Clubb Chimera Martial Arts : CCMA

This page is intended to provide links to useful information to illustrate points from the CCMA Process of Common Sense, Principles, Strategies and Tactics. It is a work in progress that will be regularly updated. If any of the links are out of date or not working please write to us. Additionally any feedback is most welcome.

Principles – Non-Physical Principles – Tenets

When I first decided I wanted to coach classes and run gradings my way, I made the decision to not list any techniques in my syllabus. The idea is that you constantly progress and develop a style for yourself. CCMA is the platform, foundation and guide for developing that style. In order that this is approached intelligently you need to have some first non-physical principles in place. These are represented in the CCMA tenets of Respect, Awareness, Courage, Discipline and Open Mind

Principles – Non-Physical Principles – Tenets – Open Mind

This is the ability to adapt and it where natural techniques really emerge. By using your natural strengths derived from intuitive pressure-testing/training methods reinforced by scientific and empirical evidence and case studies, you develop your best and most effecient techniques. By keeping an open mind you continually research and are flexible in your mindset both from a short term point view – as in the heat of a fight – and in the long term – as in cross-training and experimental training.

Principles

Physical Principles – Body Mechanics – Strategy 1 – Tactics – Pre-emptive Strike – Straight line rear hand strike

This is a no frills piece of footage taken and put up on YouTube by Dennis’s son. It perfectly illustrates the natural feel and the force behind the strike. Note the “travel”, the angle of the bag, the obvious density of the bag and the way Dennis naturally adapts – the restriction of the wall turns his usual looping right hander (similar to Rocky Marciano’s “Sweet Suzie Q”) into a straighter shot. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnfldrDjopU

Principles – Physical Principles – Body Mechanics – Movement – Footwork

The best way to move in a real fight is to walk believe it or not. All CCMA’s movement works off basic walking and running movements. However, as we go into attribute training we learn the benefits of training other forms of footwork. For example, circling is a great strategy 1 defensive move especially when facing multiple attackers and grappling.

Here’s a description taken from the art of Western Boxing from “Expert Village”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpElrgUSNx4

I can’t find any links at the moment, but it is worth mentioning that circling and side-stepping footwork is done with a lower stance in MMA and wrestling.

Here is a Krav Maga school teaching a drill that demonstrates circling footwork against multiple attackers:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qz4iy2-a4s0

Strategies

Strategy 1 – Tactics – Low Round Kick

If I could have one kick it would be this one. The low round kick most famously exhibited by Muay Thai fighters, but also a mainstay of Cambodian Boxing, Burmese Lethwei, Mixed Martial Arts and Kyukushinkai Karate, has shown to be a very effecient weapon. In self-defence it can be applied even lower than the standard thigh target in order to unbalance and totally upend an attacker’s lowline. The striking area is the shin, but the most significant point about the kick is its execution. Force is driven, as with virtually any strike, from the ground and up into the hip, weight transferred past the target area onto the supporting leg and the kicking leg is thrown out in a free flowing relaxed motion.

Here is link from Expert Village: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPddN8JD2eM

This next link should perhaps go under the body mechanics section, but for the benefit of contuity I have included here. Steve Morris does a superb job of explaining the concept behind the angulation of a strong low round kick http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhualei4EK8

Strategy 1 – Tactics – Low Kick Defence

In general blocking is something you instinctively do at the in-fight stage. I don’t like to band the term about because it creates a passive/reactional idea, which is completley at odds with the CCMA Process. We pre-emptively strike and if overwhelmed by our attacker’s shots or surprised our default position is to cover, move forward and regain the initiative in a proactive way. However, when we are dealing with attribute training such as Thai Boxing/MMA sport or perhaps in the unlikely case of fighting someone who knows how to low kick properly on the street it is worth understanding a standard defence. This is the shin-block, which is delivered like a strike to the kicking leg. I like to think of it as a type of low single cover, following the same concept of moving in as you defend.

Here’s a link from  5 Point Fitness: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwFy5Iwd5Wg

Strategy 1 – Tactics – Grappling Defence – The Sprawl

The sprawl is a striker’s best friend when it comes to fighting a someone who wants to grapple low. The striker does not just have to worry about wrestlers and natural grapplers either, in a self-defence situation you are more likely to come across someone who is familar with leg tackling (as found in common sports like Rugby and their American and Australian cousins, American or Ozzie Rules Football). Going for a leg tackle, a shoot or a double leg takedown is a “primal grappling” move that people instinctively often as a contingency method whilst covering from a barrage of strikes to their highline or even pre-emptively. Therefore sprawling is a very useful tactic to have in your armoury, which is why we teach it early on and as an instinctive response. In the world of Mixed Martial Arts a type of strike-based fighter emerged that were known as the “Sprawl Brawlers”. Preferring to stay on their feet (a decent self-defence tactic), they mastered this takedown defence to perfection stopping those who wanted to ground-fight in their tracks. From my experience of being thrown to the ground by grapplers of different  descriptions, I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to sprawl early against a lowline takedown, making sure you drive your hips down and your legs back aggressively and persistantly. Brazilian Jiu Jitsuka/Submission Grapplers often use a very useful technique known as a head triangle in conjunction with a sprawl, which is worth considering to keep control and to take the attack immediately back to the attacker. For grappling “attribute training purposes” we often train taking the back as an instinctive follow-up to the sprawl, however, it is difficult to execute this if your lowline grappling attack has not fully committed or is planting his lead foot rather than his knee. Therefore, in order to keep fighting standing up (a preferred self-defence tactic) we often drill using the momentum from the sprawl to drive through a straight knee strike to the attacker’s face and/or attacking the medulla oblongata (back of the neck) with downward strikes.

Here are some links for the sprawl:

This footage was taken from the “Human Weapon” series, produced by the “History Channel”. The series, like National Geographic’s “Fight Science”, has some highly dubious conclusions regarding the effectiveness of certain martial arts techniques, supposedly backed up by science. However, this is fairly sound, if basic, description of what is involved in the sprawl: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYKrhfFo8Qo

Ed Wedding’s tutorial is a lot better and shows you how to sprawl from an all-in fighting perspective, such as MMA (Mixed Martial Arts). The double leg attack he uses is also interesting, as he shows an entry where the foot is planted rather than the knee, which is more line with streetfighting strategies and tactics: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57w6t4Wp0O4

Strategy 1 – Tactics – Grappling Defence – Snaking/Shrimping

Whether you are training in Judo, Submission Grappling or Brazilian Jiu Jitsu you will learn how to snake or shrimp. This is a fundamental ground fighting technique. By learning how to snake you learn how to move when fighting from your most vulnerable position – your back. It is a very important method for escaping pins in and out of attribute training, and can also be used for attacking. It also transfers well when you face multiple attackers too, as a transitional move.

Here is a great in-depth description of a snaking drill by Aaron Blake, head US instructor of Team Maine:

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oh-9rbc7Vy4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fsj4NZQ8xgI&feature=related

Strategy 2 – Tactics – Grappling

At CCMA we currently follow the adage of “grapple when you have to, strike when you can”. In a self-defence situation a person who opts for grappling is often very comfortable with this range, probably because they are bigger and stronger than you, and also because grappling, for whatever reason, has naturally served them well when physically assaulting someone. As a civilian whose primary and, generally speaking, only purpose is to avoid or survive an assault, we don’t want to get ourselves unnecessarily tied up with someone for many reasons and our objective is escape. However, when things go wrong at the in-fight stage, grappling is a very important support skill that allows you to get back to your Strategy One tactics of striking and escape or just escaping.

Strategy 2 – Tactics – Grappling Attack – High Line Clinch

The highline clinch is perhaps one of the best grappling tactics you can employ when coming out of a cover. Whenever possible, it is pretty obvious to attack the highline, to go for the head and neck region. Many martial arts, at their core base, agree with this tactic. We aim our strikes there whenever possible because this is where the brain is located and other very vulnerable places like the eyes, the throat and the carotid artery (around the back of the neck is also a very vulnerable area). Therefore we attack this area with grappling for the same reason. If you control the head you get a good control of the body and you put your attacker on the defensive. Here is Iain Abernethy demonstrating on me some excellent points about the highline clinch:

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrKJYNWZlnc

Strategy 2 – Tactics – Midline Clinch

Greco-Roman Wrestling is a great method for concentrating on grappling midline. As a sport it is full contact, but does not permit any grappling below the waist, meaning wrestlers have to become highly adept at attacking and defending using the clinch.

Here is a link from MMA legend Randy Coutre describing the use of Greco-Roman Wrestling clinches and takedowns:

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNfDEIc0aWo

Strategy 2 – Tactics - Rear Choke/Strangle

Different techniques work for different people, but for most able bodied people the rear naked choke or rear “blood” choke or rear strangle is up there with the cross and hook to the head in its effeciency. I would always advise striking over grappling in a real life survival situation, but once you are in a grappling situation this is a superb technique once you have a strong back position.

This is a description on its usuage in the Marines’ MCMAP system from the series “Human Weapon”:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5t0HWn7DF_A

Here is a straightforward description given by Submissions 101:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Byyh5PZVBk

Here is a great transition from a rear mount position, including starting using the “harness” hold, taught by Stephan Kesting:

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=176SLdBhj_A

Strategy 2 – Tactics – Grappling Attack – Double Leg Takedown

The double leg takedown, as previously mentioned, is a “primal grappling” method. It is a valuable tactic when your high and midline are is overwhelmed by a superior striker. People naturally cover and dive low to regain control of a fight. Outside the matted arena is it advisable to try diving the lead foot rather than the lead knee when tackling or shooting.

Once again, I refer to the “Human Weapon” series from the “History Channel” to show the raw technique of this move: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHcw_SdE08I

Here’s an interesting and effective variation of the move, stripped away from more stylistic versions, filmed for “Expert Village”:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psUNxiOOmtk

These basic variations are fine for the more “attribute training” aspects of CCMA, such as straight MMA sparring, but they deal with executing a double leg takedown as an opening technique. Generally speaking, we are training to neutralize or subdue an attacker quickly in order to escape. These following ways of executing the technique are done to directly engage in a grappling style attack and is best reserved for the mats, the ring or the cage - nevertheless, it is high percentage move and we should at least be aware of being attacked in the manner (see the early piece on the sprawl):

From ”Train Fight Win” a nice variation on a basic submission grappling technique:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_FNyP0MnVM

and for MMA from “Pain Factory Com”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6JAZNmm43c

Again, this last one from Wrestling coach, Rudy Ruiz gives some detail on an attacking entry, but it is worth including here for the finer details he gives on the whole execution of the double leg takedown: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpzJ0TYv7pw

Strategy 2 – Tactics – Grappling – Sit Through

The sit through is a vital counter if your enemy sprawls on your lowline takedown. It is a method that sets you perfectly to take the back.

Finding links for this very basic and fundamental grappling move is not easy at the moment. Here is a traditional Brazilian Jiu Jitsu version of the move described in detail by Aaron Blake:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EHUyR02LWs&feature=related

Strategy 2 – Tactics – Grappling – Back Mount

In attribute training this position is a favourable one if you take the back when ground fighting. It still has its place in self-defence, but because of the dangers inherent in being tangled up with another person it is lower down the line of priorities. In self-defence once you take the back you get to your feet and either run or continue striking to enable you to make your escape. I have inserted here because it is a natural grappling-style follow up to the sit-through and the sprawl.

Anselmo Baldin’s simple details on getting the leg hooks on the back mount:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OBJqYHrMp8

Strategy 2 – Tactics – Grappling – Pins

If the fight goes to the ground you need to retain or take control like any other area of a fight. A key area for ground fighting is understanding pins. This will ensure that you can get to your feet as soon as soon as possible and that you will be in the best position to strike.

Strategy 2 – Tactics – Grappling – Pins – Knee Pin

For self-defence purposes this is universally praised as the best pin. You are technically still standing and limit your attacker’s grip on you and you have a greater advantage to fight off other attackers than in any other position. This technique can be completely altered into a striking S1 style tactic where you stamp using your knee. It is a technique frequently taught to the military and can crush ribs, the sternum and collapse lungs. This absolute worse case scenario technique can be practiced on a kick shield.

Strategy 2 – Tactics – Grappling – Pins – Full Mount

In Mixed Martial Arts competition the full mount is arguable the best mount position to get. In self-defence I would place it after the knee pin. In fact, just as ground fighting is best to avoid in real life, so is this position. This is because it locks you and inhabits your escape, as well as leaving you vulnerable to attacks from multiple standing aggressors. Nevertheless, it is a very important and advantageous position if you do go to the ground and is worth understanding at the very least in order to defend against it. The full mount is a true primal grappling position and is sometimes known as the “schoolboy pin”. This is for a good reason, being any bully or alpha male/female’s favourite position of domination over their victim.

This footage on Youtube comes from the Expert Village’s series of lessons for MMA beginners:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdPIyB5TTU0

And here is a straightforward defence from under the full mount:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNKKVHgIu2I

Strategy 2 – Tactics – Grappling – Pins – Side Control

This tactic is brilliant for grappling only sports like Judo, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Submission Wrestling. However, in self-defence even some Jiu Jitsu instructors advise against its usage. Nevertheless, it is still worth understanding for the purposes of “attribute training” and to gain a knowledge of ground fighting.

Here is some footage from TrainFightWin.com showing the application of a Kimora arm-lock from the side control position:

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kqs3iVxU-Y

Strategy 2 – Tactics – Grappling – The Guard

The guard is the prime position to be in if you are having to fight an attacker from your back on the ground. Its dangers for self-defence are obvious with regards to multiple aggressors and the fact that even in a one-on-one, as MMA has shown, the guard is not the safest position to be in. Nevertheless, it provides a decent element of control if you are unfortunate enough to be fighting from your back. Silat and Judo both have versions of the guard, but I think it is fair to say that the schools of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu has developed this position to an art form.

Strategy 2 – Tactics – Grappling – The Guard – Kimura Sweep

Named after the great Japanese Judoka who defeated Helio Gracie after a titanic battle, the Kimura is a type of reverse American arm-bar (or Americana or key lock). Its delivery from the guard provides us with a high percentage sweep. Here is a demonstration from TrainFightWin.com:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEWbFtNMAuw