Watch out - the book bites!

Every once in a while, in the world of martial arts and combatives training comes a set of events that leads to the general paradigm change in how things are analyzed and approached. In the modern age, the first such occurrence with some media coverage was Bruce Lee’s open advocating of cross training, which at the time was seen as blasphemous in some circles. Today, however, his Tao Of Jeet Kune Do is a classic book, while MMA is a widely accepted concept, even among the lay people.

Oddly (maybe), the evolution in technical and tactical training methods of training hasn’t really been closely followed, until very recently, by adaptation in training in line psychological research, especially in civilian circles outside professional sports. Even more rare is the appearance of literature that treats the subject in a practical, yet profound manner, without oversimplification on one side, or the indiscriminate avalanche of expert terminology, in hopes of giving credibility to the publication. There have been some authors whose insights had come from personal experience, able to put it in writing in a sensible manner with excellent insights for the readers, such as Marc MacYoung, Rory Miller and Varg Freeborn, but those are few and far between.

It is thus with exquisite pleasure that I am writing today of what should be one of those milestone works – The Maul, written by Schalk Holloway and Gavin Coleman.

Very adequate

The subtitle of the book is Preparing for the Chaos of Close Combatives, and it’s an understatement. Many other books and videos will claim similar goal or result, but keep regurgitation the same old information. Holloway and Coleman have combined personal experience in dealing with daily violence in South Africa with modern research in neuro-science, as it applies to humans in the conditions of close combat. There have been works dealing with psychology of combat before, but mostly in terms of what to achieve and how to deal with it, but not so much about optimizing your daily training in accordance with the said research. Without going into detail, this means primarily the two states in which the brain operates and how they interact, as well as how they impact our performance. The only brief reference to this, which I have seen in martial arts literature was in a book by Luis Preto, but without deeper interpretation.

This book is one of those that are so well thought out that the logic of how its subjects are presented flows seamlessly, which makes it easier for the reader to comprehend and assimilate the material. The authors start with sharp and honest analysis of the actual problem, in terms of how most combat training programs are run, in comparison to what are the demands of the potential real world situations that would entail the use of such training. It is then followed by the relevant presentation of the information that one needs to have a grasp of deal with it. And unlike many other resources, Holloway and Coleman do not stop there, but actually proceed to offer systematic solutions and how to develop them.

Acting on it

The seriousness of approach and scope of the book is hinted already in the glossary of terms at the beginning – Close Combative Incident, Pre-Incident Indicators, Tactic Determinants, Current Reality, Unscripted Training, etc. Just take a look at their definition of Correct Execution:

…both an accurate movement pattern as well as successful application in an Unscripted Training or Play Learning environment. Correct Execution does not mean a person can simply successfully mimic what a movement pattern looks like, it means that they can use the movement pattern effectively and also achieve its intended outcome…

And not only are the authors honest in their investigation of the subject matter, but also when it comes to not pretending to be the revolutionary thinkers whose work comes from a vacuum. Instead, they give credit where credit is due and direct the readers to further sources for enhancing their understanding of the topics presented.

In case you are wondering, yes the book does go into the HOW TO aspect of dealing with an assault, primarily through use of edge and point tools, as they describe it. Still, the methodology is robust and versatile enough to be implemented empty-handed or with smaller impact weapons.

In conclusion, it is really difficult to recommend this book strongly enough, as a simple review is painfully inadequate in attempt to do it justice. The authors are easily accessible via Facebook and happen to be really nice, down to earth guys who will gladly answer your question related to their work, even if not necessarily stemming from the book.

If you would like to find more about Schalk Holloway make sure to hit his web place over at

https://schalkholloway.com/  where you can find his other book, too, but also read more about this one on the page https://schalkholloway.com/the-maul-book/

Hold your ground...and dig in!

In some of the previous posts I was discussing the importance of having a good progression in place when teaching/training in any combative activity. Of course, from the perspective of efficient learning experience and skill acquisition it is easy to grasp. Here, my goal is to expound a little bit on our understanding of any particular stage on the progression line.

It seems to be common understanding that one’s aim is to get across and get to the end destination (whatever that may be) as quickly as possible, right? You know, get to that black belt, certificate of completion, instructorship… Well, I beg to differ! I mean, if the said piece of memorabilia is what brought you to training into first place and the actual thing that that will bring you some sense of fulfillment, then yeah. By the way, if so, this blog may not have too much to offer in that case. 

On the other hand, if your thing is to gain some considerable level of skill/expertise, i.e. the true ability to perform in the real time in their chosen field, you might want to take it slow. You see, another common attitude is to admire the people with great breadth in their knowledge. Sure, every once in a while you’ll notice that in some areas that knowledge is somewhat think or shallow, but hey, they know so much! In the modern day and age, with the wealth of information available at your fingertips, there is just no more real appreciation for depth in any domain of human experience.

The way I see it, the right question is not “how do I finish this level as quickly as possible?”, but rather “how do I stay at this level as long as possible and get something useful out of it?” Again, if this sounds counter intuitive, the key words in the previous paragraph are ability to perform in the real time!

So, let’s take a look at it this way… If you were asked to name one combative activity, be it sport of not, where you consistently see the practitioners able to put their skill on the line and test it against the resisting opponent, which one would it be? I guess many of my readers would be inclined to point to MMA or similar activities, maybe krav maga and similar “reality based” methods (although those are disputable in this regard, but it’s another subject for another time). However, if we simply look for the longest continual output, we basically come down to two such approaches – boxing and wrestling. Both have been around for hundred(s) of years in the format that requires the participants to incessantly perform in the real time in the given field.

And what is the common denominator for both of those? To start with, they do not boast the breadth of the technical base as the foundation of their effectiveness. And consequently, their practitioners spend all the effort on going into minute details of the techniques they have on disposal. Thus, every single exponent usually demonstrates much deeper understanding and better command over the tools they work with. 

...or a punch, for that matter

With all of the above in mind, it should not be strange that these two disciplines form integral part of the modern MMA, along with a couple other methods that pretty much follow the same guidelines of depth over breadth – BJJ and Thai boxing.

To wrap up, regardless of the martial art or system you are involved with, don’t be in a hurry to get to the next thing/belt/rank or to amass new techniques for the sake of “knowing” more of them. Instead, focus on getting the best possible grip of the material you are working on right now, because it will give you the upper hand later, whether you’re going to learn new techniques of not. 

Probable vs. possible

Probably the most frequent question I have been hearing over my years of practicing martial arts is something along the lines of “what if..?” Sometimes, the question comes from a person and in a manner that clearly indicates some background and legitimacy of raising it, while on some other occasions it only shows the cluelessness of the one who asks. However, sometimes even the people with considerable empirical background will ask about the situations that strike us as odd.

While personally I am not the one to rely heavily or even like statistics as the source of one’s information on any given topic, the fact remains that certain occurrences in the domain of fighting are more probable than some others. How does your training reflect this?

Obviously, some styles and systems are utterly not concerned about either the possibility or probability of some practical modern day self-defense situations, since those study some very traditional arts that were implemented in a very different time and very specific environment. We might argue that back then, those practiced methods were addressing the probable situations of the era, but still, it is essentially historical/ethnic/cultural study.

GM Caballero of De Campo 1-2-3

Krav maga

It looks like there are two main methods of tackling the problem. One is focusing on the most common types of encounters and formulating a relatively small and condensed format to deal with it. For example, in the world of FMA it would be De Campo 1-2-3 Orehenal, or in the contemporary “militarized” milieu Krav Maga.

On the other hand, one could try to come up with an all-encompassing system to try covering all the bases, so again we have Pekiti Tirsia or Russian Systema. Now, both approaches have value, but the critical point is the emphasis in training.

Grand Tuhon Gaje of Pekiti Tirsia

Systema

Namely, the instructor should have enough insight and honesty to tell his/her students what is the material, they are working on, meant to achieve. While the case of streamlined instruction may suffer from not including all possible types of combative scenarios, the instruction should then provide enough of the attribute work to at least offer some ability of improvisation. Contrary to that, the “complex” systems should acknowledge that some things are more probable than others and use the training time accordingly, i.e. invest more work in probabilities, while adding the remotely possible applications more as illustrations and kind of references.

In the latter case, some students might happen to enjoy more the aspects that are possible but unlikely to happen, so the instructor will have the obligation to make sure they have the basics under their belt, i.e. no neglecting what could be a live saver that same night.

Another thing that I have noticed as a weakness in the expansive systems (but not exclusive to them) is the failure to recognize the proper progression in training, which would facilitate the progress of the student. For example, they will work on speed and agility before addressing power and flexibility, or talk in detail on (counter)knife drills without first developing strong deployment skills or footwork.

Ultimately, the performance of a practitioner will depend on the quality of the instructor and, of course, their own intelligence and rational thinking on the material offered in training. Any training method, minimalistic or expansive, will produce both excellent and unsatisfactory exponents, but the fact remains that the probable MUST be stressed, while the possible needs to be at least mentioned and glanced at, in order to be recognized as a threat. After all, we all know that in MMA the fighter who does not know how to sprawl against a shoot or parry a jab is not going to last long, but then again, we have seen some spinning backfist knockouts as well, even against the top-class competitors.

Spinning backfist

Why do it?

One of the main things that make people outside martial arts look at us “insiders” as immature, hormone-raging and irrational types is certainly the shape that some of the martial art discussions (read: meaningless quarrels) take. Essentially there are two types of those – first the inner disputes within the same system/style, second the “whose d!ck is bigger” debate among the practitioners of different ones. The former case is almost always politically motivated, so I am not going to delve into it here and now.

The second kind, however, as it seems to me, tends to be more or less sincere in the beginning, but deteriorates due to some fundamental lack of understanding between the parties involved. My experience tells me that on most occasions those irreconcilable disputes are based on the failure of all sides involved to understand and acknowledge their own and other people’s motivation to do martial arts in the first place. I will try here to offer a view that could maybe help in preventing of dissolving such waste of energy.

Let me start outright by saying that I feel almost any motive to get involved with training in martial arts is legit, as long as it is authentic. By authentic, I mean entirely based on interior benefits, and excluding exterior ones (commercial success, social status and similar). Some of the more common ones that we see are:

-         the genuine need for self-defense skills;

-         the need to build one’s self-confidence and sense of well being;

-         a cultural/ethnological study of sorts;

-         means of recreation;

-         competing in sport events;

-         spiritual uplifting and/or self-actualization.

Now, it is obvious (at least I hope it is) that each of these motives requires different approach to and emphasis in training in order to be realized. Therefore, whenever you look to join a martial art class, ask yourself what are you looking for and why are you doing it. Try to answer your own question as sincerely and honestly as possible, as it would save you a lot of time, frustration and disappointment later. Once you know what makes you tick, you can set off on finding a right school for you.

It means that your driving motivation will decide on which elements of the whole package may have more or less importance in whether you choose to join a particular group – is there a required uniform or not; are there some customs/rituals that are mandatory; is there emphasis on the original terminology etc.

For example, if you really do need realistic self-defense methods, especially in hurry, you ought to seek a school or a program that teaches some sort of combatives. Certainly the best known such type of system today is krav maga, but most other RBSD methods that focus on scenario type training and stressing adequate physical and psychological attributes will do just fine. On the other hand, in this case the only rituals observed should be those relating to the safety in training and the uniform should not play that much of a role.

Should you be on the quest to learn more about some culture’s expression embodied in its form of martial art(s), it is then certainly important to embrace the whole thing – uniforms, terminology, proper code of conduct (as long as it does not stand in direct opposition with you own set of deeper values), hierarchy…

However, it is my firm belief that the relations that may be of utmost importance within the school, during training, should not necessarily transfer to your daily life. In other words, please do not be a medieval ninja or a renaissance nobleman fencer, nor an MMA athlete or a SEAL commando at your daily job as a post office clerk, as it will usually make you a modern day jackass. Whatever you do, it only makes sense in its proper context.

 Those in need of some recreation after hours of sitting at work might be more concerned about the proximity and cost of the class that about the actual material being taught.

By now you should get the idea and the main point of my lecture, but there is one aspect that needs be addressed individually. When it comes to the whole spiritual/mental aspect of training martial arts, I really feel that if you mange to find a healthy environment in which the training is conducted, and you work with dedication and commitment, the spiritual and mental improvement will come on its own, almost as a side-effect of your training. Personally, I’d say that if you are searching primarily for that kind of effect, you will be better off doing yoga or practicing one of the many meditation methods out there (DISCLAIMER: look for proper guidance here and I am not recommending anybody’s approach in particular). Otherwise, you will be frustrating other people in you martial art club who are there for actual training.

And now, back to being sincere and honest with yourself. If you are, you will avoid getting involved in an argument over the street-effectiveness of aikido, tae-bo and capoeira, or the authenticity of lineage in kickboxing or MMA. That said, nevertheless, it is a fact that even within the same general system or style of martial art, some schools will put more emphasis on one aspect of training or another, so you might want to do some previous research into that as well.

Finally, there is one more thing left to stress here. It is normal for people, especially those who are into it for a long time, to change their point of view or focus of interest in training, so there is nothing bad in changing schools, trying out new things or combining two or more training approaches on one’s own personal path through the world of martial arts.