Teaching Martial Arts by Combat Learning

Dr. Garcia joins us one final time to discuss a few very interesting topics. First, we talk briefly about donor sports and the part they play in building better skills for your main sport. Finally, Raul helps us understand how we can use CLA not just for training in the sport itself but also a preparedness that comes with greater skill in stress management.---Join the email list now: ⁠https://combatlearning.com/⁠---Produced by Micah PeacockIntro Theme by Micah PeacockOutro Music is Synergy by Juche This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.combatlearning.com/subscribe

Dr. Garcia joins us again today to unpack the false assumptions that lie beneath the kata-based training system and traditional martial arts. He shows how early ecological researchers such as Nicholai Bernstein blows up the conventional wisdom of traditional martial arts. He then spends the bulk of this episode comparing and contrasting the differences between Information Processing and Ecological conceptualizations of how to develop skill, noting all the little glitches and hiccups that go unexamined about IP thinking.---Join the email list now: https://combatlearning.com/---Produced by Micah PeacockIntro Theme by Micah PeacockOutro Music is Synergy by Juche This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.combatlearning.com/subscribe

Today I'm joined by Dr. Raul Sanchez Garcia, a sport science lecturer at the University Politécnica of Madrid, Spain, martial artist, and Ecological Dynamics thinker.Most researchers in the ecological approach come from a psychology background. Dr. Garcia is unique in that he approaches Ecological Dynamics from the vantage point of ethnography, which is the systematic study of peoples and their cultures. In that vein, he wrote a fantastic social history on the development of Japanese martial arts.In this episode, Dr. Garcia walks us through the historic significance of kata based on his research. Or rather, how it was not significant -- or at least not ubiquitous -- in the war-torn pre-restoration periods of Japan. Rather, it is only after war becomes a less common part of life that kata rises in popularity as a training tool. Kata-heads will no doubt be scandalized at this revelation, as will traditionalists from other styles. But even if you're a non-traditional martial artist, this information will be interesting and useful for your own understanding of the current training landscape. This isn't just about kata: it's about any sort of rote training modality.---Join the email list now: combatlearning.com/newsletter---Produced by Micah PeacockIntro Theme by Micah PeacockOutro Music is Synergy by Juche This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.combatlearning.com/subscribe

Today I'm joined by Matt Phili, a mobility training coach and founder of Primal Mobility.Whether a grappler or striker, most martial artists need greater mobility. However, most of the mobility routines you see around Instagram really won't cut it, and stretching isn't necessarily good mobility work either -- at least on its own.In this episode, Matt unpacks his approach to mobility training: not simply as a stretching routine, but as an approach to strength in progressively deeper ranges of motion. Primal Mobility is unique in that it feels more like accessory exercises in a strength program than a stretching protocol, including sets and reps.In the second half of the episode, we dive into more grappling and striking-specific advice on building and maintaining mobility. Topics include guard-play and guard retention, bridging, as well as higher, more powerful kicks.Finally, we discuss the importance of training outside of neutral spine and in compromised positions to help prevent injuries during the course of real life combat sports performance.A quick note, Matt doesn't come from an Ecological Dynamics or CLA framework. I've had other guests on that aren't ecological before, but I haven't done a good job of making that clear.---Join the newsletter now: https://combatlearning.com/newsletter---Where to find Matt...Website: https://www.primalmobility.com/Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/primal.mobility/---Produced by Micah PeacockIntro Theme by Micah PeacockOutro Music is Synergy by Juche This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.combatlearning.com/subscribe

In this episode, Pedro updates us on his kickboxing program. Then we move into a deep discussion on combinations, affordances, and elaborate pad work in striking sports.We return to the external focus of attention subject briefly before digging into some of the issues Pedro and his coaches experience applying CLA to their classes on a daily basis.If you're excited to jump in, hit the subscribe button and enjoy the show. And if you're listening from YouTube, be sure also to drop a like. ---If you're new to the show, please sign up to the Combat Learning Newsletter at ⁠combatlearning.com/newsletter⁠. I'll send you cheat sheets on how to transform your drills into maximum skill-building games and get you up to speed on the science of motor skill learning for martial arts.---Where to find Pedro...Website: ⁠https://sierramma.com/⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/sierra_m_m_a/⁠---Produced by Micah PeacockIntro Theme by Micah PeacockOutro Music is Synergy by Juche This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.combatlearning.com/subscribe

Today, Pedro Sierra returns to the podcast to update us on his program in two parts.Before understanding Ecological Dynamics, Sierra MMA had lackluster results. Since implementing the constraints-led approach, Sierra MMA has begun to see much more success.In fact, thanks to this change in training methodology, one of coach Pedro's students even won an ADCC Open. Pedro has come a long way since we first talked. As this episode unfolds, we discuss some of the problems he ran into and how he solved them. One of them involves round intensity and time constraints.We also discuss self-organization and how accounting for it helps us design better sparring games. Finally, this moves into a discussion about understanding what intention and attention are and how they work practically inside the constraints-led approach.---If you're new to the show, please sign up to the Combat Learning Newsletter at combatlearning.com/newsletter. I'll send you cheat sheets on how to transform your drills into maximum skill-building games and get you up to speed on the science of motor skill learning for martial arts. ---Where to find Pedro...Website: https://sierramma.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sierra_m_m_a/---Produced by Micah PeacockIntro Theme by Micah PeacockOutro Music is Synergy by Juche This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.combatlearning.com/subscribe

In this episode, Emil reveals his approach to game design. Then we move quickly into the ways to individualize sessions to each learner, including some principles of session design.Overall, Emil keeps the generic conditioning exercises out of skill training. Strength and conditioning is something you can do on your own time with coaches specialized to that. In Muay Thai class, you come to practice Muay Thai.Lastly, Emil and I discuss the injury landscape now that he's ecological.---If you're new to the show, please sign up to the Combat Learning Newsletter at https://⁠combatlearning.com/newsletter⁠. I'll send you cheat sheets on how to transform your drills into maximum skill-building games and get you up to speed on the science of motor skill learning for martial arts. Plus, you'll never miss a show. Go to ⁠combatlearning.com/newsletter⁠ to get those resources now.---Where to Find Emil...Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/bara.emil/⁠---Produced by Micah PeacockIntro Theme by Micah PeacockOutro Music is Synergy by Juche This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.combatlearning.com/subscribe

In this episode, Emil continues to explain how he does the constraints-led approach to Muay Thai. Other ways to control for intensity/going too hard How to introduce leg kicks and leg kick defense through sparring games What are the fundamentals of Muay Thai as a sport? How can we understand it at a dynamic and foundational level? How constraints can lead to adaptive or maladaptive fighting strategies How Emil conceptualizes the use of thai pads and heavy bags nowOf particular note, Emil unpacks how he teaches his learners to coach each other and communicate for each other's safety and learning benefit. This is an amazing dynamic, and something I want to hear ecological coaches talking about more and doing more.---If you're new to the show, please sign up to the Combat Learning Newsletter at combatlearning.com/newsletter. I'll send you cheat sheets on how to transform your drills into maximum skill-building games and get you up to speed on the science of motor skill learning for martial arts. Plus, you'll never miss a show. Go to combatlearning.com/newsletter to get those resources now.---Where to Find Emil...Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bara.emil/---Produced by Micah PeacockIntro Theme by Micah PeacockOutro Music is Synergy by Juche This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.combatlearning.com/subscribe

Today I'm joined by Emil Fitoussey, a professional Muay Thai coach out of Nacka Dojo in Sweden.Over the past year, Emil has transitioned his partially ecological Muay Thai program into a 100% ecological Muay Thai program. In this episode, he recounts his journey into Ecological Dynamics and the constraints-led approach.Then, we talk about how he builds the culture of his Muay Thai program to value the safety of sparring partners.Finally, we discuss several interesting practical topics, including:- Using external focus of attention to help learners self-organize striking techniques- How his use of thai pads has changed and how he uses them now- How he's changed his warmup from calisthenics-based to based on mini-games- How he helps day 1, brand new students control power output for safe sparring gamesThere's been a content desert for how to use the ecological approach to striking. Today, I'm happy to provide you with a substantial entry into what I hope will become a burgeoning community of coaches who collaborate on how to make this work for striking sports.I had incredible fun recording this series of episodes with Emil, and I'm extremely impressed with him and what he's done. Emil is a smart guy, but he's still a regular Muay Thai coach like most of you. It makes me confident most striking coaches can use CLA for their programs, too.If you get value out of this episode, consider buying me a coffee at combatlearning.com/support/. Think of it like a tip. It supports the show, and I truly appreciate it.---If you're new to the show, please sign up to the Combat Learning Newsletter at combatlearning.com/newsletter. I'll send you cheat sheets on how to transform your drills into maximum skill-building games and get you up to speed on the science of motor skill learning for martial arts. Plus, you'll never miss a show. Go to combatlearning.com/newsletter to get those resources now. ---Where to Find Emil...Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bara.emil/ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.combatlearning.com/subscribe

The podcast delves into the intricacies of task simplification and complexification in martial arts skill development. It explores advanced training techniques, the significance of concepts in Jiu Jitsu, and adapting to pressure in teaching. The speakers emphasize genuine training discussions and commitment to improvement for skill development.