Realistic progression in FMA

[samson818]

How do you all realistically train your empty hand FMA's?

I know panantukan is similar to western boxing, but how does one insert FMA's low line kicks, elbows, destructions, and dirty tactics in sparring to make it part of your subconscious while not injuring your partner?

Do you simply free spar as in western boxing, then separately do drills to insert your FMA hand techniques?

I, personally, find it very difficult to include FMA specific techniques and flavor during sparring sessions with a resisting opponent.

[samson818]

I will have to try that with my training partners.

Sounds like semi cooperative sparring. Correct?

How many counters do you execute per attack?
Do you start off with one and then progress into multiple attacks?

[therenegademonk]

Here's how I apply FMA empty hands in sparring:

1) Destructions are useful but also difficult to pull off. The traditional gunting is, in my experience, not only difficult to pull off, but also ineffective at doing any harm to the other person. I prefer actively elbowing the fists of my opponent as the punches come at me. I also like the use of the knee as a destruction against the low roundhouse kick to the thigh. However, the key to applying FMA empty hands in sparring is all about safety. The destructions can easily break bones and leave someone crippled or seriously injured. That's why I do not apply FMA empty hands in sparring unless shin guards, eye goggles, head gear, elbow/knee guards, and boxing/JKD gloves are worn.

2) I really like the eye gouge, and I found a way to apply it in my sparring. At the beginning level, I have the two of us don eye goggles and surprisingly, the effect of having a thumb "gouge" someones protected eye is actually quite effective...it blocks their vision and more often than not, it forces them to look away, just like a thumb in the eye would cause. At a certain level, we train without goggles and practice the eye gouge almost as a submission type hold in which we try to apply the gouge (with only a little-moderate pressure) and if the person is too bothered by it they tap out. This takes a great deal of physical and emotional control and we don't do it unless the two partners truly understand and respect one another.

3) I try to keep it simple by remembering that the empty hands of FMA are derived from knife movements. FMA empty hands isn't all about destructions and eye gouges. Forearm Blows and Slaps are derived from Sword and Stick swings...Bolo Punches (hammerfists) are derived from Icepick-grip knife techniques....Fingertip jabs are derived from thrusts with a small knife held in forward grip....etc. In light of this, we can apply these strikes in sparring effectively. We also throw in Dumog and Silat locks in the mix as well. If you tap out from a dumog lock, it's considered a submission.

4) Training biting is crucial in training. It's not just important how you bite, but where you bite. In order to train this, we spar and if the opportunity presents itself, one person will simulate a bite on a person's body by pressing their face against the person with as long and as strongly as they can. If the persons simulated "bite" remains on their opponents body for more than 4 seconds, we reset the match.

I hope all made sense.

God Bless,
Mike Pana
Founder/ Head Instructor Bayani Warrior Systems

http://www.freewebs.com/renegademonk

http://www.myspace.com/bayaniwarrior

[danjuandesiga]

I suggest looking into the Kali Tudo 2 dvd set. It is some really sweet stuff!
The investment is worth it.