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Scientific Fighting Congress
Knife Counter-Knife Course
August 11-12, Ottawa, Canada
Hosted by the Young Forest Kung Fu Club
I always love going to Ottawa because I get to see
my Kung Fu family there. The Young
Forest Kung Fu and Arnis Club in Ottawa is
run by my brother Badger, who I first met over 10 years ago at a
festival, where we spent 3 days mainly training and carousing. This
chance meeting turned into a long time association, and what's more,
many of the senior students at the Young Forest school have been
there as long as I have known the club! That says a lot about any
group! The Young Forest is a Kung Fu school with a lot of heart and
family to it. Ottawa is also a magnificent city to explore with no
lack of music, museums, festivals, food and excitement.
The seminar was a two day event, with a long day of training Saturday
covering the requirements for the SFC knife course through Journeyman
and Tradesman. The drills were all taught in a logic chain to teach
multiple skills at the same time. Drawing your knife, for example,
might be incorporated into a basic striking drill, or an unarmed x
knife drill where you initially respond unarmed, then draw and move
into a further knife x knife scenario. The drills were all worked
with 2 and 3 man groups and at different heights (standing, kneeling,
on the ground). The ground was rough cement, and the participants
were hard-core in taking falls on the abrasive surface and ground
fighting with much gusto. This is where they always train when the
weather is good...no mats required for these guys!
Sunday started with a review of all the first day's material, then a
long block on passing the attack with empty hands or with the knife
and connections between this drill and the previous material.
Advanced skill development drills were done combining multiple basic
skills to develop flow and spontaneous attack. Then came the test
which was was a rapid fire series of combat scenarios and sparring,
lasting over an hour. This was a high energy event, and folks did
well under the speed and pressure of the constant need to move,
attack, and defend through the drills. Well done guys!
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Anton Cvet of the AEMMA "Gets Medieval" while Fighting Unarmed Against the Knife! His traditional European grappling skills, gained from fighting in full plate armor, served him well. Many of the Kung Fu stylists commented that Anton's locking and throws, though similar mechanically to what they knew, felt very different in fighting - they had a different energy or "flavor" to them. Much fun was had exchanging the best of East and West! |
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Godzilla Caught Stomping a Car Lot in Watertown, NY!
I just wanted to pass along my
appreciation for Saturdays training! I now have a new appreciation
for the intensity level that is required in the empty hand vs knife
scenario! I picked up a different level of focus for the stabs in the
12 angle set, along with the idea of the figure 8's and stabbing
series that are 'hidden' in there. As usual, this was time well
spent: good info and training, and no bullshit moves! I now also have
a new set of home drills to practice from the knees and prone...this
was very useful.
Robert
P.
I'd just like to take a few
minutes to thank you both for the weekend seminar! I found the
training extremely interesting since it is an aspect of martial arts
that I never considered taking up. I will never look at a knife the
same way again. My arms are still bloodied and battered, but it was
well worth it.
Charles N.