The Ultimate Idea: Cross Training
by Alan Charlton

For me one of the most rewarding parts of training in the martial arts, is meeting people who are willing to exchange ideas, and who openly promote the idea that you can learn from everyone. So why do some people feel it's such a taboo to think of taking on other people's ideas? If something is better why not change? Outside the world of martial arts we are happy to get help or better information. I, like many people, drive a car, but please don't expect me to understand how the engine works. I am writing this article on a computer, but what goes on inside this cream coloured box, from keyboard to screen is a mystery. So when the car breaks down, or the computer screen goes blank, we are happy to get outside help. 

Every time I train with someone from outside my association, I learn, and if it's better I will change. If someone can show me a better way, then I would be mad not to listen. No one person can have all the answers, but everyone you meet can take you that bit nearer. 

From the outset this is what I wanted to do with the Self Protection Association, because inside I felt that there was a lot missing from my training. The problem I had was that I knew that 90 percent of my training would not work in the street.  So for years I had doubt and the most uncomfortable part at the time, was teaching people with this doubt inside me. Whatever answer you may give now, I am sure you went to your first martial arts class because you felt unsafe and having a black belt would make you feel more confident.  Unfortunately it only gives you confidence within the group you are training with at the time, step outside that group and it falls apart quicker than a newspaper in the rain. 

Stepping outside

Over the years I have found by stepping outside of what feels comfortable within my own training has brought me the greatest sense of achievement. It doesn't matter if you can not do the basic drills within a new or strange training environment, or if the most junior member of the club is beating the pants off you.  The fact that you are there trying is the most important thing, putting yourself on the line is both the test and the achievement. Some of the Instructors and their students I have trained with have made me feel as if I had never trained in the martial arts in my life, and made me ask myself what the hell am I doing here?  What I am doing, is finding out my weak points and doing my best to understand and strengthen them. 

If you train hard in any one system for many years you will reach a high standard, you may obtain a black belt and higher Dan grades. For anyone to get to that level means they have shown strength and commitment, but the biggest test comes from understanding that outside of that particular environment it means nothing. 

Just as an example let's say your system is kick boxing. You have trained hard for many years and reached a high standard. Your punches are faster than lightning, and your roundhouse is faster than the rotors on a helicopter. But today you are fighting a yellow belt in Judo and by the rules of Judo, so no kicking and no punching, your years of training disappear and you are beaten by someone who may have only been training, for six months. This does not mean that Judo is better than kick boxing or any other system, it shows you by stepping out of the comfort of your own system, you are testing yourself and finding out your own weaknesses. 

For me no one system has all the answers, if you want to train in only one system and you enjoy it then that's great. If you feel it covers all your needs and gives you what you want, then I wish you all the best and hope you enjoy your training for many years to come. 

Finding What You Want

Today, all my training is looking for things that work within the brutal arena of the street, pub or tube station, for me that's what I started training for. The enjoyment comes from training all the fighting ranges, and improving the areas I am weakest in. I train to understand and deal with the type of attacker that is on the street today. 

Your attacker today could just spray you in the face with CS Gas and stab you in the chest with a screwdriver, the attack is over before you realised it had began. Say in the future the government decides that all citizens of the UK have the right to carry firearms (God forbid) then I would be first to sign up for a course on how to use a Gun. So a large part of my training would have to change because my attacker's approach would be different with the introduction of firearms. I hope that the above never happens and it may sound a little extreme, but as I said before, my training is for self protection and I train to understand the attacker of today and not the attacker I may have had a hundred years ago. 

You are the only person who can know why you train in the system you do, and the benefits you gain on a personal level are your own. But if the idea of protecting yourself on the street enters your head, you should not be complacent. Get out and add to what you have. You can still train and enjoy your base system and your Instructor should welcome this, if not then he knows that what he is teaching is weak. 

If you have questions it's your right to have them answered, if you get attacked in the street, it's you who is on the spot, and only you who has to deal with it. 

If we just go back for a second to the kick boxer and the Judo student, but this time the kick boxer can play by his rules, what would be the outcome?  Because the Judo man is no longer permitted to grab and throw, the kick boxer is going to feel a lot happier now being in the environment he has trained for. 

I have lost count of the amount of times I have heard Instructors and students from many different systems talk about this and what would be the outcome.  Events like the ultimate fight challenge and Vale Tudo championships have made many rethink their training in respect to what works under pressure.  For me I think that its a good thing and have the utmost respect for anyone who enters such events but there are still rules. What if one fighter had a knife a broken bottle and steel toe capped boots, who would win?  Lets go one step further, what if the other fighter knew he could not handle fighting someone with weapons so stabbed his opponent before he could get into the ring, am I going too far?  Have I pushed my views beyond reality? No this type of fighting goes on everyday, and the worst part is that your attacker on the street will not enter the ring with music playing and lights flashing, you may not see him coming at all. 

Bags, Mats, Partners and Rules

So how can we start to build up pressure in our training and test what we have? First kicking or punching. Use what you hit hardest with and train it on a heavy bag until you are sick of it. Don't just have the bag hanging, lay it down on the floor and try your strikes now. Use the bag as a partner hold the bag with one arm and strike with everything else, head, knees, elbows and biting. Start with 1 min round's change your hold on the bag and start again, lay the bag on the floor and try it again. Restrict your movement by keeping a part of your body against the bag at all times, as you are striking the bag on the floor do not let that part of your body come off the bag. This is a hard and frustrating drill you will be tempted to come off the bag to drive in a hard technique. Don't. Remember being uncomfortable is what you should be feeling. 

Ground fighting is something that has taken off big time with the success of the ultimate fight championships, and it is the range that brings me out in a cold sweat when I'm on the mat. But for the street it's the last place I would want to be, it's no good putting your attacker in pain with a leg lock, only to have his mate kick you in the face and his girlfriend stab you. But with a good training partner, working on the mat can take you to places other parts of your training cannot reach. I have found it the hardest, but also the most rewarding range.  If you do any type of ground fighting I'm sure you would agree, if you have not done any ground fighting you are in for a great surprise. 

To be good on the ground, the training and skill level you have to achieve is second to none. One drill my students enjoy? Get your partner to lay on his back, then lay face down across his chest, for 1 min your partner throws you off do not resist, but keep getting back on. The next part of the drill is the same as before but this time DON'T let him get you off, no holding just spread your arms and legs and keep moving so he can't get you off. You will feel happier than someone who's just won the lottery but only when the drill is over. 

Having a good training partner and taking away the rules lets you test in the safety of the dojo some of the real aspects of fighting on the street. Let's have a quick look at blocking and counter punching. With a partner let them throw punches and you block and counter. Now have your partner throw a punch hard and fast at your head, and a body punch that is so hard it will bring up the memory of last night's cheese on toast. At this point your block and counter may fall short of the mark, because your partner is coming in hard you are more likely to be grappling than counter punching. 

It's great to work on technique. Finding the right way to throw a punch or kick is very important. The problem a lot of people have is too many techniques, when it comes to working under pressure they struggle because they are trying to decide which one to use. I feel a ground fighter is the best qualified to think about blocking because, if you practise blocking, you should also train in close combat and ground fighting, because on the street there is a good chance that's where you will end up. 

It's Your Choice

As I said before having a base system is good, and there is nothing wrong in wanting to add to it. Most systems work well within their own group it's your choice if you want to step outside. The majority of Instructors who are interested in teaching self protection are open minded and only too willing to help you find the answers to your cross training needs. There is so much out there we have the people here in the UK that can push you to your own limits.  You could take part in Geoff Thompson's Animal Day, train with Peter Consterdine and feel the power of the double hip strike, have your eyes opened to practical knife defence that works with Mr Peter Robins or Mr Dave Turton, practise striking combinations with Kevin O'Hagan, or all the fighting ranges in one man Mr Rick Young, for fear training just stand in the same room as Mr Dave Briggs. 

It's your right to protect yourself, only you are responsible and only you can do anything about it.  It's your choice. 

Thanks to Kevin Fox and Alan Charlton of the SPA for permission to reproduce this article