This weekend just gone, 6/7 march 2010, Hock held a seminar at Defensive Measures International's Brisbane Training Facility at Mt Gravatt. It was an action packed weekend, making it hard work to get up early to go to work this morning.
Hock covered various aspect's of Stick, Knife, Gun and Barehand Fighting, covering various counters to being attacked by these weapons.
Hock covered Stick level 1, knife 1 (revision for last year's participants), knife 2 and a fair bit of his Pacific Archipelago Unarmed Combat.
We did some great Arnis, Silat and Escrima type stick, knife and hand work. We did some very JKD / Wing Chun / Fillipino type handwork, including trapping drills, hubud and destructions, covering what would take months or years to cover at a normal club. As always the trick will be maintaining the skills developed and remembering all that we did.
It was great to get to practice some fast handwork and wake up some old neural pathways. Caught up with Dan, an old training buddy. Great to practice handwork with someone who can work at the same break-neck speed.
Learned some great stick drills, including some concepts which Dan said he hadn't learned in over three years of training Fillipino martial arts. It seemed to be a bit of an 'a-ha moment' for him, which is great. The stick disarms ending in joint locks were painful (and therefore good in my books) and I could tell Sempai Raymond was enjoying them as much as me.
The knife material was also brilliant, and can be found in Hock's Knife/ Counter Knife Book, which was a popular seller at the seminar.
A big thanks to Tim for playing crash-dummy for Hock and helping us all when we weren't quite getting it, Sensei Paul Johnstone for arranging the seminar, All the lads from regular training who showed (you know who you are!) and all the other participants. And of course a big shout out to Hock for a great weekend. To sum up the seminar, it was top notch!!! Hock is great in that he has some much info that if the group asks about a particular topic, he can explain and show the answer in great detail (that's how the two and a half hours of handwork drills started). It is a flexible approach that allows the group to really learn what they want to know with no BS about rank or readiness. If you ask, you are ready to here about it.
Showing posts with label CQB. Show all posts
Showing posts with label CQB. Show all posts
Mar 8, 2010
Mar 2, 2010
Hock's back in Australia this month
Well Hock Hochheim is heading back down under this month. Last years seminars were fantastic and I have no doubt that this years will be even bigger and better. For more info go here:
http://www.street-edge.com.au/hock_hochheim_seminar.php
or here:
http://www.hockscqc.com/shop/product353.html
Hock will be in Brisbane this weekend (6 & 7 of March 2010) covering knife, stick, gun and unarmed threat responses. Looking forward to this. Hock really takes time to help each participant and has a whole lot of funny stories to illustrate his points.
See you soon Hock!
Also heard a rumour that Richard Dimitri of Senshido may be returning to Australia this year too...
http://www.street-edge.com.au/hock_hochheim_seminar.php
or here:
http://www.hockscqc.com/shop/product353.html
Hock will be in Brisbane this weekend (6 & 7 of March 2010) covering knife, stick, gun and unarmed threat responses. Looking forward to this. Hock really takes time to help each participant and has a whole lot of funny stories to illustrate his points.
See you soon Hock!
Also heard a rumour that Richard Dimitri of Senshido may be returning to Australia this year too...
Aug 29, 2009
Close Quarter Battle Course
I've spent the last week training with Geoff 'Tank' Todd in his Phase 1 Close Quarter Battle system. This is a system of unarmed close combat derived from European military systems, such as those taught to Allied Service people in the Second World War. This system was pioneered by the likes of Fairbairn, Sykes, Applegate, Biddle, Nelson and others, and taught to the shadow warriors of the Special Operations Executive, OSS, Commando squads and other similar groups. More about this system can be found here.
Monday through Thursday was basic skills development, with Friday being spent on Test Preparation and the Phase Test.
The course initially covered basic options for Unarmed Offense and Counter-Offense, including long and short range options. In line with Tank's philosophy of 'take 'em out, don't take 'em on' this methods are designed to end a fight quickly and decisively. We followed on with contigency options, in case you fail to take out the opponent with your primary options. These included techniques for quickly ending a stalemate situation. Favoured techniques are those found in books such as 'Kill or be Killed', 'Do or Die', 'Get Tough', 'Defendu', 'The Red and Gray Manuals' & US Military Field Manuals on Combatives.
The system appears simple on the surface, but is designed to be reliable under extreme stress. Range is crucial, as is a correct mindset, use of vision, and control over breathing and heart rate.
Also covered were edged and blunt weapon disarming, both when the opponent presents the weapon and then swings or stabs, and when you find yourself held at knife point or pinned with a blunt weapon (ambush phase attacks).
Hold Prevention and Hold Escapes were covered. In hold prevention you don't let the opponent grab you. With hold escapes, you've stuffed up and been grabbed in a hold such as a full nelson, hammer lock, sleeper hold, headlock, bear hug, etc, and must now escape this hold. All responses are based on those learned in the Offensive and Counter Offensive phase. This is the great strength of the Todd System, it is cohesive and logical. It relies on dirty fighting, from a sound technical base.
The tone of the seminar is very military, with techniques being performed to command in a method reminiscient of my Army Basic Training. This method did seem to increase retention, even if you didn't feel you were retaining it at the time. But this training always feels that way to me.
Lastly we moved into Combat Milling (sort of sparring, but with no 'in-out' invloved. Geoff said sparring is too sport-oriented and against the ethos of CQB. For those familiar with Kapap, Combat Milling embraces the concept of Kadeema) and the free fighting aspects.
The Course started with about 28 participants, including Security professionals, Police from a number of States and Countries, Martial Art and Self Defense Instructors, and Civilians; but within the first couple of days, some had decided that CQB wasn't for them. By Friday afternoon, all but 8, having been warned of the intense nature of the Testing Phase and the high level of perfection required to pass, had elected not to test at this time. I think many were put off by the footage we were shown of previous tests.
The Eight Testees (not to be confused with 8 Testis which would be just plain weird) began testing late Friday afternoon, after a full day of intensive preparation.
The test phase started with a 'Combat Sickener', designed to rattle and fatigue the participants and test thier determination and 'intestinal fortitude', as Tank would say. Then all of the aforemention skills were tested and graded on a scale of 1 - 5, with anything less than a 4 being not good enough to pass. The Knife Disarms were done with a live (and very sharp) blade, with the course Doctor on standby (as he was for the entire course). The Knife used was Tank's Green Role Knife, which can be seen here.
By the end of the skills testing, Tank told us that only three of the eight of us had not already failed. When he read out my name, I was stoked, being sure I'd already failed. I had decided sometime earlier that I would keep going with the testing phase until told to stop. These participants were told they could still participate in the combat phase of the testing, but should take five minutes to weigh up whether the risk of serious injury was worth it, knowing they had already failed. Many participants had already been injured by this time.
All but one of them decided not to continue, which left only four of us (none of whom were the big guys and one of whomwas a lady). We then proceed to fight each other participant in continuous rounds. upon completion of these fights, we were told we had not yet sufficiently internalised the skills and mentality of CQB. The testing phase was now over, yielding a 100% failure rate. Some participants appeared sad or pissed off, I just felt elated that I had pushed my self to go on and had gotten that far. I asked for and received feedback as to what I could have done better, but also was told that I had looked calm, centered and wasn't breathing too hard, which I put down to the intensive nature of the Street Edge training I've done over the last couple of years.
All in all, I really enjoyed most of the course and am glad I had a go. Lots of people talk a good talk, but with this course it's 'put up or shut up', with nowhere to hide and no room for excuses and BS.
If this sounds like your cup of tea, then check out the website, www.toddgroup.com, now I'm off to rub some more liniment into my bruises...
To Tank, Shane-o, Doc, Rowdy, Gusto, Jonathon, Badass and the other instructors on the course, thanks for all your help and support during the course, and for pushing us when we needed it.
Monday through Thursday was basic skills development, with Friday being spent on Test Preparation and the Phase Test.
The course initially covered basic options for Unarmed Offense and Counter-Offense, including long and short range options. In line with Tank's philosophy of 'take 'em out, don't take 'em on' this methods are designed to end a fight quickly and decisively. We followed on with contigency options, in case you fail to take out the opponent with your primary options. These included techniques for quickly ending a stalemate situation. Favoured techniques are those found in books such as 'Kill or be Killed', 'Do or Die', 'Get Tough', 'Defendu', 'The Red and Gray Manuals' & US Military Field Manuals on Combatives.
The system appears simple on the surface, but is designed to be reliable under extreme stress. Range is crucial, as is a correct mindset, use of vision, and control over breathing and heart rate.
Also covered were edged and blunt weapon disarming, both when the opponent presents the weapon and then swings or stabs, and when you find yourself held at knife point or pinned with a blunt weapon (ambush phase attacks).
Hold Prevention and Hold Escapes were covered. In hold prevention you don't let the opponent grab you. With hold escapes, you've stuffed up and been grabbed in a hold such as a full nelson, hammer lock, sleeper hold, headlock, bear hug, etc, and must now escape this hold. All responses are based on those learned in the Offensive and Counter Offensive phase. This is the great strength of the Todd System, it is cohesive and logical. It relies on dirty fighting, from a sound technical base.
The tone of the seminar is very military, with techniques being performed to command in a method reminiscient of my Army Basic Training. This method did seem to increase retention, even if you didn't feel you were retaining it at the time. But this training always feels that way to me.
Lastly we moved into Combat Milling (sort of sparring, but with no 'in-out' invloved. Geoff said sparring is too sport-oriented and against the ethos of CQB. For those familiar with Kapap, Combat Milling embraces the concept of Kadeema) and the free fighting aspects.
The Course started with about 28 participants, including Security professionals, Police from a number of States and Countries, Martial Art and Self Defense Instructors, and Civilians; but within the first couple of days, some had decided that CQB wasn't for them. By Friday afternoon, all but 8, having been warned of the intense nature of the Testing Phase and the high level of perfection required to pass, had elected not to test at this time. I think many were put off by the footage we were shown of previous tests.
The Eight Testees (not to be confused with 8 Testis which would be just plain weird) began testing late Friday afternoon, after a full day of intensive preparation.
The test phase started with a 'Combat Sickener', designed to rattle and fatigue the participants and test thier determination and 'intestinal fortitude', as Tank would say. Then all of the aforemention skills were tested and graded on a scale of 1 - 5, with anything less than a 4 being not good enough to pass. The Knife Disarms were done with a live (and very sharp) blade, with the course Doctor on standby (as he was for the entire course). The Knife used was Tank's Green Role Knife, which can be seen here.
By the end of the skills testing, Tank told us that only three of the eight of us had not already failed. When he read out my name, I was stoked, being sure I'd already failed. I had decided sometime earlier that I would keep going with the testing phase until told to stop. These participants were told they could still participate in the combat phase of the testing, but should take five minutes to weigh up whether the risk of serious injury was worth it, knowing they had already failed. Many participants had already been injured by this time.
All but one of them decided not to continue, which left only four of us (none of whom were the big guys and one of whomwas a lady). We then proceed to fight each other participant in continuous rounds. upon completion of these fights, we were told we had not yet sufficiently internalised the skills and mentality of CQB. The testing phase was now over, yielding a 100% failure rate. Some participants appeared sad or pissed off, I just felt elated that I had pushed my self to go on and had gotten that far. I asked for and received feedback as to what I could have done better, but also was told that I had looked calm, centered and wasn't breathing too hard, which I put down to the intensive nature of the Street Edge training I've done over the last couple of years.
All in all, I really enjoyed most of the course and am glad I had a go. Lots of people talk a good talk, but with this course it's 'put up or shut up', with nowhere to hide and no room for excuses and BS.
If this sounds like your cup of tea, then check out the website, www.toddgroup.com, now I'm off to rub some more liniment into my bruises...
To Tank, Shane-o, Doc, Rowdy, Gusto, Jonathon, Badass and the other instructors on the course, thanks for all your help and support during the course, and for pushing us when we needed it.
Jun 21, 2009
Australia - ISR Matrix Seminars August -PER, BRIS, SYD, MEL
ISR Matrix are running Australian courses in August this year. What is it with August, lots happening in this month. The following is a post that appears here.
For immediate dissemination - please forward to all who may be interested.
Limited positions remaining. Book today, don’t delay.
Following the overwhelming demand created following the outstanding success of ISR Matrix seminars in Australia in September 2008 and March 2009, there will be a number of 2- 3 day courses offered this August.
Early bird rates apply for payments prior 03 July.
• Perth 1,2,3 August 2009 (Malaga – hosted by Tactical Conflict Solutions)
o Early bird rate: Days 1&2 - $249; Days 1-3- $349
o Standard rate: Days 1&2 $299; Days 1-3 - $399
• Melbourne 8,9,10 August 2009 (Blackburn – hosted by Blackburn Shukokai Karate)
o Early bird rate: Days 1&2 - $249; Days 1-3 $349
o Standard rate: Days 1&2 $299; Days 1-3 $399
• Sydney 15-16 August 2009 (Central Sydney – hosted by Athletic Entertainment Group)
o Early bird rate: $249
o Standard rate: $299
• Brisbane 29-31 August 2009 (Mt Gravatt, subsidised by Defensive Measures International)
o Early bird rate: Days 1&2 - $199; Days 1-3- $299
o Standard rate: Days 1&2 $249; Days 1-3 $349
The courses will cover the essential and fundamental elements of subject control and personal protection as taught within ISR Matrix and as necessary to successfully intercept, stabilize and resolve a confrontation. Techniques will include the helmet, dive, arm drag, underhook and pike, harness, wrist weave, s-position and back mount. This course addresses the pre-requisite skills required for intermediate and advanced courses within the ISR Matrix such as Team Tactics, Combatives and Ground Skills and also serves as the first step in joining the ISR Matrix Instructor Development Program. Testimonials are available from www.isrmatrixaustralia.com/testimonials.html
ISR Matrix (Intercept, Stabilise, Resolve) was founded by Luis Guiterrez, Vice President of the Straight Blast Gym, in conjunction with a panel of specialist law enforcement and corrections defensive tactics trainers. Luis, an experienced crowd controller, is a former Grappling Association Coach of the Year and a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt. The ISR Matrix draws on a select few techniques from Greco Roman Wrestling, Free Style Wrestling, Judo, Western Boxing, Muay Thai Kick Boxing, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to form a truly integrated systems approach, where an operator can escalate, de-escalate, engage or disengage as is required throughout the confrontation and within any given agencies use of force guidelines. Dealing with common counters, escaping common holds, weapons retention and fouling the subjects attempts to draw a weapon are build into the system and incorporated into training drills. As agency’s have recognised the incredible functionality and training methodology of the ISR, it has spread rapidly throughout North America, the UK and over the last year in Australia.
Promotional clips, mostly of students in the early stages of training can be viewed at www.isrmatrixaustralia.com/services.html
The course instructor is the Australian Representative for ISR Matrix and one of very few ISR Matrix Field Instructors worldwide, with an extensive background in subject control and defensive tactics within Australian Policing, Corrections, Security, Military and health services, including overseas postings, force protection, training, emergency response team and management roles. The course instructor is a qualified Police Operational Safety Trainer and Public Order Management Instructor. A qualified PPCT, Monadnock, KAPAP, Jim Wagners RBPP, Keysi Fighting Methods and Redman Dynamic Simulation Instructor, the instructor has also completed end-user courses with SPEAR, RMCAT, Tank Todd CQC, Floro Fighting Systems and Geoff Thompson’s British Combat Association. The course instructor is well versed in various modern subject control methodologies and has been studying ISR Matrix for three years. Although he continues to refine his training methodology and delivery by studying other systems and training overseas, he is yet to find anything that can produce such functional results in a short time frame as ISR Matrix.
Most course positions are already spoken for and the class size is restricted to ensure good instructor/student ratios, so it's best to get in NOW to guarantee a position.
Course overviews, testimonials, risk management considerations and other supporting documentation is available upon request.
These courses will be open to enrolment by the general public in 24 hours. 50% Deposit secures your position.
Contact info@isrmatrixaustralia.com for further information.
For immediate dissemination - please forward to all who may be interested.
Limited positions remaining. Book today, don’t delay.
Following the overwhelming demand created following the outstanding success of ISR Matrix seminars in Australia in September 2008 and March 2009, there will be a number of 2- 3 day courses offered this August.
Early bird rates apply for payments prior 03 July.
• Perth 1,2,3 August 2009 (Malaga – hosted by Tactical Conflict Solutions)
o Early bird rate: Days 1&2 - $249; Days 1-3- $349
o Standard rate: Days 1&2 $299; Days 1-3 - $399
• Melbourne 8,9,10 August 2009 (Blackburn – hosted by Blackburn Shukokai Karate)
o Early bird rate: Days 1&2 - $249; Days 1-3 $349
o Standard rate: Days 1&2 $299; Days 1-3 $399
• Sydney 15-16 August 2009 (Central Sydney – hosted by Athletic Entertainment Group)
o Early bird rate: $249
o Standard rate: $299
• Brisbane 29-31 August 2009 (Mt Gravatt, subsidised by Defensive Measures International)
o Early bird rate: Days 1&2 - $199; Days 1-3- $299
o Standard rate: Days 1&2 $249; Days 1-3 $349
The courses will cover the essential and fundamental elements of subject control and personal protection as taught within ISR Matrix and as necessary to successfully intercept, stabilize and resolve a confrontation. Techniques will include the helmet, dive, arm drag, underhook and pike, harness, wrist weave, s-position and back mount. This course addresses the pre-requisite skills required for intermediate and advanced courses within the ISR Matrix such as Team Tactics, Combatives and Ground Skills and also serves as the first step in joining the ISR Matrix Instructor Development Program. Testimonials are available from www.isrmatrixaustralia.com/testimonials.html
ISR Matrix (Intercept, Stabilise, Resolve) was founded by Luis Guiterrez, Vice President of the Straight Blast Gym, in conjunction with a panel of specialist law enforcement and corrections defensive tactics trainers. Luis, an experienced crowd controller, is a former Grappling Association Coach of the Year and a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt. The ISR Matrix draws on a select few techniques from Greco Roman Wrestling, Free Style Wrestling, Judo, Western Boxing, Muay Thai Kick Boxing, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to form a truly integrated systems approach, where an operator can escalate, de-escalate, engage or disengage as is required throughout the confrontation and within any given agencies use of force guidelines. Dealing with common counters, escaping common holds, weapons retention and fouling the subjects attempts to draw a weapon are build into the system and incorporated into training drills. As agency’s have recognised the incredible functionality and training methodology of the ISR, it has spread rapidly throughout North America, the UK and over the last year in Australia.
Promotional clips, mostly of students in the early stages of training can be viewed at www.isrmatrixaustralia.com/services.html
The course instructor is the Australian Representative for ISR Matrix and one of very few ISR Matrix Field Instructors worldwide, with an extensive background in subject control and defensive tactics within Australian Policing, Corrections, Security, Military and health services, including overseas postings, force protection, training, emergency response team and management roles. The course instructor is a qualified Police Operational Safety Trainer and Public Order Management Instructor. A qualified PPCT, Monadnock, KAPAP, Jim Wagners RBPP, Keysi Fighting Methods and Redman Dynamic Simulation Instructor, the instructor has also completed end-user courses with SPEAR, RMCAT, Tank Todd CQC, Floro Fighting Systems and Geoff Thompson’s British Combat Association. The course instructor is well versed in various modern subject control methodologies and has been studying ISR Matrix for three years. Although he continues to refine his training methodology and delivery by studying other systems and training overseas, he is yet to find anything that can produce such functional results in a short time frame as ISR Matrix.
Most course positions are already spoken for and the class size is restricted to ensure good instructor/student ratios, so it's best to get in NOW to guarantee a position.
Course overviews, testimonials, risk management considerations and other supporting documentation is available upon request.
These courses will be open to enrolment by the general public in 24 hours. 50% Deposit secures your position.
Contact info@isrmatrixaustralia.com for further information.
Jun 11, 2009
Close Quarter Combat Course - Brisbane 2009
Last weekend my mate Jimbo let me know that Geoff "Tank" Todd is coming to Brisbane, Australia, in August to run some Military Unarmed Combat courses. Having done some training with this school back in the early 2000's, I can vouch for the fact that it is no-nonsense reality-based fighting (my words, not Geoff's). Geoff is highly regarded as a 'master instructor' by many of the world's leading military combat specialists. He has inherited material from Charles Nelson, Blue Curran, Larry Jordan, Rex Applegate, John Whipp, Harry Baldock, Ben Mangles and others. Do not confuse this material with martial arts or law enforcement defensive tactics. It is what it says: European Military Close Quarter Combat. I believe it will culminate with phase testing, which is brutal, gruelling and from the footage I've seen of previous tests, carries a real chance of injury. This is not for the faint hearted!
The courses are running during late August, contact Geoff at this email for more details:
coms@toddgroup.com
The courses are running during late August, contact Geoff at this email for more details:
coms@toddgroup.com
Mar 29, 2009
Hock Hochheim Seminar
Just spent a great weekend training with Hock Hochheim. We covered so much stuff my head is still spinning - unarmed, knife and stick work, as well as touching on aspects of firearms work. Hock is a funny guy, with a great collection of war stories and recollection from his days with the military and civilian police forces. Check out his website if you don't know who Hock is.
Day one started with Hock's dodge/evasion drill (no it's not jumping out of the way of a classic American car) against knife and stick. Then we went through his military knife fighting, which is brutal and to the point. No fluff here! We then work some stick fighting combos from Kali and Escrima, including some great chokes and takedowns with the stick. Then we learned stick disarms.
Day two included Hock's Spartan series of drills, more stick work, lots more knife including disarms and knife grappling!
We worked through Hock's Stop 6 theory and much more, so much it was going in one ear and pushing day one's material out of the other ear.
Hock is a CQC legend and a character, if you get a chance to train with him, do so (it's well worth it).
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