Ron Saturno - The firstest with the mostest is the bestest.

I like simple. I like perfected basics. I like to be the one who walks away, if I can. I like to walk away from a fight and if I do have to fight: I like to be the one who walks away. Obviously, I've used a lot of "I's" and I like to walk away one way or another. When I decided that "I" was important to me and that I'd like to be the one who walks away from fights: I started looking for someone who could teach me how to do this. Angel Cabales ended up teaching me how to get home safely. He had used his martial skills to save himself in many a very bad situation. You don't go to a man to learn how to lay bricks if he has never layed one. I went to a fight survivor when I wanted to learn how to survive. I am a first generation student of the late great Angel Cabales. Much of what I share today will be directly from his lips. Some will be my interpretation of his training and methods. Some information will be from me alone. Listen to me or not, it is your a$$ not mine. We have to learn to be able to closely scrutinize any and all information which comes our way. We are all survivors and survivors must always be aware of everything which comes our way. What to keep and what to throw away is the game. It's what keeps us breathing. I've hit a lot of sh!t in my life. After a while you figure out that your power, your maximum power, is really only maximally transferable into something within a very short range. It doesn't matter if it's a foot, a fist or a weapon. If you really want to transfer energy into something: You have to put the target in its proper range and you have to do your part to accomplish this. This is the basis of hitting hard. Knowing what you're doing and why is a big part of accomplishing this. The art part is accomplishing this when the b@stards keep moving around and thwarting your goal.

 

There are rules to most things that we do. If we want to hit something first than we should get out rule one. Hit it right away. The firstest with the mostest is the bestest. Get to 'crackin. Usually the first real telling blow is the beginning of the end of the fight. This holds true for hands, feet and weapons. Rule two. If you are unsure of rule one, look at rule one again.

 

Can it really be that easy? More than half of surviving a fight is the will to fight. A man who has decided to fight, should simply step up and get busy. Some men want to belittle you before a fight. Some men want to look good before his friends. They like to run their mouths. What this also means is that they are pumping up. They are getting their adrenaline dumping into their bodies. They will be harder to deal with, after the adrenaline dump. Whatever the reason, putting your fist in his mouth is not only satisfying, but has a lot of survivor value. A loud man who has approached you with clenched fists etc., gives you a reasonable belief that he is offering you imminent danger. Hit him until he drops and if someone is around stop. I am trying to get to the nuts and bolts of things, but I was told to keep it short by the boss. I'll get back to writing this after dinner. God Bless.

Other articles by Master Saturno:

• Basic Movement Theory
• Basics in Defense
• Basics of Serrada
• Freight Training! (Body Alignment & Power Transfer)
• The Secret to Surviving Fights 
• "Your fight is with time"
• Vidclips of Serrada Basics and Angles of Attack
• Audio Interview (97 mins!)
• The Very Heart and Soul of the Filipino Martial Arts
• "A reason to live is the greatest gift that a teacher of FMA can ever give."
• "You have to teach everything you know, because this forces you to learn more."
• Espada y Daga
• More about Espada y daga
• Espada y daga, part 3
• "Espada y daga properly performed violates common sense." 
• Comparison of Short stick vs Long stick
• "Every hit 'must' have the potential of ending the fight, period."

Notes

My deepest gratitude to Master Ron Saturno for his kind permission in allowing me to repost his articles to my site. 

You can contact Master Ron Saturno via:

Email:  5masterserrada@gmailNOSPAM.com (take out the "NOSPAM")
Phone:  209-513-8027
Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/ron.saturno

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Ron Saturno's Vidclips of Serrada Basics and Angles of Attack

Basics 1

Basics2

Angles of Attack

Articles by Master Saturno:

• Basic Movement Theory
• Basics in Defense
• Basics of Serrada
• Freight Training! (Body Alignment & Power Transfer)
• The Secret to Surviving Fights

Notes

You can contact Master Ron Saturno via:

Email:  5masterserrada@gmailNOSPAM.com (take out the "NOSPAM")
Phone:  209-513-8027
Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/ron.saturno

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Ron Saturno - Freight Training! (Body Alignment & Power Transfer)

Freight training! Yeah! Lets do a Serrada Escrima roof block! A Serrada Escrima roof block begins from a neutral position. The defender has both feet together and is calm and relaxed. The roof block is one of the basic responses to a number 1 strike. A number one strike is an overhand blow from his right, aimed at your left shoulder. It is an explosive block. More strike than block. It is a power block/strike. At its best, if we have "our" bodies in a proper position: We can come up and under the blow and immediately end a fight. Most people get a little sloppy under pressure and stand under the strike when blocking, squared with his opponent. This works too, but if we can bleed the power to "our" left, it's just a better way to do things. We bleed the power to our left, by slightly stepping in towards our opponents, right side. On other words, we just don't step into the blow: We step "in". When we catch the blow, with this body position: The power naturally bleeds toward his right and our left. Properly done: The block/strike anchors your opponents weight and tilts him up and to the side. He is temporarily frozen in limbo, without the ability to come back at you with a repeat blow...well, for a few important split seconds anyway. If we can take advantage of his temporary inability to defend him/herself: We look good and they look bad, because they've been had. Of course, if we caught their hand from underneath, so much the better.

Angel Cabales taught the basic roof block/strike as a bread and butter move. From the Serrada ready position, we can block "all" the overhead strikes. From this ready and locked position, we can also block horizontal strikes, with modified roof blocks. Twist the roof block to the side and it becomes a cross block for a number three angle strike. Leave the weapon in the ready position and we get a pass block, when we block blows from the number four angle. All we have to do is slightly twist our hands and bodies to block any blow! Angel Cabales was no fool. The ready and locked position of Serrada Escrima is the "cat stance" of Escrima. It is a superb defensive position, which is little understood and under appreciated. Basics again and again and again. You can take a student and teach him to defend against frighteningly fast blows, without teaching them formal Serrada Escrima. Just by teaching them the locked position. You just teach them to slightly twist their wrists and bodies to meet incoming blows. In a few months of training they can become very good. I'll let you in on a secret: You can block any blow from the ready position, when properly trained, easily and comfortably.

There is a theory which says that we can't exhibit real power unless we "pattern" a blow with the feet. Huh? If I were to strike you with my right arm: My best power would be developed, by pushing off of my left foot, if I were striking them with the left. Hit them with the earth! I stole this term from the great James Muro. If James hits you with the earth: You've really been hit. I know a lot of people will say: OK, so what? They'll say: I can push off of my right foot and knock the sh!t out of you with my right arm. Well, so can I. But, so what? We are freight training! Freight training, is where we align the rear foot, hip of the side we are hitting with, the elbow, shoulder and hand all in "one" direction, when we strike. All aligned like a freight train! But, in Serrada Escrima, we are pushing off of the opposite foot, when doing the roof block. In order to develop "real" power in the block: We "have" to turn in slightly, to swing the "right' hip into alignment with the block/strike! That is why we step slightly "in". Such a small thing, but such a huge difference in the power equation! This is a secret, which probably no one will listen to. With the body alignment we put ourselves in, we can immediately go directly to our opponent's neck and literally remove his head, easily and efficiently. In the motion to draw the weapon to our right side: We take the head in the motion. The depth of Angel Cabales was way too deep for me. This version of the roof block was always there: It just needed to be discovered in the basics. How did I get here? I really didn't want to get here? We cannot separate Serrada Escrima, from the reality of its true purpose. Serrada Escrima was designed as a simple, easy to learn, but highly effective martial art. Its simplicity is confused with being ineffective. It is more than highly effective. It is a martial art, which has cut out all of the bullshit. It is direct and to the point, and because simple and direct works in real life: Serrada works in real life. Find a good Instructor who will teach the proper basics. There is a lot to learn in the basics, but in Serrada all the basics align with all of the rest of the basics. Hope to see you around, signing off five by five.

Notes

My deepest gratitude to Master Ron Saturno for his kind permission in allowing me to repost his articles to my site. Photo Credit:  Source pic - Master Ron Saturno.

You can contact Master Ron Saturno via:

Email:  5masterserrada@gmailNOSPAM.com (take out the "NOSPAM")
Phone:  209-513-8027
Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/ron.saturno

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Ron Saturno - Basics of Serrada

"Manong, what is the secret to Serrada?"

Angel Cabales answered, "Basics and Lock and Block".

He then said that I would get more out of the lock and block than sparring and I really loved to spar. Most of his students were trained in angles 1 through 5 first, then introduced to lock and block, then sparring after a while longer. The basics of Serrada have very subtle secrets. Many people just simply follow the dictates of our Master and have never taken the time to decipher the wealth of knowledge contained within the basic techniques. I will say that teaching is one of the best ways to unlock the "many" secrets within the basics of Serrada. This is one of the reasons that I try to teach as much as possible. In teaching I have to be able to explain the whys of my system. I have learned as much teaching Serrada, than in many other ways.

One of the very subtle secrets of Serrada basics is that the body moves a little and the hands move little, when we block and both in unison. The body is slow in comparison to the hands. So we need hand assists to clear the path of the strike. If we don't get the body out of the way, we'll probably get hit. I can honestly say that in most instances, when someone really means to tag you hard: If we don't move our body out of the way, their blows will either get through, or, in some way, effects one or more of our bodies axis's, which either slows us down, or prevents an immediate counter strike to punish them for attempting to strike us. Not being there to get hit, has a lot going for it. "All" of the blocks in Serrada, use the combination of body movement in conjunction with the hands, as a basis of the system. I would love to use examples, but since many are not practitioners of Serrada, probably wouldn't understand the explanation, when they don't know the block. The beauty of it all, is that most martial systems emphasize body and/or specific target evasion in conjunction with the use of their hands, to prevent getting struck by an opponent.

Another interesting thing about Serrada basics is the "slow" pace of blocking practice. Angel Cabales wanted very slow and precise basic practice. The slowness I believe allowed his students to put every moment in the students muscle memory. If we move slowly, we can feel the different stresses the movements places upon the body. We can feel weight shifts. We can begin to coordinate our movements with our breathing. If we took the time to teach our bodies to feel every nuance of the basic movements, then speed comes relatively easily. If we are honest, we are practicing moving meditation and is one of the reasons I feel that Angel Cabales had near perfect timing.

Another interesting part of practicing basics, was starting from a neutral position. All basics begin from a feet together neutral position. It is a relaxed position. A position from which we must immediately go from 0 to 100 mph. We were being trained to expect, the unexpected. We weren't trained to be in a set and ready position, but from a position of neutrality. This is really important. Unexpectedly attacked is how most of us will get attacked, if and when we do ever get attacked. Most bastards freely use the element of surprise to get the job done. Usually we won't be ready, so we must practice to be able to get into high gear, as quickly as possible. The feet together neutral position sends us a really subtle message. Expect the unexpected and be ready to move into high gear immediately. We are a bladed system. 2nd place, is a place they visit you in the cemetery.

There is a lot more to basics that I could have touched upon. But, let me say this. I can see the movements of Serrada people and tell how much their Master emphasized basics. The slow and properly practiced movements of Serrada helps make very good martial artists. If I see sloppy Serrada people, it is usually because they tried to push too quickly, too fast. Quality really is in the proper practice of basics. Basics in the end is what saves you. A weak foundation is not the way to build a house or strong martial arts. Please kiss a loved one. Hug someone in need. Forgive a trespass. There is no promise of tomorrow: One of the reasons we practice martial arts. God Bless.

Notes

My deepest gratitude to Master Ron Saturno for his kind permission in allowing me to repost his articles to my site. Photo Credit:  Source pic - Master Ron Saturno.

You can contact Master Ron Saturno via:

Email:  5masterserrada@gmailNOSPAM.com (take out the "NOSPAM")
Phone:  209-513-8027
Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/ron.saturno

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Ron Saturno - Basics in Defense

Imagine an inside block to an overhand #1 strike...under the "best" of conditions: If we step into the blow, we should have the rear foot out at our 4 o'clock, the lead right foot at a 10 o'clock position. We will have formed a 45 degree angle, to our opponent' weapon arm. In Serrada Escrima, the next blow is a direct shot under the opponent's weapon arm to his ribs, a follow-up uppercut underneath his arm, a roll-over to the top strike, to the top part of his arm. And then we re-set. The beat is one, two, three and four.

Why does the 2nd shot go to the ribs, when the blow still has real power? Because the blow should have been stopped! I get asked this all of the time. The basic inside block is for stopping a blow up close and personal. A worst case scenario. Dealing with lethal blows up close "is" worst case. If his blow goes through, than his next blow will most likely come from the other side. Our second beat, or, the strike to the ribs, becomes the immediate blow which catches his next incoming strike. If we stopped the blow: Our third shot, the under the arm shot, will then come up and under for an immediate disarm. If his shot goes through to his other side: His next blow will most likely be another #1 strike. Our roll-over will become another inside block! We will have made a circle of continuous responses to repetitive blows, from either side, or combination(s) This is the secret to Serrada Escrima. The basics were trained to get you ready to defend against at least three complete cycles, from any of the attack angles. Any of the basics can catch "any" three blows. This concept of defending against any three blows, has a lot of survival value. Basics prepare us for the terror of repeat hitting.

I don't know how many times Angel Cabales would call out to us to "work". He meant: "It Isn't over 'till its over". Even if we messed up: We were still expected to continue. You could see the frustration in his eyes when someone would stop in mid-stride, because they messed up! Contained with-in the basics of Serrada Escrima is a veritable treasure of combat experience. It's funny, but years later I still find little tid-bits of survival value in the basics. Sometimes I will wander far and wide seeking out answers and will in the end find the answers contained with-in the basics! I like to teach advanced Escrima. It challenges me. But, if pushed I'd come against you with the simplest of basics. Direct blows, done correctly and on time are rudely simple, but highly effective. Simple works! The KISS Method is alive and well in "my" garage and back-yard! Most of the fancy, although beautiful to watch, are fractions, or quarter beats, half beats longer than a simple and direct blow. The basics of Serrada Escrima are "all" simple and direct answers to full power direct and "follow-up" hits. At the highest level(s), we expect anything, but train to end the attack with-in three moves. What happens if the altercation continues? We continue until our opponent doesn't move any more. I know that this post may be a little hard to understand. But listen...lets make is very simple. Train to be able to stop strikes with your basic movements, from either side and in any combination. Sometimes what would be your follow-up strike turns into a block, or a pass and then we return to the striking mode to punish them for attempting to hurt us. Think of it: If I were trying to give you a No. 2 angle strike, it is very easy to turn into a sweep or roof block, depending on the timing of his blows. If we are early, its a sweep: If we are behind the curve, it becomes a roof block. Slight twist changes, but still the basic movements. We "work", we continue forward without hesitation. Well work is calling. O owe I owe so off to work I go. Have a great day everyone.

Notes

My deepest gratitude to Master Ron Saturno for his kind permission in allowing me to repost his articles to my site. Photo Credit:  Source pic - Master Ron Saturno.

You can contact Master Ron Saturno via:

Email:  5masterserrada@gmailNOSPAM.com (take out the "NOSPAM")
Phone:  209-513-8027
Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/ron.saturno

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Ron Saturno - Basic Movement Theory

Let’s speak of the basic movement theory. Let’s take an orthodox stance. Left foot forward, rear foot back. If we go left, in this instance we move the left foot to the left first and then bring the right trailing foot over. If we were traveling forward, we would move the front foot forward and bring up the rear. Going back, we would move the rear foot back and then bring back the front foot. Exceedingly simple and direct. Now let’s put a stick in our hands and have a person come at us with an over-head blow (angle #1 strike). We would step out to the left and drag the rear foot as soon as possible. A very good example of the basic movement theory! Serrada Escrima obeys "all" laws: We are good martial arts citizens! We end up in what I call the "full" position. Our acquired position allows all of our weapons to be brought to bear fully upon our opponent. They will be placed in what I call the "half" position. We will have cut them in half! I don't know about you, but I'd rather deal with half a pissed off man, than a whole one. If we used the footwork along with judicious handwork, we will have done a lot to make sure that we go home to Mama. Mama may not even like us much anymore, but the b!tch will be stuck with us again anyway, cause we'll be coming home and wanting some. It is a cruel world, but she may someday take half, let her earn it, don't die by doing incorrect martial arts and let her get it all. Basics are the key!

Did we move our center, rather than bend to get closer to our opponent, to achieve a proper distance? If our distancing was still off....did we move our center closer, rather than lean again? We have three axis's in our body.

1. Goes straight from the top of our heads directly down and out the bottom of our lower bodies.
2. Is straight across from hip to hip.
3. Is just below the navel, going front to rear.

Imagine the three planes intersecting inside the body. That is our center! Let’s call it a "ball". We want to move the ball. We want to get on the ball! We don't want to fold, spindle, or mutilate it! We want to use the "ball' as our frame of reference, when we move. Outside number 1 Serrada Escrima, recognizes this reality and the good practitioners use it, even though they may not know of its existence.

Did we enter the fight with knowledge of Distance, Structure and Movement? The Big Three! If all three aren't in sync, we stink! Yah! You heard it here...you'll stink. If the Big Three were properly used: We're going to look really good!

Did we move our hands before our feet? Hope so...or you'll be slow, with no go! Are there exceptions? Of course. Sometimes we may want to kick a knee out, upon entering. Their knee, not ours. But, personally I throw hits and depending on which blow I threw, follow behind the hip rotation with a kick. If I throw a right blow and my right hip has rotated forward: I come behind it with a right kick. Basic, but it works well for me. Most of the time.

Did we watch their chests, rather than their hands? The hands are just too fast to watch! Well, other people’s hands anyway. There are some really fast people out there. But, if watch their chests: They can't do sh!t without giving their intentions away. Yes, it takes awhile to get the hang of, but chest watching can even be fun, depending upon the cup size.

Today was a very basic post. Most everyone can capably do most of the things I've listed. But, doing them all in unison and in a coordinated way, is quite another story. Great basics are the goal of any good martial artist. It is when our basics are extremely fine tuned that we see hyper-advanced martial arts being displayed. All we are really seeing is Basics being displayed without added anything! That person will have hacked, chopped, trimmed away everything non-essential. It just looks advanced: It is really superlative basics being performed. It doesn't look like what we do, because it's not: Its better. People trained by me get hammered until they got it right. I have trained a few seven days a week, four hours a day, to get it right. I've made a few monsters.

So hoping all is well with you and yours. The very best to you.

Notes

My deepest gratitude to Master Ron Saturno for his kind permission in allowing me to repost his articles to my site. Photo Credit:  Source pic - Master Ron Saturno.

You can contact Master Ron Saturno via:

Email:  5masterserrada@gmailNOSPAM.com (take out the "NOSPAM")
Phone:  209-513-8027
Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/ron.saturno

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MMA: Hematoma Fight Club - Blue Shirt Requirements by Joe Silvia

Introduction


Blue Shirt is where you get your feet wet, spend a lot of time re-learning to use your body, develop mental and phyiscal attributes, learn to navigate around the MMA universe, get comfortable with getting hit, slammed and twisted. There is so much material that at times it may seem overwhelming and MMA in the beginning may seem very foreign.

You are also learning how to have a unique relationship with another person whereby you support them and they have your back. When they are down, your will uplift them, when they have doubts, you will encourage them, when they have good days and moments you will proudly join them. They will do the SAME for you. This relationship is a unique one and for many completely new.

Lastly, YOU are developing the atmosphere in the gym with every action, word, and decision you make. The more positive, encouraging, and generous you are the faster your training partner will progress. The faster he progresses the faster YOU progress. You will improve ONLY by improving him. That is REAL.


Qualities

1. Display composure.
2. Knowledge and ability to execute base camp in all ranges.
3. Has training gears and is sharing the "glory."
4. Demonstrates mentoring and sportsmanship.
5. Shows cardiovascular endurance, heart, and confidence.
6. Is well-rounded in the 3 ranges of MMA:
  1. Stand-Up
  2. Clinch
  3. Ground
7.  Well-rounded in the 2 transitional ranges
  1. The Gap
  2. Fighting Short
8. Shows knowledge of the 3 striking sub-ranges: long, middle range, and close quarters.
9. Demonstrates a comfort level with being hit, thrown, and submitted.
10. Shows stance & motion in all 5 areas.
11. Shows he/she can Cant and Tilt with every Tie-Up.
12. Can dust his partner off.
13. Can use his conditioning as a weapon.
14. Can use both a crushing and floating game on the ground.
15. Shows forehead position in the clinch and on the ground.
16. Can create space (loosening the nail) when pinned and in the guard.


List of Techniques

The Defense in each area will NOT be detailed as they are specific to the gym's style and in many cases prescribed to an individual.


Stand-Up

• Punches: Jab, Cross, Hook, Swing Hook, Overhand, Body Shots, & Uppercut
• Elbows: Horizontal, Diagonal, and Upward
• Knees: Long Knee
• Kicks: Round kick to head, ribs, and inside and outside leg, Jab/Push Kick
• Defense: Parry, Cover, Head Movement, Footwork

Gapwork

• Break-ins: Parry Crash, Helmet, Crazy Monkey, Slip, Shoot, Kick Wrap, Kick Shelf
• Break-outs: Crazy Monkey, Throw By, Chin Shove, Shoots: Inside & Outside Penetration, High, Mid-level, and Lo-Lo
• Shoot Defense: Sprawl, Half Sprawl, Nelson, Wizzer 

Clinch

• Fibbing: Uppercuts, hooks, knee flashes, elbow flashes, stomps, inner elbow,
• Control Ties: Collar, Double Collar, Reverse Collar, FHL, Underhook, Bodylocks, SHL, Overhook, Wrist Control, Elbow Control, Bicep Control, Forearm Hook, Seat Belt, Russian 2 on1,
• Transitions: Arm Drag, "V" Lift, Collar Pries, Duckunder, Throw By, Slide By Submissions: Front Choke, FNC, Bar Arm Strangle, Front Face Lock, Japanese Surfboard, 
• Takedowns: 
• Single: Treetop w/ sweep or cradle suplex, Run the Pipe, Front Knee Block, Back Knee Block, Dive (2 variants), Re-Shoot, Pick-Up, Lo-Lo
• Double: Flair/Barsagar, Golf Swing, Pick-Up, Submarine, Japanese Blast, Shinbox, Lo- Lo, 
• Hi-C: Seat Belt & Crotch Pick-Up (2 grips & 2 Dumps)
• Fireman's: High and mid-level w/ base variants
• Backstep: Headlock, underhook, overhook, wrists,
• Bodylock: Lift & Dump, German Suplex (Optional)
• Miscellaneous: Knee & Ankle Picks, Reaps, Sweeps
• Defense to above: Top Secret

Fighting Short

• Rides: Stretcher, Side, FHL, Back, Knee, Leg
• Breakdowns & Turns: Crossface, Picks, Turk, Spiral, Nelson, Arm Hug, Harness Turnover, Near Leg & Far Arm Drive, Leg Hug Drive, Cow Cather/Cement Mixer, Butt Drag
• Escapes: Sit-Out, Peek-Out, Hip Heist, Switch, Peterson, Donkey Kick, Sucker Drag, Stand-Up
• G&P: Uses Tomahawks on "ears", Uppercuts under the armpit, knees to thigh & ribs, knee chips, ridgehands, back elbows, 
• Submissions: Crucifix, RNC, Facelock, Rolling Armbar, Teacup & Saucer,  Passing the Sprawl: Tripod Single, Re-Shoot, Baseball Slide, Peek-Out,

Groundfighting

• Bases: Mountain (High & Low), Low Combat Base, Combat Base, Staggered Stance
• G&P: Skip elbows, 6 o'clock punch, tomahawks, elbow chips, thigh spikes, rib elbow smash, Mongolian Chop!, Elbow Turnover vs grip, Shoulder Butt
• Extras: Shoulder of Justice, Pendelum, Popcorn, Gooseneck,
• Navigation: Shuffle, Hip Switch, Cossack Walking, Knee Pivot, Leg Swipe, Stomp Mount, Knee Slide Mount, 
• Pins & Rides: Saddle/Mount, Back Mount, Side Control, Leg Control, Twister Side, Head & Arm, North/South, Knee Ride, Cossack Ride, 
• Guards: Close, open/spider, half, Mission Control (optional),  butterfly
• Passes: Spanky, Smash, Shackle, Combat Base, Tripod, Surf, Leapfrog, Ankle Control & Tripod, Tornado
• Opening Closed Guard:  Elbows, Standing, Quasimodo, Combat Base, Stepover, Can Opener
• Sweeps: Scissor, Tomahawk/Flower, Elevator, Old School, Cross Sweep, Hip Heist
• Escapes: Leg Thread, Shrimp & Bridge variations
• Submissions: Armbars, straight armbar, Bow & Arrow, Double Wrist Lock, Top Wrist Lock, Arm Triangle, Wrap Choke, Telephone Call, TWL w/ Legs, Heelhook, Inverted Heelhook, Achilles, Toe Hold, Arm Scissors, Knee Scissors, Kneebar, Seated Armbar, Papercutter

NOTES

My sincerest gratitude to Joe Silvia for his kind permission in reposting this note.

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MMA: Hematoma Fight Club - Partner Exercises for the Primer by Joe Silvia

Introduction

These drills are to be done loose and light. Do not hog all the glory, but share it. The sole goal here is to review old material, work on proper form, develop athletic attributes, and prime the body. This isn't sparring, even though the contact may be moderate. Do NOT turn it into a sparring session.

These exercises and drills have been specifically chosen for a reason: they are FUNDAMENTALS and therefore the most important movements in your training and why they must be done when fresh and at every workout. Sloppy fundamentals mean pile of crap perfomance and why these must be done loose and light. Proper fundamentals make life easier, because things are done efficiently and intelligently which is the WHOLE IDEA behind martial arts or combat sports. You aren't trying to use your strength and speed advantage to overcome and opponent, because if you are the bigger, stronger, and faster person, you don't need martial arts. You want to be strong, fast, skilled AND intelligent.

The mental toughness, doggedness, and determination developed alongside these exercises are also fundamental. So place a priority on these exercises. You are building your whole ability to perform on them. Don't build your foundation on a rowboat, but bedrock.

Lastly, don't be fooled by the words "Primer" or "Warm-up." In the past we have lost more potential members because of how intense this primer is than anything else. Initially I thought that being hit, slammed, twisted and choked would be a barrier to membership, but as time went on it was the WORK that was most intimidating. Because of this, there will be no obligation to do every exercise at an athletic pace. Every person can work at a pace that is comfortable for him or her. However, anyone that is not challenging themselves will be told to ratchet things up a bit. Ideally, anyone starting out would get a number of privates to learn these exercises so they aren't "left in the dust", but the economy where it is makes that difficult. Everyone who just signs up will get one free private lesson to get adjusted. I will also reward good attendance with discounted privates.

I always suggest that people begin the primer with that which they are worst at. That is your weakest link, so bringing that aspect up is something you should always be doing. However, it is up to each person to customize the primer. Do the exercises they need and like, at the intensity and pace that is right for them. One can do ALL the exercises in a marathon style primer, can pick one or two aspects to focus on, or a theme i.e; armbars, posture, mitts, etc. The mats during this phase should be a medley of all kinds of exercises. Having said that these exercises are detailed in no special order.

Acclimatizing and Tempering (Absorption)
This drill is often incorrectly thought of as a superman drill. Listen, I would never recommend that a person brace up, and take a punch or kick to the face. That is plain stupid. The reason why you are taking a punch to the face is to develop relaxation, and mental pliability. The physical aspect of the drill is to maintain a normal breathing pattern, and to roll with punches, slams, and submissions. The psychological aspect is learning to be relaxed, free of tension and tone, and to maintain focused.

A normal untrained response maybe to have tone in the muscles: raise the shoulders, hold one's breathe, blink, or flinch. You simply are slower to respond, IF you have the wherewithal to respond at all, when these things are going on!

Doing this drill will help you to not do those things, and remove the "fight or flight" response and replace it with cool headed, relaxed attention. Secondly, you can reduce damage and injuries by downgrading it's impact. By rolling with things, you can downgrade a KO punch to a heavily damaging one, a heavily damaging one, to a lighter one, and a lighter one to hardly anything. Once an automatic response is built in and this drill is done with eyes closed, you will then begin to downgrade sucker punches for those of you interested in street applications.

Some options for this drill are:

• 1, 2, or 3 for 1, 2, or 3
• One man barrage, one man all "D"
• Eyes closed
• Phrasing or passing through 2 or more ranges
• Strikes, fibbing, ground and pound, submissions, takedowns 

Stance & Motion
Chin tucked, shoulders rounded, hips thrust, knees bent, elbows in, and a profiled torso are the starting points for base camp in everything from standing to the ground. Being able to utilize this posture WHILE in motion under stressful conditions is called composure.  The following drills need to be known inside and out: 

• Jockeying: Using footwork to one of the three zones of distance or flanking while keeping the measure. 
• Break ins/Break outs: Using footwork to get to the clinch or get out of the clinch.
• Clinch: Using staggered and square stances to fibb or grapple, while pummeling for superior control-ties.
• Fighting Short: Moving from the 4 directions through inferior and superior positions.
• Ground: Moving from escapes and pins, passes and sweeps.  

These areas can be drilled by using dry runs, position for position drills, soft flow, chains, stay and play gripfighting, base camp, and canting and tilting drills.

Shooting
Shooting is one way to break-in or bridge the gap/measure. For the love of all things holy and unholy do not shoot from "Timbuktu." WORST case scenario is shooting from punch range...the distance where if you raise your hand it will contact your partner. The only greater pet peeve I have than seeing someone shoot from a mile away with no set-up, is someone throwing a kick to a thigh with no set-up, eating bombs, and then ignorantly repeating it. Grrrrrr.

EVERY shoot should have this progression: nPound step-> Level Change->Penetration Step->Contact->Bring Trail Leg Up->Base Camp.

The only exception is when this progression is mastered, you may omit the pound step. Everyone is expected to know the following drills:

• Hit 'n Run: Of pivotal and fundamental importance is punching the hip. Either ricochet or Barsagar/Flair
• Double Leg Series: High, Mid-level, Lo-Lo
• Single Leg Series: High, Mid-Level, Lo-Lo, and Sweep Single; Inside and Outside Penetration
• Swinging Gate: Head inside, switching from Japanese/Blast double to outside and inside singles depending on his response
• Magnet Drill: Doing a swinging gate at mid and lo-lo level.  

For more detail on the shoot, refer to this Guide to the MMA Shoot.

Lifting
As a gym known for it's wrestling, lifting is considered fundamental. If done with the right mechanics, you can easily lift someone twice your size. Some of you may recall how Amy, who weighed about 100-110#s would demo this by lifting me when I was averaging 205-210#s. She would even rep it. Since there are hardly easier finishes to execute when you have one or two of a person's feet off the ground, this is a mandatory skill.

Most of these lifts will involve the forward wave, which everyone should have mastered in the solo exercises. This wave is a modern version of the "squatting" style lift. Using body posture and momentum is simply more efficient and reserves your energy in case you want to suplex, back arch or lateral drop someone. Here are the lifts, beginning with the "Big 5":

• Single Leg Lift: high knee, treetop, and crotch lifts.
• Double Leg Lift: pickup, Barsagar/Flair, and Tablecloth lifts.
• Hi-Crotch: 2 grip variations of crotch lift Fireman's Carry: proper, near-arm/far-leg, high and low Backstep: with multiple grip variations. REMEMBER PASS YOUR HIPS THROUGH AND DO NOT SQUARE THEM TO HIM.
• Bear Hugs: Many facing and grip variants for Lift 'N Dumps, Back Arches, Suplexs, Lateral Drops, and Saltos.
• Ground Lifts: From fighting short, including reverse crotch lift and bodylock and reverse bodylock lifts.

"D" Core
Defensive core is going through all one's strikes and allowing the other person to prime his defense. There are 3 types of defensive options that a person has that are utilized on a PLATFORM of keeping the measure:

1. Evasion: head, torso and limb movement.
2. Covering: using your forearms to soak an incoming strike. A more advanced option is spiking.
3. Parrying: using your hand to re-direct an incoming strike. Paired with evasion to double it's efficacy.

Drills can be done in a 1, 2, 3 for 1, 2, 3, one man barrage, or isolating one defense in a crazy monkey, or onion layer drills (softwork). 

In addition, clinching by breaking in is another form of defense. A person should be able to break in on any and all manner of strikes from the opponent, as well as offensively breaking in by using "sticking the opposum", feints, fakes, and drawing.

Miscellaneous Techniques
Pass and sweep starts, submission chains, bump-ups, breaking closed guard, guard forming, sub escapes, counters, re-counters, set-ups, follow ups, etc.





NOTES

My sincerest gratitude to Joe Silvia for his kind permission in posting this primer.

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MMA: Hematoma Fight Club - Solo Exercises by Joe Silvia

Introduction

These exercises are a precursor to application. The progression is solo, helpful partner, resisting partner to combative partner. If you can't do them slow with no one in the way, you will never make them work with a partner. These exercises serve as a primer for the body, promote health and fitness levels, particularly joint health, flexibility, balance, co-ordination, agility, and ALL have sport applications. Do them all the time! All day, every day!

This list is a REMINDER and not meant to be explanatory or detailed. You should know the names and the movements  from working out. In addition to doing this exercises, you should also connect one to another, and cut some of them in half and join them with another exercise. The idea is to flow from one exercise to another seamlessly.

Finally, do not ONLY do them as series, but remember to not recognize a difference between standing or the ground, but flow indiscriminately from one to the other.

Standing Series
Side to side, forward to backward, circles, waves & infinities for the following joints:  Neck, spine, hips, shoulders, elbows, wrists, knees, and ankles.

High, mid-level, lo-lo, forward, backward and sweeping shots.

Shadowboxing/wrestling.

Sprawls (Half, full, side-on)Shuffling in four directions, full step, slingshot, pyramid, lead and rear pivots in two directions, sidestep, half-step, pound step, falling step, curve step, backstep, and half shuffle.

Breakfalls from standing in four directions.

Squat Series
Line walk, cossack long step, pivot in two directions, forward somersault, breakfall in four directions, short and long-sitout, sit-backs, hip heist, Russian hip heist, iron bridge, Russian neck flip, Russian neck circle, Shinbox pivots in two directions, Shinbox walk, knee slide, screw-ups, Petersons, Granbys, one leg cossack lasso, scorpion tails, crow, iron bridge twist backs, backward somersault, forward fall, Ape step, the Kong, etc.

Ground Series
Leg thread, shrimp (forward and backward), bridge, shoulder stands (pike, hurdler, hip twist, & kick behind), popcorn, pendulum, flip-flops, low rear ground engagement, hip switching, shuffling, combat basing, screw-ups, tripod shuffle, flat pop-ups, leg circles, bump ups, leg choke, side to side scissor, and tank walk on back and stomach.

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MMA: Hematoma Fight Club Primer by Joe Silva

Here is the first 30 minutes of every workout. It is important that everyone memorizes this so that they do not need to rely on me on what to do next. While drilling and scrimmaging will change from day to day, the warm up will always follow this format. When everyone reaches the point that they are doing this primer/warm-up without me, I am free to work with newer people to get them ready for participating in it.

In most cases these drills are done in a Give & Receive manner of 1 for 1, 2 for 2, 3 for 3 or one person dry runs for repetitions....perhaps 5-10 each. They can also be done freestyle.

Fundamentals

1. Pummeling & Jockeying (Stance & Motion)
A. Footwork w/ Shadowboxing (Solo or Partner) - don't forget level changes.
B. Pummeling in the Clinch w/ transitions
C. Cracking the Turtle
D. Bottom Base Camp
E. Pummeling in various Guards

2. Absorption

Basics

3. Technique Tree
A. Striking Series: 1, 2, 3 for 1, 2 3 or Freestyle
B. Gapwork: Break-ins & Break-Outs
C. Unattached Elbow Drill: Give & Receive
D. Shooting Series: Dry Runs, Single & Double Series, Magnet Drill, etc.
E. Control Ties & Transitions (Dry Runs)
F. Lifting Series: Single, Double, Hi-C, Fireman's, Backstep, Bodylock
G. Takedown Series: 1 for 1 or 5 each
H. Standing Submissions
I. Fibbing Series
J. Fighting Short Chains
K. Breakdowns & Turns/Tilts
L. Escape Series (Leg thread, Shrimp, & Bridge)
M. Passes & Sweeps
N. Submission Drills





NOTES

My sincerest gratitude to Joe Silvia for his kind permission in posting this primer.

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MMA: Hematoma Fight Club Training Guide by Joe Silvia

Rules & Guidelines

Private Club
This is a private club. It's a place for a small family of people to improve their health and fitness and have fun in the process. It's to challenge themselves into personal growth. It's not a place for meatballs, bullies, or douchebags. To preserve this atmosphere, invitation will be by word of mouth and acceptance/admittance needs approval from everyone. Only people that reflect our views and have similar thought processes should be considered. Someone that will compliment the group and surely promote growth for everyone.

Personal Hygiene
For the love of all things holy, please have a few outfits for training. Using your kneepads or  t-shirt every day for weeks so you can utilize it as a weapon is just wrong (unless your the coach in which case it's wisdom). Proper hygiene is a must. If you couldn't shower before a workout, please wash your hands and face with soap. This will cut down on the spread of all sorts of things, from cold and flu to skin ailments. Remember that the nature of combat sports is close proximity to one another. No one wants to spend a whole workout with someone who smells of B.O., didn't wash, or change or brush their teeth.

Tidiness
Please do not leave equipment laying around. Please don't leave empty containers or gym clothes laying around either. Show respect for YOUR teammates and YOUR gym.  Let's work together to make sure fellow members, guests and potential gym-mates arrive and like what they see.

Training Gear
Wear clothing w/o zippers or anything else that could damage the mats. Wear what's comfortable for you. Shoes need to be a SEPARATE pair than the shoes you wear every day. Disinfect them and use them solely for the gym. Remember, it may be YOUR face kissing the mat. That's a bad time to find out someone stepped in dog shit and wore the shoes in the gym. A cup or jockstrap is optional. Some people don't like the chafing and feel them to be restrictive. Earguards are a must if you don't want caulitflower ear. Headgear is also optional. Some don't like it, because it restricts your vision and you have to constantly adjust it after getting hit. However, it's a good tool for training longevity and preventing cuts and concussions.

Warming up
Show up a good 5-10 minutes before the official start time of the workout. Priming the body before the workout will help prevent injuries and will definitely improve your performance during the workout. Time is valuable so we need to get straight to the partner workouts while we are together. 

Training Intensity
You are not obligated to go hard and intense. You go as hard or as light as you want as long as your partner is comfortable. Try to pair up with people looking for the same things as yourself and roughly in the same weight class.

Training Partners
Your partner and teammate is your single most important asset in training. Without him you will not improve. The better he is, the better you will be. Compete WITH him and NOT against him. If you are better, make sure he is challenged, but not overwhelmed. If you are worse, swallow your pride and ask him to go into a lesser gear.  If your partner is injured, you won't be able to train. Honor and respect him and you'll get the same in return.

A word on Leglocks
If you are caught in a leglock, tap. Tap even if you don't think he'll get it. Tap because you are the bigger person. Tap because if he put you in danger he deserves it. Tap because if you are waiting for a little pain before tapping, it will be too late. Leg submissions are not like other submissions. If you feel pain, it may be too late and something may tear and you may have a permanent injury. You want to be the guy that has to explain to people that you are limping because your IQ is low?

Grading
To keep track of where everyone is, give the fighters a sense of pride, and let people know the level of the person they are training with so they can monitor their intensity, we will use a grading system that many martial arts systems use. Since there are no gis, we will use a colored shirt system. White, Orange, Blue, Purple, Brown to Black. Each level will have a syllabus that will be posted and made available to all so they can set some goals and know where they stand.

Club Dues
This fee will be set in the coming days. You will not be paying me, but paying Kage Kontrol. I will set the dues to reflect the economy. It will probably average out to $15-20 per week. That's 2 packs of cigarettes, 3 beers or lattes for a WEEK. These dues are solely for Hematoma Fight Club and not for the other classes Kage Kontrol has. Of course, a discount can be worked out for those who pay for a few weeks or months in advance.

Gameplanning
At the Hematoma Gym there are 3 gameplans every fighter will be working on. A general plan of the sport he is undertaking, a Hematoma "style" gameplan, and his own personal gameplan. A training journal is near impossible to do without. The amount of material, things to remember, recalling  where you left off (training continuity is PIVOTAL to progress), and having a refernence manual will dramatically and rapidly promote learning.

General Gameplanning
A general gameplan is simply being able to take all the tools and apply them in a live situation. Knowing the best times to strike, wrestle or grapple, when and how to pressure and pace, use rhythm and cadence, how to recover, using tactics and strategies, etc.  It's knowing how to mix and match all the techniques and tactics to efficiently and effectively finish an opponent. This is a fundamental and basic syllabus that every fighter on earth needs to know. It's what everyone is doing at the current time.

Hematoma Gameplanning
The Hematoma gym has it's trademark techniques, tactics and strategies. Things that the gym and it's fighters are best known for. The maxim that best sums the gym up is "First, next, and last." Meaning moving first, continuing saturating with pressure, and always working to a finish. It's an ideal. Stylistically, you need to be incredibly well-rounded, comfortable anywhere, in world class athletic shape, have epic endurance, and strong physical attributes. The idea is to attack before he gets started, and impose your will and finish. This idea is predicated on action, or pro-action being better than reaction. As an ideal, this is the way you best want to finish, however in the real world it hardly ever happens, so there are multiple plan. What's important is that one understands it's a pressure game utilizing conditioning and athleticism as a foundation. It also does not mean mindlessly charging in and going bananas. It means wisely, intelligently, and skillfully doing so, but on a heavyily athletic platform. Skills are useless if you do not have the endurance, strength, speed, balance, and other athletic attributes to launch them. It's the greatest weapon. Making a person an athlete is the foundation of training.

In addition, there are a number of trademark submissions, guard passes, striking combinations, sweeps, fibbs, and other techniques. New ones are always being added and cycled to keep fighters on their toes.

Personal Gameplanning
Lastly, a fighter will develop his own style or approach. Everyone brings to the table their body type, personal preferences, mental disposition, attitude, work ethic, quirks, handicaps, and other idiosyncracies. Some people are aggressive, others passive, some have very physical games, others focus on the mental chess aspect. Some prefer to wrestle, others to stay at a distance and box. Some like to take lots of risks and frequently under the idea that it's better to go out on your shield then be boring. Others prefer a safer route. All of these factors equate to a style or approach unique and specific to each individual.

At Hematoma we are not trying to cookie cutter and build fighters on an assembly line, but help each one to best use his individuality to develop into a fighter.

Workout Structure
Regardless of which program a person is working on the structure is the same for all. Meaning, whether you are doing Fightsport/MMA, All-In Wrestling, Tai Chi, Stickfighting, or Ballet you will follow the template for the workouts.

Here is the structure of all work-outs:

1. Primer (10-15 minutes)
2. Drilling (20-30 minutes)
3. Scrimmaging/Playing (30+ minutes)
4. Community Commentary (5+ minutes) 

Not mandatory, but suggested: arrive 5-10 minutes early to warm and loosen up. While there is a "warm-up" in the workout, it's best to loosen up a bit beforehand.

The Primer
The primer is the way to prepare each athlete for the work ahead. Loosening up the joints, getting the blood flowing, breaking a slight sweat, developing athleticism, and refining body mechanics. The start of every workout is as important as every other aspect, if not more important. However, it seems many people neglect it, or perform it haphazardly or half-heartedly. I believe understanding the benefits of a warm-up will motivate anyone enough to restore emphasis and energy to the warm-up.

Some excuses NOT to do have a primer: not enough time, too tired, don’t feel good, waaaah, and “I don’t need it/to.” These guys can say "Oh hai!" to injuries, aches, pains, stiffness, & lesser performance. Let’s start with some darn good reasons to have a warm-up and what it does:

1. Primes the heart rate for the work ahead, causing less stress on the heart and improving your cardiovascular endurance. 
2. Increases muscular elasticity, and thereby reduces frequency of injury. 
3. Efficient cooling by breaking a sweat, you won’t overheat. 
4. Reduces stiffness from increased body temperature. Less injury!
5. Greases the groove, in other words primes the brain and neural pathways, makes your motor skills more fluid.
6. Gets the mind ready and improves focus.
7. Increased muscle metabolism improving explosiveness, applications of speed and strength.
8. Makes oxygen more available to the muscles thereby raising your cardiovascular endurance.
9. Reduces resistance to blood flow easing up stress on the heart. 
10. Increases muscular ability to relax and contract, thereby improving overall performance.
11. Improved range of motion giving you more options and less frequency and chance of injury. 
12. Regulates energy production by making more carbs and fatty acids available for increased hormone production.
13. Increased synovial fluid in the joints, promoting joint health and less injury. 
14. Decreased viscosity of blood, improving cardiovascular performance. 

Every gym will have it’s own general workout, and it is up to each individual to tailor the primer to optimize his performance. The primer will also serve as a review of all the fundamental material. Revisiting those most important fundamentals every wokout while freshest is the the most effective way to instill them. The primer will consist of solo and partner exercises. As mentioned above, to prevent burn-out and stagnation one is free to change and alter the primer as he sees fit.

Here are some examples of solo exercises:

1. Jumping rope, treadmill, or stationary cycle
2. Bodyweight exercises or calisthenics.
3. Shadowfighting
4. Bagwork
5. Dummies
6. Biomechanical exercises (see Solo Exercises article for a list) 

There are 5 general types of partner exercises for warming up. Again, each person must tailor these to keep the workouts interesting and fun.

1. Dry Runs
2. Chains
3. Flow
4. Attribute
5. Acclimatizing and Tempering
6. Mitts and/or Pads

Dry runs are simply drilling a technique in a rote manner. Doing repetitions of a technique for a set number. Categories may include striking, fibbing, ground and pounding, canting and tilting, set-ups, dry technique, finishes, lifting, submissions, escapes, shooting, break ins and break outs, submission escapes/counters, counters, passes, sweeps, footwork, transitions, re-counters and more!

Chaining is when you execute a technique, your partner defends and you respond with a second planned technique or you simply execute a short or long series of techniques one after the other. Categories include positions, submissions, escapes, striking, fibbing, sweeps, passes, break ins and outs, platfom drills from a nucleus, etc.

Flowing is utilizing the motto: "No strength, no speed, no finish." It's typically done very slow and a way to diagnose your whole game, see where your need work, give and take instruction, develop focus and concentration, and refine technique. It's also a fantastic way to train during recovery or injury.

Attribute drills are ways to warm-up by utilizing traits such as balance, co-ordination, agility, speed, strength, explosiveness, power, etc. These are a bit more strenous in nature, so it's vital to SHARE THE GLORY and monitor the pace. Categories include gripfighting in the clinch, various guards, and fighting short. Jockeying footwork in the stand-up, base camp drills under pins, pummeling, etc.

Acclimatizing and tempering is a PSYCHOLOGICAL drill to get used to being struck, grounded, and submitted and yet staying relaxed. Technically speaking it's learning to "roll with the punches." The idea is to dissolve the fight or flight syndrome, remove squinting, flinching, holding one's breath, tone in the muscles, mental and physical tension, etc. When one is in a relaxed state of mind, he will be able to see the big picture and make better decisions. In addition, the person that is attacking can refine his body mechanics.

There are 3 ways to execute this: Give and Receive (1, 2, or3 for 1, 2, 3), Barrage (All "D"), or Phrasing (Combining 2 or more ranges). IMPORTANT: this is not a superman drill to practice taking damage.

Mitts and pads is not only a great way to get oneself ready, but entire workouts can and will be spent doing them. There are simply too many drills to list and proper mitt feeding so complex that nothing can really be written. It's best just too experience it.

Drilling
This is the phase where an athlete focuses on one or more areas in isolation to better address them. Often handicaps are utilized. There are a number of methods utilized here, all of which are TOP SECRET. ;) For those of you already training that want a memory jog: Softfighting, Boiling the Frog, Loosening the Nail, A-B-X, Small Gaming, Phrase Gaming, Pocket Training, Theming, Diagnostics Rolling, Cue Drills, Integration Drills, Spin Drills, Wallwork, Last Ditching, Locked & Loaded, Scenario Training, etc.

Scrimmaging/Playing
Scrimmaging is the name given to when two people contest one another, yet are on the same team. Shirts and Skins in Basketball for example. This is the time to put it ALL together in one big "game." No one is obligated to go any more intense then they are comfortable with, unless they are planning to compete, in which case a competition environment needs to be mimicked. Ideally, the grappling aspect can be ratcheted to 100%, and the striking aspect modified. Ways to vary the training: Big Glove/Little Glove, Shark Tank, Handicapping, etc.

Community Commentary
Every workout should end in a community round table, where the athletes comment on their own performance as well as that of his mates. Given constructive criticism, sharing ideas, motivating, and helping one another out.






NOTES

My sincerest gratitude to Joe Silvia for his kind permission in posting this primer.

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BOXING: Doug Ward - Boxing's Exceptions

Boxing's Exceptions

By Doug Ward

The old saying that “Rules were made to be broken” has some truth in it, even when it comes to boxing.  As important as proper fundamentals are, how much good technique can serve you and how valuable it is to master the rules of the ring, there are some unorthodox moves that work for certain fighters.  There are a handful of select fighters, elite athletes, who incorporate bad habits into their repertoire and they not only get away with it, but are able to actually make it work to their advantage.  They might be ignoring some basic, sound principles of boxing.  They may be breaking a fundamental rule, or doing something flat-out WRONG and it still works…for them.

As an example, Floyd Mayweather regularly, albeit selectively, utilizes a lead, leaping left hook – which is a no-no in almost all cases.  Yet, he is able to get away with it because of his speed and ability to mask it within other movements.  He also uses a shoulder roll-style defense.  Other fighters have tried to mimic this technique, but none do it as effectively as Floyd.  His speed, awareness and how naturally he executes it, is what sets him apart.  It is a part of his inner-fabric and was woven into his defense organically, because it suits his individual ability and fighting style.
 
Andre Ward is another example of disobeying a basic boxing rule of thumb.  He regularly picks his back foot up and ends up squaring-himself off when he delivers a right cross.  This is bad because it typically takes you out of position to quickly throw again or defend.  His purposeful use of this technique is so that he is throwing and then smothering his opponents return punches.  Many other fighters have been caught with a punch as they are falling-in, attempting to employ this technique, or are just ineffective in working it into a next move.  Andre, on the other hand, is able to get away with it because of his natural athleticism and sense of timing.  Manny Pacquiao does the same thing, but he is able to pull it off because of his aggressive style, his unorthodox punch variety and high volume output.

Then, there’s the oldest rule in the book of keeping your hands up.  Similarly, although more blatantly than Muhammad Ali, Sergio Martinez regularly drops his hands and avoids incoming punches by slipping and ducking. He ignores the fundamental rule of keeping your hands up, but is able to do it effectively because he has fantastic reflexes and coordination.  Like Ali, Sergio relies on his ability to see the punches coming, avoids them or takes the shot in stride.  For all the good he’s brought to the sport, Muhammad Ali ruined a legion of young fighters who thought they too could fight with their hands low, only to wake up on the canvas to the sound of “….8…9…10!”

That being said, the point is really to be careful when emulating or idolizing specific fighters and their unique styles.  Some departure from the basics and what works can only be accomplished by certain individuals.  Some fighting attributes are unique to their personalities and strengths.  What worked for them, may not work for you because you are not them.  You were born an original.  There is only one you.  So while it’s great to learn, take characteristics and mimic fighting styles, there may be attributes you can’t and shouldn’t try to replicate, even if it makes that particular fighter look successful or is effective for them.

The basics may be boring, but they work.  The best fighters excel from doing the basics better than anyone else, not by blatantly disregarding traditional technique.  Take Sugar Ray Robinson, arguably the greatest fighter of all time, as an example.  He had great hand speed, kept his hands high (for that time period anyway), utilized a tremendous jab to set up combinations and possessed knockout power in both hands.  What did he do that was out of the ordinary?  He performed the boxing basics to their ABSOLUTE PERFECTION.  Now, that’s a good example to follow.  Executing the basics of boxing, to the best of your ability, will not only look different on you, but will ultimately set you apart from the pack.  There was only one Muhammad Ali.  There is only one Floyd Mayweather.  There is only one you.  Do what you do best and if a stylistic departure from the basics comes, it will evolve naturally, not because you tried to do what so many others have already done.

Focus on developing substance more than creating style.  Do what’s right before what looks good and your signature move will materialize on its’ own.  There are worse things than winning a world title from doing all of the basics exceptionally well.  Being correct is sometimes better than being different.





NOTES

About Doug Ward:  After years of training at some of the most respected gyms in the country and pursuing a brief amateur career in the late 80′s, Doug was able to put that experience to work as Creative Director for a major boxing equipment manufacturer.  During that seven year period he had the great fortune to meet some of boxing’s legendary fighters, learn from some of the ring’s most respected trainers and gain insights into all aspects of the sport…in and outside the ropes.

Bringing along over twenty-five years of experience in the fight game and industry insights he gained during that time, Doug now trains and manages a team of aspiring amateur and professional boxers.  He spends his time split between the gym working one-on-one with a handful of fighters, negotiating on behalf of his stable and continuing to learn all there is from the business of boxing.

Doug is also President and Trainer for the Underground Boxing Company.  Since its inception in 2002, the focus of the UBC has been to preserve the integrity of the sport and protect the financial, physical and spiritual well-being of its athletes. The UBC serves its team of amateur and professional boxers through a comprehensive management/training system…one that is geared towards developing the fighter at every phase of his or her career.


Copied and pasted from:  http://www.titleboxing.com/news/boxings-exceptions/

Photo Credits:  All photos belong to Doug Ward/TitleBoxing.com.

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BOXING: Joe Silvia - Keep your hands up!

Excerpted from http://www.spladdle.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5981:

Ausgepicht posted:

After you throw the right hand, don't be lazy...

...bringing it back. If you are a Pro and haven't learned this basic, you should be ASHAMED.

 

Another example of being lazy-dropping your other hand while punching:

 

Another basic that you should have mastered BEFORE you have become a Pro.

Stickgrappler's Note:  Not my GIF's. My thanks to the unknown GIF makers.

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BOXING: Frank Benn - Some tips and concepts related to the jab

Some tips and concepts related to the jab -- cultivating the technique, and applying it.

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Some Basic/Intermediate/Advanced Considerations For The Jab


Closing the Distance

One of the most important skills in all of martial art is the ability to land a lead weapon attack on the opponent, initiating it from outside of his reach. This is the beginning of any heavier attack -- the mobility, ranging, and timing of the lead.

Always train the quick shuffle from out of the opponent's reach (even when shadowboxing or working the bag) to get into the habit of closing distance quickly and properly when setting up your combinations. Too often, fighters and martial artists will train their technique from a standstill, throwing punch after punch, angle after angle. I always tell my students, if he's close enough for you to do that, HE'S HITTING YOU TOO.


Weapon Moves First

When initiating and closing for the attack, your weapon moves first. If your feet move first, your attack is now telegraphed, and the opponent moves. Train against a light target, at first closing just a short distance, concentrating on moving your lead hand first -- before your feet. From there, increase the distance -- without sacrificing good form and posture. DO NOT OVEREXTEND. There's no power in it (making it a waste of time) if you do, and you will leave yourself open.


Varying Your Head Position

A common liability in most fighters' styles is predictability. Most people, when throwing the jab, tend to put their head in the same place every time. A thinking, adjusting opponent will adapt to this and exploit it. Vary your head position when you jab. This comes heavily into play as well when you do a lot of stop-hitting. In this case, your change of head position is designed to make him miss while you're scoring your jab, and setting up other things.

In general, you want to vary your head position in these ways:

• Slipping or sidestepping to your back (to the "outside", IOW to the left if you're a left lead), lining your chin up with your lead.
• Head inside your jab (to the right if you're a left lead), roughly in line with your rear foot.
• Head center positioned in normal boxing poise.
• Head center low. 

The important thing is that you concentrate on shooting that jab out there while the head is changing position. If a good fighter knows you tend to leave your head in the same place when you jab (and furthermore if he anticipates that you won't follow your jab up with something damaging), he is going to throw a cross or overhand right over top of it as he bobs. Lights out. You can prevent it, though, if you vary your head position. For instance, I've caught people with jab hook combo's quite often because they got too confident with that cross over the jab. Their cross misses, and as it recovers, there's that hook on the chin. BTW, against opposing leads, the hook works in a similar way, and you also have the option of throwing a cross instead, or a rear hand uppercut. Depends on how you time it, but they all work.


Speed

Speed is a major aspect of a good jab. To develop speed in your jab, start off by not trying to hit "hard" with it. That builds tension in your forearm, lead shoulder, and back, and will just slow you down. Tension is the opposite of speed.

Try to "sting" him with your jab. When you punch with good follow-through, body alignment, and timing, the power is there already.

Ali used to say the jab was his "fly swatter".

Good tip for speed in the jab: Think of only the retraction. That is, the amount of time from "in" to "out" doesn't exist, and the first unit of time expended occurs on the return ("out" to "in").

Throw multiple jabs with movement in all directions: Circling, Slipping, Sidestepping, Advancing, Retreating, Ducking, etc.


Weight Is On The Lead Foot

That's when you have a jab -- when you shift your weight onto the lead foot. This puts body mass into it, and extends your reach in the direction of your target.


Put Some Starch In It

Align your body and arm correctly, and you can knock a man off his feet or at least stun him with a good jab. Add some good nontelegraphic speed, footwork, and timing, and you've got your bread and butter right there. Tighten the fist only on the end of the punch to make it hit solidly, while not slowing it down with that old opposite of speed -- tension.


The Jab Provides Its Own Cover

One of the few moves in all of martial art that provides its own cover -- the jab. Lead shoulder protects that side of your chin. Rear hand up. Look down the barrel of the gun.
If you jab with your chin up in a real fight or full contact sparring match, you'll soon see why it's not a good idea.


The Jab In A Boxing Match

In boxing, depending upon your personal style (boxer, puncher, boxer/puncher, etc.) you might end up throwing up to 70% or more jabs as a percentage of total punches thrown. The jab is actually that important. There are few punches you can throw that a good jab won't improve -- either by virtue of setting up your timing, establishing a feint that he reacts to, helping you gain the necessary distance, or giving you the change of angle you need to line up that power punch.


The Jab In A Fight

The jab's function in a streetfight is not so artful as it is in a boxing ring against a good boxer. You want to master the "one-two". Trust me on that, if you've never been in a real fight before. Your jab is the "one", and your cross is the "two" (also can be an overhand -- depends on the situation). Put the "one" and the "two" as close together temporally as possible. Remember, your jab is the can opener, and your cross is the spoon. The opponent is a can of meat, in this metaphor.


As A Probe

The jab is how I find out important things about my opponent. Which direction is he prepared to move? Throw a jab, and find out. Is he a good counter puncher? Throw a jab or two with movement, and find out. Which hand does he initiate with? Is he trying to box me, or just punch me? Throw some jabs, and find out. Where does he open up, where I can follow-up to? Throw some jabs, and find out. For instance, get him to draw that rear hand high to cover your incoming jab, and round kick his ribs on that side as his arm opens them up. Even if he counter crosses, this move will work even better as you lean away and tenderize the meat with that kick.


As An Insert

Use it to break up his attack. One of the worst things that can happen to you is to face an opponent who is constantly attacking you, or is faster than you, and you don't want to open up with a power shot for fear of his counter. The jab is one way to break up his combos, and create gaps that you can move on.


As A Setup For The Cross

This ties back to the use of the jab in a streetfight -- not to mention the same use in sparring. Cultivate a solid and quick "one-two", and "one-two-one". Then move. Do it again. Move again. Don't just stand there. Stay mobile, and re-angle that "one-two". This is something anybody can master in a relatively short amount of time (as compared to other things, which might take many years), and you know you've got it when you need it.


As A Setup For The Hook

Many boxers will try to work their hook off of the lag punch, the Dempsey roll, the Shoe-Shine, or the cross. But the elite hitters can do it with the jab. Roy Jones against Vinnie Pazienza is a study on hooking off of the jab, for example.


As A Setup For Kicking

Many people use boxing to set up their kicking, but the converse can also be very effective. This is because you might have your opponent in punching range, and he may back away out of range -- RIGHT INTO YOUR KICKING RANGE. Throwing multiple jabs is often a good way to get the opponent to back up into my kicking range where I can punish him while he retreats.

Other times, I'll be in punching range, and I'll lean away and finish my punching combo with a jab and then in comes the lead round kick, catching him in his blindspot. This is VERY effective.


As A Setup For Entry To Grappling

BJJ stylists like this one, and it does work. Your jab can draw the opponent's hands UP, which opens the door for a mid to lower body shot, leading to the takedown.

Along these lines, jabbing can also get him to throw a solid counter punch, which you will come inside of, outside of, or under to get your clinch. The opponent is easiest to get ahold of (at the torso) when his arms are extended. This use of the jab to get him to punch establishes these conditions very well.


Establish the Jab BEFORE You Feint With It

The lead feint is a great subterfuge for setting other things up. But, remember: You have to sting him with it first, so as to make it believable. Otherwise, like I said before, he'll come right in over top of it and nail you, because he knows it's a fake. When you can sting with it early, and do it with blinding speed, it'll be too fast from then on for him to tell the difference between a feint and the real thing.

The trick to a good feint is to use good committed body mechanics -- the body mechanics are what really trick him. After all, the hand is moving too fast anyway for him to tell what's real and what's not. It's the body (shoulders, hips, footwork) that tells him what's real and what's not.

Also, regarding feinting: It is a great way to conceal (yet at the same time facilitate) the load up for your other power punches.

So there you go. These are some important tips for developing and implementing one of the most important weapons in any martial artist's arsenal -- The Jab. This information is not easy to come by, so I hope those who read it appreciate it. I must be feeling generous today.

Good luck.

Frank Benn
Integrated Arts
Austin, Texas

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NOTES:   

My deepest gratitude to Frank Benn for his kind permission in allowing me to archive his article he posted to rec.martial-arts on 4/1/1999 12:00 AM to my old archives. Posted 2/10/13 as of 12/12/1999 to mirror my old archives.

Frank Benn's contact info:

Phone: 512-663-4242
Web: IFAacademy.com
E-Mail: info@IFAacademy.com

Integrated Fighting Arts Academy
University Towers Business Center
715 W 23rd St.
Suite Q
Austin, TX 78705

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Other Frank Benn articles posted:

• BOXING: Frank Benn - Boxing Tips for Fighting
• BOXING: Frank Benn - Boxing Tips for Fighting -- Part 2
• LINKS: Integrated Fighting Arts Academy / Frank Benn

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