06-10-2005, 09:22 AM
Fluidity within combat.
Coach Sonnon's Fisticuffs Video Montage (http://rmax.tv/images/fisticuffs.wmv)
It has often struck me that whilst the majority of combat and martial arts teach striking, there is often very little clear instruction as to the mechanical nature of how and why to strike. Striking is often taken for granted and the repercussion is that the ability of students vary both in application and knowledge, and many just take for granted the art of striking.
Over my many years of martial arts I have seen instructors teach many sub components to striking, and to be quite frank about it, some have been god damn awful. I recall on many occasions thai boxing students coming to a class with broken wrists, due to a drunken weekend skirmish, and them obviously not appreciating the subtly of real combat versus the ring sport, one which has wrapped wrists and gloves.
I have many karateka who have trained with me over the years, and once again I have seen very little fluidity or appreciation of the nature of their striking facilities. From the Russian martial art perspective one principle often concerned me, that being the whip like strikes. I, and some colleagues often wondered about the trauma absorbed whilst belting out strikes onto focus pads. I have had many a conversation with RMA students, especially a particular flavour of RMA mention their hand going numb, or purple due to force and impact of the focus pad. Surely this is not a good thing.
If I had to recommend someone who both demonstrated and could explain how to efficiently and fluidly improve your striking ability then I would have to recommend Coach Sonnon’s Fisticuff video series.
http://www.andrewusher.com/ics/sonnon/sonnon1b.gif
4 videos tapes that will not only transform your ability, but will introduce you to a vast array of concepts.
One concept , that of Weaponizing Architecture™ has not only transformed how I strike, but my overall fluidity with striking. At ICS we have adopted this method, as it not only enhances striking fundamentals but it makes “common sense”, something a lot of people seem to take for granted.
I could write pages and pages on this series, but would rather people take the time to seek out and order the video series.
Highlights for me are casting strikes, which are not to be confused with whip like strikes. Casting strikes have added a real edge to training, and trust me, can be devastating. Trinity work and intuitively moving from point to point with strikes in a natural and efficient manner are explained and demonstrated in a very informative and concise manner. Volume 2 for me is the one I have watched over and over, and on each visit, I take something else from the information.
http://www.andrewusher.com/ics/sonnon/sonnon2.gif
I can say that the ICS Kickboxing sessions have not only benefited greatly from Coach Sonnon’s knowledge, but transformed them into an intuitive and comprehensive fighting syllabus, with much content that to even seasoned kick boxers when they come to class tell us is both unique and “Awesome”. But its not limited to just kickboxing, as one of my private students will tell you. In a viscous confrontation an elbow pit cast strike not only surprised his assailant, but knocked him out.
Fisticuffs is another part of the intricate and comprehensive nature of RMAX, part of the hologromatic world of RMAX training, and a part EVERYONE should experience.
What I want to see from RMAX is all titles coming out on DVD!
Andrew Usher, Instructor
Integrated Combat Systems
This mini review is from my forum board over at combatsystems.co.uk.
Coach Sonnon's Fisticuffs Video Montage (http://rmax.tv/images/fisticuffs.wmv)
It has often struck me that whilst the majority of combat and martial arts teach striking, there is often very little clear instruction as to the mechanical nature of how and why to strike. Striking is often taken for granted and the repercussion is that the ability of students vary both in application and knowledge, and many just take for granted the art of striking.
Over my many years of martial arts I have seen instructors teach many sub components to striking, and to be quite frank about it, some have been god damn awful. I recall on many occasions thai boxing students coming to a class with broken wrists, due to a drunken weekend skirmish, and them obviously not appreciating the subtly of real combat versus the ring sport, one which has wrapped wrists and gloves.
I have many karateka who have trained with me over the years, and once again I have seen very little fluidity or appreciation of the nature of their striking facilities. From the Russian martial art perspective one principle often concerned me, that being the whip like strikes. I, and some colleagues often wondered about the trauma absorbed whilst belting out strikes onto focus pads. I have had many a conversation with RMA students, especially a particular flavour of RMA mention their hand going numb, or purple due to force and impact of the focus pad. Surely this is not a good thing.
If I had to recommend someone who both demonstrated and could explain how to efficiently and fluidly improve your striking ability then I would have to recommend Coach Sonnon’s Fisticuff video series.
http://www.andrewusher.com/ics/sonnon/sonnon1b.gif
4 videos tapes that will not only transform your ability, but will introduce you to a vast array of concepts.
One concept , that of Weaponizing Architecture™ has not only transformed how I strike, but my overall fluidity with striking. At ICS we have adopted this method, as it not only enhances striking fundamentals but it makes “common sense”, something a lot of people seem to take for granted.
I could write pages and pages on this series, but would rather people take the time to seek out and order the video series.
Highlights for me are casting strikes, which are not to be confused with whip like strikes. Casting strikes have added a real edge to training, and trust me, can be devastating. Trinity work and intuitively moving from point to point with strikes in a natural and efficient manner are explained and demonstrated in a very informative and concise manner. Volume 2 for me is the one I have watched over and over, and on each visit, I take something else from the information.
http://www.andrewusher.com/ics/sonnon/sonnon2.gif
I can say that the ICS Kickboxing sessions have not only benefited greatly from Coach Sonnon’s knowledge, but transformed them into an intuitive and comprehensive fighting syllabus, with much content that to even seasoned kick boxers when they come to class tell us is both unique and “Awesome”. But its not limited to just kickboxing, as one of my private students will tell you. In a viscous confrontation an elbow pit cast strike not only surprised his assailant, but knocked him out.
Fisticuffs is another part of the intricate and comprehensive nature of RMAX, part of the hologromatic world of RMAX training, and a part EVERYONE should experience.
What I want to see from RMAX is all titles coming out on DVD!
Andrew Usher, Instructor
Integrated Combat Systems
This mini review is from my forum board over at combatsystems.co.uk.