- Joined
- Apr 2, 2006
- Messages
- 269
Interview with Master-at-Arms James A. Keating
What does you’r past training consist of?
I owe a lot to the style of Naha te (Goju-Ryu, Uechi-Ryu, etc). Also Kenpo and a half a dozen other arts I've studied. Maestro Peter Urban, Master Ed Parker, Ed Sumner, Tom Conners, Dave Harris, Sid Woodcock, Colin Blyler and more have contributed to my growth in countless ways.
What does your current personal training consist of?
Lot's of individual time spent w/ my devices of choice for development, maintaince and evolution of skills. The Desquerdes, The speedbag, The Bounce-back bag and other devices (which have no real name) that I've invented. My partner work (sparring, timing, drills, etc) occurs with a variety of people as part of my weekly teaching agenda with people from all over the
globe. I work cane extensively when alone, I do single knife daily, I also shoot
pistol daily and weekly I attempt to practice some type of form work.
What do you consider to be important concerns for the "street confrontation"?
Basically in this short interview I'd say that knowing your entries and knowing your escapes. These aspects encompass much and need extensive study. Plus have an ever-ready attitude to "get down" in a heartbeat if pushed, have no illusions about "what you can do". Man is often termed to be a "tool-using monkey". Ok, be a tool user then, not a “punching peasant” (meaning fight w/ a weapon or tool as would one of noble birth and character, only the lowliest of men use their hands for combat.)
I hear people often say “how would you compare James Keating and Kelly Worden?” What's your response to this?
Hmm, that I am his evil twin, no wait.... He's MY evil twin... no wait. He's fric and I'm frac, he's bric and I'm brac. A timeless team, a mean machine, thick and lean, fast and dark, the brightest spark, we are the "fiddle to each others faddle".... verily indeed. There ya go, it's now fully explained.
Tell us about flexible weapons.
Flexible weapons encompass a wide, diverse array of many things. They are part of the Comtech curriculum, we teach Bandanna (Panu), whip (Buntot Pagi), Belt (Sabitan), lariat (Reata), knot tying and more as part of this phase. Often undetected, a flexible weapon is fast and effective. Accuracy and skill are tantamount.
I've heard you speak of sport versus street. What's the difference?
Sport x Street is like martial arts versus Combatives. Combatives are a somewhat new field that uses martial arts, but does not claim to teach them nor follow any particular tradition or culture. Sports have rules, refs, do's and dont's, ugh... whats that gonna do for realistic training besides screw it all up? Combatives in my estimation are cleaner, more direct and more realistic in their time frames and mission statements. I practice combatives about 85% of the time.
You teach private lessons. What do you charge?
...I adjust though for those who need training and don’t have the funds. So like an old “hoss trader”, I am always open to deals, trades, talks, walks and ideas. WHY? Because it's TRAINING that we are all about, all else comes after that. Ya know what I mean?
