If I may...
There's a little misunderstanding about the material I teach it seems, and I hope to be able to correct some assumptions.
It's been said that I teach a 'stripped down system' and I do - and don't! It's also been said that I only teach a handful of techniques - and to a point this is also true.
What my approach focuses on is not simply having only a few techniques or tools, but of having only a few identified core skills - because when you take the myriad of techniques back to the base from which they develop, there are only a few 'main headings' in actual fact, despite the endless 'sub headings' that are collected and obsessed about.
These core skills are the foundation, the basics, and no-one progresses without this foundation being firmly in place. Possibly this is why people sometimes think that I only teach a small selection of skills - when actually it's because I've only taught them a small selection, which they don't get to move beyond until they can execute properly, rather than the often seen ever-expanding collection of 'new' material.
I don't want to teach people a selection of punches for instance, instead I want to teach 'how to punch' and the variations are all covered. Hitting someone with a palm heel, fist, elbow, rock, pistol etc, in a forward linear fashion is all the same in terms of body mechanics and impact dynamics - so why seperate these slight variations of 'weapon' into various distinct techniques?
Using such tools effectively in combat is down to 'interface' and this is what I actually seek to simplify - to be honest the methods of applying such a tool are probably more complex in the format I eventually teach more advanced students, due to the application of optimum delivery mechanics I insist upon!
Footwork is certainly in there, in a high-percentage format that is generic and concept driven, rather than a series of specific and formatted methods - after all, footwork is a supporting act, not the star of the show, and everyone has an unconscious ability where footwork is concerned - until you make it complicated - so I enhance what is already working.
Grappling is covered - but in context like everything else. Initially it forms no part of the foundation material, as this is purely designed for worst case 'combat management' and grappling has no part in such situations. Grappling is covered for those that really need it, those that have to restrain individuals as part of a 'subject management' role requirement, and I make no apologies for concentrating on teaching what someone needs, rather than what they simply want instead.
In short what I present is purely operational, and this obviously does not fit with some people's expectations and I'll freely admit that these individuals are better served by learning a martial art. However I do not offer the usual collection of 'favourite techniques' and circus tricks that many choose to pass off as a combative system - it's all there, all integrated and cohesive - I just use fewer headings than most...
Mick