Common Sense Self Defense!

KELLY S. WORDEN’S TRAVEL WRENCH

IMPACT KERAMBIT OF THE FUTURE

Exerpt from the Travel Wrench TRAINING MANUAL

The Travel Wrench is a Devastatingly Effective Yet Low Profile Non-Lethal Force Tool for Personal Protection

YOUR PERSONAL PROTECTION TOOL FOR TODAY'S RUTHLESS STREETS

THE TRAVEL WRENCH IS A TRAINING TOOL THAT WILL ASSIST IN YOU'RE EFFORTS TO DEVELOP DEFENSIVE SKILLS WITH ALMOST ANY TACTICAL IMPLEMENT OR IMPROVISED WEAPON,,,, REALLY, NOT BULLSHIT!

IMPORTANT !!

I OFFER THIS INFORMATION FOR THE BENEFIT OF PRESEVING YOU'RE PERSONAL SAFETY, ANY SELF-DEFENSE TOOL OR OBJECT USED TO STRIKE ANOTHER PERSON IS CONSIDERED A WEAPON. ALWAYS USE EXTREME DISCRETION WHEN USING PHYSICAL FORCE TO DETER AN AGGRESSIVE ATTACKER AND USE ONLY ENOUGH FORCE TO NEUTRALIZE THE ATTACK!

As if you didn't already know, Impact strikes will cause severe pain and injury. The Travel Wrench and other Self Protection tools should only be implemented if no other option exists. That being said if you can't do the "Boot Scoot Boogie" and get the hell outa Dodge City when the shit hits the fan, stand and shut down the threat, protect yourself and you're family!

The information contained within this book is for defensive use and only to prevent or deter physical harm from being inflicted on you or a loved one.

Use of the information provided could lead to criminal or civil charges if misused in any manner. Common sense, social consciousness and conflict avoidance is strongly recommended!

COMMON SENSE
DISCLAIMER


KELLY S. WORDEN’S TRAVEL WRENCH

IMPACT KERAMBIT OF THE FUTURE

TRAINING MANUAL
The Travel Wrench is a Devastatingly Effective Yet Low Profile Non-Lethal Force Tool for Personal Protection

YOUR PERSONAL PROTECTION TOOL


DEVELOP DEFENSIVE SKILLS
WITH ALMOST ANY
TACTICAL IMPLEMENT
IMPORTANT !!

ANY SELF-DEFENSE TOOL OR OBJECT USED TO STRIKE ANOTHER PERSON IS CONSIDERED A WEAPON. ALWAYS USE EXTREME DISCRETION WHEN USING PHYSICAL FORCE TO DETER AN AGGRESSIVE ATTACKER AND USE ONLY ENOUGH FORCE TO NEUTRALIZE THE ATTACK!

Common sense is a contributing factor of survival and living, cultivate it! Keep in mind, never use a weapon of any kind if the confrontation can be de-escalated or evaded. Accelerated force levels should be mentally honed to become instinctual not anger motivated. Stay calm as possible to allow you to protect yourself with common sense not rage. When witnesses are close by a confrontation, do not appear to be the aggressor. If you are verbally trying to deter the situation, use brief statements to enforce your position. If it appears that you are out skilled, out manned, or unable to retaliate the moment of confrontation, compliancy can be advantageous, temporarily calming the attacker. This method may also offer you the opportunity to gain a closer proximity to the aggressor's vital targets. One strike may be all you'll have time for, disengage and seek safety!

The Travel Wrench only weighs two ounces, combined with the quick clip Lightweight Carry Sheath and you have a great little defensive tool that is easy to carry, easy to use, and adapts to almost every form of martial arts or defensive tactics!
Simple Deploy, Easy Carry, just clip and slide the sheath into the pant waist band, insert your index finger, press forward with downward pressure and grip tightly!

The visual appearance of the Travel Wrench is deceptive and few people have any idea exactly what it is on initial examination. Designed as a lightweight defensive striking tool, the "L" shaped high-density plastic can be dismissed as nothing more than a sport wrench, key ring, or massage tool for arthritis or acupressure.
When questioned about it by authority figures, one person offered it was a tool to adjust the side draft carburetors on his Austin Healy sports car, another said it was a acupressure massage tool, still another referenced a suitcase handle, as well as other interesting stories.

Visual Appearance, What the hell is it?

A Wrench? A Massage Tool?
Clothes Hanger? Key Chain?
Skateboard Wrench?
All of the above and more!
Two distinct sizes fit large and small hands, allow for Female or Male usage, with functional nut removing hex head holes for covert carry!

IMPORTANT FACTOR: It can rarely be turned against you
without proper understanding or some form of training!

Originally the Travel Wrench was designed to assist martial artists in developing confidence in empty hand striking skills and precision targeting. The first models were called DTL or Impact Kerambits and changed later to offer a more covert public carry tool for personal protection. The Kerambit of old was a simple yet potential lethal palm knife used in the “barrio” or rough streets of the Philippines.
Re-designed in 1993 by Kelly S. Worden for non-lethal usage, the Travel Wrench (Kerambit), has experienced acceptance worldwide. Civilians, bodyguards, police officers, and military personnel have carried and passed through customs and security checks almost everywhere in the world. This includes U.S., Canada, England, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Philippines, Thailand, Viet Nam, Singapore, Japan, Kuwait, and other high security check-points. As a discrete personal protection tool it attracts very little attention and allows the carrier to walk with confidence from home to vehicle, parking garages to work, public parks, shopping, cash machines, or sporting events. Let’s face it, the potential for crimes or criminal acts in our society is at an unprecedented high and completely unpredictable. We can become targets for assault or robbery at a moment’s notice. Of course, there are no guarantees that we could actually detour an assault, even a trained fighter runs the risk of defeat in a street confrontation. Most criminals are not looking for a fight just an easy victim. The appearance of confidence and awareness can be enough to create the aura that you are not a person to be toyed with or even to be approached with bad intentions.
The predator feeds off the power of fear in their prey through deception to lure you into a trap. Also visual and verbal intimidation is used to distract or position you for physical control and violence. As mentioned, most criminals are seeking an easy victim not an opponent to detour their power play.

Turning the tables and creating the deception of you cowering allows you a brief moment to retaliate, this would be considered “Attack by Draw” (“ABD”). ABD is one of several Jeet Kune Do strategies developed by Bruce Lee and the intent is to open the attacker up for a quick counter strike while he is psychologically gloating and transitioning for a more dominant position of control. The physical image of cowering is similar to a fetal position whether standing, kneeling, sitting, or prone, we just draw our hands and arms in and cover our face and torso. No doubt to someone seeking to intimidate and control us, this is a sign that the power play was extremely functional and well orchestrated. Strategies such as “ABD” are simple yet essential in establishing a personal defensive system you can process and apply instinctively.

Survival Strategy
Personally we can deceptively use the cowering position as giving up or use it as a trap, coiling like a snake preparing to strike. When kicked, a dog will drop it’s head just prior to striking out viciously with it’s teeth in an aggressive defensive counter attack. This is a natural instinct in it's crudest form. The dog appears as though it is ready to cower away and then unsuspectingly strikes before the attacker can react. We humans have suppressed this crude attribute of survival in an effort to become more civilized. Fear and anger are interactive, use your adrenaline wisely. Process fear into controlled anger and strike when the opportunity presents itself! Hesitation will limit your defensive capabilities and could mentally trap your response due to adrenal overload. If you stop to think, you may already be trapped!You must instinctually react in a calculated manner, think about situations before they happen. When watching the evening news or reading about an assault, you need to ask yourself honestly "what would or could I do in a similar situation?"

Physical Intimidation = Emotional Fear
Attackers Grab to Control and Instill Fear !



Over the years, a myriad of self-defense implements have filled the void for individuals seeking a Non-Lethal alternative to edged weapons and firearms. Impact weapons such as the PR-24© or a telescopic baton, although formidable and dynamically functional in the hands of a trained practitioner have limited concealment capabilities, and can be cumbersome for daily conventional carry. Thus the value of the Travel Wrench with a waist band carry, pant pocket, sport coat, or as a key ring, this two ounce high density plastic tool is easily accessible, inconspicuous, and highly functional.
If you cannot come up with a decent self-assuring answer, you need help! Seek a professional with skills and knowledge to assist you in creating valid survival plans. I have mentioned many times in seminar that we become conditioned to social guidelines, even in extreme situations we rarely allow our survival instincts to take precedent over our thought process. We suppress animal instincts in an effort to become more civilized based on the ideals that social laws will govern behavior and everyone should abide by the same laws.
Without a doubt this ideology is flawed. Friends, family, and innocent individuals from all walks-of-life fall prey to the criminal element. Many criminals live right next door and closer than most of us wish to think about.
In essence, the majority of society are becoming victims in waiting.
Targeting the hand to neutralize the grip can be considered a SDA, strike hard with any hard object, if that doesn’t detour the assault,

ABC= Attack By Combination
When confronted step away to gain range and target options. The above distance would be considered medium range. Kicks, knees, elbows and hand strikes all function at medium range. Perception and Reaction speed is crucial to execute a SDA = Single Direct Attack

It is extremely important to take charge of our own destiny. Re-cultivate our “Animal Instincts” or more appropriately, human instinctual response attributes. Personal defense survival skills being at the top of the list, it does not matter how much money or how many toys you have if you are a “sitting duck.” Avoiding situations is a logical step in self preservation, be aware of people around you and don’t get caught off guard. You may even have to take the stance of being rude in public to set up proper awareness perimeters. Think of how you would instruct your wife or daughter to avoid verbal or physical engagements while walking to their destination and “practice what you preach.” This is a good tactical mindset of observation implemented between home and destination or vehicle and destination. A mentally prepared distraction technique, even if it is only verbal, can assist in detouring a conversation you should not engage in. Being rude to one person you do not know can actually prove to be safer than trying to assist in giving directions or being detained for any reason unimportant to you!
Never let anyone get this close, Be aware !

Step Forward and Turn Wrist to Release Grab

In today’s crowded streets, you can wave at just about anyone and have them wave back until they realize that they actually do not know you. By then, you have created a distraction, avoided the verbal engagement and detoured the confrontation. Physical reactions include distractions such as tossing a few coins in the confronter's face and changing your destination path. Learn to be more evasive, walk at a faster pace, or even run. Do not hesitate to enter a place of business to avoid a physical conflict and re-evaluate the situation, contact help or report your concerns to another person. The clothes you wear can limit mobility, try to dress appropriately for the task at hand. Back up defense options include shriek alarms, OC Spray, hand held striking tools, and knowledge of selfdefense.

Vertical Punch Strike at Center Mass
Sternum and Solar Plexus
Followed by an Upper Cut to the chin
Strike at 12:00 Position

Kelly S. Worden designed the Impact Kerambit/Travel Wrench after the Barrio Knife of the Philippine and Indonesian martial arts, sometimes referred to as a "Sickle Knife." The updated version is small and blunt and the instructional curriculum is a combination of the most effective martial arts systems practiced today. Concepts and tactics of Modern Arnis, JKD, Wing Chun, JuJitsu, Western Boxing, Silat and other dynamic systems are blended into a cohesive defensive method that offers blocks, deflections, striking, locks, throws, traps, and controls. Most importantly, it is the “master tool” that cross references the attributes of stick, knife, and empty hand!

Let us look at holding and gripping the Impact Kerambit / Travel Wrench defensive tool. This is a simple task of placing the index finger into the "large loop" and gripping the shaft with the lower probe facing away from the body and grip tightly. In karate training, it is said and instructed that the top two knuckles of a closed fist provide the strongest striking impact area for punching. This fist position is sometimes referred to as the fore fist. To stabilize the striking position of the wrist, place the lower probe against a wall, a door frame, or post, and shift your wrist subtlety to allow the upper index finger ring to touch the surface simultaneously with the lower probe.
Using the previously mentioned grip will be the most efficient ergonomically correct hand position for striking and is an easy adjustment of proper wrist alignment. (Note the position of the top two knuckles and the alignment of the top and lower probes on the Travel Wrench!)


In a self-defense situation, the impact of the Travel Wrench is direct and extremely penetrating, so rarely is full force blows needed to detour an aggressor. Additionally most aggressors will respond to a strike by jerking away or collapsing when struck, this slightly dissipates the pressure at your wrist Always tightly grip any impact weapon and be aware of “Grip Shock” on impact. The next strongest impact area of a closed fist is the base of the fist, sometimes referred to as the hammer fist. The hammer fist Travel Wrench disperses a great deal of force in a small area at impact and when executed creates the least amount of physical strain being absorbed through the wrist area.

The gripping action of the hammer fist is identical to the fore fist grip but there is no need to flex the wrist forward since all the force of the defensive impact directs itself toward the base of the fist and the lower probe area. To practice, grip the Travel Wrench tightly and position your closed fist with the Travel Wrench on a smooth hard surface (a scrap piece of wood works well) and begin striking repeatedly increasing the force with each impact strike. While gripping the Kerambit/Travel Wrench in your hand, extend your opposite arm and lightly strike your own forearm, wrist, or fist area just to get an idea of the pain level implemented with a minimal amount of force. Get together with a training partner and exchange placement targeting to different parts of the body utilizing vertical fist and hammer fist positions without making hard impact. Also grinding and scraping the surface will give you a great appreciation for the control power while executing locks and traps. On nerve points and directly on bone surface an oscillating motion increases pain compliance during application of containment techniques.

SPECIFIC TARGETING: It doesn’t take a martial arts degree to figure out what hurts, literally anything hit, hurts. Another option for development is researching or by referencing a diagram of an anatomy chart or acupuncture chart. Just a brief viewing will allow you to determine what areas of the body are susceptible to impact pain. As previously mentioned, impact tools generally seek bone to create pain and a reactionary response of compliance. With proper placement of an impact tool, targeting muscle groups can be just as effective and possibly less physically damaging to the attacking individual. Muscle targeting is effective due to the fact the nerve centers of the body are located directly on and around specific muscle, tendon, and ligament junctions. By focusing on the concept of de-fanging the snake or destroying the attacking weapon, we can target specific nerve or pressure points on the arm while defending our perimeter. Ideally, this allows the defender adequate time to disengage and escape to avoid further attacks or ample time to launch a neutralizing counter attack to control the outcome of the confrontation.
Hammer Fist to targeted nerve or pressure point location on the hand !
Vertical Fist Strike targets pressure point on ribcage!
Upper Cut pressure point under chin!



The Travel Wrench’s concise instructional method of extracting techniques from multiple systems is more effective and takes less effort and strength to execute than the empty hand techniques from which they originate. The progressive curriculum extracts from the base arts and blends them into a versatile self-defense system referred to as Natural Spirit Connecting the Systems. The curriculum is specifically divided into sub-systems encompassing a direct reflection of what Kelly S. Worden has personally absorbed by training under some of the world’s most skilled martial arts instructors. Remy A. Presas, the Grandmaster of Modern Arnis, Bruce Lee’s first student Jesse Glover, Ted Lucaylucay, Sonny Umpad, Leonard Trigg, Dr. Brett Jacques and others. This information has been processed and refined into multiple tactical defense systems that embrace Military Hand-to-Hand, Wortac Tactical Knife, Modern Arnis, Destroy Trap Lock for personal protection as well as an aggressive Street Defense curriculum called Renegade JKD. One of the many proving grounds, Mr. Worden has refined his instructional methods, is as the primary Impact and Edged Weapon Instructors for the 1st Special Forces Group at Ft. Lewis, Washington which embraces all the theories and concepts in Mr. Worden’s diverse arsenal of arts!

Order your personal protection Travel Wrench Package today !

www.kellyworden.com

WORDEN’S “WATER AND STEEL”
26th ANNUAL
2006 TRAINING CAMP



Yearly, every Labor Day Weekend, I open the Natural Spirit Int’l doors of camaraderie for 4 days of extensive training, style alliance, gourmet food, and personal interaction at Raft Island Washington. This year is different in only one way,,, we got five days to join together, work out, train hard, rock, roll, and party on Garth!

Literally the Water and Steel experience is now in it’s twenty-sixth year! It is a martial art cross training dream where arts such as Modern Arnis, American Sombo, Non Classical Wing Chun, Muay Thai, Lucay lucay JKD/Kali, Kajukenbo, Shotokan, Isshinryu, Goju Ryu, Renegade JKD, Tae Kwon Do, Kempo, and other arts all co-exist seeking the path to Connect The Systems.
I established the cohesive methodology of “Connecting the Systems” with a vision of bringing some of the best instructors in the industry first to the Mountains of Wenatchee Washington and now to the beautiful waterfront retreat of Raft Island For 26 years the “Warrior Retreat” and now “Water and Steel” has remained a martial art treasure with attendees from all corners of the World! . The following is a personal reflection of my efforts and experiences organizing the legendary training camp “WATER AND STEEL!”

Stepping Up, To Rock Down!

Looking back on the first camps I organized starting in 1980 I have to chuckle just a little, the logic of hitting the mountains just to kick ass seemed strange to most everyone. I was lucky to have access to an old Boy Scout Camp at Mission Ridge Washington. At least the vision of an actual facility for camping tempered the initial impact felt by those willing to attend. Honestly the camp was barely that, the only shower was an open broken-down lean-to shack with a water hose coming from a Mountain Well. Talk about cold showers! Tents, out-house toilets, and personal cooking on Hibachi grills was the extent of modern accommodations. There was a main lodge but it was almost as rustic as the shower shack which consisted of a old garden hose hanging over a broken wooden door on a concrete slab. I guess that could be the beauty of youth; we were just excited to be doing something different and most importantly training in martial arts!

Gone but never forgotten, “miss ‘ya ‘bro !

The late Earl Squalls a top regional karate point fighter and forms competitor and myself were the featured instructors at the very first camp. Earl Squalls was a dreamer and a highly skilled practitioner. In point karate competition during the 1980’s few were more deceptive or faster off the line, Earl could kick you three times grab your groin while sliding between your legs and stealth away smiling. As an entertainer on the floor many considered him the top showman of the NW Karate Open Circuit, he could make everyone gasp at his phenomenal hand speed or kicking combinations executed with movie star charisma and poise. In all actuality I don’t think Earl Squalls ever wanted to step off the floor of competition, he walked, talked, and breathed martial arts. In forms competition Earl was the consummate blender of styles. Earl wasn’t my teacher, he was my training partner but few teachers brought me to the level of physical control while executing techniques that Earl did. Earl did not like to get hit, his highly refined evasive skills and physical control of movement was pretty much unsurpassed in the Northwest area. He could kick and strike so fast you could not see it coming until it touched you like a summer breeze, lightning fast with impeccable control. Looking back, Earl was such a gentle caring person. He loved fighting but never wanted to hurt anyone. His path in life was not an easy one, from his inner-city Chicago street life he knew what pain was and did not want to experience it physically, emotionally, or spiritually, if he caused pain to others it truly effected his conscious being and he probably took it harder than the person he hit. Growing up as a youth in Chicago he was exposed to a large group of instructors who taught neighborhood kids and learned the fundamentals of Shori-Goju while personally developing his own unique kicking methodology and the style he eventually called “Inner-Core martial arts.” It’s funny how we actually complimented each others skills and styles, I was a rough and tumble, just want to get my hands on ya kind of practitioner and Earl was the magician of movement! Earl did his best to draw those attributes out in me, and truly guided me along the path to free style development. Briefly, Earl would step into the forms competition and literally free flow with such focus, power, poise, and dynamic form few could even guess what style he was. He was all styles and no styles at the same time, I guess if I had to put a finger on specifically what Earl presented I would call it “stylized Improvised Form.” In that regard he was every bit as dynamic as Bruce Lee and really just barely missed his calling. He had a goal, skills, and a dream, sadly and in all honesty Earl’s vision and faith could not pull him from the tangled web of a miscalculated lifestyle. Earl Squalls died fighting during a National AAA Karate Tournament in 1987of a brain-seizure due to physical complications that possibly included mal-nutrition and drug use. Whatever the reason, it was a great loss to his family, friends, and the martial arts community, in my eyes he died a legend and I still speak of his skills with awe!

Keeping the game alive!

As time progressed the Boy Scouts Association actually invested money in the facility and year after year we experienced improvements when we returned for our annual event. The training camp was called the “Warrior Retreat” and established a strong following of practitioners willing to make the trek into the Mountains of Wenatchee Washington. A couple years in a row I loaded up a “cargo truck” and brought my professional 20-foot boxing ring to the mountain retreat for competition matches. I can only imagine the inquisitive thoughts of other road travelers staring at the gypsy band wagon caravan as we hauled evident fighting equipment stacked high and wide on multiple trucks and trailers through the mountain passes. The year was 1983 and the competition was a round-robin event consisting of “one round of continuous Arnis live stick fighting, one round of full contact PKA style karate, and one round of karate point fighting. The person who won the greatest number of matches was the overall winner. The stick matches experienced the most injuries, broken hands, fingers, and facial cuts. Low budget boxing headgear with eye goggles and one hand pad was all the protective gear worn, the full contact karate and point fighting was a breeze once a person got past the stick fighting. The event winner that year was Bill Armfield who drove all the way to Wenatchee, Washington from Chino, California. The following year Bill was injured in a trampoline accident and was confined to a wheelchair for close to 10 years. Bill returned to the Water and Steel camp in 1993 training on crutches, Bill Armfield is truly a dedicated and disciplined martial artists and is respected by all who have had the privilege to train with him.

Serious diversity and brotherhood !

Over the years, Worden’s Warrior Retreat and later The Water and Steel Training Camps have been filled with brotherhood and a diversity of Instructional staff and curricula rarely offered to the martial arts public.
Those who have shared their arts with the camp participants over the years include, Jesse Glover, Jim Keating, Bob Anderson, Dr, Brett Jacques, Ted Lucaylucay, Leonard Trigg, Maurice Smith, Burton Richardson, Mike Janich, Richard Ryan, David Harris, Bong Sun Jornales, Vic Harris, Dr. W.P. Yip, Joe Simonet, and an array of other dynamic teachers of the art.

Let’s see if I can touch on some of the dynamic instructors who have shared their art at the Natural Spirit training camps. The first camps featured primarily instruction in progressive fighting, forms, and Arnis. For the most part, Combat Arnis became the vehicle that made the camps distinct, in the early 80’s there was not much Arnis available in Washington State. I was teaching Combat Arnis and learned the art from J. Cui Brocka who was a student of Ernesto Presas. Creating a diverse atmosphere in unique practical tactics was a real challenge, especially breaking the style barriers set in stone within the traditional martial art community.

Baad ass professional willing to share !

Bob Anderson a revered Kajukenbo heavy hitter from Bellingham Washington was the first instructor I invited to share his art. Drawing from his multi-dimensional skills we really complimented each other’s teaching styles. As a former Outlaw Motorcycle club member, Bob Anderson brought reality to the training floor. Furthermore another element of martial prowess came forth as we trained, the new cultivation and amalgamation of our two arts. We were unifying without thought and those who trained with us also radically evolved. In prospective just as Kajukenbo was originally established as a cross training system so was our systems evolving, solely based on developing functional fighting skills. As the first Americanized Hawaiian fighting art Kajukenbo established a structured foundation through traditional balance of multi-disciplined concepts intended to adapt to the individuals tactical needs and attributes. In this regard Bob Anderson’s infusion with Natural Spirit brought a great diversity to the training arena and the Natural Spirit camps. Today as a leading authority on Executive Protection, Bob Anderson instructs Firearms, Logistics of protective details, Electronic Security, Electronic Countermeasures (bugging/counter bugging), Bomb Search and Identification, and many other interesting aspects of the job. Much of this information is also shared during instructional sessions as well as relaxation lectures during the Water and Steel training camp!



Few better ‘witt a blade, get the edge !

As time progressed others became interested in my method of integrating and blending the arts. In 1983 Jim Keating had contacted me for a seminar at his school in Walla Walla Washington and we hit it off extremely well. Jim was insightful and creative in his own right teaching a combination system of Kenpo, Goju Ryu, Ernesto Presas Arnis, Kali from the Inosanto lineage and other arts as well. I invited Jim to become a featured instructor at the next upcoming Warrior Retreat in Wenatchee Washington. Without question Jim had a dynamic presentation and the combination of Bob Anderson, Jim Keating and myself created a unified training regime rarely experienced and honestly way ahead of it’s time for Washington State and evidently worldwide. Here it is, 20 plus years later and we are back together again, ready to “Shake the Pillars of Hell”at Raft Island and the Water and Steel Training Camp!

International exposure for ‘da local boyz !
&
Don’t call me sir, just Jesse !

The year was 1993; Greg Walker and Full Contact Magazine entered the scene at the Wenatchee training center, the beautiful mountainous region was in full summer bloom and the camp rocked for 3 solid days of hard training.
Jesse Glover joined the instructional staff for the first time. Greg Walker was so impressed with the camp and the presentation of the instructional programs he wrote two extremely positive articles for the First Edition of Full Contact magazine. One specifically on the NSI Warrior Retreat (forerunner to Water and Steel) and another featuring Jesse Glover, his relationship with Bruce Lee, and the evolution of Jesse’s teaching methodology. Another very positive factor came about from the interaction with Greg Walker at the training camp, he asked Jim Keating and myself to become assistant editors and staff writers for the new Full Contact magazine. Since that time, Jesse has instructed at numerous Water and Steel camps and seminars. Without hesitating I would say the Non Classical method of Jesse Glover has provided a dynamic bridge to connect the systems within Natural Spirit. Integrated directly into the Western Boxing, Muay Thai Kickboxing, Modern Arnis, NSI Kuntao, Small Circle Jujitsu, JKD Jun Fan, American Sambo, and other elements of the fighting arts. Non Classical Gung Fu offers an in-depth prospective of sensitivity development, striking speed, power development and a great deal more, it is the basis of NSI centerline close quarter attachment and striking concepts! The late night standing grappling sessions bring the real truth to light, functional aggression! THANK YOU JESSE GLOVER!

Politics or candy ass jealousy ?

Hey, What the fuck is new? As politics goes, back then behind the scenes Jim and I were being verbally attacked and discredited directly by a young JKD loud mouth. His beef was as shallow as his skill coupled with no hair on his ass or balls to back his play. Looking back now he was almost crying seeking to our ruthless street like reputations and the negative impact such reputations would have on the new Full Contact magazine. Funny, it ain’t like Jim and I have ever professed to being part of the Church Choir, have we now? It just so happened that his candy ass words actually worked against him and benefited us, we were propelled into the editorial positions of the magazine and the piss-ant received no ink after that. As they say, success is the best revenge, for the most part we both enjoyed some great International magazine exposure via Full Contact and Fighting Knives magazines, and ‘da rest is history!

So many great camps have materialized over the years; one year just to shake things up in the JKD community I invited Maurice Smith, Burton Richardson, Bob Anderson, and Jim Keating to all join me in the mountains for a slam and jam camp. It was a great success and truly demonstrated the positive impact training camps have in creating an atmosphere for networking and interaction between different styles. Seeking to bring NSI Renegade JKD into the public eye my focus was to demonstrate why Natural Spirit was as diverse as JKD, and the results were evident.

Brotherhood is one of the main reasons the Natural Spirit Int’l camps are so well received. This statement is the very premise as to why I continue to organize the camps year after year. It is not just the relationships of the participants but also the instructors. Strong bonds and lifelong friendships have truly blossomed over the years. The context of this article is rather limiting to touch on all the great teachers who have shared their arts, but honestly I need to briefly address Ted Lucay Lucay and his valuable input into the training camps.

Bridging Original JKD with Renegade JKD !

First off, it was Professor Leonard Trigg whom introduced Guru Ted and I many years ago. We immediately hit it off and enjoyed many long hours of training, reflections of the art, and most of all humorous conversations involving the politics of JKD. Often Guru Ted and Leonard Trigg while staying at my home would laugh so hard they would chase me out of the room just so they could catch their breath. Guru Ted liked to quote my statements and was shocked at my ability to put politics into honest and humorous prospective. A distinct quote from Guru Ted I remember was “ Datu Kelly says things that others only think about saying!” and then of course he would start laughing until his stomach or jaw hurt. Guru Ted was a riot, and was quite honest in his beliefs as well. In many ways Guru Ted had become reclusive due to the JKD politics, his connection with Professor Trigg, myself, and the training camps brought him back into a motivational phase of progression in his own art. His knowledge base was really immeasurable, this of course was due to the depth of his classical training and his ability to extract concepts and cross reference systems into a systemized improvisational presentation that flowed like white water rapids. Guru Ted’s blade to boxing theory as well as his stick-boxing curriculum embraced the simplicity of what JKD originally professed. This approach opened the practitioner’s eyes to refine attributes and seek personal progressions allowing the individual to comprehend the parallels in all movement not the dissimilarities.

Guru Ted found truth in Renegade JKD; he both supported and applauded my rebellious protest to voice the over-commercialization of JKD, or what has become a misguided path to “seeking freedom of expression in the arts!”

Integrity, Time, and Trust !

Professor Leonard Trigg was a confidant of Guru Ted Lucaylucay, today he is the heir of the Lucaylucay JKD/Kali system. It is with great pride Professor Trigg methodically moves forward to document the teachings of Maestro Ted as Trigg refers to him and his memory. It is a blessing to my education and development of my art to have known Professor Trigg for over 26 years as an advisor, friend, teacher, and colleague. As a featured instructor at the Water and Steel camp for over 8 years he has offered an encyclopedia of martial knowledge to all who have emptied their cup to absorb what is useful in his teachings. A classical old school boxer, Professor Trigg is a modern Icon of technical and tactical proficiency. The arts he has mastered are to numerous to mention but cover the spectrum of Thai Boxing, Silat, Arnis, Wing Chun, JKD, Tai Chi, and countless others, few I have ever met are as educated within the arts as Professor Leonard Trigg!

Can’t Get Enough Of That Funky Stuff !

It would seem almost to good to be true, but all those within the brotherhood of Natural Spirit Int’l have experienced years of incalculable education. The associations with great teachers are continually expanding year after year. “Connecting the Systems” is a worldwide acknowledged path of development. Over the past 15 years another individual has been instrumental in adding depth to the NSI system. Dr. Brett Jacques of the American Sombo System is the technical director of grappling and counter ground fighting. Additionally Dr. Jacques insight into improvised weapons and multiple attackers is almost unsurpassed in the martial arts industry. By instructing concepts and training methodology from the Sombo Wheel, Dr. Jacques process of enhancing a practitioners personal skills is more JKD than most approaches to “the absorb what is useful” theories being presented by progressive teachers of JKD today. Unique, dynamic, and tough as nails, Dr. Brett Jacques American Sambo system is integrated deeply into the NSI instructional curricula. Look to pickup a solid connection into the functional elements of American Sambo at this year’s Water and Steel Camp. Nothing could be more true, from Jesse Glover’s Non Classical Gung Fu, Ted Lucay Lucay’s Kali JKD, Umpad’s Corto Cadena Eskrima, Presas Modern Arnis, Old School Kajukenbo, Shotokan, Tae Kwon Do, Goju Ryu, Renegade JKD, WKA Int’l style Kickboxing, Standing Grappling to Ground and Pound, Stick Fighting, Knife Fighting, Silent Fighter Dummy Training, and everything in between, N.S.I. Water and Steel always delivers,,,, Take the Challenge….

Escape, Train, and Rock Steady….
Eat, Drink, and be Weary…

That’s the Natural Spirit Way !

The “26th. Annual 2006 Water and Steel” Raft Island training retreat is nestled in a large meadow surrounded by forest on the waterfront shores of Puget Sound. As you drive over the bridge you realize it is an Island Sanctuary, far away from the hustle and bustle of city traffic and noise pollution. The tranquility of a salt water breeze sweeps through the trees as birds sing in harmony along wilderness trails leading to the beach and private dock facilities that stretch deep beyond the waters edge.. Sea otters, raccoons, and a small herd of deer forage the fields and shoreline for food as Bald Eagle’s majestically soar the sky or perch within the towering trees. During the glimmer of a moon lit evening the woods come alive with the untamed sounds of nature as it echo’s within the natural habitat embracing the Raft Island training retreat. Truly the ambiance, brotherhood, and martial arts experience at Raft Island is not an atmosphere easily forgotten or dismissed as practitioners return seeking to revive heart felt memories and capture new ones year after year!

Hop, skip, and jump, or we could take this boat !

Although Raft Island is a short distance away from the historic and rustic waterfront town of Gig Harbor where tourists seek to discover or purchase antiques and gifts from the past, few wish to leave the Raft Island tranquility. The Raft Island facility is totally self-efficient with modern cabins, an on site professional cooking staff, group meeting lodge, and waterfront access to swim, canoe, fish, or relax. Honestly, just about everyone trains extensively for 10 hours a day and then seeks the nightlife of professional massage treatments, waterfront discussions, or moon light howls over a cold beer! The real truth is “it is always your choice to workout or relax” simple as that….

What you waiting for, a personal invitation ???
WELL,,,,
This is it !
Reserve Your Spot Today !

To seek the path of truth and experience Datu Kelly S. Worden’s 26th. Annual “ 2006 Water and Steel Training Camp,” August 31st., September 1st., 2nd., 3rd., & 4th., 2006 at Raft Island Washington*
* Five days of training, food, and cabins for $650.00 * Reserve your spot now!
* Contact Natural Spirit Int’l
@ 253-202-7418 http://www.kellyworden.com/ or e-mail kellysworden@comcast.net

“Statistics, ‘ya gotta love ‘em”
By Kelly S. Worden

The coming of the New Year is a time for statistics to be reported by our socially conscious news media. Sometimes it seems the news media is really just reporting negative information to create social outcry, instill fear, or shatter the illusions of our lifestyles.

In the local Tacoma News Tribune on January 10, 2004, the front page of the morning paper offered a new title for my hometown of Tacoma, Washington, “Stress City, USA.” It seems a demographic research firm based in Portland Oregon released a list of America’s most and least-stressful cities. Tacoma was launched to the forefront of “On the Edge” cities well beyond Miami in at #2, New Orleans who captured #3 position, #4 going to Las Vegas, and New York pulling down the #5 spot nationwide as the most stressful places to live in America. Now Tacoma stands out in a crowd of other cities that far exceed our own population of 196,300, in comparison New York City demographics compile a total of 19,011,378 people within that city. New York is definitely much larger yet according to this most recent demographic study does not experience the same level of deteriorating social pressures as Tacoma Washington.

Tacoma’s evaluation was based on nine statistical categories: Unemployment, suicide, alcoholism, divorce rates, violent crimes, property crime, commute times, mental health and negative yearly climate.

“ staying on top ?”

At one junction a few years ago when the West coast seemed riddled with gang violence from the “Crips and Bloods,” Tacoma’s level of violence was reported worse than Los Angeles, California and earned the nickname “the most violent city on the West coast.”

Without question Tacoma has established a reputation and status few other cities would care to embrace, or declare. It is no wonder with the high statistics on unemployment, divorce, and property crime, that the youth and young adults of Tacoma have established a reputation for fighting. Off the street and into the squared circle of competition, Tacoma has a long history of turning out Olympic contenders in the sport of Boxing. Growing up, I had the distinct pleasure of being friends with Olympic champions and contenders, Sugar Ray Seales, Leo Randolf, Davey Armstrong, Dale Grant, and others. Those of us who never excelled to competitive levels did our fighting in the alleys and back streets of Tacoma.
“Violence runs deep”

On a multitude of levels fighting was a path to establish status in the neighborhood. Before the ethnic gangs of the late ‘80’s and ‘90’s like the Crips and Bloods, car clubs and biker gangs battled for status in the streets of Tacoma. Above and beyond the territorial impact of urban street conflicts, organized crime in the Tacoma area has also added an aggressive edge to a very volatile inner-city society. Veiled in a cloaked circle of mayhem, Italian Mafia families have even allied with local law enforcement agencies to control nightclubs and local businesses. Without drifting too far from the theme of this article, I would say it is safe to say when it comes to violence or crime in Tacoma, even the supposedly good guys come up dirty! Over the years I have discussed the negative image Tacoma seems to project. Outsiders say, “yeah, there’s a weird energy on the streets of Tacoma!”

There is actually a syndrome called North West Depression that affects people within our communities in the Puget Sound region of Washington State. I’m sure this issue is a direct reflection as to why Tacoma, Washington rolled out at the top of the national list as the least motivating city to live in. Pretty special award to be pinned on you’re hometown. Just that statement alone might offer some insight into why I have evolved into the direction my life has taken.

“Touted in Bold Print”

“I been in a hundred street fights, never lost one!” Ever read or hear that crap before? Makes you wonder don’t it? This must be one “Bad Mo ‘Fo!”

I’ll tell yah… I gotta wonder just where in the hell this “Baaaad Assss Cat” grew up.
We have all heard the legends of street fighters willing to throw down at the drop of a hat, and many of us could no doubt share a tale or two about those individuals who established a reputation while we were growing up and running the streets of our home towns. Without question there‘s at least one “Bad-Bad Leroy Brown” in every city across the United States and beyond. This is just a fact of nature, and the nature of the beast “in man.” In essence the nature of the beast is cultivated within the streets of our fair and not so fair cities. Inner-city conflicts are as old as the social structure of mankind, from primitive cave dwellers to modern day night clubbers. Over the years, fighting as youths was accepted across the board as a part of “sowing the wild oats of manhood.”

“Cover your ass”

Things are changing quickly in most major cities with laws inaugurated to protect citizens from even verbal abuse let alone physical assault. Shrouded over our society, physical assault laws are meant to detour an aggressor from instigating an attack or convict the offender after a crime has been committed. I hate to say it but sometimes only the victim suffers from criminal acts these days; repercussions leave the victims distraught with fear, injuries, and financial loses. On the other hand, as a criminal if you got nothing to lose, even the judicial system wants to avoid interaction with you. Sad but true, if the assailant is convicted of physical assault the jail time could be minimal and in some cases dismissed due to lack of adequate facilities to incarcerate them.

Now if you happen to have a dollar to your name and you cuss at someone, spit in his or her face, or kick a troublemaker’s ass you run the risk of being criminally prosecuted and/or civilly sued by the very person who instigated the confrontation. No matter how well deserved the ass kicking may have been, with a good attorney the actual offender can turn the tables on you real quick. I often lecture during workshops “once you defend yourself physically, you must be prepared to defend yourself civilly.”

“leroy’s in ‘da hood”

Now getting back to the well publicized street fighter who has fought 100 fights and lost none, wouldn’t the prior mentioned factors come into play somewhere along the line? Well if nothing else, the information is something to consider as the next generation of street fighters begin the long grueling task of establishing a fearless reputation that parallels or surpasses those who have walked the path or back alley’s before them.
Of course, there are exceptions to the rules regarding prosecution for physical assault, a simple fact of reality, “the neighborhood where the assault took place.”
“Yep, I’m talking about ‘da hood!”…. Many times ‘da hood is just outside the reach of, “the long arm of the law.” Now in ‘da hood, you could probably sneak by without getting prosecuted for every physical conflict or bar room brawl. That’s just the way it is, yet other factors come into play when we are discussing a territorial scenario situation such as back alleys, taverns, nightclubs, or even private gatherings that are usually not occasioned by socialites or outsiders. If you are out roaming the streets of smaller urban communities with no direct ties to the people frequenting specific establishments contained within ‘da hood, you are either real stupid or looking for trouble. Either side of that coin could become problematic. Honestly few people within your immediate proximity are going to come to your rescue or call 911 while you are being force fed a “Filet of Boot.”

“negative effects of revenge”

Let’s touch on another verity, revenge! Even if you win the conflict will you be able to make a clean getaway? If you actually live in ‘da hood, revenge is an ever evolving door of accelerating aggression, one conflict can have uncalculated repercussions. Keeping this potential situation in prospective, one physical fight may create three conflicts in the aftermath. Rarely in revenge situations does the level of force or retaliation deescalate, it only gets more violent. I make these statements not from hearsay or rumors but from actual experience. Bottom line, some people protect their neighborhood like a virgin sister, especially in a culturally diverse community. Another issue worth considering is the fact that police officers don’t always respond as quickly to areas where crime and assault run rampant (‘da hood). In most circumstances there are an abundance of emergency calls during an evening and less officers to respond to them.

“what’s up witt ‘dat ?”

Occasionally I get asked as to why I became involved in the martial arts or what has motivated my life study of different fighting systems. Simply stated, “fighting was just a part of growing up.” Getting turned on to or introduced to martial arts after western boxing and catch wrestling opened the door to “fighting and training” in a broader spectrum. Initially just adding the martial art kicking strategies to boxing and wrestling created a dynamic edge to winning street confrontations in the early ‘70’s. Now the level of violence I experienced at different junctions of my life was a result of running with what would be considered “the wrong crowd.” Of course, this prospective is from looking back in time, or possibly from the view of someone who now knows the difference between radical behavior and socially acceptable mischief. Radical behavior can only be considered as such if you have the capabilities to distinguish specifically what personal characteristics represent extreme conduct. Logic and rational judgment do not necessarily govern over the primal instincts of a young testosterone driven street kid. The old adage “you can take the boy out of the street, but you can’t take the street out of the boy,” balances my prospective on growing up as a fighter.

“Remember the good times !”

In a strange way my exposure to the social setting of urban warriors became a reality when I was around 15 years old. I used to sneak out of my parents’ house and ride my bicycle around the Sound End of Tacoma looking for Biker parties that I knew my older brother was attending. Serious action and adventure for a little turd trying to blend into a tough man’s world. Hell the women would scare the hell out of me without much effort. Fortunately, I was adopted as a kid brother by many of the club leaders, plus I enjoyed cleaning and asking questions about Harley Choppers, Knuckleheads, Flathead 45’s,and 74’s all with ridged frames, Peanut Tanks, Drag bars, or Ape Hangers, yes the choppers of yesteryear! Interestingly enough, this is the era of many smaller urban Biker gangs, groups like Satan’s Psychos, Outsiders, Justus, Shifters, Comancheros, Iron Horsemen, Cossacks, Devils Disciples, and Banditos, all rolling the streets of Tacoma, Washington.

Reflecting back over the years, I have personally experienced street violence as it has escalated from parking lot brawls with tire irons and knives into shootouts and drive bys. One thing is for certain, the street fighters of yesteryear relied on pure balls to the walls brawling, and in retrospect guns are a “today issue” of dealing with personal confrontations and territorial conflicts. As I have often lectured during my instructional sessions, “If it wasn’t for martial arts I would be dead or in prison. You either find a way off the streets or die in ‘em.”
“Do flexible weapons work?”

Not long ago I was asked if I felt flexible weapons had any true functional value. I responded with the following short stories, the first story I witnessed and the second story I was involved in, and “yes, flexible weapons do have fighting value in the real world!”

One sunny afternoon I was hanging around the “Choppers” at a Biker bar where my brother and other club members frequented. To set the stage, these guys were a tough bunch of ex-military, criminal sorts, and street orientated fighters.

Long story short as possible, I was polishing a Chopper in the parking lot for my brother. The back door of the tavern loudly crashed open with a guy apparently slammed through it. The next thing I witnessed was a big kick to his chest and he tumbled uncontrollably while bouncing off the steel railing and rolling down the concrete stairs! The guy staggered up from the ground trying to regain his balance while pulling a fairly large Buck knife from the leather sheath strapped to his hip. Without question I recognized the Biker stomping out the tavern doorway following the size 12 boot to the chest. His club name was "Dog." “Dog” was a big Greg Allman looking guy about 6’3’’ 220 lbs. with a real bad attitude!

The staggering man with knife in hand began cussing and yelling “come on Mother F_cker.” Dominating the stairway like a wild eyed “Chewy Bocka,” "Dog" advanced to the blacktop, without hesitation "Dog" jerked on his Harley Primary Chain belt wrapped around his waistline, whipped it once around his head (redondo) and stepped into the guy who was brandishing his big bladed buck knife. The Primary Chain belt smacked his elbow with a loud crack, the knife went flying and his arm snapped, appearing twisted in the reverse direction. It was very evident his arm was broken and dangling, before he could complete his scream of anguish, a second similar stroke smacked him up side the head, teeth flew and blood splattered, the guy was out like a light lying in a puddle of blood. Brothers from the club came running out the tavern door yet few witnessed what I did in the brief exchange of belligerent words and violent maneuvers. No one seemed to give a crap about the downed man, but they grabbed "Dog" and pushed him into the cab of a truck and got the hell out of there... as did I...
( Note: a primary chain belt is a single or sometimes doubled motorcycle chain welded together that hangs around the waist and is pinned together with a welded master link slipped into a female link for quick release)

“ ex-girlfriends and revenge “

Rollin’ along on autopilot I strolled soulfully into a friend’s house to party down on a Saturday night. I was a dancing fool on the prowl and looking forward to some downtown Jammin’. No sooner than hitting the scene I was hitting the floor in a rough and tumble scrap with an old girlfriend’s new husband. As I walked into the kitchen to see what all the action and noise was I noticed a younger kid getting his ass handed to him on a platter. No one stepped in to stop the kid’s ass whooping so I said from the sidelines, “Hey, I think he’s had enough!” Barely clearing the words from my lips the guy doing the face pounding yelled “Well I’ll just take a piece of your ass then!” The dude tore off his shirt and the game was on. I was holding my own as we exchanged blows in a flurry of fists and elbows. Slam bam baby we hit the floor slipping in spilled beer, the scrapple was on when I felt someone putting the boots to my ribcage. Covering up from the kicks I ended up in a guillotine choke while getting punched in the face. I took several shots and the last thing I really remember was seeing a boot coming in from the side kicking me twice in the face. Somehow I pushed past all the people and got out of the kitchen, out of the house, and into my car. Bleeding like a sacrificed pig. Pissed off and humiliated all I could think about was that no one in the house made any effort to make it a fair “one on one fight.” I was probably being called a chicken -shit as I ran from the scene, once inside my car driving away from the house I tore off my shirt and wiped the blood from my face. In a blood soaked shirt, with a broken nose and severely cut swollen lips I stormed into my brother’s house.

He had a gallon jug of beer between his legs and an empty one on the floor (read probably drunk). Incoherent to anything around me bloodied and in a screaming rage I just started yelling, "Let's go get those "M F" dirty "Cx-x0" blaaaa blaaa blaaa SOB's.” My brother was up and on the howl. I retrieved a 22-caliber revolver from the cupboard in the basement and we headed back to the house of action. This next section is almost funny in a real sick way: Disoriented and still snorting blood with my eyes swollen almost shut I jump from the car taking what I thought was lead position. Revolver in hand, I opened the door of the house and started screaming something to the effect of where are those SOB’s. No sooner than the words rolled out of my mouth I realized I was in the wrong house. Facing me sitting on a couch was a couple middle aged women and several young children, dumbfounded I said, “sorry wrong house” slammed the door shut and ran back over to the house next door. By the time I had gotten into the right house, people were running out holding their face. My brother had just walked through the house hitting people and asking why they didn’t help me. He grabbed me and pulled me outside stating that the two guys had left the party. Once outside, I put the revolver under the seat of my car, just then a vehicle pulled up shouting that the two guys from the house were out looking for me. The next thing yah know my brother was dragging one of the guys out of the car and kicking his ass. As his friend jumped out to assist his buddy, I jumped into the game and we were all throwing down in the middle of the street. Just then the girl who was still in the car slammed the vehicle in gear and was ramming my car and trying to run us over. Without hesitation and as police sirens rang in the darkness of night we all jumped into our cars and split in opposite directions.

“ Fast forward, no reverse ! “

It’s tough being cool sometimes. Most people reading this article might not appreciate my choice of wheels, then again it would certainly be a classic today. I owned a 1960 Super Fury with big fins, a bright red paint job, black diamond tuck interior, dropped front end, chrome wheels, and a punched out 318 c.i. with a torque flight pushbutton tranny. Fast ‘60’s custom but the reverse pump on the transmission was gone, out, blown, you get the picture. Side street cruising and “Flash”, there they were! The chase was on. Weird because I thought they were looking for me? We chased them down a dead end street and two guys jumped out of their car, the bigger guy who apparently was the one kicking me in the face came out swinging a tire iron! The other ass that was my ex-girlfriend’s current husband, leaped out of the car with a four-way lug wrench. My brother had his heavy leather belt wrapped around his right fist with the four-inch square buckle swinging down about 12 inches like a single ended nunchaku. The fight was on again, remember I had the 22-caliber revolver and it was now tucked in my waistband. As soon as the asshole came running towards me, I drew down on him and he stopped dead in his tracks. Words were exchanged and he put the lug wrench down on the ground and took off running. I surely didn’t want to shoot him so I picked up the lug wrench and pursued him. In a rage I threw the lug wrench and hit him square in the back. As he was getting off the ground from a running stumble I kicked him in the head. He took off running again and I was close behind. Jumping over a hedge, he slipped in the grass and I followed up with another kick to his head. We both tumbled onto a concrete driveway and the ground pound was exchanged, I cleared the ground and started kicking him while he was still down. I swear as I kicked him in the head again, the force lifted him off the ground and all I saw was his heels running down the street. We had run and fought about three quarters down the block from where the cars were left. When I ran back to the car, my brother was swinging the belt like a nunchaku - he cut this guy up like a basketball. The guy with the tire iron was bleeding profusely, cut all over his head and face. He had crawled up to someone’s door and was pounding while screaming in anguish. Hummm, I guess flexible weapons do have function. Honestly I don’t have a clue how long this battle took place maybe five or six minutes max, bottom line on this exchange we came out on top and those assholes hit the hospital. Trapped on a dead-end street, I had no reverse in my Plymouth Fury, we pushed the car back a couple feet punched it in low and peeled off across a couple peoples yards.

Revenge and paybacks are a real shitty way of street life. This was not a malicious premeditated attack; it was only paybacks for the tag team ass whooping I took only an hour earlier. Of course looking back, I should have just dropped it and licked my wounds, but that was not the way things were done when I grew up. Rumor was they both went to the hospital and had plans on getting even sometime later. We covered our bases and maintained a high alert status for several months, nothing happened.

“tequila courage strike again !”


Almost a year later, I crashed at my mom’s house, dad had passed away and I occasionally racked out on the couch. Three a.m. on a Saturday night, Tequila courage found five guys pounding on my mom’s front door. With my revolver hidden behind my back I cracked the door open. Yes, it was the same assholes I had rumbled with in the street a year earlier. I told them “if you want a piece of my ass come back in the daylight one on one.” They started yelling, I didn’t listen any further and shut the door. My mom and younger sister were freaking out and called the cops. No sooner than the door was shut, bottles, rocks, and flowerpots came crashing through the windows shattering almost every window in the front of my mom’s house.

I almost started shooting back as the glass stopped flying. Just then I saw the cops coming up the street with the lights flashing. Everyone started to scatter; I ran outside and tackled one guy climbing into a truck, hitting the blacktop the ground pound was on. Disoriented and bloody I found myself being dragged out of the fight and was thrown over the hood of a police car, cuffed and eating a hood ornament. Lying on the hood of a cop car bare footed, with no shirt, in a pair of Levis, I felt like “Kunta Kintai” handcuffed and waiting to be somebody’s whipping boy. The cops caught all five of the assholes that spend a few days in jail prior to a court hearing. The cops let me go. In actuality I would have rather gone to jail then face the verbal wraith and the tears of my mother and sister as we cleaned up all the broken glass, her house was trashed and in reality it was my fault.

I guess I never intended this article to go this long, nor did I ever expect the first fight to turn into a series of revenge fights that could have easily gotten someone killed.. I may share the third conflict with this group in the future; right now I will just say things didn't get any better.

When people tell me they have been in 100 street fights, I just say to myself, “Not in my ‘hood yah didn’t.”

JUST SOME FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Respectfully, Kelly S. Worden


Wanna learn more about what I do?
Travel to http://www.kellyworden.com/