Why train weaponry?

Weaponry.... "Why train it, I don't carry a weapon, I don't walk around with a stick, how likely am I to use the things I learn in the weaponry classes?"

I've heard similar questions a few times and the answer is simple, Martial Arts are to be used for defensive purposes, for your safety and the safety of those you love. You are not a trouble maker but that doesn't mean trouble will never find you. I'm sure we've all heard our parents say something like "It's not that I don't trust you, I just don't trust everyone else out there". We don't know what we will be faced with in a volatile situation and the simple truth is we want to come out of any unpleasant situation with as little damage as possible.

 

If you want to fight against a grappler, then you need to have some understanding or training of grappling, the same applies for weapons. An assailant may come at you with a weapon, wouldn't you want to know about sticks and knives then? If you're in a multi opponent situation and you happen to get a hand on a weapon that was dropped or a branch even, wouldn't you want to know how to handle that weapon to get away from your attackers as quick as possible?

You could be at a wedding an uncle Charlie has had a little too much to drink and is waving his bottle or glass around, like any situation you don't want to hurt him but he may need to be restrained at least so he is not a danger to anyone else around him in his state. Knowledge of weaponry and disarms will give you a base in all of these situations and won't stop there, they will help your empty hands techniques. Ask me and I'll show you an arm pass/arm drag take down I use that comes directly from knife defence I teach from Filipino Kali.


There are no guarantees in life, Martial Arts training do not guarantee victory, just watch a boxing match or MMA fight, unless it ends in a draw there is always one loser no matter how skilled.  



Be prepared to raise your chances, that's why we train. Join us in in the Kali class every Friday at 19:30.

See you at the gym, Oss!


These clippings were not collected from various papers, they are ALL from the Saturday May 24th edition of the local Telegraph & Argus.

Apply Upgrades (part two, mindset)

We train so many things, as we should, but often forget about mindset. Our day to day lives don't always necessitate the mindset which is of benefit to us in a fight scenario, sometimes it takes us too long to get in to the groove when training and sparring as a result.

When we look back on what was a disappointing sparring session we often fail to realise the reason for our lack of presence in the situation was mindset. Intention and conviction make a huge difference, I remember a turning point for me several years back was after watching multiple highlights and fights of the late Ramon Dekkers. His intensity was brilliant along with his control and awareness. I tried to flip a switch in my sparring session that night and it worked, something really clicked and it was the understanding between intensity and aggression, maintaining your resolve and being calm whilst moving with intention and conviction. Things I'm still always working on!


There are some fighters that repeatedly give dominant performances due to their intention to chop right through their opponent. People like Tyson, Fedor and Ramon Dekkers are examples of this resolve, intention and conviction. It takes a combination of many things to be a great fighter, enjoy the highlights of these greats!

See you in class, oss!

Apply Upgrades (part one, technique)

Hi guys,

These past few months have been great, training and reviewing everything to make necessary tweaks where they're needed. During this time I've noticed the same topics come up time and again at the gym and not just during class time. For this reason I will be putting up a post each week about some of these specific things that we've been talking about which are, rhythm, technique, mindset and body mechanics. Check back each week and you should end up with a little guide to upgrading the way you do things.

This weekend Weidman checked a kick with his knee to devastating effect against Silva now everyone seems to be talking about it. If more people were integrating from these arts it wouldn't have taken this long to be seen or talked about in mainstream MMA. 

People often get caught with things they don't know or do so why not think outside the box? I know I'm not alone in asking why don't we see more of the JKD approach in combat sports but especially Filipino Martial Arts/Silat? The answer may be because everyone is less likely to try out things that are new to them for fear of them being riskier than bread and butter techniques.

Working simple basics and principles and getting creative with them is something we should ALL be doing, but it's great to have some extras in your arsenal to plug in to them!

As an instructor, I love hearing guys tell me how they're having success in other classes against more experienced guys using things I've taught them.

Here's a clip of none other than Bas Rutten talking about kicking technique, it will all sound familiar to those of you I've been lecturing about turning those toes out to open up your hips!


Check out his Jun Fan Gung Fu hoodie, JKD has a longer presence in MMA than most may be aware of and is on the rise. Come along to the classes on Saturdays to train and try out things that are new to you!

Oss!

Seni Silat and Silat Toku

In 2012 I traveled to Malaysia and fell in love with everything over there, I was fortunate enough to meet a fantastic Silat master and talk with him extensively on Martial Arts and Silat as well as get some training with him.

This year I went back to Malaysia but my instructor was out in Brunei teaching the prince so I couldn't train with him. I was however, able to meet Othman Ayib and spend time with him discussing Silat and get several hours training with him.

Othman is a great individual who, like many Martial Artists, is very multi talented. In addition to being skilled in Silat, he works as a nature guide and snake handler and has won several awards in both fields. He holds Guinness world records for his work with snakes and has assisted National Geographic on projects as well as bio-mechanical engineers on their studies of flying snakes for aerodynamics.

Working with snakes requires great resolve, reflexes and movement, this is evident to see when you watch him move. Othman has developed a form drawing from Tai-chi and Silat from observing cobras emerge from hibernation.

Othman is a long time Student of Seni silat, author of Silat Melayu, Ku Ahmad bin Ku Mustafa. His beautiful children displayed some Silat and his eldest son, Idris, helped walk me through the first form of Silat Toku. Othman and I discussed the positions in the form and he showed me the applications and defences in them as well as the foundational aspects of Seni Silat and Silat Toku.

I am very pleased to have met Othman and spend time with him and his beautiful family and look forward to seeing them all again if I am fortunate enough to visit Malaysia again. Othman is teaching classes from his home 2-3 times a week. You can contact him from his website.

(The videos are footage of the more traditional forms, we discussed and drilled applications from these forms but they weren't recorded as we were having too much fun and my battery had died by that point. These were taken on my phone so apologies for the quality).

Terimah kasih!

Rounding off the year

Hi guys,

Despite the busy time of year, injuries and commitments on Dec 15th a keen bunch came together for a solid training session. We bashed pads and kick shields, worked some kickboxing combos and some techniques from the over/under tie up. We incorporated some things into it that we're also looking at in the Saturday classes. We finished off the day with some sneaky stick grappling. 

In addition we talked about the mental approach to training, the JKD mind frame of using everything at your disposal. "Intelligent Combat"

The session was free with the goal of getting everyone to come along and make a charitable contribution and with your kind donations we raised £180 to contribute to The Philippines.

A time when some are is already digging deep for presents it was great to have contributions from those of you who couldn't even take part on the day! Every little makes a difference and every penny will work towards making lives better for those who really need it out there right now. We enjoy the fantastic Filipino Martial Arts and we should give back where we have the opportunity.

A sincere thank you to all of you!

Classes will run as normal over the holiday period but, let's make 2014 a year of progression and growth!

Oss!