Combat Learning

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

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

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

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

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

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 PeacockIntro Theme by Micah PeacockOutro Music is Synergy by Juche

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

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

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/

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pedro Sierra is a BJJ black belt instructor, kickboxing coach, and owner of Sierra MMA in Utah.But more importantly, Pedro is a normal guy just like you who teaches and trains martial arts. Unlike most teachers, however, he has taken the leap into CLA and fast begun to restructure his programs -- with near immediate positive student feedback and results.At the time of this recording, Sierra MMA is just over a month into its adoption of the constraints-led approach to training.In this episode, Pedro walks us through- how he found the ecological approach- what convinced him to change to CLA- what he's done to restructure his classes ecologically- challenges he's run into, how he solved them, and problems he's still working onThis is an excellent example of how virtually anyone can implement CLA into their martial arts programs -- and it can be done in a short amount of time, too! It just takes a little thoughtfulness and a little know-how. ---Join the email list now: combatlearning.com/newsletter---Find Pedro Sierra:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sierra_m_m_a/Website: https://sierramma.com/---Produced by Micah PeacockIntro Theme by Micah PeacockOutro Music is Synergy by Juche

Dr. Rob Gray returns today to talk to us about an exciting concept called the differential learning effect. The so-called "ecological approach" is often used synonymously with the Constraints-led Approach, but it also encompasses other frameworks such as differential learning. Differential learning is about true randomness in practice conditions. The constraints-led approach is about purposefully designed environments. Both work -- so is there a way to combine both approaches and gain the positive effects of each? In fact, there is. In this episode, Dr. Gray walks us through a synthesized approach that he calls "constrained differential learning." So 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 Dr. Rob Gray: Website: https://perceptionaction.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robgray29/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/ShakeyWaits --- Produced by Micah Peacock Intro Theme by Micah Peacock Outro Music is Synergy by Juche

Today I'm joined by Nick Delgadillo, Starting Strength Coach, Head of Corporate Development at Starting Strength, and a lifelong martial artist. In this episode, Nick unpacks common misconceptions about strength training and how conditioning works for most athletes in combat sports. He introduces to the the so-called "Two Factor Model" of strength and conditioning for sports. Rather than spread your precious workout time across accessory exercises, he argues that most martial artists are better served by moving up their numbers on the big 4 compound lifts: - Back squat - Bench press - Overhead press - Deadlift This keeps conditioning work and sport-specific work properly separated. Nick also gives tips on how to balance novice programming with the recovery demands of combat sports practice. If you're looking for a simple way to improve your performance on the mat, this episode is for you. Also, this is a special topic. The Combat Learning Podcast is and will remain focused on perceptual-motor learning, but I thought this would be a welcome and insightful pattern break from the usual episode subject matter. So 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 Nick Delgadillo: Website: https://liftfightwin.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nickd_ssc/ --- Produced by Micah Peacock Intro Theme by Micah Peacock Outro Music is Synergy by Juche

Today I'm joined by Bryant Coston and Seneca Savoie, Historical European Martial Artists who specialize in coaching the sword at their club, Arena Weapon Arts. In this episode, Bryant and Seneca recount their journey from a traditional technique and drill-based sword coaching, to games-based practice, and finally arriving at a full-bore constraints-led approach. They go into detail about how they approach practice design, curriculum development, as well as coaching and correction. We also talk at length about representativeness and how previous experience in other skills can form "attractor states" that influence the way you move when acquiring and developing a newer skill. Of note also is their account of how training with more aliveness actually lowered their injury rates instead of making it worse. So 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 Bryant & Seneca: Website: https://www.academyofwma.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArenaWeaponArts/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arenaweaponarts/ --- Produced by Micah Peacock Intro Theme by Micah Peacock Outro Music is Synergy by Juche

Today I'm joined by Dr. Ian Renshaw, Associate Professor in Exercise & Nutrition Science at Queensland University of Technology at Brisbane. Professor Renshaw is a major researcher in the Constraints-led Approach to motor learning. In fact, you'll see his name on several of the books and studies recommended throughout the Combat Learning Podcast. In this episode, Professor Renshaw teaches the "Environment Design Principles," a set of 4 considerations that help guide us into creating effective constraints-led training sessions. Those principles are: - Session intention. - Constrain to afford. - Representative learning design. - Repetition without repetition. If you've ever struggled to take the broad principles of CLA and create a framework for consistently designing good practices, this is the missing piece for you. So 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 Professor Renshaw: Website: https://www.theconstraintscollective.com/ Email: i.renshaw@qut.edu.au --- Produced by Micah Peacock Intro Theme by Micah Peacock Outro Music is Synergy by Juche