Sean Sherk seminar at Fulinkazan

Last night at the Fulinkazan Gym, Mark “Spenna” Spencer hosted a great seminar by none other than former UFC Lightweight Champion, Sean “The Muscle Shark” Sherk.

I got to the gym and it was packed with guys all eager and excited about the experience and all the good stuff we expected to learn. Sean talked a bit about the training he does, his combinations, setups and how repetition was key. He stressed that there are no shortcuts and how basic things get drilled individually for 40 mins to an hour on some days.

He talked about using strengths and maximising them by setting things up and having the skills developed in other areas to bring you back to your strengths. It was all JKD to me!

Some of the things covered were:

Basic boxing evasion with slips and footwork

Boxing combos to set up the double leg

How to succeed with a takedown when the opponent attempts a guillotine as a counter

Arm pins from side mount

Bicep crush from an arm pin

3 submissions from Kesa Gatame as well as countering a body lock escape from the position.

There was a Q&A session at the end as well as photo and signing opportunities.

The atmosphere was great and everyone was working hard, it was a great night and a rare first hand opportunity to gain insight into the training and preparation regimen of one of the UFC’s best fighters.

I found the angles and footwork used in the double leg shoot very similar to the female triangle in FMA. Mixing techniques from one art and the next, the JKD blend, is something we do all the time and makes things easier to pick up and have a reference point you're used to.

Thanks again to Spenna and everyone involved at Fulinkazan for a great Monday night!

Triangle footwork

 

See you in class!

Brief FMA glossary

There are quite a few sites online that have a huge list of filipino words and their meanings, even in mulitple dialects. This is a list I think will serve you well enough but feel free to research yourselves.

Abanico = fan strike

Abierta = open position (note there is open high and low)

Arnis = (harness) Filipino martial arts

Bacalau = a circling, returning angle 1

Baston/Olisi = stick

Serrada = closed position (note there is closed high and low)

Cinqo Teros = 5 strikes

Corto = close range

Daga = dagger

Dakop = to cup/catch

Dakot = to cut/scoop

Dulo = tip of the stick

Dumog = Filipino grappling

Dongab/Dungab = a strike with the fist

Eskrima/Escrima = (skirmish) Filipino martial arts

Espada y Daga = sword/stick & dagger/short stick

Gunting (Guninting) = scissors (limb destruction)

Hubad (hubad lubad) = tie and untie, sensitivity/flow drill

Kali = Filipino martial arts

Largo = long range

Laptik = a strike that follows through

Medio = medium range

Redondo = circling power strike

Paglibut = circling parry similar to waslik

Pakal/pical = (earth grip) ice-pick grip with tip of weapon pointing down

Panantukan/Pangamot = Filipino boxing/hand skills

Paawas = parry

Punio/punyo = butt of the stick

Sac sac = (heaven grip) standard grip with tip of weapon pointing up

Songab = finger jab

Waslik = circling parry

Witik = a quick returning strike



As always, let me know if you have any questions.

See you in class!

5 ways of attack

Here are some fundamental principles, have a think about how you might apply them then play with it in sparring.


SDA/SAA - Single Direct Attack/Single Angular Attack:
This is, as described, a simple attack such as a jab or lead leg kick which is not followed by another attack and doesn’t follow a preceding attack.

PIA - Progressive Indirect Attack:
This is an attack that is setup, you might, for example, fake low but hit high.

ABC - Attack By Combination:
Any attack techniques used in combination, keep efficiency in mind so each attack can link you into the next.

ABD - Attack By Drawing:
When you bait an opponent you draw them in to an attack, you setup a trap for them and draw them in. I like to sometimes drop my lead hand then counter with a gunting.

HIA - Hand Immobilisation Attack:
This is when you trap or hold your opponents limb when attacking. The same principle applies to any part of your opponent, pinning their foot or grabbing their hair would also be an Immobilisation Attack.

See you in class!