Dog Brothers Public Forum

My training group has been experimenting with context-based training in firearms and other everyday carry weapons for a few years.

I had never seen the value in footwork for multiple assailant and weapons-based situations because I have always used a Muay Thai or Western Boxing style of footwork.

Over the last few months, I have been experimenting with DB style footwork as well as the footwork system of Atienza Kali incorporated with firearms(simmunition).

I am beginning to believe that I have missed out in not finding this style of footwork years ago.  I also believe that footwork may be more critical than I have given it credit for.

Managing multiple assailants in a weapons-based environment seems dramatically easier when using the angular-styled footwork of FMA than my previous boxing style footwork and I am certainly a novice when it comes to this type of footwork.

Has anyone else tried this with marking cartridge firearms in scenario-based training?

I only know of one other group that trains this way and uses the FMA style footwork.

Anyone know of others?

Michael Brown

Let me first preface what I am saying by stating that I am operating from a base of minimal knowledge in this field of stickfighting and FMA so please excuse any uneducated comments or assumptions on my part.

I have been closely watching the fights on several DBMA DVD's (amidst working the material) and it seems like almost all of the fighting occurs at either Larga Mano range or in clinch range when standing.  It doesn't look like there is a whole lot of trapping or intentional disarming/stripping that has always appeared, to me at least, to be so prevelant in FMA.

I also recall reading something about ten years ago by the late Grandmaster Leo Giron where he stated something to the effect of "if its real, its got to be Larga Mano."

Since its clear that a major premise of DBMA is testing the material via contact, is it safe to say that in the context of live contact stickfighting a student should spend the bulk of his basics time working in the Larga mano range, clinching, and on the ground?

I believe there is a similar matrix for MMA, as that is my base of experience, so hopefully I'm not being presumptive in making the comparison.

Any opinions are greatly appreciated.

Michael Brown

Rattan appears to be the material of choice for training sticks for the obvious reasons (fraying instead of chipping, priced right).

Has anyone had experience using Ironwood?

It would seem less likely to chip than some of the other hardwoods.

Any ideas or experience with it?

Thanks in advance.

Michael Brown