Pre, In and Post-Fight Self-Protection (diary entry)

This lesson served as an introduction to a new client. He wishes to follow the complete CCMA approach to martial arts training. This means starting with our self-protection programme and then moving onto cross-training in other martial arts.

As is normally the case with self-protection training we began with a brief interview, which followed on from the formal questionnaire sent out prior to the lesson. Once I was satisfied with the level of the student’s ability, experience and knowledge, as well as what they wanted from the lesson, I began a lecture on pre-fight personal security. Personal security covers the soft or non-physical skills of self-protection. The student had already been sent my foundation articles on respect, awareness, courage, discipline and open mind that help form the right mental attitude to avoid, deter and handle interpersonal violence. I went through the basic procedure, explaining why without attitude none of the training would work. Then we discussed the different stages of awareness and their context. This led up to a hypothetical confrontation and the various options available. All of this, like the hard skills, will be revised and layered as training progresses each session.

We moved onto pre-emption and began our physical training. The client learnt consitant forward pressure from straight and hooked strikes. He also learnt basic body mechanics and how to use the hook to also deliver forward and backward curved elbow strikes and backhand/forearm strikes. We worked through postures to develop power through restriction and also to better transition from compromised positions. Referencing targets with a non-striking hand was also covered. Next we moved onto pressure testing and the student trained these various tactics against a grappling adversary.

The hard skills part of the lesson was finished with a look at exercises that can be utilized to improved stability strength and explosiveness.

This included single arm incline presses, striking press-ups, hooking with a vertical barbell, torso rotations and moving through the various postures without putting a hand on the ground.

Post-fight soft skills were briefly touched upon, discussing maintaining awareness, first aid, reporting an incident and dealing with the aftermath.