PeteMills wrote:

How much practice do you put into these techniques Juan? i.e. so they come almost naturally when you need them?

Hi PeteMills,

As I said before they're just tools, not techniques, I prefer to polish them every training session I have (almost 3 to 4 times a week) but it's not all my training, because I also do FMA drills, situational responses (for an particular case) and other exercices... Once you've mastered the tool application on a focus mitt or heavy bag, you must create a few "combos" by mixing some tools in one straight sequence (f.e. edge hand blow + tiger claw + knee) and practice until it become almost instinctive...

After that you must use the combo in a specific situation, like a "sucker punch" situation or in a street fight simulation, and try to link it to your responses...

Of course, I'm talking here about a "short combative self defense course" very easy to learn and apply, but it works... traditional martial artist can achieve the same results but with years of practice.

Remember I advocate the selfprotection training is 80% mental/knowledge and 20% physical, because the tools/techniques that REALLY work are just a few repeated one time and another...

I hope this answer your question, take care

About training I divide it on two aspects, attributes and technical. In the first we cover such aspects like:

1.- Power
2.- Speed
3.- Stamina (very important for a street fight)

meanwhile in the second one we cover the tactical and technical aspects of training, such as:

1.- Reactions
2.- Combos (of tools or techniques)
3.- Situations

That's we choose a situation (like a sucker punch, a knife attack, a surprise attack and so) and train the different solutions to success, first from an easy environment and after that we complicate the scenario adding some handicaps (like using one hand only, carrying packages, multiple opponents). The objective is to survive and escape from the situation.

Of course we also do some light sparring, anti grappling work (although I don't like to stay on ground) and a LOT of knife situations.

At the end it isn't the number of techniques you know but the form you train them what will save you in a real situation... hoping this help.. .

Take care to all

Juan_Carlos wrote:
About training I divide it on two aspects, attributes and technical. In the first we cover such aspects like:

1.- Power
2.- Speed
3.- Stamina (very important for a street fight)

meanwhile in the second one we cover the tactical and technical aspects of training, such as:

1.- Reactions
2.- Combos (of tools or techniques)
3.- Situations

That's we choose a situation (like a sucker punch, a knife attack, a surprise attack and so) and train the different solutions to success, first from an easy environment and after that we complicate the scenario adding some handicaps (like using one hand only, carrying packages, multiple opponents). The objective is to survive and escape from the situation.

Of course we also do some light sparring, anti grappling work (although I don't like to stay on ground) and a LOT of knife situations.

At the end it isn't the number of techniques you know but the form you train them what will save you in a real situation... hoping this help.. .

Take care to all

Sounds similar to what we do in our self protection classes, which we have separate to our other classes. We drill what I call simple repetitive strikes (hammerfists, palms, slaps, elbows, knees) as they can be done under stress and are gross motor skills. We work preemptive strikes so that each student has one that is their's and also defences from common attacks, some positional grappling with dirty tactics and an emphasis on getting up.

Once people know the technique, we test them in physical drills so that people are tired or disorientated. Then we use situational drills with and without handicaps (one arm, with jackets on, carrying a bag, multiple attackers, multiple defenders, a third party spoiler, hidden knife etc). This is to help them "own" the technique as well as "knowing" it.