When I first got interested in knife related combative issues, back in mid-90's, there were few printed resources available, and not all of them good. Having had a few years of traditional/typical martial art training under my belt, I was, naturally looking for methods that looked legit by having a more or less set curriculum and training progression to follow...and actually found a couple of training manuals that fit in with such criteria. Then, I stumbled upon a small book that didn't, but instead it raised some uncomfortable issues and made me ponder difficult questions, which happened to shed a new light on the whole subject...
Obviously, it offered a look from the perspective we don't usually think of, thus painting a more realistic picture of the problem that one may face, involving blades. To be honest, I don't know whether the book is still available, but ultimately - it doesn't matter.
Enter the main topic of today's post - Medusa edged weapons system! The background story doesn't sound too uncommon: a couple of practitioners weren't exactly satisfied with regular, readily accessible methods of dealing with knife threats and associated problems, so they started looking for more practical solutions. The fact that they were a father and son combo of Mike and Seth Raymond makes it a bit more interesting, but ultimately they turned to the US penal/correctional system, reckoning that most of today's reality blade users reside there. If you are interested into their research method, check this interview out:
Another key figure in the development of Medusa is its leading instructor Jason Schultz, a long time practitioner of martial arts and combatives, with an eye toward practicality and focus on the combative methods with roots in WWII. The thing is, Mr. Schultz really boiled the teaching down into a set of tools and principles that accelerate the training process, and then he wrote a manual about it.
Now, it is a rather short read, but covers all the info you need in order to develop a functional skill in handling a knife (or shank) in a defensive situation. Besides, there is not much talking here about history, lineage, (pseudo)philosophy, or even knife related stuff like selection, carry or deployment (all of which are often predicated on individual preferences and environment), nor on the legalities of using blades in self-defense situations (variable from one locale to another).
What the author does cover, on the other hand, are the topics of basic tactical protocol, grips and thrusts, stance, movement, target zones, some specific tactics (throttling, stick shifting), and a few sample sequences/combos to work on. Interestingly enough, the section on knife vs. knife type of encounter is very short. That is because Mr. Schultz stresses the importance of mindset and simplicity of technical arsenal as the foundation of the Medusa approach to fighting.
The way I see it, the real significance of this manual, and Medusa system as a whole, is not in coming up with another "ultimate supreme" new combative recipe, but rather in helping you understand the problem, i.e. the kind of adversary you might one day have to face...and hopefully prevail. In that regard, this is probably the best source you can find at the moment, and I cannot recommend it enough. After studying the material in this book, and putting it into practice, that task should be easier to complete. After all, what use are the latest, cutting edge technology sights if you are aiming in the wrong direction?
If you are intrigued, the manual is available as a PDF download, so you can "get your hands dirty" ASAP. If you are more of a video type of person and would like to learn more, make sure to find and follow the author on Instagram, where his profile is benkei_sohei.
Here is one of those topics in martial training that tends to be divisive, although it really doesn't need to be. See, in the traditional arts there is often a lot of emphasis on practicing any and all techniques on both sides equally, with the declared ideal of becoming ambidextrous in application. Let me state it right here - I don't think you can ever become truly ambidextrous from training, no matter how many sinawali patterns you happen to learn...however, becoming bilaterally functional is another thing.
But, let's take a step back. For the opponents of the idea of bilateral training, since most of us are not professionals in the field and don't have all the time in the world to only focus on training, the limited time we do have on disposal ought to be dedicated to developing the best possibly performance ability on the preferred side. Interestingly, the professionals, who can and do dedicate their lives to training, for the most part also firmly belong to this camp. After all, how many boxers do you know who can switch stances fluidly and box equally well on both sides? It brings to memory an old interview of Bill "Superfoot" Wallace, the legendary full contact champion, who only kicked with his left foot. Namely, asked about that he said that faced with a choice of having two good legs (if not mediocre) or one that is unstoppably phenomenal, he chose the later. And from the standpoint of a competitor whose belt is on the line, it makes sense. After all, symmetry is not even natural, right?
Hmmm...
But, what about those of us who aren't high level competitors, so no big money or titles on the line? Plus, the self-defense oriented community resorts to the argument of defending when your strong/dominant side is injured. And before some of you laugh an point that if the opponent is good enough to eliminate our string side option, the other will be a joke, let me point out that not all injuries are incurred in an encounter as such. For example, I am currently boasting a bad case of tendinitis in my right wrist, unrelated to training, and I'd rather train with my left than not at all.
That said, it is not even the main benefit I see in the bilateral approach. The biggest advantage there is to it, lies in the fact that such endeavor shows strong benefits to the maintenance and improvement of the overall neural and cognitive systems. Creating new neural pathways, firing synapses etc, it all has long term good effects on human health and functioning.
Since the work on the non-dominant side essentially stimulates the "opposite" side of the brain, typically related to creativity and intuitive thinking, this might even enhance one's ability to find new solutions to the problems faced. The maintenance of the neural and cognitive networks as also VERY important in the advanced age, to prevent dementia and other degenerative issues.
However, we don't even have to go into brain science to see other, possibly more evident upsides. Depending on the chosen training discipline, training exclusively on one side may lead to an unbalanced muscular development (particularly when training with heavy implements/weapons), which in turn results in problems with posture and movement patterns, further loading the compensatory joints and movements, and the injuries that will stem from that.
By the way, if you also include regular conditioning work in your training process, such as weight lifting, roadwork, intervals and so on, would you approach that work with emphasis on the dominant side only? Yeah, I though so...
There is a kind of a third way, too! Years ago, I talked to a pencak silat instructor about this subject, nudged by his "don't care" attitude about whether the jurus of his system (forms) should be practiced in the mirror image as well, since they are not symmetrical on their own. His response was that that a practitioner could develop two different sets of responses for the attack coming on similar lines but from two different sides. I found it awkward at the time, but later it started making sense. Again, going back to weapon-based systems, you just have to work this way! Well, unless you switch the tool between the two hands or grips to deal with the stimuli from left or right.
In conclusion, I'm afraid there is till no definitive answer to the debate, but hopefully you will find some information here that will help you organize your training better, according to your own needs and priorities.
Well, this was supposed to be my last article for 2022, but it wasn't meant to be. So, instead of ending the last year with a bang - here's to a happy and prosperous 2023!
Back in the 1990's, prior to Internet and Youtube, the only way to find out about new and interesting martial stuff out there was reading about it in magazines such as Black Belt. Otherwise, you would have to order a tape (yeah, VHS) from an author you had seen in an ad in those magazines. And those weren't cheap! At one point, the Black Belt actually came up with the idea of putting out a video magazine, and it looked exciting in their ads, but...at the time I just couldn't find the way of ordering to where I lived, and never got too see them to this day.
Fast forward a decade or so, and a gentleman named Pete Kautz, the founder of the Alliance Martial Arts decided to do a similar thing, but in a DVD format, featuring himself and James Keating as regular contributors in each issue, along with a guest or two being featured as well. Each issue focused on a single topic, and although titled Modern Knives, it wasn't dedicated solely to the edged weapons. Since I had already been a fan of their work, and been interested in what they had to show, as well as discovering new exponents, I ordered the first eight issues (i.e. all they had at that point) some 15 years ago. And guess what? I keep re-wathcing those somewhat frequently to this day. So, let's lee what they're all about!
First, a few words about the format and production. Typically, the DVD's are organized into chapters, where Keating usually takes the lead, followed by the featured guest, and then Kautz closing the instructional part. A first few issues also had a review of some instructional video's available, too - and, as you may imagine, I loved those. As the matter of fact, I ended up buying Blaise Loong's Sabungin Silat series after seeing the review in Modern Knives! Naturally, the reviews strived to cover the material that fits the topic of that issue. The video production is quite good, even if not always done with fully professional equipment, but both image and sound are clear, so the content is clear and easy to follow. Again, the videos have navigable menus with chapters, thus causing no inconvenience for the viewer.
Oh, the only aspect that gives out the "homemade" nature of the entire publishing operation is how the DVD jackets are done. Still, it didn't bother me the least - the cover image is indicative of the theme, and the back cover gives the content outline, which even many professionally produced and published videos before and since then failed to do.
front...
...and back
The issue #1 is about the the Spanish Fighting Arts. Keating opens up with with some instruction about the often misunderstood and/or neglected topic of how to use the so-called Spanish notch on some of the bigger fighting knives out there (including his own design - Crossada). He also touches upon the utilization of the knife's guard for the trapping purposes in the clinch phase of a knife fight/duel. Obviously, this material is mostly applicable with big blades, but those are rather interesting insights.
The guest author in the 1st issue is James Loriega, best known for his promotion of the knife fighting methods using traditional navaja folding knives of Spain. To me, this was the most interesting feature, because it is (still) one of the very few possibilities of actually seeing Loriega's material in action. Namely, despite having a few books on the subject published, they are not very clear with regards of how the techniques are executed (maybe even deliberately?), so if you have any interest in this domain - this DVD should be on your list of priorities.
Kautz goes into what is possibly the most evidently Spanish influence in FMA, i.e. the espada y daga approach to using a long and short blade simultaneously in combat. He presents the material along the lines of the so-called cinco teros (5 strikes) method of instruction, and offers what is probably one of the best available introductory lessons on this manner of armed fighting.
The video review in this issue is about the La Verdadera Destreza school of fencing, as presented by maestro Ramon Martinez.
The issue #2 deals with another geographical region - South East Asian Fighting Arts. Keating shows a very interesting method of using the kerambit knife, based on his Hellbows material. What I really liked about this is the conceptual nature of instruction, that integrates the defensive and offensive applications of the moves, doable without the weapon, too.
The legendary Kelly Worden is a featured guest instructor in what is actually a segment of his seminar on the FMA knife. A portion of his material is shown with Worden's patented Travel Wrench tool, and I liked it for the crossover applicability with other small palmstick-type tools and improvised weapons of similar characteristics.
Kautz teaches the triangle thrusting drill of the FMA and its variations, adaptations and applications. Again, in accord with his conceptual overall approach, he goes beyond the most obvious purpose of the drill and shows us how to see deeper into the work. These insights are meant to teach you how to get more mileage from any other type of drill and training method you may be using.
The review is focused on the above mentioned Sabungin Silat DVD series.
The issue #3 is closes to the title of whole series - Modern Knife Concepts. In it, Keating goes into the specifics of use with his signature Chinook folding knife made by Spyderco. It is always interesting to see and hear what a knife designer had in mind when coming up with his or her personal model, and this is no exception. Probably my favorite part was the use of a small, folding knife for back cut technique typically associated with much bigger weapons.
As the guest instructor, ninjutsu instructor Dale Seago does a rather interesting feature about the defense from an unexpected knife attack. I particularly appreciated how he connected cultural and philosophical layers of his art with the tactical and technical applications. That said, the very idea of training/drilling something unexpected is somewhat paradoxical, but there is still quite a bit of value to be gained from this chapter.
Finally, Kautz offers an excellent segment on the extensions and variations of the Comtech Drawpoint method of the knife used in the reverse grip manner. Now, this portion of the material is very useful when taken on its own, but even more so if you have also seen and worked on Keating's original material. It is also a brilliant example of how practitioners can take what they had learned and then put their own flavor to it, and how do do it right!
This is NOT a clip from the described DVD, but gives a fairly good taste of how Kautz does his material there.
The issue #4 is about the Western Martial Arts. This time, instead of being geographically specific, the focus is more on the historical research of the combat methods of Europe and America. Interestingly enough, Keating features a niche kind of material here - single action revolver twirling. Now, if you are not into firearms this may not be of interest at all, and if you are, you may wonder about the practical value of the stuff shown. The way I see it, attempting this material is aimed to achieve developmental effects, i.e. working on your attributes, and particularly the frequently missed benefits to honing one's neural connections and coordination.
Featured guest Bob Charon gives a presentation of the dagger fighting methods from the late medieval manual of Fiore Dei Liberi, i.e. Flos Duellatorum from 1410. It gives us insight into some of the time tested and confirmed principles of combat, regardless of the place they were used in. Also, should you be among the folks who believe the whole HEMA things is just a bunch of guys and gals involved into some sort of glorified costume-wearing reenactment play, it may open your eyes to practical benefits of studying this kind of material.
In the footsteps of the previous chapter, Kautz shows more dagger from another medieval master - this time a German one, Andre Lignitzer. Again, this is not so much about historical accuracy, but more looking toward how it can still be researched to find the worthwhile aspects for our day and age.
The issue #5 stays with the previous theme to a degree, and gives the viewer an incredible amount of information, since it deals with the American Bowie Knife. Now, Keating has long been recognized as one of the leading authorities in this domain, and once more he goes one step further than most other instructors. Namely, the bowie is most often perceived as a dueling implement nowadays, but back in the day it was probably seen more as a great backup weapon/tool, which is where Keating's treatment of the knife in tandem with a revolver is a unique value. Weapon deployment, retention and transition are the name of the game here, and the implications to footwork, distance and angling are as important as any other element. So, don't skip this part!
The late distinguished author Dwight McLemore focuses on one of the bowie knife signature moves - the snap cut - but specifically how do defend against this deceptive and destructive tactic. Like the previous chapter, this is they kind of instruction that is hard to find elsewhere, thus making the DVD that more valuable.
As if the above was not enough, Kautz demonstrates the application of historical sabre fencing techniques with the bowie knife, hence elucidating on some of the highly probably sources of this knife material in the first place. On top of it, we see done the techniques used against the bayonet attacks, which is, again, how the bowie was probably often used in its original environment.
But, there is even more! To give you even more insights into the phenomenon of this legendary blade, we are given a glimpse into the forging of a true fighting bowie under the hands of the legendary master blade maker Bill Bagwell, as well as the suggestions for the every day carry options from the sheath maker Mike Sastre. All in all, one heck of a great and informative DVD!
The issue #6 takes a step away from the blades and is concerned instead with Filipino Stick Fighting methods, and here we have a 2 DVD set. Keating leads the way with a series of options of using the stick as a tool for LEOs, i.e. teaching the locks and releases to control the opponent, where simply using the baton as an impact weapon may not be appropriate.
Dr. Remy Presas, the son of the legendary master Remy A. Presas of the Modern Arnis fame, is shown in a fragment of a seminar, teaching the counter for counter methods and tactics of his art. I liked that the editor (Pete Kautz) chose the material that really fits well with Keating's, and the viewer should probably try investigating how they could be combined. If this is your field of interest, you should be able to spend a long time in discovering modes and options of use with these.
Another guest instructor is Ken Smith, and his chapter is maybe my favorite here. Namely, he goes into Sibat, the long staff material, and for some reason I have always felt some primordial pleasure when handling this tool. Smith demonstrates a two-ended staff approach in his segment, showing how some well known FMA drills and exercises, normally done with a regular stick, can be adapted to and used with sibat.
Finally, Kautz delivers another phenomenal instructional package with his explanation of how to functionalize siniwali (double stick) material. Like before, he teaches us how to see "behind the curtain" of simple movements and movement patters, and into the driving engine behind them. And this not another set of interpretations of the meaning/applications of the already familiar mover, like with so many other FMA instructors. No, Kautz deconstructs the mechanics of strokes, their lines, trajectories and sectors, and then shows you how to come up with your own patterns and applications. In other words, he does not give you a vocabulary of words, but the actual grammar that makes one fluent in "speaking" siniwali. Highly recommended!
The issue #7 is another "deviation" from the topic of knives, but this time it is about the Grappling Arts. OK, with Keating's segment it does not entirely stray from knives, because this segment, taken from his legendary training camp Riddle of Steel held in 1992, shows how to integrate grappling with the blade work. As in some of the previous issues, he shows that there is a wide scope of possible strategies and possibilities to be researches, if you are a "lifer" with a serious and deep commitment to martial training.
Dr. Les Moore was one of those unexpected gems that I hoped to find in this type of publication, as mentioned at the beginning of the article. He shows a number of exercises and drills, some of which I have never seen elsewhere, primarily coming from the catch-as-cath-can wrestling of yesteryear. There are some preparatory/conditioning exercises and then several grappling techniques and tactics taught that make this issue well worthy of your time and money.
Guess what? We have another "double trouble" issue with two guest instructors here, with Mark Hatmaker as the second one. His topic is one very dear to my heart - dealing with grounded aspect of a fight, which means when you are down and your opponent still standing. I am always curious about various asymmetrical scenarios of combat, and Hatmaker's feature is excellent in this regard. He shows several solid approaches and responses to the challenges faced in this situation, and if your interest in grappling goes beyond the sport arena and with an eye toward the street-savvy solutions, this is a great place to learn something valuable.
In his manner, Kautz shows us grappling options and applications of hubud-lubad, one of the bread and butter drills of FMA. He focuses on what is called lock-flow sequences, which is an interesting way to see how on the higher levels of combat the finality of some techniques may be a relative thing, depending on your training and preparation. From the standpoint of MMA and BJJ this will probably look unrealistic, but like before - it should be looked at from the developmental angle... Plus, adding a weapon to the equation may change your view about the practicality of the exercises.
The issue #8 is one of my favorites, even though I really love the entire series. Probably because its subject is the one of Combative Drills & Skills. In my personal opinion, adequate drills are too often a missing phase between simple technique acquisition and sparring. In this DVD we are shown a few approaches to drills and exercises that should help in bridging this gap. Keating works on one of my pet topics - solo drills. In this chapter the developmental benefits mentioned earlier are really in the forefront. He demonstrates several drills done with a rope, unlike anything else I have seen. Now, for the best results, Keating's stuff requires you to put your thinking hat on and dig deep, in order to reap the fruits. Maybe, this clip will help you understand his approach a bit.
The guest instructor Ed Lawson teaches a couple of of muti-purpose and multi-layers drills from his Combat Escrima curriculum, inspired by the Pekiti Tirsia Kali, from what I was able to see. His presentation is really good, and if you are into FMA, you will probably like this portion of the DVD.
Kautz shows a simplified path of learning the use of stick in fighting, via his Figure-8 Method. True to his conceptual approach, Kautz applies a progression of drills to demonstrate his material, and to me an even greater value lies in trying to utilize his method of teaching to other stuff you may be working on in our training. Still, even if you just stay on what he shows, you will be satisfied for having acquired a functional fighting skillset that is fairly easy to maintain.
Now, since my buying this series of DVDs (and Mr. Kautz was so great that he threw in a set of Sharkee training knives that I still use regularly) there have been another three issues published (9 to 11), but for some reason I have never got them (that happens when family and children get into picture, lol). Although, obviously, I haven't seen those and cannot comment on the actual content, from the experience with the first eight issues, I feel comfortable recommending those as well.
In the end, there is one more element of Kautz's work on this video magazine that shows what a class act he is. Namely, instead of using some random/generic royalty-free music for the opening and closing credits, he actually goes with music from the demo bands that he likes, and then gives them full credit and some exposure by including footage of their performances.
Thank you sir Jim Keating and sir Pete Kautz for doing this awesome body of work!
If you have been around this blog for any length of
time, you have probably noticed that most reviews of educational materials have
related to the books and instructional DVD/video formats. Today, however, I’d
like to step into the 21st century and point to an excellent online
source of brilliant combative instruction.
For the readers who share my affinity for the
functional skill and sound training methodology, over the flashy maneuvers and
technique-collecting approach, the work of Tom Sotis
ought to be among the go-to references. Simply put, he spent 30+ years of
dedicated training with unwavering focus on providing to his trainees/clients
the best and most reliable information and skill to be developed. That said,
the more I learn about the man and his work, the more I am impressed with his sheer
honesty about the process of training and utmost disregard for the whole noise
of peripheral phenomena of martial arts, such as ranking, titles, power over
organizations and people etc. As the matter of fact, that is probably exactly
what enabled him to put so much effort and thought into the development of his
excellent methods.
The results are formulated under the banner of AMOK!
And available to the interested parties on Tom’s website Amok! Global. For what is possibly the most
affordable fee anywhere, you get access to the main body of the knowledge that
Sotis has distilled into two categories:
-Core skills;
-Methodology.
That way, not only do you learn what the people that
he has taught in more than 30 countries over the course of more than 30 years
have learned (what he teaches), but
also how did they develop it into a working set of skills (how he teaches). In approaching training from these angles, an
encompassing and thorough understanding is obtained with regards to the
technical performance and tactical decision making, but also the proper focus
on all the right components that will accelerate your progress on the
functional path. Attacks, counters, grabs, disarms; training, practicing,
sparring methods and configurations…it’s all there!
Although the core skills and methodology are
conceived in a manner that integrates the instruction of all necessary elements
of combative capability, for those who want to go into more detail and depth
regarding some of those elements, there are specific focus courses available on
the topics of Footwork, Handling, Faking, Striking, Countering and so on.
The common feature of
all his instruction is the presentation in the bite-sized video clips, shown in
appropriate order. Sotis uses whiteboard presentations where applicable, speaks
clearly and informatively, without fluff and unnecessary ornamentation. Some of
the clips are actually under two minutes of length, and I find it great for a
couple of reasons. One, it forces the instructor to be as clear and efficient
as possible in conveying his message; two, it makes it easier for the viewers
to rewind and dial in the exact part they need to see/hear; three, it keeps
tracking of the material you have covered much simpler; four, finding the exact
topic you want is effortless.
It bears saying that in AMOK! they use knife as the central
tool of instruction, for the reasons very well explained and argued for in the
course, but the material is easily adapted to (m)any other tools you may use,
or to the empty-handed application as well.
Ultimately, even if you have no interest of becoming
and adept of AMOK! or even adopting the methodology into your training, it will
still offer an excellent lens for filtering your
own training approaches, thus helping you stay on the right path, as long
as the desired destination is truth in combat.
Probably one of the most common points of contention among martial artists and fight game practitioners (and even more so among the many couch experts and keyboard warriors) is the old saying "that will never work in a real fight". Quite often, such comments essentially stem from good intentions, but the subsequent debate may spiral out of control. The issue here is the lack of actual criteria in defining what it means for a technique/maneuver to work, what is a real fight, or even what does never truly mean.
For the purpose of this article, let's describe the real fight as an encounter where the participants fully strive to hinder or prevent the realization of the other side's ideas, while simultaneously imposing their own, as well as accomplishing whatever is their desired outcome. Please note that there is no mention of presence or absence of rules, number of participants, or any other circumstances that would imply the categories of sport, street, battlefield etc.
The next notion - work - is easier, if it simply means "achieving the desired effect". So, it is not the matter of doing it as a complete set of motions, but rather of affecting the opponent in a way that reduces their chance of emerging victorious.
Finally, the span or rigor of never is...well, flexible. Sometimes somebody will manage to pull off a technique that nobody else has done before, and a lot of commentators will then hang onto it as the ultimate proof of the said technique's effectiveness, although it may have been a fluke or never happening again. On the other hand, it could actually been a workable move from a competent exponent that simply no one has attempted to do before in earnest (think head kicks in MMA before Maurice Smith), but the naysayers will insist it was a lucky strike.
This is where the notion of high percentage material comes in. Just like the label indicates - it is a maneuver that works more often that it doesn't. Now, there might be a whole bunch of reasons for it to succeed at one time and fail at another, but it seems to me that the main leverage point is the current readiness and level of the person on the receiving end. Let's take a look at this example:
The fact that the contestants are engaged in a full contact stick duel without head gear dictates different fight dynamics than otherwise, but the overall image of a Dog Brother event is still present. At 1:50 in the clip, the veteran fighter Eric Top Dog Knaus does the entry under the roof block that has served him countless times in over three decades of full contact fights. His choice of opportunity is excellent, too, being that his opponent is almost back against the wall, i.e. with no space to maintain the distance. However, Mr. Johnson on the other side does a brilliant job of sideways movement to evade the force of the attack, while still maintaining close enough distance to control the fight from that point and end it in his favor.
What can we learn here? Several things... For one, the fact that something has worked consistently for you a hundred times is not a guarantee of the 101st. On the other side of the coin, even if something has failed consistently so far, but happens to be the only viable option in a given moment - go for it! Interestingly enough, there is a dualistic trend in fight training - once the high percentage offensive techniques are identified, there is a strong focus on defenses against those, which then become high percentage defensive techniques that do not deny the high percentage status to the offensive ones! This is why I highlighted the factor of the person on the other side.
The bottom line is, your training can cover all of the bases if you put adequate priorities on its various elements, and in line with your big picture training goals. You "just" have to work on it.
In one's quest for learning more about the endless aspects of combative behavior, it is probably safe to say that in the absence of personal contact and instruction, video format is the next best thing...if done properly, of course. However, over the past 30+ years my preference for the books has remained unwavering. Why?, you may ask. Well, while video certainly does better in depicting the technicalities of HOW and WHAT IF in various fighting scenarios, the good old books (and the new electronic ones, actually) are simply superior i discussing the deeper, and more universal, levels of human violence and all its domains. This is why my reviews of the martial art related literature has been focusing on such works, and this time we have another one that easily qualifies for my Top 10 list.
If you have had any interest for knife-related material within the scope of personal protection, the name of Tom Sotis should probably at least ring a bell. Namely, he is one of the pioneers in the field of developing and teaching "knifing" as the platform for the more general fighting skill. As the founder of AMOK! he has thought hundreds of seminars around the world and tested his material where very few others dared trying. Fortunately, besides seminars and training camps, his hands-on training methods are accessible for the general public through the AMOK! website, while its underlying philosophical foundations and experiences that had lead to its establishing are brilliantly presented in the book The Way of Tactics: a Manifesto of Invincibility.
The book is divided into three parts, each covering one of the intertwined building blocks of Sotis' methodology.
The first part is comprised of a couple dozen biographical episodes, which serve, as it seems to me, a two-fold purpose: providing the reader with contextual background from which the author's teachings have grown; and highlighting specific life lessons gained from those events, since they make the fabric of his higher, meta level material. Now, the fragments of author's life may not be as extreme as with some others, but he certainly did thread a path that not may people do, and it is obvious that his authority as a teacher/instructor/coach is as authentic as it gets, and you can take his word or trust his judgment on the subjects in the book.
The second part is what I found to be the most valuable portion, and which I keep re-reading often. Here, Sotis gives an extremely thorough and methodical presentation of the material indicated by the title on the cover. Many authors have offered their take on the importance of strategy and tactics in combat training (frequently using the two terms interchangeably), but none comes even close to this book. Unlike them, Sotis has a highly analytical approach to step-by-step exposition of the ideas he wants to convey, and manages to do it in a superbly clear and logical way. From the trainee's inner values as the ground for strategies, through tactics used for the accomplishment of what he calls (and describes in a precise fashion) the best possible outcome, the author takes the readers on the tour of dealing with possible conflicts in their pre-engagement, engagement and post-engagement phases. Along the way he provides excellent insights into the tools for assessment, protocols, preparation, managing fear, and a whole host of other precious lessons regarding mental and physical pillars in one's training.
Although the third part of the book is titled Application, it has nothing to do with photos showing physical movements, techniques etc. Instead, this is where we see how the material from the first two parts is processed and used in planning, organizing and running a training process in the functional manner. This also where Sotis gives his views on the common pitfalls of most martial training organizations and how he manages to avoid them within his own. It is important not only from the standpoint of practicality, but also from the perspective of supporting the arguments for the structures explained earlier and purported as the backbone of effective training.
I have to say, having followed Sotis' work to the best of my ability since his earliest appearance on the Internet in the late 1990s, my expectations of the book were VERY high, and yet, he has overcome them by a large margin. The bottom line is, if you are involved in fight training for any reason other than the ethnological study reasons or the quick money making, you cannot afford to skip this book. Yes, it is so important that if you only buy one instructional item over the next five years - make it this one!
On the coattails of my last post, and a couple other ones, how do you prepare beforehand, in order to maximize the benefits from online lessons? Having given it some thought, I decided to take a two-pronged approach: from student's and instructor's perspective. Clearly, though, the two really go hand-in-hand and are complementary.
As a student, if you do not have prior knowledge of the instructor's teaching style or his material, try to find some info, maybe even address him or her directly with any meaningful questions, if you believe the answers might help you come to the event with improved attitude. If the host allows for the recording of the event for later viewing, go for it! However, regardless of whether they do or don't allow it, have a notebook and pencil(s) within reach, I cannot stress this enough! Having it within easy reach enables you to jot down any instructions or comments that seem particularly significant and/or interesting, since written notes are easier to revisit and reference than video. Possibly even more important is that you can write down any questions that pop to your mind during the class, so you can ask them later, without interrupting the flow of the lesson.
Mandatory!
Next, typically you will find yourself in one of two situations for the duration of the class - either watching or partaking in the activity. I have done both, and here is some advice... If you are "just" watching (for whatever reason - family issues, time of the day, space etc.) make sure to pay attention to how the participating members are doing. As you listen and look at the instruction, try to see who does a good job of it and who doesn't...and then try to analyze and figure out what the differences are and why, maybe also how the performance should be improved. Essentially, you are trying to think from the instructor's perspective here, thus reinforcing the information you are seeking to retain. Trying to explain something to someone else necessarily strengthens your own understanding of the topic as well.
If you are the instructor conducting the session, there are some steps that should be taken in order to ensure the class flows more easily and enhance students' understanding of the concepts and principles taught. First and foremost, picking the right subject to work on can make a big difference. Namely, some things are much easier to cover and explain without a partner than some others. For example, developing physical attributes or polishing one's jab or hook in boxing makes more sense when done solo, than working on clinch techniques and tactics. In BJJ, work from the bottom may suffer less in similar circumstances than top game of takedowns. In armed combatives, such as arnis and eskrima, footwork and striking mechanics will suffer much less from solo presentation than disarming or counter for counter drills. So, with presence/absence of partners in mind, think about whether you will need any additional equipment to aid the teaching. If you believe there are some items that would prove helpful, be sure to notify the students about having it ready as well.
Following that, write down at least a rough outline of the presentation. Even more so than in the real world, fumbling around while trying to think what to do next is plain bad in an online presentation. Besides, when you have a plan, you can spend the first 3-5 minutes of the class giving the overview to the participants, so they may have some context in which to fit your instruction, and it will also lead to more useful and specific questions from them. It is always a very nice touch if the said overview can be sent to the participants either before or during/after the session.
Finally, if in anyway possible, strive to earmark the final 10 or so minutes of the session as the Q&A portion. The kind of questions you get will tell you a lot about the degree of success with your teaching and student's understanding of it. Some of those questions and suggestions might even provide inspiration for future classes, be it in terms of content of manner of presentation. After all, if you care at all about the students taking your lessons, feedback is a must have aspect.
I truly hope this gives some useful insights into the issue of online teaching and learning, so that everybody involved may enjoy the process more. Also, if you have any other advice, I would love to hear it!
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
I was asked on several occasions if I had ever gone to coach a training session without knowing what I would do? In short, the answer is - no! Admittedly, I have appeared in sessions without previously planning the class, more than once. So, how come the answer to the question was negative? Quite simply, there is a super important aspect of training that you can always revisit without feeling guilty... As the matter of fact, if you are not training every day, and making it part of that daily training, you are probably in need of more. It is called - BASICS!
If a man of Virgil Hunter's caliber, coaching champions, stresses the importance of fundamental techniques and tactics, who am I to dispute it? After all, he works with champions and challengers in a tough world of professional boxing, where the failure to train properly is very costly in so many ways.
Now, some may argue that the entire technical arsenal of boxing is rather basic in general, and that other combative systems operate in a more diverse circumstances, hence demanding more variety in training, too. Say, weapon based methods would be like that, right? Well, not exactly. Namely, while the challenges that the practitioners of non-sportive approaches to combat may be of wider scope, effective responses to them are, nonetheless, based on a limited set of mechanical and tactical principles that are best adopted through the diligent practice of those system's basics.
Interestingly enough, most advanced practitioners, and particularly those good in actual fighting, enjoy the constant focus on fundamentals, because they tend to always find new applications and variations of those underlying principles. And it is exactly those novel expressions and applications that make "new and advanced" techniques, but are only possible owing to the incessant drilling of foundations. My main FMA instructor Roger Agbulos keeps repeating his mantra of "advanced techniques being fundamentals done really well", and when you get to spar him, the deep trueness of this sentiment becomes very obvious.
Besides, this attitude is not limited to martial endeavors either. Legendary NFL coach Vince Lombardi is famous for starting the 1961 season with Green Bay Packers by gathering the team and saying: "Gentlemen...this is a football!" Another legendary coach, this time from basketball, John Wooden, would even go so far to teach his players how to put on their socks and tie their shoes.
Finally, there is one important distinction we ought to have in mind. When I rant about fundamentals here, it does not mean the disciplinary methods, i.e. customs and protocols aimed at teaching the students proper etiquette and conduct during classes (not that this is unimportant), but rather the aforementioned tenets and principles that form the technical and tactical groundwork of any given system. And with that in mind, the best way to get to the advanced levels of training is to find joy and pleasure in working on the basics.
In the long term, it is not about how soon you can skip to the next phase, but rather how long you can stay at the same and find it beneficial.
All
the founders of martial art styles and systems were those rare geniuses that
come once in a… No, wait! Really?If
that were true, then how come we have so many of them? Is it possible that just
a relatively small place such as Okinawa gave birth to so many geniuses in less
than half century, some 150 years ago? Not to mention much larger cultures,
such as those in China, India etc. Thousands of martial expressions in the East
Asia alone. And there is one more thing… How come we often see quite notable
differences among the practitioners of the same system?
If
you take a look at the above comment, you will see two equally important
attributes being mentioned: personal
and traditional. At the first glance
those might seem to be contradictory. After all, the whole point of traditional
training is to do the things the same way they have been done for centuries,
just like the founders, right? Well, sort of. If you think about it a little,
and do some research, you will find out that those very founders have actually
codified their own personal expression of the previous traditions, and named
them (or their students did). Which means, in turn, that tinkering and
experimenting with your training is the traditional approach anyway.
But,
how is different to modern, non-traditional approach then?
First,
nowadays more people have the tendency to give new names to their personal
expressions (hey, we live in the world of brands and marketing!), although
there still many of those who keep training, doing their own thing, without
stopping to think about how to call it. Second, we live in the information age,
when instructors are not so secretive and more open towards cross training. It
is, therefore, no wonder we can choose among dozens of schools and styles. Matter
of fact, we don’t need to pick just one! Heck, why not attend a few and combine
the stuff into our own system!?
Wasted time and effort
This
is the problem of the media age. It’s just too easy to get lost in the huge
amount of information all at once, but without certain filters in place it can
be exceedingly difficult to make the right selections and see if they fit
together. I remember a guy coming to an instructor friend of mine who teaches
sort of JKD-inspired MMA and asking for Wing Chun lessons, in order to better
deal with the clinch range. Asked how he would deal with grappling, the guy
answered “I do aikido for that purpose”. He did not think for a second about
the gap between the underlying principles of the two systems, but started from
the perceived strength of each. Also, and even more importantly, he flat out refused
to join that MMA+ class (as my friend called it) which already had worked out
the work in different ranges of combat; instead he preferred developing his own
system after the hefty experience of six month of martial training.
Another
issue is the failure to recognize the most probable challenges and problems you
would face, depending on your reason for training, but instead focusing the
rare extremes that get the attention of the media. This is where people
dedicated inordinate amounts of time to various lapel grabs and two-handed
holds, while completely neglecting tackles, headlocks and standing guillotine
chokes. In other words, inexperienced practitioners engage in cross training looking
for solutions, while not seeing the problems in the first place.
The
way I see it, there are two paths to finding the proper fit in cross training,
and they are not mutually exclusive.
Yeah!
One,
join a club/group that does something different than you, and accept being
their “toy”, thus experiencing the problems their style might put before you.
Then go back and see what answers you can find by digging deeper into your own
system, its technical principles and tactical tenets. This may require some
adaptation of the stuff you have been already doing, but that is where the personal aspect comes in.
Two,
if unable to solve the problem on your own devices, then go elsewhere for
instruction. However, keep an eye open for the potential problems that may
arise from their solutions, i.e. opening doors for new problems, especially if
those new problems are more serious that the ones you came to solve.
Personally,
if training different systems, I usually keep them separated for a while before
even looking at amalgamation possibilities. Sometimes, in fortunate
circumstances, such possibilities will present themselves, kind of jumping out
at you as a pleasant surprise. Other times it will take conscious analysis and
pondering to direct your research. Of course, there is always the possibility
of not finding the right fit between the two, and that’s perfectly fine. In
that case you can either drop one thing, or stay with it for its own sake.
Naturally,
you may be entirely satisfied staying for the same system for years or decades,
and I have utmost respect for people who do that. Again, people’s motives for
starting a martial art may vary widely and wildly, so as long as your are able
to find something according to your needs you should be fine…just be honest
with yourself.
Every now and then any discussion, whatever the
topic may be at the moment, might easily slip into some kind of lament over how
“the Internet has ruined human life” and everything now is make-believe etc.
Well, it is true that when people did not have as much access to information
available they used to spend more time in training and less surfing the ‘Net.
However, it is also true that back then you were more or less “sentenced” to
training only the things you were aware of. The Internet helped put people in
contact much more easily, and open our possibilities when it comes to choosing
the right place and instructor.
I somehow ran across Nelson Pinto via Facebook, and
he immediately struck a chord with me, due to being extremely enthusiastic
about martial arts, both as an instructor and as a student-for-life. It would
be insincere to say that I did not see a bit of myself in his attitude, hence
the positive predisposition. Pinto’s resume is diverse and can be seen on his website, which is also where
you can order the DVD’s reviewed here.
Now, you know how all instructional videos start
with a disclaimer of liability and state something along the lines of “not
instructional, but for informational purposes only?” Well, the Pinto Blade and Impact Tactics
Empty Hand curriculum, with Level 1 being presented here, is actually the
closes I have ever seen to such description. And that is not necessarily a bad
thing. You see, Pinto’s material shown is obviously aimed at members of his
organization and/or advanced practitioners and instructors looking to introduce
new or different stuff in their training sessions.
That said, he runs through the material fairly
quickly, without going into much detail (again, see the disclaimer notice), but
it enables him to cover a lot of ground within the confines of two DVDs. On top
of that, Pinto is a very lively and energetic presenter, and it makes the whole
watching experience more interesting. I especially liked that he opens the
presentation with a subject that is often neglected, i.e. creating
opportunities for attack. That is a conceptual subject that can be put to use
via several approaches, such as stops, fakes, traps, distractions (VERY good
treatise on some aspects here, i.e. how to throw the distracting objects for
optimum effect), and footwork, as particularly noteworthy.
Next, the presentation covers 30 basic strikes of
BIT curriculum, followed by how to work them on focus-mitts, again with some
great insights here. From there, Pinto goes into kicks, partner drills and
combinations, with more relevant pointers along the way.
The second DVD moves to the segment about the
counters to opponent’s attacks, and later includes more kicks, basic joint
manipulations and overall tactical concepts applicable across different
physical tools.
It bears mentioning here that one of the high points
of these videos is seeing the instructor demonstrates the curriculum against a
much larger partner, thus giving more credibility to the material offered.
Nelson Pinto
With all of the above positive features in mind, the
possible downsides might be the “home-made” vibe to the production, although both
picture and sound quality are just fine, but it is not the professional studio
and lighting setting. Personally, I like that the democratization of video
instruction has provided the insight into so many people’s ways of work, but
some may object, depending on their expectations. The same goes for another
trait – Pinto often talks without facing the camera, but he is clearly heard
and easy to understand nonetheless.
In conclusion, this
is a very good set with good stuff on it, especially if you are looking for a
fresh view and approach to some tried and proven material, so that working on
it may be done with a new spark of interest. And that in my experience, is
always a good thing.
This is sort of a continuation of the train of thought discussed in the previous post on constraints and affordances. Over there I talked most of all about various physical constraints in training, which should, hopefully, make us develop some desired skills and abilities that otherwise would be left underdeveloped.
Another approach to the same tool would be the selection of technical or/and tactical tools to be "banned" in drills or sparring sessions, so that the only desired responses would be elicited in trainees' performance. In this regard there are no limits to how you limit your options (yes, I wrote that deliberately), depending on what you are trying to achieve. Say, in a boxing session allow the use of hooks only (technical limitation), or just lateral footwork (tactical). In a grappling session allow only sweeps from guard (technical), or award points only for getting the opponents back (tactical).
Of course, the ideas and approaches from this and previous post can be combined according to needs and training goals, but you may include other insightsas well, if that fits your purpose. The bottom line is - be aware and perceptive of the needs and possible shortcomings in your training, be selective with your criteria for adding one training method or another to your coaching toolbox, see if you can accomplish more by doing less in training, either by limiting stimuli or responses.
This may seem as a bit of a blast from the past, if you have been following this blog for a while. Namely, some years ago I addressed the issue of adaptability being one of the most important attributes of a good fighter, and what it meant, but this time I would like to address some of the more specific ways to approach this subject in your training. Now, what I am to offer may seem counter intuitive at the first glance, but it is a method of training that has been widely use for a long time and with good results, so bear with me.
If you read the linked article, you will see that I believe in a strong foundational skill set and then incessantly working on developing the ability to respond to the new challenges through exposure to specific situations and circumstances. In doing just that I have noted a natural tendency among the trainees, which in the long-term could hamper their progress in trying to accomplish this goal. What emerges as a typical reaction to such drills is the attempt to extract yourself from the challenging conditions and find the way, as soon as possible, to put your best game to use. An example would be working heavily on your positional escapes on the ground, so you can immediately get back on your feet and start striking the opponent. However, in the transition process you might miss on a number of opportunities to inflict some damage, either by blows or joint locks or whatever, somewhere between those basic situations, i.e. lying down and standing up.
So, how do we learn to recognize opportunities in this "grey area" ? In the coaching science there is a method termed constraints and affordancesand it entails limiting the options that trainees have on disposal in dealing with the demands of the drill/situation. That way, they are forced to use other tools, specifically those that previously had not been fully developed and adopted. Here is how the above "transition" scenario is typically addressed in silat classes.
The constraints-led method, however, is not the exclusive domain of traditional/exotic martial arts. Here is the insight into how it could be applied in boxing, to improve the in-fighting prowess among the boxers who typically rely on their footwork and/or longer reach in regular sparring bouts or matches.
In grappling this approach is exemplified in starting all your rolling session from a certain position, the one that is your weak link, maybe spending entire training period doing that; in RBSD/combatives it may be working out of the cornered position; armed systems would stress the use of the "other" hand and so on.
The main challenge in this kind of work is having to face the inner voices that come from one's ego when being forced to step out of the comfort zone. Therefore, make sure to resist the urge to rationalize the weak performances and seek excuses for going back to your feel-good practices. The only way to make breakthroughs in your performance is to "embrace the suck" and keep your eyes on the prize. After all, it is better to suck and be frustrated in training than to suffer in an actual arena of combat, be it urban streets, military battlefield or sport tournament.
In
the previous post we touched upon some of the broad categories of martial art
seminars you may consider attending during the summer. Regardless of which of
those types you may end up partaking in, ultimately the value of the event will
heavily hinge on one fundamental factor – the instructor(s) conducting it.
Sometimes, of course, you will know much, if anything, about the person in
charge of your training there; sometimes you will be more or less familiar with
their background and qualification/biography, but without any real insight into
how they teach; and there are also those you feel very familiar with, due to
having “tasted” their approach through videos, books etc. As you may have
concluded by now, we are talking about seeing someone for the first time, and
the impressions there will decide whether a trainee will repeatedly attend
seminars by the same instructor.
There
are many qualities a good instructors should have, some more
important than others, depending on the circumstances. Since we’re talking
seminars here, not regular classes, I will focus on some of the factors I look
for. Obviously, but should not be taken for granted, the instructor ought to be
highly skilled, with thorough understanding of what makes his or her skill
good, and how to develop it; next, there should be some sort of teaching
curriculum in place, so that the material would be presented in a logical and
understandable manner; then, the teacher should be able to effectively communicate
with the trainees; and finally, there is the need for a keen eye to notice the
possible difficulties among the students, especially if there are common ones.
Philippe Choisy
Personally,
what I expect from a good seminar is to get at least a glimpse of the
teaching/training methodology, and hopefully even a solid insight, should the instructor
be so inclined to discuss it. Namely, if I like the material enough there is
the natural tendency to include some or all of it in my own training and
teaching, in which case it is good to know what is the most efficient sequence
and progression in doing it.
Now,
depending of your interest and priorities in training, there may be some people
out there whose programs are especially attractive and enticing. It is
therefore normal that they would be heading your list of people to check out
this summer, if possible…just make sure that your curiosity is not entirely
based on Youtube demo highlights or similar sources, but rather that there is
some specific reason behind it. My list of Top-something instructors to learn
from has emerged spontaneously over the years, and might be, conditionally,
split in two categories: armed and unarmed. So, just for fun, here are some of
them, listed in alphabetical order:
Evidently,
some of them have already been mentioned on this blog, some not (yet). Now,
this list may also seem a bit all over the place, but in my mind there is a
common thread that makes them all pieces that could fit the same puzzle, but to
which degree…it remains to be seen. Naturally, this list is fluctuating, the
names are changing occasionally (after all, a dozen was a random number in the
first place…I would need to add Hock Hochheim, Mikhail Ryazanov, Robert Paturel
and many others), and it also does not mean I won’t attend any other seminars that
pop up until these are “ticked” as done.
In
conclusion, stay hungry for new knowledge, go learn new stuff from interesting
people, but try to make informed choices and decisions in order to make the
experience as fulfilling as possible.
