Break Left: Mettle Maker #517

METTLE MAKER #517: Break Left

The last couple of week weeks we’ve been considering the amount of time we spend on mind-setting, prevention, positive self-defense habits, etc. vs. sparring. Note that the latter might not be all it’s cracked up to be — see a few pros and cons on the right.

This week I’d like to present some awareness tips from the mind of Wild Bill Hickock, compiled and presented by the immortal Mark Hatmaker.

Six Wild Bill Hickock Awareness Tips

  1. What’s he packing? Make it a habit to scan the armpits, torso, waistline, legs, and ankles for pistols, knives, derringers, and so forth.

  2. Stop outside reach. At a business meeting in an office building? Go ahead and shake hands. Playing pool with a stranger in a bar? Approaching a stranger in public place? Keep your distance.

  3. Back to the wall, eyes on the door. Hickock ignored his own advice just once. And now aces and eights are “the dead man’s hand.”

  4. Keep the sun at your back. It blinds your enemy.

  5. But don’t “skyline.” If you’re on higher ground and sneaking up on an enemy, avoid presenting a backlit hilltop silhouette.

  6. Enter shallow, break left. When entering a building, shop, pool hall, restaurant, etc. most people either veer right or go straight back to the bar, counter, or desired product. Break the pattern of predictability by entering just a step or two and turning left. Go slow, allow your eyes to adjust to the change in lighting conditions.

    If you’d like to listen to the whole enchilada, see the link to Mark’s podcast below. And remember,

Learning MMA is not the same as learning self-defense.

Now then. For those who just can’t stand the blah-blah-blah and just want to work on physical attributes…

Grappling | Scuffling Fitness Constitutional

Get your reps any way you prefer — in sets, circuits, straight through, or in a ladder (up or down 1,3,5,7,9 = 25).

  • 25 Bag Lifts

  • 25 Russian Squats (12/side)

  • 25 Shoulder Rolls

  • 25 Drop Duckunders

  • 25 Knee Strikes (vs. air, for speed)

  • 25 Sprawls

  • 25 10-count Bodybuilders

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SACRED READING FOR THIS SUNDAY

Divine Reading (“Lectio Divina”) of sacred scripture is an ancient way to interact with the Bible. Its four elements are reading, meditation, contemplation, and prayer. CLICK HERE for the Sunday Lectio exercise. To watch daily mass, CLICK HERE. For daily gospel reflections in your email box, SIGN UP HERE.

Or even better, go to church. The old-timers did, and it’s their steps we’re following in, right? So put on a collared shirt and saddle up.

In other news, the new t-shirts are in. If you want to make a donation to the charity, we can definitely get you one! Just click here.