Exeter Practical Martial Arts

Photo shoot with Adam Merton

admin — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 15:00:37 +0000

This is just one of many awesome photos that Adammerton.co.uk took whilst I was staying with him. His new studio will be opening in February, and I heartily recommend that anyone serious about capturing their martial arts in their prime contact him about a shoot. He’s a dedicated martial artist himself, ranking 5th Dan in Shunryu Kempo, 1st Dan in American Kenpo and 1st Dan in Shotokan Karate. I can’t recommend him enough.

Email adam at adammerton.co.uk

Christmas Parties - One TIRING day!

admin — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 12:29:27 +0000

Well, the Christmas parties have been held, with one attendee even coming down from Lundun to join in the festivities.

The children’s party was held during the day and, with a good turnout, was certainly action packed. Students played numerous games, won (and ate) a lot of sweets, and partook of a fine spread. It’s surprising to see just how much children can eat when they’re truly determined.

Every year we present the Student of the Year Award. This is given for commitment, attendance, attitude, overall improvement and participation. This year we presented the award to Isaac Jadav. Isaac has been with the club since the start and is always full of enthusiasm. His levels of energy during classes are amazing to watch and he is a great example to his fellow students.

The evening meal for the adult students was also a barrel of laughs, with Phil Miles being awarded the Student of the Year and Karl being a great source of entertainment, as was Rachel ‘Eat Meat’ Loram :). Phil received the award due to his high level of commitment to the club and martial arts as a whole. Full of boundless enthusiasm, Phil has supported the club since the start, even going so far as to leave his previous club in order to commit himself to Exeter Practical Martial Arts. Despite being ill for two sessions, because he attended an additional seminar he still ended up with 100% attendance.

We wish to offer out heartfelt congratulations to both students.

Drive Safely - Prevent Carjackings

admin — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 11:45:45 +0000

I recently wrote this letter to my local news paper. I thought I would share it with you all as well.

Dear sir/madam,

I was dismayed to read the story covering Mr McClean’s unfortunate car jacking incident in Saturday’s Express & Echo.

Fortunately, such a thing is still a rare occurrence in Exeter but there are still a number of things that people can do to make themselves safer whilst on journeys. Self-protection is something that many people overlook, but which can make their lives a lot safer.

1. As soon as you enter your car, shut the door and lock it. Many people when getting into their cars leave their doors open so that they can lean forward and out to see the ignition key hole. Others will shut their doors but still lean forward and down in order to start their car. This means that a potential attacker can easily take them by surprise.
2. When in traffic, ensure that you stop far enough away from the car in front of you so that you can see their rear tyres on the tarmac. This means that if you need to pull out and away, you will be able to do so. If you are closer, then you will not have much room to maneuver (usually because the car behind you will prevent you from being able to reverse to get enough space to drive out.
3. Again when in traffic (and this especially applies to when you are on main roads or motorways), turn your wheels to the left. This means that should a car behind you not stop in time, that you will not be shunted into the car directly in front, but will be pushed to the left. It is obviously more beneficial to be in the inside lane so that you can be shunted onto the hard shoulder rather than into a car to your left.
4. When parking in a car park such as the Riverside Leisure centre, drive with your nose in. This means that, should anyone be waiting to attack you from the shelter of the arches, you can use your door to block them and either make your escape on foot or enter your car and drive away.
5. Never leave your window fully down when approaching stationary traffic. With most cars having electric windows, it takes little effort to raise the window whilst stopped and lower it once pulling away.
6. Never leave your valuables in plain view. Most robbers are opportunistic and will not waste time breaking in to a car that appears to have nothing of value in it.
7. Never leave your car during a road rage attack. Stay in your car and, if blocked in, attempt to get help by calling the police on your mobile, sounding your horn and catching the eyes of any witnesses. If you do not have a mobile, then shout for witnesses to call the police. Never assume that someone is doing it for you. Often people will think that someone else is calling for help with the result that no-one will.

All of the above are very easy to do and can all help make you safer on your journeys.

Regards

Matthew Sylvester

Matthew Sylvester is the Founder and Chief Instructor of Exeter Practical Martial Arts. If you are interested in classes please contact Matthew either through emailing him using epma@practical-martial-arts.co.uk, or by going to the club website at www.exeterpma.co.uk

How a Burglar’s mind works

admin — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 23:26:37 +0000

We had a letter come through our door today and I thought I would share it. It’s from the Devon & Cornwall Police.

“Dear Occupier

I am your local Police Community Support Officer. Do you know how a Burglar’s mind works? In most cases burglary is an opportunistic crime, the burglar slects their target befause it offers the best opportunity to cary out the crime undetected and with the fewest obstacles in their way. A building, shed or garage that presents itself insecure or unattended is far more likely to be targeted than one that is effectively secured. As well as an increase in burlarlies there has also been an increase in vehicle crime especially thefts from motor vehicles. The criminals who take items from vehicles are equally as opportunist, and anything of any value left on show in your vehicle will be taken.

I have made a list below of the obvious areas where I believe [b]your home[/b] presents itself as potentially vulnerable to burglary.

1. Accessible window open.
2. Ladders available to allow access to otherwise inaccessible windows.
3. Garden tools available to force entry.
4. Garage or shed insecure.
5. Bottles of milk or parcels left on the doorstep.
6. Newspapers or mail left protruding from the letterbox or visible through glazed front doors.
7. Unlit house after darkness or curtains drawn during the day.
8. Easy access to the rear of the property, the likely point of entry.
9. Property of value in clear view of passers-by.
10. Wooden front door with a single yale lock.

Please [b][u]make sure[/u][/b] both your car and house are always left secure and that nothing is left on show [b][u]at all in your car.[u][/b]

Are [u][b]you[/b][/u] satisfied with your home security? Does it meet the requirements of your building/contents insurer? Many security measures cost little or no money and the improvements could reduce the likelihood of your becoming a victim of burglary.

Should you require further specific advice to inluce a crime prevention security survey free of charge please contact me on 08452 777 444 providing your name, addres and contact telephone number.

PCSO 30436 Willis”

Amazon Book Store - For all your needs

admin — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 14:27:48 +0000

PMA now has an amazon store, stocked with all the books and DVDs that Matthew thinks will be a valuable addition to your library. These items are written by the top experts in the field and cover Reality Based, Practical Karate and Practical Taekwondo. Matthew owns most of these books and DVDs.

http://astore.amazon.co.uk/practicalmart-21

Back to the Roots - Editing Stage

admin — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 12:26:06 +0000

Well, Back to the Roots has now been sent off to the editors so that it will be ready to go on the shelves. Written by Practical Martial Arts Chief Instructor and martial arts journalist Matthew Sylvester, this book has over 500 photos, and will be a valuable addition to any library.

It is already available for pre-order at Amazon and WHSmith. Click on the link below to get your copy.

Bombs in Exeter

admin — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 11:52:48 +0000

This isn’t exactly the most ‘festive’ post I’ve ever written but I feel that if I don’t write it, I’m neglecting my duty of care to my students and their families.

Twice in the last 12 months Exeter has been subjected to one active and one ‘potential’ terrorist attack. Both times the media has seen fit to photograph and film the exact process used to evacuate people and the exact places to which they will be evacuated.

In light of this I thought I would share some not very jolly information with you.

It is becoming common practice amongst terrorists to use a Primary, or even distraction device, that will cause an evacuation. A Secondary device is then detonated in the crowd, achieving a far higher kill ratio than would have been achieved with the Primary or distraction device.

Unfortunately this is not the end of it. A third or Tertiary device is also used and is usually detonated once the First Responders and Emergency Services are busy dealing with the casualties caused by the Secondary device (since that is where the majority of casualties would be).

This was highlighted by the foiled nightclub bombings in London. Cars filled with explosive were placed
at the exact point to which people would be evacuated in the event of an attack. It was only pure fluke and bad build design that allowed the event to be safely remedied.

The best advice that I can give is;

Don’t shop on the weekend or on Late-night Thursday. If this means some inconvenience or shopping online then surely that’s better than the alternative.
If you are caught up in an evacuation go home. Don’t wait around town hoping that the shops will be re-opened. If this means leaving your car and catching a bus or taxi (Taxis would actually be safer), then do it. It’s better than the alternative.
Be Vigilant. Keep aware of what’s going on, be wary of bags lying around and you will become a Hard Target. If you ‘feel’ something is ‘wrong’, listen to your inner voice and let the authorities know.

A false alarm is better than worrying about feeling ‘silly’. Imagine how you’ll feel if you ignore a bomb that causes casualties.

Have a safe and Merry Christmas!

How to spot a Sociapath - Mark Easton BBC Reporter.

admin — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 09:38:20 +0000

Sourced from http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/markeaston/2008/11/spotting_a_sociopath.html. A very interesting article indeed.

Spotting a sociopath
Mark Easton 26 Nov 08, 04:28 PM GMT How could anyone do those unimaginably cruel, inhuman things?

That is the question that, to most people, immediately flows from hearing the ghastly details of both the Sheffield man who fathered nine children by raping his two daughters and, of course, the tragic story of Baby P.

We seem to have any number of inquiries and investigations now under way into trying to find what went wrong, but I wonder whether the real answer lies buried in that initial question.

The 56-year-old Sheffield businessman who raped his children and the woman and two men who tortured a baby in Haringey would all appear to fit the definition of sociopaths: individuals with a deficit or absence of the social emotions (love, shame, guilt, empathy and remorse), but with a clear facility to deceive and manipulate others.

Mr X, as the rapist was known, refused to attend court to hear his sentence but in a letter to his brother said: “I haven’t got any regret over what has happened. It’s too late for that. It shouldn’t have happened.”

Also referred to as “anti-social personality disorder”, the behaviour of such people is beyond comprehension to most people because it does not equate with our understanding of what makes us human.

Academics calculate that sociopaths account for about 3-4% of the male population and less than 1% of the female population. Professor Robert Hare from the University of British Columbia is one the world’s experts on sociopaths and psychopaths. He writes of people “completely lacking in conscience and in feelings for others”.

He describes how “they selfishly take what they want and do as they please, violating social norms and expectations without the slightest sense of guilt or regret”.

Such people are, however, very difficult to spot.

In her book The Sociopath Next Door: The Ruthless vs. the Rest of Us, American clinical psychologist Dr Martha Stout explains why she thinks this is:

Since everyone simply assumes that conscience is universal among human beings, hiding the fact that you are conscience-free is nearly effortless. You are not held back from any of your desires by guilt or shame, and you are never confronted by others for your cold-bloodedness. The ice water in your veins is so bizarre, so completely outside of their personal experience that they seldom even guess at your condition.

The individuals that society puts in the front line to try and spot the threat from sociopaths could hardly be more different. Social workers, doctors and teachers are, usually, natural carers - people who empathise easily with others. They are wired to see the best in people, to develop trust.

And most of the time, that is exactly what we want such professionals to do - to support and to help people through their difficulties. But we also demand that they retain a deep cynicism about the individuals they work with - constantly questioning and imagining the very worst.

Sometimes they must make professional judgments about people who are wired completely differently to themselves - people who do not share the basic qualities that define humanity as they understand it.

In his report [pdf] into the death of Victoria Climbie in Haringey in 2000, Lord Laming wrote of the need for “respectful uncertainty” when dealing with a child’s family and of “critical evaluation” of what professionals are told. He has spoken of the “over optimism” he encountered, the way in which social workers tend to “travel with hope”.

When one reads the appalling details of 25 years of abuse and suffering in the Sheffield case, it does seem incredible that it went on for so long and without anyone in authority noticing.

But perhaps it is the very incredibility that explains why.

Hoodies Available

admin — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 22:33:12 +0000

Exeter Practical Martial Arts is pleased to announce that it is now able to supply students with high-quality hoodies for both Adults and Children. Colours cover the full spectrum but the most popular right now is obviously black.

Photos to follow shortly. If you have any enquiries please mail Matthew.

Congratulations to Nigel Lee

admin — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 11:22:03 +0000

Congratulations to OKKO Senior Instructor Nigel Lee. Nigel has recently qualified as a Bunkai Instructor under the highly-esteemed expert and author, Iain Abernethy.

This is something to be truly proud of and we look forward to seeing Nigel here for a seminar in the near future.