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Hi fight fans. Its Review time again. I'm doing another Senshido product, because I get to say what I like and he doesn't whinge. All he asks for is honestly held views. And I'm good at those.
I reviewed the original Shredder a few months ago. That is a must have for anyone into street self defence. Others have copied it and marketed it as their own. Just get the original and see how it lifts your game, good style.
Anyway, back to Combat Conditioning - Here goes
"Combative Strength Training #1
Introduction
Senshido is a fighting art based in Canada. Their website is www.senshido.com
This is a review of the first of two Senshido videos dealing with the way they approach the development of functional strength. It deals with exercises requiring very little equipment. The methods are very different to body building.
I do not want to give too much away as regards what exercises are recommended, not only because I feel it would be unfair to Richard Dimitri (Senshido’s founder), but also because I do not think I could sufficiently describe them in a way that would protect the reader from accidental injury. A picture is worth a thousand words. Richard gives both…… A very basic description of one or two exercises will be offered, but only to emphasise an underlying concept or idea.
Remember, do not attempt the exercises from the brief description given in this review. Much of the omitted information contains important safety advice. This is a review of the tape, not an aid to study.
Basic Production Information
The video is 90 minutes long. I cannot comment on the picture quality, as I have a PAL format machine, and didn’t pay the extra for a PAL format tape. But even my copy is perfectly watchable. As regards editing and camera work etc. it is not broadcast quality (i.e. up to the standard you would normally see on TV), being more of a home video type. But everything is filmed in such a way that the full exercise can be viewed properly, and from different angles. Nothing is lost.
Richard is a very enthusiastic teacher, and that enthusiasm is highly contagious. He has this great, spontaneous, delivery. His use of non verbal communication is very natural, and helps keep the tape alive.
By the way, the tape is not like one of those aerobics tapes where you put it on and train along with it. It is more a lesson in a Senshido workout. He shows you the exercises, and you either do them in the order they do, or work out your own routine with them. No leotard required.
Basic concepts
Throughout the tape Richard outlines the value of conditioning. He understands that many street fights last only a matter of seconds, but he believes in the power of overkill. With conditioning it is “better to have it and not need it, than not have it and need it”. There are also psychological benefits. The training regime is very hard, and “an iron body fosters and iron will.”
Rich goes to some lengths to emphasise the difference between pushing yourself to genuine failure, as opposed to just quitting. The former pushes the body and mind to its limits, the latter is an act. No iron body or iron will without iron commitment.
Physically the idea is NOT to isolate the muscles, as per body builders and more orthodox weight trainers. The idea is to use the body as a whole, each muscle synergising to the common purpose at the same time. And that common purpose involves developing fighting ability, not lift the heaviest weight possible on a barbell. The techniques may not add “mirror muscle”, but the muscle will be functional.
For example, he demonstrates an exercise where one person holds the other in the guard, whilst the other stands and lifts them up and down; using the legs, arms, grip and back etc. A body builder, new to core strength training, could not perform this exercise on a lighter friend. But Helen Stranzl, Richard’s 130lb assistant, can perform it on a much heavier Rich. This is core strength as opposed to mirror muscle. And, like often happens, Richard highlighted the combative potential of the exercise. He often demonstrates how the exercises translate into actual fighting moves. All these demos make perfect sense, and do make you wonder how conventional weight training can compete for the fight trainer. He trains his body to move in ways much more similar to a real fight than any conventional weight training exercise.
Criticisms
The video is, as I have said, 90 minutes long. But it didn’t need to be. It has loads of excellent information but, especially at the beginning and end, it feels a little overlong. For example, we are 16 minutes into the video before the first exercise is demonstrated. In fairness, though, that does include the standard Senshido introductory film (along with the cool rock music). The editing too leaves a little to be desired, but that is just the gloss. Nothing is lost in terms of learning potential.
Strong Points
A great many people trust conventional weight training to prepare their bodies for the rigours of fighting, whether it be sport fighting or life or death self defence. This video seriously challenges that trust.
How can the bench press, where the body is so securely supported by a bench and the weight moved slowly in a controlled path, possibly match a dynamic and explosive set involving 5, 6 or 7 consecutive variations of the push up? Not ordinary, stationary push ups. But movements constantly changing, stressing the whole torso, and cardio system, as well as the arms and shoulders in different ways? And then even more variation to make them harder?. How can the standard barbell Squat compete with a circuit involving carrying a punch bag across a training area by crushing it to your chest, and then performing Hindu Squats at set stations, time and time again?
Though most of the exercises can be performed individually, some involves a competitive interaction with a fellow trainee. They challenge and train each other by both initiating and reacting to live movement, live energy.
As regards safety, Rich stresses that people take their time becoming accustomed to the exercises, ensuring that they get feedback on how they are performing them from either an observer or a mirror, and that they don’t push too hard too soon.
Conclusion
We all know that exercise is specific – we get better at almost exactly what we train. These exercises translate into the needs of the fighter much more readily than body building technique. A real fight does not include a competition with weights. People don’t stand still (or lie down) and slowly push or pull at each other. A real fight is a dynamic, exhausting explosion of physical activity; involving the entire body all at once – limbs, torso, grip, neck, heart and lungs, etc. This is precisely what these exercises do.
This video will develop far more than just muscular strength anyway. Many of the exercises train that lung bursting anaerobic energy that is often crucial in deciding the outcome of a fight.
I have been weight training for years. I have heard the arguments about core strength and functional training. But it only became clear when I actually saw it. We all know that exercise is specific – we get better at almost exactly what we do. These exercises translate into the needs of the fighter much more readily than any body building technique that I have seen
If you merely want to look good on the beach, don’t buy this. Weight training and body building are perfectly good past times in their own right. But, if Combative Fitness is important to you, I recommend that you check this video out. It could well improve the effectiveness of your training tenfold."
There, thats it. Take a look at the site, the art and the man.
Thai Bri the Terrible.
I reviewed the original Shredder a few months ago. That is a must have for anyone into street self defence. Others have copied it and marketed it as their own. Just get the original and see how it lifts your game, good style.
Anyway, back to Combat Conditioning - Here goes
"Combative Strength Training #1
Introduction
Senshido is a fighting art based in Canada. Their website is www.senshido.com
This is a review of the first of two Senshido videos dealing with the way they approach the development of functional strength. It deals with exercises requiring very little equipment. The methods are very different to body building.
I do not want to give too much away as regards what exercises are recommended, not only because I feel it would be unfair to Richard Dimitri (Senshido’s founder), but also because I do not think I could sufficiently describe them in a way that would protect the reader from accidental injury. A picture is worth a thousand words. Richard gives both…… A very basic description of one or two exercises will be offered, but only to emphasise an underlying concept or idea.
Remember, do not attempt the exercises from the brief description given in this review. Much of the omitted information contains important safety advice. This is a review of the tape, not an aid to study.
Basic Production Information
The video is 90 minutes long. I cannot comment on the picture quality, as I have a PAL format machine, and didn’t pay the extra for a PAL format tape. But even my copy is perfectly watchable. As regards editing and camera work etc. it is not broadcast quality (i.e. up to the standard you would normally see on TV), being more of a home video type. But everything is filmed in such a way that the full exercise can be viewed properly, and from different angles. Nothing is lost.
Richard is a very enthusiastic teacher, and that enthusiasm is highly contagious. He has this great, spontaneous, delivery. His use of non verbal communication is very natural, and helps keep the tape alive.
By the way, the tape is not like one of those aerobics tapes where you put it on and train along with it. It is more a lesson in a Senshido workout. He shows you the exercises, and you either do them in the order they do, or work out your own routine with them. No leotard required.
Basic concepts
Throughout the tape Richard outlines the value of conditioning. He understands that many street fights last only a matter of seconds, but he believes in the power of overkill. With conditioning it is “better to have it and not need it, than not have it and need it”. There are also psychological benefits. The training regime is very hard, and “an iron body fosters and iron will.”
Rich goes to some lengths to emphasise the difference between pushing yourself to genuine failure, as opposed to just quitting. The former pushes the body and mind to its limits, the latter is an act. No iron body or iron will without iron commitment.
Physically the idea is NOT to isolate the muscles, as per body builders and more orthodox weight trainers. The idea is to use the body as a whole, each muscle synergising to the common purpose at the same time. And that common purpose involves developing fighting ability, not lift the heaviest weight possible on a barbell. The techniques may not add “mirror muscle”, but the muscle will be functional.
For example, he demonstrates an exercise where one person holds the other in the guard, whilst the other stands and lifts them up and down; using the legs, arms, grip and back etc. A body builder, new to core strength training, could not perform this exercise on a lighter friend. But Helen Stranzl, Richard’s 130lb assistant, can perform it on a much heavier Rich. This is core strength as opposed to mirror muscle. And, like often happens, Richard highlighted the combative potential of the exercise. He often demonstrates how the exercises translate into actual fighting moves. All these demos make perfect sense, and do make you wonder how conventional weight training can compete for the fight trainer. He trains his body to move in ways much more similar to a real fight than any conventional weight training exercise.
Criticisms
The video is, as I have said, 90 minutes long. But it didn’t need to be. It has loads of excellent information but, especially at the beginning and end, it feels a little overlong. For example, we are 16 minutes into the video before the first exercise is demonstrated. In fairness, though, that does include the standard Senshido introductory film (along with the cool rock music). The editing too leaves a little to be desired, but that is just the gloss. Nothing is lost in terms of learning potential.
Strong Points
A great many people trust conventional weight training to prepare their bodies for the rigours of fighting, whether it be sport fighting or life or death self defence. This video seriously challenges that trust.
How can the bench press, where the body is so securely supported by a bench and the weight moved slowly in a controlled path, possibly match a dynamic and explosive set involving 5, 6 or 7 consecutive variations of the push up? Not ordinary, stationary push ups. But movements constantly changing, stressing the whole torso, and cardio system, as well as the arms and shoulders in different ways? And then even more variation to make them harder?. How can the standard barbell Squat compete with a circuit involving carrying a punch bag across a training area by crushing it to your chest, and then performing Hindu Squats at set stations, time and time again?
Though most of the exercises can be performed individually, some involves a competitive interaction with a fellow trainee. They challenge and train each other by both initiating and reacting to live movement, live energy.
As regards safety, Rich stresses that people take their time becoming accustomed to the exercises, ensuring that they get feedback on how they are performing them from either an observer or a mirror, and that they don’t push too hard too soon.
Conclusion
We all know that exercise is specific – we get better at almost exactly what we train. These exercises translate into the needs of the fighter much more readily than body building technique. A real fight does not include a competition with weights. People don’t stand still (or lie down) and slowly push or pull at each other. A real fight is a dynamic, exhausting explosion of physical activity; involving the entire body all at once – limbs, torso, grip, neck, heart and lungs, etc. This is precisely what these exercises do.
This video will develop far more than just muscular strength anyway. Many of the exercises train that lung bursting anaerobic energy that is often crucial in deciding the outcome of a fight.
I have been weight training for years. I have heard the arguments about core strength and functional training. But it only became clear when I actually saw it. We all know that exercise is specific – we get better at almost exactly what we do. These exercises translate into the needs of the fighter much more readily than any body building technique that I have seen
If you merely want to look good on the beach, don’t buy this. Weight training and body building are perfectly good past times in their own right. But, if Combative Fitness is important to you, I recommend that you check this video out. It could well improve the effectiveness of your training tenfold."
There, thats it. Take a look at the site, the art and the man.
Thai Bri the Terrible.
Boxing, ThaiBoxing, Judo, JiuJitsu, Taekwondo, KravMaga, Wrestling 
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