tallgeese

Desenstitization has certainly occured in our society. Though I don't yet think that it's to the degree that some are afraid. We still live in an incredabily civilited time, espically here in the west, compared to the bulk of our history. I do agree we should do better to limit the availibilty of violent material, espically to young people, but again, that's a different topic. As to the end game of the fight, again, I think that the situation will dictate the respone you give. As will the responses that you've conditioned your body to make.

Hardly, bushido man, but it was a great time.

ctownp, If you're interested in competition my advice would be to begin as soon as you can. Most leagues have different divisions that would allow you to compete agaist people of your own skill set, some run by rank or time in. What I've found is that if that is an outlet you want to persue, you're only going to get better by persuing it. Most people I work with now, and what I noted from my own experiance, is that s drastic ups-wing in skill occurs when you start competition. I think it's due in part to getting out and seeing what other people are doing. I think that is is also due to the increse in trainig time and focus that goes along with training for a specific event. Don't worry if you're nervous about it at this stage, that will always be there no matter if you start now or a year from now. Starting ealier will also get you past the unhealthy nerves when competinig and help you reach a peak performance state ealier in your career. I don't think that competition is the be all and end all of MA's. Not even by a long shot. But it can be useful for pushing some of your skill sets forward in their development.

To date, Randy Couture. The guy is an amazing athlete with fantastic wrestling and ground-n-pound skills. However, it often gets overlooked about how well-rounded his game is. He's shown on more than once he has a serious set of hands. He's also one of the smartest fighters out there. Watch how he talors his training to each opponant. It's always a great thing to see.

I agree, I'll probibly check it out, but not just for Tito. It's another MMA venue and we'll have to see how the talent is.

I'm never one to say training shouldn't be hard, or that it shouldn't mimic the conditions of a real fight. But I think some of the others here have a point on this one unknownstyle. One steps, or any kind of technical work are almost by definition designed to help one improve on, or develop movments that he can utilize to defend himself. Even at advanced levels improvement should always be occuring and time taken to reinforce neural pathways that lend themselves to the successful execution of a defense. That's what this type of training is for. For the record, I think of it in the same catagory as mitt work or similar activities. Can contact increse at advanced levels, sure. But what is more important than contact for this particular drill is intensity and focus. If you are ramping up contact, which is a good idea for certain types of training, then I advocate adding some gear and using it intermitantly. Injuries happen enough in this field without almost asking for more, they are a byproduct of training. Best to keep eveyone healthy for sparring activities, which are better for heavy contact and the real thing.

Always a good thing for stuff like this to happen. It means that conditioning is working. It's a great example and I now plan to use it when explaining awareness . The automatic looking around lets you spot other threats from outside. The fact that this is working even in more constrained situations is operant conditioning at it's finest. There is a similar strategy going on in firearms trainin circles now that you may have heard of. Now after firing the perscribed amount of rounds on a course of fire, we move the weapon to a ready position and scan the area. Not just the 45 degree arc in front of us, but we look over our shoulders as well. This not only break up the tunnel vision associated with combat, but allows us to look for other threats as well.

One of the things to remember when trapping is that it is simply another tool to and end. I see too many guys get caught up in throwing multiple traps and in the process pass great opportunities to inflict damage. Trapping isn't something to do for it's own sake. It's an avanue to help advance your fight stratagy. Nothing more.

I probibly like the concept of Fight Quest the best. I'd definalty watch another season. Big fan of TUF as well though.

Agreed, the question comes down to what your misson specific parameters are, bushido man summed up the professional side of things nicely. I'd say that the question for most folks, even to some degree profesisonal responders, is: What focre option is needed for survival? The answer to that question will dictate your set of responses. As to the number mention in the OP, I can't speak for the Napolionic Wars but Grossman cites reserach by a Civil War researcher Paddy Griffith that there was "regimental hit rate of one or two men per minute in firefights of the black-powder era" (On Killing, p24 1st paperback ed.) This can be attributed in part to the diffuculting in reloading those weapons and the style of warfare. There is also an interesting discussion in this part of the book about muskest that had been reloaded multilple times, yet never fired, a fact that Grossman used to illustrate man's inherant resistance to killing. Further, Grossman talks about SLA MArshall's works on WWII firing rates in On Combat. Apparently, Marsahll found that only about 15-20 percent of WWII combatants actually fired their weapons at an exposed enemy (On Combat, p74 1st ed.) In fairness, Grossman does admit that Marshall's work is not up to modern methodology. As we progress along, Grosman's research indicates that by Korea we had increased the firing rate to about 55% and that by Vietnam we had again increase, this time to 90-95% (On Killing, p.35) I have yet to see any stats on the Gulf War or beyond, however, Grossman does point out that the British, with no air support or heavy artillary, were able to win the Fauklands War against superior numbers on the ground, and with similar weapons, due to an increse in moder training methods (On Combat, p74). Some of the high rates of firing in Vietnam may be attributable to the advent of the automatic rifle. However, one has to look at the change in training methodology that took place. There was an advent of realistic targets used to train soldiers. So instead of training soldiers to shoot at little bull's eye circles, they fired at targets that looked like people. The theory is that this made them more conditioned to respond with deadly force. This is a concept that has been adopted by law enfocement as well for several years. It is also pretty much mandated now by what the courts have found in regard to training offerers to respond against realistic targets of both the shoot and no shoot variety. (I don't have the reference near me now, I think it's somone v. Ohio). So, in a large sense, I don't think that it's a cheapening of human life at all. I think that it's simple the advent of superior training methods to train people to react to deadly force, allowing them to respond in kind with great efficiency.

Back in the day I was party to somthing along this line (hey, we can't all be proud of some of the stupid things we've done). The school I was training in during my college years had a bit of a rivalry with a cross town school. Both sides of this would sometimes gear up and go to the others "open sparring" night. I think we all used the "another night to train" argument to justify why we even went over to the other school know how the feelings went between us. We would then proceed to beat the tar out of one another, until it was a) time to go and none of us had gotten homework done or b) someone got hurt. My 20 year old ego was pretty happy that I had it in me to go and lay it on the line or throw down with anyone who'd walk in our door. The thing is, I never got any real training done. We didn't work on anything during these sessions, we just tried to beat each other up. All I really ever got out of it was a few brused ribs and a concussion or two. Not to mention that I probibly ruined several potental friendships with people very like minded to myself that might have become very close. We were all pretty guility of it, on both sides. Certainly, I'm not advocating avoiding sparring hard with other schools. I agree with bushdo man that cross training is vitally important to todays fighter. But from experience, I'd say that the proper motivation has to be in place on both parties. So, no, I wouldn't take part in this kind of thing. I'd like to think these days that we're all on the same side, or should be. The realist in me knows better, but we should all be training to deal with the dudes out on the street who don't have the restraint we've all developed throgh our training. That should make us more willing to help each other accomplish the same goal.

There's a Rainbow Six game out there that is really cool. I played it at a buddies house and was seriously trying to talk my wife into letting me buy the system that night .

Actually, I havent' used self talk and such, but it's not a bad idea at all. What I do is really work on cutting out anthing during training that isn't combat related. Everything is secondary to completeing the movement so that damage can be inflicted. When a mitt pops up, never see it as a mitt. I try to visualize it as an attacker that needs to be destroyed. When I'm sparring, I'm not on the floor with one of my buddies, it's a fight. At least that's where your mind and adriniline response should be at. Contact must always be controlled and that's why it's useful to keep a man out of sparring when really mentally training during free fighting. Additionally, I alway focus through my target, and look to the control at the end of the spectrum. One drill I like for this is set up with a mitt holder. You start by covering a couple of shots throw with the mitts. This provides a little dump of adriniline and gets things going. You then respond by countering with a combination, again, this ratches up your response. Next, flow into a standing joint lock and takedown to one of the mitted arms. This way, not only are you moving thorugh your full power stikes, but also into a controling situation. This, to me, is a great moving kind of medition that lends itself well to develeping mushin. The comfort that this kind of mental prep brings about allows you to flow much more freely during a real fight.

Well, I got back and it was a great time. Ended up summiting a 14,000 ft, a 13 er by snow/scrambling routes and also linked up 4 smaller unnamed peaks in the back country between 11-12,000 by way of a mellow ridge hike during an off day. We had to bail on the idea of Meeker due to time constraines we ran into. Great time, but I'm pretty blasted right now . I'm off work for a couple of more days then back to the grind. It'll be Thrus before I head back to class, but I'm looking forward to it.

This is an excellent point. To often we all get caught up in the "kick him in the groin" catch all. While it is an excellent and vaild movement, as bushdo man points out, it will not always work. For one thing, he's right, the individual attacking you may want you dead bad enough that he dosent' care. Or, his adriniline is pumping enough that he dosen't even notice. In another case, he could be under the influence of drugs, heavily medicated, or drunk beyond feeling. Or he could just be that tough. That's not to say it shoudn't be thrown, it should be used like anything else, in combination with other attacks.

Well, said bushido man. That really sums it up.

Yes, you will have to split up your training time, it's the only way. However, I do think that bushido man is correct, the best case is to be good in all those ranges. This is going to take some time, yes. However, it's worth it. Let's not forget, the question isn't really if you've mastered and art, but how well you can apply what you've learned agaist an attacker. To this end, it's not needed or even advisable to defet an adversary at his own game. It's much easier to defeat the grappler with good takedown defense and effective striking than to out wrestle him. It's also much better to shoot a takedown on a striker or at the very least move to a stankding tie-up with him rather than to punch or kick with him. This is the kind of thing that is diffuclt to do if you haven't spent the time dividing you're training. This is a reality we all have to deal with, by thetime you train stand up, ground fighing, in-fighting, weapons, and all the other little things that go into the complete fighter, it constitutes quite a bit of time and commitment. There is just no good way around it. As to having one core discipline then branching off to study others, I really don't see a problem with that. Just be aware that until you make that branch off, you are limited in your response options. I also think that an inital well-rounded approach is good as well. Time spent on each aspect of the process early on can speed up the learning curve in all ranges greatly. If you're lucky, you can find a school that encorporates a great deal of varitly in it's daily training regimine.

I agree bushido man, once a year is not a good idea. For one, you need way more training in this manner to effectively train your responses to actual conflict. Additionally, more training in this manner will let you feel more "flow" during movements that "freeze". It's the constant repetition of activity that allows us to perform that movement under stress. Only doing this once per year will certainly not give one the simulated conditions you're looking for enough to engrain those responses .

You should probibly check them all out and see which one fit's your personality better. There's obviously something you could take from each. I'd say with your intrest in law enforcement some sort of grappling art would be very useful. If there are no systems specializing in standing jujitsu in your area, I'd lean towards BJJ or judo. Striking is always important, but since you've boxed previously your hands are probibly already pretty good. Most of the altercations in cop work are messy wrestling matchs and grappling skills have served me pretty well. Also, check out all the videos that are out there of cops getting signifigantly hurt or killed on duty, most of them start with the cop getting tackled to the ground and overwhealmed. It really drives home the importance of at least being able to stop the shoot. Bear in mind, once you do start practicing any of these arts, you'll have to modify your responses based on your departments use of force model. But it's genrally not hard. What's more difficult is adjusting to utilizing your training while wearing duty gear. Every time you get in a scuffle at work, there is always a gun involved...and you brought it. Again, this is not insurmountable and you can condtion yourself to the fact quickly if you spend some time trainnig with an old set of duty gear on. For example, and we'll use groundfighting here, I find that since I started on the job, I tend to set up sweeps with my strong side down now. This limits the attackers access to my weapon side. I keep it down until, 1) I get the sweep or 2) I can gain enough space to safetly access and deploy my weapon. You may want to keep this in mind as you take a look at the schools in your area. Good luck.

Alright all, I'll be gone for a week plus to a climbing trip out west. With luck and good weather we'll come back three or so routes completed. We're gonna do a couple of warm ups then give Dreamweaver a go on Mt. Meeker, I had to bail off this after getting sick a few years back. I got to thinking...anyone else here climb? I mean any kind of climbing?

Another vote for MT.

I'm ususally on the mat twice a mat in earnest. Teaching and training both. I usually have a short third night where I'm only teaching. Back during my competitive years it was a five day a week prospect. Now those were good days .

The concept is a good one for sure. However, the route is a bit long and you could probibly get way more out of training by starting ealier with gear. I really think that a combative art should drastically increase your ability to defend yourself within about six months. Now that time shouldn't turn you into Bruce Lee or anything. But it should bring you up to a solid, basic defesive level. Start with contact sparring almost immediatly. No, not full, but contact. Use protective gear such as caged face gear, kempo or MMA gloves and pads over your bony strking surfaces. Set up specific attacks and teach a few defenses. Then train up to speed. Slowly, increase the contact and the options you give the defender. Let the drill become more and more spontaneous in its execution. You can drop gear off as needed, but you're gonna get people hurt. I've lost count of eyes and cheeks I've seen cut open with elbows from training like this when people don't want to wear the headgear. At hre very least, keep elbow and knee pads on with a outh piece. This isn't bad now and then, but you're gonna be sore. Aslo, you have to get away from teh "sparring" idea. Yeah, I know, sounds odd coming from me. What I mean is you have to have an attacker really attack for this type of training. Sparring is for working on different tools, this type of training is to simulate assult. So no sparring, designate an attacer and have him really attack. Again, at begining levels, you should specify how the attack comes in. As the students skill incereases, the attacker should get his choice and you need to make sure he's varying it each time. He can "push and punch", talk to the defender and iniate a sucker punch, grab, tackle, jump from behind, anything. again, at an advanced level this is how it should look. By black belt, this shold be completely spontaneous from randomized attack. The defender should work all the way to control. Whether by throw and control, joint position, or beat down. And you shouldn't be suprised if your black belts lose these rounds from time to time. It will happen. Break down what happend and move on. Remember to encourage them to continue fighting even when in negitive situations. If you're incoproating weapons and someone gets stabbed, make them continue. Train them mentally to finish the fight. And always end on a session where they absoutley trash their opponant. It goes back to mentally training them to defeat their adversary.

I can only speak to the sparring side of this, but you may be able to apply some of the concepts to forms if you tried. Prior to competition, I usually start additional training 6 weeks or so out, trying to keep a good base up the rest of the time so I don't have to climb back into shape from the gutter. It's always easier to come into training camp in shape so to speak. During this peroid of training time, I'd really work only specifically on what I was competining in, and trian for those rules only. So for example, I'd drop working on small joint manipulation, standing jujitsu, and weapons. Even further, if you can't knee, elbow, or other stuff stop doing it as well. last thing you need is a point off or DQ for bliping an elbow into someone's crainium. Cardio training would go up a bit, with more conditioning taking place during training time. Weights would be all about reps. For fighting, focus on mitt training, bag work, and live rounds. Keep the tempo high. Make sure you're training to at least the round times you're constrained to during the competition and do more than you'll be expected to fight. Make sure that fresh opponants are always cycling in against you to make you work harder. Break sparring down to work on specific aspects of your game. Spend alot more time with drills during sparing than just sparring. Remember to constrain yourself to what ever ruleset you're working under. That way, you train you're mind to stay within those limitations for the short term. As an after though, make sure that you spend time outside of those constraints after the fight. Go back to poking in the eyes and cranking on wrists soon after if you want to maintain those responses. Just some general outlines. It may be more helpful if you were specific about the type of tourny and the rule set.

True, it certainly depends on each individual fighter. At the end of the day, effectiveness, no matter how acheived, is what matters. For consdieration however, I would point out that most conflict are not going to occur with plenty of time to meditate prior to action, meaning that however you do mental training should be accessible in the middle of a fight, not just ideal contemplative moments. Further, I would say that the more you can marry your mental trainig with your physical preparadness, the better. So rather than have a seperate medition for mental traininng, I would suggest proper mental focus during sparring, drills, ect to develop a comfort with fighting and your movments that allow you to react with out thingking. This type of "meditaion" has always worked best for me. And while I don't doubt that meditation works well, I think that for fighters the type I describe probily yeilds better resluts for combat quicker.