Instantaneous Adaptation!

This last week has been a busy one, and yet not busy in the ways I wanted them to be in the end of the week. Starting with a fantastic show and tell a-la-seminar for SigEp at Stanford, the week progressed nicely. Until Thursday when suddenly I had somehow injured my neck and could barely move without immobilizing pain.

The seminar for Sigma Phi Epsilon at Stanford was a blast, this group of guys were very gracious and curious about Inayan System of Eskrima. As hosts they could not have been better. At the beginning they spoke about the different social action and physical fitness standards they hold for their members and how they were to achieve these standards. I was impressed as they disclosed that my invitation to teach was part of their "Sound minds and bodies" philosophy.

The bulk of the little seminar was a discussion of the ins-and-outs of self defense and it's accompanying legalities. We also worked on some basic self defense material, culminating on defense against a street fighting favorite, the tackle. The tackle takes the form of a really poorly skilled double or single leg takedown. We showed how a smaller man can easily defend against a bigger man, as long as one is not shy about putting fingers in places normally not explored. I was especially pleased with the questions about how things couldn't work, what if questions always offer new opportunities to grow.

During the week the classes went well, on tuesday we had a moment to work both stand up grappling and ground fighting and how it relates to the Inayan System of Eskrima. We especially paid attention to the pertinence of wiping and escaping skills to liberate our more percussive skills.

On Thursday I somehow strained my neck, and it is Saturday evening I am just now able to move my head in a way that approaches normal, albeit with some pain still. Sucks, I had really not realized how much I use my neck muscles to do almost any movement. Thanks to my sister, Sursuro Jena Inay and her massage skills, I would not be this far forward in my recovery. Using myofacial techniques my neck was relieved of most of its tensions. This injury, from stretching after a nap, really has had an interesting effect on me. First was disappointment, as I have not been able to work out for the last few days. Then depression from not working out. I could not even drive without experiencing excruciating pain with unexpected bumps.

This injury has given me a great appreciation for neck attacks, especially those that attack the mobility of the neck. Neck cranks will gain a new special place in my heart and my preference in techniques used on the unwilling. Much like how getting poked in the eye on accident has given me a great appreciation for eye gouges and pokes in techniques, so has this recent experience given me new roads of inquiry in my Martial Art. Whether for Self Defense or Street Fighting, neck cranks will be more closely looked at. I will be brining this to classes and seminars from Los Gatos Ca, to Aachen Germany, it's all about punishment of the neck now.

Be Excellent,

Suro J Inay