We have 5 major HIJI WAZA elbow locks and five major TEBUKI WAZA wrist locks we practice in STMA.
Hiji - elbow:
ikkyo - oshi taoshi - straight arm bar push down
ude gaeshi - figure four arm twist
hiki taoshi - inside arm bar push down
ude hineri - branch up arm twist
waki gatame - arm bar
tebuki - wrist:
kote gaeshi - wrist twist - supination
kote hineri - wrist turn - pronation
nikyo - hon gyaku - bent arm wrist bend
tenkai kote gaeshi
tenkai kote hineri - into sankyo, then hiki taoshi
sankyo - a variation on kote hineri
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Thursday, 24 September 2009
Gun disarm
There is only ONE gun disarm we practice from the holdup position because we only need one - and it is THE ONE THAT WORKS!
We don't want to log jam somebody who faces this situation - you need ONE response to this threat hat you have drilled so many times it is second nature. You do not want options or choices you want ONE response that SAVES YOUR LIFE!
The scenario here is the attacker is standing in front of you holding the gun at your face or chest. You put your hands up, and he approaches. He is not shooting. This is most likely in a robbery situation.
1. Clear the gun and the line of fire. The gun may go off, it will not go off at you.
2. Grab the BARREL of the weapon and turn it back on him.
If it goes off now he will shoot himself and nobody else.
3. Use atemi to distract and remove the gun from his hand.
4. Finish using the gun butt as a striking weapon, backed with lo kix and HKE.
Do NOT shoot him with his own gun!
This scenario is based on REAL gun defence situations.
It is not imagined or assumed.
We don't want to log jam somebody who faces this situation - you need ONE response to this threat hat you have drilled so many times it is second nature. You do not want options or choices you want ONE response that SAVES YOUR LIFE!
The scenario here is the attacker is standing in front of you holding the gun at your face or chest. You put your hands up, and he approaches. He is not shooting. This is most likely in a robbery situation.
1. Clear the gun and the line of fire. The gun may go off, it will not go off at you.
2. Grab the BARREL of the weapon and turn it back on him.
If it goes off now he will shoot himself and nobody else.
3. Use atemi to distract and remove the gun from his hand.
4. Finish using the gun butt as a striking weapon, backed with lo kix and HKE.
Do NOT shoot him with his own gun!
This scenario is based on REAL gun defence situations.
It is not imagined or assumed.
Wednesday, 23 September 2009
Attributes
We take the position that attribute is more important than technique.
Techniques are punches, kicks, traps, locks, etc.
The first three attributes are form, speed and power.
Get the form right, then add speed and power to it.
Further attributes are:
Balance and co-ordination
Distance and timing
Line familiarisation
Reaction time
Techniques are punches, kicks, traps, locks, etc.
The first three attributes are form, speed and power.
Get the form right, then add speed and power to it.
Further attributes are:
Balance and co-ordination
Distance and timing
Line familiarisation
Reaction time
How - why - when
Most Martial Arts teach you HOW to do a technique, how to punch, how to kick.
So do we - it's the basics.
But most MA have no idea WHY you do that technique or WHEN in the fight you do it.
WHY do you do a cross there?
WHY do a kick that particular way?
WHY use that throw or that lock?
WHY use that counter to that attack?
WHEN do you do it?
You can have the fastest punch or strongest kick in the world, but without a sense or proper timing you'll never land it. Without the proper sense of distance you'll never be in range, always too near or too far.
We don't just teach the HOW at STMA, we teach the WHY and WHEN.
So do we - it's the basics.
But most MA have no idea WHY you do that technique or WHEN in the fight you do it.
WHY do you do a cross there?
WHY do a kick that particular way?
WHY use that throw or that lock?
WHY use that counter to that attack?
WHEN do you do it?
You can have the fastest punch or strongest kick in the world, but without a sense or proper timing you'll never land it. Without the proper sense of distance you'll never be in range, always too near or too far.
We don't just teach the HOW at STMA, we teach the WHY and WHEN.
Third point
This is a combat concept.
(Skillfully avoiding the obvious jokes) nobody has 3 legs like a stool or a tripod.
If you wobble a tripod it's balance will redistribute to the 3rd leg.
Wobble a person and they have to either step to where the third leg isn't or they fall over.
This is Third Point theory - the place where there is no leg.
Throw your opponent to the third point without allowing him to step to regain his balance and he will fall that way.
(Skillfully avoiding the obvious jokes) nobody has 3 legs like a stool or a tripod.
If you wobble a tripod it's balance will redistribute to the 3rd leg.
Wobble a person and they have to either step to where the third leg isn't or they fall over.
This is Third Point theory - the place where there is no leg.
Throw your opponent to the third point without allowing him to step to regain his balance and he will fall that way.
Tuesday, 22 September 2009
The next 30 PSNA
Tendo - the crown
Tento - the fontenalle
Mimi - the ears
Seidon - above and below the eyes
Danchu - the summit of the sternum
Kyototsu - the ren point at the base of the sternum
Kyoei - the 5th/6th rib space, beneath the armpit
Inizuma - above the hip - the iliac crest
Ushiro inazuma - the ischium
Ganchu - pec insertion
Myojo - the dan tien - below the navel - the bladder
Denko - the 7th/8th rib space
Kusagakure - the outer top foot
Dokko - mastoid - behind ear
Soda - between the shoulder blades - summit of T spine
Katsusatsu - spine T12/L1
Kodenko - base of spine - L5/sacrum
Bitei - coccyx
Hijizuma - elbow joint tendon - brachioradialis
Ude kansetsu - elbow joint - bone
Kote - wrist
Uchijakuzawa - inner forearm
Sotojakuzawa - outer forearm
The miyakudokori tendon at the wrist pulse
Deltoid
Bicep
Thumb pot
Clavicle - sternocleidomastoid
Chin shelf ren point
Zygomatic - cheekbones
Tento - the fontenalle
Mimi - the ears
Seidon - above and below the eyes
Danchu - the summit of the sternum
Kyototsu - the ren point at the base of the sternum
Kyoei - the 5th/6th rib space, beneath the armpit
Inizuma - above the hip - the iliac crest
Ushiro inazuma - the ischium
Ganchu - pec insertion
Myojo - the dan tien - below the navel - the bladder
Denko - the 7th/8th rib space
Kusagakure - the outer top foot
Dokko - mastoid - behind ear
Soda - between the shoulder blades - summit of T spine
Katsusatsu - spine T12/L1
Kodenko - base of spine - L5/sacrum
Bitei - coccyx
Hijizuma - elbow joint tendon - brachioradialis
Ude kansetsu - elbow joint - bone
Kote - wrist
Uchijakuzawa - inner forearm
Sotojakuzawa - outer forearm
The miyakudokori tendon at the wrist pulse
Deltoid
Bicep
Thumb pot
Clavicle - sternocleidomastoid
Chin shelf ren point
Zygomatic - cheekbones
Kyusho - Pressure Points - PSNA - the first 26
Here is a list of the first 26 you have already been introduced to in class and that you will no doubt recognise (and remember painfully!).
Eyes and groin are obvious PSNA that can be atacked by a strike or pressure.
The eyes and called ganseki. The groin is kinteki.
Wanshun is the back of the upper arm, the tricep.
In the lap sao drill you strike this point.
In ikkyo henka you rub the tendon just above the elbow.
In tonfa ikkyo this point is self evident.
Kokutsu is the shinbone.
We have all had that experience where you've "barked" your shin on the coffee table when crossing the room in a hurry.
In combat we strike kokutsu to give him that "coffee table moment".
Hizakansetsu is the knee joint, attacked with a strike, usually a kick.
Uchikurobushi is the inside of the ankle joint.
Believed by some to be the most painful PSNA on the body, especially when rubbed.
Sobi is the back of the leg at the base of the calf.
A good target in keri kudaki, or vertical grappling.
Yako - the inside of the upper thigh, the long muscle. Painful if kicked at kb or vertical grappling range.
Fukuto - Ben's vastus the "teardrop" muscle at the lower inner thigh, just below where Yako runs to. The target of the "Ben Kick".
Miyakudokoro - inside the forearm.
Against an opponent punching you will cause real pain when cut into with your shuto.
Also a press and rub point when applying locks, particularly yonkyo.
Akiresuken - the achilles tendon.
Can be attacked with a strike.
Particularly effective when pressure is applied in ground fighting.
Three well known body blows are:
Suigetsu - solar plexus.
Kanzo - the liver.
Jinzo - the kidneys.
Sonu - the base of the throat, great for an ippon nukite strike or pressure attack.
Shofu - side of the neck - attack with shuto.
Keichu - nape of the neck. Attack with shuto.
The site of boxing's infamous "rabbit punch".
Komekami - the temple.
Three on the face which can be struck or pressed:
Miken - nasion or bridge of the nose
Jinchu - philtrum
Gekon - the labret point
NOTE: You CANNOT kill somebody by "punching the nose bone into the brain" That is a common myth spread by people who have no real experience. If this was possible boxers would die in the ring every week.
Mikazuki - the jaw - KO!
Hichu - adam's apple
Quad sweep - the outer thigh, where we land the Thai kick.
Kori - upper foot. Stamp on this!
Shuko - back of the hand. Strike or grind.
Eyes and groin are obvious PSNA that can be atacked by a strike or pressure.
The eyes and called ganseki. The groin is kinteki.
Wanshun is the back of the upper arm, the tricep.
In the lap sao drill you strike this point.
In ikkyo henka you rub the tendon just above the elbow.
In tonfa ikkyo this point is self evident.
Kokutsu is the shinbone.
We have all had that experience where you've "barked" your shin on the coffee table when crossing the room in a hurry.
In combat we strike kokutsu to give him that "coffee table moment".
Hizakansetsu is the knee joint, attacked with a strike, usually a kick.
Uchikurobushi is the inside of the ankle joint.
Believed by some to be the most painful PSNA on the body, especially when rubbed.
Sobi is the back of the leg at the base of the calf.
A good target in keri kudaki, or vertical grappling.
Yako - the inside of the upper thigh, the long muscle. Painful if kicked at kb or vertical grappling range.
Fukuto - Ben's vastus the "teardrop" muscle at the lower inner thigh, just below where Yako runs to. The target of the "Ben Kick".
Miyakudokoro - inside the forearm.
Against an opponent punching you will cause real pain when cut into with your shuto.
Also a press and rub point when applying locks, particularly yonkyo.
Akiresuken - the achilles tendon.
Can be attacked with a strike.
Particularly effective when pressure is applied in ground fighting.
Three well known body blows are:
Suigetsu - solar plexus.
Kanzo - the liver.
Jinzo - the kidneys.
Sonu - the base of the throat, great for an ippon nukite strike or pressure attack.
Shofu - side of the neck - attack with shuto.
Keichu - nape of the neck. Attack with shuto.
The site of boxing's infamous "rabbit punch".
Komekami - the temple.
Three on the face which can be struck or pressed:
Miken - nasion or bridge of the nose
Jinchu - philtrum
Gekon - the labret point
NOTE: You CANNOT kill somebody by "punching the nose bone into the brain" That is a common myth spread by people who have no real experience. If this was possible boxers would die in the ring every week.
Mikazuki - the jaw - KO!
Hichu - adam's apple
Quad sweep - the outer thigh, where we land the Thai kick.
Kori - upper foot. Stamp on this!
Shuko - back of the hand. Strike or grind.
Kyusho - Pressure Points - PSNA
Pressure points are one of the most misunderstood and exaggerated areas of MA.
Kyusho is the Japanese word.
PSNA stands for Pressure Sensitive Nerve Areas, an American anacronysm.
People who don't know about them claim there are anywhere between 25 and 360 and they do various things. You can buy lists and charts showing all kinds of alleged PSNA. Most of these do nothing. The ones that do something are meaningless unless you are shown how to apply them in combat in real tme.
For example, we punch to the chin for a KO. A groin kick will stop an attacker. But to actually land these shots you need to train for them, not just know them theoretically. So it is with PSNA.
I teach a primary list of 54 PSNA for use in combat.
(One for each week of the year more or less!)
I do not give out lists and charts to be memorised. You learn these PSNA in context, in the dojo, and you remember them.
There are 3 kinds of PSNA:
ones you strike
ones you press
ones you rub
Kyusho is the Japanese word.
PSNA stands for Pressure Sensitive Nerve Areas, an American anacronysm.
People who don't know about them claim there are anywhere between 25 and 360 and they do various things. You can buy lists and charts showing all kinds of alleged PSNA. Most of these do nothing. The ones that do something are meaningless unless you are shown how to apply them in combat in real tme.
For example, we punch to the chin for a KO. A groin kick will stop an attacker. But to actually land these shots you need to train for them, not just know them theoretically. So it is with PSNA.
I teach a primary list of 54 PSNA for use in combat.
(One for each week of the year more or less!)
I do not give out lists and charts to be memorised. You learn these PSNA in context, in the dojo, and you remember them.
There are 3 kinds of PSNA:
ones you strike
ones you press
ones you rub
NRG - energy drills at STMA
Chi sao from Wing Chun:
dan chi - single hand parallel
bon lop
shuto awase - single hand matched
luk sao - rolling hands
gor sao - advanced
Hubud lubud from kali:
basic hubud and switch
low hubud
outside hubud
tapi
Mantis:
Harmonious spring drill
Tai Chi:
Push hands drill
Weapons:
Tendensia knife flow drill
Single tap
Triple tap
Taiatari tsubazarai from kendo
Chi kwane from WC Pole
dan chi - single hand parallel
bon lop
shuto awase - single hand matched
luk sao - rolling hands
gor sao - advanced
Hubud lubud from kali:
basic hubud and switch
low hubud
outside hubud
tapi
Mantis:
Harmonious spring drill
Tai Chi:
Push hands drill
Weapons:
Tendensia knife flow drill
Single tap
Triple tap
Taiatari tsubazarai from kendo
Chi kwane from WC Pole
The Bow
The first precept of Karate is that it "begins and ends with courtesy".
The second is "karate ni sentenashi" - in karate there is no first strike - you never strike first.
We see this in each kata in that it starts with a bow and the first move is a defensive move, such as a block (even in higher katas such as bassai or kanku, the first move is still defensive).
When we meet a live opponent, we don't literally "Bow", but we do keep the mental attitude of "rei" - we show respect for ourselves, our tradition, our teachers, life itself, and even the opponent. We don't invite trouble. If he makes an attack, then we defend, and only do what is necessary.
A pre-emptive strike is not an attack. If an opponent gets "in your face" he is making a common assault. A pre-emptive strike is a method of self defence - you are legally entitled to use this if you are genuinely afraid for your safety.
So in training, whether kumite with a partner, or just doing kata, we always start and end with a Rei - we begin and end in courtesy.
What is the most important part of the martial arts? The Rei. Not the punch, the kick, or the armbar, but the bow.
Otherwise what we are doing is not Martial Art.
The second is "karate ni sentenashi" - in karate there is no first strike - you never strike first.
We see this in each kata in that it starts with a bow and the first move is a defensive move, such as a block (even in higher katas such as bassai or kanku, the first move is still defensive).
When we meet a live opponent, we don't literally "Bow", but we do keep the mental attitude of "rei" - we show respect for ourselves, our tradition, our teachers, life itself, and even the opponent. We don't invite trouble. If he makes an attack, then we defend, and only do what is necessary.
A pre-emptive strike is not an attack. If an opponent gets "in your face" he is making a common assault. A pre-emptive strike is a method of self defence - you are legally entitled to use this if you are genuinely afraid for your safety.
So in training, whether kumite with a partner, or just doing kata, we always start and end with a Rei - we begin and end in courtesy.
What is the most important part of the martial arts? The Rei. Not the punch, the kick, or the armbar, but the bow.
Otherwise what we are doing is not Martial Art.
Sunday, 20 September 2009
The 12 angles of Eskrima
The first strike is Number #1 - the caveman strike from the caveman chamber - the natural strike of the human animal.
The 2nd strike is number #2 from the backhand chamber.
There are only these two chambers - all angle strikes are delivered from these, like in tennis - the forehand and the backhand.
With 2 exceptions.
The number #5 thrust is delivered from a low hip chamber.
The tenchi strike in kenjutsu - a two handed strike which is delivered from jodan no kamae. This strike itself is neither an 8 or 11 - it is tenchi, unique to kenjutsu.
Angles are based on geometry:
+ X .
x covers the diagonal strikes - 1, 2, 9 and 10
+ covers the vertical and horizontal strikes - 3, 4, 8, 11 and 12
. is the thrusts - 5, 6, and 7
This is the number system used in Cabales serrada, and the one we adopted for STMA.
An appendix strike is the #13, which is a 12 delivered behind.
A 12 is all vertical up strikes - a kingeri, uppercut, elbow. It applies to weapons as well.
(comic buffs will know that Judge Dredd KO'd Batman with a stick 12 in Judgement Over Gotham.)
A 13 is a mule kick, groin slap or back up elbow.
The 2nd strike is number #2 from the backhand chamber.
There are only these two chambers - all angle strikes are delivered from these, like in tennis - the forehand and the backhand.
With 2 exceptions.
The number #5 thrust is delivered from a low hip chamber.
The tenchi strike in kenjutsu - a two handed strike which is delivered from jodan no kamae. This strike itself is neither an 8 or 11 - it is tenchi, unique to kenjutsu.
Angles are based on geometry:
+ X .
x covers the diagonal strikes - 1, 2, 9 and 10
+ covers the vertical and horizontal strikes - 3, 4, 8, 11 and 12
. is the thrusts - 5, 6, and 7
This is the number system used in Cabales serrada, and the one we adopted for STMA.
An appendix strike is the #13, which is a 12 delivered behind.
A 12 is all vertical up strikes - a kingeri, uppercut, elbow. It applies to weapons as well.
(comic buffs will know that Judge Dredd KO'd Batman with a stick 12 in Judgement Over Gotham.)
A 13 is a mule kick, groin slap or back up elbow.
Blow before throw - atemi
In Jujutsu and grappling we practice throws.
But for VT and street we lead into a throw with a strike - an atemi. This causes pain and distracts the opponent from resisting and countering.
In a clinch, we might use HKE before a throw. A knee before turning into uchi mata is a good example. A head before o soto gari is another.
But for VT and street we lead into a throw with a strike - an atemi. This causes pain and distracts the opponent from resisting and countering.
In a clinch, we might use HKE before a throw. A knee before turning into uchi mata is a good example. A head before o soto gari is another.
Kill the cockroach
This is a concept invented by the New York boxers.
Imagine a roach crawling across the floor (In NY they don't imagine it - you get them in those old buildings the boxing gyms are housed in). You stamp on the roach and squish it.
That's the movement you use with the lead foot when performing a hook - kill the cockroach.
Imagine a roach crawling across the floor (In NY they don't imagine it - you get them in those old buildings the boxing gyms are housed in). You stamp on the roach and squish it.
That's the movement you use with the lead foot when performing a hook - kill the cockroach.
Saturday, 19 September 2009
Progressive sparring
At STMA we take progressive sparring to new levels.
Hands
Jab only
Lead hand only
Cross only - gyaku zuki in karate
Jab v Cross
Boxing
Both boxing
Boxing v jab only
Boxing v cross
Boxing v lead hand only
Boxing v kicks only
Boxing v kickboxing
Boxing v lead foot only
Lead hand and foot
Each
v boxing
v kickboxing
v kicks only
Boxing and lead foot
each
v boxing
v kickboxing
v lead hand and foot
kickboxing
both
lo kicks
both
v boxing
v kickboxing
v lead hand and foot
Thai - add knees
both
v box
v kb
v lo kix
Throws and takedowns
both gis - Judo
Both no gi - wrestling
Judo v wrestling
Newaza - jacket or no jacket
pins
submission
pins v sub
jacket v no jacket
MMA Ground
add hand strikes
VT ground
add all strikes - HKE
Grappling
v kickboxing
v boxing
v Thai boxing
v lo kix
Shootfighting
v grappler
v boxer
v kickboxer
v Thai boxer
v shooter
Hands
Jab only
Lead hand only
Cross only - gyaku zuki in karate
Jab v Cross
Boxing
Both boxing
Boxing v jab only
Boxing v cross
Boxing v lead hand only
Boxing v kicks only
Boxing v kickboxing
Boxing v lead foot only
Lead hand and foot
Each
v boxing
v kickboxing
v kicks only
Boxing and lead foot
each
v boxing
v kickboxing
v lead hand and foot
kickboxing
both
lo kicks
both
v boxing
v kickboxing
v lead hand and foot
Thai - add knees
both
v box
v kb
v lo kix
Throws and takedowns
both gis - Judo
Both no gi - wrestling
Judo v wrestling
Newaza - jacket or no jacket
pins
submission
pins v sub
jacket v no jacket
MMA Ground
add hand strikes
VT ground
add all strikes - HKE
Grappling
v kickboxing
v boxing
v Thai boxing
v lo kix
Shootfighting
v grappler
v boxer
v kickboxer
v Thai boxer
v shooter
Progressive sparring
Bruce Lee listed 21 phases of progresive sparring:
lead jab only
lead hand only
lead hand and foot only
lead hand and foot v boxing
lead hand and foot v kicboxing
lead hand and foot v kicks only
jab v cross
boxing v boxing
boxing v kicks
boxing v box and lead foot
boxing v kickboxing
boxing v lead foot
boxing and lead foot both
boxing and lead foot v kicks
boxing and lead foot v kickboxing
kickboxing both
add knees and elbows
add takedowns and throws
add grappling
kickboxing v grappling
boxing v grappling
lead jab only
lead hand only
lead hand and foot only
lead hand and foot v boxing
lead hand and foot v kicboxing
lead hand and foot v kicks only
jab v cross
boxing v boxing
boxing v kicks
boxing v box and lead foot
boxing v kickboxing
boxing v lead foot
boxing and lead foot both
boxing and lead foot v kicks
boxing and lead foot v kickboxing
kickboxing both
add knees and elbows
add takedowns and throws
add grappling
kickboxing v grappling
boxing v grappling
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Friday, 18 September 2009
Judo and Jujutsu
BJJ is the latest craze MA to get involved with and people have been rushing to take classes and seminars.
I myself first got involved about 1997 when carlos Gracie first came to the UK for his seminars. At the time some of the old Judo Sensei were telling us we didn't need BJJ as everything they were teaching, which seemed "new" was already in Judo.
Not only did this turn out to be true, but Judo is actually a far more effective combat system.
Judo is distilled from Jujutsu, so the hrows can be practiced safely and in real time. Gene LeBell, famously named "The Toughest Man Alive", and one of the few people ever to defeat Bruce Lee in a match fight was Judoka and a wrestler. He came up with the iconic maxim "A man can take a kick or a punch. But can he take being dumped on his head?"
So it is with contact grappling. We know from boxing, KB and Thai that fights often end up in a clinch. Thai is the only striking art to properly address this with it's use of the knee.
Judo starts with vertical grappling and is all about throwing the opponent.
In karate a point is scored if the technique would have been enough to finish the opponent had the fight been real and the strike landed with real force.
In Judo the point is scored when the opponent's shoulders hit the mat. In practice the uke breakfalls safely. In combat the throw would have been enough to finish the fight.
Randori is Judo's "throw sparring". Shiai is competition. In a Judo grading, a student has to fight at each belt level to pass to the higher grade. When you meet a Judo Black Belt, you know he's really earnt it!
This is something that has been sadly missing from karate, with the exception of kyukushinkai, and something we have re-introduced at Shiro Tora. Here, technical knowledge is not enough, you have to be able to apply it in real time under pressure. "If you see it taught, you see it fought"!
Newaza, Judo's ground grappling method is very much a secondary element. It is for IF the fight goes to the floor with no point being scored with the throw. It doesn't assume that it naturally will.
You can win if you pin your opponent to the mat for a count, as you can in wrestling.
In submission grappling, both in Judo, wrestling, and BJJ, the opponent must tap out when you apply a choke or lock. In combat there would be no tap out, you would choke the opponent unconscious or break the arm.
The theory that "95% of all fights go to the ground" has been proven satistically to be a falesy. It is true that a mismanaged fight will go to vertical grappling RANGE, but the proper use of HKE and throws will end the fight there. The opponent may go to the ground, but you don't have to go down with him and roll around the floor looking for a submission.
Judo newaza is basic and effective, and it's quite sparse in the kyu grades.
So those who don't stick with Judo once they have their Black Belt, much like those who never take an advanced driving lesson after they've learnt to drive, don't ever do the dan grade newaza and never learn what the Judo Sensei have been telling us about how much more there is in Judo newaza
BJJ starts with groundgrappling, it's where you start your training. You don't learn to throw til much later. It's really not much different from Judo, as we've been told, it just has a different starting point.
BJJ is incredibly detailed from day one in it's examination of newaza, much the same way as boxing is with punching.
BJJ get good at "rolling" very quickly, the same way as Judoka do at randori and boxers do at, well, boxing.
Of course, looking at street combat, BJJ would stand you in good stead should the fight end up there.
However the fight won't start there. You have to go through kick and punch and vertical grappling phase to get there.
It's also the last place you actually want to end up in a street fight, rolling around on concrete while his mate kicks you in the head.
So for real combat, Judo would be a far more comprehensive system to learn than BJJ.
If a student asked me where to go for supplemental grappling I'd always say go for Judo. I wouldn't say avoid BJJ, just don't choose it over Judo. If you can do both, great, but if you can only choose one, choose Judo.
In the early UFCs Royce Gracie showed us the remarkable effectiveness of BJJ, taking his opponents to the floor and finishing them all there, winning the first two events outright.
However, when concerned with street self defence, when fights don't start from the floor, and you really don't want to go there if possible, a lot of people are looking once again to Judo to deal with things if the striking ranges collapse and you end up in vertical grappling.
Judo is a far more effective self defence system than most people realise. (But then so is rugby, in fact it was invented by the army to teach soldiers unarmed combat.) Gene LeBell, once named "The Toughest Man Alive" and one of the few people ever to defeat Bruce Lee in a match fight, was a Judoka as well as a wrestler. He came up with an iconic maxim that defines grappling for combat:
"A man can take a kick or a punch. But can he take being dumped on his head?"
The effectiveness of Judo lies in this statement. Perform a Judo throw, one that would have resulted in an ippon had it been on the mat, to a street attacker on concrete, and the fight will be over.
When the UFC started it was style vs style. As the grapplers dominated the early events, strikers realised they had to learn to grapple. However, doing a few months or even a few years of grappling did not make one able to beat somebody who had done it all their life. What was needed was to find ways to not be taken down by the grappler and for the fight to finish standing with a KO. This is what we started to see happen. Wrestlers, Judoka and JuJutsu men started getting knocked out by strikers, especially Thai boxers who weren't afraid to get in a clinch and use the knee. Then there was TaeKwonDo expert Mark Weir who could manage the long range and knock grapplers out with a head kick.
LeBell's famous argument now had a conjecture.
"A good grappler can take being dumped on the mat. But can he take a full on leg kick from a Thai boxer? Can he take being punched full in he face by a boxer?"
It was like when kickboxing first started. Originally we had karateka who learnt to box and boxers who had learnt to kick. As KB evolved, we had new styles developed for this kind of event. So it was for MMA, and now we have MMA training studios and people who have only ever trained this way and for this kind of event.
I myself first got involved about 1997 when carlos Gracie first came to the UK for his seminars. At the time some of the old Judo Sensei were telling us we didn't need BJJ as everything they were teaching, which seemed "new" was already in Judo.
Not only did this turn out to be true, but Judo is actually a far more effective combat system.
Judo is distilled from Jujutsu, so the hrows can be practiced safely and in real time. Gene LeBell, famously named "The Toughest Man Alive", and one of the few people ever to defeat Bruce Lee in a match fight was Judoka and a wrestler. He came up with the iconic maxim "A man can take a kick or a punch. But can he take being dumped on his head?"
So it is with contact grappling. We know from boxing, KB and Thai that fights often end up in a clinch. Thai is the only striking art to properly address this with it's use of the knee.
Judo starts with vertical grappling and is all about throwing the opponent.
In karate a point is scored if the technique would have been enough to finish the opponent had the fight been real and the strike landed with real force.
In Judo the point is scored when the opponent's shoulders hit the mat. In practice the uke breakfalls safely. In combat the throw would have been enough to finish the fight.
Randori is Judo's "throw sparring". Shiai is competition. In a Judo grading, a student has to fight at each belt level to pass to the higher grade. When you meet a Judo Black Belt, you know he's really earnt it!
This is something that has been sadly missing from karate, with the exception of kyukushinkai, and something we have re-introduced at Shiro Tora. Here, technical knowledge is not enough, you have to be able to apply it in real time under pressure. "If you see it taught, you see it fought"!
Newaza, Judo's ground grappling method is very much a secondary element. It is for IF the fight goes to the floor with no point being scored with the throw. It doesn't assume that it naturally will.
You can win if you pin your opponent to the mat for a count, as you can in wrestling.
In submission grappling, both in Judo, wrestling, and BJJ, the opponent must tap out when you apply a choke or lock. In combat there would be no tap out, you would choke the opponent unconscious or break the arm.
The theory that "95% of all fights go to the ground" has been proven satistically to be a falesy. It is true that a mismanaged fight will go to vertical grappling RANGE, but the proper use of HKE and throws will end the fight there. The opponent may go to the ground, but you don't have to go down with him and roll around the floor looking for a submission.
Judo newaza is basic and effective, and it's quite sparse in the kyu grades.
So those who don't stick with Judo once they have their Black Belt, much like those who never take an advanced driving lesson after they've learnt to drive, don't ever do the dan grade newaza and never learn what the Judo Sensei have been telling us about how much more there is in Judo newaza
BJJ starts with groundgrappling, it's where you start your training. You don't learn to throw til much later. It's really not much different from Judo, as we've been told, it just has a different starting point.
BJJ is incredibly detailed from day one in it's examination of newaza, much the same way as boxing is with punching.
BJJ get good at "rolling" very quickly, the same way as Judoka do at randori and boxers do at, well, boxing.
Of course, looking at street combat, BJJ would stand you in good stead should the fight end up there.
However the fight won't start there. You have to go through kick and punch and vertical grappling phase to get there.
It's also the last place you actually want to end up in a street fight, rolling around on concrete while his mate kicks you in the head.
So for real combat, Judo would be a far more comprehensive system to learn than BJJ.
If a student asked me where to go for supplemental grappling I'd always say go for Judo. I wouldn't say avoid BJJ, just don't choose it over Judo. If you can do both, great, but if you can only choose one, choose Judo.
In the early UFCs Royce Gracie showed us the remarkable effectiveness of BJJ, taking his opponents to the floor and finishing them all there, winning the first two events outright.
However, when concerned with street self defence, when fights don't start from the floor, and you really don't want to go there if possible, a lot of people are looking once again to Judo to deal with things if the striking ranges collapse and you end up in vertical grappling.
Judo is a far more effective self defence system than most people realise. (But then so is rugby, in fact it was invented by the army to teach soldiers unarmed combat.) Gene LeBell, once named "The Toughest Man Alive" and one of the few people ever to defeat Bruce Lee in a match fight, was a Judoka as well as a wrestler. He came up with an iconic maxim that defines grappling for combat:
"A man can take a kick or a punch. But can he take being dumped on his head?"
The effectiveness of Judo lies in this statement. Perform a Judo throw, one that would have resulted in an ippon had it been on the mat, to a street attacker on concrete, and the fight will be over.
When the UFC started it was style vs style. As the grapplers dominated the early events, strikers realised they had to learn to grapple. However, doing a few months or even a few years of grappling did not make one able to beat somebody who had done it all their life. What was needed was to find ways to not be taken down by the grappler and for the fight to finish standing with a KO. This is what we started to see happen. Wrestlers, Judoka and JuJutsu men started getting knocked out by strikers, especially Thai boxers who weren't afraid to get in a clinch and use the knee. Then there was TaeKwonDo expert Mark Weir who could manage the long range and knock grapplers out with a head kick.
LeBell's famous argument now had a conjecture.
"A good grappler can take being dumped on the mat. But can he take a full on leg kick from a Thai boxer? Can he take being punched full in he face by a boxer?"
It was like when kickboxing first started. Originally we had karateka who learnt to box and boxers who had learnt to kick. As KB evolved, we had new styles developed for this kind of event. So it was for MMA, and now we have MMA training studios and people who have only ever trained this way and for this kind of event.
The Gokyo
The Gokyo are the 40 throws of Judo. They are split into 8 sets of 5, hence "go" kyo.
There are about 100 throws in Jujutsu, some of which are variations on a basic theme.
40 of these throws made the Judo gokyo, the safe format that can be used competitively in randori and shiai. You learn the gokyo in Judo as your syllabus on the way to your black belt.
However Judoka pick only 2 or 3 throws to focus on for their use in randori, with 2 or 3 as backup. Nobody tries to perfect all 40 throws for daily use. In fact, most competitors don't start to really examine the gokyo until they retire from competition and start working on getting their higher dan grades.
In STMA we have picked the most applicable throws whcih work in randori and have combat application.
Judoka who train with us need to keep in mind that what we practice is Jujutsu not Judo and we are ultimately interested in combat throws not competition moves.
We also practice throws without the gi jacket, using the "wrestling concept" of collar and elbow tie up.
Finally, in a Judo match you will be against another skilled grappler fighting for throws. Your opponent on the street will not be a skilled grappler. He will also not be restricted to grappling and will be trying to strike you and maybe have a weapon. This is fine with us as we practice Atemi strikes "Blow before throw", such as HKE.
There are about 100 throws in Jujutsu, some of which are variations on a basic theme.
40 of these throws made the Judo gokyo, the safe format that can be used competitively in randori and shiai. You learn the gokyo in Judo as your syllabus on the way to your black belt.
However Judoka pick only 2 or 3 throws to focus on for their use in randori, with 2 or 3 as backup. Nobody tries to perfect all 40 throws for daily use. In fact, most competitors don't start to really examine the gokyo until they retire from competition and start working on getting their higher dan grades.
In STMA we have picked the most applicable throws whcih work in randori and have combat application.
Judoka who train with us need to keep in mind that what we practice is Jujutsu not Judo and we are ultimately interested in combat throws not competition moves.
We also practice throws without the gi jacket, using the "wrestling concept" of collar and elbow tie up.
Finally, in a Judo match you will be against another skilled grappler fighting for throws. Your opponent on the street will not be a skilled grappler. He will also not be restricted to grappling and will be trying to strike you and maybe have a weapon. This is fine with us as we practice Atemi strikes "Blow before throw", such as HKE.
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