Vagabond Warriors 2.0 Write-up (diary entry)

This was the launch for Vagabond Warriors in 2012. Last year’s seminars and workshops were prototypes for the event I envisioned. Having the fantastic venue at Telford meant I could fully explore and represent the Vagabond Warriors concept.

The day began with a PowerPoint presentation. After coach information and a brief background on the history of cross-training I took the class through the Vagabond Warriors’ approach to training. This began with Clarification, Scepticism and Individuality (CSI) and then moved onto the Hierarchy of Training. Diagrams included a flow chart to show how improve an exercise, ven diagrams like Iain Abernety’s Martial Map and Tim Fareley’s definition of scepticism. The urgent/important matrix was used to introduce the point of time management and the Hierarchy of Training. I also revealed the single objective and deviaton diagram, which explains how cross training could be intelligently achieved. Videos included a promotional film on the benefits of understanding individual requirements of pupils, a montage on a one-legged Olympic wrestling champion, a demonstration of specific training and Sean Sherk’s caveman training.

The presentation was delivered in 10 minute to 45 minute slots coinciding with high intensity physical training. Prior to the scheduled activities everyone was warmed up with a series of relevant exercises. We began with 30% grappling sparring from cold. This can be done without risk of pulling muscles if both participants trust one another and go to the correct level of resistance. They begin slow and fluid, streteching from fighting postures. This went to standing grappling and then to striking.The intensity increased to around 50% before everyone then mirrored the exercises with shadow boxing. Finally footwork drills using multiple oppoents rounded off the warm-up section.

Specific traning began with the trademark Clubb Chimera Martial Arts exercise, Strategy One versus Strategy Two, where techniques are quarried. In this instance it was hand strikes. Different ranges were tested – standing, from a kneeling position, on the ground and against a wall/cage (both standing and on the ground). Then the quarried strikes were tested against kicking alone, to get an idea of advantages and disadvantages of ranges.

Atrribute training or cross training was introduced using the striking path for MMA. This started with a grappling footwork drill, including prompts to sprawl. Then we went onto the flash pad drill, followed by defence only on the focus mitts and then combining them both. Emphasis was then addressed. Students were supposed to be quarrying a specific technique – a straight or hooking technique. So, I re-emphasized this in the eventual proactive focus mitt training. Whatever the technique was it should finish the instinctive combination. Finally we dispensed with focus mitts and used boxing gloves as targets to prove a more realistic rounded surface to strike. The next stage would be to spar, but time was running thing and the class had certainly done a lot of pressure-testing sparring by this stage. The next stage after sparring would be to go back to the exercise and continue the circle, using what information gained from the sparring to improve the pad work.

The final secion was a functional fitness circuit. This was made up on the spot, as is the nature of “Caveman Training”. The most effective type of functional fitness would be to do exercises that further developed the selected techniques. However, because today was something of an introductory seminar I decided to have it focused on a range of areas – sprawl/dead lifts, sandbag/medicine ball woodchoppers, double leg takedown entries with a resistance band, fighting to your feet against a coach with a Swiss ball, single arm press/punching simulation, top position transitions, bag work, tyre flips and sledgehammer strikes to a tyre.

The session was finished with a warm-down mirroring the warm-up and then some specific functional fitness solo exercises for certain techniques. Finally everyone had a stretch and debrief with resources, tips on writing a training journal/blog and areas to research. Everyone left with handouts and a list of the day’s activities.

DON'T MISS: VAGABOND WARRIORS 2.1 - 31st March 2012 - REGISTER NOW