Core Combatives

RedFred

Well lads,

Mick Coup is coming to Cork next month, I know some lads who trained with him before, he's supposed to be the business.

Anyone else train with him, he doing a 2 day seminar April 14 and 15.

Musashi

I've trained with him and would like to again! Highly recommend his stuff for no nonsense instruction. Who's hosting him and can anyone come along?

Millionaire

I ve been in contact with Mick. He is the real deal, and is highly respected for his skills and hands on experience in the self protection world.

If your in Cork, its a must to attend a Mick Coup seminar.

RedFred

Musashi wrote:

I've trained with him and would like to again! Highly recommend his stuff for no nonsense instruction. Who's hosting him and can anyone come along?

Dave 087 9376069 info@kapap.ie, is the guy hosting, spoke to him yesterday and booked my place. I can't wait, thanks for the good feedback, delighted I booked now..

RedFred

Millionaire wrote:

I ve been in contact with Mick. He is the real deal, and is highly respected for his skills and hands on experience in the self protection world.

If your in Cork, its a must to attend a Mick Coup seminar.

Thanks for that Millionaire, good to hear he is as highly regarded as that! excellent.

Odysseus

I have trained with Mick myself, and would really recommend it, you will certainly learn alot. Pity is in Cork as I would train with him again.

Mick Coup

Looking forward to going myself now!

pma-ire

dam it! i have a competition to bring my club to on the 15th of april!!

post this over on mai also!!

Caped Crusader

Any one know if this would be a good course for someone who knows nothing about Martial Arts??

RedFred

Definately, on the poster he has "suitable to all skill level, no experience required"

It'll be a brilliant weekend.

Millionaire

Caped Crusader wrote:

Any one know if this would be a good course for someone who knows nothing about Martial Arts??

combatives is very simple, and is designed to be learned very fast...so within an hour you will have picked something up that will be useful for self defence.

Musashi

Rang Dave of Kapap.ie today and got my booking form.

john22

I trained with Mick twice and would advise it to anyone. Doesnt matter what knoledge you have, you'l leave with alot more.

thebristolbloke

I try to train with Mick as much as possible because every time I learn something new. I've never been to the Emerald Isle, can anyone tell me what prices to expect for accommodation near the venue?

take care,



phil

Caped Crusader

Thanks for the feedback lads, Anyone know of regular combatives classes near Limerick. I checked out the kapap site and it's not too far away from me (I'm in Limerick). Anyone know the instructor? how good he is? is kapap any good?

Mick Coup

Looking forward to dropping over for the weekend - Dave's doing a fine job of organising everything so far, just down to me to think of something to do for the two days now I suppose!

I'm covering the 'Foundation Elements' on the Saturday - this is the basic 'nuts and bolts' of the physical side of things, the 'default' minimum to revert to when the fight is on. It's a teaching day, not a beasting of any description, but it's 90% practical work. So far I've had guys run through this seminar 4-5 times and the outline is as follows (taken from a post on my Q&A forum)

The base model I teach initially as a default option is, in basic terms, as follows:

Attitude

This is the fuel, the driving force behind everything. It comprises a survival mindset, that is positive and relentless - instantly combative as and when required.

Strategy

The big picture, the overall gameplan, is to achieve Constant Offensive Pressure (GLF!) - a totally asymmetrical active combat concept relying upon maintaining attacking momentum whatever the position or situation.

Tactics

The use of body impact resources most efficiently, and simplistically, focuses on two generic tactical plans:

Repeated Strikes - Simply put, whatever strike utilised is done again and again with the same limb to the same target, this maintains the optimum position and effect of each strike and relieves the brain of any extended decision-making.

Reversed Strikes - When a higher output is required, mainly for counter-offensive purposes, a simple strike can be temporarily alternated between sides to overwhelm and regain any lost initiative. Due to the ensuing positional disturbance this can have a negative effect upon power and accuracy, but increased rate of fire is achieved and exploited.

Primary Tools
Primary tools are selected using the following seven criteria:

• Capability
• Simplicity
• Versatility
• Adaptability
• Repeatability
• Recoverability
• Durability

Highline Impact Tools - Using a direct line of application, the palm, fist or elbow can be employed utilising identical body mechanics engaging any 'online' target above the waist - usually the head region.

Offline Impact Tools - For any target that is outside of the forward primary fighting arc, or that is within it but 'offline' to a direct line of application, the hammerfist or elbow can be employed, again using a generic delivery system, switching tools according to range only.

Lowline Impact Tools - When no highline target is available, or no highline tool is possible, below waist 'online' targets can be engaged utilising the shin or knee at a variety of angles, once again employing a generic method of delivery.

Secondary Tools
When circumstances do not permit the employment of the above primary tools, secondary tools are instead utilised to create opportunity and facilitate their usage as soon as possible.

Hook - Using the palm heel to strike any offset target within the primary fighting arc, the hook is able to engage around obstructing limbs and from outside of the peripheral vision.

Headbutt - When targets are in extreme close proximity the headbutt is designed to create opportunity by forcing the head - the primary target area - into range so that it can be engaged with an elbow or hand highline strike.

Gouge - The gouge is primarily employed as an anti-grappling method, to force the head into position for a strike.

Stamp - Stamping is used against low 'offline' targets that are outside of the primary fighting arc - like other secondary tools, their use is to rapidly create opportunities for better options.

Support Skills
To enhance and assist engaging with the primary and secondary tools, five 'less-tangible' concepts are integrated into every aspect of their use.

Positioning - Divided between progressive Active and spontaneous Reactive postures, positioning is more than just making set stances and incorporates concepts applied regardless of situation.

Moving - Foot and body dynamics that transfer across all tools, enabling easy integration and utilisation whatever the circumstances.

Indexing - Tactile target-acquisition enhancement, either direct or indirect in application, to greatly improve both first and successive strike effect.

Controlling - Simple and direct methods of negotiating obstructions, creating opportunity and preventing/restricting attempts at defence - also used to manipulate and position targets for more effective engagement.

Covering - Using large and durable bodyparts to shield vulnerable areas of the body from attack, either potential or incoming - includes progressive means to intercept, and spontaneous methods to absorb, employed according to available input.

The above is obviously a brief overview and should be thought of as being a model as opposed to a syllabus as such, but it should serve to outline the base 'foundation elements' of what I teach at this level.

On the Sunday, as requested by Dave (the host) I'll be covering various anti-weapon material, focus will be given to the knife as it presents an increasingly and disturbingly relevant focus to self-protection training.

In essence, this material will revolve around the application of the default 'combat management' skills covered on the previous day, to deal realistically with the knife as it is likely to be actually used against a person - rather than any 'West Side Story' nonsense!

Anyone wanting more information on what approach I advocate for anti-weapon scenarios can check out this thread here

Anybody wanting more info, drop me an email or PM and I'll be happy to reply.

Mick

Caped Crusader

Thanks a million for that Mick, really detailed. See you in Cork:D

monchichi

Hi lads and lassies, I'll be there too. Really looking forward to it. I trained with Dave a few weeks ago when Tony Somers came to kravmaga.ie. Great weekend. Looking forward to meeting you Mick. First time to post here so forgive me for any mistakes I may make.

SorGan

mick! cheers.




as always good reading

RedFred

Message for theBristolbloke:
Probably the most economical is the IBIS @ €60-00.

http://www.ibishotel.com/ibis/fichehotel/gb/ibi/0580/fiche_hotel.shtml
Its about 3 minutes over the road in taxi/car.

Hope that helps.

Musashi

I've posted this on MAIreland already, just copying it to here.

Right, the headache has subsided and I've some luvverly bruising going on where I've been hit and "stabbed" (cheers Frank if you see this).

Day one was Micks empty hand Foundation Elements course. I've done this once before, but I could still learn more and "tune up" what I'd been shown. So we got into it and you could see a lot of people going from near no skill in striking to generating good power very quickly. The beauty of this C2 is there are very few strikes and next to no decisions to make. If he's in range bang him in the head, too close, use your elbow until you can transition to palm shots to the head again. He's covered the head, go to low line attacks until it opens up again. He's offline to you, use your offline shot until you can bring the main artillery to bear, then unload the big palm shots again. ;D
There's nothing new as such, but we all learn these moves or similar in various arts, then add more difficult and flashier moves to them. As Mick puts it, use what works, not what you would like to work. The drills we did on pads serve both to reinforce what you've learnt, and shows that you can transition from shot to shot very quickly. You aren't choosing from a menu of tens of shots for every situation. Each range has a primary response, so do that until the situation changes, then do the next most appropriate shot.

This sounds simple, and it is. The drills reinforce that under pressure from an attacker, simple responses taken now, beat flashier ones taken too late.

Day Two was all new to me, or so I thought. Mick has designed the content of his course so that each module uses and builds on the previous one. He likes to call this part "Anti-Knife" rather than "Knife-Defense" or similar. Using drills he shows that chasing the knife hand gets you cut, lots! Changing the drill so we slapped the attacker upside the head changed his attacks more in our favour.
Putting on motorcycle helmets and going at it was a proper laugh and really showed that Micks approach is probably your best bet in a bad situation! We also covered spotting if someone is carrying a weapon, and foiling their access of that weapon. We covered slightly pre-emptive striking, where we would strike an assailant if they seemed to try access a weapon or if we saw a weapon come out.

I'm not going to go into a lot of detail on what was taught, this is Micks business after all. Not only that, I'd just make a bad job of putting across what are very effective tools and drills. Mick is the man to see about learning this stuff, you will not regret attending one of his courses.

I would also like to say a big thank you to David Lewis of Kapap.ie.
The organisation of both days was top notch stuff! Not only did he bring Mick over to instruct, and got us a huge area to play in ;D He also laid on focus pads, training blades (wooden tanto, rubber knife or Sharkee knives, take your pick), large kick shields, "Hammer Head" human head targets, and motorcycle helmets! Not only that but a bagged lunch and tea and coffee were laid on both days and we all got a C2 Core Combatives/Kapap.ie T-Shirt! Happy Days!

David and the folks from Kapap were dead on and really open to learning from guest instructors. I believe they are having Rick Clarke over soon as well.

Thanks to Frank from Donegal Jiu-Jitsu for being my training partner over the weekend, had a good laugh while he tried to stab the guts out of me!

Of course I'd like to thank Mick Coup for coming over and providing the instruction. I know he likes feedback but my brain was to rattled to think clearly on the day 8-) Having had a chance to think about it, I'd have to say two things really stood out for me. One was how pragmatic and practical his teaching is.
"None of your Jackie Chan Bollox" as Dennis Pennis put it, this is the real stuff. No fancy moves or even any extra or different moves for armed vs. unarmed attackers. Your empty hand stuff is your anti-knife stuff when you train with Mick. You probably won't realise at the time the guy has a knife, or rock or whatever. Why have a seperate system for each? His whole integrated approach was great. So many "systems" only deal with an attacker who already has a knife in hand, or both you and your opponent have knives drawn? Mick favours spotting aggressive behaviour and stopping the person before they draw, or as soon as possible after.

The other thing I noticed was his teaching technique. Mick has the course attendees demo his moves for one thing. He knows he can do it, and we know that a guy as big and well trained as him can make most things work anyway. So he has us do the drill, tunes it up, and we do it again. It soon becomes obvious that even someone totally new to this can do what Mick has shown him, and the drilling only makes it more ingrained and a faster default response.
He also breaks up the day very well. A bit of instruction or explanation, then a quick demo using two of the attendees, then we all drill it as Mick goes around correcting things. We can then discuss what we got from the drill, any ideas or questions taken. Nothing is presented as being correct "because I say so".
At a guess he's done a fair bit of instructing squaddies in his time, as he repeats the Core principles every ten or fifteen minutes. It's very natural and not really noticeable, much like his control of space technique. It's a very good way of restating the things he is teaching for that module of the course, and it gets integrated almost subconsciously into the days training. Any of the lads, and Lady, who attended will remember "Time,Space,Effect" and "Aggressive Tenacity" very well ;D His knowledge of his material is faultless, there is a reasoned and valid explanation for everything he does. Whether it's exercise physiology applied to generating power in a shot, body mechanics and ergonomics, physics "The Impulse Momentum Change Theory" and Plastic vs. Elastic energy, you get the idea. He didn't pull this out of thin air, or just pass on what he's been shown by rote. It comes from his own training, experience and research, distilled down into the simplest and most high percentage techniques.

Overall, I would recommend this course to anyone, regardless of experience or lack of! I know David Lewis has some pics from the day, I'll drop him a line and see if he'll post here or link to his own site. That's it for me, I'm off to get some Solpadeine and Arnica, have fun lads!