subject: Effective Self-defense Training Methodology [print this page] I don't know about you, but I am a huge fan of jazz music. In my opinion, music doesn't get any better than what jazz has to offer. It is simply beautiful. But these virtuoso soloists didn't get to where they are overnight. Rome wasn't built in a day. Nobody becomes a ninja overnight. They went through a learning process.
First, someone gave them an instrument, and taught them basic notes and chords, and taught them how to play them on that specific instrument.
Second, they learned how to play specific predetermined songs, such as "Yankee Doodle" and "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star". They likely moved on over time to more complex songs, and jazz standards.
Third, they started to solo, and improvise. Improvisation is when the musician takes their understanding of notes, chords and chord progressions, melody and harmonics, and "makes up" a solo off the top of their head, and plays it on the spot. Sounds crazy, I know! Well, in the Hybrid Fighting Method, we go through the same process.
First, the HFM student learns a basic technique. For example, a defense versus a straight punch. The student is taught how to defend against that punch. The HFM student will practice this in a static setting, meaning that their training partner throws only a straight punch, allowing the
student to perfect their technique. This is the first stage.
In the next stage, the HFM student learns a few specific counter attacks to add to the defense. This, again, is practiced primarily in a static setting. The third stage is where things change. Here, the HFM student is allowed to improvise. After making the defense, the HFM student begins to create their own counter attacks based on their own
style, and also based on different variants such as body position relative to the attacker, etc.
After all of this, the HFM student is set in a safe, fight setting (sparring), to practice the defense and counter attacks in a dynamic, shifting setting. At this point, the HFM student has also gone through the same process for a variety of attacks, and is able to defend any conceivable attack effectively and efficiently.
They do this so masterfully, in fact, that it is just as beautiful as any jazz solo that could be played.
This will allow the student's training to come out of him at the most critical moments - without even thinking. Just reacting to the stimuli.
