Interested in eco/CLA but stuck in a traditional school? Or maybe you’re frustrated with your progress, want to try something new, but are stuck inside a learning environment you don’t control. Either way, you still have some options. Of course, it’s optimal to run your own club or gym, but you can take ownership of your own learning journey and ge…

My friend Daniel Marino made a critical observation about the karate community: “It’s about looking good, not learning how to fight.” Now, if you’re a part of the so-called “practical karate” or “practical bunkai” movement, you might think that you are exempt from this statement…but you’re not. Dan wasn’t just talking about the most traditional of …

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.combatlearning.com Today I analyze a jiu jitsu seminar conducted by David Ooi in Singapore. In the process, a lot of good little nuances surface that I don’t often get to talk about in other places. Other Paid Articles You Don’t Want to Miss……

Positional sparring is consistent with the constraints-led approach (CLA) to coaching—and by extension, scalable live training (SLT)—but positional sparring tends to have a less flexible scope of practice. So whereas all positional sparring can be CLA, the CLA is not simply positional sparring: it can be much more or much less, depending on the nec…

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.combatlearning.com Today I’m reviewing a video by YouTuber Josh Beam BJJ, with Craig Hutchison from Carpe Diem Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu helping him assess and develop a passing game. This episode explores the vital considerations we need to make about how we manipulate constraints, if sma…

Today, I review and criticize (in good humor) some videos I found on YouTube. I’m analyzing the utility of several drills and games related to developing lead leg kicking tactics in taekwondo, a.k.a. cut kick and cancelling. Relevant to kickboxing and beyond. But I’d like my awesome followers to get involved, too! * Found an interesting training vi…

Major ecological researcher, Dr. Duarte Araujo, joins us on combat learning to discuss all things ecological cognition and sport psychology. Other topics include… * Knowledge of vs knowledge about * Technique vs task space * Repetition without repetition * Affordances * Decision-making and sport expertise * Representative learning design Dr. Araujo…

Everyone agrees that the fundamentals are the essence of martial arts skill, but nobody can agree on what they are exactly. In this article, I outline and briefly comment on five different conceptions of martial arts fundamentals. * Fundamentals as Basic Techniques * Fundamentals as Principles of Play * Fundamentals as Basics + Principles * Fundame…

Information processing and ecological dynamics are both theories of perception and learning. They explain your relationship to the environment and how that affects your internal states and vice versa. As such, they inform training methodologies, but they are not methodologies in themselves. Or, put another way, they have clear implications for how …

MMA coach and ecological approach to martial arts pioneer, Scott Sievewright, returns to Combat Learning to discuss his newly published academic paper on ecological dynamics for MMA and his evolving conception of martial arts ideas such as “the fundamentals.” We also talk about problems of practice in the constraints-led approach, especially how di…

The first combat learning live Q&A! We discuss… * How you don’t have to intervene during training and you don’t have to generate feedback for students if it’s not necessary. * The power of external instructions, especially with young children acquiring movement skills. * CLA for coaching poomsae and kata. * Overcorrecting and junk coaching. …and mo…

This is an audio version of a previous combat learning article, Tao of Aliveness. Bruce Lee superfans have to pretend about his fighting prowess because, to them, that’s what makes him legendary. It bolsters the legitimacy and mystique of his jeet kune do system. Jeet kune do, as Lee taught it, is the chief artifact of his legacy in the eyes of mar…

DPT, licensed physical therapist, CSCS, and fellow martial artist Patrick Jacobs joins me to unpack rehabilitation and injury prevention for martial artists from a constraints-led approach to PT practice. Want to upgrade your coaching? Bring your CLA coaching and ecological dynamics knowledge to the next level and upgrade to the premium combat lear…

The original There is No Perfect Technique article can be found here. It’s the air we breathe from our first day of school to our last day in the workforce and beyond… Repetition, repetition, repetition. Practice makes perfect. Perfect practice makes better. Everywhere we’re washed over with some form of messaging about how to learn that involves d…

Adam Singer joins us again to discuss how he balances safety and productivity using the constrains-led approach to teach 100% live sparring classes from the ground up, beginner to advanced. Remember to sign up for the FREE Combat Learning Newsletter. You'll get an introduction to motor learning for martial artists PDF, a transfer of learning cheat …

Long-time MMA coach, SGB affiliate, and martial arts veteran Adam Singer talks about the old days of Jeet Kune Do, the introduction of MMA, and the development of aliveness from Bruce Lee through Matt Thornton to today. Remember to sign up for the FREE Combat Learning Newsletter. You'll get an introduction to motor learning for martial artists PDF,…

Today I'm joined Sony Sahota, owner of Praxis Gym and a teacher of judo, wrestling, and jiu jitsu.In this episode, we discuss how Sony approaches training through the lens of embodied cognition, specifically enactivism. Sony recounts how it changed his entire approach to training, and then we move into a deep philosophical discussion about embodied…

Josh and Kabir discuss the elo chess rating system and how it might provide an approachable way to assess skill development across belt levels — and end tournament sandbagging permanently. Where to Find Kabir... Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kabirbath/Website: https://kaboombjj.com/ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this wit…

Kabir unpacks how he coaches his coaches to do what he does -- ecologically. Visit combatlearning.substack.com to start reading now. Where to Find Kabir...Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kabirbath/Website: https://kaboombjj.com/ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visi…

Today I’m joined by BJJ black belt Kabir Bath. Kabir is one of the early success stories in the ecological jiu jitsu movement, and he has the distinction of a commercially successful gym, too—especially a large children’s program. In this episode, we explore the value and effectiveness of learning through play, as well as the vitalness of coaches c…

Dr. Garcia joins us one final time to discuss a few very interesting topics. First, we talk briefly about donor sports and the part they play in building better skills for your main sport. Finally, Raul helps us understand how we can use CLA not just for training in the sport itself but also a preparedness that comes with greater skill in stress ma…

Dr. Garcia joins us again today to unpack the false assumptions that lie beneath the kata-based training system and traditional martial arts. He shows how early ecological researchers such as Nicholai Bernstein blows up the conventional wisdom of traditional martial arts. He then spends the bulk of this episode comparing and contrasting the differe…

Today I'm joined by Dr. Raul Sanchez Garcia, a sport science lecturer at the University Politécnica of Madrid, Spain, martial artist, and Ecological Dynamics thinker. Most researchers in the ecological approach come from a psychology background. Dr. Garcia is unique in that he approaches Ecological Dynamics from the vantage point of ethnography, wh…

Today I'm joined by Matt Phili, a mobility training coach and founder of Primal Mobility. Whether a grappler or striker, most martial artists need greater mobility. However, most of the mobility routines you see around Instagram really won't cut it, and stretching isn't necessarily good mobility work either -- at least on its own. In this episode, …

In this episode, Pedro updates us on his kickboxing program. Then we move into a deep discussion on combinations, affordances, and elaborate pad work in striking sports. We return to the external focus of attention subject briefly before digging into some of the issues Pedro and his coaches experience applying CLA to their classes on a daily basis.…

Today, Pedro Sierra returns to the podcast to update us on his program in two parts. Before understanding Ecological Dynamics, Sierra MMA had lackluster results. Since implementing the constraints-led approach, Sierra MMA has begun to see much more success. In fact, thanks to this change in training methodology, one of coach Pedro's students even w…

In this episode, Emil reveals his approach to game design. Then we move quickly into the ways to individualize sessions to each learner, including some principles of session design. Overall, Emil keeps the generic conditioning exercises out of skill training. Strength and conditioning is something you can do on your own time with coaches specialize…

In this episode, Emil continues to explain how he does the constraints-led approach to Muay Thai. Other ways to control for intensity/going too hard How to introduce leg kicks and leg kick defense through sparring games What are the fundamentals of Muay Thai as a sport? How can we understand it at a dynamic and foundational level? How constraints c…

Today I'm joined by Emil Fitoussey, a professional Muay Thai coach out of Nacka Dojo in Sweden. Over the past year, Emil has transitioned his partially ecological Muay Thai program into a 100% ecological Muay Thai program. In this episode, he recounts his journey into Ecological Dynamics and the constraints-led approach. Then, we talk about how he …

In this third installment of our interview with Greg Souders, we unpack in gritty detail how Greg approaches both task simplification and task complexification. There's quite a bit of information out there about how to scale down games, but not a lot on how, why, and when to scale them up, even beyond the complexity of free sparring. There's a lot …

In this second part of my second Greg Souders interview, we take Greg's rationale for his use of language and demonstrate how it can be used to take the same games and help learners of all skill levels get something out of it even without scaling the constraints down or up. Of course, we highly recommend you engage in task simplification and comple…

If you're new to the show, please sign up to the Combat Learning Newsletter at combatlearning.com/newsletter. I'll send you cheat sheets on how to transform your drills into maximum skill-building games and get you up to speed on the science of motor skill learning for martial arts. Plus, you'll never miss a show. Go to combatlearning.com/newslette…

How to support the podcast... Buy Me a Coffee: https://combatlearning.com/support/ Zoom Workshops: https://combatlearning.com/waitlist/ --- Today I join Brian Willis on a podcast series he does for his police training website, the Excellence in Training Academy. Brian has 25 years of full time police officer experience and now 25 years of experienc…

Today I'm joined again by Daniel Marino, a 4th degree black belt in Tang Soo Do and founder of the Naihanchi Project and popular Facebook group, Practical Tang Soo Do.In this episode, Dan and I discuss the controversial question, "is karate salvageable?" Right now, it doesn't look good, but maybe in a generation or two, we can turn the ship around.…

Today I'm joined by Geno Guevara, founder and head instructor of Alamo Ranch Martial Arts and a Joon Rhee taekwondo black belt turned kickboxing coach.In this episode, Geno begins by recounting his journey into the ecological approach as a martial arts instructor and school owner. Like all of us, Geno struggled at first to transition to the constra…

Pedro Sierra is a BJJ black belt instructor, kickboxing coach, and owner of Sierra MMA in Utah.But more importantly, Pedro is a normal guy just like you who teaches and trains martial arts. Unlike most teachers, however, he has taken the leap into CLA and fast begun to restructure his programs -- with near immediate positive student feedback and re…

Today I'm joined by Cal Jones, a 5th dan in Judo and one of the most qualified Judo coaches in the UK, especially Wales. In this episode, Cal Jones fills in some gaps with how to use the constraints-led approach for martial arts, specifically grappling sports. First, he walks us through a system of understanding and controlling the degrees of repre…

Dr. Rob Gray returns today to talk to us about an exciting concept called the differential learning effect. The so-called "ecological approach" is often used synonymously with the Constraints-led Approach, but it also encompasses other frameworks such as differential learning. Differential learning is about true randomness in practice conditions. T…

Today I'm joined by Nick Delgadillo, Starting Strength Coach, Head of Corporate Development at Starting Strength, and a lifelong martial artist. In this episode, Nick unpacks common misconceptions about strength training and how conditioning works for most athletes in combat sports. He introduces to the the so-called "Two Factor Model" of strength …

Today I'm joined by Bryant Coston and Seneca Savoie, Historical European Martial Artists who specialize in coaching the sword at their club, Arena Weapon Arts. In this episode, Bryant and Seneca recount their journey from a traditional technique and drill-based sword coaching, to games-based practice, and finally arriving at a full-bore constraints…

Today I'm joined by Dr. Ian Renshaw, Associate Professor in Exercise & Nutrition Science at Queensland University of Technology at Brisbane. Professor Renshaw is a major researcher in the Constraints-led Approach to motor learning. In fact, you'll see his name on several of the books and studies recommended throughout the Combat Learning Podcast. I…

Join the email list now: combatlearning.com/newsletter --- Today I'm joined by Greg Souders, a 3rd degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and the owner of an academy called Standard Jiu-Jitsu. In this episode, Greg reveals how he runs a totally, radically "ecological" grappling program, where he doesn't even teach "techniques" in the way we've al…

Join the email list now: combatlearning.com/newsletter --- Today I'm joined by Adam Haniver, a boxing coach out of the UK and one of the founding members of The Box Gathering, which is a community of practice for boxing coaches. In this episode, Adam talks to us about how he has moved his boxing program away from the traditional approach to a const…

Join the email list now: combatlearning.com/newsletter --- Today I'm joined again by one of my best friends, Master Thomas Huskey, a 4th dan in taekwondo and a fairly accomplished Olympic TKD coach in his own right. In this episode, Thomas and I begin by explaining in detail why martial artists outside of taekwondo are wrong in their criticisms of …

Join the email list now: combatlearning.com/newsletter --- Today I'm joined again by Greg Koval, a 6th dan in taekwondo and owner of Devil Dog Martial Arts. In this episode, Greg and I catch up from when he first appeared on Combat Learning. Since then, Greg has taken the Constraints-led Approach and overhauled his entire curriculum to great succes…

Join the email list now: combatlearning.com/newsletter --- Today I'm joined by Todd Fossey, founder of Integrated Defensive Strategies and a leading figure in the combatives community. In this episode, Todd unpacks how to systematically inoculate yourself against the stress caused by the fight or flight state during high pressure situations. We als…

Join the email list now: combatlearning.com/newsletter --- Today I'm joined by Alan Dunton, a PhD in skill acquisition, human performance specialist, and lecturer at TUDublin. He also has a background in ITF taekwondo. In this episode, we discuss a couple important studies done on self-organization and how to simulate a more realistic level of anxi…

Join the email list now: combatlearning.com/newsletter --- In part 2 of 2, Scott Sievewright returns to discuss the opportunity cost of traditional training methods. For those who haven't heard that term used for training, opportunity cost basically refers to the benefits to learning that we're potentially missing by spending time that *could* have…

Join the email list now: combatlearning.com/newsletter --- Today we're joined by Scott Sievewright, host of the Primal MMA podcast and an MMA striking coach who teaches a striking program almost entirely on an Ecological Dynamics or constraints-led approach to motor learning. In part 1 of 2, Scott and I work through why Ecological Dynamics is so ha…

Adam and Justin hung out with social media sensations The Magic Crasher and The Girl IQ in LA! The Magic Crasher is a fantastic magician and social media guru. And if you don't know who The Girl Iq is she is also a social media guru with over a million followers on TikTok! Both were awesome to talk to, and get to know. Special thanks to our sponsor…