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 Get full access to Combat Learning at 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 Get full access to Combat Learning at 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/ Get full access to Combat Learning at 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.

In this podcast, Greg Souders discusses using language to make games beneficial for all Jiu Jitsu skill levels. They touch on task simplification, complexification, and the importance of scaling techniques. The conversation delves into designing games around immobilization, strangulation, and breaking skills.

Exploring the ecological approach in Jiu Jitsu training and the criticisms around the terminology used, with BJJ Black Belt Greg Souders. Discussing the strategic advantages of the north south position, impact of rulesets on martial arts strategies, and the concept of aliveness in martial arts training.

How to support the podcast...Buy Me a Coffee: https://combatlearning.com/support/Zoom Workshops: https://combatlearning.com/waitlist/---Today I join Brian Willis on a podcast series he does for his police training website, the Excellence in Training Academy.Brian has 25 years of full time police officer experience and now 25 years of experience as a police trainer as well. He consults with trainers and training agencies through his consulting company, Winning Mind Training. Links to both websites are included in the description.Brian invited me on his show to talk about my Scalable Live Training Framework and 3D Model of Coaching. He did such a great job structuring this interview that it functions as a great introduction to both concepts. While most of my analogies are combat sports oriented, I do make some explicit connections and examples around how this framework works for defensive tactics and especially firearms training.Alright, if you're excited to jump in, hit the subscribe button on your podcatcher and enjoy the show.---Join the Combat Learning Newsletter: https://combatlearning.com/newsletter---Where to find Brian Willis...Training Website: https://excellenceintrainingacademy.com/Consulting Website: https://winningmindtraining.com/---Produced by Micah PeacockIntro Theme by Micah PeacockOutro Music is Synergy by Juche Get full access to Combat Learning at www.combatlearning.com/subscribe

Today I'm joined again by Daniel Marino, a 4th degree black belt in Tang Soo Do and founder of the Naihanchi Project and popular Facebook group, Practical Tang Soo Do.In this episode, Dan and I discuss the controversial question, "is karate salvageable?" Right now, it doesn't look good, but maybe in a generation or two, we can turn the ship around. The subject matter of this conversation is based on some private conversations and a very controversial post I made in the Practical Tang Soo Do group. Here's what I wrote in that post:"The fact of the matter is that karate (and taekwondo) exists in the modern world of martial arts only through double standards, complex coping mechanisms, chronic misunderstandings, and plain ignorance.The problems in karate are not due to the reasons you most often hear...It's not because karate "isn't like it was in the 70s and 80s"It's not the uniform or beltsIt's not because "bunkai isn't taught"It's not because "applications aren't practical"It's not because technique standards droppedIt's not because sport karate is popularIt's not because you don't have enough curriculum for black beltsIt's not because "kids are different now"It's not because of our instant gratification societyKarate Instructors say these things because they have no honest and accurate understanding of the martial arts landscape. And they are 10, 15, 20 years behind the curb on the science of training. Everything from how movement in the human body emerges, to the best ways to learn certain skills, to the differences between different skills (like sparring, one steps, and kata), they don't understand. Most karate instructors aren't just behind, they're not even at the table. They can't even have an intelligent discussion about it.The culture around karate is stale and regressive. The curriculum predetermines it as a linear track for little kids. The political heads of local and national organizations ostracize and exclude people with different ideas and enforce the rigid curriculum structure with an iron fist.And yet, the same boomers who largely create this culture, do nothing but complain and bemoan the downfall of karate."What can be done when the institutions that control karate are hellbent on ensuring it continues to die?If you're excited to jump in, hit the subscribe button on your podcatcher and enjoy the show!---Join the email list now: combatlearning.com/newsletter---Find Dan: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/naihanchiprojectPractical Tang Soo Do Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/5579952282075574YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PracticalTangSooDo/---Produced by Micah PeacockIntro Theme by Micah PeacockOutro Music is Synergy by Juche Get full access to Combat Learning at www.combatlearning.com/subscribe

Today I'm joined by Geno Guevara, founder and head instructor of Alamo Ranch Martial Arts and a Joon Rhee taekwondo black belt turned kickboxing coach.In this episode, Geno begins by recounting his journey into the ecological approach as a martial arts instructor and school owner. Like all of us, Geno struggled at first to transition to the constraints-led approach because his old habits were so deeply engrained. Geno is still figuring things out, but he powered through that initial doubt and now his program is better for it.In fact, Geno redesigned his entire curriculum to allow his students to have agency and self-direction in their own training. In a class of 20 students, they could all be practicing 20 different things throughout the course of a session. This is a clever combination of both Self-Determination Theory (which is primarily about fostering intrinsic motivation) and the individualized emphasis of the constraints-led approach. Then he moves into the fascinating changes he's made to his program to make most of his training live but still balance safety and power development in strikes among his children's kickboxing members.Of particular note is Geno's use of equipment constraint manipulations and task parameters to teach students how to develop powerful, fully chambered side kicks WITHOUT direct instruction on chambering -- or rote drilling.Geno also explains how he starts kids in sparring without being too rough or accelerating member attrition.We haven't explored the ecological approach to striking as much as grappling yet, so this episode is full of insightful gems. Geno is a listener of Combat Learning who reached out to me to tell me what he's doing. If you're trying out things from this podcast, making discoveries, and seeing positive results, please do not hesitate to reach out to me through the Combat Learning website or Instagram.Like with Pedro Sierra, I was impressed by what Geno has done on his own with a few papers, podcasts, and trial and error. I'm confident you'll be impressed, too. But more than that, I'm confident you can what he's doing, too. A quick note before you jump in: for some reason my side of the conversation is not recorded, and for that I'm deeply sorry. This was recorded on a new tool, but it shouldn't happen again. So a warning up front that this will sound more like an audio essay from Geno than a conversion.The questions are as follows:- You mentioned in email correspondence with me that you discovered some unique design elements for teaching striking to groups. Can you talk to me about that?- How are you using external focus of attention in your martial arts program?- Do you find it difficult to apply the ecological approach to striking?- What do you do to keep things alive but also safe?- Do you still do kata?Now, if you're excited to jump it, hit the subscribe button on your podcatcher and enjoy the show!---Join the email list now: combatlearning.com/newsletter---Find Geno: genoguevara@gmail.comWebsite: https://alamoranchmartialarts.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/alamoranchmartialarts/---Produced by Micah PeacockIntro Theme by Micah PeacockOutro Music is Synergy by Juche Get full access to Combat Learning at www.combatlearning.com/subscribe

Pedro Sierra is a BJJ black belt instructor, kickboxing coach, and owner of Sierra MMA in Utah.But more importantly, Pedro is a normal guy just like you who teaches and trains martial arts. Unlike most teachers, however, he has taken the leap into CLA and fast begun to restructure his programs -- with near immediate positive student feedback and results.At the time of this recording, Sierra MMA is just over a month into its adoption of the constraints-led approach to training.In this episode, Pedro walks us through- how he found the ecological approach- what convinced him to change to CLA- what he's done to restructure his classes ecologically- challenges he's run into, how he solved them, and problems he's still working onThis is an excellent example of how virtually anyone can implement CLA into their martial arts programs -- and it can be done in a short amount of time, too! It just takes a little thoughtfulness and a little know-how.---Join the email list now: combatlearning.com/newsletter---Find Pedro Sierra:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sierra_m_m_a/Website: https://sierramma.com/---Produced by Micah PeacockIntro Theme by Micah PeacockOutro Music is Synergy by Juche Get full access to Combat Learning at www.combatlearning.com/subscribe