PDA

View Full Version : AAR: Cecil Burch IAJJ and CMD, Towson MD, Sept 2012



Shawn.L
09-24-2012, 11:39 AM
In the interest of full disclosure on this site I do plan on trying to bring Cecil up to do this class next year in Pittsburgh due to how much value I feel I got out of it.

AAR:

I came to this 2 day seminar on the recommendations of Craig Douglas (SouthNarc) , Chris Fry, and many others in the firearms training and combative's community. Cecil's reputation for being a solid instructor, a highly skilled individual, and general solid dude to train with preceded him. I was not disappointed.

http://i1142.photobucket.com/albums/n606/shawn235711/894EAC0B-A29E-40FE-850B-F0B7970C2608-7949-000005B51F85C8D0_zps71ea4e54.jpg

The class was $180 pre-enrollment and $200 after the cut off date. Ive taken A LOT of training, from firearms courses from the top tier instructors in the industry, local guys, edged weapons, FoF, tactics, ect. I have a long and varied "training resume" and I'll tell you right now, this price point is a steal. I spent more in gas and hotel than on tuition.

Our host was Phil Proctor who is lead instructor at www.wrightsonbjj.com , Phil was a solid dude, easy to work with, provided the facility, and was really helpful for me to work with on the mat. If your local to the Baltimore area and are looking for a place to train that wont look at you like your an alien if you want to do stuff with training guns and drone knives look them up.

http://i1142.photobucket.com/albums/n606/shawn235711/1EEB2F87-1939-4417-B73B-6303E1554722-7949-000005B4E1DA27DC_zpsdc728ddc.jpg

The format for the class was to be TD1: Stand up striking and clinch work in a weapons based environment (WBE), TD2: Grappling and ground work in a WBE.

The stand up is genre of boxing based largely on Mauy Thai www.crazymonkeydefense.com . I found personally the parallels between what Cecil was teaching and the MT I take at my gym to be near 90% similar. main differences being a lower and tighter arm position and the idea of an "active defense" as you move into contact range.

"Put your elbow between your nose and his." ~Cecil

We reviewed a default position that guys who have taken SouthNarc's ECQC curriculum will recognize, the crazy monkey "cage", and simple and effective strikes. Jab/Cross was our bread and butter for the majority of the day, with the emphasis being that they are effective building blocks, high percentage and low investment. Hooks and body shots came into play late the day.

Cecil went over everything from the mechanics of the strike to fist formation and addressed his take on the 9mm Vs .45 of striking, closed Vs. Open fist.

Straight lines and flat
http://i1142.photobucket.com/albums/n606/shawn235711/11C94543-CD40-4D65-8889-D232E3F9D830-7949-000005B4F9A27CAA_zps45bb57ab.jpg

firing to extension
http://i1142.photobucket.com/albums/n606/shawn235711/6AFEDB31-DE06-4F93-ACF4-6E2F0790C461-7949-000005B4F0FF19BB_zps0feb6d6d.jpg

Much notes where taken
http://i1142.photobucket.com/albums/n606/shawn235711/08C01578-B377-46C5-BF44-240FBAB65886-7949-000005B508A25934_zpsd255243b.jpg
Im hoping this guy lets me copy his ;)

The day slowly ramp'ed up in intensity from drills where you where only allowed to use your active defense with your back to a wall while your partner takes 30 second rounds dropping strikes on you with boxing gloves. "Your going to get hit. Get used to it, it wont kill you." up to drills where you start engaged in conversation and at a random point your partner attacks and you must hit the switch and turn the tide, culminating in drills in which your partner attempts to pull a weapon on you.

TD2 was ground work. ECQC grads will recognize lots of the material, but in this format there is a lot more time to concentrate on the issues present, get more reps in, and look at other solutions.

We started with sit chalk board work and looking at the process
http://i1142.photobucket.com/albums/n606/shawn235711/3F2609FC-79E6-4E66-AFF0-1FC80899DD85-7949-000005B540E91B9C_zpse63941aa.jpg

And discussion of the issues present when grappling in a WBE
http://i1142.photobucket.com/albums/n606/shawn235711/6E199519-6394-410B-B93E-18D45E908B2F-7949-000005B526BCC8A2_zpsce62324c.jpg

And moved rightly into contact partner drills
http://i1142.photobucket.com/albums/n606/shawn235711/BC946BE0-FBF0-4E2F-82DC-3DDCAF14E6D8-7949-000005B5101CB0E7_zps2372ac5c.jpg

Cecil did a amazing job monitoring the class and tuning the volume level of intensity up and down so each student was kept on the edge of what they could handle while still learning but having to work for that win. Ive been in a lot of classes, and keeping a variety of skill levels challenged AND learning is one of the hallmarks of a great instructor whether we are talking firearms marksmanship or martial arts.

I owe a debt of gratitude to all the students in this class. They where all cool guys, and great training partners. Everyone worked with one another, everyone pushed one another as appropriate, and no one was looking to take the tough guy award or quit doing the work.

"As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." (Prov 27:17)

http://i1142.photobucket.com/albums/n606/shawn235711/D1BBAB80-0107-4FC4-B129-A98F3EBFF317-7949-000005B518A6E766_zps79a50d69.jpg

Drills progressed until we reached "everything is in play" and students would start with their eyes closed getting knocked over and needing to fight a skilled and determined attacker trying to deploy weapons.

I had a great many light bulb moments in this class. When Cecil said "Un-flat yourself." that clicked, as well as looking back at where I failed and seeing now how I should have applied the solution. As well as times where I clearly felt dominate and could impose my will on my partner. A big take away for me was even in the times when I was being overpowered by superior technique or strength I was able to stay clam, breathe, and survive while continuing to fight for the solution, whether it came or not, without panic.

I would recommend training with Cecil for anyone who carries a weapon in any capacity, or any "fighter" interested in dealing with weapons or plugging weapons into their existing skill set. I look forward to doing this again.

Isaac
09-24-2012, 12:00 PM
Cool, man. Appreciate the review! :)

Sheep Have Wool
09-24-2012, 01:51 PM
Great AAR. I'm looking forward to this class in Dallas. Do you have any suggested videos/skills that would be worth looking at ahead of time for a total newbie?

JM Campbell
09-24-2012, 02:13 PM
Less then two weeks out! No cheating SHW!

Great AAR!

I can't wait to attend this seminar.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using Tapatalk 2

Shawn.L
09-24-2012, 05:12 PM
Great AAR. I'm looking forward to this class in Dallas. Do you have any suggested videos/skills that would be worth looking at ahead of time for a total newbie?


Less then two weeks out! No cheating SHW!

Great AAR!

I can't wait to attend this seminar.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using Tapatalk 2

Its not cheating to be prepared. But I also have a personal bug up my butt about what some people think "preparing for class" means, which is prob best left into a different discussion altogether.

Get a good night sleep.
Take pictures, notes, video
Ask questions
Review these:
http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCi0D5tbNfLsSAUthjR4jT4g

JM Campbell
09-24-2012, 05:58 PM
I guess I should have put a Smiley after that one. It was not a jab or insult.

Thanks for the link. Good info.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using Tapatalk 2

Byron
09-25-2012, 01:28 PM
While I was not able to attend Saturday's CM block, I am very thankful that I was able to make Sunday's block on Immediate Action Jiu-Jitsu. As always, Cecil was a tremendous coach.

I'll have more to post later once I can review and trim some video clips that I took. The basic gist, however, will be that this was an amazing class with an awesome group of guys. It's always good to see old faces as well as meet new ones.

Here are some pictures I took on Cecil's iPhone. I'll have some short video clips (and more thoughts) to share in the next few days.

http://byrong.com/20120922-CM-IAJJ/BaltimoreAAR3.JPG

http://byrong.com/20120922-CM-IAJJ/BaltimoreAAR5.JPG

http://byrong.com/20120922-CM-IAJJ/BaltimoreAAR6.JPG

http://byrong.com/20120922-CM-IAJJ/BaltimoreAAR7.JPG

http://byrong.com/20120922-CM-IAJJ/BaltimoreAAR9.JPG

Byron
09-26-2012, 03:54 PM
This past weekend marked my fourth time training with Cecil Burch; someone who I met through the forums years ago, and have long considered a friend. In the past I've driven over 7 hours to train with him, so I was very excited to see he was giving a seminar near my home.

Cecil was hosted by Phil Proctor, head instructor at Wrightson BJJ (http://www.wrightsonbjj.com/instructors). Since seeing this course announcement a few months back, I've been going to Phil for BJJ training; a decision I'm very glad that I made. If you ever find yourself in the Towson MD area, I can't recommend him enough; he's a great coach who considers all aspects of the sport, from competition to self-defense.

This was a two-part seminar, with Saturday covering CM Defense (http://www.crazymonkeydefense.com/) and Sunday covering Cecil's own Immediate Action Jiu-Jitsu (http://immediateactionjiujitsu.com/). I was unable to attend Saturday's class, so I can't comment on that specific day. From past seminars with Cecil, however, I have developed a great appreciation for the CM system and what it offers to the "everyday guy."

Sunday's block on Immediate Action Jiu-Jitsu (IAJJ) focused on the following problems:
Dynamics of fighting on the ground
Surviving/defending/escaping when you are on the ground underneath an attacker
Surviving/defending/escaping when you are on the ground and your opponent is standing
Functional methods of getting back to your feet
In-Fight Weapon Access (IFWA)


http://byrong.com/20120922-CM-IAJJ/grounded-default.jpg

Cecil demonstrates the importance of a grounded default position with help from Phil

We also explored some of the myths behind grappling and groundfighting, including discussion on "dirty tactics"

As anyone who has trained with Cecil can attest, he is an excellent coach. Each lesson follows a logical progression that allows students to thoroughly understand and apply the material. Broad conceptual problems are discussed, potential solutions are demonstrated, then students drill against each other. Each of these lessons builds upon the last, allowing students to better understand the integration of techniques and how they complement one another. Nothing is taken at face value because as soon as it is demonstrated, students will have a chance to try it against drill partners.


http://byrong.com/20120922-CM-IAJJ/standing-vs-ground.jpg

Cecil and Phil demo fighting off your back against a standing opponent

A great example would be the sweeps we learned against standing opponents. Rather that just saying, "OK everyone, time to learn a tripod sweep," Cecil first showed the dynamics and pitfalls of fighting off your back against a standing opponent. Objectives and range were discussed and drilled, then default defensive structure, then defensive/evasive movement. Cecil didn't move on to the actual sweeps until the class demonstrated understanding and proficiency in these foundational layers. This not only gave the students a better understanding of context, but meant that every drill built on top of the reps of previous drills. By the time you were going for the tripod, you weren't even thinking about how you needed to reorient your hips; it had already been beaten into your head.

Students did a great job digesting the material, which seemed to reach everyone from beginners to veterans. As always, Cecil was diligent about keeping drills/sparring at reasonable levels of force; reminding all participants that we were there to help each other learn.

Overall it was a fantastic weekend full of education, laughs, sweat, and good food. Hopefully it goes without saying, but I wouldn't hesitate to take another class from Cecil. He is an excellent coach who finds a way to reach a broad student base without resorting to "lowest common denominator" tactics.

Thanks to Cecil for his excellent, thought-provoking instruction; Phil for hosting and coaching; Sebastian for the cool pen; and all the other students who helped me learn. On a side note, I believe this is the first training event I've been to where I had previous training experience with the majority of the attendees. It was great to catch up with familiar faces after a few years and was a reminder of how awesome our community can be.

(I'll have some video clips up within the next few days)

Byron
10-01-2012, 01:37 PM
A little teaser for anyone considering taking IAJJ in the future


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9c5xbAp4SR8