OVERVIEW of COMBATIVES: PART TWO

To elaborate a bit on the idea of competitive sport and self-protection. Many people like to compete, and there's nothing wrong with that. Competition is a spur to progress. But in self-protection whether unarmed or with weapons, we have seen the sporting aspect take the activity into totally unrealistic areas.
When Jeff Cooper introduced the competitive element into combat shooting there was a significant development of technical ability, but it has ended up as IPSC shooting which is virtually guaranteed to get you killed in a real gunfight.
The various forms of competitive martial arts are similarly lacking. Much of Karate has degenerated into a form of playing tick. For the most part you would be far better off competing in Rugby than in most so-called combat sports.


[Combatives is about intensity in training]

Most prominent Combatives instructors have a background in martial arts. There has been much discussion, for example, as to what type of Chinese systems Fairbairn studied. This isn't important. It's more important what he rejected, what he threw out as unworkable, and, of course, what he retained. It's a process of reduction; as I tell guys on courses "I spent years learning more about Combatives.... now I'm trying to learn less"
As I said earlier, Combatives is all about training. There is always an excuse for not training.... there's a football match on TV, it's raining, it's sunny, I haven't had my dinner. When you don'r feel like training is exactly when you should go to the gym, and train extra hard. Add that dimension of willpower training
You really have to make a commitment to training.... it's an ongoing, lifetime activity.



As an illustration this is a training cycle from the early days; Terry O'Neill, Gary Spiers and myself were involved in a group training commitment, which involved working on the door on the Friday, then nipping off early [the other lads covered for us] and catching the midnight train to London, which in those days took over six hours for the overnight trip. We didn't book sleepers and usually talked for the entire journey. From Euston we'd go by tube to whichever venue was being used, then train until about 1600. We would then catch the train back to Liverpool, eating the famed British Rail dinner en route. Upon arrival we'd go to the club and work another part-shift, then catch the train and go down to London to train on the Sunday. We would usually go to the West End after Sunday training, and watch a new movie. Have a meal then catch the midnight train back, getting in to Liverpool about 0700 on the Monday.
We did this quite often, and didn't really think much about it.
When people tell me they can't get to a training seminar because it's "too far" I smile.
There has never been a better time to train for self-protection. There are good, experienced instructors teaching highly effective, proven methods, in most areas of the country. Just make sure they emphasise "self-protection" rather than "self defence"...there is a difference!



During a recent International Seminar I reflected on how much I would have enjoyed such an event when I was starting out. It has never been easier to attend seminars, or classes, with guys who really know self-protection, and how to teach it.

I once saw a quote, which really impressed me. I added a bit on the end and had it printed on cards for friends and training course members. I think it says a lot...
"Somewhere, right now, your enemy is training;
so that when he meets you,
he beats you;
Train hard,
Stay, ON GUARD!"

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COPYRIGHT 2004: (c) D. MARTIN