Are you planning a golf vacation to Myrtle Beach, Hilton Head or Kiawah Island in the near future? We know you will spend the majority of your time teeing it up on all the beautiful golf courses. We would, however, like to suggest a day-trip to see a new engineering marvel and North American record holder.
Charleston is well known for its rich historical landmarks. Now the city is providing a look into the future. On July 16, 2005 the longest cable-stay bridge in North America opens in Charleston, SC. Believe me, this is one short drive that won’t disappoint you.
The new Arthur Ravenel, Jr. Bridge replaces two bridges that have graced Charleston’s skyline for decades. This record-setting bridge features two diamond-shaped towers more than 570 feet tall, eight traffic lanes and a pedestrian lane. The towers are so tall that you might even spot them while on the golf course at Kiawah Island.
Here are a few facts about the new Arthur Ravenel, Jr. Bridge.
Overall length: 3.5 miles
Tower height: 573.5 feet (Largest Concrete structures in South Carolina)
Roadway section between the two towers: 1,546 feet
Main span deck: 186 feet above the Cooper River
Concrete: 320,000 cubic yards
Construction time: 4 years and 1 month
If you are still thinking to yourself, “why should I give up a day of golf to see a bridge?” I don’t blame you. Actually, you don’t have to give up golf at all.
Charleston has its share of first-class golf courses. Even if you decide to
play your rounds exclusively at Myrtle Beach, Hilton Head or Kiawah; you can still make the short trip to Charleston to enjoy the bridge, take in some history and eat in a world-class restaurant while making it back to your accommodations before bedtime.
Approximate distances and times to Charleston:
Myrtle Beach: 98 miles / 2 hours
Hilton Head: 120 miles / 2 hours 15 mins.
Kiawah Island: 30 miles / 53 mins.
So, after a round of golf at your golf vacation destination, make a short trip that is well worth the drive. Then replace your golf shoes with your running or walking shoes and enjoy the view from above the Cooper River on the bridge’s pedestrian walk. Or bring your bike to ride over the bridge. Sorry, no golf carts are allowed.
In any case, if you are planning a golf vacation to Myrtle Beach, Hilton Head or Kiawah Island; don’t miss an opportunity to experience the view from above on one of North America’s newest landmarks.
Copyright 2005 Evans Putman http://www.PerfectGolfVacations.com – All Rights Reserved. Reprints allowed see below.
Article courtesy of http://www.PerfectGolfVacations.com your source for the best golf destination information. We deliver “Truth in Golf Travel”. PerfectGolfVacations.com delivers the best local market information and word-of-mouth recommendations from golf destinations like Myrtle Beach, Las Vegas, Ireland, Hilton Head, and more. Keep current with updates, news and specials at our blog http://www.PerfectGolfVacations.blogspot.com.
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This is our last installment on “defining” the parameters of COMBATIVES.
The point, I am sure, will be missed by some but it must be emphasized that this material is historical fact and is accurate in substance and detail. It is an objective view of combatives and NOT a subjective opinion or personal “definition” designed to fill an agenda of one sort or another.
The Battle of Britain began in early July 1940. England was isolated, cut off and alone. The miracle retreat from Dunkirk and the German “Blitzkrieg” across Europe, including the crushing tactical defeat of the famed French “Maginot Line” proved the Third Reich war machine to be virtually unstoppable. Hitler’s plan for the invasion of England, named “Operation Sea Lion” was a daily focal point of danger and concern for the British.
Dunkirk had decimated the British forces and moral was at an all time low. Two recently returned veterans of British colonial rule in Shanghai, China approached the War Office and offered their services at this desperate time. William Ewart Fairbairn, retired as a ranking officer of the Shanghai Municipal Police force and his partner Eric Anthony Sykes, a private arms dealer who served as a “volunteer” in the SMP and who headed the “sniper” unit of the famed Shanghai Riot Squad promised the War Office that their training and methods could in short order make “any one man the equal of ten”. After the debacle at Dunkirk this was a MOST important and dramatic statement. Initially dismissed, these two men went on to PROVE the veracity of their words and convinced the power that be as to absolute effectiveness of their methods. If that meant that an over middle aged W.E. Fairbairn had to place several young bucks in the hospital to prove his point in an impromptu, but VERY realistic “demonstration”, so be it. Those who “tested” Sykes fared NO better. So the methods that these men had developed during decades of very dangerous work in Shanghai now became a highly valued and integral part of training for all British forces and Special Operations personnel.
The attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941 coupled with the Imperial Japanese military’s coordinated assault on all American and British forces across the Pacific Rim pulled the United States firmly in this world wide conflagration. We were now fully at war with the Axis forces. Fairbairn who was now in Canada, assigned to the infamous “Camp X” (where along with “unarmed combat” experts WEF and George de Relwyskow was a BRAZILIAN JUDO/JUJUTSU EXPERT, Hmmm…….Colonel Carl Eifler was ALREADY undergoing training here) was ordered to assist the US government agency known as the “The Office of the Co-coordinator of Intelligence” the precursor of the OSS. Eric Anthony Sykes remained in England and found the need for his services in great demand. He also found himself working under the auspice of the British covert force known as the Special Operations Executive.
The history of these men from the early days of Shanghai, up to and thru the war years is an entire story unto itself and beyond the scope of this article. However it must be clearly understood that the contribution of these men had a profound effect and influence on close-combat methods, tactics, and techniques for DECADES after the war. Despite the often heard “argument” that we have somehow “evolved” beyond these methods, we will in future articles put this notion to rest. They were however, certainly NOT the only “experts” involved in this field! An example (one of many) would be A.J. Drexel-Biddle who studied and trained extensively in boxing, Savate, jiu-jitsu, swordplay, knife-fighting and various bayonet methods.
As the United States geared up for war, a major factor began to be publicized. Both here and in Australia the press made a great deal about the superiority of the Japanese fighting man. Part of this was, to be sure, rooted in fact. The Battle of Port Arthur, the turning point in the Russo-Japanese war, several decades earlier, had shown the world the tenacity and ferocity of the Japanese soldier, particularly in the area of close-in man to man combat. Much was made of the large Russian soldier finding abject defeat at the hands of his smaller Japanese adversary when engaged in hand to hand combat(hence a very obvious boost for the creation of Sombo). Jiu-jitsu was given world-wide attention and notoriety in this regard. The Japanese conduct of their war in China also showed the world a seemingly invincible and unstoppable force. A force that was brutal and deadly in the extreme.
So much attention was given over to the training of US and Allied forces in methods that would enable the average soldier to meet the Japanese fighting man on a somewhat equal footing. EVERY branch of the Armed Services began an intensive physical training program designed to meet these needs. Much of the “expert” instruction needed, particularly in the arena of close-quarters man to man combat, came from the civilian quarter. Men with tremendous and varied life-long experience in all forms of “combatives” were tapped to create training programs that would give the Allied soldier sufficient means by which to engage their enemies at close-quarters. The Axis did the same of course, Japan being the obvious factor in this regard, BUT even Adolf Hitler proclaimed the absolute need for boxing and jiu-jitsu in military training as it imparted courage and daring to the average soldier to close with his enemy!
In the US there were a PLETHORA of varied methods and training systems. ANY attempt to narrowly define the methods extant in this era is FOOLISHNESS! Though the contribution of Lt. Colonel Fairbairn is GREAT, as is the influence of Colonel Applegate, there were DOZENS upon DOZENS of different close-quarters battle systems developed. From wrestling, boxing, savate, judo, jiu-jitsu, Chinese boxing, and even football and rugby methods were NOT only drawn
upon, but entire “systems” were advocated based on these individual methods. It may come as a surprise to many, but here in the US, even Japanese KARATE was used!
Many of these “unarmed combat” courses were highly complex and technical as they were rooted in the favored methods of the men tasked with their “creation”. Wrestlers tended to rely on that method, Judo men on that system, Boxers on their expertise and so on and so on. Each method also could claim stunning success in actual combat! True after action reports showed that ALL of these methods had merit and COULD be used effectively in the rigors and stress of real battle. However, as the war progressed two major factors began to influence and change these training protocols. One was the fact that more and more men from ALL sorts of varied backgrounds being were drafted into military service, the other was that as demands for more and more replacement troops began to rise the amount of training time became by necessity reduced and limited.
The approach that seemed MOST feasible and useful was one that COMBINED the “best” or most effective, efficient and quickly learned methods as well as those most well RETAINED! The rudiments of boxing and wrestling were made part of an overall general physical conditioning program and “unarmed combat” became a specialized block of instruction. These courses in “unarmed combat”, “hand to hand combat”, “combat judo” and so forth again sought to COMBINE the most advantageous holds, throws, trips, locks, strangles, blows, strikes and kicks from all the varied methods available. The ONLY truly limiting factor here was the TIME element. Other considerations were also important. The O’Neill (another Shanghai veteran and ranking Kodokan Yudansha) method is a classic example of a system specifically tailored for both the training environment available as well as the NATURE of the combat engagement expected. There were even attempts made to instruct the military in actual Koryu Jujutsu systems here in the US! However the MOST effective systems still sought to MIX ALL the varied methods of physical combat.
As the war progressed more and more after action “intelligence” gathered from the reality of actual battle helped shape and determine training priorities. Many methods of close-combat began to be “trimmed” down to those fundamentals that proved MOST effective OVERALL and most applicable to ALL TRAINEES across a wide and varied spectrum of physical attributes and skill.
Applegate was perhaps the most vocal of these advocates owing to his exposure in the INFANTRY JOURNAL and the publishing of “KILL or GET KILLED”. And he was NOT without his critics, as was Fairbairn.
Some courses were so short in duration that they involved ONLY SEVERAL HOURS of instruction. Others were quite involved and very complete in their syllabus content. Many are familiar with the Navy V-5 programs and the training at Benning, but lesser known is the very EXTENSIVE training at places such as Fort Meade and at the Hawaii Jungle Warfare complex, just to name two! Here at these locations, and such training was conducted from Brooklyn to California, a very complete and MIXED program of “combatives” was taught. From the CIC training center in Chicago to the Army training camps in Colorado, from Parris Island to the Ranger/Commando schools in the Hawaiian Islands, from the training bases in England prior to D-Day to the “Killing” school in Palestine, the METHODS taught ran the FULL gamut of man to man tooth and nail “combatives”. From the complex to the “instinctive kill” (a method designed to take FULL advantage of so-called natural “animal” killing instinct) ALL these methods, systems, and approaches FALL under the definition of COMBATIVES! Even the OSS personnel training at Area B were shown the methods of SIAMESE boxing (read Muay Thai)! From Anglo Boxing, wrestling and grappling, French “foot-fighting” (including Assaut Vite savate), Indian Varma-adi/Varmannie, Chinese boxing, “Roman” boxing, Japanese Judo/Jujutsu and Karate, Siamese boxing, Burmese boxing-Bando (remember the CBI), western fencing, Filipino edged weapons and ANY and ALL other systems (including almost every weapon known to man) deemed effective in DISPATCHING one’s enemies to the hereafter were STUDIED, RESEARCHED. IMPLEMENTED and TRAINED! One WWII era US hand to hand combat manual makes reference to INDONESIAN “methods”!
This IS the legacy of COMBATIVES! This is the TRUE DEFINITION of COMBATIVES! And to those who need to “pigeon hole” others into the “box” of “only” doing World War II “combatives”………………………..well, applying the above definition based on the TRUE historical RECORD, then HELL YES!…………………I do follow the LEGACY of WORLD WAR TWO “COMBATIVES”!
Note: If there is sufficient interest we will also be pleased to cover ALL of these topics in FULL detail based on OBJECTIVE historical facts.
Future newsletter articles will go into depth on history, training and method covering armed and unarmed combat as well as topics on various subjects from Shanghai to “Shangri-La”(for those still wandering around in La-La land).
©2005 www.thetruthaboutselfdefense.com
Carl Cestari began his study of the martial arts with judo at the age of 7 under the direction of Yoshisada Yonezuka. During the past forty plus years Carl has dedicated his life to studying the martial arts, hand to hand combat systems, history and religion. What makes Carl unique is his combination of martial arts, law enforcement and military and real world experience. Carl has been exposed to a multitude of people with a wide variety experience. The following is a list of some of Carl’s ranks and honors.
Shinan (Founder) Tekkenryu jujutsuRyokudan (6th degree) Koshinkai Karate under John BurrelleGodan (5th degree) Jujutsu under Clarke of the World Jujutsu Fedaration (now defunct)Sandan (3rd degree) Nippon Kempo under Narabu SadaNidan (2nd degree) Judo under Masafumi SuzukiShodan (1st degree) Judo under Yoshisada YonezukaShodan (1st degree) Shukokai Karate under Kimura, Kadachi and Yonezuka Shodan (1st degree) Daitoryu AikijujutsuInstructors Certificate- Charles Nelson System of Self Defense under Charlie Nelsonhttp://www.thetruthaboutselfdefense.com
July 2005 sees the return of the world’s greatest golf tournament to its spiritual home on the Scottish East Coast. With the 27th staging of the British Open taking place on the Old Course in 2005, St Andrews has held the event more often than anywhere else which has reinforced its strong reputation as the “Home of Golf”. This year’s event comes at a period of time where the Scottish Golf Industry is enjoying something of a renaissance, with more and more people choosing to visit the country for golfing holidays and test themselves on some of the world’s most famous courses.
The Old Course at St.Andrews, where this year the world’s greatest golfing talent will compete for the famous Claret Jug, originally consisted of 22 holes – eleven out and eleven back. However, in 1764 the local society of St.Andrews Golfers decided that the format of the course needed to change as the many of the holes were simply too short. As a result the total number of holes was cut to 18 – which is now synonymous with golf courses around the world.
However, despite the now settled structure of the course many in the town felt the links would be better served as a commercial opportunity rather than a playground for golfers. This combined with the local councils financial difficulties led to the links being sold in 1799 to a rabbit breeding company! This proved to be a very controversial move which essentially led to what is known locally as the “Rabbit Wars” for the best part of twenty years. Eventually, in 1821 a gentleman called James Cheape bought the links for the sole use of local golfers – which essentially led to the great golfing legacy which still exists to this day.
While in many countries golf is seen as a game for the financial elite, it has always been a sport that was accessible to all levels of society in Scotland. The popularity of the game continued to grow and in 1860 Prestwick Golf Club held the first Open Championship and won by Willie Park. St Andrews first held the Open in 1873 when Tom Kidd claimed the title and more than a century later the course has seen some of the most exciting opens including the famous Tiger Woods victory in 2000 where he set a low-scoring record of 19 under par while becoming the youngest player to have achieved a career “grand slam” of golf’s four major tournaments.
In addition
to the famous win by Tiger Woods the winner of the 2005 Open will be following in the footsteps of other legends such as Nick Faldo, Seve Ballesteros, Jack Nicklaus, Bobby Locke and James Braid who have all won over the famous links. Put simply winning the Open at the home of golf is the absolute pinnacle of achievement that any golfer can hope or even dream to achieve.
It seems hard to imagine that a country with the rich history of golf that Scotland enjoys could lose its way in terms of promoting itself as a great golfing destination. However, during the 90’s this was certainly the case. Countries such as Portugal, Spain and even Ireland worked tirelessly to sell themselves to the outside world as the ideal destination for a golfing holiday. Scotland was perhaps guilty of arrogance thinking that it could survive on its historical reputation alone.
However, the last four years has seen a definite shift in the market with large amounts of (particularly English, American and Japanese) golfers once again visiting Scottish shores. Helped by the publicity surrounding this years Open at St.Andrews more and more golfers are looking for golfing breaks and have a large number of companies competing for their business.
One such company is the short break specialist www.superbreak.com whom offer a range of golfing breaks to top Scottish resorts such as Marriott Dalmahoy which is set in 1000 acres of wooded parkland at the foot of the Pentland Hills and has hosted both the Solheim Cup and the Scottish PGA Championship. In St.Andrews itself the relatively new St.Andrews Bay Golf Resort provides 5 star luxury that rivals the best of golfing hotels anywhere in the world. Sitting amidst the rugged coastal landscape of East Fife the hotel is within a short distance of all the St.Andrews courses as well as other top local courses such as Lundin Links, Leven Links, Scotscraig and Ladybank.
It seems despite heavy investment in promotion of golfing resorts in other countries Scotland will always command a very special place in the global golfing community. Lessons seem to have been learnt and the Scottish golfing industry is unlikely to rest on its laurels again. While a rich history and flagship tournament are important, if the industry is to continue to flourish then continued and focussed investment most remain a priority.
Richard currently lives just outside Edinburgh, working hard for a leith based media company, and writes occasional articles for web sites.
When the weather is nasty, be it in the early spring or late fall, many anglers miss out on some of the best bass fishing of the year. When their boats are in the garage, and their gear is stored away, other anglers in the know, cash in on some of the best fishing of the year using some special techniques. One of the most effective ways to catch big bass in colder water, is a technique known as “Dead-Sticking.” The anglers who can brave the elements and employ these techniques, catch some of the largest bass of the year.
“Dead-Sticking Technique”
The name of the technique tells it all. The technique actually involves more patience than action. Some of the best ways to present a bait using a Dead-Sticking technique are Drop-Shotting, using a suspending jerkbait, and fluttering soft plastics to the bottom. These are great ways to tempt early season and late season bass. You won’t catch a ton of bass in really cold water, but you can have a memorable day, and catch some of the larger bass of the year. When the water temperature is in the low to mid forties, shad and herring either die off in the winter, or they are so lethargic, that they are a good target for feeding bass. A lure that suspends at the level of the bass, or just falls slowly to the bottom, or in the case of the drop-shot, just sits still in the middle of the water column, offers a tempting imitation of a dying shad.
“Jerkbaits”
There are many good Jerkbaits on the market today, but for dead-sticking techniques I like certain baits more than others. Smithwick Rogues, Lucky Craft Pointers, and Rapala Husky Jerks, and Strike Pro USA are among my favorites.
They are excellant baits for dead-sticking because they suspend. You can throw them out, reel them down, and play the waiting game. I have done this, and many times, while getting a drink, or grabbing something to eat, the bass have hit the bait. Sometimes it takes as long as a minute, or even two, before a bass will move up to a suspending bait and decide to hit it. I throw the baits way past the target, and jerk it down to where I think the bass are. In some bigger lakes and reservoirs I like to fish any standing timber they have available. I jerk the bait down, and then stop it right by a tree. I then let it sit as long as a minute before moving it again.
Many times the bass will hit while it is sitting still, or when I first start to move it again. This happened to me quite a few times in Greenwood Lake and in Union Lake, in New Jersey. It is an excellent way to catch cold water bass in these and other lakes. I had great success with this method on Table Rock Lake, and Bull Shoals in Missouri, working the standing timber.
It doesn’t really matter if it’s a tree, or rocks, or next to a dock. The trick is to let the bait sit there for as long as it takes, without moving it all. A lot of anglers are tempted to impart some action to the bait, but this is a mistake. This is the time to wait as long as you can stand it. Nerves of steel are required for this type of fishing.
Another good location to use this technique is over old roadbeds, like in Spruce Run reservoir in New Jersey. I also like to use them along bluff walls, and across long tapering points. When the water starts to warm in the spring, or after a warm spell in the winter, bass will move up from the deeper water and suspend over or near these areas. These are ideal baits to use to entice them into striking. I like to find a long flat point, near a creek channel, where the deep water isn’t far from the shallow water. This is where the bass will be, due to the fact that don’t have to move very far, which is important this time of year, but especially true in the winter.
When bass are suspending, if you throw a carolina-rigged bait, you are actually fishing under the bass, if you use a crankbait, you’re usually fishing too fast. This is why suspending jerkbaits are ideal, because they get right down into the suspended bass and stay in one place. This is even more important in the winter, than the early spring. I make sure I fan cast the entire structure from many different angles. Many times the bass don’t hit the bait until it is presented at just the right angle, and you won’t know what that is until you make enough casts to start catching fish.
The most strikes occur in about eight to ten feet of water, and suspending baits that go down to about eight feet are the best. You need at least two feet of visibility for dead-sticking baits, and more is preferable. It is very important for them to be able to see it, as you are not moving the bait, and it doesn’t make much noise.
My best days deadsticking have been on lakes with a good degree of visibility.
“Dead-Sticking Soft Plastics”
Most bass fisherman use Zoom Flukes, Bass Assassins, and other soft plastics, with a twitch, twitch, reel twitch action, like in the warmer months, but using these baits with a dead-sticking technique in the colder water, works wonders. Bass won’t come up and hit these baits on or near the surface when it’s cold, but they do hit it when it falls slowly to the bottom. It takes so much patience to work these baits right in cold water that most anglers don’t have the patience it takes to work them properly. I use the bait on a unweighted 4/0 or 5/0 WG hook, and let it fall slowly to the bottom. The bait only sinks about one foot every three to four seconds, and this is perfect to imitate a dying shad. I have had the best luck with this in the winter, but in the very early spring, it can be effective also. I just cast it out next to the structure, whether it’s a dock, or brushpile, or just over some type of structure that the bass are suspending on. I might twitch it a couple of times as it falls, but not too much, just enough to convince a bass that it is crippled or dying. It is a great bait for areas that have a lot of dying shad in the winter.
One of the baits that I have had the most success with last year using these dead-sticking methods, is the Yamamoto “Senko.” This bait is perfect to use dead-sticking. Although it is nothing more than a thin, straight piece of plastic when it is out of the water, it literally comes alive with just the right action to entice bass in colder water. The new “Netbaits” have also worked very well this year, as have the “Bearpaws” “Lazy Sticks”. It is perfect for letting sink slowly to the bottom, or for drop-shotting. Because of the salt content in these baits, it sinks a little faster than an unsalted lure. These baits are perfect for a lot of different situations, as long as you have to patience to let them sink. You really don’t have to do anything to these lures, except let them sink slowly on a slack line. I rig them on a 2/0 or 3/0 Daiichi or X-Point hooks, on fourteen pound test Spiderline Super Mono, or P-Line.The trick is to pay very close attention to the line, sometimes you might feel a bite, but generally you will not. I just move the rod tip a little bit to see if I can feel the weight of the bass. If I can’t, I just let it fall slowly to the bottom again. The action really comes when the bait is falling, so you have to lift the rod slowly, and let it fall back again as you work it across the bottom. There is even a new larger Senko for this year that I am looking forward to using. Even the new Cut-Tail worm may work well in these cold water situations, and I am looking forward to trying them out this year.
“Drop-Shotting”
The best technique to come along for cold water or suspending bass is the Drop-Shot technique. Drop-Shotting can tempt bass into striking in the cold water at all times of the year. In the late winter, or very early spring, I just cast it out, let it hit the bottom, and tighten my line up. I use very little action at all. I don’t really shake my rod tip or anything, I just let it sit.
The less action the better! I do fish them around some structure also, and generally when I do this I work the bait with a little more action up to the cover, and then just let it sit when I get next to it. It is a very effective method in the winter or spring. I generally use a three to four inch bait on drop-shot rigs, but other baits have worked at different times. The hardest part of fishing in the winter or very early spring isn’t the fishing itself, but motivating yourself to get out there and go when the weather is less than desirable.
This is where the patience comes in, as it is very hard to sit still for long periods of time, and work the bait as slowly as is necessary to produce the strikes. Dead-Sticking really works if you remember exactly what it means. I like to use a high modulus graphite rod for the Dead-Sticking techniques, in a 6 1/2 to 7 foot length, with twelve to fourteen pound test line. I use spinning gear on little finesse baits, or a light line baitcaster. I use a baitcast rod, and up to fourteen to seventeen pound test line, in the deeper water, and for larger baits. Try these techniques this year, and your recreational and tournament fishing will improve greatly.
Hall Of Fame Angler, Radio host, and full time professional guide and tournament anglers. Owner of the fastest growinw radio shows and tackle stores on the internet at http://www.reeltimeanglers.com
Walleye is my favorite fish to catch. It’s true that landing a bass I’ve been hunting has its thrill as I bust the lunker and bring it in. But the finesse involved in landing a walleye, the pure fishing skill required is something I truly enjoy. And as a chef, I love the walleye for its pristine, clearwater flavor. This article will talk about the ice fishing gear you might think about for early walleye ice fishing, and lake structures to look for when setting your walleye ice fishing rig.
Ice Fishing Gear to Use
In early ice, passive fishing with a good tip up jig set up is king. As with all walleye fishing, a conservative approach will often do best. Keeping your jigging to a minimum, and depending on the rattle from a rattling lure or throes of a proper-sized minnow will do better than an aggressive jigging strategy.
For live bait options, I tend to use a simple, hook and split shot rig with mini-minnows, red worms or grub larvae, or a Lindy Pounder in chartreuse (play with colors, as always) with wax or red worms. For lure jigging, I almost exclusively use specialty jigging spoons, both with and without a rattling feature. The key is to be flexible, as always. Sometimes, an early ice walleye will come from far away for a rattle spoon. Other times, it may just spook them. In general, with walleye, I tend to
go easy in every way if in doubt. Let your experience on local waters and fish be your guide.
Lake Structure and Ice Fishing for Walleye
Early ice walleye will tend to stay in shallower water, and move out to deeper water as the season progresses. Look for water of about 6′ to 8′ in depth, and look for structural shifts. As an example, here in the North, the ice fishing season is about to begin in earnest at the time of this writing and Cisco Lake, Gogebic County, Michigan, will serve as an example. Most of Cisco lake is a flat mud bottom, but there is a small hump rise at GPS N46° 14.562′, W89° 26.758′. Just Southeast from the hump is where the lake islands concentrate, and in front of the entrance to these islands is a rock and pebble/sand bar structure jutting out straight from the lead island point. Submerged structures such as these provide great contrast to the surrounding bottom. Walleyes combing for food tend to hold in here, so these are ideal spots to lay down a series of ice fishing holes.
Paul Smith lives in the northwoods of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. He is a martial arts teacher and avid outdoorsman. He is the webmaster for http://www.a1-outdoors.com, a resource for ice fishing gear and other outdoor sports. He is also a regular contributor to outdoor blog, an outdoors-oriented weblog.
By far the most common misconception associated with randori is the notion that it is just club-based or friendly competition. It is not hard to see why this is so and why randori very frequently degenerates into either Uchi Komi (repetitive fitness and fluidity building), or Shiai (score orientated competition).
Let us state from the outset that the term “degenerate” should NOT be taken to mean that these practices (Uchi Komi and Shiai) are lesser pastimes, but that they are quite distinct and separate activities of their own, with their own solid merits. The closest thing to randori, in terms of say tennis or squash is the “hit up”, where two players are playing hard against each other, but NOT SCORING!! That is to say, the concept of winning and losing MUST be eradicated entirely from the mind, in order that technique can be polished, and knowledge can be converted to instinctive physical ability, or in order that one can see the effect of various tactics in a relatively full blooded contestual environment, DEVOID OF THE PRESSURE TO WIN.
We can`t help ourselves, most of us; it is after all human nature to enjoy victory, and so we find ourselves having a bit of a pull around on the mat with a friend and we execute a nice throw. Someone mutters “nice throw” and we feel quite pleased with ourselves, and the other guy mutters to himself, “dam! – how did I fall for that?” Sound familiar?
Three things have to happen for this process to evolve into randori . . .
1. Mutual Benefit – randori is the perfect opportunity to hone a strong sense of ethics and unselfish goodwill towards your comrades on the mat. Whatever you “give” in randori will be repaid many times over in good fellowship, respect, trust and perpetually improving skills.
2. After doing that aforementioned throw, we should refrain absolutely from feeling pleased with ourselves and instead, wonder what exactly allowed it to happen. If it was because of a blatant weak spot in your partners defense, then he/she should be given the opportunity to understand that, maybe you should keep doing it until the other has closed the gap and you are not pulling it off any more. Both of you will benefit enormously if this thinking pervades the exercise.
3. After being thrown, we should refrain absolutely from being disappointed at falling for it. For therein lies a GREAT OPPORTUNITY to learn something, if only our disappointment can be made to step aside for a minute and make room for objective egoless study of what happened.
If you are not quite sure what happened, it is quite in order and quite common in true randori to ask your partner to “do it again” – so that you can fall for the same trick again, and again, and again, until something reveals itself to you. If you are not prepared to fall for the same trick repeatedly, then clearly you are sliding into a Shiai mentality because you would rather stay upright and “win” than learn why you are able to be thrown or locked up by this particular partner using that particular technique.
For this reason also, do not be tempted to “referee” a randori session. One sees this a lot, two players are supposedly indulging in randori but a third player is actually refereeing and awarding points and penalties, furthering the notion that someone is going to win this bout. It isn`t a bout! The third player`s job, if indeed there is a third player, is to be an analyst, not a referee. That is to say, he/she (very often your sensei or other “higher belt”) is there to help the players with useful third party tips – “keep those elbows in!” – “keep him moving!” – “relax!” – “try the other side for a change!”
Similarly, if one is successfully executing a technique despite your best defenses, let it happen, let yourself be thrown. You failed to prevent it initially, so let it happen, let him prove his point and let yourself observe the complete process, there are no points to be lost. In doing so, your partner gets a chance to control you right to the mat and practice his “control” and kake, an opportunity that does not present itself too often in shiai, or for jujitsu practitioners, in a street self defense situation. The opponent (as against “partner”) will be doing everything in their power to disrupt control and clean kake, of course! Only in properly executed randori will these opportunities to learn present themselves and only in randori do you get a good opportunity to study your own ukemi and transition into ground work. His success is your opportunity to study, therefore, his success should be something you begin to look forward to rather than view it as your “defeat” or failure.
After being thrown, pause for a second on the mat, rather than scramble away before groundwork can commence. Eventually your partner will see the opportunity to fall straight into ne waza, practice a smooth transition and thus give BOTH of you the opportunity to study this process as well. Later, as this improves, these openings or invitations can be reduced or eliminated as both of you get better and better at these smooth and speedy transitions.
Being a good randori partner is quite an art – and applies with equal importance to both jujitsu and judo, for if done properly, presents no threat to the underlying motivators of these two closely related disciplines. Randori, done properly, will have no dilutory effect on the need of the judo player to maintain a “match” mentality, nor will it weaken the
jujitsuka`s drivers to “get in quickly, finish it quickly”.
Both philosophies are “win” orientated, one for a competitive sport scenario, the other from a self defense perspective. With the “win-lose” thinking entirely removed from the equation, a randori mentality will not encroach or threaten in any way the mindset necessary to succeed in the aforementioned “contests”. Indeed, quite the opposite – for when there is a sudden and compelling need to win, emotions are running high and your well being (or that gold medal) is under threat, one cannot afford to be thinking about “technique”, there will be quite enough to worry about without the added burden of last minute technical revision. We have an opponent to study, a strategy to implement, courage to muster, emotions and “situations” to be controlled. On the competition mat, or in the street, one wants all one`s resources focused on WHAT to do, or WHEN to do it, not HOW to do it.
Contrary to popular belief, the concept of randori was not the invention of Dr Kano coincident with the development of judo. Kano did further refine and define randori principles and he introduced groundwork randori and the long sleeved judogi for safety and a wider range of new throws, but true randori was the dominant training tool of Hachinosuke Fukuda, Kano`s teacher at the Tenjin-Shinyo School of Jujitsu.
Where does this place randori in the larger training regime? Let us consider five major elements of on-the-mat training and how they fundamentally differ – or more precisely how they SHOULD differ:-
Technical instruction – obviously, before we know anything about anything we have to be taught the basics, the how-to of a technique. Most dojos do plenty of this and many teachers and coaches, including coaches of many non martial art sports may feel that unless they are providing a constant stream of technical instruction they are somehow failing to meet obligations to their students. Boxers are the least guilty of this, their emphasis is not in knowing a thousand techniques, but in doing a small number extremely well.
Uchi Komi – includes “fit-ins”, “throw for throw” and repetitive combinations, counters or escapes, or strings of hold downs. Osae Komi is principally a physical conditioner and technique builder, practised without the added burden of philosophical/cultural considerations or a resistive opponent. Modern “western” non-martial sports such as tennis and squash place great emphasis on the value of repetition of the essential “parts” of a larger technique set.
Kata – Often underrated as a training mechanism, kata in fact helps transfer intellectual knowledge into body knowledge – “learning by doing” – such that the mechanics of a technique or set of techniques and their interrelationship is understood at both a physical and intellectual level. Kata, most importantly, also serves to connect the physical to the philosophical or spiritual and cultural/ethical. “Physical meditation” some have called it – Tai Chi, Karate and Yoga students are the clear leaders in this genre of practice. As with randori, there is no concept of winning or losing in kata, nor is there any opposing pressure against proper execution, outside of the practitioners own internal barriers. It is at the opposite end of the spectrum to Osae Komi, although some katas and particularly Yoga Asanas are also extremely physically taxing.
Randori – As with kata, there is no concept of winning or losing, yet conversely, as with Uchi Komi, it is highly physical. Randori requires that there be added (measured) opposing pressure. BJJ players and wrestlers put great emphasis on a randori like training regimen or something that falls approximately between true randori and “moderated” competition.
“For real” – Testing the theory – the bit we either hope we never have to indulge in if it is self defense we are referring to, or, if sporting competition, the bit we view with either relish or trepidation, depending on what we think our chances are! For jujitsukas, self defense pressures can be emulated to some degree in the dojo with a shiai like combative sparring match under prescribed rules for safety plus “prohibited” techniques; or in the case of judo players, a standard judo tournament under IJF rules – “Shiai” in other words. Whatever the format however, most disciplines need some method by which the skills can be validated or put to the test in order that they may evolve. One could argue that martial arts grading tests do this if they are sufficiently arduous and challenging, but for many of us it might be a long time between gradings, for others it is the journey not the result and for still others, the “proof of concept” is found inescapably in improved wellness and a sense of achievement or fulfillment. There are other ways to test the theory besides competition, to be sure. I don`t see many Tai Chi tournaments out there but I do see a lot of happy healthy practitioners.
So which of the five is missing from your schedule? Chances are, its randori. “No” you retort indignantly, “we put aside time for randori every training session!”.Is it randori? – or is it Shiai? To an outside observer, there seems to be little difference, however those differences, whilst subtle, are critical.
Yellow and orange belts, ask yourselves, did you feel you “won” your randori session with the green belt? If the answer is “yes”, then you were indulging in Shiai, while the green belt was randoriing.
Blue and brown belts, did you feel you got the jump on your sensei this time? Perhaps the black belt was using you to study his own weak spots instead of working towards a win. THAT’S randori!
Campbell Dunstan is the author and webmaster of http://www.tweedjudo.com – a NSW Police and Citizens Youth Club activity
AK Fitness Tips – diet plan, exercises, weight loss and gain muscles latest information.
Spring is just around the corner – for those who didn’t winter in Florida. That means that golf is on your mind and getting ready for the season is on your list and on your mind. Let’s talk about getting ready after a few months of non-golf.
First, DO NOT go to the nearest range and hit the largest bucket of balls in captivity. That would be a no-no.
If you have been following the Concept Golf routine and practice swinging in your living room or your front yard every day you are close to being ready right now. The only thing I would suggest is that you start walking each day. No need to walk fast or far. In the beginning, just walk a bit and then walk back to your starting point. You can increase it every day if you choose – or not. But walk some every day.
Even if you always ride a cart start walking every day. Golf is a leg game and a leg swing. So get them used to being the ones that cause the things to happen.
This year let’s start with some goals. Remember, your goals should be quantitative and time specific. “I want to improve my swing.” or “I want to hit better shots,” or “I want to hit it longer, “ or “I want to be more consistent,” are not goals that let you know when you have arrived – and any time works.
How about these goals for instance; “I want to lower my handicap from 18 to 12 by September 15, 2005.” “I want to add 15 yards to my drives by July 10, 2005.” “I want to compete in four golf tournaments by August 1, 2005.” “I want to win the Club Championship in 2005.” “I want to win the U. S. Open in 2005.”
With a goal that is quantifiable in number and time you can now set the steps that will get you to your goal and by when. As an aside, hitting thousands of golf balls at the range will do little to lower your score or lengthen your drives. The range is a place for leaning the shots you will need on the course. It’s not a place to perfect your swing or lower your score through quantity.
Play golf every day. Not 36 holes, but a few. Soon daylight savings time will be with us again. There is time for nine on the way home. If you are a member of a club, you may be able to play a few holes.
Golf takes place on the course, so set your self up for success.
A couple other things to add to your list this year.; Play golf with your family. I’ve played golf with Jack Nicklaus and I’ve played golf with our youngest daughter. I like Jack and enjoyed the game but I love my daughter and the time with her is special, really special. A friend who lives in California has four children. Saturdays and Sundays they have two family threesomes. That is special time.
One other thing I want you to consider this year – use golf to build your business. I talk to so many people who are in a business that could prosper from playing golf. They tend to see golf as a time expense rather than a clever way to multitask and build their business. Golf is the perfect business tool. The setting is pure relaxation and you get to sit right next to the person you want to get to know and that you want to get to know you. You can get five hours with that person on the course that you couldn’t possibly get (and wouldn’t want) in an office setting.
We do business with people we like and trust. What better opportunity is there to get to know someone than on the golf course?
Some I have talked with resist the business-golf idea because their golf score looks like a zip code. It’s not necessary that you shoot par to play business-golf, but the 15th whiff on the first tee is going to create a few raised eyebrows.
The Master is on the week of April 9th (Saturday). I know because our Andrea is being married on the very Saturday. I don’t think she looked at the schedule of the Majors before setting her wedding date. I did but my vote is a small one in these matters.
Get ready for the season and let it be a good one. A little swinging, some walking, a lot of playing, quantifiable goals and fun with your family and your business will make golf fun and enjoyable this year. It’s going to be a good year and golf will help.
John Toepel is a Veteran PGA Tour Player, instructor, author, and professional speaker. He is also the discoverer of Concept Golf, the quickest way to immediate, life-long lasting improvements to anyone’s golf game. To learn more about Concept Golf, including the most comprehensive golf instruction system ever, “The Concept Golf Perfect Shot Making System”, please visit http://www.conceptgolf.com/PSMS.htm and Discover the Par Golfer in You!
Most people have only been exposed to John Styers work through the book “Cold Steel”.
It is important to remember that first and foremost this book outlines a BASIC course of close-combat instruction. The elements covered in this system include bayonet, knife, stick and unarmed combat. Styers developed this “system” for BASIC training.
The framework of all of these methods remains CONSISTENT through out. The fundamentals for employing the bayonet, knife, unarmed combat and even the stick work are ALL the same.
Note in particular the “stance” used for the bayonet, the knife, and for unarmed engagement. SAME stance. The “body” mechanics involved in all the methods presented are at their core foundation ALL similar. This in itself shows “genius”.
What we see in “Cold Steel” is NOT the STYERS method! It is a “system” that STYERS developed for use in BASIC training. John Styers was a man of both great knowledge and SKILL in a number of man to man combatives.
Those who knew Styers personally have told us about his vast interest, knowledge and proven skill in a number of close-combat methods. From the “French” style of bayonet fighting, to “Russian” knife fighting, to boxing, wrestling, jiujitsu, and of course “dirty” fighting.
As concerns the STYERS knife work as shown in “Cold Steel” it must also be considered that this was but a SMALL part of Styers overall skill and ability in KNIFE FIGHTING. Again this was a system of BASIC TRAINING!
Other sources show this quite demonstrably. The man was a MASTER of bladework.
Now the knife sytem taught in “Cold Steel” is excellent. The “problems” that are often cited by others has FAR MORE to do with a lack of understanding in the tactics and techniques as “they” present them, than it does any practical faults in STYERS method.
ON TO THE METHOD……………………………….
First, Styers was training men for battlefield COMBAT! NOT for a “duel”. He assumed(rightly so) that in the so-called “fog” of war men will revert to pure “animal” instinct and move right in for the “kill”. Think about this! During the frenzy of real combat you and your enemy are REDUCED to fighting with knives. Men are killing and being killed ALL AROUND YOU. YOUR natural instinct for SURVIVAL will seize you by the throat. You will grip that knife as strongly(your LIFE NOW depends on THIS ONE WEAPON) as possible and MOVE RIGHT IN FOR THE KILL!(WASTE ANY TIME and someone else is going to KILL YOU) You are NOT going to “spar” or “duel”, you ARE going to KILL, survive and move on to your next threat or objective. Styers KNEW what real “kill or be killed” combat was like. He realized that MOST men in this dire situation will instinctively SEIZE their knife either in an “overhand” or “ice-pick” grip or an “underhanded” type “hammergrip”. They will ATTACK with a determined KILLING intent. THAT IS THE BASIS for the Styers method!
Now the “elements” of Styers method rest on BODY position, ARM position, and KNIFE position.
Here is where so many “experts” go right OFF TRACK. Forget any “technique”, thrust, slash or “whatever”. WITHOUT the FOUNDATION of proper BODY, ARM, and KNIFE position all the “technique” in the world is MEANINGLESS!
Without a REAL understanding of Styers FUNDAMENTAL tactic and what MUST be done to make it EFFECTIVE, all THIS becomes NO MORE than two guys trying to cut and stab each other. THIS IS NOT what Styers envisioned.
On to the “meat & potatoes”:
1. Stance-
Whether you assume the “Styers” position from a “classic” fencer’s pose, as Styers demonstrates(for continuity) or simply advance(lead leg) retreat(real leg) one pace, as long as your UPPER torso remains square and you body rests “springlike” on your legs you’re doing OK. BALANCE must be rested on your center point and the rear heel RAISED. Toes and KNEES pointed FORWARD!
KEY POINT: Body SQUARED. Torso ERECT. Chin PULLED IN. BALANCE centered. Rear HEEL RAISED.
2. Arm Position-
Gripping the KNIFE: Blade vertical to ground. Thumb EXTENDED down backstrap. Slight upward CANT or “cocking” of blade.
Weapon bearing hand and arm: Pulled IN. Upper arm slightly BACK from vertical. Elbow tucked into, not away from side. LOWER ARM raised on a plane EVEN with opponents THROAT/EYES. Weapon hand SHOULD NOT break the latreral plane of the upper torso! THIS IS KEY!
Offhand hand: Pulled in just like weapon bearing hand.
COMMON ERRORS:
Wrong foot placement.
Leanining over or into the opponent.
Chin/Head THRUST out.
WEAPON HAND EXTENDED and/or SPLAYED OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Read THAT AGAIN!
Knife LEVEL with ground and NOT POINTED at opponents EYES/THROAT!
Offhand SPLAYED out to side.
Now the WHY’S that make this method succeed or FAIL.
First, try this experiment(THIS IS SOMETHING YOU MUST DO). Don’t even talk about this “method” if you HAVE NOT honestly followed this example:
Grab a REAL SHARP FIGHTING KNIFE.EXTEND IT at FULL arm’s length with shoulder “twisted” in for added reach.
Tell your training partner to DISTANCE himself from the weapon to a RANGE where he feels
at a combatively “SAFE” range. Have someone measure that distance.
PULL your weapon arm in to a 3/4 extension and repeat. Have someone measure that distance.
PULL in FURTHER to a half bent 90 degree position and repeat.
NOW pull the weapon back to the hip and do it all again.
COMPARE the measurements at each “distance”. MOST people will REMAIN quite consistent in the ACTUAL “measured” distance of safety from tip of weapon. THEY will ALMOST always MOVE in as YOUR arm moves back, BUT the “measured” distance remains very close between ALL the given positions.
THAT is the KEY to Styers.
Extend your arm and knife all the way OUT. Your partner maintains that critical safety zone FROM the tip of your very real and sharp blade. COULD YOU cut or thrust him EASILY from that position? Not really. A committed BODY lunge or step is about all you could do to close the “gap”. Too slow.
NOW-Pull that arm ALL the way in so that it barely breaks the lateral plane of the body. AGAIN, your training partner will have a DEFINITE tendency to MAINTAIN the measured distance of the safety zone, but HE will MOVE in. The actual measured distance between him and the tip will vary little. HIS safety zone is STILL his safety zone.
What HAS changed is your ABILITY to REACH HIM in the fastest most NON telegraphed manner.
FROM the PULLED IN arm position, SQUARED TORSO, and BALANCED stance you can execute the most rapid, cobra-like attacks or counter-attacks with a great amount of RANGE.
ANY position OTHER than this one, taken by your enemy WILL put him at a SERIOUS dis-advantage. He will almost ALWAYS be offering YOU something, whereas YOU will be offering NOTHING.
His range and speed will be effected by HIS position. Your range and speed will be ENHANCED by YOURS.
IMPORTANCE of BLADE POSITION: Keep that blade tip POINTED at the angle stated. WHY? At that angle it is MUCH more difficult for the opponent to gauge the size and length of your blade. May seem like a MINOR “point”, but in a real KNIFE fight I’ll USE anything that MAY give me an edge.
TECHNIQUE:
ALL you REALLY need is a thrust, a snap-slash(DO NOT use the back snap cut with this!), a “stop-hit”, and the “hand-cut”. The step over and stab is also useful.
If “In-Quartata and Passata-soto” are NOT comfortable for you, DON’T use them! Since BOTH of these moves are MEANT as “defensive” counter-attacks against an OVERLY committed assault they are NOT mandatory.
The FIVE moves stated above are MORE than enough. PRACTICE THEM moving forward, backward and flanking left and right. I personally DO NOT train the “back” snap cut on the “snap-slash” because I know of an incident in a real fight where the knife was dislodged from the grip on the “return” when the target reflexively pulled his shoulder up after taking the first slash across the right temple and eyes. This is the story I have heard so I won’t comment further.
TARGETS: As far as “targets” go……………well the BEST real world advice I can offer is just GO for FLESH! If you see skin, GO FOR IT!
Fingers, hands, wrists, throat/neck and face. The “step over and stab” SHOULD be saved for the coup d’ grace.
John Styer’s influence was really BROUGHT to bear AFTER WWII. His methods were developed during the Korean War era, long after his discharge from the USMC.
AND……………………His job as a FLAG salesman is what brought him into contact with military bases and servicemen ACROSS the country!
There are more anecdotes and more info but this is enough for now.
I always get a “kick” when guys dismiss different methods and/or ideas out of hand. Then when I ask them to “show me”, they get the WHOLE GODDAMN thing WRONG! Of course it looks like SHIT. BECAUSE YOU”RE DOING IT LIKE SHIT!
Ok, hope some of you got some useful insight.
Copyright 2003 http://www.thetruthaboutselfdefense.com ©
Carl Cestari began his study of the martial arts with judo at the age of 7 under the direction of Yoshisada Yonezuka. During the past forty plus years Carl has dedicated his life to studying the martial arts, hand to hand combat systems, history and religion. What makes Carl unique is his combination of martial arts, law enforcement and military and real world experience. Carl has been exposed to a multitude of people with a wide variety experience. The following is a list of some of Carl’s ranks and honors:
Shinan (Founder) Tekkenryu jujutsu
Ryokudan (6th degree) Koshinkai Karate under John Burrelle
Godan (5th degree) Jujutsu under Clarke of the World Jujutsu Fedaration (now defunct)
Sandan (3rd degree) Nippon Kempo under Narabu Sada
Nidan (2nd degree) Judo under Masafumi Suzuki
Shodan (1st degree) Judo under Yoshisada Yonezuka
Shodan (1st degree) Shukokai Karate under Kimura, Kadachi and Yonezuka
Shodan (1st degree) Daitoryu Aikijujutsu
Instructors Certificate- Charles Nelson System of Self Defense under Charlie Nelson
http://www.thetruthaboutselfdefense.com
You don’t always get what you want, but do you get what you need?
While pre-fishing for a tournament at Bull Shoals Lake in Missouri, we had some of the strangest things happen to us in three days there, than at any other lake we had ever been to then or since.
Now don’t get me wrong, we love Missouri, but this tournament and the things that happened were a nightmare. We started our drive from Delaware in 1998, (we decided to go in March to pre-fish), and we stopped at a gas station in Ohio, and not having that much experience with our trailer and new truck yet, and the excitement of the Big Bass World Championship coming up soon, momentarily clouded my perception, and we clipped the side of the pumps and took out the wheel and the whole fender had to be taken off. We arrived at some cabins near Bull Shoals, and low and behold the water was down, I mean REALLY DOWN! We checked in and launched the boat. The mud was so soft that we got stuck while it started to snow. It was freezing the whole time but we made the best of it. The following morning, at 36 degrees, and a good wind, we left the lodge at 8 am. The motor ran for about 45 seconds and quit! We started it up again, several times in the next 2 hours, but finally 100 spouts and spurts later, it quit altogether.
We decided right then and there that we would catch fish before we would leave! We used the new MinnKota trolling motor, that we just got a week before, and slowly maneuvered to the closest point. We started catching some real nice hybrids, and some largemouth, and really starting to develop a pattern for that area, and the trolling motor short circuited, and smoke came out! It was completely broken.
We paddled the bass boat back to the marina where we were staying and told him what happened. The local tournament was out, and so was going more than 100 yards now, but he said, I’ll give you my trolling motor so you can still go.” We thanked him, and went to the dock where he said it was. It was a transom mount motor with about 28 pounds of thrust! Not exactly standard fare on Table Rock or Bull Shoals in March, with a Nitro. But we were determined. We went out to the point where we were the day before, started catching some more fish,
and the trolling motor he lent us broke. Not only did it break, but it actually broke at the shaft, it was a mess! We paid for the trolling motor, checked out of the cabin, (as it started to snow again), and started the 15 hour drive back home. We had fished for about 4 hours, in 7 days! We stopped at a motel on the way back, and my brother said, “I’ll bet there’s somebody in there that can fix a motor” “look at all the boats in the lot.” We pulled in and in the lot after we registered, two older gentlemen were standing out by their rooms talking and my brother say “Do you guys know anything about boat motors?’. The guy says ” DO I!”, I’ve fixed motors my whole life” Hey Joe, he says to his friend, “I’ll bet I can fix this guys motor faster than you!”, his friend and he came over, took off the motor cover, and had it running in less than 10 minutes. We were dumbfounded and overjoyed at the same time. We couldn’t thank them enough, and you could tell they were enjoying doing it. I was so excited, I jumped off the bow to the concrete, and broke my ankle.
Many hours later, after the hospital, we went out again, determined to fish somewhere and catch something at this point. We put in the boat, and started flipping the docks with a jig. I hooked into what felt like the World Record Bass on the second flip. It pulled so hard, I was shaking, a few minutes later I landed my 20 pound carp!
After a few choice words, I started to laugh and so did my brother Kurt. We composed ourselves and started casting around the docks again. A few minutes later, he set the hook on a monster. A beautiful 25 pound Carp! We loaded the boat, and headed back home. Sometimes it’s just time to quit. We went to these lakes again, and had many great experiences in the Midwest. My brother even won a tournament or two, and he was the Big Bass World Champ/De, in 1999 and 2001, but that one week in March of 1998, was one of those ones that you never forget.
Steve vonBrandt is an author, tournament angler, professional bass fishing guide and instructor, and hosts his own radio shows each week on Anglers Radio at http://www.anglersradio.com He is also a tackle dealer specializing in tournament grade tackle for tournament anglers.
The ninja were a military order in Japan. Most people have seen them in movies and fictional books.
They are the guys dressed in the black suits that seem to have amazing powers, such as climbing the outside of buildings with no rope, or seeming to disappear instantly.
Behind ninjutsu you will sometimes see reference to ‘hidden powers’ or ninja magic. Learning what this is exactly is part of the journey of the ninja master. All of us have the ability to tap into a greater force than we usually display. With training you can master this.
But behind all that mystery is the true story of the ninja master, who has very definite training. The actual martial art has a name, which is ninjutsu. Jutsu is a Japanese word for way.
There is also another Japanese word for way, which is do(pronounced doh)
So you have karate-do, which means the way
of the empty hand.
Ninja Training in the US
There are various training schools in the US but before you start I suggest you read up on it. A great resource I have found is by Ninja Fanatic, John Lee.
Cover the ground in his book – Ninja Secrets Revealed – and then you will be more prepared to take your training further.
All such training starts from a desire, which gradually develops into mastery.
Today could be the start of your journey to mastering the ninja art and all its secrets.
Good Luck.
Or as they say in Japanese: “Gunbatte Kudasai”
Graeme Sprigge is a tae-kwon-do exponent with the rank of blue belt and brown tip. One of his hobbies is martial arts. He is currently studying Taijiquan (tai chi), using reference material from Master Wang Peisheng one of the Beijing Masters More Ninja Info Here
Copyright 2005 Graeme Sprigge