Extreme Self Protection

This is volume 8 in the Combination Man Curriculum (CMC).

Now that we've spent the past 6 months of the CMC material getting our wrestling base underneath us let's start building our true Combination base by combining boxing with unorthodox striking.

Here's what is included on this volume...

• We give the hair-splitting but, oh, so needed definition of the difference between boxing and pugilism.
• We discuss the necessity of overlaying Pugilism on top of boxing and not the other way around.
• We then introduce how we will build boxing/pugilism facility via integrated combination ladders shot through a Tri-Part Build. Each drill will be demonstrated fully on the Heavy Bag, the Double-End Bag, Wall Drills where appropriate, and lastly live-fire partner drilling.
• We will emphasize the outer blade of the forearm from elbow to fist pad to supplement our boxing in unusual and surprising ways. All of the strikes on this volume are currently legal under MMA rules so sportive integration is not a problem. [Combatives folks, rules are never a worry I know, but there is much grist for the mill on this volume--no nonsense stuff.]
• We will begin by using the forearm as a kick corollary and discuss why we NEVER open with a forearm blast before we show how to integrate them form the word go.
• We work the proper set-up for the Cram (head position is key--head in the wrong spot and you'll get clocked and/or reduce your drive).
• We'll also use the Cram for an easy Plum Blossom Defense--why grapple and snake for position when you can go offensive at once?
• We move down the forearm to the fist pad and discuss why this is a weapon of subtlety and if you're short on finesse the accompanying live-fire footwork drills will get you moving like a pro to fire these jolting shots.
• We'll take several varieties of the introduced pugilistic weapons, and if you fire them through every drill provided you'll wind up with 99 rounds of drilling if you only work through the material once.

These formerly illegal shots will super-charge your striking with power and unorthodox angles to get that combination man/woman striking base up to snuff in no time.

This volume, as with all of our RAW material, comes with a printed syllabus for inclusion in your training notebook.

(Hang on to these syllabi because at some point in the Combination Man Curriculum run we will supplement and key these syllabi to a Master Text for easy Drill & Technique search).

To order: 

WISDOM FROM A WWI FLYING ACE

Mark Hatmaker

                A change of pace as we look not only to the past for today's lesson but also to a completely different realm of combat to see if there just may be any advice that is pertinent for the sport of MMA and street-combative enthusiasts. We're going to look to strategic advice offered by German flying ace Oswald Boelcke, one of the top (if not the top) innovators and instructors in the Axis' formidable flying force. Boelcke personally chose the legendary young Baron Manfred von Richthofen (the famous/infamous Red Baron) to become his pupil and protégé and coached him to an astonish string of air victories.

                Boelcke was flying at a time when the airmen of both the Axis and Allied powers still considered themselves "knights of the air"; they exercised a sort of curious chivalry with courtesies often offered to the opposition. Stories abound of pilots who upon finding their primitive machine guns jammed mid-dogfight receiving a simple salute and fly-away rather being brought down as an easy kill. It was not uncommon for the "enemy" of either side to do a fly-over during the funeral or memorial of a respected airman of the other side so that they may drop wreaths and gifts with notes of respect for the prowess of the fallen. Different times, indeed.

                Boelcke was a curious mixture, one aspect was that of lone wolf pilot who relished going up alone and returning to utter the phrase "Do I have a black chin?" A reference to the belching black smoke of a used machine gun. The other aspect was his staunch belief that flying as a team was integral to success. This successful and vaunted pilot, of whom the Red Baron once said, "He shot one or two Englishmen for breakfast everyday" was asked by superiors to compile a guideline for fighter pilots. It is this guideline, known as "Boelcke' s Dicta," of eight commandments that we turn to now with my meager comments interspersed.

ONE: Try to secure advantages before attacking. If possible keep the sun behind you.

Sound advice in air or on ground. What coach/instructor does not preach incessantly that training, study, and knowledge of environment/terrain is key? To go into a fight blindly (the proverbial flying blind) is a recipe for disaster.

TWO: Always carry through an attack when you have started it.

We hear this same idea echoed in the old boxing maxim "A half a punch is worse than no punch at all." What Boelcke and boxing trainers are telling us is if we are to make an effort we must make that effort with utter integrity (feinting aside) so that we do not waste energy or provide counter opportunities for our opponent by virtue of our timorous attack.

THREE: Fire only at close range and only when your opponent is properly in your sights.

Bingo! What's the point of throwing that leg kick if you can't even reach your opponent with the jab? Why shoot if you can't touch? Why waste that energy? Boelcke is right-we must know our range.

FOUR: Always keep your eyes on your opponent, and never let yourself be deceived by ruses.

Need I add anything here?

FIVE: In any form of attack it is essential to assail your opponent from behind.

In our world here on terra firma that sounds very like using angles, and gaining the back for the grappling competitors.

SIX: If your opponent dives on you, do not try to evade his onslaught, but fly to meet it.

Perhaps not as useful to our game as re-direction of force and evasion is and should be a large part of our defensive game.

SEVEN: When over the enemy's lines, never forget your own line of retreat.

Street combative personnel you can already smell the wisdom here-always know where the exits are. And for MMA competitors this sounds very much like ring generalship-know where the turnbuckles are, know where you are in relation to the cage.

EIGHT: Attack on principle in groups of four to six. When the fight breaks up into a series of single combats, take care that several do not go for one opponent.

For the MMA competitor I think we can take the first portion of that advice to read" punches in bunches" or combination work whether standing or on the mat is the way to go. Street survivalists recognize that there is strength in numbers so utilize every advantage for that strength that you can and if/when we are moved to solo combat we must always be aware of our assailants "returning to strength."

While not necessarily 100% on point with the nature of our studies I still find Boelcke' s Dicta remarkably pertinent in more than a few regards.

Mr. Boelcke was killed in a mid-air collision in the Fall of 1916.

This book s

erves as a Triple Purpose Manual.

Purpose One: To provide the inside info needed to survive the oh, so fun phenomena of obstacle course racing.   

Purpose Two: It is a conditioning manual for those who want to hit the courses in peak condition. It provides the scientific skinny on our stream-lined high-intensity approach, then details all of the unique exercises we use that are course specific, and then progresses you through 66 non-repeating workouts to get and keep you primed.  

Purpose Three: It is a comprehensive manual on Flight/Evasion Skills for Real-World Combative trainers & trainees.

Among the contents include: The differences between Mud, Adventure, & Obstacle Racing, Competitive & Cooperative Mind-Sets, Military Function & Course Correlates. The extensive Techniques, Tactics, & Strategies section covers Stride Work, How to Approach Hills, How to Leap from Height and minimize Landing Load, How to Approach Electrical Hazards & Running the Gauntlet, The most Efficient ways to Climb Ropes (vertical, horizontal, and wall ropes), Tips on Climbing (everything from cargo nets to vertical walls to bouldering walls), Improving Low Crawl Efficiency, Balance Work, Hand-Over Hand Tips, and Tips for Bearing Loads for Distance.

We close with the Logistics Section which will provide tips on Clothing , Gear, Registration, and Clean-Up to make your race experience as streamlined as possible.

To snag an autographed copy for  $12.95 (S&H Included) or $22.95 International hit the button.

Mud, Guts and Glory with Standard Shipping:

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We'll be on the roster at Martial Arts on the Mountain--September 19 (5PM start) thru September 22nd (11AM).

Myself, Boyd Ritchie, Carlos Cummings, and John Miller will be presenting classes in MMA, Boxing, Catch Wrestling, Sambo, (and if time permits) an optional Challenge/Obstacle Run.

Four days of training, feel free to room on the campground (rooms and meals provided, crew--beat that).

Cost: $250

To register or for more details contact Coach John Miller

coach@grapplingsports.com

540-354-9356

http://www.facebook.com/events/126726897501640/

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Of course, we'll also offer our Annual Tennessee Boot Camp in November-details to come.

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We hope to see you at one of these events--if you'd like to have us come to you, check out our Pitch An Adventure info in the side bar and if you've got some adrenaline in your neck of the woods that strikes my fancy we'll be there. 

Here's where you come in, if you'd like to host a seminar and save yourself some bucks off of the standard fees in the process--if you've got an Adventure Race in your area, a rock you think I'd like to climb, a river you think I want to raft, a hike you think I just need to take, a desert I've not run on, you get the idea--pitch your adventure and school location. If the adventure appeals and the logistics are right we offer greatly reduced fees to come to your school and play with your crew before we go play at your Adventure Pitch.

BTW--You and your crew are welcome to attend the adventure, as a matter of fact, we'll knock off even more bucks for this sort of hands-on guiding.

So, you got some adrenaline in your neck-of-the-woods and want to train? Feel free to make your pitch and we'll see what happens.