you hear that ladies......look out for those tapes! __________________ "A dream without action is useless, An action without a dream is useless" Email me any time at: Fighter@jkd.com.hk

07-18-2002, 05:08 PM	#12 (permalink)
Burton Moderator Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Honolulu, Hawaii, USA Posts: 617	Erica, Please remind me of the group when the tapes come out and I will gladly send a complimentary copy. I don't make much money on tapes, but I put them out so that others will be better prepared to defend themselves. Aloha! __________________ "If you want to learn how to fight, you must practice fighting against someone who is fighting back!" Burton Richardson

07-18-2002, 05:57 PM	#13 (permalink)
Erica Novice Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Atlanta, Georgia, USA Posts: 64	Thanks! Hi! Thank you! I will do email you when the videos come out! Smiles! Erica

07-21-2002, 02:52 AM	#14 (permalink)
Fighter Advanced Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Australia Posts: 593	Dont forget to post the date aswell I would be interested in seeing how good they are. __________________ "A dream without action is useless, An action without a dream is useless" Email me any time at: Fighter@jkd.com.hk

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes	Rate This Thread
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode	Rate This Thread: