Hello Again Everyone,
I fully agree that too many people let the EGO get in the way of their progression in life.(Oh I must have that next rank paper etc!!) When anyone truly starts to believe in their own martial arts “mystique”, then they have fallen into the trap of the ego. It is not limited to just the martial arts, but all aspects in life.
I can remember the Yondan test very well, starting with the 12-15 studentÂ’s I had to grapple and spar with, then the seiza muto dori, and I wonÂ’t even get into the sleep deprivation from the seminar etc!! When I was heading back home, and stopped driving after a few hours in Albany, I went to get out of the truck, was limping and was having a hard time moving well, people held the door open for me at the rest stop as if I was handicapped!!! (too funny the looks I received that day)
When I first started in the FMA way back in the early 80’s, I was fascinated by the way a good practitioner flowed through the sumbrada patterns as well as sinawalli etc. After practicing with those techniques for many a month, I realized that when your opponent was bearing down on you, most of the drills fell out the window, and it became a battle of the caveman! It wasn’t for sometime that I realized it was because I was “Playing the Game” of sparring, that I was trapped in the “Classical Mess” of the FMA. Once I realized this it changed my whole perspective on training. Avoiding the attack, countering and feinting, simplifying the footwork, non telegraphic motions etc etc. All things that should be common in various martial arts, not just the FMA’s. A few years ago I met Guro Carl Atienza, after sitting and talking and working with him, I found some great comparisons to what I had been training in yet I lacked a multiple man attacking strategy, which they work on all the time, so I watched and learned. Two years ago I started with Ray Floro, and right from the get go it was great. He arrives from Australia, we go out to eat (very important!!) head up to the school, and begin to share training methods with each other, then it was sparring time! (Did I learn the effectiveness of the thrust to the head!!!) Sayoc Kali has a different approach then many other FMA’s and it deals exclusively with the blade in it’s many shapes and sizes. From projectiles to close quarters grappling, Sayoc Kali is a great art to train in, as well.
So how does this influence my Budo training and hanbojutsu practice? (IÂ’ll start with the hanbo as an example)
1) The hanbo is a multi faceted weapon that can start from the thrusting range to kyusho (I like the classical fencing techniques here), all the way to grappling in at close quarters (which quickly relates to firearm retention skills).
2) How do you start? Prepare a training hanbo for sparring!! Take a PVC pipe, layer it in pipe foam insulation and duct tape the heck out of it and viola! A training hanbo! Be careful as this can still break bones or damage your partner pretty seriously.
3) Start with the fundamental Kukishinden ryu curriculum and learn them well. Then add realistic force and attacks from your partner. Finally have him free flow attack you to ensure that you can achieve your techniques. (Shu, Ha, Ri) The go back and add the following, the thrust from the long range, and allow him to grab your weapon. Go back and start to add other types of sparring:
Some examples:
You armed vs unarmed opponent (strikes only)
You armed vs unarmed opponent (strikes, locks etc allowed)
You armed vs armed opponent (strikes only)
You armed vs armed opponent (all techniques allowed)
You armed vs multiple unarmed opponents
You armed vs multiple armed opponents
Add low light conditions
Add outdoors conditions
Add environmental stress conditions (bright lights, verbal abuse, loud sounds, etc)
Add ground grappling with opponent in mount, guard etc........
This list can go on and on, but the main premise is to be able to fully integrate the techniques through stressful conditions utilizing sparring and scenario based training drills. This is achieved in a step by step progression to continuously challenge a studentÂ’s abilities.
Bufu Ikkan
Steve Lefebvre, Airyu
www.Bujinkandojo.net
