Too Many Posts?

So I have posted a lot recently. Dare I say, too much?

There is a ton of good information in my previous posts, so I highly recommend you check those out.

I saw this video (apparently 21 Million others did too), and I couldn't help but post it.

This is the CLASSIC street fighter behavior. Remember, this is a CLEAN fight. Nobody used weapons, and there was no cold cocking. But watch the skills of the Security Officer and the skills of the "other guy".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdfSLnKMqq4&feature=related

Survival Fitness: Essentials

I wanted to take a moment to give you all some fitness and drilling tips.

Lately, folks have been asking for some advice on some basic drills and workouts to be done at home.

I have made several recommendations in class, on the blog, and other places, but alas, folks want MORE!

I will eventually make a permanent list that will probably be pasted up on our blog so that it won't just get scrolled out like the others have.

Drills:
GET UPS!!!!
Every one of you should have this mastered. Drill this more than anything, then drill it again. There are several ways to do this. I dare you to try to google "Proper Turkish Get up" or "Jujitsu Get Up". There are thousands of videos out there, all done by "masters", blackbelts, or other gurus. Frankly, I haven't seen a video out there that has it exactly how we teach it, but you can find good ones out there. I advise you all to drill this till your eyes cross.

Duck Walk:
This is a great exercise, as well as a drill. There are many ways to do this, but here is the most traditional for wrestling: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbVP4vDffu4
Or this works too. It's the same move, just slightly different.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XxvEaUWNsg

Advanced---- Add some "take downs" or "shots" into your drill. I know this video is called "get up progression" but it's not our kind of get up. Watch this video to get some more advanced Duckwalk/Fitness ideas. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfMM476ApA4

Shadow Boxing:
We have talked about this for a long time, and everyone should be doing this multiple times a week. The guy in this video is clearly teaching ring boxing, and nothing that we teach. However, the words he says apply. Try to avoid doing his style of boxing, and stick to the strikes you know. Also, I don't like his footwork, so don't do that... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUJDKUDI0cY

Heavy Bag:
If you have one. Use it. If you don't have one, Get one...

Heavy bags are valuable for so many things. Ground work, stand up, and of course, striking. Work your punches, mechanics, grapples. There are many ways to work a heavy bag, but I will only cover a couple:

1. Methodical, slow, patterned drilling. This is great to master strikes you know. Do each punch 10,000 times and you will be close to learning something. Watch George Forman. Keep in mind, he has done much more than 10,000 but would still work the heavy bag slowly for hours. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZtZlTIglDU

2. Footwork, weight, and speed training.
In this video, Jack Dempsey works the heavy bag. He stands where the heavy bag dangles and lets the thing constantly push on him. Every punch is up hill. For our students, I would add in head covers, elbow spikes, and other drills. Also, he practices moving around it, level changing, bob/weave and others.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJkiwu_04dw

3. Grappling. This video isn't dedicated to just heavy bag stuff (it has much more in it) and although his point is BJJ/MMA, you can still use this video to get ideas for how to do our stuff. While he focuses on armbars, you should focus on getting up, just as an example. The slams, and other drills he do is HUGE. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_k5uyGii33c&feature=related

Note: With all this stuff, a Bob, or another striking tool is very helpful too. Heavy bags themselves arn't the best for our kinds of striking. Use what you have... Even if it's tires... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FM5fLpdJKRE&feature=related

Sprawling:
We have covered it in class, and the video is a "mat wrestling" sprawl, but it's very similar. Do this drill till you puke out your gut fat and you have a sixpack. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4j8F4bi5QQ8
In our system, we try not to belly bounce so much, and stay off the ground a bit more, but this is a great way to train it. Note: his footwork is arguably the best ever. With the sprawling drill, you will see much of our "ground/wrestling" footwork in his other video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7eFdRJmRYeQ&feature=related Note: This is obviously not the exact stance you want when your standing up, but the footwork concepts are good. The drill is awesome.

Those are the drills we will start with. Everything else should just be a variation on what is already here. The last thing I will leave you with is some pure exercises to do. Hindu wrestling has probably the best overall mechanical application to the Survival Academy. This video has exercises that will not only make you a healthy badass, but they will significantly help you in class. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0NLilpx1l4&feature=related

Enjoy!

Announcements, Suggestions, and Risk.

Hello everyone!

I just wanted to write a quick blog posting about some stuff that's going on on the blog and in class.

First:
I am almost done with my "Targeting and the Human Anatomy" series, and I already have some other good series planned. Stay tuned for more information on this! We are going to be having some fun!

Second:
We had a productive class last week. I know that everyone who came got new perspectives, and mindsets about their technique. Folks have been making good progress. However, it's not all sunshine and rainbows...


“I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.” ~Bruce Lee


This quote is something that Chris and I have talked about for years.... about 8... We are trying to build a system based on the most effective, powerful, and biomechanical motions you can do. No mater if it's punching, throwing, or ground fighting, all of our stuff should have the same flavor.

A big weakness in our class is the reps. We don't get enough. All of you NEED to go home and drill this stuff on your own time. We don't meet often enough to really get in our "10,000 kicks" in class. Where do Chris and I get our kicks in? At home. We drill, exercise, study, and read every day to perfect our skills.

I don't think we are perfected yet, which is why I keep training for perfection.

Do you want perfection?

Are you willing to sweat?

Are you willing to put in the time and effort?

If you want to get better, you HAVE to get your "10,000 Kicks" in. Period.

Which brings me to my next announcement:
As many of you know, every Saturday morning, friends of mine show up at my house and we work out. Often times, they bring their kids. George plays with their kids, and everyone has a great time. Kids are running around playing, and adults are having fun getting the Crisco out of their pores. We do everything from traditional exercises, boxing drills, wrestling, jujitsu, or anything else that's fun. Sometimes we just do sprints in the form of football plays and have fun.

I want to welcome you all to join me. Because I don't have a monstrous house, it's a bit full with 5 kids, and 3 adults playing in my basement.

With the spring coming quickly (did it ever leave?), we will be moving outside again.

When that happens, I want to invite you all to come "play" with us. We get a good work out in, drill, and of course have fun. Bring your kids, or anyone else who wants to get some exercise.

The last item is assessments. How are you coming along in class? In your physicality? What does Student B think is your weakness? What does Student A think is your weakness?

I want to offer you all the opportunity to get a free assessment.

If it's something your interested in, I want you to email me and ask for an assessment. I will give it to you boldly, truthfully, and constructively. Chris and I would be happy to tell you what your strengths, weaknesses, short comings, and successes are. I will give you as much advice as you want, and give you drills, exercises, and suggestions to meet your goals.

Of course, it's a risk to ask for another person's opinion. It's scary to learn your weaknesses. It's scary to have your own opinion be called into question.

If your interested in taking this Risk, write an email to me (and whoever else you want to ask). In your email, feel free to ask specific questions. The more you ask for, the more we can give you.

See you in class!

Are You Ready?

Today's note is a light hearted interlude to our normal more intense flavor. We talk a lot about being ready and prepared for anything. Mostly, that anything comes in the form of level of violence rather than just plain strangeness.

Here is an example of the sudden emergence of the strange:
http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2012/02/26/police-naked-man-arrested-after-fighting-with-officer/

Keeping focused through nonsensical situations as well as the full on chaos of hyperviolence seems the essence of self-defense and self-protection. Be ready to stay focused regardless of the seeming absurdity of the situation.

A great line from the movie Hoosiers: "Look, mister, there's... two kinds of dumb, uh... guy that gets naked and runs out in the snow and barks at the moon, and, uh, guy who does the same thing in my living room. First one don't matter, the second one you're kinda forced to deal with."

Making the most of your situation.

I found a video on Youtube. The video is highly inspirational, and I thought I would share it with all of you.

In no way am I suggesting that they are living a superior life to us, but I think in many ways this is better than the lethargic lifestyle that so many people live.

I suggest you all watch this video. Look for their conditioning, combat styles, honor, and dedication. With little or no money, these people have forged themselves into bad-ass machines.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=so43Gndfegk&context=C383256dADOEgsToPDskKTyby3Vqsd-R4vlGP2bL37

Predator's Ambush

If dictionaries allowed videos instead of photographs next to their definition, here is what would be next to the term 'urban ambush'.

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/buster/atlanta-video-beating-765912

Even the setup is captured on video! Obviously, the target was chosen in advance. It isn't clear how far in advance, such as when the victim went into the store or whether he was targeted earlier and the predators waited for this opportunity for a clear approach from the blind side.

The flying forearm to the back of the head both stuns the victim and drives him into the other two assailants hidden from initial view.

Notice how the victim didn't pay one whit of attention when coming out of the store (nor did his completely useless friend) which gave him no chance of noticing the trap he just walked into.

On an interesting note: a tire as an improvised weapon. Thug number three throws it on it him, which probably does little damage. However, the tire and victim are shoved into a pile. How easy would it be to regain your feet with a tire below you and a beating on top? I wonder of the attackers thought of that or if that was an accidental benefit.

Targeting and the Human Anatomy Part 5: Floating Ribs/Organs

Welcome to another installment of Targeting and the Human Anatomy!

This portion is going to be on a region more than a specific body part. The floating ribs are the "short ribs" that do not fully connect to the sternum. They are the portion of the rib cage that is separated by the Costal Angle.



As you can see, I have put these spots as "Blue Targets".

The ribs themselves break much easier than the higher ribs that connect directly to the Sternum. They are painful, and can cause further damage to the organs under them.

As we have discussed, the pain isn't what will stop someone who is jacked up on drugs, drunk, or just flat out crazy.

As we have also discussed, there is a fairly good chance that your attacker will be one of those things.

So why go for them?

Well, there are powerful organs under them.



I'm not going to go into EVERY organ and why they are important, but I will cover the three most important (for our purposes anyway).

On the right side of your body, just below the lungs, is your Liver. This of course is like your body's bouncer for toxins and poisons. He is big, mean and very powerful. If you can hit it with enough force, the Liver will rupture or send significant nerve signals around your body. This will result in a mechanical failure. The most popular instance of this is probably the ever popular Bas Rutten, Frank Shamrock fight. In the words of Bas himself, "I'm going to go after his liver, because that's the most painful knockout there is."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBUJa7ndYL0

The second organ I'm going to talk about is on the Left side of your body. This nasty lil bugger is your Spleen, and it can rupture fairly easy. Think of your spleen like your liver's brother. It's loaded with blood. And as we have talked about before, anytime you mess with blood flow, you are messing with the hydraulic function of the human machine. The following clip explains it more.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2JhhzYqaB8&feature=related

A very important thing I want to point out is HOW HE DESCRIBES TO THROW A PUNCH THAT DIG'S IN!!! Watch the X type of pattern he uses, and watch the shoulder whirl and body movement.

Now, one thing they didn't mention much of in that clip is the broken rib.

Broken ribs hurt, but what is their main function for us?

The Lungs. The lungs are the third and final organ we will talk about. If you don't know what your lungs do, go back to your elementary school and demand your education back.

Where this maters for us is a very common sports injury. Punctured Lung. Upon breaking the rib, the broken piece has a high likely hood of puncturing a lung. It should be fairly self explanatory how that can end a fight.

When you hear that a athlete has a "Punctured lung" it's almost always due to a floating rib. When you look at the Spleen video again, you will see the broken rib.

You can find 100 blogs/websites about punctured lungs/broken ribs. They span from falls in the shower, to bar fights, to motorcycle crashes. Here's a pretty good one I found.

http://herpolhode.com/rob/xray.html

I think that is a fair example of what sort of medical issues can arise from a punctured lung. Granted, this wasn't a product of violence, the damage can definitively be recreated.

See you at class!