Martial Arts: Current Affairs

Krav Maga Training for National Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Anta’s Fitness and Self Defense has been on a mission to empower women to STOP Domestic Violence, Rape, Assault, Crime, and Abuse since 1998 through their reality based self defense and situational awareness classes and free community service workshops. Head instructor Julio Anta says “October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. I encourage all victims of domestic violence to learn Krav Maga.

Krav Maga Empowering Women to defend on the ground

Domestic violence not only impacts women, but also men, and children of every age, background, and belief. Nearly 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men in the United States have suffered severe physical violence by an intimate partner. Victims are deprived of their autonomy, liberty, and security, and face tremendous threats to their health and safety. During National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we reaffirm our dedication to forging an America where no one suffers the hurt and hardship that domestic violence causes -- and we recommit to doing everything in our power to uphold the basic human right to be free from violence and abuse.

Fit & empowered strong woman have less of a chance of being a victim

Head instructor Julio Anta’s experience as an Corrections Officer for 10 years in a maximum security prison, US Marine Corps Sergeant, as a Krav Maga Israeli Military Self Defense, Krav Maga Counter Terrorism, Muay Thai Kickboxing, Bruce Lee’s Jeet Kune Do instructor and as a Kung Fu Master has positioned himself to combat domestic.

Hostage Defense learning to escape from duct tape

Anta say’s: Our mission is to create a violence free world by empowering women and children through Krav Maga self defense to eliminate personal and institutional violence and oppression against all people. Surviving domestic violence takes a great deal of courage and resourcefulness. At Anta’s Fitness and Self Defense they have zero tolerance for Domestic Violence they have trained thousands of students to defend themselves against an attacker on the street, in the home, or a bully in the school yard. Anta’s motto is “Live Fit, Live Fearless!” They believe that no one should live in fear!

Fight Like A Girl at Anta's

It is impossible to prevent Domestic Violence 100%. Yet, Anta’s mission is to empower one person at a time by teaching them self defense skills and building there self confidence and self esteem in his Krav Maga Self Defense classes. Anta through his Krav Maga classes, Krav Maga Counter Terrorism workshops and women self defense workshops empowers women to defend themselves and even use common objects such as stilettos, keys, house hold items to defend against an attacker.

Anta's Krav Maga Women Self Defense Workshop 4-15

Most attacks on women are done by men and someone that they know. In general women are not as aggressive as their male attackers. The goal of Anta’s is to empower women through Krav Maga so that they can walk in peace.

For more information on Anta's Domestic Violence Protection Classes and Workshops: Krav Maga, Counter Terrorism, Anti-Car Jacking, Hostage Situation Escape, Women Self Defense call us at 305 599-3649. Checkout our website DoralKravMaga.com

October 15, 2015 in Active Shooter, Anti-Rape, Black Belt, Crime Safety, Crime Safety for Women, Current Affairs, Domestic Violence, Doral, Krav Maga, martial arts, Miami, Rape Prevention, Women's Self Defense | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tags: Doral, Krav Maga, Miami, National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Women Self Defense

Should School Teachers Carry Guns on Consultas Con Cordero

On Thursday, March 26, 2015 I was a panelist on Mira TV’s Consultas Con Cordero TV show with host Yunior Santana. The subject that we were debating was teachers carrying guns in school. This is an overview on my opinion, ideas and views teachers carry weapons in schools to keep our children safe for those that missed the show or do not understand Spanish. On the panel with me were Psychologist Dr. Sergio Llanes and NRA instructor Alberto Guerra. I was happy to have been on this show because host Santana presented facts and statistics. Which is the opposite off the lies and deception that comes from the media today.

I am 100% for school teachers carrying guns to protect their students. I believe that a teacher that gets a concealed weapons carry license, trains in tactical firearms and gets certified should be allow to carry and get paid extra for it. This would be great incentive for teachers since they are under paid.

Some of the panelist had some great ideas. They suggested metal detectors, more Police Officers, hiring retired law enforcement and military and having armed security guards. I agreed with all of these ideas yet my concern was were will the funds come from for these programs.

My idea to keep our children safe in school was to have a plan and drills for an active shooter attack in the class room. I gave them the example that when I was a child in elementary school in the sixties in the mist of the cold war we would hear an alarm ring and we would hide under the desk. This drill was done to prepare us for an attack by the Soviet Union. If teachers were armed and trained and children were trained to take cover in case of an active shooter attack many lives would be saved. Even better lets have more cops, armed guards, ex military and law enforcement armed working at schools, metal detectors, armed teachers active shooter trained and drilled students.

My experience as an officer in a maximum security prison I was able to learn how the criminal thinks. A criminal interviews potential victims they look for weakness and being unarmed. Convicts love gun control because it makes their job easier.

I was also asked if I would fell safe if my son went to a college were students could carry firearms. My answer was yes. If these students would get a concealed weapons license I know that they were law abiding citizens without mental problems or criminal record. To get a concealed weapons permit you get finger printed and a background check similar to police candidates.

Since I was given the chance I wanted to educate the public with statistics on crime, murder and gun control. I brought up that in Switzerland and Israeli citizens open carry weapons in public and they have less crimes and shootings than America. Yunior showed statistics that confirmed that the states with the strictest gun laws are the states with the most murders. In particular the state of California which had the strictest gun laws in the nation also has the most murders.

I spoke about how when I was a child that I watch westerns and military movies. We played with guns and we grew up great with less problems, crime and murder then kids today. I also spoke of when my friend Cort motivated me to join the Miami Springs Optimist Jr. Rifle Club. Cort had a 22 caliber rifle in his room. First my parents did not want me to join the club. Yet, we convinced them to let me join. I did not have a rifle so the club would let me barrow one. I remember riding our bicycles from Cort’s house to the Optimist Club. Cort would strap his rifle around his shoulder and we would ride our bicycles through the streets of Miami Springs. The only thing was that he had to do was have the bolt out of the rifle. In today’s society Cort and I would have been arrested and his parents would have been accused of bad parenting and also arrested.

I tried to educate the viewers by letting them know how Hitler, Stalin, dictatorships, Communist and Nazi’s disarmed the people before their takeover. I also paraphrased Mao Tse Tong Communist China’s Chairman in the cold war “It would be hard to take over America because everyone has a gun.”

In my closing comments I explained how I believe in balance for longevity. That is why I train in the martial arts, train in different fitness modalities, eat healthy and train with firearms. Fitness training and nutrition keep me healthy. Martial Arts train me to survive a physical attack from a criminal and firearm training helps me survive an active shooter. I also stated that one of my pet peeves is the martial arts instructor that feels that he doesn’t need to carry a gun and the gun fanatic that feels that he doesn’t need to learn to defend themselves because they carry a gun. The bottom line is that you could be the greatest fighter alive yet no one can catch bullets with their teeth. As for the gun carrier you have to pull that gun before you can use it and getting punched will change your plan. I teach my Krav Maga students how to stop a gunman from pulling his gun out of the holster and take it from them.

March 27, 2015 in Active Shooter, Anti-Rape, Crime Safety, Crime Safety for Women, Current Affairs, Domestic Violence, Doral, Gun Control, Krav Maga, martial arts, Miami, NRA, Rape Prevention, School Teacher Carrying Guns, Shooting in Schools, tactical firearms training, Women's Self Defense | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tags: active shooter, gun control, guns, kids and guns, School Shootings, self defense

Telemundo’s Anchorman Edgardo Del Villar Martial Artist and Athlete

When you hear the name Edgardo Del Villar you associate it with Telemundo’s national and international news anchorman. He is also a regular on Telemundo’s international morning show Levantate and on El Rojo Vivo. But, let me tell you another side of Edgardo Del Villar. Edgardo is a black belt in Hapkido. He earned his black belt in Monterrey, Mexico. I am Edgardo’s trainer yet, consider him a close friend. He is a Muay Thai Kickboxing student at my martial arts, fitness center Anta’s Fitness and Self Defense.

Edgardo is a true martial artist not just a TV celebrity. He lives the martial arts lifestyle, training and staying fit for life. He exemplifies humility; he’s an excellent athlete and an extraordinary martial artist. Not many martial artist after achieving a black belt decide to take a new journey and study another style. Edgardo is doing an amazing job training at Anta’s Fitness and Self Defense in Muay Thai.

Del Villar has enjoyed a successful career in his native Mexico, before he came to Doral to work for Telemundo. He spent 12 years as anchor of “Las Noticias,” Televisa’s primetime newscast in Monterrey. He was a news director and anchor for various radio stations including MVS, Radio Fórmula and Núcleo Radio Monterrey for over 10 years. He also served as an advisor to the Editorial Board of “Grupo Reforma,” Mexico’s largest newspaper group.

Del Villar’s job is very demanding. Within hours notice Telemundo has send him to different parts of the world to cover breaking news. He releases his stress in the Muay Thai class. It is hard to believe that such a hard working man would participate in so many of our school activities as Edgardo has.

Edgardo is part of our Muay Thai Demonstration Team and participates in most of our events when he is not on assignment around the world. Edgardo’s dedication to our martial arts fitness center is remarkable at our 16th annual Christmas party last year which we held at John I. Smith Elementary he showed up in a suit straight from filming the news after a full day of filming that started at 5am. He had a smile on his face and took photos with everyone. I have trained numerous celebrities. Edgardo is extraordinary he trains like an athlete and champion not a celebrity.

antamartialarts.com

June 18, 2014 in Black Belt, Current Affairs, Doral, kickboxing, Miami, Muay Thai, News, Sports, Television | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tags: Al Rojo Vivo, Doral, Edgardo Del Villar, hapkido, Hialeah, Levantate, martial arts, Miami, News, Telemundo

Krav Maga from the Battlefields of Israel to the City of Doral

Krav Maga is the ultimate in self defense used daily by men and women in combat in Israel. It is known as the quickest way to learn self defense. Now you can learn Krav Maga in Doral and learn to survive an attack and defy the odds like the Israeli military.

In 1948, the United Nations voted to grant statehood to Israel that same year Imi Lichtenfeld joined the newly formed Israeli Army known as the IDF (Israeli Defense Force) and Krav Maga was born. Krav Maga is the Israeli’s Military’s reality based fighting system which translates to Combat Contact or Close Quarter Combat. From 1948 to 1963 Imi trained Israeli soldiers in Krav Maga. In 1963 after retiring from the military he began teaching civilians.

Krav Maga is a complete reality based self defense and fitness system. It is a noncompetitive, non traditional martial art and reality based military self defense system, known for its focus on real-world situations. It involves striking techniques, grappling, gun, blunt and edge weapon defense. It is the most effective and fastest growing self defense system available today. It is combat proven, battle tested and continually enhanced.

Krav Maga is great for men and women, civilians, military and law enforcement. Who can forget Jennifer Lopez movie “Enough” based on Krav Maga training. The goal of Krav Maga is to build students and instructors who are physically, mentally, and emotionally able to react to violent encounters. It teach students to be analytical thinkers when evaluating attacks and defenses. Encourage students to create the self-discipline to maintain their personal readiness at all times through training.

By statistics the average martial artist will loss a street confrontation. In today’s society the martial arts have evolved to a sport or a kid’s activity. Sport martial artist are at a disadvantage when encountering an attack by a street thug. Tournaments are a sporting event in a controlled environment with rules for safety. MMA or UFC is the closest thing to a street fight yet it is a sporting event and has rules to keep the fighters safe. A street encounter is unscheduled, unpredictable and without any rules. The only trophy that you’ll will in a street encounter is your life! There are no forms like in karate, kung fu and tae kwon do, rules, or set combinations as reactions to attacks. Instead, Krav Maga training focuses on teaching simple self protection techniques which are specifically catered to reality based attack situations. Don’t be a statistic, defy the odds. Be on top of the food chain, so that you can be the last one standing when reality strikes!

When you want to be able to defend yourself and your loved ones - you don't want it to take years to learn. Traditional martial arts take years to perfect, introducing material in stages that delay becoming at all effective in defending yourself. Reality based self-defense systems typically teach material that is either too little to be effective, or requires too much skill and time to become proficient. Krav Maga practitioners are taught to finish a fight as quickly as possible and therefore all attacks are aimed towards the most vulnerable parts of the body such as neck, groin, knees, eyes, and joints.

I’m fully certified in the Israeli martial arts of C.O.R.E Krav Maga, KMMA (Krav Maga Martial Arts) and Haganah F.I.G.H.T (Fierce Israeli Guerrilla Hand to hand Combat). I’m a retired Corrections Officer and honorably discharged U.S. Marine Corps Sergeant. I’m also certified in Jeet Kune Do, Muay Thai Kickboxing and a Hung Gar Kung Fu Master.

Whether you are a housewife, law abiding citizen, college student, military or law enforcement officer Krav Maga is the answer to today’s violent crimes!

For a free class or more information on Anta's Krav Maga log on to DoralKravMaga.com or call 305 599-3649.

January 30, 2014 in Anti-Rape, Black Belt, Crime Safety, Crime Safety for Women, Current Affairs, Domestic Violence, Doral, Krav Maga, martial arts, Miami, Rape Prevention, Sports, Women's Self Defense | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tags: Doral, gun defense, Haganah, Israeli Self Defense, knife defense, knife fighting, Krav Maga, martial arts, Miami, self defense, women self defense

Krav Maga History and Mindset

Krav Maga translates to Combat – Contact, or Close Quarter Combat. It is a highly effective modern Israeli self-defense system. Krav Maga has a rich history that begins on the streets of pre-war Europe.

Krav Maga is the military self defense system of the IDF (Israeli Defense Force) it was developed in the battlefields of the Middle East in 1948 when the state of Israel was born. It is battle tested and continuously enhanced.

To understand the fighting principles, spirt and mindset of Krav Maga you have to first know some Israeli history and know what Jews have been through. Israelis have a history of survival being enslaved, conquered and violently attacked throughout centuries. Throughout history Israel has been conquered by the Egyptians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Romans, Muslim Arabs, Turks and many other nations. Jews had been living in Israel continuously since the loss of independence in the year 135. Yet, in the 1880's Jews from around the world began to return in great numbers to Israel. The returning Jews were regarded as weak by Arabs and other Muslims living there and were attacked violently. Who can forget the evil horrors of the Holocaust, the genocide of approximately six million Jews durning World War II by Nazi Germany led by Adolf Hitler. The survivors of the Holocaust camps have a motto and its "Never Again." When the Nation of Israel was founded they need to have a system that would protect their land and citizens.

Krav Maga was founded and created by Imi Lichtenfeld, born in 1910 in Budapest, Hungary, and raised in Bratislava, Slovakia until the age of 30. Imi grew up in a tough area that was dealing with fascist, gangs and anti Semites. While fighting in the street he learned that sporting techniques did not work and began developing real life self defense. He began to incorporate techniques from different martial art and self defense styles to form an effective approach of Krav Maga to enable the Jewish community to defend itself against the growing number of Jew haters.

He later was faced with the task of preparing both male and female, fit and out-of-shape soldiers. Imi developed Krav Maga a comprehensive system of hand to hand combat for the military that relied on simple, instinctive moves rather than rigid techniques requiring years of training. Krav Maga is the fastest and easiest way to learn reality based street self defense.

Imi was the son of a chief police inspector, gymnasium owner, and former circus acrobat, Imi quickly excelled in sports, and showed strengths in wrestling and boxing. As a teenager, Imi competed at the international level in wrestling, and was a champion member of the Slovakian national wrestling team. As an 18-year old, Imi was crowned champion at the Slovakian Youth Wrestling Championship, and at the age of 19, Imi won the championship in the adult lightweight and middleweight wrestling divisions, he was also competed in the Slovakian national boxing championships and international gymnastics tournaments.

in 1948, Imi became the Chief Instructor for Physical Fitness and Krav Maga for the IDF School of Combat Fitness. He continued to develop and enhance Krav Maga for regular and special military applications until 1964, when he retired from the IDF. After retiring from the IDF he spent the remaining years of his life refining and modifying Krav Maga to fit the needs of civilians and police forces.

Krav Maga was initially a military training program. Today, Krav Maga has evolved and expanded to provide training for the general public and law abiding citizens who seek peace of mind in this dangerous world we live in, while still maintaining it’s prominence as the top training program for special military forces and commando units, advanced law enforcement teams, including SWAT, and private security personnel.

Krav Maga was founded on real world experience and demands, and based on practical concepts and principles, Krav Maga is primarily focused on the use of natural movements and reactions for defense.

Krav Maga is more than a physical self defense it is a mindset. Israel is a small country surrounded by enemies sworn to destroying Israel. Yet, they reveal in victory and are still standing strong. Krav Maga will teach you to defend yourself in the streets using the same mind set that the Israeli military uses to defeat violence and the cowardly act of terrorism. Who better to teach you to survive and defeat violence in the street than an Israeli warrior. Israeli’s live and face danger daily. They are surrounded by violent hateful countries that want to annihilate the nation of Israel. Krav Maga teaches you to protect yourself from violence by using the same warlike concepts and mind set that the nation of Israel uses to protect against and defeat their enemies and terrorism.

At Anta’s Fitness and Self Defense Krav Maga classes will learn the Israeli mind set and physical self defense techniques of Krav Maga to walk in peace. Call us today at 305 599-3649 or e-mail us at [email protected] for a FREE introductory class that will change your life. Krav Maga website DoralKravMaga.com

March 23, 2013 in Anti-Rape, Black Belt, Crime Safety, Crime Safety for Women, Current Affairs, Domestic Violence, Doral, Krav Maga, Miami, News, Rape Prevention, Sports, Women's Self Defense | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tags: anti-terrorist, Haganah, hand to hand combat, Israel, Krav Maga, law enforcement self defense, martial arts, Military defense, self defense, women self defense

MMA VS Traditional Martial Arts

Who will win the battle between traditional martial arts and mixed martial arts schools? The traditional martial arts have been around for ages and mixed martial arts are the new kid in town. I agree with UFC president Dana White it started with Bruce Lee calling traditional martial arts a classical mess and training in boxing, kung fu, wrestling, judo, jiu jitsu, tai chi and numerous other arts in the 60's nad 70's. Today, Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is the fastest growing and hottest sport in America. I was at the Martial Arts SuperShow a martial arts industry conference in Los Vegas Nevada for the 4^Th of July weekend in 2007. Dana White the president of the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) was one of the speakers at the opening ceremonies. Dana explained how in a short time the once banned in almost every state UFC is now the largest and best know MMA organization in the world today. Mr. White explained how the UFC’s ratings are not only way above Boxing but the second largest most viewed sport on cable and on pay per view in the USA. The UFC has out rated baseball, the so called America’s past time, basketball, tennis, golf, hockey, NASCAR Racing and what ever sport you think of on TV. The only sport that has gotten a higher rating then the UFC is NFL Football. Yet, in Europe no one cares about the NFL and the UFC is growing in leaps and bonds. Former UFC Champion and poster boy Chuck “the Iceman” Liddell is one of the most recognized and influential athletes when I went to this event. Dana said that with the raise of the UFC that the next generation of kids will pick martial arts over any other sport.

With the growth and the popularity of the UFC and MMA and all the martial arts movies on the big screen, martial arts on TV and martial arts choreography in most adventure movies and TV shows this is making the martial arts one of America’s most popular activities for kids and adults alike. So, martial artist instructors and students should be loving the exposure and air time of the martial arts.

I can still remember when the pilot made for TV movie “Kung Fu” aired in the early 70’s. I was in Junior High, a Judo student and missed class that day to see this movie on TV that later became a TV series. Well, think again, you know that most traditional martial arts schools are totally against the growth of the mixed martial arts. They claim that it is too violent and that it doesn’t teach the values and philosophy that the traditional martial arts do. Some of these traditionist are stupid enough to say that with their secreat technique that they could beat a UFC fighter.

The same traditional martial artist that embraces the unrealistic artistic form of Hong Kong and Hollywood style martial arts in the movies (flying martial artist, fancy high kicking and one guy beating a few hundred opponents at the same time) have a hard time accepting the growing MMA revolution. They say that they do not want to see thugs beating each other up without values, honor and respect. I agree yet also disagree with that statement. Yes, many MMA schools cater to tough thugs and they do not teach values. Teaching fighting without values is just street fighting. Yet some of the nicest most accessible and friendliest athletes I've meet come from the UFC. I've met UFC super stars Georges St Pierre, Lyoto Machita, Bas Ruttan,Cung Li, Matt Hughes, Randy Couture and Chuck Liddell they were great. They are great role models in an era when most athletes are not and do not want to be role models..

I can appreciate both schools of martial arts, the traditional for the respect and values and the more realistic UFC. I can even appreciate and love seeing the unrealistic fighting scenes that Jackie Chan and Jet Li do such as fancy kicks and beating an army of martial artist all at the same time. Let’s put things into perspective. Traditionally martial arts where used in war and for defense when they were originated. That is why that they are called martial which means war like. Yet, with time they have become a sport with rules that are unrealistic for combat and in general do not work in the street. Most traditional martial artist are one dimensional fighters which means they either predominantly use their feet to kick high (pretty yet not functional) and only fight standing up. MMA which is a sport is more realistic. It is as real as it gets and can be used in the streets for self defense. They have taken the best of kickboxing, wresting and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu with incredible physical conditioning to develop this Ultimate Fighter.

This concept is not new the late great Bruce Lee also known as the King of Kung Fu and Grandfather of MMA believed in cross training. He said "Absorb what is useful, reject what is useless and make it your own. I was lucky enough to have trained in a traditional martial arts style of street fightingHung Gar kung fu that has stand up as well as close counter and ground survival fighting way before the UFC was born. Yet today to improve my skills I train in different martial arts. I am certified to teach Bruce Lee's Jeet Kune Do, Muay Thai Kickboxing, Krav Maga and Haganah.

I believe in Lee’s philosophy of using what works and discarding what is useless. With this in mind we have seamlessly fused together the old and the new, both traditional martial arts and mixed martial arts in our system. This gives us the best of both worlds. Traditional values and respect and a hard core mixed martial arts system. At Anta’s Fitness and Self Defense we teach good old American family values, honor and respect yet we teach mixed martial arts. We are looking forward the growth of the UFC. To answer your question of who will win the battle of traditional martial arts VS mixed martial arts, I think that it’s a draw. They are both winners and we can use and learn from each other.

For more information on our reality based martial arts program call us at 305 599-3649 or via the internet at AntaMartialArts.com

March 20, 2013 in Black Belt, Crime Safety, Crime Safety for Women, Current Affairs, Domestic Violence, Doral, Jeet Kune Do, kickboxing, Krav Maga, kung fu, Miami, MMA, Muay Thai, Rape Prevention, Sports, Women's Self Defense | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tags: Bruce Lee, Dana White, Doral, Jeet Kune Do, JKD, karate, kung fu, Miami, mixed martial arts, MMA, Tae Kwon Do

The Catala’s a Martial Arts Family

The family that kicks togethers sticks together. The Catala family kicks together at Anta’s Fitness and Self Defense. They have become a truly fit and fearless martial arts family. Today Mike Catala the father at 46 year old is part of Anta’s Warrior Training. Warrior Training is a special program that includes classes in Muay Thai, Krav Maga, Kung Fu, Jeet Kune Do and functional fitness classes. Warriors Training is for the highly motivated student who want to earn black belts in all the martial arts I’m certified to teach. His wife Jenny takes Piloxing classes. His son Gabriel is a Muay Thai student and his brother Matt is a kung fu student at Anta’s.

I believe that a virtuous man provides, leads and is an example to his family. Your children will not listen to what you tell them. They will do what they see you doing and follow your lead. I am super proud of Mike for leading his family into a martial arts fitness lifestyle. Mike started taking Muay Thai to get in shape and lose weight. Through his positive example he lead wife Jenny and sons Gabriel and Matt to follow his lead. Mike is a truly the head of his family, leading his family through example in the martial arts way. Below Mike explains his transformation and journey.

NEVER TOO LATE….AT THE AGE OF 45 I DECIDED TO ONE DAY WALK INTO ANTA'S FITNESS AND SELF DEFENSE, NOT KNOWING THIS WOULD EVENTUALLY CREATE A PERSONAL TRANSFORMATION OF MY MIND/BODY AND SPIRIT BUT ALSO A JOURNEY FULL OF FULFILLMENT AND CHALLENGE.

MY NAME IS MIKE CATALA, AND I WOULD LIKE TO FIRST OFFER YOU A GLIMPSE OF SOME OF THE ISSUES I HAD BEFORE JOINING ANTA’S MARTIAL ARTS SCHOOL WHICH ULTIMATELY MADE ME DECIDE TO ACT QUICKLY:

I WAS OVERWEIGHT PEAKING AT 249 LBS (5'11). MY PHYSICIAN DIAGNOSED ME WITH SLEEP APNEA, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE AS WELL AS HIGH CHOLESTEROL. I WAS LETHARGIC AND HAD NO ENERGY DO PLAY WITH MY KIDS OR FOR THAT MATTER DESIRE TO EXERCISE.

MR. ANTA AND I SAT DOWN AND DECIDED TO GIVE MUAY THAI KICKBOXING A TRY, KNOWING FROM A CARDIOVASCULAR PERSPECTIVE IT WAS EXTREMELY CHALLENGING. I CAN TELL YOU THE FIRST 2-4 WEEKS WAS DIFFICULT, BUT AT THE SAME TIME EACH OF MY CLASS MATES WOULD CHEER ME ON AND INSPIRE ME (THIS IS THE CULTURE MR. ANTA HAS FOSTERED AT THIS SCHOOL). WITH EVERY CLASS I ATTENDED MY BODY STARTED TO ASK ME FOR MORE AND THUS I BEGAN MY TRANSFORMATION. I NOW WEIGH 207 LBS, 42 LBS LESS.

I DECIDED AFTER BEING IN SCHOOL 9 MONTHS IT WAS TIME TO SEE HOW FAST I CAN RUN A 5K, I WAS SHOCKED TO SEE THAT I HAD SHAVED OFF 5 MIN AND 20 SEC FROM MY PREVIOUS TIMES. THE BIG DIFFERENCE IS THAT NOW I WAS RUNNING IT INSTEAD OF JOGGING. THE POINT IS THAT MUAY THAI HAS ALLOWED ME TRULY "LIVE FIT / LIVE FEARLESS".

ON ANOTHER PERSONAL NOTE, I BELIEVE IN THIS SO MUCH THAT I NOW HAVE MY 10 YEAR OLD GABRIEL, MATHEW AND WIFE JENNY ALSO IN ANTA'S MARTIAL ARTS/FITNESS CENTER, WHICH AGAIN GIVES US MORE FAMILY TIME TOGETHER IN A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT.

MARTIAL ARTS TO ME IS MORE ABOUT A COMMITMENT TO TRANSFORM NOT ONLY YOUR BODY, BUT YOUR MIND AND YOUR SPIRIT AS WELL. IT STARTS WITH THE FIRST STEP. SO I WILL END EXACTLY HOW I STARTED "IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO BEGIN YOUR PERSONAL JOURNEY OF TRANSFORMATION"

SINCERELY, MIKE CATALA.

Mike is proof that age is just a number and it is never to late to change your life and your families life. Eventhough he already lost 42 pounds Mike is competing in our Doral 90 Day Fitness Challenge. I am looking forward to the day that I promote Mike to the covet black belt.

For more information on our life changing martial arts and fitness programs you can contact us at 305 599-3649 or via the Internet at AntaMartialArts.com.

March 17, 2013 in Black Belt, Current Affairs, Doral, Jeet Kune Do, kickboxing, Krav Maga, kung fu, Miami, Muay Thai, News, Sports | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tags: Doral, Family, fitness, health, Hialeah, Jeet Kune Do, JKD, karate, Kickboxing, Krav Maga, kung fu, martial arts, Miami, Muay Thai, success story, weight loss

The Damini Project Doral, The Beginning of the End of the Rape Culture

On Saturday, March 2, at 1:30PM, Anta’s Fitness and Self Defense will be hosting The Damini Project. A Free Women’s Self Defense, Rape Prevention, Situational Workshop.

The Damini Project has launched its global anti-rape, anti-assault initiative, providing free self-defense classes to women, men, children, and families. Currently, these classes are being offered in cities throughout the United States, India, Canada, Mexico, Chile, New Zealand and Great Britain, additional classes are being scheduled in new countries every day.

Bearing the name given by the media to the 23-year old victim of a brutal rape in Dehli, India, The Damini Project focuses on helping Participants define their Personal Boundaries, discover their Self-Worth, and explore their Inner and Physical Strengths, while instructing them in simple, effective defensive de-escalation and tactics that are easily applicable in dangerous situations.

Our Mission is to strive to change the current climate and culture of rape and violent sexual crimes that plagues the global community. Our game plan is three-fold:

Help Women discover their inner strength and teach them to express it verbally, mentally, emotionally and physically.

Help individuals discover, define, and clearly understand their personal boundaries so that they are able to adjust them or defend them as they need.

Help victims of previous abuse break the cycle of abuse by instilling genuine self-confidence and teaching them the difference between the false bravado gained from subjugating another individual and the true inner strength gained from self-love and self-worth.

In doing so, we hope to help our brothers and sisters, worldwide, to change attitudes about oppression, objectification, and subjugation of their fellow man, and therefore shift the perception, making rape culture a thing of the past.

I have been conducting free women self defense for the last 15 years throughout the USA. I have a background as a law enforcement officer and Marine Corps Sergeant. I’m certified as a Krav Maga, Jeet Kune Do, Muay Thai kickboxing and kung fu instructor. I would like to personally invite the women readers of my blog to The Damini Project. We want to empower you to discover your inner strength. The workshop will be held at Anta’s Fitness and Self Defense, 10721 NW 58 St. To register for this free workshop call us at 305 599-3649.

February 18, 2013 in Anti-Rape, Crime Safety, Crime Safety for Women, Current Affairs, Domestic Violence, Doral, Jeet Kune Do, Krav Maga, Miami, News, Rape Prevention, Women History Month, Women's Self Defense | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tags: anti-rape, crime prevention, Damini Project, domestic violence, Doral, Jeet Kune Do, Karate, Krav Maga, Kung Fu, Miami, rape prevention, women self defense

Krav Maga to Fear No Evil for the Holidays

What better time to learn to defend yourself and learn to be aware of your surrounding then now for the holiday’s when criminals are out to ruin your holiday season. Yet, most martial arts and self defense don’t work in the real world. Krav Maga is the ultimate in self defense used daily by men and women in combat in Israel. Now you can learn Krav Maga in Doral and learn to survive an attack and defy the odds like the Israeli military.

Just this week as I write my column I read on the internet of an Israeli women and her son being attacked by a terrorist. A Palestinian terrorist breaks into her house with a knife and a pipe. He attacked the woman stabs her in the face and shoulder. The woman is able to control him and locked him in the bathroom. She calls the police. He is able to escape from the room and runs away. This woman had studied Krav Maga. Krav Maga saved her son’s and her life from a terrorist.

Krav Maga is a noncompetitive, non traditional martial art and reality based military self defense system, known for its focus on real-world situations. It was developed in Israel and involves striking techniques, grappling, gun, blunt and edge weapon defense. It is the most effective and fastest growing self defense system available today. It is combat proven, battle tested and continually enhanced.

I’m fully certified in the Israeli martial arts of C.O.R.E Krav Maga, KMMA (Krav Maga Martial Arts) Association and Haganah F.I.G.H.T (Fierce Israeli Guerrilla Hand to hand Combat). I’m retired Corrections Officer and honorably discharged U.S. Marine Corps Sergeant. I’m also certified in Jeet Kune Do, Muay Thai Kickboxing and a Hung Gar Kung Fu Master.

Our philosophy is that no one has the right to touch you with malicious intent and anyone who does should be dealt with immediately and aggressively to enable you to be safe and secure at the end of the day. All Krav Maga tactics are hardcore. Whether you are a housewife, law abiding citizen, college student, military or law enforcement officer Krav Maga is the answer to today’s violent crimes!

For more information call us at 305 599-3649 or via the Internet at DoralKravMaga.com

December 05, 2012 in Crime Safety, Crime Safety for Women, Current Affairs, Krav Maga, News, Women's Self Defense | Permalink | Comments (0)

Doral Holiday Safety Awareness

Since I started writing my column in the year 2000 for the Doral Tribune, writing for Ciudad Doral and this blog every year between Halloween and New Years I write on how to survive the holidays by staying safe, crime free or healthy, not gaining weight. My First article written for the Doral Tribune in October 2000 was on Halloween Safety. Last year I wrote an article entitled “Stay Safe and Healthy for the Holidays.” I gave the readers 10 Holiday Safety Tips and 5 Strategies to Combat Holiday Weight Gain. You can find this article archived at the Doral Tribune’s website.

This year I want to write about awareness for the holiday season. The holidays are filled with expectations of warmth and careless good times. It’s a time to take vacations and to celebrate with your family and friends. It is a time of preparation and giving. Yet, beware criminals also love the holidays and are preparing to steal your holiday joy. Most of us don’t think about crime prevention during the holidays.

Lets learn to be aware of your actions and surrounding when shopping, dinner and on vacation. If you have kids be aware of their presence, where are they, what are they doing? Lets also be aware of the changes in our bodies eat everything around us and do not exercise. As a martial arts and fitness instructor I try to always be aware of my surrounding whether I’m at home relaxing, at a restaurant, movie, driving or shopping. I’ve learn most of my anti-crime awareness from my 10 years working at a maximum security prison as an officer, in the United States Marine Corps and as a Krav Maga IDF (Israeli Defense Force) Self Defense instructor.

When I went to the academy to get certified to be able to work at the prison they teach us how to be constantly aware of our surroundings because the convict is always a step ahead of us since they have 24 hours to think of how they will deceive you and break the prison laws. When these criminals go to prison they are learning new strategies to ruin your holidays by robbing, attacking you, and stealing from you. When they leave the prison or what I call Thug University they have learn new strategies to help them commit the crime.

In Marine Corps Bootcamp in Parris Island, North Carolina also called the land that God forgot you are under stress for 16 hours or more hours a day, 7 days a week for 12 weeks. When you graduate from USMC Bootcamp you walk and talk different, you are confident, you look sharp, you are lean, mean and aware of your surroundings. You are a Marine. Yet, you do not have to enlist in the Marine Corps to stay safe this holiday season.

For most adults I recommend learning Krav Maga. Krav Maga taught to Israeli military is a great way to get fit, learn crime awareness and how to gain the confidence to defend yourself and your family.

Let me leave you with a few tips. By following these tips you will help to stop making it easy for the criminal mind to make you the next victim. Let’s take control of our lives before the criminals do.

Predators seek easy targets and people. People that appear more alert are less likely to become victims. Body language combats the first stage of an attack when the attacker is picking the victim. You must learn to walk like a predator not prey. If you have a poor body image it will show in your posture, movements and the way you walk. Low self esteem will also show in your facial expression and tone of voice. This behavior to the predator is like bait to a shark. Walk like a shark not a goldfish. So walk proud, look up and you shall walk in peace. Have a safe and joyous Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year.