| This is such a powerful tool that it should | | | | Or...You can use the FIGHT SIMULATOR as a |
| leave no question unanswered for you and | | | | means to answer questions. A really fun, |
| allow you to create an infinite number of | | | | creative thing to do that always creates a |
| techniques and drills. As this is a principle | | | | buzz with students is to present them with a |
| rather than a technique based system, here | | | | problem and let them find their own |
| are the principles:PRINCIPLE1: you get what | | | | solutions.If a student has been attacked in a |
| you train forPRINCIPLE2: if you want a | | | | certain way or is worried about being |
| specific answer, ask a specific | | | | attacked in a certain way or by a certain |
| questionWhat's the problem with martial arts | | | | type of person work to create those |
| and artists? Why do they argue so much? Why | | | | circumstances and find a solution.eg: one of |
| cant we find one style that is the best? | | | | my female students had been thrown up against |
| After all we all only have two eyes, two | | | | a wall and pinned with a one handed lapel |
| arms, two legs and one head. (Except if your | | | | grab whilst being threatened with a glass in |
| from a "close community"). Never mind Dragon | | | | the assailants other hand. I got everyone in |
| style, Tiger style, Twisted Badger, | | | | the class to do it with a partner and a water |
| Irrational Donkey style... what about "human | | | | bottle as a prop. They came up with as many |
| style"?The problem is this:you can't just | | | | solutions and escapes and counterattacks as |
| fight. It hurts. Bits of you will break. | | | | possible, we analysed some of the best ones |
| That's why its called "fighting" not | | | | and everyone experimented with them.This |
| "hugging" or "tickling". You're trying to | | | | works well because it causes the mind to |
| hurt each other. The only way to learn it is | | | | think in a proactive, creative, solution |
| to do something dangerous and painful- its a | | | | finding way as in a real scenario. You must |
| double bind.That is why one of 's prime | | | | be able to think for yourself and think on |
| objectives is to get as close to reality as | | | | your feet. |
| possible as safely as possible. | | | | |
| | | | From the best solutions we took from the |
| How do you do that?Flying a plane is | | | | class we then did a live drill. A live drill |
| dangerous and potentially very expensive. | | | | is like engaging in a section of a fight. |
| Solution: Flight Simulators.You must have a | | | | Just for a few frames of the film. It should |
| certain number of hours virtual "flight time" | | | | be very intense, but short lived (no more |
| before you can competently do it for real.We | | | | than 10 seconds, this is not sparring, unless |
| haven't yet got the technology to create a | | | | you compare to three step sparring).One of |
| virtual reality simulator for hand to hand | | | | the counterattacks was as follows:1. A slams |
| combat. Though we do have them for firearms | | | | D into wall. Left hand at lapel, right hand |
| training. Hand to hand is such an involved, | | | | brandishing water bottle.2. D drops weight |
| complex, multi-sensory experience it could be | | | | and hips down and into wall, goes into an |
| many years yet before we do develop the | | | | ambush response position: bends knees, curves |
| technology to accomplish this objective | | | | spine, hunches shoulders, tucks in chin |
| satisfactorily.Until then we must do the best | | | | whilst simultaneously, raising both hands and |
| we can. It is this aspect of out training | | | | setting her right foot against crease of |
| that is the MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR in | | | | where wall meets floor. right hand swings |
| determining how proficient we are in reality | | | | loose from outside in and up in anticlockwise |
| (in the "street"!).That is why the main focus | | | | direction (wouldn't break grip of larger |
| of this manual is principles and drills. | | | | stronger attacker but brings right arm back |
| There are pictures and descriptions in the | | | | into play.)3. Left hand reaches for |
| manual of techniques and options, but you | | | | attackers elbow crease to cover weapon |
| should by now have seen all these before.What | | | | wielding arm, right hand hooks attackers left |
| would you have a hi-tech virtual reality | | | | collarbone. Springing off from wall with |
| fight simulator do? What scenarios would you | | | | right foot, stamping down with left foot, |
| focus on? What ranges?Imagine that. You could | | | | straightening her spine, pushing her hips |
| practise for anything. What would it be? | | | | forward to drive a big knee into the groin |
| | | | whilst simultaneously yanking collarbone down |
| Can you get close to that in real life? In | | | | and in towards her and clawing the forearm |
| my experience the answer to that nine times | | | | muscle points and pulling attackers right arm |
| out of ten would be: yes.Game TheoryImagine | | | | in and down. Depending on attackers position |
| we had that kind of technology. What kind of | | | | she gives a stun strike with her forearm, or |
| games could we develop to teach kids (and | | | | head butt or a simple shove and then makes |
| adults) how to fight? I had an idea for a | | | | her escape or repositions herself to continue |
| DOOM type game. In DOOM your first level | | | | assaulting attacker.Whole drill is less than |
| attackers are really slow and use one attack | | | | 5 seconds when done at full speed. |
| over and over again, but your options are | | | | |
| also crappy because you haven't picked up | | | | Run it slow first. Attacker should wear a |
| many weapons yet. Could we adapt that for | | | | groin guard and defender should not strike at |
| street fighting? Yes. Is there a way of | | | | full power.Defender should wear a gi so |
| simulating it in the real world? Yes. But you | | | | attacker can really grab at full force. |
| need good training partners.Here are a couple | | | | |
| of ideas for games you could play for | | | | The most important thing again is the |
| beginners learning to cope with multiple | | | | principle. The defender is growing accustomed |
| opponents.level1. person who is "on" stands | | | | to being grabbed and shoved violently, going |
| in middle of 5 opponents, she has to break | | | | with that force and responding immediately |
| out of the circle, opponents must keep her in | | | | and viciously. |
| without using their arms. (principle being | | | | |
| developed is breaking the circle)level2. | | | | Try it.And work through all the "what ifs". |
| person who is "on" wears gum shield. 5 | | | | What if attacker immediately tries to use the |
| opponents wear heavy gloves. They may attack | | | | bottle as a weapon? Can you cover it, work |
| her only with big, slow haymakers. They may | | | | your counterattack and still escape or does |
| hit her in the back of head. She must stay in | | | | something else present itself? Try it and |
| arena without being hit for 45 seconds. | | | | find out!What if he jerks his hips back to |
| (principle being developed is positioning so | | | | avoid the knee to his groin? Well, you have |
| multiple attackers get in each others way and | | | | still caused a reaction which can be |
| spatial, peripheral and rear | | | | capitalised on, so what is the next best |
| awareness.)level3. person who is "on" wears a | | | | step? Would it be to pull his head down and |
| gi top. All 5 attackers wear belly shields. | | | | into the wall?...Whatever- if you are doing |
| The attackers objective is to drag her to the | | | | this as a teacher with your students avoid |
| floor using gi. She may only defend with | | | | the temptation to always provide solutions. |
| front kick strikes to belly shields. | | | | Let them find them...*Excerpt of a chapter |
| (develops use of front push kick to defend, | | | | from my manual FROM THE CAGE TO THE |
| coping with being pushed and pulled, | | | | STREETTraining provided by Richard Grannon. |
| maintaining balance under duress etc)These | | | | Martial Arts Instructor to Doormen and |
| are just some ideas for games or drills. You | | | | Bodyguards for over 7 years. NLP Master |
| get what you train for. You are only ever as | | | | Practitioner, Consultant Psychologist and |
| good as the games you play. | | | | Author. Over 15 years of study in martial |
| | | | arts and five years of active work as a |
| My advise would be to keep these drills | | | | bouncer, bodyguard and security consultant. |
| specific. Drill for a particular principle or | | | | This E-manual represents a distillation of |
| technique. | | | | years of study of many styles, technique, |
| | | | experience and quality online coaching. You |
| top of page | | | | cannot get this information anywhere else. |
| | | | |