31/1/17: R.A.T. (Rapid Assault Tactics) masterclass

The concepts and theory



Steve talked at length about the theory and concepts behind the RAT system. Below are excerpts taken from a couple of websites giving the outline.

Rapid Assault Tactics or R.A.T. is a proactive, professional level self-defense system that can be effectively utilized by all men and women, regardless of athleticism or physique. R.A.T. was designed by the internationally renowned Progressive Fighting Systems (P.F.S.) founder Paul Vunak when commissioned by the U.S. Navy to teach the S.E.A.L. teams in Virginia. Today, R.A.T. is also taught to the F.B.I., D.E.A., and more than 50 police departments across the United States, as well as to thousands of civilians interested in learning realistic, streamlined self-defense in a short amount of time. R.A.T. is an offshoot of Bruce Lee’s Jeet Kune Do Concepts. Its core is based on the fundamentals of entry, pressure and termination of a fight. Nerve destructions, straight blast, head butts, knees and elbows are the methods emphasized in this fighting system, as are basic trapping techniques from Wing Chun Kung Fu and Filipino Kali. Sensitivity drills are then taught to complement the trapping techniques, making them more effective. R.A.T. a quintessential "crashcourse" in street fighting.

Rapid Assault Tactics
Rapid Assault Tactics was created by Sifu Paul Vunak at the request of SEAL Team Six. It is strategic system of fighting designed to neutralize attacks through destruction or interception, to provide forward pressure to off-balance the attacker, and enter and terminate the threat as quickly as possible. Because the military units it was developed for do not have years to devote to develop effective fighting technique, Rapid Assault Tactics was designed to provide the maximum amount of combative skill and ability in the shortest possible time. Rapid Assault Tactics dispenses with the trappings of traditional martial arts, such as belts, uniforms, and ritual, as well as the rules and restrictions of sport competition. Rapid Assault Tactics is focused solely on developing real-world, realistic self-preservation skills.

Rapid Assault Tactics focuses on the two goals of self-preservation and self-perfection. Practitioners learn to defend themselves against real world attacks, while using their training to develop themselves mentally and spiritually. Designed by a man considered one of the world's foremost street fighters, Rapid Assault Tactics covers the full spectrum of possible combative scenarios, including unarmed attackers, armed attackers, as well as multiple attackers. Students learn to deal with punches, kicks, throws, takedowns, grappling, and weapons.

Rapid Assault Tactics developed out of Jeet Kune Do, the martial path pioneered by the late Bruce Lee. It is a streamlined fighting system, drawing from arts such as Brazilian Jujutsu, Boxing, Dumog, Kali, Muay Thai, Pananjakman, Panantukan, Savate, Taijiquan, and Wing Chun. Beyond physical techniques, Rapid Assault Tactics also incorporates combat training exercises called Stress Innoculation, to get your body and mind used to the crash of adrenaline, fear, and other intense emotions surrounding combative situations. Keeping a cool head in a violent confrontation is the most important skill you could ever learn.

Tonight, our focus was on the high line only - destruction or interception of punches, the straight blast, eye rake to head-butt

DESTRUCTION drilling: Lifting the elbow up the centre to cover the centre, palm tight on the head being able to brace the arm against the punch. The aim is that they hit the elbow for a pain response.

INTERCEPTION drilling: Against hooking or haymaker punches - intercept and eye jab.

STRAIGHT BLAST drilling: in the air and then against the Thai pads. Developing the instinct of running through the person as you strike.

HEADBUTT drilling: on the Thai pads - tucking the chin, looking at his waist and 'exploding' down pulling the pad on to the top of your head.

PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER: Destructing or intercepting punches, if they mimic the pain response you then straight blast, eye rake and head-butt. Make sure that after the eye rake (thumb across and above the eye brows), the forearms go deep past the neck to pull back on the neck, cupping your palm technique.

26/1/17: shadow boxing, conditioned sparring, locking and single stick

Sadly I was again out of action but thanks to James and Adam for collaborating on the notes.

Shadow Boxing:

1. Evasion only - slipping, bobbing and weaving, leaning back etc.
2. Jab only - head, body, double, triple, corkscrew etc.
3. Lead hand only - jab, uppercut, hook (long and short) etc.
4. Any 3 punch combination.
5. Throwing punches moving forward (step and slide, slide and step, switching leads).
6. Defences off the jab or cross then follow up (slip, elbow cover, catch, waslik, salute etc.)
7. Defences off the hooks (bob and weave, shoulder stop, elbow crush etc.).
8. Pivot or L-step then throw a combination.
9. Any 5 punch combination.
10. Combine all of the above.

Conditioned Sparring:

1. Jab only (both sides in L. lead).
2. Jab only (one side in L. lead, other in R. lead - both sides have a go in either lead).
3. Lead hand only (both sides in L. lead).
4. Lead hand only (both both sides in R. lead).
5. Both hands (both sides in L. lead).
6. Both hands (both sides in R. lead).

Locking:

In “reality” you should be inflicting pain before attempting to put on a lock. Steve used the analogy of a child trying to wrist lock you. In normal circumstances he couldn’t but if you’d just stubbed your toe and then he did it then he’d have a chance.

1. Lock flow 1 to 16. Emphasis on keeping it “tight” - keeping the pressure on as you move from one lock to the next.
2. Lock to disturb - one side puts on a lock/armbar/choke and the other side “disturbs” (this should happen just before the lock goes on) then puts on a lock of their own.

Single Stick:

5 Count Sumbrada:

Do with L. and R. hands.

1. Roof the angle 1 and feed the angle 1.
2. Partner zones R. and inside sweeps and feeds the angle 4.
3. Zone L. and drop stick and step forward and angle 5 (thrust).
4. Partner wing blocks (check is under your blocking arm not over the top), and ‘flips over’ the angle 2.
5. Shield (shift L. and cat stance facing partner), and angle 1 and pattern begins again.

Breaking the Pattern:

Do 5 count sumrada but one side sometimes feints the angle 1 and slashes with an angle 2 instead (it is like a watik or jab and then an angle 2 on the half beat - the arm stays extended for the angle 2 and the stick does not chamber back). The other sides blocks with e.g. an outside deflection and feeds back into the pattern.

24/1/17: Thai 4 counts and single stick

As I am currently yet briefly out of action with illness, James has thankfully written the blog post for tonight.

Thai 4 Counts

Done offensively then defensively:

1. Step-off jab, rear leg thai kick, cross (throw it without putting the leg down after the kick and kick the leg back like a superman punch), inside leg kick.
2. Catch the jab then do combination (1).
3. Inside leg kick, cross, rear thai kick, step-off jab.
4. Crush the switch thai to your rear leg and do combination (3).
5. Cross, inside leg kick, step-off jab, rear leg thai.
6. As (5) but throw the cross as a cut punch as he jabs.
7. Rear leg thai, step-off jab, inside leg kick, cross.
8. Crush the rear leg thai and do combination (7).

Single Stick

All of these motions are not ‘blocks’ but hits to the hand:

1. Your stick points down - roof block the angle 1 (drop your weight down and slice the stick from L. to R.) and then angle 1 down his centre line.
2. Your stick points down - umbrella the angle 1 (block like a roof but instead of slicing the stick from L. to R. just block then take the stick anti-clockwise behind your head) and then angle 1 down his centre line.
3. Your stick points up - inside sweep the angle 1 (zone R.) and reverse slash across his stomach.
4. Your stick points up - outside sweep/deflect the angle 2 (zone L. into cat stance) and hit down on the arm.
5. Your stick points down - wing block the angle 3 (zone R.), flip the stick then jab to the throat.
6. Your stick points down - wing block the angle 4 (zone L. - hide your L. hand behind your stick by putting the edge of your little finger against it), forehand redondo and jab to the throat.
7. Your stick points up - shield the angle 4 (zone L.), forehand redondo and jab to the throat.
8. Your stick points up - you see the angle 3 late so you pass it by shifting your R. leg back and hollowing your stomach and using your L. hand to deflect his hitting arm back into him and to the R. (not just moving it sideways) as you hit his arm over the top.
9. Your stick points down - you see the angle 4 late so you pass it by shifting your R. leg back and hollowing your stomach and using the back of your L. hand to deflect his hitting arm back into him and to the L. (not just moving it sideways) as you hit his arm in a similar motion to the wing block.

19/1/17: Thai kicking masterclass, grappling submission: arms bars, knee wrenches and triangle variations

THAI KICK MASTER CLASS
An energetic warm up, jogging in all 4 directions, arm swings, hip circles, forward folds, arm circles, lateral bends, lunges, Cossack squats; all to get the blood flowing for the kicking master class.

In the mirror drilling technique: keeping the stance tight so there were no tells to show the kick was coming, Steve was also continuously ensuring foot placement and angle were correct to set up the second kick, as well as the improtance of the hips push through when using the knee.

• Lead knee
• Rear front
• Lead leg straight kick
• Rear leg straight kick
• Lead knee then rear straight leg kick
• Lead straight kick then rear knee
• Lead straight kick then rear round kick
• Lead knee then rear round kick

DRILLING KICKS WITH A PARTNER, TWO FOR TWO
Always making sure that we are covering/protecting the head when throwing kicks and making sure we are out of punching range
• Rear knee (solar plexus)
• Lead straight kick (waist line) to rear round kick (outer thigh)
• Lead straight kick (lead knee) to rear knee (solar plexus)
• Rear straight kick (waist line) to lead round kick (inner thigh
• Rear straight kick (lead knee) to lead knee (solar plexus)

CONDITIONED KICKING ROUNDS, TWO FOR TWO
Any two kicks. Lots of changes of partners to feel different energies and body types.

CRASHING IN FOR TAKEDOWN FOR SUBMISSIIONS (KNEE WRENCH, ARM BAR, TRIANGLE WITH THE ARMS, TRIANGLE WITH THE LEGS)
Building on last Thursday; crashing into him as him throw punches for the clinch, get him moving backwards and throw him with the hip throw. We again drilled going for the arm bar by jamming the right foot and shin behind his shoulder blade, the left foot steps (stomps) in front of the face and pulls back so you have him tight between your feet and legs. As you sit the hips to the floor, pull the arm up so your hips can almost get under his shoulder. Pinch the knees, hip up and lever the wrist down for the submission.

KNEE WRENCH:
From the standing clinch, he pulls the arm back that you had wrist control on. The following actions happen at once – swap the feet so the left leg is in between his legs, the left ear is now on the outside of his torso, your right forearm is on the near side hip crease and your right-hand cups that Achilles of the lead leg. Push the left forearm forward as you pick up the ankle, this will sit him down. Whilst keeping hold of the foot, turn 180 degrees so that your right leg is tight against his left leg (which is in your hands). Cupping the heel with your right hand and the instep with your left hand, turn to your left causing the left knee to rotate. In application, this would be a very fast and aggressive motion to tear the knee apart. Obviously, we can’t do that in training so our motions to apply the submission were precise and considered.

SUBMISSIONS FROM YOUR BACK.
HEAD AND ARM TRIANGLE
He is in your guard, you have him wrapped up tight with his posture broken and his head is on your chest. He pulls out an arm and puts it across the neck and postures up. This will put lots of pressure across your neck. Use the same side hand to push his tricep across your chest at a diagonal angle as you wrap around the back of the neck to close it all off. Steve demonstrated the wrapping arm position is the same as the rear naked choke, but from the front. The crook of the elbow needs to be at the base of the neck so the forearms can scissor closed on the sides of the neck to cut off the blood supply to the brain.

LEG WITH ARM TRIANGLE
1. Pull his R. arm towards you and push his L. arm into his stomach.
2. Throw both legs up high (R. leg over his L. shoulder) so your hips are high and you’re on your shoulders, ankles crossed (L. over R.).
3. Use your L. hand to grab your shin (this stops him posturing up), put your L. foot on his R. hip and then rotate to the R. so there is no gap between his L. shoulder and your R. knee,
and your calf is across his neck (not his back).
4. With your R. toes pointing up, bring your L. leg over your R. ankle and bring your L. heel to your butt as you squeeze your knees and shift your hips back and raise your pelvis up.
5. For more pressure you can push on the top of your R. knee OR pull down on his head OR slide your hips back OR turn the bottom of your L. leg out as you move your heel to your butt.
6. To prevent him posting up and trying to open the legs by pulling on the knee with both hands, you can underhook his leg you are closet too to keep his posture broken. Make sure the crook of the elbow is behind his leg.



Thanks to James for the triangle detail, these notes were taken from a Rick Young seminar he went to where the sole focus was the triangle.

17/1/17: Boxing evasion methods and knife v empty hand loop drill

BOXING EVASION METHODS

Classical slipping against straight punches 0 shoulder to knee style forward dip, the closest you want to be is so that the incoming punch just grazes the ear, go to far and you will find it hard from a mechanical perspective to get back on your centre. It is a fast and tight motion.
We worked single punches to enable motion refinement.

Tyson slipping straight punches – these are more applicable and effective against multiple punches. It is also a great method to keep the opponent guessing because you will not be where the punch is when he throws is. It also helps to set up your punches. Seeing the videos below of Tyson is action is simply awe inspiring. I can’t imagine the terror of that metronome motion and power coming towards you.





To develop the motion, the opponent threw continuous left and right punches. It was key to ensure that the punches were straight down the centre and not chasing the head. This was tricky as you almost get hypnotised by the motion and have to focus on delivering fast straight attacks.

Rock back against uppercuts – because we have the rear heel up, when the uppercuts come in, we have the space to lean (slightly) back out of the line of the punch. It doesn’t need much motion. As above, short and tight motions coming from springy legs and a strong core.

Bob and weave against hooks – go with the punch then corkscrew down and up. This too comes from the legs. They need to bend a lot to lower your level, the torso might have a slight forward lean but there is no bending over. The eyes need to be forward as the body moves in fluid bobbing and weaving motions.

Working all motions against the six punch count then adding short punches. An evasive flow then working short punches to develop the feeling of hitting whilst moving in evasion. Hit first and hit last.

Pad round combination
Jab and slip, cross and slip, jab-cross, lean back and bob and weave, hook-cross-hook

Shadow boxing: working the evasions practised earlier on in the session, plus footwork and lots of short tight punches. Similar to the concepts practised a few Thursdays ago

KNIFE LOOP DRILL

Stab to the heart – cut across, pass down, elbow trap and finger jab, lap and punch (on me not in me), pass it back across and move the head to move him so he has to reset.

12/1/17: Glove fundamentals, clinching off punches into throws and submissions

The class was split in two tonight, more advanced grades working their material whilst our group worked on fundamentals.

GLOVE WORK

Defences against solo jabs or crosses:

Split entry – uppercut – hook

Slip (come forward with the body) – uppercut – hook

Salute (on at least the elbow to move his centre otherwise he can fold the arm and not move!) – arm break – elbow

GRAPPLING

Against straight punches: long guard – cover the punch so you can sweep it out of the way to crash in. As you crash in, cover the head (palm on back of the hand on the of the head, forearms are covering the sides of the face, lose the neck) put the ear on the chest as the the right steps forward and the right arm goes around to get the far hip, the left hand has wrist control. Apply forward pressure to get him backing up. Your head is under the chin, perhaps so much under his chin that the head is lifted, thus adding to the unbalanced sensation he will be experiencing.

Against hooking / haymaker punches: no need for the initial cover to remove the arm, just cover the head and crash in for the clinch.

Hip throw: From the clinch, step the left foot across to get inside his left foot then step the right inside his right foot as your hips are square into his. Straighten the legs and he will become ‘light’, bow forward and over he goes on to the floor. Keep hold of the arm when he hits the floor, control him with knee-not-on-belly-but-on-ribs.

From the hip throw into the arm bar (elbow extension):
Keep a tight hold of the arm and lift it. Jam the right foot and shin behind his shoulder blade, the left foot steps (stomps) in front of the face and pulls back so you have him tight between your feet and legs. As you sit the hips to the floor, pull the arm up so your hips can almost get under his shoulder. Pinch the knees, hip up and lever the wrist down for the submission.

If he tries to escape before the initial arm bar goes on (before you sit down) he will post the other arm up to push away from you and will flatten, and maybe come up on the other shoulder. Turn clockwise 180 degrees with your knees tight and the arm he just tried to post off with, is now caught between your legs. Now your left foot is tight behind is shoulder blade and the right foot is in front of his face. As you sit down, take the arm for the submission.

10/1/16: Footwork, Thai 4 counts, pad rounds and standing catch wrestling flow drill

FOOTWORK
Step and slide in 4 directions with single step then double. Added jabs to coincide with every step. Feet shoulder width apart, rear heel up which means the rear leg is bent. Be mindful of the feet as what you feel might not necessarily be what is going on. Having the mirrors is a great benefit. The rear foot is alive and not being dragged around.

Slide and step (to cover distance) forwards and backwards adding punches, as above – timed into the stepping.

THAI ROUND KICK PREP
The prep was on both sides of the body.
Coiling/screwing the body to open the hips. Had a silat feel to it.
Round kicks – coil, back up and throw the kick. Steve used the analogy of having a torch out of the hips laterally, so when you kick, you want the beam of the torch now goes forward.

THAI 4 COUNTS (off the jab)
1: Catch the jab, shift off the line on the inside jab (a high protective jab)-cross-left inside leg kick-right outside leg kick. Steve also talked about major and minor shots; in this instance the inside kick is minor, the outside kick is major as it has more hip/torque/body behind it. He also mentioned minor shots are used to set up major shots.
2: Catch the jab on the inside again, jab-cross then double right outside round kick. First to the thigh then up to the ribs. Bas Rutten style

Here is a great highlight video of the great man in sweet spleen splitting action.



3: Parry the jab (hard and at the elbow, you want his centre and equilibrium stunned for a brief moment to allow your attack in) and step out to the right and attack with the jab-cross-outside right round kick (minor) and step down on the right to deliver the left inside (major) round kick. Check your distance on the final kick so you’re not too close so the kick is compressed.

PAD ROUNDS
Each ‘group’ of punches was:
Cross
Jab
2 punches (any)
3 punches (any)
5 punches (any) repeat from the beginning again.

CATCH WRESTLING STANDING FLOW DRILL
Start with the split entry off the jab (parry right and split with the left hand)
1: Snake the left hand so it clasps the occipital bone (top of the base, base of the skull as this will prevent him muscling up and out. He could do this if the hand was on the back of the neck) and control the tricep with the right hand. The left foot is standing on his lead foot.
2: Swap/replace hands so the right snakes in to the same place. Keep the turn of the head for control, control his arm with your left hand. Step on his foot with the right hand. Be aware of your base and posture. Just because his head is lower and you ‘have him’, don’t let this break or weaken your base and posture.
3: Move to his back, head against the shoulder blades so he can’t elbow you. Be close to him. Reach around and put the fingers on his hip bones. This is one of those parts of the body that when manipulated can have a dramatic effect on the body.
4: Slide the hands up the torso and insert the fingers into the clavicle for the takedown.
5: Full Nelson, hands at the occipital bone and straight the arms as you push forward.
6: Snake an arm to do number 2 on the other arm.
7: Switch to number 1

5/1/17: Boxing 5 count combinations, pad rounds and empty hand v knife

SHADOW BOXING - 5 COUNT COMBINATIONS
Big and round to get the motion of the combination into the body, then small, tight and fast.
Steve talked about the hands of a pro boxer who is shadow boxing. The elbows are in tight, the body moves a one unit and it appears as if there is small ‘window’ just in front of them and they are not fully extending their punches. At times, it can look like a blur. This concepts of tight body mechanics, short snapping punches, smoothness in motion and speed were what we were aiming to develop.
If we practise at 5mph then we’ll fight/spar/compete at that speed, so we need, as part of our practise, ramp up the speed.

You can see from this video what a skilled boxer Nigel Benn was. The video is years after his career had finished but the crispness in his motions are simply staggering.



Then there is the violent chaos that was a young Iron Mike Tyson



And to round it off, Mr Mayweather showing his skills.



The combinations were worked on were:

1: jab-cross-uppercut-cross-lead hook
2: jab-uppercut-uppercut-uppercut-lead hook
3: jab-cross-pull back for overhand-uppercut-overhand
4: jab-lead uppercut-cross-lead body hook-lead head hook

The combinations were worked in the mirrors and then facing a partner. Way out of range, using their shape as a target. All combinations came off the jab which each of us were snapping out as we were moving around.

PAD ROUNDS
The pad holder kept the pads close together with the tops touching like 2 sides of a triangles so the puncher could throw at speed without the pad holder having to position the pads like we would in regular pad rounds. The puncher had to come out of range after each combination

1: jab-cross-uppercut-cross-lead hook
2: jab-uppercut-uppercut-uppercut-lead hook

KNIFE
Building on the practise from Tuesday night.

Cutting single stabs to the heart. Using the forearms to cut across the angle of the high line stab.

Double stab cutting, as above but using alternate sides of the body to offline the incoming attacks.

Passing the knife against a single stab to get two hands to one. He is stabbing with the knife in his right hand and left leg forward.

• Left forearm cut – take the wrist with the right and slide/move up his arm leading with your elbow (ensuring there are no gaps between his arm and yours. If there was, this gap would allow him cut back across your abdomen). Take control of the arm as you position yourself at his side. At this point, your left arm is wrapping the upper arm, the same arm elbow is against his torso. The right hand is pulling his wrist into you as you apply pressure through the arm with your shoulder. You now have established 2 hands to 1, the knife is controlled.
• Right forearm cut – using the back of the hand pass the arm across his centreline, and immediately cup the elbow with the left hand as the right finger jabs to the eyes. The forearm must be on his, there can be no gaps so he can’t cut back across. From here do the above motions to get 2 hands to 1.

The above was against single high line stabs, this moved briefly into defending against double stabs. Here we had to use alternate cuts with the forearms across his attacking lines. Following the second ‘cut’ we applied the passes to get 2 hands to 1.

3/1/17: pad rounds, conditioned sparring boxing rounds and empty hand v knife

2017 started with a bang; a high intensity session coupled with some fun empty hand v knife training.

WARM UP
Shadow boxing: jab only then both hands.

PAD ROUNDS
The attribute being focussed on was speed - getting the punches out and back quickly whilst delivering string attacks with sound body mechanics.

The pad holder was in range for punches, simulating the end of a punch or moving in on a punch. The left hand was out long and the right hand was the pad to be hit.

As it was first session of the year, the rounds were long forcing discipline when tiredness or tightness crept in.

Catch (rear hand) and jab
Rear pak (to clear the punch) and cross
Catch (rear hand) into jab-cross
Rear pak into cross-lead hook-cross

CONDITIONED SPARRING
Person A feeds jabs, person B also jabs but works the defences from the pad rounds, primarily the catch and jab or the pak and cross. Person A was expected to keep a high tempo, keep the punches alive ensuring person B was moving well and responding honestly. The concept of hit first and last was mentioned during the rounds by Steve.

The conditioned sparring rounds are great fun and hard work, plus there is no danger of getting hit hard so you can work your craft without worrying about what might happen. You still get hit in the face but not to the detriment of learning skills as opposed to development grit and toughness. There were 2 rounds and within each, roles were swapped meaning 4 good quality rounds.

KNIFE
We looked at straight stabs to the heart, firstly singles and later double pumps. The defence we used was using the forearms to cut across the line of the attack on his forearms. The motion was quite aggressive – shoulders turn and the forearm drives/grinds/hits into his forearm. For me, this is motion hard to describe, you had to be there to feel it.

When the feeder was feeding the double stab with the right/rear hand, the front hand was out in front simulating a barrier/ a grab/ a way to hide the knife. It did not matter which forearm you cut his attack with, but you needed to make sure that you use the other forearm for the second stab.

Stripping: After the second stab, he retracts the knife, you pin the knife and hand to his chest. A favourite saying of Steve’s is, “If the knife is on him or me, it is not in me.” Flat palm pins the blade whilst your other hand takes the meat of thumb and rips the hand away, leaving the blade on his chest for you to work with. Knife work is both fun and humbling although a few of us might have tender forearms after all the ‘hunting’ of the attacks.

A great session to kick of 2017 and even a few new faces that will hopefully come back for more.