What's the best way to improve training?

An intentionally vague title for you. To improve the quality of your training, if you train in an external style such as TKD, MMA, Karate, is to work on your endurance. Stephan at GrappleArts.com says, "Endurance is the key. It doesn’t matter if you run in the park, skip rope, swim in a pool or go mountain biking: if you aren’t training to increase your stamina you are short-changing your potential on the mat." While his focus is obviously grappling, this applies just as much to the striking arts.

When I was doing full-contact, boxing smokers, and kickboxing, I'd run, spar, and occasionally sprint. I later used the best training equipment for a martial artist yet invented, IMHO, the VersaClimber, for rounds of three minutes, followed by 90, 60, or 30-second rest periods. I also would do burnout bursts of speed in the last thirty seconds of every round.

I agree with Stephan because more endurance means you can train longer, with better technique, thereby making more improvement that if you are exhausted and sloppy. If you have energy to burn at the end of a round, you can finish with a flourish to win the round, or, in a fight, fight all-out without letting up to rest (if your technique is good enough).

See Stephan's post for some ideas, plus check out his article, Cardio for the Martial Arts.

Positional opening and good rear hand guard - video

This is a great example of creating a positional opening. In this round, Mike and I were doing lead-hand only boxing as a warm-up. We often did handicap sparring, or limited a weapon to develop something specific. More on that later. In this video, watch for the following:

• Mike's (black shirt) rear guard is almost always up and in the way of a jab. This is a great habit to cultivate. In close, it should be on the side, but at long range, put it in front of you, as Mike demonstrates well. Not doing so is a common reason for why we get hit.
• Watch Mike (again, the guy in the black shirt who's hitting me) circle to his left, actually gets to my centerline and creates what I call a positional opening. He did it by jabbing, occupying my guard as he moved to his left. I'd watch out for this normally, as he's moving toward my power hand, but within this drill, it's excellent.
• Notice Mike's (that loser!) good step and slide footwork. He never gets over-extended or caught flat while he does it. Great job, Mike.
• Notice that the other guy is coasting for a while until he realizes he's been getting hit a lot, then finally decides to do something. What a sloth!

GrappleArts.com on Dangerous Locks

By their very nature, all locks and joint manipulations can be dangerous, but some are more dangerous than others. If you you do any submissions, or grappling in general, I'd recommend you read The Dangerous Locks by Stephan at GrappleArts.com.

In particular, he highlights the Kimura, neck cranks, and all twisting leglocks. Read it!

Today's TDA Tip: Avoid a fair fight

No such thing....

The last "fair" fight I had was in fourth grade, when a kid I was fighting said, "So you wanna rassle, huh?" Then proceeded to uppercut me in the solar plexus after I was out-wrestling him. The fair fight ended when he started to lose. I was still fighting fair. I lost...

As we've mentioned before, fighting isn't fair, you usually don't get to pick whom you are going to fight, and no one wants to lose. That's why, if you get attacked in today's society, you're dealing with someone who's mentally unstable, on drugs, or a criminal - sometimes all three. In all of those cases, the deck is stacked against you.

The mentally unstable will be unpredictable. He (or she) may not care that you are bigger, with your friends, that you are in a public place, or that he will get caught. The mentally ill may be armed, and uninhibited by the normal constraints of a conscience or shame. These are the people that kill their own families, then mutilate the bodies before sitting down to breakfast. How do you handle that? Is that a fair fight?

All of us have heard stories of those on various mind-altering drugs, and I include alcohol in this discussion. These subjects may have lost all inhibition and seem to possess incredible, near superhuman strength. They may be able to take ten of your best shots without seeming to notice, and throw you like a rag doll. There are news accounts of this nearly every week, and many times these folks are killed during arrests because they won't submit! Sometimes three, four, or even five police officers cannot effect an arrest without piling on, which prevents the subject from breathing. For you grapplers, prepare to break an arm or dislocate a shoulder and have the attacker keep coming. Best to take out a knee or, even better, use a blood choke to take down this type of attacker. Better yet, run!

Finally, the criminal element. Preying on those who have what they cannot earn for themselves, or who appear weak or unable to defend themselves, this fight will be the least fair. Prepare to be attacked or killed by those who will attack from where you least expect it, and when you least expect it. You will probably face weapons, multiple attackers, or both. Your life may be in jeopardy if you don't comply, but may be forfeit even if you do.

Do everything in your power to avoid a fight, but if you can't make sure it's not fair!

For more at TDA Training, see:
Should I run?

The Self-Defense category
The Multiple Attackers category
The Violence Project post

We also recommend:
Crime Doctor for excellent crime prevention tactics
Defend University has some of the best "real world" self-defense information out there
Hock's Blog always has something practical
No Nonsense Self-Defense is aptly named. Check it out.

Feedback (comments), including links are encouraged. Have a safe and happy day!

Awesome bravery - PJs at work!

Read this Blackfive post and view the embedded video about the PJ's, the USAF's Pararescue men, whose mission is to "... rescue and recover U.S. personnel trapped behind enemy lines. These units take on other special duties that they do not talk about, but their main mission is to save and bring people home from hostile territory..."

Awesome.

MCMAP begins for us

My hardy little band of training partners and I are working our way through the MCMAP (Marine Corps Martial Arts Program) curriculum, starting last Saturday. We will attempt to give you our observations as we go. For those not in the know, please check out the previous posts (here, here, and this FAQ) on MCMAP here at TDA Training, but also check out the official Marine Corps site.

MCMAP is a relatively new program in the evolution of USMC combatives. Chief among the goals of this martial art are:

"...to improve the warfighting capabilities of individual Marines and units, enhance Marines' self-confidence and esprit de corps, and foster the warrior ethos in the Corps. The focus will be the personal development of each Marine in a team framework, using a standardized, trainable, and sustainable close combat system. MCMAP is distinctively a weapons based system, integrating combat equipment, physical challenges, and tactics typically found in the combat arena.

The program:
- Is a true Martial Art (battlefield/military oriented, not sport)
- Enhances the view of the Marine Corps as an Elite Fighting Force
- Provides skills for all Marines
- Is applicable throughout the Spectrum of Violence
- Strengthens ethos and morale
- Enhances recruiting and retention

MCMAP is a progressive system, with each successive level improving on and enhancing skill sets learned in the previous level.
Furthermore, the individual Marine will continue to advance through the program throughout his career."

Our focus will be on the entire system through 1st degree black belt, minus the bayonet techniques. More to come...

Today's TDA Tip: The Sprint as a Training Method

J Hines of the Knife Self-Defense blog (a new Link - see the sidebar!) makes a good point in his post, "Sprinting for Knife Defense":

"Sprinting is considered one of the best ways to get away from someone intent on hurting you with a blade or any form of impact weapon.

What I am talking about is explosive sprint from 5 to 25 yards. But that initial step to get away should be very powerful. When sprinting you should think of running over your adversary, even if its just running away from your assailant."

I wholeheartedly agree. J is referring to creating critical distance between yourself and your attacker(s) so that you can employ a self-defense strategy, including getting away. Great tactic! In fact, sprint training is probably one of the best ways to quickly improve your sparring or fighting ability! The difference beween the good, average, and great fighter is speed, specifically footwork. The explosive burst "off the line" that characterizes a very proficient fighter is the key characteristic that separates the best from the rest. It's the ability to get out of the way, lead off, or drive through your opponent quickly that makes for effective sparring, self-defense, or sport fighting. If you're watching boxing, wrestling, MMA, or Sumo on TV, pay attention to who shoots or leads the quickest, and you'll probably see the eventual winner of the contest.

Read the whole post on J's blog for training tips for sprinting.

The Dominance of the Imperial Roman Army

“’If one looks at the Romans military system, one will recognize that the possession of a large Empire has come into their hands as the prize of their valour, not as a gift of fortune. For this people does not wait for the outbreak of war to practice with weapons nor do they sit idle in peacetime bestirring themselves only in time of need. Rather they seem to have been born with weapons in their hands; never do they take a break from their training or wait for emergencies to arise. Their manoeuvres fall no way short, in the amount of energy expended, of real warfare; but every day each soldier exercises with as much intensity as he would in war. This is the reason why the shock of war affects them so little. No confusion ruins their customary neat formations, nor are they paralysed by fear, or worn out with fatigue. Victory over enemies who have experienced non of this comes sure and certain. One would not be wrong in saying that their manoeuvres are like bloodless battles, and their battles bloodstained manoeuvres. With such splendid planning and organization, no wonder that the boundaries of their Empire are in the east the Euphrates , in the west the Atlantic Ocean, in the south the new lands of Libya and in the north the Danube and the Rhine. One would easily say that the people who have won the Empire are greater than the Empire itself.’ – Joseph ben Matthias, better known to history as Josephus…”

I recently (OK, today!) finished "The Making of the Roman Army, from Republic to Empire" by Lawrence Keppie, and have learned many things which are applicable to to modern warriors and warrior societies.

First, let me say that by warrior, I do not mean "warlike," I am referring to a "soldier or skilled fighting man," not necessarily, "One who is engaged in or experienced in battle." To me, a warrior may be anyone who prepares for, or who puts his or her life in physical danger from others, such as a professional soldier, law enforcement, bouncers, bodyguards, and even firefighters. It also covers those who train only to protect their families.

Josephus admiration of his occupier (he is now known for his writings of history, but was a Jewish general who took part in uprisings against the occupying Roman army) and conqueror is noteworthy, and worthy of serious consideration.

Let's look at what made the Imperial Roman army successful:

1. Consistency in training - "...this people does not wait for the outbreak of war to practice with weapons nor do they sit idle in peacetime bestirring themselves only in time of need. Rather they seem to have been born with weapons in their hands; never do they take a break from their training or wait for emergencies to arise."
   I view this as critical to success. From a military or civilian perspective, training should never cease, and should focus on the likely enemy and his tactics, but not preclude the unlikely or unconventional.
   
2. Realism in training - "Their manoeuvres fall no way short, in the amount of energy expended, of real warfare; but every day each soldier exercises with as much intensity as he would in war. This is the reason why the shock of war affects them so little."
   The closer we can get in training to what we will actually face, the better prepared we will be. However, I take, "...their manoeuvres are like bloodless battles, and their battles bloodstained manoeuvres." to mean that they avoided injury in training, but spared none in actual battle. Use safety equipment, but spare no contact. Apply appropriate "aliveness." Increase intensity on a gradient so that your students or partners are getting what's just a little beyond them, but not overwhelming. Don't hesitate to train versus multiple attackers, versus weapons, or on the pavement.
   
3. Adaptability - The Romans adapted the phalanx from the Greeks before them, then the gladius, short Spanish sword from their campaigns there. If it works, use it! Bruce Lee's JKD was the utimate expression of merging complementary concepts, techniques, and tactics, merging the flow of boxing, Savate, Wing Chun, Western fencing, Karate, and other styles to create a synergistic amalgam that's definitely greater than it's parts. Don't be afraid to borrow, beg, or steal from other styles. Attend seminars in something you don't know, even if you outrank the instructor by five degrees! Learn and adapt.
   
4. Conditioning - As I have been learning in the past few months as we've merged more groundfighting than we've ever done, conditioning is not only key for preparation to do battle, but to give you more endurance to train. In other words, if you can only train for four rounds, your time won't be as productive as if you can train for eight. More time with proper technique means better muscle memory faster. Don't spare the time on the bike, road, or treadmill. Don't slack on the calisthenics or weights.

In summary, we can learn much from the most dominant standing army in history (until now!). Let not the lessons of the past be lost, but apply them to your training and preparation for the battles which we pray never come.

Ads added to TDA Training

I have added ads and the Google searchbar. I tried it once before, when the site had almost no readership, but removed it. I've been resisting adding it again, but think it only makes sense. I don't charge anything for what I teach - I love it, and don't care about earning money from it. I also love doing this blog, as you may be able to tell, and hope that you'll click on some of the links or ads that interest you, or use the search feature from here.

If you have any suggestions reference the advertising, please let me know via email (see link on the sidebar).

Thanks again for reading TDA Training!

Vietnam Veteran Crandall Awarded Congressional Medal of Honor

If, like me, you've read "We Were Soldiers Once... And Young", or seen the fine Mel Gibson film adapted from the book, you know about Major Bruce Cradall's exploits as a Huey pilot. He flew in and out of hot landing zones over fourteen hours in November, 1965, and continued to do the same after having two helicopters so damaged by enemy fire that they were grounded. His courageous efforts to extract critically wounded soldiers in their time of need deserves nothing more than the gratitude of every American.

That gratitude has been shown recently by the award of the Congressional Medal of Honor, our nation's highest award for bravery and courage in battle. The citation:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above
and beyond the call of duty:

Major Bruce P. Crandall distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism as a Flight Commander in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Company A, 229th Assault Helicopter Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). On 14 November 1965, his flight of sixteen helicopters was lifting troops for a search and destroy mission from Plei Me, Vietnam, to Landing Zone X-Ray in the la Drang Valley. On the fourth troop lift, the airlift began to take enemy fire, and by the time the aircraft
had refueled and returned for the next troop lift, the enemy had Landing Zone X-Ray targeted. As Major Crandall and the first eight helicopters landed to discharge troops on his fifth troop lift, his unarmed helicopter came under such intense enemy fire that the ground commander ordered the second flight of eight aircraft to abort their mission. As Major Crandall flew back to Plei Me, his base of operations, he determined that the ground commander of the besieged infantry batallion desperately needed more ammunition. Major Crandall then decided to adjust his base of operations to Artillery Firebase Falcon in order to shorten the flight distance to deliver ammunition and evacuate wounded soldiers. While medical evacuation was not his mission, he immediately sought volunteers and with complete disregard for his own personal safety, led the two aircraft to Landing Zone X-Ray. Despite the fact that the landing zone was still under relentless enemy fire, Major Crandall landed and proceeded to supervise the loading of seriously wounded soldiers aboard his aircraft. Major Crandall's voluntary decision to land under the most extreme fire instilled in the other pilots the will and spirit to continue to land their own aircraft, and in the ground forces the realization that they would be resupplied and that friendly wounded would be promptly evacuated. This greatly enhanced morale and the will to fight at a critical time. After his first medical evacuation, Major Crandall continued to fly into and out of the landing zone throughout the day and into the evening. That day he completed a total of 22 flights, most under intense enemy fire, retiring from the battlefield only after all possible service had been rendered to the Infantry battalion. His actions provided critical resupply of ammunition and evacuation of the wounded. Major Crandall's daring acts of bravery and courage in the face of an overwhelming and determined enemy are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

Give thanks to God for Maj. Crandall, all veterans, and that we have young men and women who continue to stand for our freedom and protect our nation's security around the world!

Today's Quote: Brad Parker

"Remember here, running away is a very, very good option for the civilian. The LAPD has found that officers in foot pursuits were usually only successful in capturing the suspect in the first 200 yards of the chase. After 200 yards, the odds of catching the bad guy diminished rapidly. The same experience should also apply to you. If you can string the group out over a couple of hundred yards, then you can engage each opponent separately."

This is a quote from what I consider the best generic article on the Web for defending yourself versus multiple opponents, Defend University's, Facing Multiple Attackers? Styles, Attributes and Strategies for Successful Self-Defense," by Brad Parker. I'd recommend reading the whole article.

I like his analysis, but also consider that:

• The suspect in a foot pursuit may know the area better than a cop.
• Police are usually weighed down by more gear.
• Cops may not be in as good a shape as their quarry.

The point of stringing a group out over a couple of hundred yards is very valid, but you'd better be in shape to run and fight. I'm not, so I'm afraid I'd have to just fight...

TDA Blitz for the week of March 11 2007

Dojo Rat asks who would win if Judo Gene LeBell and Steven Seagal were to throw down! My money'd be on LeBell, too...

ValeTudo.com links to a free online exercise and diet journal, plus how to eat a healthy organic diet for only $7 a day!

Stephan at GrappleArts.com has an important post for grapplers: Achieving Posture. I need to read it twice!

Karate Thoughts covers a neglected topic well: Kime! If you've attended a karate or open tournament, you'll rarely see it, even among many black belts.

John Vesia's Martial Views details some Handy Weapons. Many of you have also read my posts (here and here) on the subject.

Physical Strategies features a video on knife defense with a towel or belt, plus one of a Kenpo contact training drill at Jeff Speakman's school.

Finally, if you use Blogger, it now integrates more closely with Picasa Web Albums.

Have a good week!

Kneebar mechanics

Watch this YouTube clip of Ken Shamrock and Bas Rutten.



Observations:

• Notice the open-hand striking! Me likes that.
• How quickly Shamrock sinks in the kneebar, and how Bas has no choice but to tap, and quick! Excellent transition from the half-guard to the bar. Devastating.

For more on the kneebar, the always excellent GrappleArts.

How effective are eye gouges and biting?

I occasionally (though not often) "lurk" on forums to see what other martial folks are talking about, and came upon one which made me think about one of the mainstays of "traditional" (whose tradition?) martial arts, which I will leave undefined here – eye gouges. Bullshido.net's forum has a thread titled, "Eye Gouging, biting and Sticks Oh My," which addresses this very subject very well.

Many forums, especially those focused on MMA tend toward discussions which are merely one-upmanship or bravado ("I can kick your a**," and, "no, I can kick your ignorant a** even better!), which preclude intelligent discussion. What I mean is that they usually don't add much to the breadth or depth of martial arts knowledge. This one's different (though it does contain a good bit of the aforementioned insults), because it raises a good question: How effective are eye gouges and biting in self-defense? Are they the be-all, end-all? Are they able to defeat your best choke and my best throw?

I believe there are two parts to this question:

1. Just how effective are eye attacks and biting?


2. If effective, how do you train them?

The thread starts this way:

"The Points that have been raised so far.

Side A: Eye gouges and
biting are incredibly useful techniques that everyone should leap at and the
fact that no one trains them effectively and they don't show up anywhere is
irrelevent.

Side B: such techniques may or may not have a place under certain
circumstances but there are far better options, all of which are safer for the
fighter and less destructive to the opponent. Aside from that if they WERE so
useful then they'd show up at least once in a while as an effective means of
stopping violence."

OK, here’s my take: I posit that yes, eye gouges and biting are incredibly useful techniques, some do train them effectively (we do, at least the eye gouges), and that they probably do show up as "an effective means of stopping violence," though I haven't researched it.

Common sense dictates that if your eye(s) has been put out, you'll be less effective, and less likely to want to continue the fight, and consequently, they are effective. But how effective? A poster on this forum discussion brought up the case of a Vale Tudo or MMA match where a fighter’s eye was gouged, and he won by submission. In other words, he kept fighting, and won.

Does that mean that you should throw out the eye gouge as a valid technique? I don’t think so. I use the eye jab as a lead because it always gets a reaction (which is the purpose of an effective lead), and puts him on the defensive. I think a gouge and biting would be a great technique if that’s your only choice or option, like a head butt.

Some other thought on this:

• We train with goggles on, specifically so that we can eye jab and gouge. Because they are a target, they increase our awareness of their vulnerability, and we defend them more and better. I'd include them as a technique you train if only because you can learn to defend them.


• Bites are probably not something you'd want to first, considering you'll definitely ingest some tissue that could contain HIV/hepatitis, and that may ruin your day, but if you’re in a fight for your life, it's probably better to live with the HIV/hepatitis risk than just die. A good example of this is in a struggle with a stronger attacker who's got a knife. You need to do whatever it takes to prevent that knife from gutting or decapitating you and biting may be effective and sensible.


• As with any technique that can cause permanent injury, there's an ethical aspect to determining if, and when, you should use that technique or weapon. Just as we don't go around shooting or stabbing someone who looks at us the wrong way, neither should we go around breaking arms, leg, and knees, much less gouging eyes. All of those are permanent injuries to one degree or another, especially eyes.


• A good example of a supporting point is Orlando Brown, the NFL player a few years ago whose eye was damaged so badly from an official's flag toss that he was out of the league immediately after it happened. Never recovered. But you may also recall from that game that as soon as it happened, the player was holding his eye, but went after the official, and would probably have hurt the official if he hadn't been restrained by teammates! Could he still go after the "eye attack?" Yes. Would he have been as effective? No, but he still could've killed a little ref! You need to have other weapons in your arsenal. Will it end the fight? Maybe? Maybe not, but you still need to know how to defend it, don't you?

As far as training eye gouges, I'd recommend the goggles, but I'd also recommend that when you achieve a gouge that you train with that eye closed, to simulate the damage (though not the pain). I'm going to try that in the next couple of weeks.

A great quote on eye gouges:

"Done on the ground, it might have some legitimacy if you have enough control over someone not to fear repercussions. But even then, there are better fight-ending moves like chokes that can be done from similar positions, and if you're plainly in control you've little legal grounds for employing such tactics."

OK, but I will close with the best post on this thread, "Look, dirty tricks of all kinds, not just eye gouging, are something you should have in your arsenal, or at least be aware of. But they can never take the place of fighting fundamentals."

Mobile Emergency Numbers - share this!

I just had to call in several crashed and disabled vehicles on I-70 in Ohio, 'cause I'm forced to drive in the snow for my work. If, like me, you travel a lot, you may want to put these numbers in your cell phone. Unfortunately, 911 isn't universal yet, despite the law. Also, dialing 911 from you cell phone should also help locate you (E-911), but it doesn't always. Still, this excellent site should be of some assistance.

Also, for safety, I recommend putting 911 into the "turbo dial" of your phone so that you can just hold down the button and it will dial it. Many phones are set up that way by default, but not all.

Just a safety tip! Again, thanks to http://www.911dispatch.com/ for these Mobile Emergency Numbers: "Highway Notification Numbers"

Click the email this button at the bottom of this post and share with friends!

UK to ban Samurai swords - beer bottles and cars next

From Samurai swords to be banned Breaking News News Telegraph:

"Last month, amphetamine addict Hugh Penrose was jailed for at least 19 years for hacking a 21-year-old woman with a samurai sword and then deliberately running her over.

In October, Bradley Moran was jailed for 17 years for murdering another man with a samurai sword following an argument in a nightclub."

See also this quote:

"The Home Office now wants to ban their sale as part of a wider crackdown on knives and bladed weapons.

Carrying a samurai sword in a public place already attracts a maximum jail sentence of four years [emphasis mine]."

So why not ban cars and beer bottles? The UK is out of control in banning weapons. I'm sure the law-breakers will comply, eh?

Busy weekend - light posting

My son is graduating from Cub Scouts today (and moving on to Boy Scouts), and it's been busy, so I don't expect to post until tomorrow. I have about 2-3 in the pipeline, so stay tuned!