this is concerning the '' in recent years there has been a lot of techniques taught that have not been applied at the gatherings'' statement made on that other forum. i have been involved fighting at the gatherings only in ''recent years'' and i've used attacking blocks, i've used the off lead, the lameco cross step, drift shots to the knee, combining stick and footwork and cycle drills have been VERY useful for my movement during those few fights i've had, and the footwork matrix defined in recent dvds have helped me to see openings/angles for attack and to stay safe. the staff DVD is almost exclusively movements guro marc has used in his own staff fights and movements guro ben (lonely dog) uses. los triques and krabi krabong have also been utlilized effectively by students trained by guro marc. during guro ben's last fights at last years gathering he used the camel toe and staff movements that can be found in the cycle drills dvd and the staff dvd. everything that guro marc has put out is being used at the gatherings to this day, whether it's used as guro marc says a generator or it is the actual technique (and sometimes,most times, it is both). kali tudo- i do not plan on fighting NHB but i can tell you i even use this in my boxing/kickboxing sparring. i was really a kind of surprised a comment like that was said. these are only my examples, but there are many others AND you sure do not have to be one of guro marc's students to benefit from any of the DVDs . to be sure everything that guro marc puts out is used in the gatherings to THIS day, as well as being used in preparing for a gathering, in friendly play, friendly sparring, hard sparring, etc.
and there are many,many useful tools to ''play'' with at today's gatherings from even the 1st series.
Francisco