Decision Time

Time for a Vs. battle.

This is one of these metaphorical, bull shit, unscientific fights. See if you can relate...

Fighting out of the Red Corner:

This man has never fought professionally. He  has never been inside of a fight school. He holds a GED that he received in prison.  He stands 5 foot, 10 inches tall, weighs 180 lbs,



In the blue corner, this man has spent no fewer than $5,000 dollars on martial arts training. He may or may not hold several multi-colored belts that wrap his pajamas nicely. He has a 9-5 job, a higher education degree, and hasn't been punched since the 4th grade. His parents were married and he always got nice gifts for Christmas.

He stands between 5 foot 8 and 6 foot 3 and weighs in at about 190 lbs (because you know, working out is hard and those damn Christmas cookies were so fucking delicious).

He attends Survival Academy 3/4 Sundays a month...



Who are you betting on? Who is going to win this fight?

Do we really think that this fight will be sanctioned? Will both fighters play by the rules? "Red corner" has done no fewer than 1000 push ups a day in prison (when hes not playing basketball, lifting weights, or boxing in the courtyard that is), while our Blue corner man is "too busy" to get in his reps.

Which one of these fighters is jacked up on an illegal pain killer? Which one has a "Ache in their back from an injury from 5 years ago"? Which one has actually hurt someone before?

The fact of the mater is, that our man in the Red Corner is nothing out of the ordinary. Sure, this particular asshole might be a bit more trained than the average dipshit, but you can bet your ass that he also isn't the most dangerous one either.

The predator doesn't care about weight class. He had to master the get up from the time he was 6 years old and his options were to let his drunk ass dad (who was a felon himself kick the shit out of him) or get up and run. Sure, his dad was an experienced fighter and out weighted him by no fewer than 100 lbs, but fear and pain are powerful motivators.

Why learn to box when cold-cocking the guy who is walking out of the store checking his voicemail delivers the same results?

Simply put, the choice is yours. Our man in the Blue corner still has a chance... he's smarter, in overall better health (not to be confused with condition mind you), and has learned a thing or two from people who have fought against our guy in the Red corner plenty of times.

What is your decision going to be?

Just to give you more a view of your "red corner" opponent: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SatKJZcLDQk

Vs MMA figher... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H30CiRXQoRY&feature=fvst

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lf_57J_pkXk

39 minutes of people more well prepared than you? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8tANR5UZYU

Violent Encounters

Any time you get a group of guys together (usually guys who do this...) and the topic of martial arts/ fighting comes up, people get weird. Guys all have complicated theories and elaborate Bruce Lee/ Chuck Norris fantasies about what actually happens in a fight, whose style is more effective, and what they'd be able to do in that situation. Frankly, it's not much different than listening to a couple of stoners watching Animal Planet opine whether the polar bear or the elephant would win in a fight.

So, rather than focus on this sort of BS, you should read about what actually happens in real life.

This is a US DOJ publication from 2006 outlining a number officer/ offender violent encounters based on reports and interviews with BOTH officers and offenders.

Remember Reed and Chris talking about how the guy jumping you has probably been doing this all his life:

The offenders generally had been exposed to more overt violence at an earlier age than had the officers. The offenders were more readily able and more willing to use force, including deadly force, than were the officers. When contemplating the use of deadly force, the offend- ers also had fewer constraints placed upon them than did the officers.

There's lots of good stuff in here; I'll post more after I read the whole thing. I'm primarily interested in effects of stress and trauma on perception, memory, offender behavior and how to train realistically.

Highly recommended.

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