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London
Shootfighters Seminar Review
Report
by Dom Barry - this was first posted at SFUK.net
The
seminar was held at the Meidokan Yoshinkan Aikido dojo
in Kilburn, London, on the 1st October 2000.
In
attendance were people from around the south of england
and from various disciplines. Paul and Alexis, the instructors,
had planned this seminar to take the participants from
the very basic levels of their approach to mixed martial
arts, assuming no fore knowledge of grappling. The seminar
would cover all phases of the ground game from basic positioning
to control and submisions also including some stand-up
clinch work to round things out.
The
day began with the infamous London Shootfighters warm
up. Paul and Alexis demand high levels of conditioning
from their fighters and themselves and their notorious
warm up is one of the ways this is acheived. They explained
that it is meant to simulate the first moments of a fight
when you tire almost immediately. So that when you train
your heart rate will be up at the level it would be in
competition. Much to the relief of many attendees we were
treated to an abbreviation of the full warm up although
many were gasping for air and their legs shaking by the
end of it. The warm up flowed into some drills for improving
strength and flexibility in the neck and back though bridging.
Basic bridges were taught first and then some more advanced
drills demonstrated but these came with a warning. Get
the basics down first. This section finished with a pummeling
drill from greco roman wrestling which enables the trainees
to practice attaining control of the standing clinch and
served as a final warm up before heading into ground wrestling.
First
of all Paul and Alexis demonstrated the guard position,
showing how to use it to control your opponent when on
your back thus limiting his options in terms of finishing
you from there. Then they progresseed onto attacking from
the guard with a straight armbar and then the triple attack,
a flowing combination of keylock armbar, guillotine choke
and reversal to the mount. These were shown as separate
attacks and then put together to show how your opponents
reaction to one attack would set up the opportunity for
another.
Paul
teaching the details
Next
was the side control position. After demonstrating the
basic position, Paul and Alexis moved on to how to defeat
your opponents attempts to escape and acheive a better
position into the bargain. We were shown how to transiotn
from side control to scarf hold and back again, how to
finish with the key lock from either position and how
to transition to the side mount and really punish the
guy on the bottom. All the time the guys would explain
where they had picked up each technique and how they had
hybridised various versions to come up with something
that suited their purposes better.
Finally
before lunch it was on to passing the guard. Alexis demonstrated
on Paul why it wasn't a great idea to fight with an open
guard in vale tudo and that you needed the control of
your opponent afforded by the closed guard to prevent
him punching you into the mat. Then they moved on to breaking
open the legs and a couple of methods of guard passing
which we drilled and then had fun sparring with before
heading off to grab something to eat.
David
Reunbens hand Paul & Alexis a big cheque
After
lunch the dojo owner, David Reubens, who was also taking
part in the seminar presented Paul and Alexis with a cheque
for £1000 as part of his sponsorship of their freestyle
wrestling careers. As well as being top submission experts
both guys have been picked for the British Commonwealth
wrestling squad for the upcoming games. No mean feat.
They
started the afternoon session by showing the mount and
how to defend against your opponents attempts to escape.
Then they demonstrated how to choke your opponent from
this position so he would be forced to give up an armbar
in his defence. When asked 'What if he doesn't try to
push you away?' Alexis replied 'Wake him up and tell him
what he did wrong'. From here striking from the mount
was covered. This lead nicely onto how most people would
turn away from the strikes, giving up their back and setting
up the highly effective rear choke which we all set to
practising on each other with childish enthusiasm. Fortunately
Paul and Alexis kept us under close scrutiny, as some
people were enjoying themselves too much.
Clinch
work is a London Shootfighters priority
The
penultimate section covered the standing clinch and its
use in vale tudo competition. Various striking methods
from the clinch were covered and how these differed from
similar techniques in muay thai, for example, explained
in detail. This lead to us all trying to take each other
down and defending the shoot while being subject to kicks
and knees to the legs and body.
Paul
and Alexis finished with a question and answer session
on the days techniques and general grappling related subjects.
We then set to applying what we'd learned in a wholehearted
sparring session. Those of us who had the opportunity
to roll with either Paul or Alexis were to learn what
it was like to face a good grappler on top of his game.
I think I must have tapped out about fifteen times in
two minutes of rolling with Paul and my training partner
James fared no better with Alexis.
By
the time everyone was finished beating each other up we
realised the seminar had over ran by two hours. Everyone
was having too much fun to notice at the time. We all
went home happy, many with beautiful brand new London
Shootfighters T-shirts which had been made for the occassion
by www.sfuk.net,
the boys other sponsor. It was a top seminar and it became
easy to see why no-one has a bad word to offer about these
guys. They showed incredible technical ability, the smoothness
and grace exhibited by both Paul and Alexis while demonstrating
the moves and as they flowed from position to submission
with ease was remarkable to behold. Both were excellent
teachers and gave personal attention to everyone correcting,
mistakes and adding little alterations so techniques would
suit individuals better. Add to this the fact that they're
nice people as well and I can't think of any reason you'd
want to miss the next seminar they hold.
If
anyone wants more information on London Shootfighters
call the Meidokan dojo on 0207 372 9866 or log onto www.sfuk.net
and ask on the forum.
Photos
by Pooch & Mel
Here's
what some other SFUK Members thought...........
Just
got back from todays London Shootfighters seminar and
I just had to drop a quick post to say how awesome the
day was. After the dreaded warm up, (which they let us
off lightly with) we were shown a number of drills that
can be used to raise your hart level and improve your
conditioning. Paul and Alexis showed the importance of
position and cardio and taught a large number of submissions
from the mount, side position and guard they also showed
the little details that make them work so well. As well
as ground fighting Paul and Alexis worked on stand up
grappling and showed various ways to clinch and strike.
Overall
Paul and Alexis can be summed up in two words "WORLD CLASS"
they really are that good and more importantly they are
great guys with a great sense of humor. Those who missed
the seminar should be kicking themselves because they
really did miss something special and you also missed
the chance to get your hands on the awesome London Shootfighters
t-shirts, if you can get the chance to train with these
guys go for it, you wont be disappointed. A big thanks
go out to Migel for putting up with Mel and I all weekend
and to my overtired training partner Dom meeting people
like this is what its all about. Thanks to Oommpphh Boy,
Ubik and every one else who turned up it was great to
meet you all.
James
'Pooch' Poole
Top
quality day, man do I ache this morning - I thought it
was a four hour course - instead we got six. Everyone
I met there was ace and our Ipswich lot has even managed
to hook up with a group from Colchester (just down the
road) we didnt even know about until we met them in the
seminar. Sorry Miguel for ripping your brand new shootfighters
T-Shirt, can I be forgiven? Paul, Alexis, Miguel and all
the shootfighters are really great guys and it was one
of the best training atmospheres ive ever been in. Everyone
must check out the London shootfighters.
Ubik
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