Hey all-
I've made this announcement once or twice in the kickboxing class, and I figured I'd put it out here in case anyone wasn't around to hear it.
Effective immediately, our Muay Thai Kickboxing class at North Shore Academy will be re-branded as our CM (Crazy Monkey) Kickboxing Class.
First, a short list of reasons why the change is happening:
1. IT'S FUNCTIONAL - The more I train CM, the more I realize that this is the best training program I've ever seen for learning the stand-up fighting/kickboxing game. Whether you're looking to have more fun doing stand-up, to develop more real world skill at the boxing and kickboxing games (rather than just learning cool techniques and pad drills and leaving it at that), or get in better shape using kickboxing as your vehicle, this program delivers in a way that no other program I've ever experienced has. My personal sparring game has made some very large leaps since joining the program, and with each session I can feel my game becoming more solid. I know that everyone who immerses themselves in this program and believes in it will achieve the same degree of positive results.
2. IT'S FUN! - Representing the Crazy Monkey Defense program allows us to emphasize and develop an in-class culture that sets us apart from nearly every other Boxing, Kickboxing, and Muay Thai program out there. The truth is, most other programs out there either emphasize the competition element WAY TOO MUCH, or they focus exclusively on the fitness and "martial artsy" elements of kickboxing without allowing the client (you) to try things out for themselves, make mistakes, and PLAY THE GAME. We strive to embody the PLAY ETHIC in every session, and as a coach I strive to help all of you uncover your own strengths and develop an individualized game that FITS YOU.
3. IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT "FIGHTING" - Because we're no longer bound to a linear "Technique A-Z" curriculum, we can take the time that we normally spend working on "the list" of techniques for each level and shift that focus to playing the game, as well as talking about most important aspect of martial arts training, HOW WHAT WE DO HELPS US IN OUR DAILY LIVES. We get to talk about mental game, emotional regulation, stress management, focus, goal-setting, and all that cool stuff.
I have a lot of other reasons why I feel this program rocks, but I also wanted to give a brief summary of what will and will not be different with this shift in programs. Of course, if you have any questions or concerns that I'm not covering in this post, please shoot me an email or ask me any time.
WHAT WILL NOT CHANGE:
1. Conditioning Day - Technique Day - Sparring Day ---- This format has served us very well for several years, and since this ain't broke, I don't plan on fixing it. Our Tuesday-Thursday format will not change. We'll still have an optional Saturday class, and I'm leaving it up to those of you who attend Saturday class to define what you want the class to be (even if it changes from week to week).
2. Conditioning-Conditioning-Conditioning - Just cuz we want to have more fun in class, it certainly doesn't mean we won't be working HARD!! So don't worry, your old friends "Mr. 5X5" and "Ms. Burpee" aren't going anywhere, haha.
WHAT WILL CHANGE:
1. Narrowed focus/Quality over Quantity - Rather than listing out drill after drill, technique after technique, and counter after counter, we'll be shifting our focus to things that are high priority and high impact, so that we can develop true competence and confidence in our techniques.
2. RANKING - We will no longer be ranking in the WMTA Muay Thai Curriculum as part of our weekly classes. If you are still interested in ranking, we can work this into Saturday classes or you can set up a private with me.
CMD does have a phase evaluation similar to a ranking, however it is not the same linear approach that most of you are used to (i.e. learn techniques 1-12 and you qualify for rank X). It'll be a while before we can implement this, but I feel that it's a form of evaluation that makes more sense than what we'd been doing.
Again, I can't cover everything in one post, so if you have any questions or concerns about the changes, my door and ears are always open.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Everything you Wanted to Know about the Crazy Monkey Defense Program
Hey all-
I've received a lot of positive remarks from you all on the aspects of the Crazy Monkey Defense Program that I've been integrating into the Muay Thai and JKD classes at the school.
Let me tell you all right now, however, that we've really only scratched the surface on this program. I'll be heading off to the CMD USA Trainer's Clinic at the end of May, and I fully expect to come back with a head full of new drills, tips, and training methods to help us all improve our stand-up, clinch, and ground sparring games, all while having a great time and learning to integrate those lessons into other areas of life. Rodney is even planning on doing a session at the clinic that focuses on his approach to self-defense/self-preservation training.
I know that some of you have taken the time to look at the Crazy Monkey Defense website and/or some of the clips on Rodney's YouTube channel. But, if you would still like more FREE information on the program, Rodney's just put up a new blog that answers just about any question you might have about the program.
Check out this link and you'll quickly realize why CM is much MUCH more than just "that hand defense thing.."
http://embodiedwarrior.typepad.com/cm_way/
P.S. Don't forget that, as clients of a licensed CM Trainer in Training (your's truly), you are all entitled to a HUGE DISCOUNT on a Pro-Membership to the Official CMPD Home Page - www.crazymonkeydefense.com. There are tons of resources available on this website that you won't find anywhere else!
I've received a lot of positive remarks from you all on the aspects of the Crazy Monkey Defense Program that I've been integrating into the Muay Thai and JKD classes at the school.
Let me tell you all right now, however, that we've really only scratched the surface on this program. I'll be heading off to the CMD USA Trainer's Clinic at the end of May, and I fully expect to come back with a head full of new drills, tips, and training methods to help us all improve our stand-up, clinch, and ground sparring games, all while having a great time and learning to integrate those lessons into other areas of life. Rodney is even planning on doing a session at the clinic that focuses on his approach to self-defense/self-preservation training.
I know that some of you have taken the time to look at the Crazy Monkey Defense website and/or some of the clips on Rodney's YouTube channel. But, if you would still like more FREE information on the program, Rodney's just put up a new blog that answers just about any question you might have about the program.
Check out this link and you'll quickly realize why CM is much MUCH more than just "that hand defense thing.."
http://embodiedwarrior.typepad.com/cm_way/
P.S. Don't forget that, as clients of a licensed CM Trainer in Training (your's truly), you are all entitled to a HUGE DISCOUNT on a Pro-Membership to the Official CMPD Home Page - www.crazymonkeydefense.com. There are tons of resources available on this website that you won't find anywhere else!
Friday, January 23, 2009
On Intensity
This is a word that has come up in numerous discussions I've had recently with my fellow instructors as well as with students. It's also a word we hear a lot in both the martial arts and fitness worlds. Every so often we as martial artists have a desire to "step up" our training. We often times feel as though our current training regimen is not intense enough, and, since we often assume (not necessarily correctly) that more intense training will provide better results more quickly, we decide that our training needs a change.
But how do you actually define intensity? More importantly, how does intensity find its way into your training? Who provides the intensity? Is the intensity built into the training methods and drills we do, or is it up to each of us to provide the intensity in our training?
Because this is a word that is used so often in fitness and martial arts, but it is not so clearly defined, there are a lot of differences of opinion and perspective when it comes to answering some of these questions.
To quote renowned martial arts and self-protection coach Tony Blauer, "The clarity with which you can define something determines how well you use it." So let's first look at defining intensity as it applies to our training.
Webster defines "intense" as:
1. a: existing in an extreme degree. b: having or showing a characteristic in extreme degree.
2. marked by or expressive of great zeal, energy, determination, or concentration.
3. a: exhibiting strong feeling or earnestness of purpose. b: deeply felt
The first thing I notice when I read these definitions is that the words used do not define "intense" as either a purely physical or a purely mental/emotional quality. For example, full contact sparring can certainly be described as intense, but couldn't a competitive chess match or a heated debate be described the same way?
Taking this into the context of training, ask yourself "What to me signifies an intense training session?" If the only times you think you have done intense training are when you ended up gasping for air and dripping sweat, you're selling yourself short. On the other hand, if you never break a sweat when training and never push yourself to and beyond the point of fatigue, you're selling yourself short there as well.
Many martial artists are guilty of only training and focusing on the physical aspects of martial arts, without tapping into the vast potential that comes from training the mind. Sports psychologists know all too well that if an athlete is not mentally prepared for a task, then all of the physical talent and state of the art training methods in the world mean very little.
Have you ever heard that your sub-conscious mind cannot tell the difference between a real experience and a vividly imagined one? Taking this one fact into our training means that not only can we train anywhere and almost any time using the "gym between our ears," but it also tells us that we can make all of our training much more meaningful and realistic using the power of visualization.
What do you think about when you shadowbox or do carrenza? Do you think about specific movements or techniques? Do you visualize yourself sparring or fighting an imaginary opponent? Are you focused on how your body feels in that moment? Are you thinking about anything at all?
Visualization can be very beneficial, especially when practicing or training alone. And, who's to say that you can't use visualizations when you're doing other forms of training other than martial arts?
Did you know that it's been clinically shown that a runner will run faster than their normal pace if they imagine that they are chasing someone, and faster still if they imagine that they themselves are being chased?
The second point that comes to mind when I read these definitions is that the words used here tend to describe intensity as something that is somewhat subjective to each individual. Such things as determination, concentration, and earnestness of purpose are not necessarily measured by how many push-ups your coach asks you to do, or by how long the rounds of hitting focus mitts are. These qualities are provided by the individual. This is one of the main reasons why martial arts is such a great physical activity for people of all ages and fitness levels. The advantage martial arts has over going out and running 3 miles or doing 250lb deadlifts in the weight room is that everyone can adjust the pace to make it challenging, but not overwhelming. Unfortunately, this can be a disadvantage as well, since it is up to the individual to challenge themselves.
So, if you've ever left class and thought, "that class wasn't intense enough for me," take a good look in the mirror and ask, "how much intensity did I bring to my training today?"
While a coach or instructor can certainly design a class that is physically challenging, just like a math teacher can give his students nothing but difficult calculus problems, in the end, the intensity of the effort is provided by the student.
As a coach, I can try to get you to hit harder, hit faster, and do it over and over again. But I can't make you hit harder, hit faster, or focus more intently on the job at hand. Ultimately, you as the student are the one who has to take responsibility for this aspect of your training.
The third and final point I'd like to make about intensity has to do with maintaining it. If we can use "focus" or "earnestness of purpose" as synonyms for intensity, then we should not look for intensity only between the time the round timer starts and stops. Ask yourself if you are guilty of any of these behaviors which may indicate a lack of intensity or focus. (Note that I've often used the example of hitting mitts or thai pads as the training scenario, but keep in mind that these behaviors can also apply just as easily to double stick drills, grappling practice, shadowboxing, or even practicing forms such as Ung Moon.)
1. I hit the pads as hard and as fast as I can, but when I get tired I drop my hands and walk around without using correct footwork.
2. I work hard during the rounds, but when it's time to switch pads with my partner, I use it as a time to take a break and get some water.
3. When going to get equipment needed for training or when putting it back (such as grabbing/putting away a jump rope, or going to my bag to grab sticks, focus mitts, etc.) I walk slowly and take my time, rather than moving "with a purpose."
4. When I'm shadowboxing or working with a partner, I'm physically working very hard, but I'm not mentally focused on what I am doing. If you asked me afterward, I wouldn't be able to tell you what it felt like or what techniques I was doing.
5. I try my best to remember the techniques and drills we practice in class, but I never write them down, take notes, or think about them after I leave.
But how do you actually define intensity? More importantly, how does intensity find its way into your training? Who provides the intensity? Is the intensity built into the training methods and drills we do, or is it up to each of us to provide the intensity in our training?
Because this is a word that is used so often in fitness and martial arts, but it is not so clearly defined, there are a lot of differences of opinion and perspective when it comes to answering some of these questions.
To quote renowned martial arts and self-protection coach Tony Blauer, "The clarity with which you can define something determines how well you use it." So let's first look at defining intensity as it applies to our training.
Webster defines "intense" as:
1. a: existing in an extreme degree. b: having or showing a characteristic in extreme degree.
2. marked by or expressive of great zeal, energy, determination, or concentration.
3. a: exhibiting strong feeling or earnestness of purpose. b: deeply felt
The first thing I notice when I read these definitions is that the words used do not define "intense" as either a purely physical or a purely mental/emotional quality. For example, full contact sparring can certainly be described as intense, but couldn't a competitive chess match or a heated debate be described the same way?
Taking this into the context of training, ask yourself "What to me signifies an intense training session?" If the only times you think you have done intense training are when you ended up gasping for air and dripping sweat, you're selling yourself short. On the other hand, if you never break a sweat when training and never push yourself to and beyond the point of fatigue, you're selling yourself short there as well.
Many martial artists are guilty of only training and focusing on the physical aspects of martial arts, without tapping into the vast potential that comes from training the mind. Sports psychologists know all too well that if an athlete is not mentally prepared for a task, then all of the physical talent and state of the art training methods in the world mean very little.
Have you ever heard that your sub-conscious mind cannot tell the difference between a real experience and a vividly imagined one? Taking this one fact into our training means that not only can we train anywhere and almost any time using the "gym between our ears," but it also tells us that we can make all of our training much more meaningful and realistic using the power of visualization.
What do you think about when you shadowbox or do carrenza? Do you think about specific movements or techniques? Do you visualize yourself sparring or fighting an imaginary opponent? Are you focused on how your body feels in that moment? Are you thinking about anything at all?
Visualization can be very beneficial, especially when practicing or training alone. And, who's to say that you can't use visualizations when you're doing other forms of training other than martial arts?
Did you know that it's been clinically shown that a runner will run faster than their normal pace if they imagine that they are chasing someone, and faster still if they imagine that they themselves are being chased?
The second point that comes to mind when I read these definitions is that the words used here tend to describe intensity as something that is somewhat subjective to each individual. Such things as determination, concentration, and earnestness of purpose are not necessarily measured by how many push-ups your coach asks you to do, or by how long the rounds of hitting focus mitts are. These qualities are provided by the individual. This is one of the main reasons why martial arts is such a great physical activity for people of all ages and fitness levels. The advantage martial arts has over going out and running 3 miles or doing 250lb deadlifts in the weight room is that everyone can adjust the pace to make it challenging, but not overwhelming. Unfortunately, this can be a disadvantage as well, since it is up to the individual to challenge themselves.
So, if you've ever left class and thought, "that class wasn't intense enough for me," take a good look in the mirror and ask, "how much intensity did I bring to my training today?"
While a coach or instructor can certainly design a class that is physically challenging, just like a math teacher can give his students nothing but difficult calculus problems, in the end, the intensity of the effort is provided by the student.
As a coach, I can try to get you to hit harder, hit faster, and do it over and over again. But I can't make you hit harder, hit faster, or focus more intently on the job at hand. Ultimately, you as the student are the one who has to take responsibility for this aspect of your training.
The third and final point I'd like to make about intensity has to do with maintaining it. If we can use "focus" or "earnestness of purpose" as synonyms for intensity, then we should not look for intensity only between the time the round timer starts and stops. Ask yourself if you are guilty of any of these behaviors which may indicate a lack of intensity or focus. (Note that I've often used the example of hitting mitts or thai pads as the training scenario, but keep in mind that these behaviors can also apply just as easily to double stick drills, grappling practice, shadowboxing, or even practicing forms such as Ung Moon.)
1. I hit the pads as hard and as fast as I can, but when I get tired I drop my hands and walk around without using correct footwork.
2. I work hard during the rounds, but when it's time to switch pads with my partner, I use it as a time to take a break and get some water.
3. When going to get equipment needed for training or when putting it back (such as grabbing/putting away a jump rope, or going to my bag to grab sticks, focus mitts, etc.) I walk slowly and take my time, rather than moving "with a purpose."
4. When I'm shadowboxing or working with a partner, I'm physically working very hard, but I'm not mentally focused on what I am doing. If you asked me afterward, I wouldn't be able to tell you what it felt like or what techniques I was doing.
5. I try my best to remember the techniques and drills we practice in class, but I never write them down, take notes, or think about them after I leave.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
What the heck is a Crazy Monkey?
Hey all-
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
I'd like to introduce you to a new program that I'm excited to be a part of. As of this year, I have been accepted as a Trainer in Training in the Crazy Monkey Defense program (CMDP). Much more than simply another martial art "style" or "system," the CMDP represents a paradigm shift in martial arts training and, more importantly, teaching.
While I've been practicing and teaching some of the physical elements of the CMDP for some time in both the Muay Thai and JKD Classes, I've decided to go full steam ahead and join the CMDP team. While the CMDP can certainly be practiced as a stand-alone martial arts program, I feel that the physical and, more importantly, the mental benefits of this program will help martial artists of any style, and also translate into other areas of your life.
Many martial arts and martial artists preach the mental and emotional benefits of martial arts training, things such as increased confidence, focus under pressure, inner peace etc. I feel that many of them are simply paying lip service to these benefits. Where other programs stop short of their promise, the CMDP delivers.
Very soon we'll be introducing a CMD class at NSA!
To find out if the CMD is for you, take this quiz:
Are you a Crazy Monkey?
http://www.crazymonkeydefense.com/cmdp/content/view/687/332/
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
I'd like to introduce you to a new program that I'm excited to be a part of. As of this year, I have been accepted as a Trainer in Training in the Crazy Monkey Defense program (CMDP). Much more than simply another martial art "style" or "system," the CMDP represents a paradigm shift in martial arts training and, more importantly, teaching.
While I've been practicing and teaching some of the physical elements of the CMDP for some time in both the Muay Thai and JKD Classes, I've decided to go full steam ahead and join the CMDP team. While the CMDP can certainly be practiced as a stand-alone martial arts program, I feel that the physical and, more importantly, the mental benefits of this program will help martial artists of any style, and also translate into other areas of your life.
Many martial arts and martial artists preach the mental and emotional benefits of martial arts training, things such as increased confidence, focus under pressure, inner peace etc. I feel that many of them are simply paying lip service to these benefits. Where other programs stop short of their promise, the CMDP delivers.
Very soon we'll be introducing a CMD class at NSA!
To find out if the CMD is for you, take this quiz:
Are you a Crazy Monkey?
http://www.crazymonkeydefense.com/cmdp/content/view/687/332/
Monday, December 15, 2008
Being a "Model" Student
Hope this finds everyone safe and happy during the holiday season. 2008 is coming to a close (NSA will be closed for the holidays beginning Friday, December 19th), and the year has been filled with ups and downs, new lessons and reminders of old ones. This'll probably be the last official post of the year, so I'll start by wishing everyone a safe and happy holiday season and New Year celebration.
While the pun in the title of this post is intended, I'm not going to run down a list of what I think makes someone a good student. I will, however, focus on one thing that I feel separates some martial artists or athletes from their peers, regardless of genetic gifts. One of the most useful things a student can have, and therefore one of the most important things I feel an instructor can provide for his/her students, is/are conceptual model(s).
Many of us cross-train in at least one or two different martial arts. And very often, those arts themselves (sunch as Jun Fan Gung Fu) are made up of combined tactics from several systems. The thing that ties these elements together, and also helps to classify and categorize them, is a conceptual model. You can think of the model as a map, so that even and especially if you find yourself exploring unfamiliar territory, you still have a guide to finding your way around.
One of the most common conceptual models that has been around in martial arts is the 4 Ranges model, that asserts that empty hand fights take place in kicking, punching, trapping, and grappling range. Many of those who subscribe to a sport/MMA type of training have shortened this to the Stand Up/Clinch/Ground model.
It is also helpful to have models within each area that you train. For example, on the ground, the positions commonly identified in most grappling systems, as well as the "position before submission" mantra are both examples of conceptual models.
Having trained with several different grappling instructors, I've found that while some instructors may be very talented and knowledgable in terms of technique or grappling ability, far fewer have a clear-cut conceptual model to hand over to their students. However, what distinguishes some of the more exceptional grappling coaches out there, like Roy Harris, Matt Thornton, Erik Paulson, John Will, and Nathan Leverton, is that they can teach their craft in the simplest of terms. One of the quotes I've heard recently that sums this up came from grappling great Rigan Machado, who said, "Jiu-Jitsu isn't complicated...it's the people that make it complicated."
One advantage of having a conceptual model is that you are able to tap into your own intelligence and problem-solving ability, rather than being a technique junky. What I mean by that is that you can use the models that you have, along with some personal exploration, to solve some of the problems you encounter on the mat, rather than always having to learn a new technique or run to your coach to get the answer. At a recent seminar with Guro Dan Inosanto, we were training some tie-up and clinch material, while Guro explained to us that the techniques themselves came from personal exploration on the part of himself and his Sifu (Bruce Lee), and not from formal grappling training. I was struck by this quote from him:
"People ask me, 'Did Bruce Lee teach you that?' and I say, 'No. He taught me the method I used to figure it out for myself." That is instruction at the highest level.
Some great examples of conceptual models are found within both Jeet Kune Do and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. For example, JKD has the 5 Ways of Attack, which are a great way of organizing your offensive tactics and helping to discover what your particular "style" is. Also in JKD, though slightly less well known, are the 6 modes of defense:
1. Defend using distance (i.e. footwork)
2. Defend using evasive tactics (ex. duck, slip, bob n weave)
3. Defend by covering/blocking
4. Defend by parrying or deflecting
5. Simultaneous attack and defense
6. Intercept or Stop Hit
In grappling, conceptual models help take some of the guesswork out of various positions or situations. For example, despite all of the different variations of guard passes, there are ultimately only 3 ways to pass the guard:
1. Under the legs
2. Over the legs
3. Around the legs
And, from the guard player's perspective, there are really only three attacking options as well (often referred to as the 3 S's):
1. Sweep
2. Submit
3. Stand up (or Sit out)
But, before I go crazy spouting all the different conceptual models I've accumulated in my training, let's get back to the general topic.
As I mature in the martial arts and as an instructor, I seem to find myself spending less time thinking about specific techniques, and more and more about conceptual models or ways of organizing those techniques in my mind. I do this both for personal reasons and because I feel it makes me a more effective instructor.
It's so easy to get lost in a sea of all these different tools, techniques, and tactics, and lose sight of what they are all for. It's like being in a kitchen stocked full of food, but not having any recipes.
So, both as a challenge to students and to myself, I highly encourage all of you to try and take a step back every now and then in your training, and look beyond the techniques. Try to see the conceptual structure behind what you're learning. And, if you don't think you have it figured out, feel free to ask your instructor. I know that in my case, if I don't have an answer on the spot, the question will challenge me enough to think about it and get my head around it in my own time, and eventually you WILL GET an answer. That way, we can all challenge ourselves and each other to become "model" students.
While the pun in the title of this post is intended, I'm not going to run down a list of what I think makes someone a good student. I will, however, focus on one thing that I feel separates some martial artists or athletes from their peers, regardless of genetic gifts. One of the most useful things a student can have, and therefore one of the most important things I feel an instructor can provide for his/her students, is/are conceptual model(s).
Many of us cross-train in at least one or two different martial arts. And very often, those arts themselves (sunch as Jun Fan Gung Fu) are made up of combined tactics from several systems. The thing that ties these elements together, and also helps to classify and categorize them, is a conceptual model. You can think of the model as a map, so that even and especially if you find yourself exploring unfamiliar territory, you still have a guide to finding your way around.
One of the most common conceptual models that has been around in martial arts is the 4 Ranges model, that asserts that empty hand fights take place in kicking, punching, trapping, and grappling range. Many of those who subscribe to a sport/MMA type of training have shortened this to the Stand Up/Clinch/Ground model.
It is also helpful to have models within each area that you train. For example, on the ground, the positions commonly identified in most grappling systems, as well as the "position before submission" mantra are both examples of conceptual models.
Having trained with several different grappling instructors, I've found that while some instructors may be very talented and knowledgable in terms of technique or grappling ability, far fewer have a clear-cut conceptual model to hand over to their students. However, what distinguishes some of the more exceptional grappling coaches out there, like Roy Harris, Matt Thornton, Erik Paulson, John Will, and Nathan Leverton, is that they can teach their craft in the simplest of terms. One of the quotes I've heard recently that sums this up came from grappling great Rigan Machado, who said, "Jiu-Jitsu isn't complicated...it's the people that make it complicated."
One advantage of having a conceptual model is that you are able to tap into your own intelligence and problem-solving ability, rather than being a technique junky. What I mean by that is that you can use the models that you have, along with some personal exploration, to solve some of the problems you encounter on the mat, rather than always having to learn a new technique or run to your coach to get the answer. At a recent seminar with Guro Dan Inosanto, we were training some tie-up and clinch material, while Guro explained to us that the techniques themselves came from personal exploration on the part of himself and his Sifu (Bruce Lee), and not from formal grappling training. I was struck by this quote from him:
"People ask me, 'Did Bruce Lee teach you that?' and I say, 'No. He taught me the method I used to figure it out for myself." That is instruction at the highest level.
Some great examples of conceptual models are found within both Jeet Kune Do and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. For example, JKD has the 5 Ways of Attack, which are a great way of organizing your offensive tactics and helping to discover what your particular "style" is. Also in JKD, though slightly less well known, are the 6 modes of defense:
1. Defend using distance (i.e. footwork)
2. Defend using evasive tactics (ex. duck, slip, bob n weave)
3. Defend by covering/blocking
4. Defend by parrying or deflecting
5. Simultaneous attack and defense
6. Intercept or Stop Hit
In grappling, conceptual models help take some of the guesswork out of various positions or situations. For example, despite all of the different variations of guard passes, there are ultimately only 3 ways to pass the guard:
1. Under the legs
2. Over the legs
3. Around the legs
And, from the guard player's perspective, there are really only three attacking options as well (often referred to as the 3 S's):
1. Sweep
2. Submit
3. Stand up (or Sit out)
But, before I go crazy spouting all the different conceptual models I've accumulated in my training, let's get back to the general topic.
As I mature in the martial arts and as an instructor, I seem to find myself spending less time thinking about specific techniques, and more and more about conceptual models or ways of organizing those techniques in my mind. I do this both for personal reasons and because I feel it makes me a more effective instructor.
It's so easy to get lost in a sea of all these different tools, techniques, and tactics, and lose sight of what they are all for. It's like being in a kitchen stocked full of food, but not having any recipes.
So, both as a challenge to students and to myself, I highly encourage all of you to try and take a step back every now and then in your training, and look beyond the techniques. Try to see the conceptual structure behind what you're learning. And, if you don't think you have it figured out, feel free to ask your instructor. I know that in my case, if I don't have an answer on the spot, the question will challenge me enough to think about it and get my head around it in my own time, and eventually you WILL GET an answer. That way, we can all challenge ourselves and each other to become "model" students.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
In my previous 30 years.....
Some of you may know that, back in July of this year, I reached the not-quite-ripe age of 30. While I certainly do not consider myself "old," I am definitely not the same kid I used to be, and I do feel I've learned quite a bit up until this point in my life. To this end, I don't feel the least bit bad about not being in my 20's anymore. It's because of what I've learned about life and about myself (much of it in my 20's) that I love being 30. So, here is a short list of things I've learned up until this point. I'll no doubt be adding to this list, so even after you've read this post, you may wish to check back to see if I've added any updates. But I'll start with the ones that are the most obvious off the top of my head (in no particular order of importance):
1. Life's too short to spend with people who make you feel like crap.
2. It's fine to have goals, but it's so much better to enjoy the process without having an agenda or a place to "get to." Ask yourself, once you do get there, then what happens?
3. That whole "pain is temporary, glory is forever" thing....totally backwards.
4. It's far better to be a "good man" than it is to be a "nice guy."
5. An addendum to number 1: Technically, feelings are effects, and thoughts are causes. Therefore, to the degree with which you can control your thoughts (including which ones you "let in" from other people), you can also control your feelings, and thus no one ever really makes you feel like crap, you make yourself feel like crap. You can choose to not feel like crap if you don't want to.
6. Though I've voted in several elections, I still don't know how the Electoral College works...
7. Your body and your car are both machines. Both can be pushed to amazing lengths, but both require regular refueling, maintenance, rest, and occasional repair.
8. Eat whole foods and drink lots of water, rather than worrying so much about supplements and other "short cuts"....trust Mother Nature, she knew what she was doing.
9. Sleep is a precious commodity.
10. I'd rather hit pads than people.
11. I'd rather play than compete.
12. Greater strength, endurance, and skill are all valid training goals....but so is FUN.
1. Life's too short to spend with people who make you feel like crap.
2. It's fine to have goals, but it's so much better to enjoy the process without having an agenda or a place to "get to." Ask yourself, once you do get there, then what happens?
3. That whole "pain is temporary, glory is forever" thing....totally backwards.
4. It's far better to be a "good man" than it is to be a "nice guy."
5. An addendum to number 1: Technically, feelings are effects, and thoughts are causes. Therefore, to the degree with which you can control your thoughts (including which ones you "let in" from other people), you can also control your feelings, and thus no one ever really makes you feel like crap, you make yourself feel like crap. You can choose to not feel like crap if you don't want to.
6. Though I've voted in several elections, I still don't know how the Electoral College works...
7. Your body and your car are both machines. Both can be pushed to amazing lengths, but both require regular refueling, maintenance, rest, and occasional repair.
8. Eat whole foods and drink lots of water, rather than worrying so much about supplements and other "short cuts"....trust Mother Nature, she knew what she was doing.
9. Sleep is a precious commodity.
10. I'd rather hit pads than people.
11. I'd rather play than compete.
12. Greater strength, endurance, and skill are all valid training goals....but so is FUN.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
On Sparring
Hey all-
You may recall that, a couple months back, your instructors at NSA handed out surveys for you to fill out. Though you were the ones answering all the questions in the survey, our intentions with doing that were to answer a few questions for ourselves:
1. Why do our students come in to train with us? What are their primary goals?
2. What do our students want us to spend more time on? What do they want us to spend less time on?
3. What the heck are we going to do with Saturday classes?
After gathering and interpreting all the answers and comments, we summed up the responses as follows:
1. The majority of you train with the primary goals of fitness and personal development (eg. stress management, focus, confidence, etc.)
2. The majority of you would like to spend more time sparring and working belt rank requirements.
3. Not too many of you are interested in training on Saturdays, but those of you who are would like to focus on Thai Boxing, perhaps with some grappling/mma thrown in.
What I'd like to focus on today is how the first two responses relate. In particular, I would like to discuss the role of sparring in our training, and how we intend to go about including more sparring.
Sparring is an essential, and IMO misunderstood mode of training in the martial arts. Typically, there are two schools of thought on sparring. Traditional martial arts in today's world tend either to focus on safer and less realistic modes of sparring, such as point sparring, or eliminate it all together for the sake of safety. The more modern, combat sports approach to sparring is to make it the basis of all training. In short, if the techniques you're learning "don't work" in sparring, then they're no good.
I sense that martial arts instructors, and especially school owners, struggle with the sparring issue all the time. Particularly from a business perspective, doing anything that is likely to cause your students injury is BAD FOR BUSINESS. This is one of the reasons why, for liability reasons, schools will often eliminate sparring from their training.
With the combat sport approach, it seems as though the coaches/instructors in those scenarios are making the assumption that all of their students have the desire to become "fighters," whatever that means. Not wanting to eliminate sparring, as to them it would be the equivalent of coaching soccer without ever scrimaging or playing a game, they typically have a "sink or swim" attitude and, as a result, the toughest, most competitive and/or most athletic students thrive, while the more timid, laid back, or less athletic students at best encounter repeated discouragement, and at worst encounter injury and eventually quit.
Having been through both of these approaches, I can tell you that neither is an effective long-term strategy, especially when keeping in perspective the goals stated above. Eliminating sparring will eventually lead to self-doubt, insecurity, and/or just plain boredom. Overemphasizing competitive sparring only serves to feed the ego, and will inevitably lead to injury.
So what are we to do in order to gain the benefits of sparring while minimizing or avoiding the drawbacks? In an effort to facilitate clearer communication on this topic, I came up with a list of 4 basic "levels" or types of sparring. These can apply no matter what "game" we're talking about, whether it's kickboxing, grappling, mma, or even stick or knife sparring. They can also apply to sparring drills as well as actual sparring. Here they are, with brief definitions:
1. Ego-less - In Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu schools, "slow-rolling" is often used as a warm-up exercise, or when teaching beginners how to spar safely. Erik Paulson uses the term "Ego-less" sparring, to emphasize that there is no ego in this type of game. He also instructs grapplers using this method to "wrestle as if you had the flu." What this means is that no strength or explosiveness is used at all, submissions are never fully put on (that way your partner can practice escaping), and there is an equal exchange of offense and defense. (Note: A great explanation of slow-rolling in a grappling context can be found on Aesopian's Awesome Blog.) In short, ego-less training is more about just continuous, flowing movement and letting your body do what it naturally wants to do, but at a slow, completely non-competitive pace. Again, this is typically used as a warm-up.
2. Light Play - In this form of sparring, attributes such as speed and power are "put on the shelf". In other words, there is no use of speed, a reach advantage, or power or aggressiveness to compensate for lack of technique. Being up one notch on the intensity scale from Ego-less, Light Play involves working on technique and "trying things out," and is especially helpful when working on your weaknesses. For example, if you have very fast evasive footwork, you might choose instead to stay in range and work on your defense. If you are particularly good at throwing deceptive hand combinations, you might opt to just work on jabs and crosses. One mantra to use to emphasize what Light Play is about might be "do more with less."
3. Medium Game - In Savate, this form of sparring, which is also used as Savate's form of amateur competition, is known as Assaut. The emphasis in Assaut is not on trying to knock the opponent out, but rather to display technique and finesse while "scoring points" with controlled contact. You may still decide to work on weak points when training in this game, particularly when working with someone less experienced, smaller, or less athletic. But Medium Game is mainly about having a "style" or "game plan" that fits your attributes, body structure, and personality. Some examples of this in kickboxing might be a "runner" or "counter puncher" style. In Medium Game, you try to be as effective as possible with the game plan you've developed. This is where, in JKD terms, you are "expressing yourself" through movement. Medium game most likely will require a step up in the level of protective gear, but for our purposes, this is still not meant to be competition.
4. Full Contact, aka Competition Speed - This is where you put it all together, and your only objective is to "win." In boxing or kickboxing, it ultimately means doing what you can to knock the other guy out. In grappling, it's all about positional dominance and setting up your go-to submissions.
In my opinion, unless you have serious concerns about being able to defend yourself, or are interested in competition, Full Contact training is pretty much unneccessary. Even for those who do choose to engage in this type of training, it must be done sparingly if longevity is of any concern. That would mean no more than 1-2 times a month for recreational martial artists, and probably no more than once or twice a week for serious competitors. Anyone engaging in Full Contact training must also be very diligent about their conditioning, nutrition, and recovery in order to avoid repeated injury.
Medium Game sparring also has the liklihood to cause injury, as it's difficult to keep it from escalating into competitive mode. For non-competitors, this type of training should also be used sparingly (no more than once a week) or not at all. More athletic non-competitors, as long as they keep a postiive, non-competitive attitude, can do this more often and more productively without incurring repeated injury. For the average student who trains a couple hours a week, however, it's largely unnecessary, particularly at the beginner level.
For persons interested in training martial arts for general health, recreation, and personal development, it's my opinion that nearly all sparring time should be spent in the Ego-Less and Light Play modes. These can be done daily without incurring sufficient wear and tear on the body, and will go a long way toward developing your skills in the long term, when done with a positive attitude consistently over time. Essentially what it's about is long term goals rather than short term. If I had to get you ready to fight in a month, you'd need to do some full contact stuff, and take the consequent bumps, bruises, stress, and emotional discomfort as par for the course. But if your objective is long term health, personal development, and HAVING FUN, why do something that incurs more emotional stress and will almost inevitably lead to injury?
For me, this is a somewhat recent develoment in my approach to martial arts training, and I cannot take sole credit for what I've written here. Listening to coaches such as Erik Paulson, Ron Balicki, Rodney King (no, not that one), Dan Inosanto, Rick Faye, and Matt Thornton all talk about their experiences with all of the above methods of training and their benefits/drawbacks has influenced my own experimentation and thinking on the subject, and a large debt of gratitude is owed to all of the above.
I would be remiss if I didn't make specific mention of Rodney King. For those of you unfamiliar with him, he's the creator of the Crazy Monkey Defense Program (which is in my links section). It's safe for me to say that no other coach has had a greater influence on my approach to training within the last year. If you've noticed any recent change in my approach to coaching, particularly stand-up, it's due to him and his ideas. For anyone looking to improve their boxing/kickboxing skills as well as their mental game while having a great time doing it, I highly recommend checking out his website and his instructional DVD's. I especially recommend the Championship Series Vol 1: For the Everyday Guy as a great introduction into the fundamentals of the boxing/kickboxing game. If you're looking for cool new combinations and tricks, you'll be disappointed. But, if you're looking to get back to basics and polish up those fundamentals that you know you've neglected, give it a try. And, if you fall in love with this material as much as I have, I also would recommend purchasing a Pro online membership to his website. There are a ton of instructional videos, seminar footage, and a host of great people who train under Rodney (as well as Rodney himself) who are available to answer questions on the Pro Forum. Don't be surprised if you see CMDP added to my list of organizations with which I'm affiliated sometime within the next couple years.
You may recall that, a couple months back, your instructors at NSA handed out surveys for you to fill out. Though you were the ones answering all the questions in the survey, our intentions with doing that were to answer a few questions for ourselves:
1. Why do our students come in to train with us? What are their primary goals?
2. What do our students want us to spend more time on? What do they want us to spend less time on?
3. What the heck are we going to do with Saturday classes?
After gathering and interpreting all the answers and comments, we summed up the responses as follows:
1. The majority of you train with the primary goals of fitness and personal development (eg. stress management, focus, confidence, etc.)
2. The majority of you would like to spend more time sparring and working belt rank requirements.
3. Not too many of you are interested in training on Saturdays, but those of you who are would like to focus on Thai Boxing, perhaps with some grappling/mma thrown in.
What I'd like to focus on today is how the first two responses relate. In particular, I would like to discuss the role of sparring in our training, and how we intend to go about including more sparring.
Sparring is an essential, and IMO misunderstood mode of training in the martial arts. Typically, there are two schools of thought on sparring. Traditional martial arts in today's world tend either to focus on safer and less realistic modes of sparring, such as point sparring, or eliminate it all together for the sake of safety. The more modern, combat sports approach to sparring is to make it the basis of all training. In short, if the techniques you're learning "don't work" in sparring, then they're no good.
I sense that martial arts instructors, and especially school owners, struggle with the sparring issue all the time. Particularly from a business perspective, doing anything that is likely to cause your students injury is BAD FOR BUSINESS. This is one of the reasons why, for liability reasons, schools will often eliminate sparring from their training.
With the combat sport approach, it seems as though the coaches/instructors in those scenarios are making the assumption that all of their students have the desire to become "fighters," whatever that means. Not wanting to eliminate sparring, as to them it would be the equivalent of coaching soccer without ever scrimaging or playing a game, they typically have a "sink or swim" attitude and, as a result, the toughest, most competitive and/or most athletic students thrive, while the more timid, laid back, or less athletic students at best encounter repeated discouragement, and at worst encounter injury and eventually quit.
Having been through both of these approaches, I can tell you that neither is an effective long-term strategy, especially when keeping in perspective the goals stated above. Eliminating sparring will eventually lead to self-doubt, insecurity, and/or just plain boredom. Overemphasizing competitive sparring only serves to feed the ego, and will inevitably lead to injury.
So what are we to do in order to gain the benefits of sparring while minimizing or avoiding the drawbacks? In an effort to facilitate clearer communication on this topic, I came up with a list of 4 basic "levels" or types of sparring. These can apply no matter what "game" we're talking about, whether it's kickboxing, grappling, mma, or even stick or knife sparring. They can also apply to sparring drills as well as actual sparring. Here they are, with brief definitions:
1. Ego-less - In Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu schools, "slow-rolling" is often used as a warm-up exercise, or when teaching beginners how to spar safely. Erik Paulson uses the term "Ego-less" sparring, to emphasize that there is no ego in this type of game. He also instructs grapplers using this method to "wrestle as if you had the flu." What this means is that no strength or explosiveness is used at all, submissions are never fully put on (that way your partner can practice escaping), and there is an equal exchange of offense and defense. (Note: A great explanation of slow-rolling in a grappling context can be found on Aesopian's Awesome Blog.) In short, ego-less training is more about just continuous, flowing movement and letting your body do what it naturally wants to do, but at a slow, completely non-competitive pace. Again, this is typically used as a warm-up.
2. Light Play - In this form of sparring, attributes such as speed and power are "put on the shelf". In other words, there is no use of speed, a reach advantage, or power or aggressiveness to compensate for lack of technique. Being up one notch on the intensity scale from Ego-less, Light Play involves working on technique and "trying things out," and is especially helpful when working on your weaknesses. For example, if you have very fast evasive footwork, you might choose instead to stay in range and work on your defense. If you are particularly good at throwing deceptive hand combinations, you might opt to just work on jabs and crosses. One mantra to use to emphasize what Light Play is about might be "do more with less."
3. Medium Game - In Savate, this form of sparring, which is also used as Savate's form of amateur competition, is known as Assaut. The emphasis in Assaut is not on trying to knock the opponent out, but rather to display technique and finesse while "scoring points" with controlled contact. You may still decide to work on weak points when training in this game, particularly when working with someone less experienced, smaller, or less athletic. But Medium Game is mainly about having a "style" or "game plan" that fits your attributes, body structure, and personality. Some examples of this in kickboxing might be a "runner" or "counter puncher" style. In Medium Game, you try to be as effective as possible with the game plan you've developed. This is where, in JKD terms, you are "expressing yourself" through movement. Medium game most likely will require a step up in the level of protective gear, but for our purposes, this is still not meant to be competition.
4. Full Contact, aka Competition Speed - This is where you put it all together, and your only objective is to "win." In boxing or kickboxing, it ultimately means doing what you can to knock the other guy out. In grappling, it's all about positional dominance and setting up your go-to submissions.
In my opinion, unless you have serious concerns about being able to defend yourself, or are interested in competition, Full Contact training is pretty much unneccessary. Even for those who do choose to engage in this type of training, it must be done sparingly if longevity is of any concern. That would mean no more than 1-2 times a month for recreational martial artists, and probably no more than once or twice a week for serious competitors. Anyone engaging in Full Contact training must also be very diligent about their conditioning, nutrition, and recovery in order to avoid repeated injury.
Medium Game sparring also has the liklihood to cause injury, as it's difficult to keep it from escalating into competitive mode. For non-competitors, this type of training should also be used sparingly (no more than once a week) or not at all. More athletic non-competitors, as long as they keep a postiive, non-competitive attitude, can do this more often and more productively without incurring repeated injury. For the average student who trains a couple hours a week, however, it's largely unnecessary, particularly at the beginner level.
For persons interested in training martial arts for general health, recreation, and personal development, it's my opinion that nearly all sparring time should be spent in the Ego-Less and Light Play modes. These can be done daily without incurring sufficient wear and tear on the body, and will go a long way toward developing your skills in the long term, when done with a positive attitude consistently over time. Essentially what it's about is long term goals rather than short term. If I had to get you ready to fight in a month, you'd need to do some full contact stuff, and take the consequent bumps, bruises, stress, and emotional discomfort as par for the course. But if your objective is long term health, personal development, and HAVING FUN, why do something that incurs more emotional stress and will almost inevitably lead to injury?
For me, this is a somewhat recent develoment in my approach to martial arts training, and I cannot take sole credit for what I've written here. Listening to coaches such as Erik Paulson, Ron Balicki, Rodney King (no, not that one), Dan Inosanto, Rick Faye, and Matt Thornton all talk about their experiences with all of the above methods of training and their benefits/drawbacks has influenced my own experimentation and thinking on the subject, and a large debt of gratitude is owed to all of the above.
I would be remiss if I didn't make specific mention of Rodney King. For those of you unfamiliar with him, he's the creator of the Crazy Monkey Defense Program (which is in my links section). It's safe for me to say that no other coach has had a greater influence on my approach to training within the last year. If you've noticed any recent change in my approach to coaching, particularly stand-up, it's due to him and his ideas. For anyone looking to improve their boxing/kickboxing skills as well as their mental game while having a great time doing it, I highly recommend checking out his website and his instructional DVD's. I especially recommend the Championship Series Vol 1: For the Everyday Guy as a great introduction into the fundamentals of the boxing/kickboxing game. If you're looking for cool new combinations and tricks, you'll be disappointed. But, if you're looking to get back to basics and polish up those fundamentals that you know you've neglected, give it a try. And, if you fall in love with this material as much as I have, I also would recommend purchasing a Pro online membership to his website. There are a ton of instructional videos, seminar footage, and a host of great people who train under Rodney (as well as Rodney himself) who are available to answer questions on the Pro Forum. Don't be surprised if you see CMDP added to my list of organizations with which I'm affiliated sometime within the next couple years.
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