Teaching Martial Arts by Combat Learning

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 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 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 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 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 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

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 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

Cal Jones, a Judo expert, discusses using constraints-led approach in martial arts, task simplification, and safe warmups. He reveals not teaching breakfalls, importance of constraints, and dynamic game-like warmups. Also touches on memory in Ecological Dynamics theory.

Dr. Rob Gray returns today to talk to us about an exciting concept called the differential learning effect.The so-called "ecological approach" is often used synonymously with the Constraints-led Approach, but it also encompasses other frameworks such as differential learning. Differential learning is about true randomness in practice conditions. The constraints-led approach is about purposefully designed environments. Both work -- so is there a way to combine both approaches and gain the positive effects of each?In fact, there is. In this episode, Dr. Gray walks us through a synthesized approach that he calls "constrained differential learning."So 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 Dr. Rob Gray:Website: https://perceptionaction.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robgray29/Twitter: https://twitter.com/ShakeyWaits---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 Nick Delgadillo, Starting Strength Coach, Head of Corporate Development at Starting Strength, and a lifelong martial artist. In this episode, Nick unpacks common misconceptions about strength training and how conditioning works for most athletes in combat sports.He introduces to the the so-called "Two Factor Model" of strength and conditioning for sports. Rather than spread your precious workout time across accessory exercises, he argues that most martial artists are better served by moving up their numbers on the big 4 compound lifts:- Back squat- Bench press- Overhead press- DeadliftThis keeps conditioning work and sport-specific work properly separated. Nick also gives tips on how to balance novice programming with the recovery demands of combat sports practice. If you're looking for a simple way to improve your performance on the mat, this episode is for you.Also, this is a special topic. The Combat Learning Podcast is and will remain focused on perceptual-motor learning, but I thought this would be a welcome and insightful pattern break from the usual episode subject matter.So 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 Nick Delgadillo:Website: https://liftfightwin.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nickd_ssc/---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 Bryant Coston and Seneca Savoie, Historical European Martial Artists who specialize in coaching the sword at their club, Arena Weapon Arts.In this episode, Bryant and Seneca recount their journey from a traditional technique and drill-based sword coaching, to games-based practice, and finally arriving at a full-bore constraints-led approach. They go into detail about how they approach practice design, curriculum development, as well as coaching and correction. We also talk at length about representativeness and how previous experience in other skills can form "attractor states" that influence the way you move when acquiring and developing a newer skill. Of note also is their account of how training with more aliveness actually lowered their injury rates instead of making it worse.So 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 Bryant & Seneca:Website: https://www.academyofwma.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArenaWeaponArts/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arenaweaponarts/---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