Hock Fightin' Words Talk Forum

The term "have you seen the Elephant" is being used in drink drive commercials in my area and is basically something that everyone sees as a problem but chooses to ignore for thier own reasons

When provoked the elephant is the single most violent creature on the face of the earth. There is also evidence they are almost human like in memory and relationships. Having spent some time around them in Thailand I got the impression they picked out people they liked and remembered them as individuals. I also heard stories of them terrorizing villages in the past, now there are very few wild ones left. Every year there were Elephants going bad savagely killing their handlers.

My understanding the term, "have you seen the elephant?" comes from the days of black powder arms and elephant confrontations. Its well known amongst hunters that a wounded elephant is the most dangerous game one can hunt. Even tigers and Griz pale in comparison to the danger of the elephant.

Probably, directly, hunting the elephant and getting guides to hunt the elephant has to be origin of the expression. Hunters always wanted a guide that has "seen the elephant."
But it caught on worldwide as having been experienced in something round and/or dangerous.

It was uses for war vets in the Civil War, or if pioneers made it all across the Oregon Trail.
It was somewhat popular in the 1900s on to maybe the 1980s? Or so?

Now people do not use it in their vernacular and it means little to folks without an explanation.

Hock

Two years later and I am the next guys putting something up.

I have always thought that expression "Having seen the elephant" came out of the British experience in Colonial Africa, one who hunts and or survives an encounter with an elephant.

Seems to imply steadfastness, daring, courage that sort of thing...hopefully inspirational.

Just another quick comment on keeping it simple (but as hock said not to simple)
when i am instructing in the class and the student asks a question because they are a little confused I say -rememebr the clock- go to the number on the clock that is the same area as you are trying to go-i.e. go to 10 oclock- or come from 10 olock= light goes on and most times  they figure it out . Hock should have patented the clock system-oh well- thats life.-WW

I don't recall where I heard this, but this saying applies here I think: "Don't fear the million techniques practiced once, rather fear the one technique practiced a million times".

this was a great post Hock, thanks for the good word!

Bonz

great  info here -all the way  back..

I attempt to keep reviewing the basics with the students-over and over at the start of the class

In the middle of the class we stop and revieww the basics again. That is good according to the students.

Only one new tactic a week- not a million zillion each  class-too much.....

seya WW

Great post Hock. Should be posted in every training facility there is. It seems like everyone wnats absolutes, disregarding individual differences. You know when I boxed, my coach siad this is your stength, this is what you will do. He didn't try to make me a left hooking brawler. Why do so many in this industry train poeple as if they have the same bodies, minds and abilities?  Expect to be cut, you'll forget everything when the shit hits the fan, you could never use that in a real fight, that takes years to learn, MMA trainng is the best for the street, etc..., etc.... etc... Not one size fits all.

(Ohhhh that Bokker knife in and of itself is probably fine. Don't feel bad.)

- Everyone's definition of simple is different.
- Everyone's abilities are different - what is simple to them is not to others.
- "Fights" are highly situational and sometimes people can perform more and better.
- Always push the envelope. Working the difficult, can make the difficult easy
  and simple. Its like a ladder. Climbing the eighth step makes the third step easy (and
  seem simpler).
- Not everyone can play pro football, whether they are taught simple football or
  complex football. Some people need not to play football with any great aspirations.
- Fighting is an athletic endeavour. Some people, soldiers, cops are not athletes,
  whether they are working on simple or complex moves.
- Ambushes always suck.  
- Startles and flinches don't last.

Hock

  Amen... The simpler the better.Too many people don't realize that the more time you spend on complex techniques you're doing yourself a great disservice. When the shit hits the fan, you're gonna rely on gross motor movements first. I train maybe 10 core techniques, different angles,entries,etc.I'm not opposed to tryin' out new stuff(in training) but on the spot...Nah, just can't risk it.First time on this forum, really enjoy the site! Really wish I'd signed uo sooner tho. Bought Jim Wagner's Knife from Boker. Now I feel like a schlump.