KerwinBenson.com Hidden Gems of Martial Arts

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2. Couldn't I just go out and buy a video to learn
the same"stuff"?

You see, videos still have a time limitation. The average martial arts video is still under an hour in length. That's time enough to explain four to five techniques. Sometimes you get really lucky and you get EIGHT moves on the tape. (I don't know about you, but I always wish that they'd give me more bang for my buck. I'm always left wanting more --which is a pretty good technique to get you to buy even more videos.)

Besides, I think that videos make us mentally lazy. They are part of our instant gratification society --"I want to see the move performed, and I want to see it now." (And this is supposed to help develop the mental attitude of a martial artist --ahem!)

The masses these days don't want to actually think about technique. I'm trying to get you out of mimic mode. I don't want you to copy some gi-dressed dude (or dudette) on a video tape. You'll won't learn the real feeling of the technique. You won't learn how to make the lock work in a variety of situations. I want you to take responsibility for youre own learning.

With all of that --yes, there is a time for video tapes (and I have some honest recommendations). The time for videos is AFTER
you know the principles found in this book. Once you know how to make wrist locks really effective, then it's time to add more techniques to your repertoire.

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3. How Is The Completely Revised and Updated edition different from the first edition?

4. Why can't I learn wrist locks from the movies and action shows on tv?

Those impressive-looking locks are mostly just for show--the
second that the actor starts to put the lock on, the recipient
throws him or herself in the direction of the lock at full force,
thus making the wrist throw look super effective. The
problem is that you aren't seeing a technique that would
actually cause that response.

Still, they are fun to watch.

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5. What if I don't like the book?

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6. Am I strong enough to really do a wrist lock?

To answer your original question--there is something for everyone
in this book. Or let me answer you by saying... in 1997, a Ju-jitsu
master put quite a lock on me -- and he was over 80 yrs. old at
the time. Wow.

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7. What if my style frowns on wrist locks?

I remember in one of my earliest classes (before I found my
current system) a student asked how to defend against a knife
attack. The instructor actually responded that his style didn't
include knife fighting -- as my younger students would say,
"Oh--my--gosh!"

You see where this is going, don't you? Right. Someone from a
different style (called streetfighting) may attack you with a knife
someday. If you have never practiced against a knife....

Continue that line of thinking-- if you have never practiced
against a wrist lock artist, you really won't know what to do. And
if you think you can solve all of your problems with a punch or a
kick, then you've never met someone ...ahem..."competent."
(For a more complete answer of the punch vs. wrist lock
issue, start reading at the bottom of the main page.)

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