For well rounded self defence skills grappling and wrestling ability are important.
There are a variety of exercises we practice in pairs that will build up different qualities that become very useful in close quarter combat scenarios.
Fundamentally it’s training that conditions your deeper and more primal nervous system responses to different attacks. We basically practice meeting all different kinds of close quarter forces using minimum force to neutralise and then whole body force to counter. Over time our body becomes very sensitive to any movements we can feel in an opponent and we learn to detect what they are likely to do. And when they do it the faster pathways of our nervous system implement the most efficient neutralisation and then counter.
Responses have to be trained so that they simply become a natural expression of ourselves, because in self defence at close quarters there isn’t much time for slower, intellectual thinking, we need more primal intuitive responses, that have been well trained.
Some exercises combine the training with footwork skills, balance training, core strength work as well as whole body strength building. They can be aerobically demanding too.
As well as the core exercises we can also practice in a freestyle manner, where we can challenge and help each other improve skills in a spontaneous environment with no fixed patterns.
There are also competitions where you can try your skills against other people from other clubs. Some of these are local/national and some are international.
