MARTIAL ARTS

{R}EVOLUTION

No styles, no systems, no rituals, no lineages, no masters, no labels, no belts, no katas, no uniforms, no dogmas;

Only the process of self actualization & personal expression of truth through functional combative movement and fitness.

On a purely physical level, we share how to individually and collectively use all of our natural tools as well as extended ones, offensively and defensively in a strategic and tactical manner and in all ranges of combat.

We're put through functional physical fitness training where we learn to push ourselves through our own perceived limitations. We also have much to offer on nutrition, health and optimum performance.

On a more cerebral level we learn about the psychology of violence, fear, stress & confrontation management skills, deescalation strategies and holistic survival tactics.

As the mind navigates the body; by challenging personal self defense dogmas and individual & core belief systems, personal growth and evolution occurs.

On a human level, we learn about the ripple effect and the moral, legal, and ethical consequences of our chosen actions while self examining our darkest emotions. We are encouraged to question everything, to learn to think for ourselves, to be more accountable and research everything we learn and to be open and responsive to life without judgment.

On a personal level, the training can make you face and slay your own demons.

Everything shared here is highly encouraged to be individually researched, to “absorb what is useful, add what is specifically of your own and disregard the rest.”

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Monday, February 27, 2012

Truth Don't Hurt as Much as the Result of IGNORING IT!





Y.W.C.A. Alaska and Senshido Alaska Working Together!



In response to the barista kidnapping last month, YWCA Alaska is offering a 2 hour self-defense course highlighting the Shredder technique.  Come learn a self-defense tool that could save your life! Please pass this on to anyone who might benefit from these tools.

 Where:           YWCA Alaska, 324 E. 5th Avenue, Anchorage
When:             Tuesday, March 6, 2012 – 6:00pm-8:00pm
Who:               Anyone over 13 years old
Cost:               $10.00
Why:                BECAUSE YOU ARE WORTH IT!!

RSVP:              Eryn Kahler - ekahler@ywcaak.org  (limited to 40 participants),
RSVP:                Malachi Bondsenshidoalaska@yahoo.com or 1-907-575-4952


Join us to learn Senshido and The Shredder concept. Are you worried that you couldn’t defend yourself if you needed to? Maybe you think you are too short, too little, too round, too thin, too slow, too old? Think again. Shredding is a self-defense strategy and concept that can be used by anyone, regardless of age, gender, size or athletic ability. 


According to Senshido Alaska, “the advantage of the Shredder is that it is a concept and tool that can be used by one and all. It is ‘user friendly’ and requires no memorization of techniques, no repetitive training, and no need for high levels of athleticism.” The YWCA offers a safe place to learn and practice self-defense, so grab your friends, your mom, or your neighbor and come get stronger at the YWCA---because you are worth it. 


Y.W.C.A. Alaska & Senshido Alaska: Strength through Empowerment

Sunday, February 26, 2012

No War. Know Peace.


How many schools can be built for 19.3 Mil an hour? How many homeless can be sheltered? How many hungry can be fed? 

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Why? How?


11 years later and Still no logical answers to any of the questions asked in the following clip:


Accountability




Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Saturday, February 18, 2012

The Foundations of My Spiritual Beliefs



"Absorb what is useful, add what is specifically of your own and disregard the rest." ~ Bruce Lee

Much Peace,
Rich

Thursday, February 16, 2012

PLEASE REALIZE...


How School Today Kills Creativity & Individuality

Great and Informative Cartoon:


Thought provoking piece. highly recommend it especially to our American and British friends and family out there, the clip is in English avec des sous titres en Francais pour nos amis Francophone: Know the reality and truth behind the Federal Reserve and DO SOME SHIT!!!!


Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Quit Being a Damn Slave....

Self Defense begins with the self. No one will ever hurt you more than yourself and that is a fact. You are at a much greater risk to your own damn self than any bad guy, terrorist or criminal will ever be to you and by your own hand, your own choices and your own free will and that is what is so fucking monumentally baffling:


Get your fat fucking sedentary lazy processed food eating asses off the couch, turn off the televisions, Iphones, Ipads and Iphucks, go outside and exercise a minimum of 30 minutes a day; eat real, clean, organic non man made foods and STOP making other mother fuckers rich by keeping yourselves lazy, sedentary, sick and apathetic for the love of human kind.... 


AND





Monday, February 13, 2012

Capitalism:


SNAP OUT OF IT ALREADY!!!!!












Rich Dimitri & Senshido International Montreal, Toronto & Barrie Workshops!


Richard Dimitri will only be teaching these workshops in 2012 outside of Jasper, Alberta where he resides as he is taking time off of travelling for 18 months to be with his new born son.

If you've wanted to train with Rich this year, don't miss this opportunity as spaces are limited and he will not be returning to his travelling schedule until 2013.

For information and or bookings on the workshops please contact Christopher Roberts of Safe International at info@safeinternational.biz

THANK YOU!

Friday, February 10, 2012

The Missing Link in Children Self-Defense Programs


The older I get, the more I have an appreciation for the good I have in my life. I have three beautiful daughters and at the time of this writing they are between the ages of 1 -4.5 years old. As a father, as a husband, as a Senshido International Team Member and Instructor, and as a human – I offer this piece for your consideration.

The subject of “children’s self-defense programs” has been growing more and more popular as time passes by. It is not uncommon to read ads, books, articles, etc. that promise to make your children “bully-proof” and “kidnapper-proof”. Often, children’s self-defense programs will include “Stranger Danger and Awareness” strategies and tactics, in addition to basic physical self-defense skills against “bullies.” (I have grown a disdain for the word “bully” due to reading Darren Lauer’s article entitled “Blind Faith”: http://www.personalprotectionsystems.ca/articles/blind_faith.pdf

This article (and others like it) in conjunction with Phil and Athena Thompson’s excellent book “Empower Your Kids To Be Safe…For Life” awoke me the fact that many “programs” out there are simply teaching what they were taught, not seeking to improve and evolve. For example, Phil goes into great detail on why the “Stranger Danger” format no longer works.

Many Youth-Oriented Self-Defense Programs include the following components: Anti-Bullying, Stranger Danger, Kidnappings, Common Predatory Lures, Cyber-bullying, Cyber-safety, Home Alone, How to Dial 911 (or your respective emergency contact number), Memorizing Important Information such as Name, Address, Telephone Number, Parent’s Name, Telephone Safety, Drug Awareness and Prevention, etc. The above play a vital component in the holistic nature of protecting our children and every one of these should be incorporated into your child safety training. However, there is one major component missing…and that is the guardian(s) relationship with the child.

Within the world of the Senshido International Movement, we have embodied and embraced the phrase “Self-Defense Begins with the Self” – it was one reason Richard Dimitri titled his primary introductory book to Senshido “In Total Defense of the Self”. However, your child is not truly aware of their “self” (many adults fall into this statement as well) – this is why they need parental guidance and structure. I am not referring taking an active part in their self-defense training (although it is highly recommended), nor am I referring to driving them to the local dojo every Tuesday and Thursday evening after school. I am referring to how you treat your kids, behind closed doors – how you parent – how you discipline – how you speak to them – how you react when you’re angry with them – how you react in front of them when you become depressed, angry, sad, pissed off, etc.

Like many people, I grew up with a rough family structure. I experienced (what many today would call) physical, emotional and psychological abuse on a consistent basis. I learned to associate pain and anger; I found that sleeping “helped” my depression, because I didn’t have deal with reality; I struggled and still struggle with self-worth, depression, low self-esteem, etc. For much of my life I felt like walking on egg shells, I became a doormat for many people and found it extremely hard to justify standing up for myself in any capacity whatsoever. I struggled with my weight constantly – always being overweight and started smoking when I was about 10 or so and became a full-time smoker when I turned 15. When I was approximately 11 years old, I wanted to commit suicide. I was so broken from being called a “damn moron”, “stupid”, “fucking idiot”, etc. for so long that I thought I couldn’t take it anymore…and that if this is how my family felt about me, it wouldn’t get much better from outsides who didn’t know me. I remember walking on a highway bridge and climbing over the side of the rail. I held on by my finger tips and looked at what would soon become my fate…a 45 foot drop onto rocky terrain. A nanosecond before I was going to let go of the bridge, I realized that it would be my family who would have to pay for the funeral services and burial box. Being extremely poor, I knew they could not afford it…and that was my saving grace – realizing that my family could not afford my funeral expenses. I climbed back over the rail and walked home in silence.

I’m 30 years old now and as mentioned earlier, I have three beautiful daughters. I never knew the impact of my upbringing had on me and my parenting methods until I had my princesses. When they don’t listen to me, I immediately yell at them – simply because that is what I was use to (we use to have hours of yelling sessions). My daughters would cry after the burst of anger from me and I would yell again, “Why are you crying?” Their response, “Because you yelled at me. I don’t like being yelled at, it hurts my feelings.” I remember a year ago my oldest daughter told me a lie and how angry I was at her, and I flailed my arms about in anger in front of her. And I remember her squeezing her eyes shut and raising her arm to protect her – because she thought I was going to hit her. What I saw was surreal. Had I become the nightmare I was battling for so long? Had I become the center of torment for my children? Never should a child flinch and recoil in such a manner. It sickened me, broke my heart, and made me fearful. I don’t physically discipline my children because I am afraid that, in my anger, I will go beyond my intent as a parent. I am afraid that I will hurt them the way I was hurt, scar them the way I was and not know when to stop.

Writing this part is so very hard for me, because I am exposing my fallacies, my short-comings for everyone to see. I am neither a good man, nor a good father or husband. Every day I see my weaknesses, my failings, my imperfections and each day I strive to tackle them and make those corrections – but it is extremely hard, especially when you're trained as a child to notice every single one of your fallacies. I do not care what your view of me is; what I care is that you can take what I am saying here and in the privacy of your own home, evaluate yourself and how you handle your children.

The physical self-defense, anti-kidnappings, anti-gang, anti-drug, anti-stranger, etc. is all great stuff – by all means. However, it is not the most important subject area for holistic child safety and protection. You and your relationship with your children are… and it’s missing out of 99% of the programs out there. Please understand and really take this to heart… you will affect (positively or negatively) your child(ren) more than anyone else in their life. You are creating a template, a foundation from which they will grow on their own. The platform you use will strongly determine where they go in life in terms of self-worry, self-doubt, low self-esteem, low self-worth, etc. “It is better to Prevent, than Circumvent” – take these words to heart, my friends. Give your child(ren) the most positive and constructive platform, encourage the hell out of them, don’t allow them to ever know what “fail” or “can’t” is. So many people in this world are miserable, mean, negative and all around bastards… help your child(ren) be the shining light of human potential.

Please don’t simply read this piece and say “Amen” without looking deep within yourself. Many of you have done wonderful things with your children – and you know you have made mistakes as well. Reconcile with your child(ren), reconcile with yourself and face your own personal demons. One of the goals of parenting is to raise a better generation that what we had and experienced – to pass the torch to our children and improve upon what we had. An old adage says that one can see if their parenting methods and the amount of love they gave their children were effective by looking at their grandchildren and how they are treated and loved. May live to see your grandchildren and may you smile upon the love they are given by their parents.

Be well and safe – and be THE source of happiness and comfort for your child(ren). May they only know your love and compassion.

Malachi Bond
Senshido Alaska
senshidoalaska@yahoo.com 

Yo... you... yeah You....


The Paleo Lifestyle....

February 10/2012, 4 months shy of 43 years old.
I was first formally introduced to the Paleo Lifestyle by my friend and Senshido International Team member Jeff "Stinge" Liboiron back in July of 2011 as I was amazed at the fact that he looked the way one would draw a comic book super hero, he was (and still is) in incredible shape, cut and lean and had, at the time, been living the Paleo/Caveman lifestyle for 8 months. Inspirational to say the least.

He basically told me he was off sugar (all kinds from processed to all its differing forms  such as glucose, fructose, dextrose, sucrose, etc.), grains and dairy altogether and only ate real food. Real food meaning nothing man made, nothing processed, just like the cave men used to consisting of what could be hunted or gathered such as organic, free range, grass fed meats, organic vegetables and fruits, certain nuts and certain seeds, that's it, that's all.

And it's a lifestyle, not a diet. It is something one does and follows for life, not a certain period time, this isn't a cleanse either.  The very essence of cleansing a couple or few times per year means to be un-cleansed, unhealthy and toxic the rest of the time one isn't cleansing... makes no fuckin sense man, optimal health is something one should strive for and maintain all the time, not twice per year for a week or two. There is no going back to grains, dairy and sugar once you begin to research and fundamentally understand just how unhealthy and damaging these substances are to the human body in general.

I was so impressed, that I began slowly cutting things out but it was a slow process, I'd often "cheat" here and there... the irony of cheating one's self and justifying it, on its own is an other entire blog/subject matter, but that's exactly what I was doing, cheating too often to be able to call my lifestyle Paleo from the Greek word 'Paleolithic' meaning old or ancient times/era, or 'caveman' and reaping any kind of benefit from it just yet. You can't cheat... cheating only hurts you and defeats the entire purpose of living healthy and optimally. Cheating will not render any of the desired results.

Enter Scott Sonnon and Tacfit: 

Scott Sonnon and I work in the same industry and both share the common goal of bettering humanity as a whole. Scott to me, is one of the most inspirational individuals I know, rather than blabber on about him, here is a brief bio from his own Facebook page, do not hesitate to check Scott out, he can only improve your life as he has thousands upon thousands worldwide:

"Overcoming childhood physical and learning disabilities, to become the USA National Team Coach and International Martial Arts Champion (in Sambo, Sanshou, Submission Grappling, Sport Jiujitsu, and amateur Mixed Martial Arts), Scott Sonnon earned the most coveted athletic distinction in his discipline - Honorable Master of Sport and became the first Westerner to formally intern behind the "Iron Curtain" at the Russian Combat Skill Consultant Scientific & Practical Training Center in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Blending his studies of biochemistry, biomechanics and psychophysiology, he developed an approach for multi-planar functional fitness - called Circular Strength Training, and an approach to rapidly recover from high intensity effort - called TACFIT. Author of numerous books and over a hundred videos, Scott now travels the world teaching for esteemed academies such as the NYPD Academy, FLETC, CBP Advanced Training Center, US Army 3/160th SOAR, FILEX, NSCA, CPTN, the Arnold Expo, Penn." 


So I've been reading and following Scott's daily status updates and posts and began religiously following all his nutrition and training principles, adding them to my routines and finally taking on the Paleo Lifestyle full on.

In essence, here are a few basic tips (modified some by me, inspired by Scott Sonnon):


1. Avoid all grains, dairy, sugar, legumes, artificial sweeteners, soy, carbonated drinks, all processed and fast foods, all GMO and anything that comes packaged in a cardboard box and/or containers, tin cans, plastic or anything that contains more than 2 to 3 ingredients which you know exactly what they are and consist of. Basically, only eat what you see in the pic above.
2. Eat grass fed, free range organic meats, wild meats and game, organic free range poultry, eggs and wild fish.
3. Eat organic, local, fresh, preferably raw vegetables, herbs and spices.
4. Eat  organic/wild fruits.
5. Eat only certain kinds of nuts and seeds such as pistachios, almonds, macadamia and walnuts or sunflower and sesame seeds. Try and keep it to a quarter cup per serving and no more than 2-3 servings per day spread out.
6. Consume a maximum of 2 teaspoons of raw, organic unpasteurized honey and maple syrup per day, you can substitute sugar for honey and maple syrup in organic teas and organic, fair trade coffees. Though high in sugar content, these sweeteners contain all kinds of essential nutrients, anti-oxidants, amino acids and immune system boosters They are also great for pre-workout energy and post workout recovery in small quantities mixed with a homemade protein shake.
7. Eat 3 to 5 meals per day, eat as much as needed and don't over eat, eat until comfortably full.
8. Skip (fast) a day once every other week (drink home blended veggie detox juices)
9. Drink a minimum of 1.5 to 2 liters of room temperature water a day. Also allowed as beverages are almond milk, organic teas and coffee in moderation. Green tea you can have as much as desired but water is truly the elixir of life.
10. Use only organic coconut oil, organic full fat butter or animal fats (organic home made slow cooked lard) to cook with and only consume , raw organic first cold pressed extra virgin olive oils, do not cook with them. Stay away from vegetable, Canola, refined and or hydrogenated oils and fats.


It's been pretty much around 3 full months now I have been strictly following and adhering to the 'caveman' lifestyle and my waist size dropped from a 32 to a 29 and my body fat has considerably dropped as well while maintaining my weight between 155 to 160 pounds the entire time.  I am also much more agile and faster than I ever was before. My energy levels alone have doubled, it's really indescribable as I now workout 6 days a week, and even on my off day I have to get at least a good hour and half hike up one of the Rockies or I'd be bouncing off the walls some.

Works out great too cause our son's 7 weeks old today and with the little amount of sleep we get, the Paleo/caveman lifestyle has honestly given me the energy to sustain my workouts and lifestyle since the little one's arrival.  


What's great as well is that people around me have been noticing my shape has gotten better and my energy levels sky rocketing, not to mention, when the majority of the town where we live would get the local flu, cold or stomach viruses going around, my wife and I were amongst the very few who never got sick. After explaining the lifestyle to them, a few jumped on the bandwagon and one of our friends told us after only 6 days of being on it, how much better and energized she felt already.  She actually just called me today to thank me for getting her on it as she couldn't believe how fast the results were for her.

Though I've posted this before, here is the Paleo Lifestyle in a nutshell... honestly, I couldn't recommend it more, I have yet to have heard someone I personally know take it up and not have it improve their over all health, strength and life and I know of at least 25 to 30 people personally living the caveman lifestyle, some having dropped anywhere from 5 to 75 pounds in 6 to 8 months.



Enjoy:


If you're interested in improving your health, your energy levels as well as your over all athletic abilities by 10 fold, research the Paleo Diet/Lifestyle on Google, try it out for 1 full month along with a proper training program 3 to 5 times per week and move a bare minimum of 30 minutes per day and you will be astounded at the results. 


Here is a great website to get you started containing everything from the why's of what to eat and not to eat, recipes and all kinds of excellent and eye opening articles on real nutrition and health: http://paleodietlifestyle.com/

Much Peace,
Rich