Pat Schwind Presents: Strategic Edge Thursday, 05/21/2009

Sharon Slater of 'Family Watch International', Bill Gemmill, local Attorneys Marc Victor & David Braun, & retired Molecular Biologist, Powell Gammill. We'll Debate the topic: Do Gay Folks Choose to be Gay or are they Just Born That Way?

Minutes of 05/07/2009

1. Attended 05/07/2009 : Rich Woods, Frank Rickey, Mark Sordahl, Pat Schwind, Ed Stroup, Jack & Joe Lapota, Tom Costanzo, Mark Williams, Dr. Darin Henry, John Kizis, Geri Seckinger, Barb Bentley, & our speakers, Blackbelt Kenpo Instructors Ted Goldberg & Jack Wimbish.

2. Ted & Jack did a fantastic job teaching a brief course, Self Defense for Women. We had a real live 'Hands On Demo', in the parking lot, (on thick carpet). I played 'Snidely Whiplash', (the assailant). Before we even went outside after breakfast, Ted & Jack gave us some back ground on themselves & the Kenpo branch of Martial Arts. They stressed how one should always try to walk, or run away from confrontations, especially when our ego pushes us, especially men, to "take a stand". Ted coaches Tempe cops, who tell him that ~ 25% of cars on Az. roads have a gun; so "settling the situation" on the side of the road should never be an option. Also, lots of folks who "don't look like much", could be a trained killers; "Mr. Rodgers", as a Navy 'Seal', had over 20 "kills", some via "hand to hand combat".

   There are lots of things anyone can do to prevent an attack; they all revolve around being very aware of your surroundings, especially when in public, & unfamiliar places. Predators look for the old, weak, vulnerable & distracted. How you "carry yourself ", your posture & facial expression, might be enough to dissuade a would be 'perp'; sort of the "barking dog" scenario, that prompts many burglars to simply "try another house" (victim), with no dog.

   Kenpo is a hard core martial art, designed to stop an attack quick, by going after the assailant's vision, blood flow to the brain, joints & other body parts susceptible to pain or injury. It's an upright fighting style, not a grappling art. I tried to be a boxer for many years, & think I can handle some pain, but Kenpo is on an entirely different level than the "white collar boxing" I'm used to. Jack did most of the "demo work" on me; he weighs 156, I'm 145. He only used ~ 10-15 % intensity on most of the moves, but a couple times got to perhaps 20 - 25% to adequately show the proper execution of a specific technique. I work out almost everyday, I'm in great shape, & I was seriously 'sore' in a few spots, the next few days. This stuff really works.

   Kenpo is often quite 'reactive', depending on what the opponent does first. Done properly, a small but effective person, even a petite woman, could seriously hurt a much larger attacker. It does not rely on strength, but rather skill, leverage, technique, patience & awareness of your opponents' mistakes. I plan to begin some classes this summer. I can't wait.

3. Our next meeting is this Thursday, 05/21/2009

   Please arrive before 7:30 AM at “JIM’s CONEY ISLAND CAFE”, 1750 No. Scottsdale Rd., Tempe, at the southwest corner of Scottsdale & Cavalier, Click Here for a map, 1 block south of McKellips, ~ 1 mile north of the 202 Freeway.

   Our speaker will be Sharon Slater of 'Family Watch International', Bill Gemmill, local Attorneys Marc Victor & David Braun, & retired Molecular Biologist, Powell Gammill. We'll Debate the topic: Do Gay Folks Choose to be Gay or are they Just Born That Way?

   Bring Guests!

4. Future Speakers
   • 6/4- Dr. Tamara Divic of WHEAT, (World Hunger, Education, Advocacy & Training Organization): "Can we Eradicate World Hunger"?
   • 6/18- Atheist Monti Gaither: How Religion has Messed Up the World, Forever!
   • 7/2- Open Discussion; We will meet despite the “4th” Holiday.
   • 7/16- Seymore Smith: One Man’s Struggle vs. an Unjust System.
   • TBD- Former Olympic Wrestler & Current Mixed Martial Arts Fighter, Mike Van Arsdale.
   • TBD- The Holocaust: History's Greatest Genocide or Outright Hoax? Pat Schwind & hopefully a real 'expert', will debate Holocaust Denier Friedrich Paul Berg. I just need more time to get "up to speed".
   • TBD- Nuclear Power: I need a 'Greenie" to debate my good friend & nuclear engineer, Joe Napier.

5. Publisher's Note: I recently mentioned that most Phoenix area home values have fallen 50% since the peak of '06, & that with interest rates so unbelievably low, this is an amazing opportunity. That generated some 'buzz', so I'm repeating it. I do Real Estate loans, & I'd like to help you profit from these tough times. Call me for mortgage info on your specific situation.

Sincerely, Pat Schwind, MBA