Book "INSTINCTIVE GROUNDFIGHTING": your opinions??

[bulletdodger]

I wrote a new book on how to train yourself to fight without thinking: "INSTINCTIVE GROUNDFIGHTING". I am very curious about your comments. If you read it, let me know what you think! More info on www.instinctivegroundfighting.com and in the press release below.
--------------------------------------------
STOP THINKING, START FIGHTING!
”Instinctive Groundfighting” is now available on Amazon.com

Martial Arts is not about learning techniques. It is about reacting adequately to unexpected combat situations without thinking. If you think, you are slower, your focus is too narrow and your movements lack creativity. European Champion Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Joris Merks explains in his book “Instinctive Groundfighting” how to train yourself to stop thinking and start fighting.

THE PHILOSOPHY
People tend to break down Martial Arts in series of techniques. Techniques are given names and sometimes even numbers! Breaking down Martial Arts in a series of techniques is a rational way to look at it. Therefore you introduce thinking in your combat style.
If you always train 100% dynamically, your body learns to merge instinctive reactions into fluent movements. No pre-programmed techniques, but techniques that are invented on the spot in the heat of the moment, with exactly the right form and timing, performed in your own unique way.

THE BOOK
Instinctive Groundfighting teaches you how to train for the essential qualities of movement in combat. A 100% Dynamic Training Method is presented, with a focus on Groundfighting in the context of Mixed Martial Arts. Groundfighting has proven itself to be highly effective in Cage Fighting Championships all over the world. Practicioners of all Martial Arts will profit from the universal learnings this book offers.

THE AUTHOR
Joris Merks practiced competitive Judo since the age of six and he studied science of movement at the Free University of Amsterdam. After receiving a black belt in Judo and Aikido he switched to Kick-Boxing, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Submission Grappling. In 2002 he became Open German Champion and European Champion Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (elite class -91 kilograms). In his book Instinctive Groundfighting he combines scientific knowledge on how body and mind learn new ways of movement and perception with extensive experience in Martial Arts.

“A FIGHT IS NOT A SONG
THAT YOU CAN PRACTISE AT HOME AND
PERFORM IN THE SAME WAY ON STAGE.”

“FIGHTING IS IMPROVISING.
FIGHTING IS PLAYING JAZZ.
NOW…LET US ALL PLAY JAZZ!”

[OmaPlata]

i always saw ground fighting as trying to get into a postion of controlling the opponent so you can set up an attack/submission. He knows from what posiotion you can do what attack and sets up his own defense/attack to the attack you are going to put on him. I know what defense hes going to use to defend the attack he thinks is coming and do a different one to set him up. and on and on it goes, Its a chess game of positions. The more experience you have the better your 'instinct' is going to be as to what the other guy is going to do. Funny thing is, I know what black belts are going to do half the time and still cant stop them. Maybe this book will help??

[bulletdodger]

It's all about position and awareness

I think you are exactly right if you say groundfighting is about getting the right positions, that bring you specific fighting options. Only it is a little to "mechanic" to suppose that you can know all fighting options in a position and therefore always be prepared. This kind of method is exactly what forces you to think and be slower. If you think like this, you can only be prepared for techniques that you are familiar with, which means you can easily be surprised if an opponent does something you haven't seen before.

There are actually two paths to effective fighting. One is a very structured one exactly like you say. You have a gameplan which helps you to prevent getting in to trouble because you are prepared for specific attacks.

The second is an intuitive path which leads to an instinct that tells you immediately if your basis position in relation to your opponent is in danger. This intuition will make you fight automatically to keep good positions all the time and then suddenly it will make you perform a submission once the opening is really there.

Good fighters can combine those two paths. Thay can plan and therefore create good situations for themselves and at the same time they keep an open mind which allows them to change their plans any second of the game.

The path of planning means that you consciously create situations where you are strong. The path of intuition means that you go with the flow if that is necessary, meaning that you let the situation define your actions.

Thanks for your reaction!

[bulletdodger]

Preview chapter 1 (FREE DOWNLOAD)

I have placed a free download (PDF document) of the first chapter on www.instinctivegroundfighting.com for if you are interested in previewing the book.

[bulletdodger]

submission grappling

If you switch to submission grappling instead of Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, you will probably experience even more problems controling people. Because there is no grip, there is less control, speed goes up and instinct becomes more important. More control means there is more time to think about how to build up your strategy. If you feel you have problems working fast on instinct you can also adjust your strategy by making sure you get the speed out of the fight as much as possible. I know people that are highly succesfull in both brazilian jiu-jitsu and grappling by draining all the energy out of the fight by just being patient and moving from position to position in an extremely organized way. I depends on where your strengths are.

[OmaPlata]

]If you switch to submission grappling instead of Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, you will probably experience even more problems controling people.[/B] Because there is no grip, there is less control, speed goes up and instinct becomes more important. More control means there is more time to think about how to build up your strategy. If you feel you have problems working fast on instinct you can also adjust your strategy by making sure you get the speed out of the fight as much as possible. I know people that are highly succesfull in both brazilian jiu-jitsu and grappling by draining all the energy out of the fight by just being patient and moving from position to position in an extremely organized way. I depends on where your strengths are.

That all depends on how much NO GI training you have, we train it every Friday and in the summer sometimes even more than that, and on saturdays. Even so, the basics of controlling the person are the same even without the Gi

[bulletdodger]

Definately true. Even the same as the basics of controlling in Judo or Wrestling.

[kuk sool won]

I think Oma hit the nail on the head when he said its a chess game. The best fighters will force the fight to be fought strategically. From the very off-set you have to decide what your overall strategy is, offensive? Defensive? Counter-Offensive? Etc. As the 'game' develops you may need to change your strategy, has he gained the upperhand or is he becoming more aggressive? It goes down to the very smallest of aspects as in singular moves, you always need to be thinking ahead. The very best fighters don't rely on luck, they try to phase it out completely.