Coach Freedman continues his discussion of  Martial Arts Energies. He shows how blending with you opponents energy using the concepts of Aiki and Ju can be used for your defense.

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Coach Freedman demonstrating variations of the block, check and counter drills with the help of Guro Birmingham. In the video Coach Freedman explains about rhythm training in Filipino Martial Arts. He explains how to see or spot a 3 count beat or a 4 count beat or even a 5 count beat in a drill. These beats carry over into a fight and if your awareness is high, you can spot these rhythms and disrupt them. Pay attention to your training and see where the beats come in.

Related posts:

1. Karambit Drills Pt. 2

Scott Sonnon (The Flow Coach) has three  simple rules for decision-making:

1. The best thing to do is the right thing.
2. The next best thing is to do something.
3. The worst thing to do is nothing.

Coach Sonnon says “If you don’t know what to do, start doing something, and the right choice will appear through your self-effort.”

Coach Freedman in a recent Jujutsu class was expressing the same philosophy. Coach was saying “Some of you get upset when you make a mistake. You stop you practice and try to examine where you had a problem. I make just as many mistakes as you. The only difference is that I do not stop. If something is wrong or not working, I just keep on going to the next thing. In combat you do not have the luxury of stopping, your only choice is action. My movements seem more smooth and precise because I am not stopping, just flowing into the next thing.”

Coach demonstrates by having one of the instructors attack him. The instructor attacks with a mixture of punches, jabs, kicks and grabs. Coach flows in a continuing movement, never stopping, always moving his feet. He redirects, parries,  counters and moves as if he is just taking a walk in the park, not being attacked by a competent martial artist.

His movement reminds me of O Sensei Morihei Ueshiba, Aikido founder.  I watch the old videos of O Sensei and I am amazed at his ability to avoid his attackers, unbalance them and send them to the ground with what seems to be little or no effort.

Coach Sonnon says that “The worst thing to do is nothing. “. Coach Freedman says when “When you can think of nothing else, move your feet.” As I have heard so many times from so many teachers the one great technique is just getting out of the way. Coach Freedman is a great advocate of footwork.  He admonishes “You are not defending a place, you are defending yourself. Move your feet and get out of the way.” That is very good advice. As I study with Coach Freedman, I have found that I now move more then what I used to and I have found it to be very effective. This works in with his advice on Repetition and how if you do something over and over, it becomes such a part of your being; that you will do it naturally in a defense situation with out even thinking of it.

Watch this short video. It is a demonstration of the application of the Freedman’s method footwork that will be a part of an upcoming DVD on footwork to be released in the near future. See how doing something with footwork can be the best thing to do.

Related posts:

1. The Meaning of the Black Belt

The latest video from the Boston Arnis Club, Coach Freedman shows different basic variations of the Block, Check and Counter Drill. This is a dynamic drill, the principles of the drill allows for the use of empty hand, edged and impact weapons. It covers close (corto), medium (media) and larga (long) distance applications.

Please note at the beginning of the video how Coach Freedman encourages to practice from a different perspective. By working from the ground you have to incorporate a new set of motor skills. This increases your dexterity and your creativity.

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Another Phil Duldulao video where Coach Freedman demonstrates some re-direction and flow drills against knife and stick. Helping is Guro Fred Lorman and Guro Ryan Birmingham.

Pay close attention to how Coach Freedman follows the direction of the attack and uses the natural motion of his body to redirect and counter his opponent. These are flow exercises and should be practiced slowly so that you can get a feel for the proper movement. If you practice too fast you might miss the subtleties  of the exercise. Have faith that if you practice slow the correct movement will come out if you ever have to move fast.

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This is a follow up on my previous post about Intu-Flow.

Coach Freedman asked me if I could teach the Jujutsu class the Intu-Flow® techniques that help with rolling. That same day I get an email from  the Body Weight Coach Adam Steer at bodyweightcoach.com (Coach Steer and Coach Murdock have a lot of great fitness information on their site). So he has this post “Flow Like GI Joe” in which demonstrate the same exercises I was going to show. These exercises are great warm ups in preperation for rolls.  Check out the video from YouTube or checkout the post at his site http://www.bodyweightcoach.com/12/gi-joe-bodyweight-exercise/

Recommended Intu-Flow products

Intu-Flow® DVD only

Complete package. This includes two 5lb clubbells. I think this is the best value.

Free to Move companion book for Intu-Flow®.

Intu-Flow® complete package with two 5lb clubbells and the Free to Move book.

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I have been a follower of Scott Sonnon for many years now. One day I was looking for information on kettlebells and came across his site RMAX International. This was the first I had heard about his Circular Strength Training (CST). I was intrigued so I bought the book  Body-Flow™: Freedom from Fear-Reactivity. I was impressed by the book. I followed the exercises and found that it improved my mobility.

Coach Sonnon was a big proponent of clubbells and had developed his own brand. I bought myself a set of 10 pounders and began to swing them. However, I found I was more drawn to his flow exercises. His early program was called Warrior Wellness which has evolved into the Intu-Flow® program. Although I only swing the clubells occasionally, I have been religious in doing the Intu-Flow exercises every day. I have found this to be one of the best programs to keep my joints supple and pain free. As a martial artist we need every tool that we can find to strengthen our joints. This program takes as little as 8 minutes a day to perform and works wonders. I often work with younger martial artists and they are amazed how flexible I am. I credit it to following this program. Coach Freedman has asked me to teach this to his Jujutsu class.

I highly recommend you try this and that you buy the Complete Package that includes the two 5lb clubells and the Extension program.

In order to reach a large audience Coach Sonnon has placed the beginner Intu-Flow® program on YouTube. You can watch it there or watch it on our media player here.

Recommended packages

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