FL-NC
Member
This isn't one of my usual threads, but it came on like a light bulb this morning to me. I'm curious if anyone here trains regularly in any type of martial arts? It seems to me that many assaults will come as a surprise attack, with either physical confrontation or at least the threat of such. Weapons and multiple attackers may or may not be involved. The first indication of "trouble" may be a punch to the face.
During my years in the "gun club", we trained regularly (but probably not enough) in various forms of "martial fisticuffs". Bruises and enlarged lips were a regular part of life. The systems evolved over the years: LINE, Dieter, SPEAR, MACP, and others. I also wrestled and did jiu-jitsu for several years. Naturally, our other physical training activities were also a daily thing. When this is your "normal", someone taking a swing at you, or finding yourself rolling on the ground with an attacker doesn't make you feel so much like a "fish out of water". Going "hands on" with enemy personnel at different levels was also fairly "normal" on deployments. But, if the last time you participated in such activity was a scrap in high school or boxing at the Y decades ago... see my point?
I recently (as the result of a New Year's resolution) increased my physical training schedule, primarily to improve my fitness level: running 2-3 miles and some weight training Mon, Wed, Fri, and MMA training at a local gym Tues and Thurs nights (along with my weekly range session).
So, how is the MMA going? Pretty well, all things considered. The re-introduction of the physical requirements needed to sustain any fight for any period of time hit pretty hard (not as hard as my training partner's fists though). Also the level of deterioration of my previously acquired skills was fairly evident. Yes, most everyone there is younger than me (I'm 51) and more experienced, so it may look like I'm just paying $ to have some youngsters beat the crap out of me, with me getting a few lucky shots and submission moves in from time to time. It looks like that because that is PART of what is happening. What else is happening is learning by doing. My techniques are improving at a reasonable rate, all things considered. I'm training with people at a higher skill and experience rate- TRAINED fighters who do this at least as much or more than I do. If nothing else, after 2 months of this activity I have accomplished the state of relative "normalcy" of having a swing thrown at me, or someone jumping on me, getting in my face and grabbing me, etc.- and the actions to take at that time- not to mention more awareness of things like my effective range of striking, kicking, and so on.
Is anyone else here training regularly in unarmed combat? I would like to hear any input from current or former LE on the subject.
During my years in the "gun club", we trained regularly (but probably not enough) in various forms of "martial fisticuffs". Bruises and enlarged lips were a regular part of life. The systems evolved over the years: LINE, Dieter, SPEAR, MACP, and others. I also wrestled and did jiu-jitsu for several years. Naturally, our other physical training activities were also a daily thing. When this is your "normal", someone taking a swing at you, or finding yourself rolling on the ground with an attacker doesn't make you feel so much like a "fish out of water". Going "hands on" with enemy personnel at different levels was also fairly "normal" on deployments. But, if the last time you participated in such activity was a scrap in high school or boxing at the Y decades ago... see my point?
I recently (as the result of a New Year's resolution) increased my physical training schedule, primarily to improve my fitness level: running 2-3 miles and some weight training Mon, Wed, Fri, and MMA training at a local gym Tues and Thurs nights (along with my weekly range session).
So, how is the MMA going? Pretty well, all things considered. The re-introduction of the physical requirements needed to sustain any fight for any period of time hit pretty hard (not as hard as my training partner's fists though). Also the level of deterioration of my previously acquired skills was fairly evident. Yes, most everyone there is younger than me (I'm 51) and more experienced, so it may look like I'm just paying $ to have some youngsters beat the crap out of me, with me getting a few lucky shots and submission moves in from time to time. It looks like that because that is PART of what is happening. What else is happening is learning by doing. My techniques are improving at a reasonable rate, all things considered. I'm training with people at a higher skill and experience rate- TRAINED fighters who do this at least as much or more than I do. If nothing else, after 2 months of this activity I have accomplished the state of relative "normalcy" of having a swing thrown at me, or someone jumping on me, getting in my face and grabbing me, etc.- and the actions to take at that time- not to mention more awareness of things like my effective range of striking, kicking, and so on.
Is anyone else here training regularly in unarmed combat? I would like to hear any input from current or former LE on the subject.