Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol

A Different Perspective on Combat

Not many people have had the opportunity to train in Savate or La Canne, which are both French martial arts.  Depending on who you talk to or which source you cite, their origins are either from the streets and dock of France or from the ruling class.  Either way you look at it, both systems take an interesting perspective on combat that is worth looking into.

Savate is sometimes called "foot fighting" but that is an unfair assessment of the system, that in it's modern form, has a fair utilization of Western Boxing skills to balance out the dynamic kicking skills.  Do a search on YouTube for "Savate" and you will see some impressive fighting skills.

La Canne is, in a very rough translation, the application of the sword fighting techniques (Epee, Saber and Foil) to the stick.  With it's long reach and whip-like application the La Canne is an evasive and scary weapon to face if you are not used to it.

NOTE: the following video is quite old and shows the Parisian style of Savate and La Canne; there are many "styles" of Savate and La Canne, and like many Eastern styles, they differ greatly in movement skills and emphasis.

Martial Mobility

Strength is on the mind of most martial artists when it comes to supplemental training, followed closely by flexibility.  Unfortunately you can develop both of those attributes and still not have the mobility to perform well.  There are a number of ways to develop mobility, and most of them work, but you need to find one that will keep you interested long enough to get benefit from it.  I'm a huge fan of using Indian Clubs to develop upper body mobility and I also use the Foam Roller every day to loosen up my legs, back and chest.

Another method would be to study Gimnastica Natural or even Systema.  They both have excellent drills for developing holistic mobility and body awareness.

JKD Low Line Strikes

Aside from the theatrical aspects of high kicks they can be somewhat risky to attempt in a combative situation (unless you're good at "setting them up").  With that in mind, traditional JKD uses a number of low line strikes to either destabilize, mobilize, or root the attackers base (feet or legs).  This allows the defender to bridge through high line barriers, low line barriers, or set up grappling takedowns.  The following video by Sifu Rick Faye shows how some the low line strikes can be used when high line barriers are in place.

Gimnastica Natural

Gimnastica Natural is a body weight training system that resembles yoga, tumbling and jiu-jitsu.  It's purpose is to enhance the individuals ability to move from position to position on the ground as well as create a baseline for strength, mobility and flexibility.  The following video will give you an idea how the system works and how practicing can help you move better as well as remediate any imbalances you may have in flexibility and strength.

FMA Emptyhand Techniques

There are a plethora of Filipino Martial Arts (FMA) that have an empty hand component as part of their system.  Some of them have empty hand techniques as a direct derivative of the weapon techniques, while others have whole systems outside the weaponry sphere.  All of them will give you a baseline to understand striking and defensive techniques - but you have to look hard at some of the systems to make sure that you are getting what you are looking for.  For example, does the system emphasize hand speed over angulation and positioning?  Does the system require the utilization of potentially dangerous guard positions to accomplish some techniques?  Does the system rely on low percentage locks or control techniques over high percentage locks or submissions (style over substance)?

Congratulations to Jean Jacques Machado!

Monday June 6th, 2011. One Legend bestows an honor to another.

Without doubt, the most renowned Jiu Jitsu master in the world, Rickson Gracie, promotes his cousin, friend and long time student, Master Jean Jacques Machado, in what was an emotionally yet inspiring private ceremony in Los Angeles, California.

Professor Machado was bestowed promotion to Red/Black Belt in recognition of his 25 years as a Black Belt Instructor, competitor and world champion.

NOTE: I have had the honor of training and spending some downtime with Jean Jacques and he is truly one of the nicest and most humble person you would ever want to meet.  If you ever get the chance to train with him do it!

"Act of Valor"

Interesting concept for a story: use real Navy SEALs, to tell a fictional story (based on real events), but show their faces (which means their operational effectiveness is now zero), and real tactics (right)!  Anyway, the preview looks pretty good... if it doesn't do well in the theatres I'm sure it will be a good rental at least!

Zombie Killer Sword from Ka-Bar

You never know when you are going to run into a zombie that needs its head lopped off so be prepared - get your Zombie Killer Sword from Ka-Bar!  Ridiculous name or not, this is a serious looking knife (15 1/8" long) that would be great for camping or outdoor work.

At a ridiculously low price of $49.99 it would make a great Christmas gift for your favorite martial arts instructor! :)

The Four Hour Body Revisted

My beautiful wife Francine mentioned to me that she picked up another copy of "The Four Hour Body" at Target where it is on sale at thirty percent off the cover price (unfortunately this was last week).  It seems she was getting tired of me bitching about her walking around with my autgraphed copy of the book and getting it banged up.  Anyway - it's available both in store and online at Barnes and Noble for $16.36!  Trust me - it's worth every penny!

Don't forget - "The Detachment"

"The Detachment", Barry Eisler's newest novel, will be available in paperback on October 18, 2011.  Eisler's latest novel brings together two separate story lines and characters into one tightly packed thriller.  I've already pre-ordered a copy from Barnes and Noble... have you?

Fitness Training For MMA?

The only way this would qualify as preparation for MMA would be if you think that Tae Bo training would prepare you to fight! :)

Haywire

"Haywire" is directed by Oscar winning director Steven Soderbergh and starring MMA star Gina Carano.  The movie was well received at Comic Con this year and the trailer has already had over 1.8 million hits on YouTube.  It looks like a female version of the Jason Bourne movies - well worth checking out when it hits the theaters later this year!

Movie Synopsis:
Mallory Kane is a highly trained operative who works for a government security contractor in the dirtiest, most dangerous corners of the world. After successfully freeing a Chinese journalist held hostage, she is double crossed and left for dead by someone close to her in her own agency. Suddenly the target of skilled assassins who know her every move, Mallory must find the truth in order to stay alive.

Using her black-ops military training, she devises an ingenious—and dangerous—trap. But when things go haywire, Mallory realizes she'll be killed in the blink of an eye unless she finds a way to turn the tables on her ruthless adversary.

The Universality of Truth in Movement

Many people talk about the differences between styles and that their style is "better" than all the other styles.  I've got say that conversations like this are a waste of time and highlight the immaturity and lack of understanding of the people involved.  No one style is better than any other - they all have merit and they all have faults.  For the most part combative styles "look and feel" the same - the only differences come from application and "stylistic" variables.

For example, a kickboxer would look at the video below and see how the kicks are used to set up the hands.  A boxer would look at the same video and see how the hands are used to finish off the person.  A trapping-based (Wing Chun, Silat, etc.) martial artist would see how hand and foot trapping are used to set up the finishing techniques.  A JKD practitioner would see how the techniques all work together to create a seamless transition from range to range.

Who's right and who's wrong?  It's irrelevant.  What they should be looking at is the fact that it works, works well and that the techniques utilized can be from many arts, styles and cultures.  In other worlds, there is a "universality of truth in movement" that could be from any combative style and the reason that the technique is in so many styles is because it works.

Moral Responsibility

I've been asked a number of times over the last twenty years or so to make a video on some of the "darker" skills that I have acquired during my training.  Most of them having to do with the knife and others having to do with quick "take-outs".  I have always, and will continue to, not publicly disseminate this material - ever.  The information was given to me by my instructors because they trusted me to pass it on in a responsible and moral manner.  I have also been asked by several groups (names not to be disclosed for obvious reasons), and offered considerable fees, to teach them knife skills - and I refused because I knew the information would be used for offensive or criminal purposes.  Putting information that can potentially be used against our law enforcement, military or civilians on a venue such as YouTube is tantamount to criminal negligence.  The following video, while not as bad as some that are out there, shows techniques using a knife in a lethal manner against an already defeated attacker (not to mention the "defender" is dressed to appear like he is in law enforcement or the military).  Don't get me wrong - in a life or death situation on the battlefield this is potentially justifiable; it just doesn't have a place on YouTube.

Saturday AM Classes - October 2011

We will be having Saturday morning Martial Arts Koncepts classes in October on 10/08/11 and 10/29/11 from 1000 to 1130 AM.  Please mark your calendars NOW!

NOTE: we will be finishing work on the Double Stick Abecedario and CSW ankle and leg locks this month.  Saturday morning classes will be a little more "intense" for the next couple months so come early and be prepared to train hard!