…..Every Instructor or Practitioner has seen it.  Someone with tons of talent but who loses the motivation.  Some times people just waste away their skill sets and it always is a little puzzling.  In the Martial Sciences longevity is important.  Why?  Well in order to keep and maintain your skill sets you must be training.  Once you start to slow down maybe training here and there once or twice a week then your ability to not only improve but also to maintain your skill sets diminish.  I have been teaching now for well over twenty years.  Through out this time period I have had some incredibly talented students.  Some who still train today either with me or with someone else as they have moved away.  As a teacher it is always great to see someone continue to hone their path on the martial ways!  That is the greatest treat that a teacher has.  Conversely when someone who has the spark loses it and starts to waste away.  Well, that is not a treat.  It is instead sad!  Most instructors tell me and I can confirm it myself that when a student starts to slow down their training.  Meaning they were coming regularly to class but then it is once a week and eventually once in a while.  Well, when this starts to happen usually in the end their skill sets just waste away.  You see the Martial Sciences require constant effort and commitment.  For a true practitioner this is not a hobby or something they do like bowling. (not that bowling is not absolutely great)  No this is much more than that and instead a way of living and advancing as a human being.  In order to keep hard earned skill sets you must constantly work them and improve them.  It is not just enough to work a skill set where you are at but instead you need to improve them and that is where having someone show you a new variation or way is so important. When someone starts to slow down their training.  Well inevitably there skill sets erode and waste away.  Look at any athletic endeavor and you will see the same thing.  Professional athletes are always trying to improve both technically and attribute wise.  When they stop improving it is usually not to far down the road when they will not be a professional athlete anymore.  As soon as they stop competing and stop their rigorous training regimen then their skill sets erode and waste away.  This is something that all of us need to remember and remind ourselves that if we do not keep going or have that indomitable spirit then we will waste away.

The Question I Put To You Is?  Do You Want Your Skills To Waste Away!

If not then you know what you have to do!

See You On The Mats!

copyright Instinctive Response Training LLC 2008

Brian R. VanCise

Note: This Blog is opinion only and Instinctive Response Training LLC nor Brian R. VanCise is responsible for any third party actions taken.

Visit Us At: http://www.instinctiveresponsetraining.com

…..After the unfortunate and untimely passing of Grand Master Remy Amador Presas there have been quite a few individuals training and perpetuating Modern Arnis around the world.  One of the Filipino Masters that is simply fantastic is Rodel Dagooc!  Quick as lightning and very, very technical he has tremendous ability.  Following are some video clips highlighting his skill and technique.

Enjoy these clips!

copyright Instinctive Response Training LLC 2008

Brian R. VanCise

Note: This Blog is opinion only and Instinctive Response Training LLC nor Brian R. VanCise is responsible for any third party actions taken.

Visit Us At: http://www.instinctiveresponsetraining.com

…..You know every year as I get a little older I always look back on the training of the past year.  I particularly like to isolate areas of interest and where I personally have made advancement.  I try to note where I have also not improved and highlight that for the next upcoming year.  By looking back I find that I also tend to look ahead or set some goals.  By finding where I have trained and made improvements and by finding where I have not made improvements I then set the table and goals for the upcoming year.  Looking back has always helped me to improve.  If you take the time to simply do this and set some goals you will be surprised at how you will improve and grow.  I know that it has always worked for me!

See You On The Mats!

copyright Instinctive Response Training LLC 2008

Brian R. VanCise

Note: This Blog is opinion only and Instinctive Response Training LLC nor Brian R. VanCise is responsible for any third party actions taken.

Visit Us At: http://www.instinctiveresponsetraining.com

Picture taken from an IRT Archery Seminar!

…..Okay I am a firm believer that everyone should know how to hunt even if you do not do it regularly.  This would include hunting with bows, crossbows, shotgun and rifle and yes anything else.  Why am I a firm believer in hunting as a part of martial science.  Well first off it is an essential skill that has been passed down from our fore fathers.  Now this skill set once was a mandatory skill set for anyone living on the fringes of society.  Now however, we can all purchase our food so easily that it is less a requirement to know how to hunt for everyday living.  Still what makes hunting relevant to a modern person moving along the martial path?  Well there are certain skill sets that one develops when hunting that will help you in dealing with a violent assault or in protecting your family during a dangerous time.  One of the easiest and most readily recognizable skill sets would be that hunter’s by nature are not squeamish people.  They are in general practical people who have seen blood shed and are not shocked by it.  This is very important, a very, very important trait to have during a violent encounter.  Hunting also imparts quite a few skill sets that can be handy whether you are a civilian, law enforcement or military personnel.  Some of these skills or wood craft that hunters learn are spotting prey’s movement, luring in prey, silent movement, camouflage, breath control before a shot, game trail awareness, gut feeling, etc. (so many more)  All of these skill sets translate well for law enforcement officer’s and yes military and civilian applications.  If someone breaks into your house you may not want them to know where you are and yet you may have to move quietly.  You may also need to be able to pick up where they are at based off movement.  You will also need to have an idea of when to move and when to stay put and use camouflage.  These are just some of the civilian applications that readily come to mind.  For law enforcement officers and military you can readily see correlations. (yes it is that easy)  Some of the finest martial artists I personally have ever worked with also were hunters.  They were and are pragmatic martial practitioners who bring the same effectiveness to their system of choice that they have when they are out in the woods hunting.  Many of them are also current or former military or law enforcement officers.  Even if you do not want to hunt regularly you owe it to yourself to get out once in a while and do some hunting.  These are still important skill sets for every martial practitioner!

See You Out In The Woods!

copyright Instinctive Response Training LLC 2008

Brian R. VanCise

Note: This Blog is opinion only and Instinctive Response Training LLC nor Brian R. VanCise is responsible for any third party actions taken.

Visit Us At: http://www.instinctiveresponsetraining.com

…..In my Instinctive Response Training classes I focus on technique, application and getting the practitioners body used to the way we move.  This is important in that they are coming to me to learn this knowledge and skill sets.  We also train pretty hard so they are getting a workout and I have had people drop allot of weight over time do to this as well.  Quite a bit of our technical training also involves focus mitts and bag work which are essential for anyone studying the martial sciences.  However, I do not focus solely on cardiovascular training.  Why, because a student can do allot of cardiovascular training on their own outside of class.  Cardiovascular training is essential if you wish to be effective as a martial practitioner.  You need to incorporate cardiovascular training into your every day routine.  Personally, I bike, run, do  wind sprints, swim, rock climb, hike, jump rope, practice on heavy bags and focus mitts, swing blades and sticks endlessly, etc.  I try to vary my training regularly so that it is constantly a challenge.  One thing I think that every martial practitioner should do is ensure that they have a fully fledged cardiovascular training routine.  Just look at mma fighter’s and you will see that at the very top the best fighter’s are in phenomenal shape.  Translate that to having to protect yourself and if you are in better shape than someone who violently attacks you or your loved ones then you should have an advantage.  Do not neglect your cardiovascular training and ensure that you have the wind so to speak to get through a violent encounter.

See You On The Mats!

copyright Instinctive Response Training LLC 2008

Brian R. VanCise

Note: This Blog is opinion only and Instinctive Response Training LLC nor Brian R. VanCise is responsible for any third party actions taken.

Visit Us At: http://www.instinctiveresponsetraining.com

……Okay this was a very informative and interesting show that was featured on the National Geographic channel and then on several other networks.  Very good and informative.

Here is a link to the National Geographic Channel: National Geographic Channel Fight Science

I highly recommend you go to their website and find the next airing time and watch it!

See You On The Mats!

copyright Instinctive Response Training LLC 2008

Brian R. VanCise

Note: This Blog is opinion only and Instinctive Response Training LLC nor Brian R. VanCise is responsible for any third party actions taken.

Visit Us At: http://www.instinctiveresponsetraining.com/

…..If you look carefully out there on the net you will find many free manuals, books, etc. that you can take a look at and if you are lucky download.  Following is a United States Marine Close Combat Manual that was published in 1999.

Enjoy.

USMCcombat.pdf

Following here is the current United States Army Manual FM-3-25.150

3-25-150

Both manuals are free to save and download. (I would place them on a CD)  This gives you a small rough over view of what our military is studying for combative training.

See You Anywhere!

copyright Instinctive Response Training LLC 2008

Brian R. VanCise

Note: This Blog is opinion only and Instinctive Response Training LLC nor Brian R. VanCise is responsible for any third party actions taken.

Visit Us At: http://www.instinctiveresponsetraining.com

…..Okay On the 24th we will be having the Grand Tuhon of Dekiti Tirsia Siradas Jersen “Nene” Tortal and the day after will be “The Gathering.”  At the gathering we will be having five or more people teaching for roughtly an hour or so.  They will be showing something special from there system.  We are blessed to have in the line up Gary Haffey of IRT, Ben Harrison of Modern Arnis, Brian “Buzz” Smith of Maharlika Kuntaw, myself teaching IRT and of coruse Rich Parsons of Modern Arnis.  There is an off chance that the Grand Tuhon might teach a little Dekiti as well. (only time will tell)  As you can see we have absolutely an incredible line up.  This clearly is one of the years premier events to partake in and I can honestly say that we already have a good number of commits so room is shrinking readily.

Here is the flyer:

You can see some of the Instructors Movement here:

Both Rich Parson and I are on this clip and even though Rich was just helping me out you can clearly see that he is awesome at what he does!

Brian “Buzz” Smith of Maharlika Kuntaw

See You At The Gathering!

copyright Instinctive Response Training LLC 2008

Brian R. VanCise

Note: This Blog is opinion only and Instinctive Response Training LLC nor Brian R. VanCise is responsible for any third party actions taken.

Visit Us At: http://www.instinctiveresponsetraining.com/

…..Okay we are roughly eighteen day’s until Grand Tuhon Jersen “Nene” Tortals seminar here in Alma, Michigan.  This is shaping up to be a great evening with practitioner’s from all kinds of different systems.  We will have people on hand from Dekiti Tirsia Siradas, Instinctive Response Training, Aikido, Budo Taijutsu, Modern Arnis and more.  For those of you who do not know of the Grand Tuhon’s back ground.  Let’s just say he is not only a pioneer of the Filipino Martial Arts but also a living legend through out the world.  His Seminar in Alma is the last stop before he will be leaving to head back to the Philippines and if you are interested in some great training then I would recommend that you stop by.  Here is the Grand Tuhon’s website: Dekiti Tirsia Siradas and here is the page with a short history of Dekiti Tirsia Siradas and Grand Tuhon Tortal: History

Here is the latest Dekiti Tirsia Siradas video clip on YouTube featuring Jersen Tortal Jr. who is the Grand Tuhons son!

and the clip before it:

and some video footage of a Dekiti drill

Dekiti 1-12 with Dagger in reverse grip

Now this coming weekend the Grand Tuhon will be in Chicago at the Pacific Islands Tournament at:     Midway Kodenakan

contact John Bernarski for details:kali@midwaykodenkan.com

The Grand Tuhon will also be in Muncie, Indiana on October 18th from 10 am to 5 pm.

Contact Cory at:kailat@officer.com

See You On The Mats!

copyright Instinctive Response Training LLC 2008

Brian R. VanCise

Note: This Blog is opinion only and Instinctive Response Training LLC nor Brian R. VanCise is responsible for any third party actions taken.

Visit Us At: http://www.instinctiveresponsetraining.com/

…..Awhile ago I wrote a piece title: Train At Any Age about how I believe that people can and should practice the martial sciences at any age.  I showed a clip of a practitioner in his eighties who trains with me every week and is simply amazing.  Here is the link: Train At Any Age!

…..Well training at any age simply does not mean older practitioner’s but also the next generation or the young ones.  I train my own children so that if they ever need to protect themselves they will be able to do so.  I train them in a responsible manner that is appropriate for their age.  While surfing the net I found some children training that were pretty amazing.

Boxing 6 year old

Filipino Pekiti Tirsia trained Child

8 year old Thai Boxer

Brazilian Jiujitsu Kid’s Match 7 & 8 year olds

See You On The Mats!

copyright Instinctive Response Training LLC 2008

Brian R. VanCise

Note: This Blog is opinion only and Instinctive Response Training LLC nor Brian R. VanCise is responsible for any third party actions taken.

Visit Us At: http://www.instinctiveresponsetraining.com/