Today, Sunday 22nd June 2008, I completed my usual walk well before noon when a delivery from Sainsbury’s was due.

I didn’t do my usual weight training session as I have strained my neck muscles by doing too many sit ups.

I was amused to hear that Felipe Massa also has strained his neck muscles. He was going upwards in a lift when he sneezed. His head went downwards as his body continued upwards! Hence the strain.

Felipe has to endure this strain during an important race for him today in France as he challenges for the Formula One Championship. I on the other hand can sit in a comfortable chair watching the race on TV!

If someone else is in pain, you do not feel picked on by the Universe. Others are often much worse off than you. Your pain is halved.

The Sainsbury delivery has just arrived. I asked the delivery man if he was suffering any pain. He wasn’t! But he had once strained his back when sneezing!

Today, Saturday June 21st 2008, I walked round the local area just before noon.

As I walked down Berens Way I saw a lady with a little white dog. She was picking up its crap with some white paper.

I praised her consideration for the general public as I drew level.
She even asked my advice: “Is it OK to put the dog pooh into the drains?” I said I thought it was.

She then told me how she had been picking up the pooh when a lady rushed up to her flourishing a bag and said: “That’s not the way to do it! You put it in the bag and take it home!” – or words to that effect.

My friend was naturally affronted at this aggressive advice and told the bag holder (who was probably correct) to stop waving her arms about and that she already knew what to do.

The incident shows clearly that if you want people to listen to your advice compliment them first and then wade in with any advice or criticisms once you have them on your side.

I learned this principle the hard way when teaching in London
Comprehensive schools. The best piece of advice I ever heard when teaching was: “For every piece of criticism you dish out, give three pieces of praise.”

I always tell my martial art instructors to praise the way a student does something first before telling them how to improve whatever they are doing.

Once people realise you are on their side or are least appreciating some part of what you are doing, they don’t mind listening to your advice or criticisms.

Even if people realize you are deliberately looking for their good points, they will still be pleased that you have found something good to say about them.

Tonight, Holland are playing Russia who have a Dutch coach – Gus Hiddink – in the quarter finals of the European Soccer Cup. Gus gave out a fascinating piece of advice to the media.

He admitted to fearing the Dutch who have some prolific goal scorers: “I am scared as hell of Holland. If you are scared, you drop back and then you get more scared. That’s why you must try to attack as much as possible.”

You could give similar advice to someone under attack from someone with a knife. Don’t start worrying about what their knife will do to you. Attack as soon as you can and make them worry about you. If you keep trying to evade the knife you will get cut sooner rather than later.

For the record, Russia attacked Holland with real determination and ended up winning the match by 3 goals to 1. They are now in the semi-final!

For more tips on self-defence check out my website at:

http://www.self-defence.org

Today, Monday June 2nd 2008, I walked round the neighbourhood. The weather was cool and breezy.

In Clarendon Way, I met a man I had spoken to before. He asked me why I was walking. “To stay alive!” I replied rather over dramatically. “I should be walking further in the local woods but this walk saves time.”

“You should always give time to what is important!” he rightly replied.

“I will be doing some weight training after this walk,” I said in my defence. He thought this was not a good idea.

I explained that so long as you avoided lifting too much weight, you can build muscle and increase your metabolism. A higher metabolic rate helps you lose weight.

I continued walking and noticed a cat crossing the road ahead of me. I too crossed the road and saw the cat in a garden. At first, it rushed towards me thinking it knew me. When it realised I was a stranger, it stopped and kept its distance.

Keeping your distance is a key self-defence principle. If you allow a potentially hostile person near you, you make it easy for them to knife you or hit you. If necessary step back or tell them to stay where they are or just walk or run off.

For tips on self-defence, check out my website at
http://www.self-defence.org