Group class photo from day one.

Some time ago I was approached via e-mail by Fernando and Massimiliano from Milan, these two guys are the founder members of the Italian Self-Protection group M.E.T.A. Fernando and Massimiliano are experienced guys whose backgrounds include training and study, in Western boxing, Jujitsu, Wing Chun, JKD (under Paul Vunak), Kravmaga, Kapap, and Italian Nova Scrima among others. M.E.T.A is made up of a group of guys who have been researching and studying a variety of Combatives material the likes of; Kelly McCann, Cestari Senshido, Bill Kipp, Sammy Franco, Geoff Thompson, myself and many more RBSD instructors, with the intention of forming a Combatives movement in Italy.

 

At present M.E.T.A has a group of guys in Venice, Milan and Rome who group together to practice and study the results of their research. The idea is to create regular instruction within the M.E.T.A group, via the arrangement of seminars in Italy with some of the respected instructors within the field of Modern Combatives. It is an honor for me to have been considered, the first in line to help them fill this need.  We arrived at Milan/Bergamo airport on Friday the 12^th of November to be met by Fernando and his wife Francesca needless to say both my girlfriend and myself were both shown overwhelming hospitality from the beginning to the end. We were taken to a very nice hotel in Milan and later out, for a traditional Italian meal where we met up with the rest of the M.E.T.A group. 

 

Here we have Alex and Massimiliano training Tiger’s claw with intensity.

 

Among this group of lovely people was Italian affiliate for Richard Dimitri, Alex Spaziani from Rome he was to be my main demonstration partner for the weekend’s training to come. Massimiliano did an excellent job of translating near enough everything I said, word for word over the whole two days and Fernando and Francesca did an excellent job of organizing everything else.  Day one started with an equal dose of theory and practical training. After my initial introduction we started with a brief discussion on the definition of Combatives training then a look into the history of the same, followed by our first module of instruction on the development of a Self-Protection game plan.

 

Me and Alex working the variations of the Chin-Jab.

 

 

 

Cradle blow with Fernando.

 

A couple of teaching moments.

Francesca works the key slash during the improvised weapons module.

 

M.E.T.A Instructor and host Fernando and Senshido affiliate Alex, working elbow strikes.

 

Seminar Overview

Day one

Introduction:

Into the difference between the Martial arts & Combatives & the history of Combatives up to modern day influence:

 

Module one:  (Theory) Developing a Self-Protection Game Plan:

Next was the warm up to get everyone both physically and mentally prepared for the training to come.

 

Module two (Practical) Basic strikes applied during partner drills and impact work employing tactics of Artifice (deception) & Vehemence (aggression): Tiger’s claw/Chin-Jab/Cupped hand blow/Cradle blow/Hammer-fist/Elbow and Knee strikes.

Module three: Combination strikes applied pre-emptively to common attacks employing the hard skills from above module:

Module four: The integrated use of improvised weapons: Here we focused primarily on the use of the key, first in isolation as a weapon and then integrated with the use of our empty hand hard skills.

Module five:  Combative physical and mental conditioning drills: Day one’s events finished with a stress test incorporating ATP drills and impact work.

·        SUMMARY:  Q & A, debrief and handouts.

 

 

 

This brought day one to a conclusion, everyone now had a much better understanding of Combatives in general. Here the focus of the day was on the importance of MINDSET and controlled aggression. The fact being that Combatives is indeed 90 percent attitude. I can’t emphasize this fact enough so I was happy that everyone seemed to have grasped this fact by the end of day one.  That evening we were treated to traditional Italian hospitality starting with a tour of the center of Milan where we saw everything from the most expensive clothing shops in the world, the likes of Prada, Gucci and Armani to the most beautiful architecture, manifesting itself in the Cathedral called Duomo which is without doubt the most breathtaking building I have ever seen.

 

Day two

Introduction:

A look into the edged weapons threat

 

Counter weapons’ training is a major topic and is deserving of an entire seminar of its own if you are to attempt doing any justice to the subject at all.  With that said I attempted to give the trainees an insight into some of the drills that we practice in Urban Combatives in order to help prepare for such a scenario.  The fact was emphasised that no one system of martial art or Combatives will ever hold all the answers regarding empty hands against weapons, particularly when concerning the knife. 

 

·        Module six:

Here we looked at a variety of factors concerning the edged weapon including consequences, law and carry of such items, and some of the important concepts and principles concerning the issue as a whole.

 

·        Module seven:

Methods of recognising concealment in order to shut the aggressor down before access can be gained.

 

·        Module eight:

Offensive knife; learning the angles of attack and ABC method.

 

 

·        Module nine:

Knife fence and fending the angles drills.

 

·        Module ten:

Stress drill.

 

Francesca training counter knife and Group class photo for day two.

 

Francesca and Fernando, the perfect hosts.

Summary:

Q & A, debrief and handouts.

 

This brought a most successful first seminar to a conclusion.  There was and has been since some very positive feedback from all who took part. The M.E.T.A group met after for a talk about the future regarding the development and spread of Modern Combatives training in Italy. As I said before, the goal of the M.E.T.A group is to introduce the Italian public to Combatives as there are a huge number of people in Italy at present who practice both traditional martial arts and MMA, but it is felt that RBSD and Combatives training is little known; apart from a few respected instructors dotted about here and there. Together we are aiming to change that and therefore open up the floodgate to Europe for this kind of training. The aim is to give Italy exposure to some of the best instructors within our field.  I am more than happy to be a part of that. Fernando and Massimiliano have the intention of becoming instructors under me and will eventually go on to represent Urban Combatives in Italy.  Starting with Milan, Venice and Rome. The plan is for me to come and teach 3 times a year rotating at all 3 locations, as these two very experienced individuals are pending instructorship. Make no mistake making these two very worthy guys instructors, will not be taken lightly by them or me.

 

They both have extreme potential that I aim to cultivate and the result will provide two instructors that most instructors in my position, would be truly proud of. Under no circumstances do I expect Fernando and Massimiliano to simply regurgitate what I teach them, yes they will learn the Urban Combatives curriculum in its entirety but I will encourage them to integrate it with their own vast experience and to look in other places for similar functionality. M.E.T.A already have scheduled plans for seminars with Richard Dimitri; someone I most highly recommend that we all should experience. In addition to this they are prepared to train with anyone I recommend. Dennis Martin, John Deacon, guys from F.A.S.T Defence and Joe Hubbard are just some that I am considering introducing as we develop. The options are wide and open. The aim is for all to gain exposure to practicality and together we strive to develop our own individual functional jigsaw. Watch this space for future developments.

 

Peace out.

 

More photos and some video clips will be added to this review and also to the gallery as soon as they are sent from the guys in Italy.