Seminar Report
REAL Grappling
with Matt Evans & Justin Gray of the British Combat Association

Seminar report. 05/04/2003

Few instructors have the ability to cut the mustard and teach realistic self- protection bringing reality into the dojo and offer each and every individual on a seminar the chance to drill techniques and psychological responses to aggression from a standpoint that they have experience in. Very few have actually dealt with an aggressor with their 'tried and tested' methods. Justin Gray and Matthew Evans are two instructors that have!

As senior instructors of the British Combat Association Justin and Matt could be no better qualified to instruct on a subject that obviously know an awful lot about. Being two of the UK's top realistic self-protection experts, both are extremely underrated as martial artists and do have an extensive background in both standing and ground based martial studies. Justin and Matt are graded to 4th Dan under Mr. Geoff Thompson and the British Combat Association.

Both have survived countless Vale Tudo (anything goes) matches, 'animal day' sessions under Geoff Thompson and many real life confrontations and are the two instructors given permission to carry Geoff Thompson's system forward in the future. Apart from all of this Justin and Matt are two very articulate and down to earth men who treat everyone they teach with the same amount of respect and humility that they receive.

The Fence

Aldenham Sports Centre was the venue and Saturday 5th April the date for a seminar named 'REAL' Grappling. After the initial disappointment of a low turnout and the introductions Justin Gray, with the help of Matt Evans, taught the class the concept of the fence (made famous by Mr. Geoff Thompson). The intricacies of the centre line were stressed as was using the front hand as 'feeler' to your opponent's intentions.

All of us at this point tried our best to play out roles and exchange dialogue while attempting to keep our fence as natural as possible. At this point Justin described the philosophy as his protection. "Think of yourself as a factory" he said, "your hands then become your fence and protection around you as the factory. Your adversary must get through the fence to be able to get to you!" This proved to a very apt description for anyone that has seen Justin's interpretation of the fence- Nobody is going to get passed that if unless he says so! Next we moved to striking from the fence with three strikes: straight cross, a hook and using the front knife hand to the throat. Justin and Matt described this as the last resort. If avoidance and dialogue has failed then 'hit first and hit fucking hard' as Geoff Thompson states.

The submissive dialogue was followed up with a question to engage the brain for a second and in this window of opportunity each of us strike with one of the three strikes. All three strikes were practiced on the focus pads with stress placed on maintaining eye contact and the accuracy of the delivery.

Posturing

This part unfortunately had to be called short for fear of upsetting the kid's party next door. Fact is they probably know more bad language than all the attendees put together. Posturing is described as creating and 'adrenal dump' in you attacker. Rather than striking from your fence and in an attempt to finish the situation without physical damage each of us took turns at shoving our partners in an attempt to create as much distance between us as possible. This effect was backed up with a barrage of threats of violence if they dared step back into the arena. This adrenal dump sensation is described as giving the individual 'sticky feet' whereby the either take up the challenge and have square go or retreat and have only their pride and ego dented. Justin stated that in this position the defender must attempt to make himself or herself as big and intimidating as possible resembling a corner animal with its back up.

REAL Grappling

This seemed to be Justin and Matt's favourite part. With partners we were all treated to attacks and escapes using the fish-hook. Justin showed us a neat (dirty) little guard sweep that, lets just say, wouldn't be allowed in the competition arena. Dragging our partner across the mat and pushing them into the wall and simulating dropping them onto the curb was the order of this part of the class as was escaping from the bottom position through the use of kicks (of which I have to thank Ben from Manchester Budo for clipping me round the head with his size 12 army boots on- cheers mate!)

Summary

As I stated earlier the only disappointment on this seminar was the fact it was called short due to numbers. Having said that all the attendees trained hard and reaped the rewards in terms of information gained from two of the best realistic self protection instructors out there. Having competed in the earliest of the UK's Vale Tudo bouts and having fought the likes of James Zikic both Matt and Justin have extensive knowledge in this field as well. A future course is planned with the both of them where they have promised to show us some MMA techniques to improve all our game. Thank you to all those that attended the seminar and made it worth while. I'd personally like to extend my thanks to Geoff Thompson for producing two brilliant instructors and rest assured Geoff your system is in very safe a capable hands.