To Boldly Go

These are the voyages of the Breakthrough Enterprise! Where have I been the past few weeks? Well, I'll tell you and in my telling also announce that I'm reaching out for your help. Let us go back to the beginning...

Breakthrough was created many years ago by a young man who could see the flaws in Martial Art Association politics. The gift of learning new skills often tainted by a cold undercurrent of egotism and the need to yield a profit. Misunderstood movements regurgitated by a xeroxed instructor, fabrications, tall tales and exaggerations. Martial Arts are incredibly easy to mock and many of us don't do ourselves or our students any favours by acting on automatic pilot without self critique. Fast forward a bit and Breakthrough Combat Arts became a thing. In it I found a way to authentically express myself and demonstrate the few arts that I have the privilege to espouse. My own study, free from the coerced navigation of others, I was free to explore combative movement, make my own mistakes and my own discoveries. My true driving force for the study: the interplay between the Yin and the Yang aspects in a fighting environment. The idea that humans are designed to survive and that we are very good at it when our intelligence advocates the use of technology, but what do we do when we have nothing but fear and fist? When we are completely free to find out, ie when we do not merely perform a dictated syllabus, we not only learn the art deeper but we learn its place in our  nature.

Associations are like tools, and they should be used to facilitate growth, through support, authentic guidance and platforms in which we can pit ourselves against others. They should never have the right to tell us who to train with or what to learn. Any limitation placed upon us should be down to our own short-comings, they should never be in the constitution of a third party. Associations should be used as tools as we tread our own path.

As previously stated Martial Arts are easy to mock, but authentic arts and authentic people provide a far greater and more secure reason to train. They give back!

Talking from a personal POV but by no means a unique one to this industry, I have provided training for youth projects. Letting kids that had gone awry the ability to focus that angst they felt into more productive outlets. I have taught Tai Chi to teachers to hopefully promote calmness in their working day. I also used Tai Chi to aid stroke recovery and pain management. I have used both internal arts and external arts to battle the most fearsome of foes: addiction.

I have been doing it for so long it has become my routine, but there is nothing routine about it. Then the penny dropped, it is here I will find my purpose. Breakthrough Boxing and Combat Arts is set to evolve further. I aim to guide it towards a social enterprise, where all the things that we all ready stand for become available to more.

The past few weeks I have worked on a business plan, ran the numbers, met with the experts. Talked and talked, meeting after meeting. viewed and researched commercial property.
"How can I?"
"How do you?"
"When is it best to?"
"Do you think I?"
"What are the possibilities of?"

I have received a wealth of support from both like minded and non like minded people. There is never a bad time in which to give back to a community but it certainly feels like a good time to be trying!

The vision is simple, a full time facility dedicated to the community promoting wellness through movement. Providing a programme and access for talented youths to progress to the next level of competition, be it National, European, International or even Olympic. Fitness, Fun and Family, surely the three greatest blocks on which to build a future.

I've done the groundwork and it has left me exhausted, but in the best way. People are good and people want to help. Do you want to help? Tell someone what I'm doing, let me hear your ideas. We succeed by reaching out and seeking help.

Conor V Floyd, What didn't we learn?

August 26th 2017, Vegas baby! Our generation was lucky enough to witness the biggest pop culture event in a long time. It wasn't a sporting event per se, but it was hyped as such. It was, in fact, the highest grossing Combat sport event of all time, an historic billion dollar draw never before seen in Boxing or MMA, and it has changed the landscape of both sports forever. For that we can be glad, I have been an avid spectator, competitor and coach of combat sports for a long time, and after some initial scepticism, found myself really looking forward to the event. "The Money Fight", the circus that was, and still is, just over a week later.

The event itself went exactly the way many had predicted, a convincing victory to Floyd Mayweather Jnr. Many people wished Conor McGregor, the UFC poster boy, the very best but many had their doubts. Realistically a talented amateur cannot compete against a seasoned pro in a straight boxing match. Yet even in defeat, the overall press coverage has been that of generous support to the younger Irishman.

I appreciate first hand (as a Coach for over 15 years) the need to manage expectations in junior competitors and the reasons to elevate someone in defeat. Lessons should be learned in both victory and defeat but they are dished out more harshly in the latter, that is by no means a reason to circumvent them. This is what brings me most concern with regard to the events of August 26th.

The spectacle, and indeed it was a spectacle, saw the sound defeat of a man who had moved too fast into an arena that was not his usual place of work. Some say he acquitted himself most valiantly even in his defeat but the experienced eye can see further. Truthfully, and as difficult it may be to accept, Conor McGregor was never once in control of the fight. He comes from a different sport, he comes from a different skill set and he comes from a combat sport with an entirely different rhythm.

Boxing has been misunderstood by many for many years. Once it was  a staple in the British Schooling system, then the perpetuation of the misunderstanding meant it was removed, deemed brutal and thuggish. A sport practised by brutes who knew no better. The sweet science of pugilism completely overlooked, timing, discipline, body mechanics, strategy all to be replaced by a more brutal, some would argue more accessible combat sport. Boxing has been around in some form since late 1800. It has defined and redefined its sweet science over that time and in Floyd Mayweather we can see the greatest execution of it.

Conor moves well and is the dominant fighter in his arena and all credit to him for that but he made a single, yet massive, error in training camp. He did not seek the knowledge of a Boxing Coach. It showed on the night, sorry to be so "matter of fact" about it, but the truth remains. He is a popular character and everyone loves an underdog but we should not side step the truth of his performance. His stance too wide, his punches too weak, his cardio vascular ability too limited.

Yes, people will remember the uppercut which landed squarely on Mayweather's jaw for a long time. Full and flush on a diminished champion, but it didn't put him down, it didn't even slightly faze him. If a boxer had landed it, that would've been it for an aged champion.

Truth is, Boxing is a young man's sport, and Floyd Mayweather is no longer a young man. In the past week we have celebrated the bravery of McGregor and how well he fought on the night. Few have celebrated the veteran, who stepped out of retirement after some 700 days plus of inactivity and never once looked shaky in his performance.

It was by the book and executed to perfection. As a coach, I listened with interest to the pep talks between rounds. John Kavanagh telling Conor he was "looking great" even allowing himself to be talked over by his second. Offering very little in an arena he knew little about. Mayweather, so skilled in his boxing, broke all the rules that made him a champion for over 20 years. Walking forward hands raised, taking punches (more punches that any other fighter had landed on him) because he had nothing to fear from the "greatest striker in UFC". One of the biggest insults that a boxer can do is throw and land a right hand lead, it intimates a dominance that the opponent cannot match, Mayweather scored this successfully almost every time he chose to use it!

If Conor wishes to box again he must seek the advice of someone who understands the art form that is boxing. It is not what many think it is, but maybe some saw it for what it truly can be on August 26th.

A Study of Rhythm, Conor V Floyd

I have always adhered to the idea that principles of combat are more usefully instilled in a practitioner than actual technique. During periods of high stress for eg. a fight, for most, technique diminishes. Understanding the principles inherent in conflict, aids the best choice and the more efficient use of tactic or movement. This allows for a more free and fluid state of body. One of the big things here, which makes or breaks a fight, is the use of rhythm. This is why McGregor v Mayweather is a mismatch but perhaps for a different reason than you might think.

Now, I've been fairly verbose in my condemnation of the UFC, if not on the pages of this blog then in real life. This makes me a rarer case of having bigger "real life balls" than that of "Facebook Balls", however I am an admirer of the training Conor employs. It is very much around the basics of movement and is obviously heavily influenced by the instruction of Ido Portal. This will certainly assist him more in his preparation to fight with, without a doubt, the greatest defensive boxer of all time. Will it be enough? I am interested to find out.

I actually did some video work for this blog, which now has in the region of 400 regular readers, so cheers for that folks! My body is pretty mashed up these days and kicking is becoming a real problem. I hope you can appreciate the fact that I have hobbled around for the past 4 days after making the short vids. It is worth it, as they say "a picture says a thousand words".

Rhythm is essential to combat and each combat art form has a unique one. I concentrated on 3 so you can see the differences.

1. BOXING

I am of course talking generally here, there are many deviations and exceptions to all the examples I give. Boxing rhythm is generally even paced with fast bursts of grouped punches. The momentum is generally forward and cyclical. Even weight distribution and with a high guard kept tight to the body.

2. Muay Thai

Thai boxing is generally at a slower pace which increases in intensity over the rounds. It operates at a different range obviously, as the legs are used for both offensive and defensive purpose. The body is still upright with the guard held higher and the elbows further from the body. The weight is distributed slightly more to the rear. Punches and kicks are grouped, when operating outwith the clinch the strikes are thrown in more of a loop.

3. Point/Semi Contact Freestyle

Stood side on and generally fought at a faster pace, freestyle has a more forward to backward shifting of the weight. Side kicks are employed more as are shots put together as two's or three's. The body is lower, with a slight crouch. The hands are low, sometimes even below the waist if the competitor is advanced enough. It is generally linear when it comes to attacking, these are thrown quickly with the full body behind them.

Three very distinct rhythms, which in effect, MMA  has to operate over at any given time. There is no judgement here on which one is the more efficient. Each has merit and pitfall depending on your desired outcome. The below video is an attempt at illustrating the striking rhythm of MMA, grappling aside. Look how it compares to the boxing one in the context of the Conor/Floyd fight..

I was hugely sceptical of the event happening on August 26th but my mind has changed. I look forward to it greatly, if only out of my interest in Combative Art movement. Truth is, it is very difficult to make any kind of prediction. I would say this though, whoever figures out "the beat" on the night, will be the one that delivers the beating.

If you want to experience my thoughts and teaching methods why not join me at the Five Thunder training weekend where I'll be talking about some of the stuff above and general Strike IQ. There are a host of other instructors too and plenty art forms available to experience. For more details follow the link.

http://www.fivethunder.com/index.php/seminars/events/weekend-training-camp

Where can your mind take you?...

...Well, it's very nuanced and the answer depends on many different factors. Your mind can take you to the very edge of our universe or deep into the depths of our consciousness, but only if you let it. It has a  vast spectrum, allowing you to be anything from a fighter pilot in a space battle to a lottery winner. (In my youth I saved Earth so many times and now each week I think how I could do it again if only my numbers came up) Your mind is a very useful and motivating tool, but it is linked inextricably to the vehicle that is your body. They don't always go to the same destination but they are a very fine double act.

The power of visualisation is real; science has in various studies linked enhanced performance to previsualisation. In one study, two groups of athletes completed deadlifts. One group visualising the set before performing the set, the other not, with an increase of successful reps and a higher weight going to those who did. A clear example, easily recreated, of mind over matter. It pays to believe in yourself. Look at Conor McGregor! I won't go into the upcoming spectacle between him and Mayweather, as there is plenty commentary out there. Despite your feelings about him, he is not short of self belief and he is now in one of the most financially lucrative ventures in the history of Combat sports. Love him or loathe him, he made it happen!

But back to the question in hand. Mind and body linked like Yin and Yang. Speaking as an aged fighter/competitor coupled with my exploration of spirituality I see and feel the link clearly, perhaps more than some. As I have aged, I have both raised and declined in different aspects. My need to inflict punishment on another has dwindled, but my mind has not ceased from the idea of inflicting same said punishment on myself. I have stopped competing against others and found my real nemesis, turns out it's fucking me :)
I continue to put my body through rigours I perhaps don't really need to. I do that not just because of historical routine and ego but also through self belief. My mind is convinced I can be better, because I have allowed it, through time, to repeatedly go there.

A word of caution, a mind knows no limits unless you yourself impose them on it. This is a double edged sword. Too much "looking in the other direction" when it comes to human reality can cause physical harm. I've seen guys that listen to the Rocky soundtrack too much and not put in the graft during class/sparring/gym. Almost inevitably they get their face burst wide open.

The mind body link works both ways. Spend time cultivating both the link and the individual parts. Father time couldn't care less about your mind or your body, he will take both if you drop your guard. Good exercise regimes keep the mind sharp, a sharp mind keeps you understanding the importance of physical condition. If the mind wants to go somewhere it's easier when the vehicle is able. Each requires effort and time devoted specifically to them.

It's what "Breakthrough" is all about. Understanding through application. The movements we teach are just as functional as the calm we prescribe for your mind.

Authentic Arts

There are a five stages of development we pass through on our Martial Journey. Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, Role Model and finally Perfection. The key is to aim for the next step up the ladder, ie if you are a beginner aim to be intermediate, if intermediate aim to be advanced, advanced strive to be a role model. If through your efforts you find yourself becoming a role model then the next progression would be perfection. Perfection, however, is only something that you can hope and aspire to without actually achieving. It's more that perfection arises from the act of striving. In this way of thinking, it means you can be a perfect beginner, intermediate or advanced practitioner. You still with me?

It also implies that you can be a perfect role model, despite our human frailties and fallibility. No human is perfect, so how do we circumvent this painful truth? Well I have put my mind to it and the closest thing that we can be to perfect, is to be authentic. Authentic with our hopes, our hearts, our aspirations and the way in which we express them. When it comes to authenticity within martial arts it is quite clear to note the ones that are, and the ones that are not. The word "Martial" stems from the God of War so infers anything warlike. Therefore I put it to you plainly that if you do not get bruised, battered or break a few minor bones then you are not participating authentically. Every measure is taken to provide safe practise by most legitimate teachers and instructors but bumps and bruises are inevitable. Like the fight club analogy how much can you truly know about yourself (and by extension your art) if you don't have scars?

And in life too we carry our scars, sometimes unseen but still there. They do not show weakness, they in fact show the strength of experience. Experience comes from long term practise, and long term practise implies you have passed through at least two stages of development perhaps more, beginner, intermediate and advanced.

You can be more, much more than any of these. Perfection is the thread that runs through them all and perfection, in my mind at least, equates to authenticity. Don't fool yourself or worse fool others around you. Express your short comings truthfully, honestly there is nothing more perfect. To be authentic, is to be a role model for all humanity. There is no other way.

"Life requires movement"

"Life requires movement" was stated by Aristotle. Humans have used it as a method of expression for a long long time. We gesticulate when we tell stories, our excitement and effusiveness seemingly unable to be contained within the physical body. We move mostly for joy, we dance, our body racks with laughter, we reach out and we touch our friends, family and loved ones like an affirmation of our physical existence in relation to their presence. We need them, as they need us and it is our body that belies the separation from them. It's beautiful! I was very lucky to have such a week as last week which saw me take on two (on the surface) vastly different seminars. Both were very expansive and brought me great joy.

On Tuesday, Edinburgh held the honour of hosting Grandmaster Chen Zhenglei. Master Chen is a 19th generation member of the "royal family" of Taijiquan and 11th generation direct successor and keeper of Chen Style Tai Chi. The gravity of the situation is difficult to comprehend, but the truth of the matter is that it was a fairly important moment in the history of Tai Chi in the UK. GM Chen has visited the UK previously but has never been as far north as the Scottish Capital. His arrival in town is demonstrative of the hard work people such as Li Ho (my friend and colleague)  and others have put into the development of Chen in Scotland. GM Chen arrived along with Master Kuang.  I've had the opportunity to train with Master Kuang in China, he is a Northern region push hand champion in China and a student of my Master Liming Yue. He has gone on to become a Master in his own right and that gives me hope albeit a bit wishful thinking :)

Grandmaster Chen Zhenglei is almost 70 years old, but he moves with the grace, poise and power of someone much less advanced in years. His life has been devoted to movement and the spiritual acquisition that implies. His energy release, which is a very important factor in Chen style Tai Chi is tantamount to the sonic boom Guile delivers in the Street Fighter video games. Perhaps this short video doesn't give justice but GM Chen Zhengei's presence is quite something to behold up close.

Chen Zhenglei in Edinburgh

He spoke favourably about Edinburgh, he said he was in awe of its beauty. He went on to speak about the importance of Tai Chi. Specifically the three main reasons it is important to learn. A study had taken place at the Ivy league Universities in the US to establish just what it is that is required in a sport to facilitate well-being. It seems on this academic level all other Olympic sports had fallen short. GM Chen identified three factors:

1. It must be a movement that can be practised in Leisure time
2. The movement must consider the natural oxygen process
3. The movement must consider longevity of practise

Simple guidance and wisdom only an aged Master can highlight!

Later in the week I attended a workshop called Strength and Mobility for the Combat Athlete. I wholeheartedly accept that I am no longer an athlete, but my years of pain and sacrifice justified my presence on the workshop. It too was enlightening and expansive, teaching me that strength is a skill that can be improved upon given time and correct technique. I learned many drills around mobility, strength and dexterity each of which will help me develop. Understanding your baselines as a human, ie what you can and can't do, stands you in great stead for you realising just what it is you are capable of.

It's not mystical, it is about self reflection. Identifying what you can do to improve, even listening to people who have done it for you is key. There is a wealth of knowledge out there and it is not just for a privileged few. It's for anyone and everyone. I can only invite you to come and train but you have to RSVP. There are no short cuts, life requires movement.

Books on the Coffee Table

Greetings all, I met a friend of mine the other day for a coffee and a chat about spirituality and all that! (it's something I do). I used an analogy to best express my thoughts and my view on it all. I kinda lost her, which is understandable, as the deeper the chats go the harder it can be to express yourself properly. Sometimes we censor ourselves deliberately, other times we just get lost down one of the rabbit holes we stumble upon. I spoke about the books on a coffee table, I think I actually said the books on a shelf but you understand the image I'm trying to conjure. Imagine, if you will the book is called "Your Divine Nature". The question that arises is "what is it doing on yer coffee table?"
Is it there because you dip into it on occasion when you're relaxing? Did you put it there to signal to your friends that you're into that sort of thing? Or is it there because you happen to be reading it right now?

Some people like to rub things in your face, be it their physicality, their sexuality and yes, even their spirituality. The things that belong to others, can be important, but not necessarily to you.  YOUR physicality, YOUR sexuality, YOUR spirituality is all that really matters. It is after all, only you that can practise them. A closed book on a coffee table isn't being read at that moment, therefore it is of no use. What I'm trying to say, (yes I appreciate I fell into one of them aforementioned rabbit holes) is you don't need a book about your divine nature, ever. I believe that humanity and spirituality are linked. Like Yin and Yang, intrinsic and giving rise to one another. I am no more spiritual when I climb up a mountain and chant (also something I do BTW) than I am when I go down the CO-OP for my fucking almond milk. My very humanity is the foundation for my spirituality, and that is the only thing that I should rub in someone else's face. YOUR humanity is the only thing that could only ever be important to someone else, all the time, every time.

I explore my humanity and therefore my spirituality through movement and the use of my body. I am fascinated by such things, maybe I have a freaky fetish but I get right into it? Mechanics, movement, grace, power, motion and emotion. I like to watch male gymnasts on the rings, those dudes don't even have six packs they have ten-packs! The strength and poise of a female dancer, the wonderfully triangular and symmetrical back muscles that ultimately you just want to touch, so you can feel that it's real. It is creepy in a way I know :) but the potentiality of the human body and by extension the potentiality of human spirit is one enormous puzzle I want to solve.

I mentioned sexuality earlier, you're probably wondering what that's all about? Same goes for me, sex is a wonderful exploration of our human nature through our bodies and when done right gives great insight into our divine nature. To me the throes of passion are not so different from the throws of Sanda! Each requires a commitment that leaves you vulnerable, a tangle of body and limbs, a courageous moment between you and another, and ultimately someone being on their back :)

 Joking aside, I do mean it, it is only in our most private moments that the majority of us reflect most deeply. It is there we find our most divine nature, but it has always been with us. Sad to think that many never experience themselves beyond looking in a mirror. We are humans and we are better than that.

Find your own practise, it may not be the same as anyone else's, but who cares? It's only for you and it is only you that will find it.

Journeys

I have recently returned from the beautiful and historic lands common to the major monotheistic religions, the lands of Samaria and Judea. In truth I am still reflecting on an amazing trip. It is said that great journeys begin first with a single step. I would contest that even before that, we envisage the final step. We think of the possibilities and the endless variations which our journey may lead us to. This inturn motivates us to take the step in the first place. Journeys don't necessarily need to be just geographical. They can be emotional, spiritual, physical or of any other countless reason. Ultimately, just like Combat Arts they promote growth and expansion. Some plan and plot every detail of the journey linking the steps in the most efficient way, others are happy to toss a stick in the air at a fork in the road, and walk whatever path fate may deem.

Expansion and growth are very important motivators; I travel both internally and externally to seek out humanity in its best form. I have never been disappointed yet with the things I have seen, discovered, revisited or met for the first time. There are many reasons people move from point to point or place to place but we mostly do it because it feels right. The act of seeking out humanity elsewhere, creates humanity in the very effort of doing so. Generally humans delight and thrive in change. Some prefer more gentle or subtle forms of change, others are happy to just go for it.

If you have been too tired of late to try something new or  maybe take on a new challenge, then maybe your energy has stagnated? Maybe you've been standing still too long? I recommend you move, move your body, move your outlook, move your base of learning. Not only will you see something different you will also feel something different. You have access to new energy always.

The best thing about movement in a concentric world is that you can only travel so far before you start coming home again! Destinations and goals are excellent of course but the space between is often where you find the real value.

Wherever you want to go in life or in body or in spirit, I wish you safe travels.

Relax Harder, strive with ease.

We are very complex creatures with all sorts of stuff going on in our heads and in our hearts at any given time. We are living beings that reflect, engage and often ignore the living world around us. Our bodies are made of elements found in distant galaxies but our consciousness stems from deep within. While half the globe sleeps in a wintry embrace in the dead of night, the other half goes about its day in glorious summer heat. Some people are dog people, some people are cat people. We are all different but not all separate. We all breathe the same air but many of us have forgotten just how important and life-affirming that can be. When we are in the city we breathe superficially, normally just enough to not die, yet when we visit a forest we take big deep gulps of air to draw in all the serenity. That is an energy transaction. The difference is it's free to us. When we have a lover in our arms, we squeeze them all the tighter and inhale their scent. That is another energy transaction. It happens when we take what is outside and bring it inside so that we can relish it. It reassures us of our very existence and in our confirmation of life we find tranquillity. Oxygen has a profound impact on our bodies and on our minds. The autonomic nervous system lies deep within, generally doing its job of keeping us alive without our conscious input, but receives its signals from the environment around us. It is made up of two branches: the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system. Like the Yin and the Yang or in this case, the yang and the yin, the two branches work in tandem to keep the balance. The sympathetic nervous system triggers our fight or flight responses vital in times of crisis, the parasympathetic system deals with all the other processes, sleeping, eating and healing. Whilst one inhibits the other excites. A small dose of stress is good for the internal system, but any sustained period of stress allows the sympathetic nervous system to rule. This has a detrimental effect on your health as it includes the suppression of your digestive system, your immune system and (god forbid) your libido. Obviously our bodies need to be oxygenated to live and thrive, but we also need to cultivate a tranquil atmosphere in which to thrive in. It is easy done, take the time to breathe and make the effort to consciously do nothing more. See where your mind goes. It doesn't matter where your body goes but it would be wise to take it outside to the forest, where life is unimposing yet everywhere. It's a bit like what's going on inside you right now. Magic still exists, you just need to look in the right place.

Martial Arts and Alternative Facts

We are now in a recognised era of "alternative facts". Truth is the Martial Arts have been in that era for a much longer time. This is a very touchy and controversial subject but it would be remiss of me to shy away from it. To be honest  however, I have never actually cowered from it before, and have made my views fairly public about the misnomer that is "Self defence". At the foot of the page I will link a video for you to look at. I want you to appreciate that this is not an attack on any individual and by no means an attack on someone's level of skill. Infact the video I have chosen to highlight, does the opposite, it shows this particular practitioner to be very skilled indeed. In a previous blog post I have written about how it is important to distinguish between Martial Artists and Fighters. To be clear, I advocate any type of training regime over any type of non-training regime, but we must appreciate that people have a vast spectrum of motivations for engaging in Combat Sports. At one end of the spectrum we have self perfection at the other we have self protection. The vast majority of people seek to find a sweet equilibrium between the two. They are however very different,  although not mutually exclusive by any means. What you can watch at the foot of the page needs to be called out for what it is for fear of misleading. It's a very slick marketing device with fairly decent production values (it does feature interlacing artefacts, but I only spotted that because as a cinema technician that is my day-job). It is not reflective of self defence and should not be associated as such. Again I stress this is not an attack on a clearly skilled individual but be aware that it is a very skilled practitioner in "demo-mode" it is not reality. There is very clear compliance from the training partner allowing for the showcase of individual talent. There is also an element of rehearsal, which I'm not against that either, I've done enough demos over the years to appreciate the need to polish a performance for lesser educated eyes. Using the reference of Bruce Lee in the URL is a fairly callous method of affecting people into that weird submissive type of psychology that we all hold about ourselves ie Bruce Lee was a figure that illustrated physical potential that most of us aren't living up to. So we have this guy as a substitute and by extension a martial system that can make us that way. All fine and well until you understand that the silky fancy moves he executes are well practised and polished and affected as a scenario on a compliant almost docile partner. This for me in a nutshell is the problem with Martial Arts and the ranking system. You are supposed to perform various previously agreed upon scenarios to show how good you are, even though it may not only be contrived but actually detrimental to your health ie taking a gun from someone. It ultimately leads to a false sense of accomplishment and people putting stock in utter bullshit. Watch the video further, into the sparring portion. Again I feel I must state that him doing 1 min rounds against 65 people is admirable and certainly a challenge which illustrates his skill further but look at the the array of technique on display now in comparison to the mad shit he was doing before. It is not forthcoming, he has sought safety in the good old whacking and smacking. He has done this because it is the safer and more efficient method. Not only that but it is the default setting of real people! Through experience we  all learn that risk management, then threat management then (god forbid it be required) crisis management is the real challenge.  This is a much better three step process to safety that we should aim to understand moreover than performing highly adroit fine motor skills under stress. The latter doesn't fuckin' work. If you want to learn how to defend yourself, then learn how to fight. Spar and compete. Hand to hand, toe to toe, tooth and nail. Learn how to punch, learn where and when to punch and above all be prepared to develop the c*nt inside you! It is the vital resource which can tip you to victory. A huge list of techniques will amount to fuck all in terms of self protection. Find a few that work, drill them. Understand the concepts of genuine combative flow and it will serve you much better. Understanding concepts in turn will allow you more freedom of technique. By all means train as many techniques as you want, learn your martial alphabet and create new words but be aware that sometimes a simple "Fuck you" gets the point across perfectly well. Stay safe and don't get stupid!

The Bruce Lee of Krav Maga

A Sermon on Spirituality

Following on from last exciting instalment, I thought that tonight I would write about spirituality. Have you ever been on a night out with friends or a loved one when suddenly the thought occurs "I am actually at the end of my personality for today?" You are perhaps an introverted extrovert, or an extroverted introvert or maybe your soul is just looking for something else? That something else is what I call, your spirituality. I am not a fan of nomenclature as I may have written previously, and even less of a fan when it comes to labelling spirituality:  "I am a psychic medium soul retrieving Shaman, with level 10 skills in Rainbow sorcery"
Good for you. Keep up the good work, whatever that work entails. I am a very spiritual person and offer my respects to anyone who openly speaks of their spirituality but I suffer from internalised scepticism and statement like the one above, I usually find very hard to swallow. That is the problem with spirituality, it is easy to rubbish. That is why it shouldn't be thought about as a separate thing. In my experience and understanding, often the ones that talk so much about it; who easily define it, are either lacking a true understanding of it, or who are outright phoney (#notallmediums #notallshamans.)

I have followed spiritual teachings all my life, brought up by Christian parents I moved on to devour books about Buddhism, eastern philosophy, paganism then more modern philosophies, biocentrism for eg. I even battered around with Atheism for a while, but it didn't suit my desire for answers. I finally settled where I am now, which is not easy to define (see what I did there?) I have my practise which is both a moving meditation, in the form of Tai Chi and Boxing, and I have my still practise which involves surrendering my human sensorium to our more profound celestial nature. Fuck me, you might want to read that sentence again! Anyway, joking aside I use my spirituality to try to relate to not only others but to myself and my place here in our big glorious confusing as fuck planet. I do this because I see it as a catalyst for improving life and because I believe it to be absolutely inherent to our existence. I use my spirituality to also explore my masculinity. The idea of my spirit and the idea of my maleness for me go hand in hand. I have recently been reading Grayson Perry's "The Descent of Man" which allegedly tackles the operations of masculinity. I was told by a good friend that Grayson Perry is a very insightful artist/film maker so the book would be worth a read. It's not! It comes from the same repugnant idea that men are incapable morons that stumble from one disaster to the next, psychologically scarring people in our wake out of nothing more than insensitivity. There is no insight, only recycled misunderstandings of the things that drive a man. As a man I find safety and comfort in results. My exploration of spirituality and of combat sports has provided me with results. These results have made me feel comfortable in my masculinity and driven me on to explore more. Yes no doubt my maleness has pissed people off along the way, and of course I don't necessarily get it right all the time but I have aimed to do it with virtuous intention, both for myself and for others. It is natural for a man to want to fight, not toxic. It only becomes toxic when we fight for the wrong reason. Understanding spirituality gives you a better chance of having the right reason. Until next time, peace and love and have a look at this woman doing yoga at sunset! It has something to do with spirituality.........

A Sermon on Physicality

It's Sunday, so I thought I'd preach the benefits of a physical lifestyle. Not only that, but why meditation or mindfulness are intrinsic to it. I firmly believe that any human expression which involves the body is  by nature an extension of our spiritual self. Be it love making, power lifting or punching someone upside the head, if it involves a physical act then its root lies in spirituality. It is the human condition to exert ourselves to express our place in the world, through dance, movement, conflict or even on a more subtle level, simple gestures. All of these are extensions of our idea of self and therefore link back to what our beliefs may be, what we want to be in the world and how we develop interplay with our fellow humans. It blows my mind when I think that movement is effectively either a concentric or eccentric phase across muscle tissue that is sparked by a tiny bioelectrical pulse which is created deep inside the mind. Where that pulse begins who knows? Any extreme that the human body is capable of reaching, in any individual, is designed in the mind first and executed accordingly. We, as humans, are pretty amazing as are all species on our shared planet.

Physicality, much like learning a language, is vital to the core of  human existence. All the things that put people off physical effort usually lies with the processes at the beginning. The idea of doing anything for the first time comes with the burden of not knowing what to expect. Will it be hard? will I be able to do it? will I make a fool of myself if I fail at? I can't be arsed eating right, I can't be arsed getting up early, it will change my routine, it's all too hard, too much time wasted we think! Here's a truth for you, if you aren't doing those things now, you're wasting your time already, missing out on ways to express yourself fully. Getting started is genuinely the hard bit. Then it changes in time, your brain actually changes in time. The cognitive processes called executive functions improve, attention, memory, cognitive flexibility, reasoning, problem solving skills all improve. The brain and the body are so closely linked that physical training basically improves mindfulness. Most importantly inhibitory control gets better tuned and you can override habits, forming new ones, healthier ones. All of a sudden all those questions that first arose when you set out have been answered and you start thinking differently about what you are capable of. Stay motivated folks and keep the faith!

The Science of Violence

I was born in 82 I arrived too late for Bruce Lee and way too early for UFC. I don't fall into the "Millennial" category and when folks talk about the current generation they aren't referring to me. I'm a bit of a middle child of history. I grew up with cartoons like He-Man and Thundercats, I was around for the second outing of Joe 90, Stingray and Captain Scarlet my childhood still filled with good guys and bad guys. The journalists of my epoch have been concerned and reported about everything up to and including cold wars and warm winters. In Martial Arts my generation missed out on the icons but I believe we got something better. In my lifetime huge leaps in progress have been made around Sport Science, sport performance and efficient training methods. Throughout history we have been interested in the enhancement of all these things but it is during my time we really got a hold of the subject matter. Despite this the combat sports were very slow to take on the new ideas. When was the last time you did resistance training to improve your technique? I think this is what we mean when we refer to the "Old School". Back in the day there was a much greater emphasis placed on pure tenacity, doing something because it hurt. If it hurt it had to be good for you and built character? Don't get me wrong, I fully understands the need for the occasional blow out and character building, but as I gain more and more experience in more efficient uses of time, coupled with my long lasting injuries, it is natural for me to pause and think was it all truly worth it? Structured progressive overload is the only true method to develop the body. You can do something a million times over but will receive no benefit beyond a certain point. The human body adapts relatively quickly and will plateau. Doing something for the sake of doing something or because it hurts isn't really the best way to consume your time. Progressive overload also hurts, but by including the structured rest time and safe exercise technique it really is the way to go for improvement.
I think martial arts were particularly slow to take on board the science of it all. This is endemic of a pastime that holds a certain psychology and prideful outlook. It is steeped in tradition and although I do put great stock in tradition I wouldn't do it to the detriment of progress. It wasn't so much unable to jolt itself into the modern methods more unwilling to. That being said, there are many traditional practices which have fallen by the wayside, left untaught by instructors who did not fully understand them which also hindered the progress of MA. What I refer to here, in this blog is beyond those things and refer purely the physicality of combat sports. The basis for any human system of combat is grounded most firmly in human athleticism. You can defeat an opponent with a better strategy but if your strategy doesn't have to take into account failings or frailty on your own part then your strategy can be all the stronger. Work your body, make it better, your strategy becomes all the easier to execute. The science of violence is a beautiful thing to gain an understanding of. Moreover into the realms of self defence, the greatest misnomer within Martial Arts, where we can actually teach people useful things by using the science or psychology of conflict resolution and verbal de-escalation techniques. Science and strategy are like Yin and Yang, if you really want to see results from your Martial Arts I suggest you strengthen both.

Yang style Overhaul

Happy New Year everyone. I've begun a new training programme, after cutting the weight and getting myself in a place to move forward I've decided to focus on purely functional developments. It is a different way to train from that which is more commonly practised, let me explain. The Posterior Chain is the large group of muscles on the back of the body:

• Multifidus (spine support)
• Erector Spinae (back and spinal extension)
• Gluteal Muscles (hip extensors, femoral rotation)
• Hamstring Muscles (hip extension, knee flexion)
• Gastrocnemius or Calf (plantar flexes ankle, knee flexion)
• External Obliques (back and spine support, in tandem with anterior core)

As you can see from the list above, the posterior chain is pretty much the parts of the body vital to movement itself. The muscles across the front of the body are sometimes referred to as "Mirror Muscles": pectorals, abs, biceps when trained make your physique more pleasing to the eye and of course have a functionality too but much of our strength, power and balance originates from within the posterior chain. So the programme breaks from the traditional up/down split ie one day chest/back, one day legs etc and puts more emphasis on large compound movements while focusing on one aspect of development.

One day strength training
One day hypertrophy/muscular endurance
One day power training (that I find most fun)
One day speed agility training
One day general conditioning mostly through calisthenics

I'll be mixing this through with general boxing training and Tai Chi. Folk keep asking me when I post videos to the Breakthrough Facebook page to include videos of kicking technique. Truth be told my long term hip injury really limits me these days after finally being diagnosed with osteoarthritis. Any volume or intensity of kicking leaves me in a lot of pain for several days so I avoid it as much as possible. This programme works a lot on hip extension so I may find I improve in my mobility but as a realist I won't hold my breath!

What I also find interesting about this programme is the potential for improved energetics. The posterior chain is of course across the back so very much on the Yang surface. So we have the Large and Small Intestine, the gall bladder, the bladder, the kidney, the triple warmer meridians plus the governing vessels. These all respond to internal work but any degree of movement across them will activate them. The meridians are all going to be stretched, twisted manipulated etc throughout the normal exertions. Yang surfaces are traditionally though of as our energetic armour protecting our more sensitive meridians. GV 14 "The Great Hammer" is a vital point to the entire Yang Meridian system and a great place to improve health throughout the body in general. I look forward to "Yanging" it up! The programme is based around a 6 week training schedule, I'll keep you posted.