My training partner posted this on the eskrima digest and asked me to post it here also (in light of a recent thread on live blade training).
I have seen postings before on the digest, where people have alluded to
training with live blades, but not going into specifics. Last night at
class (Sayoc Kali), after about an hour and half of training, our
instructor, Guro Tom Kier, told the class we would be doing some live
blade
training. He then pulled out a double edged (actually, the 'back' side
of
the blade was all serrations) knife and started feeding me.
At first we did Sayoc transition drill #1, which we had worked on for a
bit
in class. I immediately noticed that my hands were kept closer to my
body
and I was way more focused, due to possibility of even incidental
contact.
Then Guro Tom started free flowing, with absolutely no pattern. He
often
tried to back me into the gym's corners or into one of the heavy bags.
He
was also doing sweeps, foot traps, etc., all while feeding me with the
live
blade. While we probably only went for about ten minutes, it certainly
seemed longer. Then Guro Tom fed my training partner, Sean.
For those of you who have done live blade training, I ask:
1) Is it always in the form of instructor feeding student? Other than
the
obvious fact (to me and anyone who knows Guro Tom) that he could have
cut
me at will, there were other instances where, because of my incorrect
reaction or improper positioning, that Guro Tom had to change his feed
or
pull back to avoid making contact. There were other instances where
Guro
Tom actually covered the blade with his finger, I assume (hope) to
avoid
cutting me. (I would also note that Guro Tom only did the live blade
training with two of the people in the class, who had trained with him
a
bit longer than the rest of the guys.)
2) What size blades do you use? Guro Tom was using a knife with about
a
two inch blade. I had always heard that smaller blades are extremely
difficult to strip (I know, I know, incidental or accidental) but there
were times he was so close and moving it so fast that I wonder (now) if
Guro Tom would have been forced to go slower if a larger blade were
involved.
3) How 'hard' do you go? As I stated, I completely aware of the fact
Guro
Tom could have cut me at will. At times, he would thrust past me, like
with a #6 strike from the first 3 of 9 template (you can see it on the
Sayoc web page), and, instead of burying the knife in my neck, merely
smack
my neck with the side of his arm. (His hand was completely past my
neck,
behind it, if that makes any sense.) I have heard of people training
to
the 'first cut,' but I wonder if that gets people into 'hand hunting'
instead of going for targets that would end a self-defense situation
quicker? Do people who have trained with live blades also throw in
empty
hands, knees, etc?
And my followup
As Kevin's training partner let me add my two cents.
1- Having trained under Guro Kier, Kevin and I have
both come to respect and appreciate the level of
incredible control that he was.
2- Guro Kier is very good about pushing us to the next
level and getting us to trust our training
3 The liveblade training is still just that- the
contact that occurs would be different in situation
with a real aggressor (you would tap to find/create an
opening and then move in and attack, hopefully with a
blade that you were able to draw, you would NOT play
around in the range where you can get cut but not
deliver any blows.)
4 The degree of focus the live blade brings is quite
substantial and this focus can get lost when you work
with training blades all the time.
5. I would (at this stage in my training) not feel
comfortable feeding someone a live blade, nor would I
recieve this sort of training from just anyone.
Sean
I have seen postings before on the digest, where people have alluded to
training with live blades, but not going into specifics. Last night at
class (Sayoc Kali), after about an hour and half of training, our
instructor, Guro Tom Kier, told the class we would be doing some live
blade
training. He then pulled out a double edged (actually, the 'back' side
of
the blade was all serrations) knife and started feeding me.
At first we did Sayoc transition drill #1, which we had worked on for a
bit
in class. I immediately noticed that my hands were kept closer to my
body
and I was way more focused, due to possibility of even incidental
contact.
Then Guro Tom started free flowing, with absolutely no pattern. He
often
tried to back me into the gym's corners or into one of the heavy bags.
He
was also doing sweeps, foot traps, etc., all while feeding me with the
live
blade. While we probably only went for about ten minutes, it certainly
seemed longer. Then Guro Tom fed my training partner, Sean.
For those of you who have done live blade training, I ask:
1) Is it always in the form of instructor feeding student? Other than
the
obvious fact (to me and anyone who knows Guro Tom) that he could have
cut
me at will, there were other instances where, because of my incorrect
reaction or improper positioning, that Guro Tom had to change his feed
or
pull back to avoid making contact. There were other instances where
Guro
Tom actually covered the blade with his finger, I assume (hope) to
avoid
cutting me. (I would also note that Guro Tom only did the live blade
training with two of the people in the class, who had trained with him
a
bit longer than the rest of the guys.)
2) What size blades do you use? Guro Tom was using a knife with about
a
two inch blade. I had always heard that smaller blades are extremely
difficult to strip (I know, I know, incidental or accidental) but there
were times he was so close and moving it so fast that I wonder (now) if
Guro Tom would have been forced to go slower if a larger blade were
involved.
3) How 'hard' do you go? As I stated, I completely aware of the fact
Guro
Tom could have cut me at will. At times, he would thrust past me, like
with a #6 strike from the first 3 of 9 template (you can see it on the
Sayoc web page), and, instead of burying the knife in my neck, merely
smack
my neck with the side of his arm. (His hand was completely past my
neck,
behind it, if that makes any sense.) I have heard of people training
to
the 'first cut,' but I wonder if that gets people into 'hand hunting'
instead of going for targets that would end a self-defense situation
quicker? Do people who have trained with live blades also throw in
empty
hands, knees, etc?
And my followup
As Kevin's training partner let me add my two cents.
1- Having trained under Guro Kier, Kevin and I have
both come to respect and appreciate the level of
incredible control that he was.
2- Guro Kier is very good about pushing us to the next
level and getting us to trust our training
3 The liveblade training is still just that- the
contact that occurs would be different in situation
with a real aggressor (you would tap to find/create an
opening and then move in and attack, hopefully with a
blade that you were able to draw, you would NOT play
around in the range where you can get cut but not
deliver any blows.)
4 The degree of focus the live blade brings is quite
substantial and this focus can get lost when you work
with training blades all the time.
5. I would (at this stage in my training) not feel
comfortable feeding someone a live blade, nor would I
recieve this sort of training from just anyone.
Sean
