Training and grading
By Mike Ashworth | June 21, 2010
I had a top day yesterday, training and then grading with the folks from Complete Self Protection.
It was a fairly tiring session and I am certainly feeling very achy today.
I think that many of the drills were designed not just to test our technique but also to tire us out. The idea being that when we were called to the mat towards the end of the four hour session to demonstrate various techniques, so we could be graded, we were working from technique only.
It’s actually a very powerful way of training as you realise that when the brute strength is put to one side having the technique only can deliver more powerful strikes (be that punching or kicking). Sounds a bit weird but that’s how it goes.
Some of the most fun parts were heading onto the mat to have two or three other people try and take you down (and vice versa!) and grappling to obtain a pin or submission.
There is such a great spirit amongst the people who train together, and at the risk of sounding a bit “new-age” you can really feel it in the room.
We were also treated to some training in anti-grappling from Steven Male who runs Vital Combat.
I am very pleased that I have now achieved my 6th Kyu - Red in the Real Combat System. I am on my way.
Photo of certificate below with our colours. It is not an art that hands out belts as we train / fight without a Gi.
Photos from training and grading session to follow.
