Grappling Practice: Drilling Pins and Breakdowns

In this excerpt from the forthcoming book Groundfighting Pins and Breakdowns, Coach Steve Scott shares his methods for drill-training on breakdowns and pins. This is a great article for students of MMA, jujitsu, judo and sambo looking for a proven way to structure training sessions.

Last Day to Save on ADAPTIVE KENPO DVD

The first DVD in Jerry Meyer's Adaptive Kenpo DVD series has arrived in our warehouse and we're extending the discounted preorder price one more day for anyone who missed out on our first email. The DVD turned out terrific! Jerry's teaching is straightforward and easy to follow and the archival footage of Bruce Lee and Ed Parker is something you won't find anywhere else. Order today and get $5 off this new DVD.

Just in: Secrets of Unarmed Gun Defenses Book + DVD

The Secrets of Unarmed Gun Defenses Books have just arrived in our warehouse and are ready for shipping. Secrets of Unarmed Gun Defenses teaches you how to defend against one of the most common types of gun threats, the gun to the forehead. From one of the most advanced styles of martial arts and self-defense techniques, these unarmed gun defenses are the “secret stash” that most instructors share only with their highest ranking black belt students.

FREE DVD WITH YOUR BOOK! Follow along with the included demonstration DVD as Dr. Bob Laronga demonstrates all of the Gun Defenses taught in this book.

Junsado Officially Recognized by the Korean Government

Korea.net, the official English language website has officially recognized Junsado as a Korean martial art. Founded by Sang H. Kim, Junsado is "the way of the combat expert", a straightforward martial art that emphasizes practical empty hand and stick fighting techniques. Turtle Press is the exclusive producer of Junsado DVDs.

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We'll be posting videos, news and fun stuff so add us to your friends list to get bulletins about new additions.

MASuccess Spotlights Power Breathing DVD

MASuccess Magazine features the Power Breathing DVD by Sang H. Kim in it's March 2008 product spotlight. According to the article, "The exercises taught on this DVD would make an excellent addition to adult classes of all skill levels or to your own personal training."

Coming soon: Adaptive Kenpo DVD by Jerry Meyers

On the forthcoming Adaptive Kenpo DVD, Jerry Meyers takes a series of Ed Parker Kenpo techniques and shows you how to adapt them if your opponent disrupts the flow of the technique. For each technique, Jerry demonstrates the original Ed Parker execution and then he shows several possible counters that may interrupt the continuity of your techniques and how to deal with these counters.

Defensive Tactics Books have Shipped

If you preordered Defensive Tactics by Loren Christensen, your book is on the way to you. Due to production delays and the large number of preorders, the books arrived our warehouse later than expected and it took three days for our warehouse staff to work through all of the shipments. But the books turned out terrific and will be landing in mailboxes around the world this coming week!

Martial Arts Drills E-book

By popular request, Turtle Press has released a Martial Arts Drills e-book. Taken from the Martial Arts Instructors Desk Reference, the 30 page e-book has over 300 martial arts drills and games divided into 6 categories:

1. Conditioning: Fun ways to strengthen, stretch and condition the body
2. Basic Movements: New ideas to take the repetition out of practice including drills for individuals, partners and groups
3. Self-Defense: Exciting drills to make self-defense practice more realistic
4. Forms: Unique ways to reduce boredom on the road to perfection
5. Sparring: Exciting tips to pump up sparring practice
6. Mental Training: Unique suggestions for training the mind with the body

At only $4.95 for the downloadable PDF based e-book, this is a great bargain for martial arts instructors.

New Shaolin Kung Fu DVD

As a result of many customer requests, we have added a new Shaolin Kung Fu Three Section Staff DVD to our offerings. The DVD features a 3-section staff form taught by Shi Deci.

Principles of Gun Defenses

Dr. Bob Laronga, author of Secrets of Gun Defense, shares some of the most important Principles of Gun Defenses, including the difference between a revolver and an ACP and the best way to psychologically disarm an a gun wielding attacker.

Just Released: How to be Safe From Crime book

Scott Flint's self-defense book Waking the Tiger Within: How to be Safe From Crime covers all aspects of personal self-defense for the non-martial artist, including ways to crime-proof your daily life and how to defend yourself with confidence. No experience necessary. The self-defense techniques and safety strategies in this book can be used by anyone, regardless of age or gender.

Coming Soon: Secrets of Gun Defenses Book and DVD

Secrets of Unarmed Gun Defenses teaches you how to defend against one of the most common types of gun threat, the gun to the forehead. From one of the most advanced styles of martial arts and self-defense techniques, these unarmed gun defenses are the “secret stash” that most instructors share only with their highest ranking black belt students.

This new book includes a free Demonstration DVD so you can follow along with the included demonstration DVD as Dr. Bob Laronga demonstrates all of the Gun Defenses taught in this book.

Scheduled for release in early February

New Kid's Martial Arts DVD

Harry's First Martial Arts Lesson is an animated DVD for kids who are interested taking up martial arts or just starting out with lessons. Harry is an energetic 6 year old who gets to take his first martial arts lesson. He quickly learns that martial arts is not just about punching and kicking but about treating people with respect and learning self control. His new mentor, Instructor Dan, helps him understand that the keys to learning anything, whether it be martial arts or mathematics, are concentration and self discipline.

This short animated DVD is a great introduction to the principles and values of martial arts for young students and for youngsters who will be starting martial arts lessons.

Just Released: Security Operations Book

Security Operations: Planning and Conducting Private Security Details for High Risk Areas is now available from Turtle Press. SECURITY OPERATIONS is an introduction to conducting private security operations in high risk areas and war zones. Veteran special forces soldier and private security consultant Robert H. Deatherage Jr. provides a broad overview of the many topics related to private security including threat assessment, risk management, client relations, surveillance detection, counter surveillance operations, foot and vehicle movements, building security, and the duties of the various personnel and teams necessary to conducting a successful private security operation. This is an excellent reference for professionals in the private security sector and those who want to get into private security as a career.

Teach your Child to Fight Back Against Bullies

What can you do to help your child if he or she is being bullied? Scott Flint, author of Waking the Tiger Within: How to be Safe from Crime says, "If you are going to choose to under-react or over-react, it's vital that you over-react. Remember, the problem must be stopped immediately."

Talk to your child to find out who the bully is and what he or she has been doing to your child. This may be difficult, because most kids are ashamed to let their parents know what awful things have been done to them. You must press on and find out all the details. Either the same day you find out, or early the next morning go to the school and talk to the highest-ranked person there (probably the principal) and scream bloody murder.

Read more about how to Teach your Child to Fight Back Against Bullies

Do Joint Locks work in Law Enforcement?

Officers who don’t like joint locks say:

• they are mostly ineffective.
• they only work on the training mat.
• they don’t work when the suspect resists intensely.
• they rely too much on fine motor control.
• you have to be too close to the suspect.

Loren Christensen, author of Defensive Tactics, answers: "While there are shades of truth to these under certain circumstances, there are solutions. Here are my quick responses." Read the full joint locks article

Preorder and Save: New Self-defense Book

Over 14,000 violent crimes occur every day in the United States. If you are attacked by a violent criminal, you’ll have only yourself to rely on. Waking the Tiger Within: How to be Safe from Crime teaches you how to defend yourself with confidence and how to "crime-proof" your daily life. Read this book and then share with those you love. Awareness is the most powerful self-defense tool and everyone can use it!

Order today and save $5.00 off the regular price of $14.95.

Balance for Martial Arts

Sang H. Kim, author of Ultimate Fitness Through Martial Arts, shares the following tips to improve your balance for kicking.

For static balance, pay attention to:

1. Correct head placement
2. Correct eye direction
3. Correct body alignment (this is the key to static balance)


For dynamic balance, pay attention to details of your movement.

1. Avoid crossing your legs.
2. Keep your knees slightly bent during movement and landing.
3. Take small, quick steps rather than long strides.



Bottom line:

1. Balance comes from good posture. By aligning your feet, hips, spine and head, you maintain a stable upright posture. Keep your eyes fixed on one spot.

2. The most important sensors are the presence or lack of visual cues. Vision provides your body with a ready means of finding your position relative to the ground. To test the importance of vision, try closing your eyes and standing on one foot. You will feel your body sway and your arms reach out to the side instinctively.

3. Tactile cues are also used to maintain balance. In the pads of your feet are detailed networks of sensors. By sensing the pressure of the ground beneath them, they relay important information to the brain, allowing it to shift your balance as necessary. To test these, try standing on one foot on a soft surface like a mattress or thick mat. As the surface shifts beneath your weight, your body moves in response to the sensations transmitted from your foot pads.

4. Finally, there is the vestibular apparatus, found in the inner ear. The vestibular apparatus controls the "righting reflex," which takes precedence over other sensory and motor systems during disorientation. The righting reflex controls upright posture. Based on input from the visual, tactile and vestibular senses, your body is constantly striving to maintain a specific orientation to gravity. When you lose your balance or become spatially disoriented, your righting reflex takes over to restore an upright posture by first positioning your head, followed by your neck and upper body and finally your lower body.

Conclusion: Chose one target kick (high side kick for instance). Repeat it over and over and eliminate anything that hinders your perfect performance. Keep strengthening the necessary muscles that will help you get better and better.

Preorder and Save: Defensive Tactics Book

preorder Loren Christensen's latest book, Defensive Tactics: Modern Arrest and Control Techniques for Today's Police Warrior, and save $5.00 off the regular cover price.

Whether you’re a law enforcement officer wanting to improve your edge or a martial artist wanting to expand your knowledge of street proven techniques, you will find Defensive Tactics: Modern Arrest and Control Techniques for Today's Police Warrior is filled with invaluable information including:

• Joint manipulation that works
• Leverage control vs. pain control
• Hitting with the hands, feet, forearms and elbows
• Safely and quickly crossing the gap
• Blocking an assailant's strikes
• Using vulnerable points to gain compliance
• Head disorientation
• Safe application of sleeper holds
• Controlling a suspect on the ground
• Arresting big guys
• Fighting concepts to take on patrol
• Weapon retention in close quarters and on the ground