Todays session was about applying specific technique and challenging each other. It was very interesting to "observe" different people' styles as you sparred. I noticed a lot of people trying to apply foot work patterns evasions, and counters that we have been drilling in class (including moving of line 45, outside and inside parries, switching leads, fakes, high and low line attacks etc). Everyone was working hard on keeping hands up and chins down, rear heel off the floor, movement in and out. I also noted LOTS of application from various seminar's that we have held and club members have attended (Bob Breen lean, some Daniel Lonero and Terry Barnet combo's and a variety of shields and guards for closing range). A really exciting session and everyone was buzzing by the end of it (if a tad shattered!)
Footwork:
All foot work done with a partner mirroring/following you (they face you and try to stay in range... stretch out lead arm to touch chest) if you move fwd they move back, you move left they move right etc)
Step and slide - fwd x 2 back x2, left x 2 right x2 (any order once you have got the rhythm)
Slide and step fwd (rear foot all the way forward so now in right lead byt with left shoulder forward - the step again with other foot back into left lead) - mask the slide with a jab - Slide and step back (lead foot all the way back so now in right lead with left shoulder forward then step again with other foot back into left lead) - again mask with a jab.
Pivot left - step off 45 as you do throw a hook and pivot on lead leg 90 degrees. end in a balanced position that you can cross from
Step off/pivot right - step of 45 right as you do throw a wide right/right cross. as you are hitting pivot on your right leg but STAY IN LEFT LEAD then follow up with ABC
Combine all footwork with partner mirroring you:
fwd x2, back x2, left x2, right x2, slide and step fwd x2, slide and step back x2, pivot left x 2, pivot right x2
Sparring:
various rounds with a variety of conditions:
Jab only (orthodox stance)
Jab only (south paw)
Jab only (orthodox vs south)
Jab vs cross
Lead leg tied to partners and close range hitting ( I noticed this also inc some cheeky bump offs, the odd tap with elbow, training arms and even some low line leg off balancing!)
All punches allowed round
Tips: general things I noticed - my chin is up a lot of the time despite my best efforts to keep it tucked. Charlie gave me a great tip and looking down my punches using my knuckles as a sight... gonna try this one and see how it goes... I think you can also train with a tennis ball under your chin as well? worth a try!. I also found that I could increase the volume of my punches and slightly confuse my partner by punching their hands (Lightly)... which kind of stops whatever they were going t throw... while I look for a different opening I can use
Pad round:
Without moving - Jab, Cross rear round kick.
Taking one step fwd - Jab cross rear round kick
Move away so you need to slide and step into range then - jab cross rear round kick
Double stick:
Again mirroring and maintaining range
both partner steping fwd
step right 45 A1 and 2
step left 45 A1 and 2
step right 45 fwd A1 and A2 (as you do this partner step back left 45 a1 and 2)
step left fwd A1 and A2 (partner steps back right 45 A1 and A2)
Step left back 45 A1 A2 (partner step right fwd A1 and A2)
step back right 45 A1 and A2 (partner step left fwd 45 A 1 and A2)
Stepping fwd 45 right then left - HH, LL, HL, LH
stepping wd 45 right then left - HH, LL, HLH, LHL
The and a laternal step left and right knee to the floor (like a lunge) HLH, Then lateral stp right and left knee to floor, HLH
After each combo (eg HH) on both left nd right side we then added heaven 6 before doing next set
Wednesday, 18 April 2018
Wednesday, 11 April 2018
10/4/18: Boxing and Thai flows and Wrestling/standing gappling basics
Todays session was interesting for a number of reasons:
1) Mixing skills and drills ( and pulling in a lot of knowledge from previous sessions which made the warm up rounds really fun and challenging)
2) Watching how Steve adapts to the class and abilities of students in the room.. to use teaching terminology he had to differentiate the lesson 3 ways and adapt to each pupils strengths and weaknesses.. and he made it look effortless.
Warm up:
Out of range sparring.. acting as if you were sparring but no touching, still trying to defend evade and attack properly with good mechanics.
Boxing only long range (jab cross)
Long range into close range (standing against each other using hooks uppercuts bumping off etc.
Long range Thai boxing (kicking and punching attack and defend)
Long range into close range (moving into knee and elbow range and a little clinch)
We did a few rounds of these again mostly out of range until the last round of two where we did VERY light touching sparring. this round was particularly fun as many of us utilised combos faints and defences drilled in previous sessions (please see previous blogs for more details)
Drills:
The class was split into 3
Beginners did jab and cross defences (split entry, outside parry and another one I can't remember)
Intermediates did hook defences (bicep stop, cover driving elbow in and bob and weave)
More experience worked on some Thai drills ( Crush lead kick and respond with Thai 4 count, crush rear round kick and reply with 4 count, and defend the lead and rear teep by scoop/passing? the kick and follow with a switch kick 3 punches and switch kick again)
TIPS: on lead low line round kick, which normally targets opponents inside led leg, you're not just looking to hit it you are looking to off set them making them loose their balance, which in turn makes further defences more difficult for them)
Pad drills:
again split 3 ways
Beginners use single double jab and jab cross combo on focus mitts
Intermediate used thai pads but not sure what drill.
More experienced worked on Thai pads with a jab, cross, hook (stepping off line) and double rear round kick.
Wrestling:
This section of the session was great fun... light and skill focused at first in order to see patterns (and something a few of us have done ages ago so was too go "remember" and build on these skills). We started with the building blocks of wrestling.. some basic wrist control and defending wrist control, building up to elbow control into attempted clinches and bicep control and then adding hubud to the mix, clinch flows and escapes and locks/armbars etc
1) wrist control (same side grip) e.g. partner grabs your right wrist with their left hand. you use your free hand (your left) pass over the top of his hand and chop/swipe down and away then grabbing their hand with the hand you just freed where they then do the same. Important to note this is a slow build to sensitivity as you swipe away before they have a full grip (also move to zero pressure)
2) Wrist control - if they grab you hand and you can't swipe away slap the inside of their forearm (twist your body for extra oomph) and simultaneous pull your arm away, then grab they wrist with your freed hand, again moving to zero pressure
3) elbow control - they have grabbed and push your elbow (underhand grip) reach under your arm (like a lop) to brush their arm off then use your freed hand to control their elbow
4) as above but they put a lot of pressure on your elbow.... move back slightly and twist your arm further away to create space then roll you arm (leading with elbow) over their hand and grab their elbow.
5) clinch - from either elbow control escape use your free than to get a single arm clinch.
6) clinch defence - as they go to clinch put your free arm inside their reaching arm to block it.. from here you can either use the blocking arm to lift their grabbing arm and go into hubud, duck under the reaching arm and go into hubud, or if they are to strong use a clinch escape such as a shoulder shrug.
7) bicep control - from any escape, clinch, hubud etc you and go into bicep control - slide your hand inside the arms until you are pushing against partner biceps. as you push one bicep/arm back they will push your other arm back. Keep rolling your hands inside the arms so you will get into a rythmn of left right left right arms being pushed back. the goal is to try and get both arms inside so you and get a double arm clinch. you and break this flow by doing a dumog drag and arn time (shooting one of your arms under one of your partners outstretched/pushing arms then dragging then around you!
We played and mixed all these things to get a feel for it. this requires a LOT of work and sensitivity and like everything you must go SLOW to start so you can get a feel for the motions, inditifiy patterns and shapes and make sure each independent section is effective. once you have done this for a while you will start to do this stuff without thought... but again only if you go slow. if you ruch this to ealy you will get stiff movements and then you will be locked, choked, thrown and generally beaten up pretty quick
1) Mixing skills and drills ( and pulling in a lot of knowledge from previous sessions which made the warm up rounds really fun and challenging)
2) Watching how Steve adapts to the class and abilities of students in the room.. to use teaching terminology he had to differentiate the lesson 3 ways and adapt to each pupils strengths and weaknesses.. and he made it look effortless.
Warm up:
Out of range sparring.. acting as if you were sparring but no touching, still trying to defend evade and attack properly with good mechanics.
Boxing only long range (jab cross)
Long range into close range (standing against each other using hooks uppercuts bumping off etc.
Long range Thai boxing (kicking and punching attack and defend)
Long range into close range (moving into knee and elbow range and a little clinch)
We did a few rounds of these again mostly out of range until the last round of two where we did VERY light touching sparring. this round was particularly fun as many of us utilised combos faints and defences drilled in previous sessions (please see previous blogs for more details)
Drills:
The class was split into 3
Beginners did jab and cross defences (split entry, outside parry and another one I can't remember)
Intermediates did hook defences (bicep stop, cover driving elbow in and bob and weave)
More experience worked on some Thai drills ( Crush lead kick and respond with Thai 4 count, crush rear round kick and reply with 4 count, and defend the lead and rear teep by scoop/passing? the kick and follow with a switch kick 3 punches and switch kick again)
TIPS: on lead low line round kick, which normally targets opponents inside led leg, you're not just looking to hit it you are looking to off set them making them loose their balance, which in turn makes further defences more difficult for them)
Pad drills:
again split 3 ways
Beginners use single double jab and jab cross combo on focus mitts
Intermediate used thai pads but not sure what drill.
More experienced worked on Thai pads with a jab, cross, hook (stepping off line) and double rear round kick.
Wrestling:
This section of the session was great fun... light and skill focused at first in order to see patterns (and something a few of us have done ages ago so was too go "remember" and build on these skills). We started with the building blocks of wrestling.. some basic wrist control and defending wrist control, building up to elbow control into attempted clinches and bicep control and then adding hubud to the mix, clinch flows and escapes and locks/armbars etc
1) wrist control (same side grip) e.g. partner grabs your right wrist with their left hand. you use your free hand (your left) pass over the top of his hand and chop/swipe down and away then grabbing their hand with the hand you just freed where they then do the same. Important to note this is a slow build to sensitivity as you swipe away before they have a full grip (also move to zero pressure)
2) Wrist control - if they grab you hand and you can't swipe away slap the inside of their forearm (twist your body for extra oomph) and simultaneous pull your arm away, then grab they wrist with your freed hand, again moving to zero pressure
3) elbow control - they have grabbed and push your elbow (underhand grip) reach under your arm (like a lop) to brush their arm off then use your freed hand to control their elbow
4) as above but they put a lot of pressure on your elbow.... move back slightly and twist your arm further away to create space then roll you arm (leading with elbow) over their hand and grab their elbow.
5) clinch - from either elbow control escape use your free than to get a single arm clinch.
6) clinch defence - as they go to clinch put your free arm inside their reaching arm to block it.. from here you can either use the blocking arm to lift their grabbing arm and go into hubud, duck under the reaching arm and go into hubud, or if they are to strong use a clinch escape such as a shoulder shrug.
7) bicep control - from any escape, clinch, hubud etc you and go into bicep control - slide your hand inside the arms until you are pushing against partner biceps. as you push one bicep/arm back they will push your other arm back. Keep rolling your hands inside the arms so you will get into a rythmn of left right left right arms being pushed back. the goal is to try and get both arms inside so you and get a double arm clinch. you and break this flow by doing a dumog drag and arn time (shooting one of your arms under one of your partners outstretched/pushing arms then dragging then around you!
We played and mixed all these things to get a feel for it. this requires a LOT of work and sensitivity and like everything you must go SLOW to start so you can get a feel for the motions, inditifiy patterns and shapes and make sure each independent section is effective. once you have done this for a while you will start to do this stuff without thought... but again only if you go slow. if you ruch this to ealy you will get stiff movements and then you will be locked, choked, thrown and generally beaten up pretty quick
Friday, 6 April 2018
5/4/18: R.A.T - Rapid Assault Tacics - Self preservation
Tonight session was based around the RAT system which I understand was developed by Paul Vunak.
The RAT system is pure self defence. More than that it is simply about Self preservation with the aim of taking the thinking out of what you are doing in order to eliminate as much as possible the effects of adrenaline dumps, the need for complex techniques and fine motor skills in high stress situations.
Please note much of what I am writing about is from my own learning and limited experience - there are other experts in this field but this is my understanding.
There tends to be two aspects of martial arts - Self Perfection (skills, techniques, drills, sparring) and Self preservation (it's all kicked off and you have to do what you need to do in order to walk home or you'll end up in a hospital).
Undoubtedly, if trained well, the self perfection aspect of the arts, namely the attributes, will enhance your ability at Self Preservation. However, the one aspect of Self Preservation that will get you through a potentially life threatening situation (and lets face it if someone is threatening you they are not concerned about your wellbeing in the slightest) is your mental attitude and ability to switch on aggression.
It is this aggression and forward pressure that the RAT system is based on and is one of those difficult things to train. In a club you want to challenge each other but also take care of each other. Practicing the RAT requires you to basically steam roller your partner, which can be quite conflicting.
Personally I find this difficult in general and as such have spent a lot of time looking into "aggression" and how to develop the "on/off switch".. and I'm still working on it.
However, I do feel that you need to experience the aggression side of things so that you have a frame of reference so that you "know" what to expect (obviously ever situation is different) as without some feel for it you will not know how you are going to react in the actual situation.
This can be practiced in a few ways: (disclaimer - some of these are not pleasant and not healthy to do all the time!)
1 min of army milling (big gloves, gum shields NO DEFENDING just hitting each other)
Visualisation (WARNING this is not pleasant - you mentally get yourself into an aggressive state by visualising in as much detail as possible attacking someone - a pre-emptive attack, all out violence but one way only... just you attacking them - this also requires you to dehumanise your target... to literally see them as a selection of things to hit.. as I said not pleasant but I am just talking about theory here)
lots of sparring rounds at various intensities (possibly pad rounds too with an aggressive pad holder) - to get used to people trying to hit you regularly.
Shout scream swear - verbalisation can also help you get into a more aggressive state - I believe Steve Morris speaks about the importance of this and essentially raising yourself to a level of violent aggression that is greater than your attacker - you are intending to smash or break everything you touch.
So what is the RAT?
Essentially it's - cover, straight blast while running through the attacker (then depending on numbers of assailants or severity of their intended assault) - head but, knee, elbows
Break down of technique:
1) Fence (slightly square stance hands extended in front of you to give you space) at this point make a lot of noise about no wanting trouble to de escalate the situation.
2) Cover - they have decided to attack - bring an elbow in front of your face (it doesn't matter which one) basically kiss your bicep, tuck chin into shoulder, hand on the top of your head. point of elbow should be in front of your face so that is what they hit
If the do a wide hook/haymaker you can block with blade of arm and simultaneously hit (with a LOT of forward pressure)
3) straight blast - AGRESSIVLY chain hit (like wing chun) but run at them as you do this 5 or 6 hits on the head should see them being forced backwards (you are wanting to create space to escape - taking them out is a bonus) get your shoulders into it as well.. again it's not a classic wing chun hit more like a Rottweiler driving a steam roller
Then depending on the situation you can either run and escape, manipulate the person to be a shield f there are more than one of them of if they were intent on causing serious harm carry on with...
4) Head Butt - during straight blast, grab their head (racking eyes as you do it) pull their head DOWN onto the top of your head (you need to crouch a bit to get under them)
5) Knee - drive your knee like a spear through them
6) Follow up with elbows (e.g knee with right leg you follow with left hook elbow and right downward elbow... opposite if you knee with left leg)
Drill it: (partner pad holding)
We broke this doen into sections:
1) Cover a hit (partner wearing big glove) then straight blast a Thai pad forcing them back
2) straight blast a focus mitt then clinch and bring pad down onto your head for head-butt
3) Knee a Thai pad and follow up with 2 elbows on the pads
Again I must stress this is the OH SHIT series of drills - pure self defence and intended to focus on aggression and forward pressure - there is MUCH MORE to martial arts than this but this does need to be drilled and worked so that you can develop that On/Off switch - basically be the nice guy that turn into the Hulk on command if needed.... not an asshole all the time!
The RAT system is pure self defence. More than that it is simply about Self preservation with the aim of taking the thinking out of what you are doing in order to eliminate as much as possible the effects of adrenaline dumps, the need for complex techniques and fine motor skills in high stress situations.
Please note much of what I am writing about is from my own learning and limited experience - there are other experts in this field but this is my understanding.
There tends to be two aspects of martial arts - Self Perfection (skills, techniques, drills, sparring) and Self preservation (it's all kicked off and you have to do what you need to do in order to walk home or you'll end up in a hospital).
Undoubtedly, if trained well, the self perfection aspect of the arts, namely the attributes, will enhance your ability at Self Preservation. However, the one aspect of Self Preservation that will get you through a potentially life threatening situation (and lets face it if someone is threatening you they are not concerned about your wellbeing in the slightest) is your mental attitude and ability to switch on aggression.
It is this aggression and forward pressure that the RAT system is based on and is one of those difficult things to train. In a club you want to challenge each other but also take care of each other. Practicing the RAT requires you to basically steam roller your partner, which can be quite conflicting.
Personally I find this difficult in general and as such have spent a lot of time looking into "aggression" and how to develop the "on/off switch".. and I'm still working on it.
However, I do feel that you need to experience the aggression side of things so that you have a frame of reference so that you "know" what to expect (obviously ever situation is different) as without some feel for it you will not know how you are going to react in the actual situation.
This can be practiced in a few ways: (disclaimer - some of these are not pleasant and not healthy to do all the time!)
1 min of army milling (big gloves, gum shields NO DEFENDING just hitting each other)
Visualisation (WARNING this is not pleasant - you mentally get yourself into an aggressive state by visualising in as much detail as possible attacking someone - a pre-emptive attack, all out violence but one way only... just you attacking them - this also requires you to dehumanise your target... to literally see them as a selection of things to hit.. as I said not pleasant but I am just talking about theory here)
lots of sparring rounds at various intensities (possibly pad rounds too with an aggressive pad holder) - to get used to people trying to hit you regularly.
Shout scream swear - verbalisation can also help you get into a more aggressive state - I believe Steve Morris speaks about the importance of this and essentially raising yourself to a level of violent aggression that is greater than your attacker - you are intending to smash or break everything you touch.
So what is the RAT?
Essentially it's - cover, straight blast while running through the attacker (then depending on numbers of assailants or severity of their intended assault) - head but, knee, elbows
Break down of technique:
1) Fence (slightly square stance hands extended in front of you to give you space) at this point make a lot of noise about no wanting trouble to de escalate the situation.
2) Cover - they have decided to attack - bring an elbow in front of your face (it doesn't matter which one) basically kiss your bicep, tuck chin into shoulder, hand on the top of your head. point of elbow should be in front of your face so that is what they hit
If the do a wide hook/haymaker you can block with blade of arm and simultaneously hit (with a LOT of forward pressure)
3) straight blast - AGRESSIVLY chain hit (like wing chun) but run at them as you do this 5 or 6 hits on the head should see them being forced backwards (you are wanting to create space to escape - taking them out is a bonus) get your shoulders into it as well.. again it's not a classic wing chun hit more like a Rottweiler driving a steam roller
Then depending on the situation you can either run and escape, manipulate the person to be a shield f there are more than one of them of if they were intent on causing serious harm carry on with...
4) Head Butt - during straight blast, grab their head (racking eyes as you do it) pull their head DOWN onto the top of your head (you need to crouch a bit to get under them)
5) Knee - drive your knee like a spear through them
6) Follow up with elbows (e.g knee with right leg you follow with left hook elbow and right downward elbow... opposite if you knee with left leg)
Drill it: (partner pad holding)
We broke this doen into sections:
1) Cover a hit (partner wearing big glove) then straight blast a Thai pad forcing them back
2) straight blast a focus mitt then clinch and bring pad down onto your head for head-butt
3) Knee a Thai pad and follow up with 2 elbows on the pads
Again I must stress this is the OH SHIT series of drills - pure self defence and intended to focus on aggression and forward pressure - there is MUCH MORE to martial arts than this but this does need to be drilled and worked so that you can develop that On/Off switch - basically be the nice guy that turn into the Hulk on command if needed.... not an asshole all the time!
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