Indigenous Ability

Those of us who train weapons, whether that weapon be firearm, tactical folder, escrima stick, pepper-spray, or Viking battle-axe likely spend most of our time en garde, at port arms, or “Weapon-Ready.” In other words, our tool of choice is un-holstered, un-sheathed, un-pocketed, un-pursed, un-quivered and ready to go. Our training is often drill-based or duel patterned, meaning all of the preliminaries have been assumed. Fake-words have been had, weapons are in hand, now we click the sticks 1-8, adjust the paper-target up or down range, slash-one/thrust-four for reps, or apply the centurion’s gladius to the post ad naseum. But… …in the New World, [Frontier America] a premium was placed not only prowess with a weapon at-the-ready but also speed of weapon acquisition and how quickly that weapon could be engaged tactically. In other words, we are not merely talking fast-draw, we are talking fast-draw and do the job. Let us not assume the fast draw is mere stuff ...

Before we get into the scientific nitty-gritty, let’s do a little self-experimentation. I want you to stand up right now and hit ten rapid Hindu Squats [deep-knee bends for the non-grappling minded.] Did you do it? Ten hard and fast? Now, let’s self-assess. How do the legs feel? There is a possibility that the lungs required you to puff a wee bit and the heartrate elevated, but I wager that the low repetition number has not made any fatiguing demands on your legs. They are probably good to go for another ten. Since the effects we are feeling are not leg fatigue but maybe elevated heart-rate and respiration let’s hit ten more but… This time I want you to time them in the following manner. ·         Rather than ten hard and fast, let’s go leisurely, drop down for Squat 1 and stay there for one solid minute, then return to standing. ·         That’s rep one. Continue on down the line for a tot...

[The following is a preview from our upcoming book Boxing Like the Champs, Round Two. I have removed the second and third drill sets at the request of my publisher. For that information, see the book when it comes out or join the RAWSubscription Service for more historical tips and drills.] Joe “The Brown Bomber” Louis is often rated as one of the heaviest punchers in boxing history We know that he augmented his natural power, thanks to Jack Blackburn’s schooling on his step-and-punch method. Louis also had speed. For a big man he put some quick movement together. Speed is often an inborn attribute. It can be helped along by smooth efficient drilling but, for the most part, speed is a God-given gift. But…there is an attribute of speed that can be hacked and developed, that speedy-attribute is balance. Let’s have a listen to trainer Walter Smith and what he saw as Jack Blackburn’s biggest assist to Joe Louis. “ He taught him balance…As long as a man keeps hims...