The principles behind our training methods
Our primary goal is to prepare our students to resolve conflict. This conflict can come in many guises. On a physical level we aim to prepare our students to be functional in dealing with the three main types of human aggression at whatever range and in whatever mode it presents itself.
Human aggression and the bond of The Pack
Our DBMA Mentor, Guro Marc "Crafty Dog" Denny puts this very well on the website at www.dogbrothers.com ...
"The bond and aggression go hand in hand. ALL animals with individual relationships (wolves, monkeys, geese, dogs, humans etc.) also have aggression. Animals lacking the ability to discriminate between other members of their species, e.g. minnows, do not. The presence of aggression does not always mean that there is a bond with other individuals, but a bond with other individuals always means there is aggression.
Aggression is an instinct, even as sex is an instinct. And just as a man eventually will have a nocturnal emission in the absence of sex, so too aggression will discharge eventually even in the absence of "legitimate" cause. Thus all efforts at eliminating the causes of aggression can be seen in scientific terms as inherently doomed efforts to prevent a instinctual discharge by means of eliminating its typical eliciting stimuli. To the extent that the efforts to eliminate the eliciting stimuli succeed, the discharge of the aggression becomes less predictable and often more dangerous. Skill in aggression will be needed from time to time, especially by those lacking skill and will. The solution is to ground aggression in a ritual expression that also prepares it for functional application.
Aggression has three purposes in nature. First, to spread a species out over territory so as to not overload an eco-system. Amongst humans this is called "war". Second, for rank within the hierarchy of a social group. All social groups have hierarchy. And third, for reproduction. Classically this means two males fighting over the female, but it also means the female defending her young. If there is no social unit, e.g. Siamese fighting fish, it does not matter that the loser dies, only that the winner breeds. In contrast, in social animals, there is a strong biological benefit if the second and third types of aggression do not damage the loser. This is so that the social unit, (the pack/the tribe), which exists precisely because of its survival value, remains strong.
Most martial arts are usually of the second type of aggression, with overtones of the third: Young males competing. In contrast, the Filipino Martial Arts originate in the first form of aggression, in war. Thus there is a quality of cooperation in the learning process of the FMA that can be distinctive.
How so? If, as a tribe we are going to defend our land, women and children, it is in our respective individual interests that the other warriors of the tribe become good fighters as well. If I push you too hard and break your spirit, it does not serve my interests. If I push you too little and you are soft, it also does not serve my interests. And vice versa."
Ranges and modes
Often you do not choose the when and where of physical conflict. We must prepare to face conflict against one or more assailants in any environment with or without the use of weaponry on either side. This is a tall order - nobody said this was an easy task! Some considerations we make in our training include...
One or more assailants: We train to function with a 360 degree awareness of our environment with a view to escape and evasion when appropriate and direct all out action when not. One of the key points that we focus on is how to "not fight" - that is, working on the skills required to not engage the opponent and escape. Success is going home to your family intact.
Weaponry: We train to use weapons - using the Filipino and Thai arts as a base supplemented with other methods such as indigenous Western fighting arts. Weapons combat is a big part of our training and forms the core of our method.
Basic range appreciation: In an unarmed scenario we consider 4 ranges. These are pre-engagement range, Kickboxing range, Standing clinch range & groundfighting range. Weapons training involves up to 7 ranges depending on the mode and weaponry involved. The one range that is often overlooked is the pre-engagement range. Nobody gets hit at this range - but what happens at this range usually decides who gets hit!
