A martial benefit to having an athletic pet

[Bill Glasheen]

My Rhodesian Ridgeback is now 34 months old. In people years, he's about 20 years old. He's now just under his ideal weight of 85 pounds for a male.

A proper Ridgeback is a thing to behold. Mine shows just a hint of rib, and is absolutely ripped with muscles. They are short-haired so you can visually see the athletic capability. Ridgebacks are known to be able to jump 5-foot fences. Mine will leap like a Mexican jumping bean to give me a surprise kiss on the lips when I least expect it. It's annoying because I worry about him doing that to a child and knocking them over. But as long as I keep him on the leash or otherwise under control, his "flying kisses" aren't such a big deal.

The animals are low to the ground and strong. They were originally owned by the Hotentot tribe in South Africa, and used to protect the farm from wild African animals. Their modus operendum is never to bark unless there's REALLY something bad coming down. And when it does - such as a lion coming on the property - they work in packs to chase and harass the lion until the hunter or property owner can come with proper weapon(s) and get the job done. This ability to harass something like a lion can be seen in my Ridgeback the way he'll "slalom" a line of bushes on my property out of sheer joy of movement.

Ridgebacks aren't for the average owner. You need at least one strong male on the property to establish order. And you need to have the patience of Job to deal with their loving but stubborn nature.

One thing my dog (Maverick) would do in the beginning was jump and kiss when let out. If cooped up too long, he could be a bit out of control. This is where I suddenly discovered a use for a Uechi wauke. I kid you not.

While a Ridgeback won't lunge at your throat to bite you, the action of doing that or engaging in a reckless flying kiss can be somewhat similar. And then one day I just discovered a wonderful use for the wauke. As Maverick spontaneously jumped up at me, I would go out "flinch-like" with the arm in a shearing manner right at the neck. I could stop Maverick cold in the air, and then bring his body down to the ground with the completion of a circle.

Rory showed a number of us a shearing motion that looked very similar to a movement done in Seisan just before the jump back to crane posture. Seeing how Rory used that against bad guys and then seeing what just "happened" with me towards my loving but stubborn beast made me realize an offensive value for something we view as an "uke." Indeed uke doesn't mean to block; it means to receive. So if beast or man lunges at you, one certainly can "receive" them with flinching forearm to the neck. The contact can lead to any number of inside fighting grappling moves - from a neck lock to a whole-body dump.

Anyhow... I am thankful that Maverick's neck is so strong that he doesn't mind my "receiving" his kiss that way. He's learning... and so am I.

- Bill

[Dale Houser]

Ridgebacks aren't for the average owner. You need at least one strong male on the property to establish order.

The first part may be true, but the second sentence is not. A pack leader does not need to be male for any dog from fur balls to rottweilers. What is needed is the proper mindset and calm-assertive energy. You can teach a 9 year old to control him. If I sound like a commercial for Cesear Millan, I am. My wife and I have used his methods to train three dogs and it works in nearly any case.

A shearing motion or uke is not necessary with proper training. In fact if you have control over the animal, all you need, ideally, is a look, a call, or motion with your hands. Based on your post, you are teaching him/her to expect a block...though it's not much to go on, so I apologize ahead of time if I'm reading this wrong. It's just that so many people use well-intentioned but counter-productive methods in training dogs.

Check out Millan's techniques, and give this dog lots of exercise every day (minimum 20-30 minutes - not a visit to the dog park) to burn off its energy. They are more receptive to training when they have calmed down. Though it does sound like it's a pretty balanced animal.

Here's a link and you can catch his show on National Geographic Channel. Good luck with it, it sounds like a beautiful dog. Maybe you could post some pictures?
http://www.cesarmillaninc.com/

[Bill Glasheen]

Hi, Dale!

I am a big fan of Cesar Milan. He's an amazing individual. While I don't get cable, I am familiar with his Dog Whisperer show.



As I alluded to above, dog and owner are constantly teaching each other. I do learn by watching the likes of Cesar Milan. I rarely use "punishment" per se with my animal. Mostly it's about establishing a relationship and understanding the limitations of both owner and breed.

Here's a passage from Ridgebackdogs.com which will fill you in.

Many Ridgebacks share personality traits. It amazes me that every time I am in a group of Ridgeback’s people (yes, that is a possessive “s”, we definitely belong to them), I inevitably hear at least one person say “Oh, does your Ridgeback do…” followed by some anecdote of a quirky behavior. Just as inevitably, many members of the group will laugh and say “yes!” With that in mind, I am applying behaviors that I have observed in Jazzy and heard about from other Ridgeback families to the breed as a whole. Clearly not every Ridgeback behaves the same, but I think any Ridgeback family you speak with will identify many of the behaviors I describe below.

Lovfallan's MasterRidgebacks are big dogs with big attitudes and big appetites. Though they would have you believe otherwise, they are too big to be good lap dogs. Of course, Jazzy is either too dumb to realize that, or too smart to give up on trying. Somehow I doubt practice Shango Runswill make her perfect in this area.

Ridgebacks like to chase things. Period. What things? Lint balls, hair balls, leaves, rabbits, chipmunks, squirrels, deer, lions, bears (Lovfallans Master in the picture below).



Even plastic bags. No kidding. Check out the photo (below).



Yes, that's a plastic bag (being pulled along on a lure course). Don’t want your Ridgeback to run off out of the yard chasing things? Think fence. Tall fence.

Here's the thing. They are a working breed. They are bred to chase. Mine will go berserk when he sees a robin while we are walking. No kidding - a robin! Asking a Ridgeback not to chase is like asking a kitten to stay in a box. The problem comes when you are walking your dog and the compulsion kicks in. At that point, a good strong stance (and some anticipation) are in order.

My older son can walk the Ridgeback. Someone much smaller? There's a safety concern. It's not a lot different than the concern expressed about owning chimpanzees. These are big, strong, and stubborn dogs that are programmed to do what they do. If a small person is on the other end of the leash, there is a safety concern.

Mind you, the dog wants nothing more than to sleep in the bed of my youngest son. And they do well with each other. But until there is a LOT more training, I'm not eager to let number 2 son be on the other end of that leash when outside. I trust Maverick with the 5-year-old little girl across the street that he's in love with - except that he might knock her over by overwhelming her with love. Theory is one thing; safety and liability are something else. So I don't test my control abilities when I don't have to.

A shearing motion or uke is not necessary with proper training.

I couldn't agree more, Dale. And to some extent there is some "play" in what we do. But theory is one thing; imposing human will on a single-minded working breed is something altogether different.

These "flying kisses" are something I've seen with other dogs in the breed. They mean well, but... It's a pre-programmed behavior that needs to be contained.

Check out Millan's techniques, and give this dog lots of exercise every day (minimum 20-30 minutes - not a visit to the dog park) to burn off its energy. They are more receptive to training when they have calmed down. Though it does sound like it's a pretty balanced animal.

Indeed exercise is the key. And with this animal, it's difficult to give them enough. He and I spend half and hour to an hour every day outdoors - even in the coldest weather. Even when I don't want to go out, he does. So in a way we're good for each other.

Like a teenager, he's at the peak of his rambunctiousness and wanderlust. I expect with time he'll get better.

But I won't expect a Ridgeback not to be a Ridgeback.

I do love the challenge, Dale, and I'm learning every day. This breed responds "vigorously" to honey as opposed to vinegar. Even with the treats, it's a problem. Maverick's doing the 3 to 4 foot jumps vertically when he knows something is there. Sigh...

What I really need is a horse and a trail in the woods. But I make do with us exercising each other - for now.

There is a serious obligation with owning an "intact" animal. This isn't a neutered male, Dale. He's got balls and he knows it. Ever tried to keep a teenager from having sex? A dog is no different. I used to be able to let him run loose in the front yard after we had a good exercise session. No more. There's some kind of Fifi across a major State Route, and Maverick will bolt over there if he can. I'm sorry, but no amount of Dog Whisperer training is going to stop the call of nature. That just is what it is.

But there's still plenty of room for owner to be trained.

I'll get pictures when I can get Maverick with boys out in the park. Maybe soon I'll get some stills. He has a very nice face.

- Bill

[Bill Glasheen]

Actually the biggest reason for starting the thread wasn't to get advice on training, although I'll take all I can get. Time with my dog is time well spent for both of us. We enjoy the work it takes for master and pet to be better citizens.

My point was to consider the very real issue of wauke as interceptor of arms. I've already alluded to how the circles in Seisan after the "groin strikes" are nothing short of either "choke holds" or KO techniques. But there's a grappling element to the circle that begs to be studied.

This is one time where I want to stand with the Uechi yakusoku kumite critics. Kyu and Dan kumite are GREAT exercises and we need them. But... In my opinion we've barely scratched the surface in terms of what that circle means. Is it time we leaders of Kanbun's art started investigating other applications?

Food for thought.

- Bill

[Dale Houser]

Actually the biggest reason for starting the thread wasn't to get advice on training, although I'll take all I can get.

I bet you weren't expecting it. I figure I have some experience there. My Uechi is not as far along as most here so I read and learn and "speak up" when other subjects come up that I know a little something about. As for Kumites, I am still doing Kyu so I am not the most knowledgeable person there.

Most dogs will try to 'own' you. It is part of their pack mentality, until you, meaning anyone, takes ownership/leadership (not always easy). Any dog will keep doing this until they have been usurped. It sounds like you have a great dog. I wish I had a big enough place for a dog like that. Cheers.

[maxwell ainley]

Actually the biggest reason for starting the thread wasn't to get advice on training, although I'll take all I can get. Time with my dog is time well spent for both of us. We enjoy the work it takes for master and pet to be better citizens.

My point was to consider the very real issue of wauke as interceptor of arms. I've already alluded to how the circles in Seisan after the "groin strikes" are nothing short of either "choke holds" or KO techniques. But there's a grappling element to the circle that begs to be studied.

This is one time where I want to stand with the Uechi yakusoku kumite critics. Kyu and Dan kumite are GREAT exercises and we need them. But... In my opinion we've barely scratched the surface in terms of what that circle means. Is it time we leaders of Kanbun's art started investigating other applications?

Food for thought.

- Bill

Bill ,my uncle had ridgebacks in Rhodesia in the 1950s ,great dogs .

We can become bogged down with syllabus material ,and not experiment /investigate various facets of uechi-ryu ,I am not just refering to the kumites ,but a wider scope of training's .
Making discovery's within a framework of training ,then pushing them within the facets highlighted such as your ref; wa-uke .
For me its been mostly a uphill battle with applications ,lots of the time making very little headway ,a bit like picking away in a seam of gold and discovering very little ,then hitting gold .

A single application for me needs to be transferable in the midst of anything goes [and chaotic situations too.And if we look at the uechi kata ,we see they are transfering the basic forms down the line of progress ,they wern't bogged down ,something was seen highlighted then pushed outwards away from the basic ,but coming back boomawrang like only to be converted into some thing else and thrown back outwards .

[Bill Glasheen]

I bet you weren't expecting it.

Dale... I never know what to expect on these forums!

Most dogs will try to 'own' you. It is part of their pack mentality, until you, meaning anyone, takes ownership/leadership (not always easy). Any dog will keep doing this until they have been usurped.

I gather that's the key, Dale.

It's very clear that my Ridgeback rules the rest of the people in the house. Mostly I see that they let him. I try to tell them never to allow the dog to train the master, but... they will do that.

I'm always amazed at how deeply Cesar Milan understands dog behavior, and knows exactly how to behave to get a desired end. But it's clear that what you see in an hour show isn't entirely what is being done from soup to nuts. In many cases he'll be working most of a day patiently trying to achieve something that you see happen over 5 minutes in a show. Consistency, patience, and persistence seem to be virtues that are required with the more stubborn breeds.

It sounds like you have a great dog. I wish I had a big enough place for a dog like that. Cheers.

Truth be told, I wish I had a few acres fenced in where he could run with reckless abandon. But... that just means that owner has his work cut out for him. And that isn't all bad.

By the way... I just took him out for his second half-hour walk a bit ago. I was walking along not paying attention, and BAM! - he does the Mexican Jumping Bean hop and lands a kiss on my lips. Sneaky bastard... How can you be angry with that kind of obstinate behavior?

- Bill

[Bill Glasheen]

Max

Good to hear from you - as always.

Wow... knowing Ridgebacks all the way back to their source in Rhodesia is having a connection with a bit of history.

Every once in a while different concepts seem to converge in my brain, and cause the "aha" to come forth.

This is the "flinch" that I'm talking about. This image is now becoming a bit of a Forum classic.



I often train people in the circle motion by pointing out how one could consider the partly-executed wauke as the result of a flinch. The arm is up and out by order of the amygdala, ready to intercept that which the lower brain perceives to be a threat. "Finishing" the motion amounts to continuing the arm in a circular pattern until the Sanchin post is achieved.

My response to Maverick doing the jumping was something that happened over a number of trials. He spends part of the day sleeping in a large kennel cab. (He's still a bit much to let run through the house...) So when it's time to come out, he briefly goes nuts with joy. Thats when the flying kisses come in droves. And that's when the arm naturally comes out to keep him down and calm him so we can get out to play.

I didn't plan to have a wauke intercept Maverick's thick neck. It just happened. And when it began to happen with regularity and I could deftly bring him back down to earth, I begin to think about how intercepting a human at the neck might work. Maverick is so bloody strong that even when I yank with all my might with choke collar around the neck, it just brings him back a foot or so. The neck hardly notices it. In fact... His neck is so thick that a loose collar easily slips off over his head. Then I'm in trouble if out near the street. My point is that I have a resilient animal I'm intercepting with the forearm. But if that were to happen with a human anything weaker than a pro wrestler or football lineman, I'm thinking that would really get their attention. And even with the thick-necked human, you are intercepting in a way that they probably wouldn't expect.

Food for thought.

- Bill

[Mary S]

Most people (including visitors) and strangers don't like dogs jumping up on them.....if you want it to stop - you have to reinforce it is inccorect behaviour. Try standing with your arms around you in a closed body position - I guarantee your dog will stop jumping up. You only reinforce that kind of behaviour if you reward it - the dog thinks you're simply playing. I, for one, hate it when dogs jump up at me....

[Bill Glasheen]

I hear you, Mary.

I've had a number of dogs in my life including a stubborn Afghan/Retriever, and two extremely large Great Danes. I never had problems training those dogs. Even so... Just like not all kids are alike (so require some customization of treatment), so too are dogs that way. Just with my Danes which came from the same litter, they were like yin and yang. Brandon was full of himself and wanted to go run off. He ended up as a champion and sired many litters. Big Guy just wanted to go inside and be a lap dog. He was uncomfortable outside without a leash around his neck.

This Ridgeback is quite a challenge. He's just going to take a lot of patient work.

I've had lots of people tell me they absolutely can break him of his habits like the jumping up. He has a way of showing them wrong. As you stated, Mary, it's just a challenging game to him. He LOVES to outsmart the humans around him.

This is less about technique I think and more about getting in the dog's head per Dale's initial "Dog Whisperer" suggestion. I do best with him when I have everything planned out. He thrives on routine. The adlib stuff is a little harder.

- Bill

[Dale Houser]

Some dogs do take longer and you may not always get everything you want from them. Sneaky dogs are fun though.

We adopted two miniature dachshunds (brother and sister) that apparently had had no training whatsoever and they were about 3-5 years old. They were from a house fire where the owner had been rescuing\breeding dogs, they retrieved between 50-60 animals -though all in good shape. We have had them over a year now and there are still some minor issues and one or two major issues (at least to me they are). It's a never ending job but it is fun and is rewarding to see the results. For example, my wife trained them and our original dachshund to run on the treadmill, almost unsupervised now. It's great for bad weather. Imagine three doxies running at the same time - actually you can them here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AKoLrQPdfQ

The adopted male is sneaky in the same way as your Ridgeback. I'll be on the couch and the next thing I know the previously sleeping dog is trying to lick my nose off...My only Uechi trick with them is using a sokusen - not actually kicking them but nudging them out of the kitchen. I figure it's training because I am using self-control.

[maxwell ainley]

Bill,
To me everything is a matter of our individual perceptions on one hand ,when having to make use of specific movements for real ,tapping into the concept of making full use of partially executed [signature moves] takes time to realise .We are in the area of " Looking between the movements " but with slight twist ,all our work must come into effect in spontaenous ways ,you are also now in the area of intuitive fighting .

We can look between the moves in comfort ,there is no real time issues imposed upon the practioner ,but the benefits of this type of study greatly enhance the fighting brain ,a growing familiarity with "Looking Between" gives this spontaenous activation of using between [or partial].

[maxwell ainley]

Taking this concept a bit further ,gives the ability to create something from the existing system ,this is really were a practioner mostly can become bogged down with the existing system ,instead of fighting hard in yet another way to break out of the egg .
I think the system is set up to create these stumbling blocks ,and no one escapes getting through this minefield with a clear round

[Bill Glasheen]

Max

I love the way your brain works. Even when your language is different from my own, I get where you are coming from.

We are in the area of " Looking between the movements " but with slight twist ,all our work must come into effect in spontaenous ways ,you are also now in the area of intuitive fighting .

Absolutely.

The "spontaneous" part I think of to some extent is the lower brain part that just happens because that's how our body instinctively protects itself. What I look for - whether it's a response to a blow or what our body instinctively does when falling - is to find that unadulterated, natural response. As has been stated before by smart reality-based self-defense experts, we must look to align our learned responses with the lower brain or instinctive responses. Furthermore, my modified response becomes better than what nature gave me at birth.

For example... when we fall, the body naturally has the arm come out. We've evolved to do that because the body will sacrifice the arm/wrist to save the brain. Your broken wrist will heal; a broken brain will not. Now... if I modify that arm flinch to be a whole arm slap rather than a hand-stick-out motion, then my training will mesh with my lower brain responses and thus my style becomes more "instinctive" - to use your terminology.

The picture above shows what happens when a random threat - a flying shard of a baseball bat - flies towards a group of untrained people. If you squint your eyes, you see the makings of either Sanchin post or an intermediate position of a wauke. So for instance if you make an intermediate position of your wauke look like a flinch (I actually stop students there in 5-count wauke drills), then you can teach the body how to flow from untrained to trained motion.

With my dog, that flinch response just came out. My forearm more readily went to his neck partially because I trained it, and partially because the amygdala does that anyhow. Manipulating him after contact was the most natural and fluid thing it could be for me because I had the discipline of projecting the arm from a stable stance and I could bring him down in a single, smooth motion.

Again... That just makes me wonder if we're focusing too much on "arms" as the target of a wauke. The neck worked so well with my flying dog. The only reason we don't do it a lot in the dojo is because it's illegal in point fighting and because just maybe some of our teachers are lacking in imagination.

Or... I have another theory as well. There are days where I wonder if the Okinawans aren't holding out a bit on the gaijin. Then again... perhaps they want us to figure these things out on our own. Or maybe most of THEM don't see it.

No matter. I have a brain and I love to use it.

- Bill

[maxwell ainley]

Bill ,I think fighting men from way back had their own ways of understanding fighting concepts ,that were [natural ],and trained within those lines .Actual real fights express the elements we are talking about ,and I know if the mawashi-uke as been brought to a instinctive level [ I consider this level to be quick ] out of the bow applications can be discovered ,that equate levels of threat ,plus if you can tap into the instinctive you don't end up down the negative side of the emotional which stops the instinctive firing up ,and your full or partial mawashi-uke never gets into action .