Post questions for Brad Steiner here:

Re: Post questions for Brad Steiner here:

feeds@kickapps.com (M BOB WHELAN) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 11:23:25 PST

FROM PROF STEINER -

Hi Bob!

Thanks much for sending along TEGNERFAN's questions.

My reply: -

Dear Tegnerfan,

Thank you for your communication.

1. Yes, I do include the flying mare (shoulder throw) as described in KILL OR GET KILLED in my System's curriculum. It is taught in the context of employing a counterattack that specifically facilitates the use of this throw. (Alternatives to the flying mare are included here, by the way, for those who do not like the throw). The throw is NOT taught as an individual, separate "attack", per se. I consider the flying mare to be effective only in certain instances, and only for SOME individuals - not everyone. For example, I myself do not use the throw, and I do not believe that it suits me, physiologically. The same is true, so my experience shows, for many others. About 50% of my students who reach that level in training where I teach this technique find it suitable...

Re: Post questions for Brad Steiner here:

feeds@kickapps.com (Tegnerfan) — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 14:33:03 PST

Hello,I have two questions for Brad Steiner,regarding certain combat techniques,and his thoughts regarding their usefulness.1.the Flying Mare,as shown in KOGK?Do you teach it in your curriculum,and if so when would it be used?2.The horizontal palm heel strikes,delivered to the facial area instead of punching.I know why you highly regard the chin jab,but I was wondering about this strike in particular.

Re: Post questions for Brad Steiner here:

feeds@kickapps.com (MarcVi) — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 13:02:01 PST

Thank you so much for this great information. I really appreciate Bob making this forum available to us.

Marc

Re: Post questions for Brad Steiner here:

feeds@kickapps.com (M BOB WHELAN) — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 18:25:11 PST

FROM BRAD STEINER

Hi Bob!

Please post the following reply:-

Hi Marc,

Thank you for your communication.

Let me answer the simplest part of your question first: I do not know personally of any particular instructor or school in your area, although if a trip to Prescott, Arizona is feasible for you, I cannot recommend anyone more highly than Mark Bryans. Mark is the only licensed individual who may legally teach my System (aside from myself, of course!), and it would take three pages for me to list his qualities as a teacher and practitioner of American Combato. Find out more about him by checking our site: www.americancombato.com.

Also, although I don't know of any personally, there are probably a few excellent teachers and schools somewhere in L.A. - just do some careful and in-depth checking around.

Clenched fist punching has a small place in unarmed combat. Properly executed punches into the sternum,...

Re: Post questions for Brad Steiner here:

feeds@kickapps.com (grffn) — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 18:47:11 PST

Marc I'm not Bradley Steiner but squeeze your hands tight as you can and hit with your top two knuckles and you will have no problem on most human heads

Re: Post questions for Brad Steiner here:

feeds@kickapps.com (MarcVi) — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 20:40:30 PST

I have a couple of questions for Brad Steiner:

A lot of martial arts schools teach students to punch with the closed fist. I have heard of boxers breaking their hands in street fights and several fighters in the UFC have broken their hands in matches despite wearing 5 ounce gloves and wrapped hands.

Do you think punching in a self-defence situation is a wise idea or should I focus on palm strikes? Are there methods of punching that would lessen my chances of breaking my hands?

Also, I live in the Los Angeles area. Are there any schools or instructors in the Los Angeles area that you would recommend?

Thanks,

Marc

Re: Post questions for Brad Steiner here:

feeds@kickapps.com (M BOB WHELAN) — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 14:28:41 PST

Dear Tegnerfan, Your words of appreciation are, believe me, very much and very sincerely appreciated. Thank you! In answer to your two questions .....

1) I see no drawback to using a slightly different exercise movement on each training day. However, the key word is "slightly". For example: Using the basic barbell bench press on Monday, then a barbell incline bench press on Wednesday, and a heavy flat bench dumbells bench press on Friday is fine. Do not, however, use an exercise that offers seriously diminished benefits. For example, using heavy barbell curls on Monday, then using heavy dumbell curls on Wednesday is fine. But using the barbell curls on Monday and then using light dumbell concentration curls on Wednesday would, in my opinion, not be a good idea. The key concept is to maximally tax the muscles being worked. The basic exercises are the exercises that do this. Light - or "lesser" exercise movements may occasionally be included in a routine...

Re: Post questions for Brad Steiner here:

feeds@kickapps.com (M BOB WHELAN) — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 13:59:12 PST

First off allow me to say I have been a HUGE fan of Mr.Steiners for about 33 years now since I started weight training.I hate to tell you what I paid for a copy of 'Complete Guide to Effective Barbell Training", but it was worth every penny!I have 2 questions:1.Is it ok to change exercises during each workout,that is say on Mondays workout I do flat benches,then on Wednesdays do incline bench presses etc,or is it advisable to change every month or so.2.As I near 50 I find my energy and strength levels have dropped.Health wise I'm well,but nowhere near as strong as I was even 4 or 5 years ago.Is this a normal part of the aging weight trainer?

Re: Post questions for Brad Steiner here:

feeds@kickapps.com (keith2237) — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 14:00:35 PST

Thanks for the info on the striking board. My backyard isn't very big, but I definitely could fit in something like that. Also give the kids somewhere to take out their frustrations. LOL

Re: Post questions for Brad Steiner here:

feeds@kickapps.com (drumstrong) — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 13:59:10 PST

martial arts, sport fighting, and self defense are 3 different things. While a pure martial art and sport fighting like MMA have carryover to the street, self defense has no rules only legal ramifications. I took traditional jujitsu for quite some time and as the belts got higher the ciriculum got more Hollywood, so I dropped it. Combato and Krav Maga definitely sound like the most pratical for the average person. Remember the 2 best self defense techniques are run and run faster.

Re: Post questions for Brad Steiner here:

feeds@kickapps.com (M BOB WHELAN) — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 18:48:43 PST

Good accurate info about American Combato (from an unknown author and board).

"American Combato. This system was developed by Bradley J. Steiner and uses a lot of the technigues developed by Fairbairn, a former police chief of Shanghai who learned from what worked in the early twentieth century through trial and error. Professor Steiner was deeply infleunced by Major W.E.Fairbairn, who taught the British Commandos during World War II, and Colonel Rex Applegate, author of Kill or Get Killed, a student of Fairbairn who taugh the OSS, which later became the CIA.

"Steiner is also an 8th degree black belt in Kenpo Karate and other forms and used some of everything he learned plus street fighting to come up with what is generally considered one of the most realistic self defense systems in the world. Black Belt magazine named it one of the top ten most realistic self defense systems in the world a few years back, and reviewed it right after Krav...

Re: Post questions for Brad Steiner here:

feeds@kickapps.com (M BOB WHELAN) — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 18:30:56 PST

Reply From Brad Steiner

Dear Keith,

I use an outdoor striking post. I purchase (usually lasts for a year or two, then needs replacement) one 9 or 10 foot 2" x 6" oak board. I place a kicking level and hand striking level pad (consisting of stiff rubber mats cemented together) on the board with strong tape. I have a padded FACE LEVEL portion of extended wood attached for realism in chinjabbing.

NO NAILS OR STAPLES WITH ANYTHING INVOLVING HITTING!

I bury about half the board and brace it underground with cement blocks. It's very secure.

I always incline the board forward (about 05-10 degrees) so that it leans toward me.

When not in use I keep the board covered with a strong plastic bag, which is tied securely.

I train front kicks, side kicks, elbow smashes, reverse handblades, handaxe chops, heelpalm blows, chinjab smashes, veritical fist punches, and hook punches (a 30-minute workout) each...

Re: Post questions for Brad Steiner here:

feeds@kickapps.com (keith2237) — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 09:52:10 PST

I have been meaning to leave a note of thanks for your input. Thank-you. Your reply leads to another question though. What type of striking post do you use? Is this similar to a makiwara? Okay, two questions. Thanks again for the info.

Keith.

Re: Post questions for Brad Steiner here:

feeds@kickapps.com (decker14626) — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 17:34:58 PST

Just wanted to say thanks for answering my question. As always, your advice makes perfect sense. I've always loved 3 workouts per week too. Thanks also to Bob for posting my question.

Re: Post questions for Brad Steiner here:

feeds@kickapps.com (M BOB WHELAN) — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 07:57:09 PST

Dear Decker,

Thank you for your complimentary comments. I appreciate what you said very much.

I am not doctrinaire about there "absolutely, positively, always" needing to be three weekly workouts. I do believe that three generally work best; in part because I was led to discover it myself, in part because so many others who made excellent progress believed in the system, and in part because after training every-other-day for four years (when I began working out) I came to love training, and couldn't stand doing less than three weekly workouts from then on!

The hard facts of course point to different approaches working for different people. I certainly would agree that two workouts a week are enough for a hard-training combat arts trainee (who trained in combatives at least three times a week). I could also see it being quite enough for someone who worked very hard with his muscles at his job.

In cases where the only real physical...

Re: Post questions for Brad Steiner here:

feeds@kickapps.com (M BOB WHELAN) — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 19:26:19 PST

Dear Keith,

While I'm no "font of knowledge" I'm afraid, I will do my best to answer your questions.

1. My "ideal" personal training schedule (which, I am sorry to say, I sometimes digress from for one or another reasons - usually personal, and always a pain in the butt!) is as follows:

• Each morning= 30 minutes at the striking post, working hands, elbows, and feet
• 30 minutes spent pounding a steel bar with my hands while having my morning coffee and listening to the radio
• Either - rope skipping for a few minutes or about 10 minutes of preliminary bodyshifting and elbow/arm striking exercises
• MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, and FRIDAY = weight training
- Monday, moderate; Wednesday, light; Friday, heavy
• TUESDAY, THURSDAY, SATURDAY, and SUNDAY = combatives training

Weight-training workouts are about 1-1/2 to 2-1/2 hours.

Combative (American Combato) training is about 1-1/2 hours
...

Re: Post questions for Brad Steiner here:

feeds@kickapps.com (decker14626) — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 21:34:04 PST

I love brad. His monthly column in Ir----- was the reason I subscribed. Once they dropped him, I dropped them. Anyway, Mr. Steiner, you always recommend 3 days per week when doing a full body routine. Just about everyone on this site seems to think only 2 should be done. I get really confused because I respect your opinion, and Bob's. Why do you think 3 workouts per week are better than 2? Two seems to make more sense recovery wise, but I know most of the old timers did 3. Your opinion would be greatly appreciated, thank you.

Re: Post questions for Brad Steiner here:

feeds@kickapps.com (keith2237) — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 09:20:19 PST

Cool idea Bob. Couple of quick questions.

What type of daily/weekly training program does Brad follow? What does he think of the Crossfit craze? What are his impressions of the SCARS defense program? Would he consider putting past issues of Sword and Pen on-line?

Thanks for the opportunity to ask questions of this great font of knowledge.

Keith.

Post questions for Brad Steiner here:

feeds@kickapps.com (M BOB WHELAN) — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 08:14:40 PST

If you have a question for Brad, post it here.