How do some of Ya'll Train??

I've been researching different styles of edged combat on-line,in print and on video. In most every style or method I've seen they

give examples of practice with a partner(i.e. Flow Drills etc.).Does everybody here train with a partner or are there others like me who don't have any friends that are interested in this form of self-defense and train solo. I've been thinking about signing up for Blade Camp or some other class-type training to expand my skills but curious what others do that train alone? TIA for any ideas. Take care

[Michael Janich]

Dear Li'l Tap:

Most of my solo training is based on the movements of the flow drills that I would be doing if I had a partner. By learning the drills first with a partner, and then learning to mentally fill in his side of the drill, you can come up with a very effective solo training method.

I also have developed a modified martial arts training dummy I call my Human Response Dummy. It allows me to practice both flow drills and individual applications against the resistance of its spring loaded arms and padded body. This is very important when learning to prepare for the impact shock of actually striking some thing with a knife and is one of the only practical ways of developing skill with a live blade.

Finally, I use supplemental training apparatus from the Filipino martial arts (e.g. the Filipino Cross) as a very fluid method of training solo with sticks and knives.

Although nothing will ever replace a partner, with a little imagination and some simple tools, you can train very effectively by yourself.

I hope this helps.

Stay safe,


mike j

Thanks for the insight Mr. Janich. Sounds like some great ideas. FWIW I really enjoyed your Fighting Folder's video and look forward to the advanced tapes. Thanks and take care

[Joe Talmadge]

I train solo differently. Mike is a zillion times more advanced than me, so you should listen to him and ignore me, but I'll tell you waht I do nevertheless <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>

First, a note on how I train. This is what <b>works for me </b> , not a general statement about training. I've mostly flushed things like flow drills, lock-and-block, etc. out of my training. For me personally , I've found that those drills got me good at flow drills, but didn't appear to make me a better fighter. So I switched to doing 99% of my training combatively: sparring, combative isolation drills, and combative reality-based drills. What that means is that the guy on offense is always trying his hardest to hit the guy on defense. The guy on defense is trying his best not to get hit, and often, trying to get back on offense. I've found that for any particular technique or principle, you can design a combative drill that works better (for me) than a flow drill or other non-combative drill.

So, since I don't do any flow drills and the like, what do I do solo? One of the things I do is get in front of the mirror, and work my strikes hard. I start by concentrating on my technique, and any telegraphing. You have to watch yourself closely -- when I launched that strike, did my shoulder or elbow move first? Did I lean forward in a subtle manner? Did I move my feet before the strike? As I become happy I'm not telegraphing, I up the speed and power on the strikes, then start adding in footwork -- again double-checking that I'm not telegraphing my intentions, and in particular, not stepping before the knife moves. Practice with real intent -- if someone was stepping in, was your footwork and counterattack crisp and opaque (non-telegraphed) enough that it would have worked? Were you balanced? Was your attack explosive?

I also practice fakes in front of the mirror. They should be good enough that I almost fake myself out. Combinations that have worked for me as well.

You really want to find a partner to practice with, because without a live body, the timing ends up way off, the ferocity of a charge can't be felt, etc. Again, speaking just for myself, just training alone is only productive for me if I do some partner training to sharpen up the application. You just don't know what fast-enough, explosive-enough, deceptive-enough is, until you try it out on a guy who doesn't want you to hit him (and is trying to hit you back).

Joe

Edited by - Joe Talmadge on 6/18/2004 4:12:51 PM

Joe, that is some good information. Thank you, it gives me some good insight how others do things and maybe how I can taylor how I would like to train. Very good info from you and Mike J. both. I think I definitely need to find a training partner as you have stated. Thanks again and Take care.

[Qship]

The best martial arts advice I ever got was, &quot;Skill flows from the hand of the master&quot;, which means you need to feel how a move is done properly, as demonstrated by someone who has it absolutely right. Go to blade camp.

The advantage of flow drills is that you get to practice attack and counter maybe fifty or sixty times a minute, or five or six hundred times in ten minutes. I need thousands of repetitions to react without conscious thought, and a flow drill is a way to get where I need to go. And, a way to maintain what skill I have.

Qship

[Rex G]

Most of my training is solo, occasionally while looking at a video or DVD. I have a friend and co-worker who has attended seminars with me, and who has a strong background in Ju-Jutsu and other martial arts, and we get together and train occasionally and at work we sometimes &quot;ambush&quot; each other with bare hands or training blades. As for attending a camp or seminar, YES! My first seminar was with Bram Frank, and it really opened my eyes and made things click in my mind. I attended seminars taught by Steve Tarani, and learned more, and there was more time to learn how to move to an optimal position or break contact, and included sparring against two opponents. I hope to train with Bram again this summer, maybe at more than one seminar, and Steve Tarani again later this year. I keep having bad luck in getting to Michael Janich's seminars, but will almost certainly make it one of these days. I recommend trying to make contacts at the seminar/camp, possibly finding a sparring partner that is within reasonable traveling distance.

[Jimd]

There's some good info here from everyone, and I've enjoyed reading it. Very interesting to see how everyone makes the best out of what they've got available.

I do at least a little training every day, even if it's only practicing some knife strikes.

I've trained with friends in the past, though I haven't done that for a while. I'd have to say this was most beneficial in learning the mechanics and learning sensetivity, timing, etc.

I also have some videos, which have also been a wealth of knowledge. Among others, Paul Vunak and Frank Cucci have some interesting concepts and teaching methods.

Some of the martial arts training that I used to be into also had knife techniques, but I didn't realize how outdated/ineffective that stuff was until I viewed the videos I have.

And finally, I've seen (and been involved in) actual knife fights, which has been the single most educational thing that I could possibly hope to gain.

There are many different aspects/philosophies to knife defense; I'm always in favor of training realistically.

However, all the knife fighters I've ever seen actually fighting with knives had little or no training at all. Many fought very effectively with knives using determination and simple techniques. A few managed to kill their opponent in the process.

Great stuff, keep the thread going!

Sniper -- One Shot, One Kill Email: ST8PEN01@aol.com

Thanks for all the great replies. Very useful suggestions from everybody, It's very much appreciated. Take care

[Mr Blonde]

In addition to what's already been mentioned, I also used a small rubber ball hung from a string. The first strike makes the swing, quite uncontrollably I can add, and subsequent strikes at the ball help train reflexes and targeting. Depending on the amount of force used, you also get a nice first impression of impact forces on the hand holding the training knife.

Wouter

[brownie0486]

As often as possible.

Brownie

[Dijos]

Mike, What is the Filipino cross? I've never seen one, and I've been trying to make a smaller device to use to train than a mook Jong
thanks, Joe

[pyrolyzer]

Solo training is a good time to work on incorporating your empty-hand skills with your knife technique. I particularly like to use a heavy bag for this and work the knife into combos. Fore example, at longer (mano largo) range I practice High cuts (#1 or #2) together with very low kicks (I like to throw Muay Thai round kicks for the knee or Common Peroneal Nerve). I do thse kick-cut-kick and cut-kick-cut.

At closer range I do the same drill but with knees instead of kicks and I come into range where I can use my live hand too. When you're at kissing distance, a palm-heel chin-jab really sets up a low attack well (maybe a slice at quadracep level).

Chuck

[Michael Janich]

Dear Joe:

The Filipino cross is a wooden (or more recently, PVC) cross about 4 feet high and 4 feet across. It is hung from a rope (preferably on a swivel) and spun to simulate strikes. For example, by hanging it with the arms at shoulder level, you can spin the cross to simulate angle 1 and 2 strikes. Working with a stick or knife, you would practice blocking or cutting the limbs, then countering to the &quot;body&quot; -- the vertical portion of the cross.

One really fun drill that develops hand speed and weapon position is to strike the cross with an angle 1 and makie it spin so the other arm comes around with an angle 2. Block that and counter strike to spin it back in the other direction and repeat.

Directions for making a Filipino cross and a similar apparatus called a Sinawali pole are included in my book &quot;Homemade Martial Arts Training Equipment,&quot; available from Paladin Press.

I hope this helps.

Stay safe,


mike j