Maxx keeps posting nice comments that make it sound like I'm paying him off.
We have a nice group of folks that are starting to get together in Chino Hills on a semi-regular basis to train in full contact stick. If you are interested in training, please contact me. We have two folks who SHOULD (Show up! Show up! Show up!) be fighting in the Gathering in August. We have two Krav Maga instructors who just want a new approach to weapons. Last week we had a new student, a young lady with some years in Doce Pares. Her classical background was a real asset to her and she seemed to have a great time with some of the material we were working.
Now it's going to read like I am kissing Guro Crafty's a$$, but having DBMA in the mix of systems in which I train/teach has been a real gift. If possible, you SHOULD get youself out to the Inosanto Academy for the Saturday afternoon DBMA class (starts at 1pm), or even better, arrange some private training with Guro Marc. The DBMA class is usually so small (something about the upstairs, it also happens for Saturday Shooto class) that you may feel like you are getting a semiprivate. I have picked up many concepts and ideas from class that have opened up my perspective in all areas of martial art.
Also, if you have ever toyed with participating in a Gathering, you should. The recent closed door, three day Gathering was AMAZING! If you told the high school version of myself that I would be doing this in my late twenties, I would have laughed at you. DBMA is there for everyone who wants it. If you absolutely cannot get out to train with Guro Crafty, my group is in Chino Hills. My schedule is a bit volatile (one year old son, a wife that actually likes to see me, teaching 7-8th grade professionally, working on an advanced degree, training and teaching at two academies, etc.) so we don't have a regular day and time but we do the best we can to accommodate everyone. I continue to meet amazing, unique people through DBMA both at the Gatherings and through my little training group.