Hi Friends,
Thank you to the 82 readers who answered my sci-fi survey! I know it was hard picking just one sub-genre. 😀
The results . . . . drumroll:
#1 – 17 votes for Space Opera . . . hmm . . . I’m wondering how Kiriai could have a space adventure 😀
#2 – 14 votes for Post Apocalyptic. Cool! I’ll keep adding the bits and pieces about the apocalyptic backstory for Kiriai’s society.
#3 – Tie! 12 votes each for Military and Hard Sci-Fi. I hope the hand-to-hand combat in my books helps scratch that military itch a bit and the sprinkling of tech will get heavier as the series progresses.
#4 – 8 votes for Dystopia. Whew! Good thing I have some of the above flavors mixed in with the dystopia of my stories.
And thanks to the two fans who emailed me to share their thoughts and chats. Love it! 😀
My Writing Update:
If you didn’t see, the pre-orders are up on Amazon for Books 2 and 3, Combat Mind and Combat Outbreak. Follow me on Amazon (click the orange “Follow” button under my name) to get notifications of new books coming out.
I’m wrapping up the final edits on Combat Mind, Book 2, and pulling out the blank sheets of paper to start brainstorming the plot lines for Book 5. Kiriai will be in the big leagues now and her entire hood is at risk.
Click ‘Reply’ if you’re interested in a free, early review copy of Book 2 and can read it and post a review before Sept. 1st. The more the merrier!
And to introduce the self-defense section on elbows below, here’s an excerpt from Combat Origin — Kiriai uses an elbow strike at the tipping point in one of her fights:
“Hajime!”
Kiriai exploded forward with everything she had, all the emotion from the last week, the anger, the fear and determination, fueling her attack. Hoko’s arrogant expression started to fall away, and he reached up to swat away her leading jab, only to miss the roundhouse kick she’d improved in the advanced classes, which caught him unprepared with a devastating blow to the inner thigh. His knee started to buckle, his face a mask of surprise. Kiriai, also thrown off-balance because she’d actually landed the kick, started to fall with him. Her instincts, honed by endless repetitions with Yabban, had her tucking her arm into a tight bend, and she felt a sharp crack travel up her arm as her elbow connected with Hoko’s jaw. She caught her balance and was just able to keep from falling as Hoko dropped to one knee with an audible thunk.
Kiriai wasn’t sure who was more surprised.
The Elbows – Self-Defense Secret Weapons
— you already know how to use.
My self-defense tip this month is something most of you already know how to do, but you might not realize you do: the elbow strikes.
Elbows are awesome and effective for a few reasons:
1. Powerful and tough!
For those who don’t spend time training in boxing or kickboxing, the idea of throwing a punch to defend themselves is intimidating. I had a green belt friend who broke a knuckle while defending himself during a mugging. He’d had years of training and still injured his fist while punching.
Stop for a minute and look at the intricate parts that make up your hand and fist. Now compare them to your elbow. Which is simpler? And which one would you rather bruise?
If you tap on your elbow, you’ll also feel how solid it is. A hard and fast strike can hurt your attacker enough to hopefully get him to let go so you can escape – always your #1 goal.
2. Perfect for close contact self-defense
When you’re grabbed from the front or from behind and pulled in close, kicks and punches don’t work so well. Elbows, on the other hand, are extremely effective at this close range.
3. Simple. Little training required.
You already know the motions needed to do the following three elbow strikes:
1. Back elbow (the jog) – bend your arm tightly and swing it in a jogging motion. If you make the motion sharp and strong, you are executing a back elbow which is particularly useful for grabs and close attacks from behind. As soon as the attacker lets go, you can escape.
2. Upward elbow (fix your hair) – reach up in the motion it takes to run your hand through your hair, keeping your arm bent tightly. This upward elbow strike can hit up under the rib cage to knock the breath from an attacker, or under the chin to stun an attacker, giving you a chance to get away.
3. Inward elbow (scratch your other shoulder) – This is the elbow Kiriai uses in the scene above. It strikes in and across your body starting with the motion to reach up and touch your opposite shoulder (though you don’t actually touch it, because you need to keep the arm bent tightly). This elbow moves horizontally and can strike into the rib cage or side of the jaw.
Give it a try!
Grab a friend and ask them to hold a sleeping bag, an old couch cushion, or a few tightly-rolled towels to use for practice. Then switch roles and let them have a chance. You’ll gain confidence using these moves in just a few minutes of practice.
Hopefully, using other awareness techniques, you can recognize and avoid dangerous situations, and never need to use your elbow strikes. But having them ready, just in case, generates confidence.
More on the awareness tips to come . . .
(Email me self-defense questions or requests and I’ll make sure to include them in next month’s edition)
Well, I’m off to pack up for a vacation where we’ll be dropping off my teenage daughter (yes, the one on my covers) for her first year of college. 😀
Eeek! Sad and excited for her all at the same time!
Wish me luck and happy reading this week,
— Misty 😀
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