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1 " Many years ago I was jumped one evening while walking past a local bar. The unprovoked attack left me requiring surgery and many hospital visits. The incident also had significant psychological ramifications. Instead of accepting the unfortunate event and moving on I spent a long time turning my frustration inwards. For months I blamed myself for that night and this lead to a period of depression that I now see as probably the low point of my life. Oh sure, the actual punk that mugged me did the physical damage (and was never caught by the way) but like most 18 year old guys I had always thought that in a tight spot I could handle myself and turn on the “tough guy” as required. It was only after I’d spent 30 seconds choking on my own blood wondering if I was about to die in that silly little town that I realized all the bravado, all the posturing and fooling around with my friends counted for exactly nothing. There was no “Tough Guy” to switch on. "
― Phil Pierce , Martial Arts Myths: Behind the Myths!
2 " While the goal of these classes is to learn to defend yourself, positive changes will be obvious in everything you do, and this confidence also makes you less of a target on the street. "
― Phil Pierce , Self Defense Made Simple
3 " First make yourself unbeatable, then go to war." -Sun Tzu "
― Phil Pierce , Mental Combat: The Sports Psychology Secrets You Can Use to Dominate Any Event!
4 " The most popular argument against time travel is that we haven’t met any time travellers. Similarly the most popular argument against one Martial Art being ‘the best’ is that we aren’t all getting our backsides kicked on a daily basis by the master of this style. "
5 " One of the reasons relaxation as a concept within Martial Arts has become so established is because of the traditional Chinese art of ‘drunken’ style Kung Fu, also called ‘Zui Quan’ or Drunken Fist. This unusual combat discipline requires the student to develop a relaxed and flowing style of movement akin to that of someone under the influence of alcohol. The misconception here however is that the individual is ‘relaxed’ in the traditional sense – after all it does look that way. Many people love this style because it appears so different to traditional fighting arts and hence they think it may be perfect for someone who can knock back a few beers and stagger about taking on all comers. However Zui Quan actually requires great muscle control and focus, not just a bunch of flailing limbs and stumbling around. "
6 " Fighting Fit, "
― Phil Pierce , Fitness Hacks: Cheat Your Way to a Better Body Today!
7 " The ability to be fit enough to escape a situation and smart enough to recognise a threat before it happens are arguably the two most valuable skills for ‘real’ self-defense. "
8 " The founders of Martial Arts weren’t gods or saints, but real, ordinary men and women. They worked with skill and instinct, but not magic. "
9 " If you ever want to be a decent player, you have to be able to use both feet without stopping to think about it." –Pele "
10 " Movie producers have a lot to answer for, again. Part of the prejudice lies in the way fighting is portrayed in movies. More often than not the star Martial Arts fighter is cast as an individual of some Asian descent, while the villain – a nefarious Englishman - sits in a mansion giving orders. I know several excellent English Martial Artists and not one of them wears a monocle or has attempted to take over the world. Yet. "
11 " Perhaps part of the misconception is because the techniques instilled in the Medieval Knights seem to lack one major pillar of modern Martial Arts. The manuals we have evidence of leave out descriptions of effective striking, I.e. punching and kicking. It may be debated whether this was a flaw in the fighting system, or an intentional move due to the difficulty of landing an effective strike considering the bulk of armour being worn, but there is little documented proof of Armour plated roundhouse kicks during the crusades. "
12 " It seems that the real reason Asia is erroneously credited with being the sole origin of Martial Arts is that Europe and other regions failed to maintain their unarmed fighting styles. With the dawn of more deadly weapons, the more rudimentary arts of self-defence were discarded. After all, if the enemy is pelting your homestead with cannons it seems moot to learn a good throat strike. "
13 " So let it be said again, I love Martial Arts – all of them. They all have beneficial aspects and bring so much happiness to the people that practice them. X art is not better than Y art, (they are just different) and no style is without value. Except Capoeira you big bunch of dancing girls. (Just kidding) "
14 " Martial Arts "
15 " Time heals all wounds… but it also hides many truths. "
16 " If anything can go wrong it probably will go wrong at the worst possible time. "
― Phil Pierce , How to Defend Yourself in 3 Seconds or Less: Self Defence Secrets You Need to Know
17 " Similar weapons used through the ages include a huge array of sticks, arrows, and javelins. In modern times you might consider an AK-47, F-35 Jets and Javelin Missiles. Though perhaps not as respected as the Asian ways, each of these weapons can be practiced by its user to a level of skill which resembles art. (Surely piloting a multimillion dollar jet fighter at supersonic speeds is at least as respectable as mastering Aikido?) "
18 " It is difficult to get where you want to go without a map. "
19 " (I vividly remember a fellow at my former TaeKwonDo club that must have been 6’9 and despite not being the most technically gifted opponent he simply stuck out a leg and it was automatically at my head height!). "
