Dog Brothers Public Forum

Today I am grateful for the opportunity I've been given to work for a man I wish to be more like.  His wisdom is only exceeded by his kindness. 

Tony Torre
Miami Arnis Group
www.miamiarnisgroup.com

Okay, So lets re-work this thread into a how, when and why we might use a knife for practical self defense.  I carry two knives usually.  A spyderco endura for general use and a cold steel vaquero grande for more "serious" applications.  I find them light and easy to carry.  They've become part of my daily attire.

Tony Torre
Miami Arnis Group
www.miamiarnisgroup.com

Maija,

Most major metropolitan areas have similar levels of danger.  I think staying out of danger is largely a matter of knowing the "rules" and being aware.  With practice and experience I believe one can stay pretty relaxed because of their confidence in their ability to see trouble brewing.  It really is kind of rare to find truly spontaneous crime.  I know what you mean about out of balance people I've met many of them.  Funny thing is that these people because of their paranoia tend to attract the very things they claim to be trying to avoid.  I guess all that psychic energy being spent on day dreaming about boogy men blinds them to the real ones.  Another thing is that usually their body language screams out victim!

Tony Torre
Miami Arnis Group
www.miamiarnisgroup.com

P.S.  Make 3 right turns

Today I'm grateful for my new student who's private class fee will allow me to finish  paying for the next 2 months of day care for my son.  I'm also grateful that my mother was able to meet and recognize her grandson before her dimentia completely takes over. 

Tony Torre
Miami Arnis Group
www.miamiarnisgroup.com

Maija,

Thanks for the cool link.  The way my friend Vince used the pendulum ball was at head level much like a boxer would practice slipping.  He did that to fine tune his eyes after lazik eye surgery.  It's amazing how much better one gets once they could see   Nowadays we use it more for target practice and to practice side stepping as well. 

Here's a link to someone using hanging sticks for training.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=or_zniZb-jM&feature=related

Tony Torre
Miami Arnis group
www.miamiarnisgroup.com

Okay, Okay.  Now that everyone's had a laugh   Lets get back to home made equipment.  My long time training partner uses a ball hanging from a string for practicing slipping, foot work, and target practice.  He started with a tennis ball but now uses a much smaller plastic ball.  It doesn't sound like much but it makes a huge difference.

Tony Torre
Miami Arnis Group
www.miamiarnisgroup.com

Crafty,

Geeez where are my manners?  I meant no disrespect.  If they are described in any of your videos would you please let me know.  Thanks for the correction Poi Dog.

Tony Torre
Miami Arnis Group
www.miamiarnisgroup.com

Here's a tip for aquiring truck tires.  Look in the phone directory under tires and you'll find those companies that specialize in truck tires.  They are usually delighted to get rid of the old used ones. Sometimes they'll even deliver.  Apparently it's a pain in the neck for them to get rid of them.

Regular tires make great targets.  You can hang them from a rope or even stack them.  I've even seen dummies made from tires.  You can stand on them to challenge your balance during drills.  For drills where you need to stay put you can put one foot in a tire or put several pairs in a line for footwork drills like the football players used to do.  One word of caution if you leave your tires outdoors watch for scorpions or spiders as they may make a home out of your tires.

Tony Torre
Miami Arnis Group
www.miamiarnisgroup.com

I am grateful for this thread.  Today had the makings of a real shitty day.  After reading this thread I put things in perspective and improved the day.  Thanks guys!

Tony Torre
Miami Arnis Group
www.miamiarnisgroup.com

When stuck in a clinch I think a push dagger would be very useful.  Think holding and hitting like a hockey fight.  That said a kerambit in a good silat players hands would wreak havoc in grappling range.  A regular knife could be used much the same way the push dagger would be except the grip would be diffrent so visually it would look more like a prison shanking.  The push dagger has the best weapon retention capability of the three although disarming any knife would be difficult and dangerous.

Tony Torre
Miami Arnis Group
www.miamiarnisgroup.com

Crafty,

Respectfully.  I think any knife could help in a f.u.t. 

Tony Torre
Miami Arnis Group
www.miamiarnisgroup.com

Maija,

Very interesting indeed.  I have some friends involved in the Chinese internal arts I'll pick their brains also.  My biggest question is how it relates to FMA.  I heard of various FMA styles using both element theories.  It doesn't seem like such a stretch considering that at several points in history the Filipines where part of a greater Hindu empire and also the large Chinese population in that region. 

Thanks For the Input,
Tony Torre
Miami Arnis Group
www.miamiarnisgroup.com 

Crafty,

Cmmmooon, you're killing me   I'm actually very curios about this subject too!

Thanks,
Tony Torre
Miami Arnis Group
www.miamiarnisgroup.com

Here's another interesting link.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=9fgyzO206Ns

Enjoy,
Tony Torre
Miami arnis Group
www.miamiarnisgroup.com

Straight knife sparring is cool.  But I think when its done in the context of a scenario the training value is multiplied.  Here's a couple of the scenarios we've used.  The hidden knife or knives (one partner or both) while empty hand sparring.  Countering the berserker.  This one can be done from the previous one or as a way to spice up your regular knife sparring.  The set up is simple your designated berserker won't care if you cut him he'll just keep coming.  The defender obviously shouldn't try to trade shots. That one's great for footwork development.  Another useful scenario could one vs multiple opponents(armed or even unarmed).  For beginners we do one vs zombies.  You know arms extended walking toward you moderate speed not fast.  As they get better we do hand tag to develop speed.  One we do at almost every session involving knife sparring is to switch hands once they've been hit.  This one is great for bilateralism.

A very important key however is Maija's original point which was to not get cut.  This is probably the most important point in any knife training session.  I keep some horrible pictures of people wounded with knives, in my training bag.  I use them to remind our group of the reality of knife fighting.  This is specially important if people start to goof off.  I never want them to forget the severity of true knife encounters.

Hope this helps,
Tony Torre
Miami Arnis Group
www.miamiarnisgroup.com

Interesting that you guys bring up dance.  My wife did classical and modern dance for many years from early childhood into her late teens.  She took up martial arts after meeting me.  Her movement skills resemble those of much more experienced martial artists.  With only a few months of semi serious training she was keeping up with much more experienced martial artists.  I sincerely believe that her dance training gave her a body awareness and movement vocabulary that she was able to easily convert to martial movements.  For the record her martial arts preferences are boxing and Thai boxing. 

Tony Torre
Miami Arnis Group
www.miamiarnisgroup.com

Great subject!  I've gone back and forth on this for years.  I believe most of the drills to be quite beneficial for many reasons including the development of general coordination, attack angle recognition, creativity and many more reasons.  I consider them a great training method, but like push ups and jump rope without the appropriate context they are meaningless.  Using knife tapping drills let me show you what I mean.  The 2 methods we use are tapping on the same side as the attack (similar to what Guro Ted Lucaylacay taught) and cross body (similar to Pekiti Tirsia).  Both of these skills do wonders for hand speed and coordination as well as improving reaction time.  They don't however reflect a realistic attack.  When put in a scenario that challenges these particular skills you'll see the genius of these drills.  One such scenario we play often is the muffle his draw drill.  The set up is simple arm your partner with a concealed training knife and practice your empty handed counter offensive drills with him feeding.  When he's ready he will attempt to draw his knife.  Your goal is simple don't get cut   Sometimes you muffle his draw, sometimes he gets his knife out and you tap it, sometimes you get cut.  Another great one is the 3 count sombrada drill or the high box pattern that almost every FMA uses.  What a great way to repeat over and over 3 very common angles of attack and their defenses.  The biggest argument the "marketeers" use against this drill is the use of the live hand   Okay do it without it.  It's still a great drill.  Who wouldn't use a roof block or inside block when appropriate?  Anyway sorry if I ranted thats my two cents.  Thanks.

Tony Torre
Miami Arnis Group
www.miamiarnisgroup.com

A street weapon common when I was in high school was a thing called a sinker basher.  A street mace if you will.  It was made from a lead fishing sinker, a small length of chain, and a key ring.  Carrying it was simple you put one end in your back pocket and the other end in your front pocket.  Carrying it this way made it very accessible and disguised it as a wallet with a chain. 

Tony Torre
Miami Arnis Group
www.miamiarnisgroup.com

Crafty,

I found this link with some interesting excersises.  http://www.webball.com/power/jobe.html

Tony Torre
Miami Arnis Group
www.miamiarnisgroup.com

Thanks for the tip.

Tony Torre
Miami Arnis Group
www.miamiarnisgroup.com

Alan Goes tried a capoeira kick against Marc Coleman, I think it was in pride.

Tony Torre
Miami Arnis Group
www.miamiarnisgroup.com

Crafty,

Give me a day or two to retrace my steps and find some links for you.  It will be my pleasure.

Tony Torre
Miami Arnis Group
www.miamiarnisgroup.com

Hi Guys,

I believe the best way to get conditioned for stick fighting is by training with sticks.  The first tape"Power" of the Dogbrothers first series contains some excellent training methods.  Lately I've incorporated stick training into my "cardio" training.  Try one round siniwalli on some tires or a heavy bag followed by one round jumprope, continue for 30-40 minutes.  It will do wonders for the muscular endurance of your shoulders and wrist.  The jump rope is a wonderful all around training tool that also makes  you "light " on your feet.  For shoulder prehab I use similar exercises to the ones described in the previous posts.  There is a ton of information on the net on prehab and rehab for shoulders particularly for baseball pitchers.  It is certainly worth googling.

Hope that helps,
Tony Torre
Miami Arnis Group
www.miamiarnisgroup.com     

I thought I saw Tito Ortiz using elbow destructions in the tail end of his fight with Forrest Griffin.  Any thoughts on this?

Tony Torre
Miami Arnis Group
www.miamiarnisgroup.com

John,

We also do a lot of impact conditioning, much the same way you do, and with medicine balls.  I truly believe this helps.  Tom and Ryan both have great points as well.  Skill and mindset are both very important parts of the equation.  It also helps to be in great shape, you'll tolerate more and recover faster.

Tony Torre
Miami Arnis Group
www.miamiarnisgroup.com