Combat Learning

Kabir unpacks how he coaches his coaches to do what he does -- ecologically. Visit combatlearning.substack.com to start reading now. Where to Find Kabir...Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kabirbath/Website: https://kaboombjj.com/ Get full access to Combat Learning at combatlearning.substack.com/subscribe

Today I’m joined by BJJ black belt Kabir Bath. Kabir is one of the early success stories in the ecological jiu jitsu movement, and he has the distinction of a commercially successful gym, too—especially a large children’s program. In this episode, we explore the value and effectiveness of learning through play, as well as the vitalness of coaches connecting personally with their students, big and small. More About Kabir… Professor Kabir Bath began practicing Brazilian jiu-jitsu in 2006 and discovered his passion for coaching soon after. Driven by a desire to help others exceed their personal expectations through jiu jitsu, he opened Kaboom Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Surrey, B.C. in 2012. As a dedicated coach and active competitor, Professor Kabir is committed to helping both adults and children achieve their goals, whether they are simply to stay fit and have fun, or to become a world champion. In 2018, Professor Kabir was awarded his black belt by Professor Rafael Lovato Jr. Where to Find Kabir... Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kabirbath/Website: https://kaboombjj.com/ Produced by Micah PeacockIntro Theme by Micah PeacockOutro Music is Synergy by Juche Get full access to Combat Learning at combatlearning.substack.com/subscribe

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 Peacock Intro Theme by Micah Peacock Outro Music is Synergy by Juche Get full access to Combat Learning at combatlearning.substack.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 Peacock Intro Theme by Micah Peacock Outro Music is Synergy by Juche Get full access to Combat Learning at combatlearning.substack.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 Get full access to Combat Learning at combatlearning.substack.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 Peacock Intro Theme by Micah Peacock Outro Music is Synergy by Juche Get full access to Combat Learning at combatlearning.substack.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 Peacock Intro Theme by Micah Peacock Outro Music is Synergy by Juche Get full access to Combat Learning at combatlearning.substack.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 Peacock Intro Theme by Micah Peacock Outro Music is Synergy by Juche

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 Peacock Intro Theme by Micah Peacock Outro Music is Synergy by Juche Get full access to Combat Learning at combatlearning.substack.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 Peacock Intro Theme by Micah Peacock Outro Music is Synergy by Juche Get full access to Combat Learning at combatlearning.substack.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 now Of 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 Peacock Intro Theme by Micah Peacock Outro Music is Synergy by Juche Get full access to Combat Learning at combatlearning.substack.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 games There'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/

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 combatlearning.substack.com/subscribe

In this third installment of our interview with Greg Souders, we unpack in gritty detail how Greg approaches both task simplification and task complexification. There's quite a bit of information out there about how to scale down games, but not a lot on how, why, and when to scale them up, even beyond the complexity of free sparring. There's a lot to glean here across practice design to curriculum development to helping individuals achieve their optimum level of challenge point. Quick reminder: if you benefit from the show, consider going to combatlearning.com/support to buy me a coffee. This is a donation that supports the show and I really, really appreciate it. Alternatively, you can support the show by join the waiting list for the next cohort of Combat Learning Workshops at combatlearning.com/waitlist. --- Join the newsletter today: https://combatlearning.com/newsletter/ --- Where to find Greg... Personal Instagram (training inquiries): ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/gdsouders/⁠⁠ Standard Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/standardjiujitsu/⁠⁠ Standard YouTube: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@standardjiu-jitsu6031⁠ --- Produced by Micah Peacock Intro Theme by Micah Peacock Outro Music is Synergy by Juche Get full access to Combat Learning at combatlearning.substack.com/subscribe

In this second part of my second Greg Souders interview, we take Greg's rationale for his use of language and demonstrate how it can be used to take the same games and help learners of all skill levels get something out of it even without scaling the constraints down or up. Of course, we highly recommend you engage in task simplification and complexification, too, which we discuss in more practical detail in part 3, released soon. Quick reminder: if you benefit from the show, consider going to combatlearning.com/support to buy me a coffee. This is a donation that supports the show and I really, really appreciate it. Alternatively, you can support the show by join the waiting list for the next cohort of Combat Learning Workshops at combatlearning.com/waitlist. --- Where to find Greg... Personal Instagram (training inquiries): ⁠https://www.instagram.com/gdsouders/⁠ Standard Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/standardjiujitsu/⁠ Standard YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@standardjiu-jitsu6031 ---Produced by Micah PeacockIntro Theme by Micah PeacockOutro Music is Synergy by Juche Get full access to Combat Learning at combatlearning.substack.com/subscribe

- combatlearning.com/support - combatlearning.com/waitlist Sorry for delay on opening workshops, payment beginning Oct 31/Nov 1 Shortening episodes into bite-sized pieces, faster release schedule --- Produced by Micah Peacock Intro Theme by Micah Peacock

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 now to get those resources. The good news is that the ecological approach is gaining steam fast in the jiu jitsu world. The bad news is that the bad faith arguments and big misunderstandings are already bogging down the message. One of the biggest charges leveled against Ecological training is that the terminology around it is not just too technical but in fact MEANINGLESS. This is a bizarre accusation, but it's being repeated all over YouTube, Reddit, Discord, and beyond.Today, BJJ black belt and Jiu Jitsu supervillain Greg Souders joins me again to tackle this accusation. Greg has a very particular language he uses to describe training, jiu jitsu movement, and to cue athletes during performance. Most of it is pulled from the scientific literature directly, but all of it is inspired by his studies across Ecological Dynamics and separate-but-related focus of attention literature. Quick reminder: if you benefit from the show, consider going to combatlearning.com/support to buy me a coffee. This is a donation that supports the show and I really, really appreciate it. Alternatively, you can support the show by joining the waiting list for the next cohort of Combat Learning Workshops at combatlearning.com/waitlist. --- Where to find Greg... Personal Instagram (training inquiries): https://www.instagram.com/gdsouders/ Standard Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/standardjiujitsu/ Standard YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@standardjiu-jitsu6031 --- Produced by Micah PeacockIntro Theme by Micah PeacockOutro Music is Synergy by Juche Get full access to Combat Learning at combatlearning.substack.com/subscribe

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 Peacock Intro Theme by Micah Peacock Outro Music is Synergy by Juche Get full access to Combat Learning at combatlearning.substack.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 combatlearning.substack.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 combatlearning.substack.com/subscribe