Brian's List

In a recent newsletter from Tim Larkin, creator of Target Focus Training, he shared the following list of things that his friend Brian learned from TFT:

Brian's List

• Aim small, miss small
• Strike the first thing that moves
• Don't use violence to solve social situations
• Understand the difference between life or death confrontations and social violence
• Always focus on striking targets
• Principle based systems are superior to technique based systems
• Never quit until the other guy is non-functional
• Always assume multiple persons in a violent confrontation
• Close distance - step through the other guy
• Always strike never block
• Have a first strike mentality - don't hesitate
• Become a sociopath in a life or death confrontation - maim, cripple or kill
• Use kinetic versus static force
• Always have a center line focus - don't look at the face, it will deceive you
• To be in cause state you must continually cause effects in the other guy(s)
• Never get in the middle of a group in a multi person violent confrontation - choose a side
• Your only weapon is your brain everything else is a tool
• In violence never focus on the other guys tools (gun, knife, or club) focus on taking out his weapon (brain) - simply taking away the tools and leaving the other guy functional may cost you your life.
• Walk away from ego based confrontations - there is no threat
• If you can use social skills to avoid violence do so, but if it is asocial then there is only one option - violence
• You do what you train - make sure you train for the real world
• Occasionally take away dominate side during training - it'll make you a more complete fighter
• Become a 360 degree fighter NOT a 'one quadrant' fighter
• Give good reactions to your partner
• Don't try to 'teach someone a lesson or you may get schooled'
• Always ask yourself "what is available to me" NOT "what is being done to me?"
• Violence is not give and take - it should be over in 3-5 seconds
• Speed does NOT equal power
• There are no rules in violence - remove any such boundaries or you will suffer the consequences
• Be brilliant at the basics (do your leg dynamics)
• Don't ever posture with violence
• Feign weakness to gain an unfair advantage
• Don't mimic your opponent - do the unexpected
• 2 inches of penetration is better than 20 slashes with a knife
• Never square off with the other guy - strike when he isn't aware or doesn't expect it

You should definitely check out Target Focus Training and sign up for Tim Larkin's newsletter.