Daniel Lonero seminar, day 1

There was much banter today from my 'friends' from the club at the lack of ability to blog in detail. Well they were right. Lots of material was covered in our 4 hours with Daniel. At the end of my blog post are the notes and reflections made by James. He puts me to shame, many thanks James.

Daniel is an inspiration in the way he moves and the way he teaches. There was a combination of actual martial arts material but also a healthy dose of cultural contextualisation.

Kickboxing session.
Warm up with evasion methods - maintaining striking range
Form training of kicks using a partner to take care of your balance so you can focus on the legs: lead leg round kick to the chest, to the inner thigh, chest then thigh, double kick to the chest.

The main theme of this part of the seminar was ripost -
noun
1.
a quick, sharp return in speech or action; counterstroke:
a brilliant riposte to an insult.
2.
Fencing. a quick thrust given after parrying a lunge.

- and being able to ripost to after your opponent attacks.

Daniel built the learning in layers, I stayed at the lowest layer because quite quickly the brain was filling with information and unable to process.
-4 evasions of the jab, then the cross then the hook. The idea was to use footwork to get out of range, coupled with the footwork were a variety of parrys or connections with his punches.

Kicks were then added. So the idea was to evade the punch attack and ripost with a kick.

Then came the ripost work against kicks. There were 6 riposts (after evasive footwork) to the lead kick to the inner thigh and 6 riposts to the round kick to the outer thigh. I
Ripost kicks -
side kick to lead leg,
round kick to rear leg
round kick to the mid line,
stomp the thigh,
follow the kick with a kick,
heel stomp (looks like a crush),
gay gordon (lift the heel to the arse to block the kick)
round the world (going over the top and with the energy of the kick)

Putting it altogether - Partner A feeds punches and occasional kicks. Partner B has to control the punches, look for ripost kicks to the arm attacks as well as trying to use the ripost counter kicks.


Double stick session.
'Walking lines' with flow and exaggerated motions. Daniel talked about going slow to restore or cultivate energy in the body.
Doing different examples of Heaven 6. walking forwards, backwards, sideways, quarter turing. Also inserted was different ways of doing the Heaven 6. I don't know the names but there were X versions, more vertical versions and then one where the final strike goes around the head.

Paired Heaven 6 - forwards, backwards and sideways.

Triangles of Heaven 6 - one person going backwards as the two walking forwards are constantly throwing their strikes. The uniqueness of the drill was that each person going forwards only makes contact with 3 of their strikes.

4s of Heaven 6 - whilst moving down the hall, to your face partner, then shoulder partner, then corner partner.

This is when it all really fell apart in terms of details...

Double stick v single stick - gunting against the 6 angles (angle 6 looked to be upward backhand?), 6 or so different strips of the angle 2. The strips were the same, how he got there was different hence blankness in me.

We then moved on to using the punyo (the butt, the base, the bit sticking out from under your fist). We looked at hubbub using the punyo and inserting strikes on the 4 angles. This evolved into a counter for counter drill attacking on the 4 angles. More tomorrow.

Intermittently, Daniel talked a lot about culture and the differences between high culture and pop culture, the hierarchy of traditional (pre-industrial) Japanese and Chinese society. Interestingly, at the bottom of both were the merchants. In our society, making money seems to be the goal. There was also talk about solo training in Kail and the importance of it, not only for the practitioner but also in other contexts - for demonstration purposes, for ceremonial purposes and for assessment of skills and ability purposes.

Today wasn't just about techniques, it was about martial arts. Really excited for day tomorrow. I am going to try and be, feel and absorb.

In summary, today was a remarkable experience to see a master of movement (of self and others) in action.

Below are the extensive and detailed notes from fellow classmate and seminar attendee James

Savate
Evasion Warm-Up
1. One side holds arm out and moves around – the other side has to maintain range.
2. Slip C. slip J, B+W RH, B+W LH, lean back from RC, bounce back RC.
3. One side throws L. or R. round kicks to body (kick with foot – extend leg so at long range – keep torso upright), other side moves sideways away from kick.
4. One side throws inside leg kicks, rear leg kicks or jeet-teks and the other side evades by bouncing back out of range using both feet.
5. One side throws a mix of punches of kicks as above and other side evades.

Leg Warm-Up
Both sides in left lead hold each other’s left hands or balance. Chamber left leg, keep the torso as upright as possible and:
1. Roundhouse to liver / solar plexus 7x without putting leg down.
2. Roundhouse to inside thigh 7x without putting leg down (bend supporting leg each time you kick).
3. Roundhouse to liver / solar plexus then roundhouse to inside thigh 7x.
4. Roundhouse to inside thigh then roundhouse to liver / solar plexus 7x.
5. Double roundhouse to liver / solar plexus (second kick only partially retracts) 7x.
Do the same from a right lead.

Ripost
Partner jabs:
1. Catch, pause then jab back.
2. Catch and jab back on the half beat (ripost).
3. Jab back as you catch (simultaneous).
4. As you see his punch start to come you jab (interception).
Aim is to use your legs to control range and timing. When you parry maintain contact with partner’s arm so you can feel his energy.

Partner jabs:
1. Step right leg back and out at a 45, and parry outside with right hand, left roundhouse to body on the half beat.
2. Step right leg back and out at a 45, and parry outside with left hand (bridge), left roundhouse to body on the half beat.
3. Step left leg back and out at a 45 (so you are in a right lead), and parry outside with right hand, right roundhouse to body on the half beat.
4. Step left leg back and out at a 45, and parry inside with right hand (bridge), right roundhouse to body on the half beat.
Partner crosses:
5. Step right leg back and out at a 45, and parry inside with left hand (bridge), left roundhouse to body on the half beat.
6. Step right leg back and out at a 45, and parry outside with left hand, left roundhouse to body on the half beat.
7. Step left leg back and out at a 45 (so you are in a right lead), and parry outside with left hand, right roundhouse to body on the half beat.
8. Step left leg back and out at a 45, and parry outside with right hand (bridge), right roundhouse to body on the half beat.
Partner long hooks (to determine your long hook range, put your fists together then open your farthest knuckles so a triangle appears between your knuckles. When your thumbs touch that’s the angle of your fist for the long hook):
9. Off left hook, step left leg back and out at a 45, and parry outside with right hand (bridge), right roundhouse to body on the half beat.
10. Off right hook, step right leg back and out at a 45, and parry inside with left hand (bridge), left roundhouse to body on the half beat.
11. Off left hook, step right leg back and out at a 45 and tight cover the hook so it just brushes your guard then left roundhouse to body on the half beat.
12. Off right hook, step left leg back and out at a 45 and tight cover the hook so it just brushes your guard then right roundhouse to body on the half beat.
Do 1-4 above but off a jab, cross, jab combination. This time though you have to start moving your foot on the cross in order to land the ripost – leaving it for the final jab will be too late.
One side feeds punches and the other side covers in boxing range then starts to implement 1-12 above off the punches. You want to be continuously changing range – like a rubber band.

Evasion / Interception

Partner inside leg kicks. Evasion is always by hopping both legs back out of range:
1. Evade then pendulum or hop-in lead roundhouse to body.
2. Evade then jump in rear leg kick.
3. Evade then hop-in lead leg side kick.
4. Intercept with rear leg jeet-tek then lead roundhouse to body.
5. Intercept by lifting lead leg up and then pushing kick down on his quad then right roundhouse.
6. Lift lead leg up and circle it clockwise so it scoops outside his kicking leg the right roundhouse.

Partner rear leg kicks:
1. Evade then pendulum or hop-in side or front kick to body.
2. Evade then jump in rear leg kick.
3. Evade then hop-in lead leg side kick.
4. Intercept by lifting lead leg up and then push kick down on his quad then front kick to body (don’t put leg down between interception and kick).
5. Intercept by blocking kick with the sole of your left foot then spinning crescent kick.
6. Bring your left heel to your butt then scoop his kick with your left instep then right roundhouse.
One side feeds punches and the other side covers in boxing range then starts to implement riposts, evasions and interceptions.

Double Stick
Solo (slow and smooth – can be like a meditation):

Walking forward – closed guard:
1. Heaven 6.
2. Forehand, backhand, Redondo, forehand, backhand, Redondo.
3. Forehand, umbrella as you backhand, forehand, forehand, umbrella as you backhand, forehand.
4. Heaven 6 sideways – the shoulder doing the forehand should lead – requires cross-step footwork.

With partner who has a single stick:
1. Partner feeds angles, 1, 4, 3, 2, 5 then a 12 (vertical upward backhand). Gunting each strike and then insert a watik after each gunting (a backhand for angles 1, 3, and 5, a forehand for angles 4, 2 and 12).
2. Do (1) but drop to one knee. Ensure the supporting foot is to the side or behind the knee not in front of it.
3. Partner feeds angle 1, you gunting, both sides backhand watik then partner feeds an angle 2. Zone left and backhand hit the hand, step left leg forward and use the punyo of your left stick (stick facing down) to scoop on the inside of his arm (elevator), strike the body/left hand with your right stick and insert the punyo (stick facing down) inside his arm (almost replaces where the left stick was), use left forearm to strip the stick.
4. As (3) but as partner feeds the angle 2, zone left and hit his hand with a left forehand, hit the head with a right forehand then insert the right stick punyo inside his arm as in (3).
5. As (3) but as partner feeds the angle 2 shield block (like in punyo sumbrada) then go into left then right elevator strip.
6. As (5) but after shield zone left and hit his hand with a left forehand, hit the head with a right forehand then insert the right stick punyo inside his arm as in (3).
7. As (3) but as partner feeds the angle 2 outside deflect with the right stick, hit the hand with a left forehand, hit the head with a right forehand then insert the right stick punyo inside his arm as in (3).
8. As (3) but as partner feeds the angle 2 inside deflect with the left stick, hit the hand with a right backhand, then go into left then right elevator strip.

6/9/16: conditioned sparring rounds, Thai 4 counts plus 6 and 8 count sinawali

Warm up
Shadow boxing - body mechanics, adding footwork, adding jab and cross, adding hooks and uppercuts, adding jab or cross defences.

Conditioned sparring rounds. All in a one for one format. The aim was to play with the timing, and keep the conditioned sparring alive. So trying to land punches, reply with your techniques as soon as he has landed his kick. Or try pausing, playing and delaying the punch to keep him thinking. Action is faster than reaction.
Front hand punch followed by a rear leg round kick to his leg.
Part 1:
Jab down the centreline, shift and round kick.
Shift offline and jab to round kick.
Drop the level, jab to the body to round kick.

Part 2:
Uppercut to round kick.
Shovel hook to round kick.
Body hook to round kick.
Head hook to round kick.
Feint to round kick.

Rear hand punch to front leg to his inner thigh.
Part 1:
Drop your level to body cross to inner kick.
Shift offline and cross to inner kick.
Cross down the centreline to shift and inner kick.

Part 2:
Rear uppercut to inner kick.
Head hook to inner kick.
Body hook to inner kick.
Shovel hook to inner kick.

All together:
Any of the above, one for one and keeping it alive. As always, lots of partner changes for different energies, ranges and motion.

Thai 4 counts on the pads for 3 minute rounds.
Round 1:
Inner thigh kick (lead leg) to cross - left hook to inner thigh kick.
As above but finish with a rear kick to the outer thigh.

Round 2:
Rear kick to outer thigh to left hook - right cross to inner thigh kick.
As above but finish with a rear kick to the outer thigh.

Double stick

Standard 6 count sinawali
right forehand (head height) - left backhand (low) - right backhand (head) left forehand (head) - right backhand (low) left backhand (head). Chamber each strike, work slow with flow rather than fast and clunky.

The following video shows the basic pattern we worked to begin with.



We then added a variety of motions whilst working the 6 count:
1: walking the circle clockwise and anti-clockwise
2: forwards and backwards
3: one person goes down on one knee, then both knees then post up on the other foot to standing. When back on the feet, the other person goes down to the floor.

Standard 8 count sinawali
As previously, chamber every strike and work slow with flow and not fast and clunky. If the strike is not fully chambered then the follow up strike will be uncertain. The full chamber shows you where the next strike comes from.
right forehand (head height) - right backhand (low) - left backhand (low) - right backhand (head) left forehand (head) - left backhand (low) - right backhand (low) - left backhand (head).

Putting together the 6 and the 8 count - 6 count into 8 count into 6 count and so on. It helped when the more experienced partner called the count.

1/9/16: boxing masterclass plus single stick work.

Boxing masterclass, lots of rounds, changes of partners and quality drill time.

The image of GSP is most pertinent as he used the jab with ruthless efficiency in his fight against Josh Koscheck. He coupled accuracy with a ridiculous work-rate, not only to sing the fight, but to break Koscxeck's orbital bone in the process. Sound basics and fundamentals are key. The same is in the grappling world. Roger Gracie is, agreed by most, the greatest grappler ever yet what and how does he win? He uses basic techniques but he is an absolute master of those techniques. He beats the best in the world with 'basic' techniques. Another example of building your arsenal on sound foundations methods.

Tonight, the boxing masterclass was focussed on the jab.

A:Jab B:catch and jab A:catch and jab

Jab v jab 'sparring', trying to land the jab whilst not allowing him to land.

High v low jab.
A only throw high jabs, B only throws low jabs.

Jab v jab plus cross
A only throw jabs, B throws jabs and occasional crosses.

3 jab cross defence drilling
A jab-cross B catch catch (catch with the same hand) and jab,
A jab-cross B split entry (parry and punch to chin or neck)
A jab-cross B catch then punch over the top of the cross

A: Only throws jabs with occasional crosses B: isolated to throwing jabs but has to use any 3 defences against the cross.

Phone box sparring:
Each person has the right foot forward and touches knee to knee, foot to foot. Any punch, any defence but stay in leg contact. Aim was to use body mechanics to throw the punches, use the elbows to open up the body.

Single stick
Revisiting the work from last session and moving it on.
8 count in air
A: delivers the 8 angles B: De-fang the snake (hitting the hand). Mirror their strike angle. Make sure you are out of range of his stick whilst being in range for your counter.

A: delivers the 8 angles B Mirror their strike angle, hit the hand then stab

Mirroring drill of the 8 angles
Both deliver the 8 angle pattern, making contact with the stick, follow through and hit with either a high forehand or high backhand. So...
#1 angle 1 followed by high backhand
#2 upward backhand followed by high forehand
#3 upward forehand followed by high backhand
#4 downward backhand (angle 2) followed by high forehand
#5 angle 5 followed by high backhand (I think)
#6 lateral backhand followed by high forehand
#7 lateral forehand followed by high backhand
#8 high reverse stab followed by high backhand

8 v 8
As above but without the follow up hits. Just like we drilled on Tuesday.

30/8/16: shadow boxing variations, Thai 4 count and single stick

SHADOW BOXING VARIATIONS (rounds)
Visualisation practise: recent studies have confirmed that the process of visualisation creates the same neural pathways as actually doing the skill. The brain can't distinguish between real stimulus and imagined/activity/action, you become what you think about. The work of Brain Tracy centres on this, his book No Excuses goes into this concept in much greater detail.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/No-Excuses-Self-Discipline-Brian-Tracy/dp/1593156324/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1472594593&sr=8-1&keywords=brian+tracy

At all times in the shadow boxing work, we had to imagine someone in front of us. Until a more appropriate term arises, shadow boxing will remain. Practising empty will produce empty results.
body only
jab only
jab defences
hook defences
cross defences
forward pressure
working off L-stepping
working of the lead pivot
combination punches 3-5
PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER.

THAI 4 COUNT TTACK AND DEFENCE
4 count - lead kick to inside of lead leg - right cross - left hook - rear kick to outside of the thigh
DEFENCE 1: against the lead kick - crush across followed by rear round kick.
DEFENCE 2: the lead kick gets in, they throw the right cross - you cut punch then rear round kick.
DEFENCE 3: the lead kick lands, cover the cross, simultaneous cover and uppercut against the hook followed by a knee up the centre.
DEFENCE 4: the lead kick lands, cover the cross then the hook and crush the kick followed by the rear round kick.

Working the whole set in reverse order.

Working in any order. Feeder throws the 4 count 4 times. You have to select any of the counters in any order

SINGLE STICK
8 angle drilling - solo and with a partner
1: downward forehand on the #1 angle
2: upward backhand
3: upward forehand
4: downward backhand
5: stab to the belly
6: lateral backhand
7: lateral forehand
8: stab to the head (#11 on the #2 angle)

25/8/16: cross loop drill, syllabus work and lock flow

CROSS LOOP DRILL
Keep tips were keeping the left hand up when throwing the right cross, rear heel lifted to enable full rotation and extension on the cross and evasive qualities in leaning out of range.
1: shoulder roll, Nigel Benn showing how it is done above
2: short parry

3: cut punch
4: elbow destruction
5: lead uppercut

6: overhand right defence (bob and weave, shoulder stop, shoulder roll)
7: gunting (rear parry, lead bicep strike), elbow control and zone off

SYLLABUS WORK

5 angles with a partner. Focus of using body mechanics and flow.
1: angles 1-2-3-4-5
2: angles 1-4-3-2-5
3: angles 1-upper backhand-upper forehand-2-5

LOCK FLOW
1-8 tend to be focussed on the wrist and the next few focus on the fingers. The lock flow series os designed so that each one is a reaction to an escape attempt and thus leading into the next lock. It also provides a repertoire of locks. Most are breaks or wrenches, we trained for technical accuracy over ripping them on.
#9 gripping little and ring finger with one hand, middle and index with the other; fold fingers back to the forearm, something similar to below

#10 maintain hold of two outer fingers, rotate the forearm up, apply pressure to the back of the elbow as torquing the fingers, he should be up high on his toes.
#11 low line finger lock forearm brace(!)
#12 high version of above
#13 goose neck

#14 sankyo variation

#15 over the shoulder elbow extension

#16 shiho-nage shoulder rotation variation

23/8/16: defensive hand methods and elbow extensions out of hubud

DEFENSIVE HANDS
We did most of this back on 31st May this year.
We practised the following 3 defence structures in isolation, then with the defender looking for attacking opportunities. These are not exact sciences nor do they have all the answers and nor should they be static and passive solutions. But they are sound defensive options.

1: HALF GUARD - shoulder forward, left elbow pinned to the side guarding the lower part of the body, rear upper hand is 'windscreen wiping'. This was used to defend against the low line attacks.

2: 2 PILLARS - elbows parallel with shoulders, forearms up but forward of elbow vertical line, covering the centreline with constant lateral motion so they have to time your motion rather than you reacting to their attacks. This was used against high line attacks.

3: CRAZY MONKEY - shoulders up, chin down, protective shell. This was used against the 5 second chaotic barrage.

Putting it altogether on the pads

HUBUD

Basic drill pattern begins at 4.00


ELBOW EXTENSION 1 (SALUTE). After you block his angle 1 strike, come under the forearms with your rear hand and rotate his forearm as you out the front elbow or forearm against his elbow for the elbow extension.

ELBOW EXTENSION 2 (OVERHOOK WRAP) step in on his angle 1 attack with a covering elbow, overtook wrap his arm, step back with the rear leg for the fast elbow extension (wrench)

ELBOW EXTENSION 3 (OVERHOOK DROP AND LIFT) similar entry as the first one but this time you throw a punch to turn his face, your rear hand is gripping the thumb of the hand he just attacked with. Step over with your armpit so it is now on his elbow, swap gripping hands, drop your weight as you lever his hand up. Remember that the fulcrum is his elbow which is where the pain and damage will occur. Your weight is also on him which adds to the isolation of the arm.

18/8/16: catch wrestling grips, pad rounds and takedowns into submissions

Catch wrestling grips
Against the wrist - circle up and out against the thumb and control his wrist; 'chop' off and pull out and take control of his wrist.
Against the elbow - circling out and control his elbow; if the energy is forward, lap the wrist in the direction of the energy and control his elbow; inside pak sau and biu to the eyes to elbow control.
Against the bicep - thumb in and not around the bicep, push the bicep away to control. This then becomes a pummel as each person looks to dominate both biceps
Putting it all together and hating for head control whilst staying relaxed, feeling energy and pressure and not being physical at all...

Pad rounds
1: jab-jab-cross
2: cross-hook-cross
3: jab-cross-hook-cross
4: jab-cross-uppercut-hook
5: lead hook-rear hook-lead hook-cross

Takedowns into submissions

Against the jab: into #3 lock takedown - knee on head and chest control - folded arm wrist lock. Elbow into your best, his forearm is vertical, big fold and control on the wrist, lift to apply the submission. My wrists are made of paper so even thinking about this one has me tapping out. This image of Josh Barnett was similar except we were on the body behind him not over the head.

Against the jab-cross: split entry - elbow wrench (pull it into your chest, your forearms clasped tight to his, step back with the left and turn for the takedown - keep hold of the arm, it is perpendicular to his shoulder, bicep kneel and folded wrist lock (sandwich grip). Kneel right on the head of the muscle for maximum pain

Against the jab: split entry - left ear slap and right leg hook behind the knee takedown - scarf hold (get tight to the arm pit)- upward shoulder rotation using your leg. 3 possible ways to finish:
1 - extend your leg for an extending shoulder rotations.
2 - turn your hips for a crushing shoulder rotation
3 - lifting neck crank
KEEP EVERYTHING TIGHT AND STAY ON CONTROL

Two examples of death from scarf hold position.

Jack knife head and arm choke: If, when landing, his hands are linked to prevent arm attacks, pass the elbow for the head and arm choke. Turn belly down then lift the hips as you apply the squeeze for the submission

Standard head and arm triangle


Josh Barnett doing what he does best