Where Are The Tar Sands

At Samurai Karate Studio, we practice environmental self defense!

For the record, I'm not some environmental "whacko".  I just believe we ALL have a responsibility to protect and conserve our planet's natural resources.  To me, this is just smart SELF DEFENSE.

I realize the US economy and the world's, for that matter, is addicted to oil.  And we currently need oil to keep our country moving forward.  However, I believe we can develop our oil resources in a smart way, with less impact to the environment.  Of course, we need to be developing alternative fuel sources at the same time, so that eventually, we can become less dependent on oil.

There is currently a lot of controversy about the tar sands of Canada.  I wanted to find out more about them.

If you follow my work, you know I am a huge fan of TED, an online lecture series that covers a wide range of topics.  In the video below, you will meet Garth Lenz, who is an award winning conservation photographer whose work has been seen in shows around the globe. Recently he appeared at a TEDx event in Victoria, BC Canada with his exhibition, The True Cost of Oil.

Through Lenz's photography, this exhibit showcases the beauty of some of Canada's pristine environments—and the dire impact that tar sands oil extraction has on them.

 

 

I really had no idea of the complete devastation to the environment that these mines are responsible for.  Nor did I realize they are encroaching of some of the most pristine rain forests located in the north.

I often remind my students that we practice our self defense techniques over and over - so that hopefully, in the event we were ever attacked, we would be prepared to defend ourselves from harm.

Well, I think we need to consider taking action to DEFEND ourselves (and our planet) from the devestating consequences of extracting oil from these tar sands.

How?

Start by aking action and calling your state Congressman or Senator - to voice your concerns about the tar sands, before it is too late.  Get involved. Stay informed.

That is good self defense!

Yes?

Sensei Chris Feldt
Samurai Karate Studio
Columbia, SC 29229
803-462-9425

Eating Healthy Is Good Self Defense

I recently read an executive summary, from the Environmental Working Group, also known as EWG, which listed the top vegtables and fruits that were found to contain a lot of pesticides in them.  

Modern farming relies on many pesticides in order to improve crop yields and protect the land from many harmful insects or diseases.  Unfortunately, the average consumer doesn't relize that many of the pesticides remain on the products, despite washing.

While the tests typcially reveal trace amounts that are considered harmless, the concern is the long term impact of eating food with these chemical residues and how they can damage our bodies.

EWG listed the top vegtables to avoid, or try to buy organic, and they also listed the products that typical have no or very little pesticide residue on them.  I have copied the graph and posted it below.

 

At Samurai Karate Studio, I include Diabetes awareness and healthy eating as part of our Black Belt training.  For some people this might seem strange, however, I believe we have to defend ourselves from disease, just as much as we do from a bully or an attacker.

The reality is, most of us face a greater danger from disease, than assault.

If you would like more information on the good work this group is doing, you can visit them at EWG.

 

Sensei Chris Feldt

Samurai Karate Studio

Columbia, SC 29229

803-462-9425

samuraikaratestudio@gmail.com

The Good Stuff

From the Story of Stuff!

We hear it every day from people who are concerned about what’s happening to the environment: “What can I do? I’m just one person!” What if you were just one 8-year-old boy?

Cole Rasenberger didn’t let that stop him from taking on one of the world’s largest fast-food chains over its packaging. In this episode of The Good Stuff, Annie learns how Cole rallied other kids at his school to join him in challenging KFC. And Danna Smith of the Dogwood Alliance tells us about the threat to Southern coastal forests from wasteful fast-food packaging.

Here is the the podcast....One Good Kid

Think we can't impact the environment?

All it takes is one person to make change!

At Samurai Karate Studio, our students are asked to become environmental activists......as we believe self defense includes protecting and preserving our natural resources.

This is just ONE of many extraordinary aspects of our karate curriculum.  Call us or drop by to find out more!

Sensei Chris Feldt
Samurai Karate Studio
Columbia, SC 29229
803-462-9425
samuraikaratestudio@gmail.com

Knock Knock

As an actor, singer, writer, and composer, Daniel Beaty has worked throughout the world in a variety of styles ranging solo concerts to theatre to one-man plays to a gig at the White House. But here he is at a Def Jam Poetry contest, about a topic near and dear to his heart -- parenthood. Nothing short of a riveting, electrifying performance that had the entire crowd standing up by the end!

Sensei Chris Feldt
Samurai Karate Studio

Stranger Danger

There is a video that is going viral (see below) that is about an attempted abduction of a 7 year old girl named Britney Baxter. A man tried to take her in a Walmart store and she fought back and escaped.

Bravo for you Ms. Baxter! You are one brave girl.

This girl is very lucky. This story could have had a very different ending. Many parents are unsure how to address this topic with their children. After all, we don't want our children fearing everyone do we?

At Samurai Karate Studio, I have taught stranger danger strategies to hundreds of kids and it is part of the curriculum at my karate school. The one constant I have learned over the years, is you need to discuss these strategies over and over with your child until it really SINKS in.

The Definition of a Stranger

I start off every stranger danger workshop with the definition of who a stranger is? A stranger is simply "someone we don't know". Often times, parents try to explain what a stranger is in too complicated a way. I try to keep it simple.

I then give examples of strangers:

A neighbor you have never met
A man or women at the store
A parent in the hallway of a school
A relative you have never met

 The last one, a relative you have never met, is often overlooked. Statistically, there is a higher rate of abduction with someone who knows the child, than a complete stranger. Does that mean every family member is a risk. No, but in order to simplify what a stranger is, you have to include relatives your child has never met.

Of course, I emphasize that NOT all strangers are bad, in fact most are good, but we practice to be CAUTIOUS, which is just a fancy grown up term that means we practice to be SAFE!

The Tricks

Once you have established the definition of a stranger, I review the typical "tricks" that a stranger will use to lure a child into their car. All the while, I am constantly reinforcing that the children never get in a car with a stranger EVER!

The most common lures are:

 

Offering a favorite candy

Offering toys

Offering DVD's or video games

Asking for directions

Asking for help finding a lost puppy or kitten

Making up a story about a parent getting in an auto accident (especially at a school in a car rider line?)

 

Stranger Danger Defense

 

Now, I know what many of you are probably thinking!

I am a self defense expert so I must be teaching these children some fancy self defense techniques.  Sorry, but that is not the case.  Where the children are so oung, it is unrealistic to think they are going to protect themselves like an older child, teen or adult.  However, as the video demonstrates, screaming, kicking and squirming helped this girl escape.

So this is what I recommend you teach:

Yell -- scream as loud as you can.  While I tell adults to yell fire (because people respond better to that word), I try to keep is simple for the kids.  Just tell them to yell and scream help as loud as they can.

Run -- don't try to engage the stranger, run away as fast as you can to a trusted adult or parent.

Tell -- instruct your children to always tell you when approached by a stranger or if they ever feel uncomfortable because an adult touched them.

For those children enrolled in my karate school, I do work with the children teach them how to stomp the toes, kick the shins, and punch if necessary.  But the reality is, that should only be a last resort.  If anything, tell them to be like a cat.  (ever try to hold a cat that didn't want to be held?)

The Bottom Line

The truth is, the best defense against your child being abducted is NEVER let them out of your site.  As in the case of little Britney in the news, she wandered off into the next aisle looking at toys and was out of site from her mom.  THE only way we can keep our children safe is to remain ever vigilant.

However, in the event they get temperarily separated from you, if you follow and practice these safety rules, there is a possibility your child could help save themselves.

If you would like to attend our next stranger danger workshop, please send me your email and I will add you to our mailing list so you will know the next time I offer one.

Sensei Chris Feldt

Samurai Karate Studio

Columbia, SC 29229

803-462-9425

samuraikaratestudio@gmail.com

Sensei Chris Feldt Receives CPR Certification

I completed a challenge course over the summer and received my 2 year certification in CPR and AED training. Honestly, this is a requirement of the University of South Carolina, as all professors teaching courses in the physical education program must be certified.

However, I believe learning CPR is just good self defense, as you never know when you might need to use it. Consider some of the statistics I reviewed at the Women's Heart Foundation:

Heart Attack Facts

1.5 million heart attacks occur in the United States each year with 500,000 deaths.

More than 233,000 women die annually from cardiovascular disease.

A heart attack occurs about every 20 seconds with a heart attack death about every minute.

Sudden death is more common among women with heart attack.

The National Registry of Myocardial Infarctions (New England Journal Med., 22Jul99) reports that women have a worse outcome than men after having a heart attack. Data showed that women under the age of 50 had twice the mortality of men after having a heart attack. Variances likely reflect increased severity of the disease in younger women.

Almost 14 million Americans have a history of heart attack or angina.

About 50% of deaths occur within one hour of the heart attack ––outside a hospital.

There is a 6% to 9% early mortality from heart attack for those who survive long enough to reach the hospital.

From 1983 to 1993, heart attack deaths fell about 30% overall but have not fallen nearly as much for women.

Studies show the most common time for a heart attack to occur is Monday morning. Saturday morning ranks second. Another common time is during the early morning hours, when blood platelets are stickier.

Deaths from cardiovascular diseases in women exceed the total number of deaths caused by the next 16 causes.

60% of women erroneously listed cancer as the leading cause of death among women. Deaths from all cancers in the USA are half as common as deaths from cardiovascular disease.

Only 31% of women know that cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the USA.

On the average, women take 2-4 hours longer than men to respond to symptoms of heart attack, limiting the beneficial use of some newer treatments like clot busters that work best within the first hour after onset of pain or discomfort.

Chewing an uncoated aspirin right away, at the first sign of chest discomfort or distress, can reduce the amount of damage to the heart muscle during a heart attack.

Costs related to heart attack exceed 60 billion dollars per year.

Heart attacks continue to be one of the top 10 killers for men and women in the United States.  I think it only makes sense to train as many people as possilbe, particularly, since the first few minutes of a heart attack are critical to the survival rate.  Knowing CPR and how to use an AED might just save the life of someone you know and love!

If you would like more information, you should contact The American Red Cross for dates and times of their classes.  Certification usually takes 2-3 hours depending on your knowledge or experience in CPR and generally costs around $50.

 

Sensei Chris Feldt

Samurai Karate Studio

Columbia, SC 29229

803-462-9425

samuraikaratestudio@gmail.com

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Sensei Chris Feldt
Samurai Karate Studio
2000 Clemson Road
Suite # 9
Columbia, SC 29229
803-462-9425
samuraikaratestudio@gmail.com