Combat Sports?

[Garth Sch]

Just recieved my 3D Performance Pyramid book, extremely impressed by the way the entire RMAX spectrum is brought together by this document.

Coach Sonnon, on the RMAX site there once was a document in the ROSS accreditation section that detailed that there was a Fisticuffs sport and a Grappling sport in the works. Of course this document has been removed since your seperating from ROSS.

My question "Is there still a RMAX type combat sport in the works?"

My second question is "Given that Softwork is essentially formless, how does one apply the form of legal strikes and throws?" I ask that because Kano had to remove a lot of ju-jitsu combat throws to make Judo safe as a sport.

Similarly some Aikido throws had to be removed from the Tomiki Aikido sport, particually the throws that involve using a joint (elbow, neck) as the fulcrum of the throw.

Thx
Garth

[Scott Sonnon]

Garth,

The combat sport of RMAX is MMA, Judo, Sambo, Jiujitsu, Boxing, Wrestling, Kickboxing, (and football, rugby, soccer, hockey) et cetera. Each of these delivery systems serves the goal. All we would do is create yet another sport. I believe that the establishment of MMA obviates that necessity. Play them all!

A distinction between legal 'techniques' and rules must be firm. For instance, though a "chicken wing" may be illegal, a "leg pack" may not be illegal, though the physiological dysfunction is the same. As an international category referee in Sambo (probably harder to attain than rank in competition), I came to see this very clearly, and it required a great deal of physiological study (and application). In Sambo for instance, it became illegal to twist the heel. Any twisting of the heel was illegal, no matter what 'technical application' the athlete applied. In effect, this rule prohibition was technique-free.

Softwork is a protocol, a method of technical improvisation and performance enhancement. So, there is no limitations when applying Softwork to sport.

There is no such thing as NHB, neither on the mat nor in the ring and neither on the street nor on the battlefield. There are ALWAYS rules of engagement (ROE). To intuitively understand and consciously prepare for the actual ROE allows one to respond with complete freedom. As Robert Pirsig wrote in Lila, the goal is "to appreciate the stable, static quality so that dynamic quality can flourish."

The delivery system is the 'stable, static quality'. Softwork prepares you to discern, internalize, and adapt to whatever delivery system (ROE) in which you immerse yourself, so that your masterful performance (dynamic quality) flourishes.

Another good read on this topic would be: Combat Sport as SPP.