Combat Con AAR.

 

 

 

2 weeks after the fact, a quick after action report on Combat Con II.

Unless you live under a rock or are totally removed from the WMA world, you might not know what Combat Con is. Rather than ramble on, I’ll just give the link: Combat Con

This was a seriously fun event…if there is a Combat Con III, you should make plans to attend. I have not heard word on this yet though.

As with most of these multitrack events, It is hard to choose classes and even harder when you are teaching, doing Demo’s and sitting on panels. The only class I took was Maestro Loriega’s Navaja class. It was mainly review for me but review that I sorely needed. It is always a good time training with James and it is even better to see that I am still on the right track with my navaja work.

A rundown of the classes I taught or co-taught.

Co taught with James Loriega and Stephen Fick…Using everyday items as weapons. Stephen started us out with an interesting take on using found items on a plane and defending yourself with them. I followed with a simple system of figure 8’s that can be used with any item, be it rigid or flexible. This was based off my Cossack saber and RMA training with Randal Gustitis. Mishael Lopex Cardoza joined us for a few minutes demonstrating using a simple credit card as a weapon…very eye opening! James Loriega ended the class with a lecture and bit of scenario work putting the class participants into groups and having the devise certain exit strategies. Very fun class.

Co taught with Mishael Lopes Cardoza and John Lennox…surviving a cantina fight. Very crowed class but great fun as well. This the first time I ever worked with John Lennox after knowing him for over 13 years, so it was about time. Lots of scenario work against multiple opponents…always a low percentage outcome but worth training for. I was able to put some of the RAF multiple opponent fisticuff actions into play.

I Was asked upon my arrival if I would fill in and do the Savate Danse De Rue class…of course i would! More of a Boxe Francaise class but with zero prep work I did my best. Of course, Ron Balicki who actually fought for the North American Championship attended the class…no pressure at all:) The class, despite my totaly lack of prep and having some one 50 times more qualified to teach it as a student, went well.

My next class was “The footpad and the cane” This was probably my favorite class of the weekend to teach. Good sized group of shillelagh swingers always makes me happy. One hour was not nearly long enough but I think I was able to get the point of the simple style across decently.

Next up I taught Catch as Catch Can wrestling…I was supposed to co-teach this which was still a bit odd considering that I am not a catch wrestler. I have done some for sure but an instructor? Nah…anyhow the other instructor had car trouble so I ended up teaching the class myself and calling it Teach as teach can:) We stuck mainly with leg locks since I am fairly familiar with the catch variations on them. Lot’s of grapplers in the class so things went smoothly.

 

Last class I taught was on Pugilism. An hour is never enough. I could fill that up just with my spoken introduction. Still, I tried to control myself and get down to business as quick as possible. Very fun class. Within minutes I had people hitting hard and moving well..

My sole scheduled Demo coincided witht he navaja class, so I bowed out of it…Tim Ruzicki and Paul Macdonald handled it well. I sat ion one panel with Bob Charron, Tony Wolf and Stephen Fick. An interesting discussion concerning the future of WMA.

So much went on over the three day event that it would take a post much longer than I have the willingness to type out to to describe even a quarter of it. It was an epic weekend and I don’t lightly use the word “epic”. If it happens again, which I hope it will, it should not be missed.