| A lot of young people (and some older ones too) get | | | | chest out. |
| into martial arts, in order to be able to deal with bullies. | | | | Your partner's task is to take a step back -- get a little |
| Have you ever felt that fear well up inside you, when | | | | distance, in order to poke with the finger again. |
| a bully gets in your face. Do you need a martial-arts | | | | You want to prevent this by staying in close. |
| training exercise that will help you develop confidence | | | | Constantly push forward, body to body. Don't allow |
| and a new martial skill, at the same time? | | | | even six inches distance between the two of you. |
| New Martial-Arts Drill | | | | If you can, step into your partner, so that your body |
| For some, this will be a completely new drill. It involves | | | | forces him (or her) to take a step back ... or to the |
| developing the skill to function at a very close distance | | | | side. |
| to your attacker. | | | | Useful Martial Arts Tactic |
| Get a practice partner. | | | | Since your opponent can step backwards or to either |
| In this martial-arts exercise, your partner can use his or | | | | side, it becomes difficult to maintain contact. |
| her hands and feet for the advanced version, but I | | | | So, pivot. Keep pushing forward into your partner |
| suggest you start out with limitations. For example, in | | | | (bully). |
| my class, we start with a finger poke to the chest. | | | | I am not into sports really, but this is very much like |
| You know the tactic. The bully gets in your face and | | | | creating a wall or block in basketball. It also feels like |
| starts poking you in a menacing manner. This is what | | | | pressing forward in a game of football. SInk that |
| your partner is going to try to do to you. | | | | shoulder in. |
| Your role is to foil that finger, using only distance. | | | | Confidence Against Bullies |
| In fact, put your hands behind your back, maybe in | | | | This is just one skill for developing the confidence to |
| your back pockets. | | | | defend yourself on the street -- the competence to |
| Your partner steps in aggressively with, say the | | | | defend yourself against bullies. |
| forefinger, and ... instead of stepping backwards in fear, | | | | Remember, this isn't a complete self defense |
| you step into the finger. Close the distance. | | | | technique. You are developing a skill ... the ability to |
| Note: Careful when practicing. It's fairly easy to jam a | | | | mess with a bully's distance. At any time, the bully |
| finger unintentionally. And while this is a good tactic in a | | | | could hit or kick, although with more difficulty if you are |
| real self defense situation, you want to keep your | | | | forcing him backwards constantly. |
| partners in tact, fingers and all. | | | | The bully can use other martial arts moves ... but so |
| This Martial-Arts Drill Is Almost a Game | | | | can you. |
| When you step in, settle your weight and jut your | | | | |