Floro Fighting Systems

People know that FFS has its emphasis on weaponry.  
Not many know that we also have our interpretation on empty hand fighting.

This week was a focus on empty hand “Clinching” range.  Brought on by another visit by Davo.  He had to work “crowd control” situations, and one of the scenarios resulted in “The Clinch” as the ideal solution.

Traditionally the clinch tries to dominate the centerline with both hands clasping the back of the opponent’s skull.  Ideally both palms would be on the upper part of the opponent’s rear skull, with the forearms and elbows clamping shut to provide pressure and control.

The FFS Clinch is slightly different in that the posture is as follows:

The left arm under or over hooks the opponents right arm.  The right hand is then placed across the opponent’s right collarbone / shoulder area.  The last three fingers of this right hand is then “anchored” on the opponents shoulder / collarbone area by bending the wrist and stiffening the fingers.  This “latching” on is an important move, because, done properly, it will be difficult for your opponent to dislodge your grip.

The posture is completed by placing your right forearm / elbow UNDER the opponents chin.

By pushing down on your right hand and lifting your right elbow.  It provides and effective leverage where it forces your opponents face to be lifted up.

Whilst your right arm is providing this leverage, your left arm, which is now wrapped around the opponent’s right arm, exerts a pulling motion.

Done properly, it unbalances your opponent, and neutralizes any strikes he may throw at you. 

In this position, you can now drive your opponent backwards or you can follow up with take down moves.

Ray Floro

When the timer is set, it starts with a loud audible “beep”. In this moment, the timer commences.

The timer is then stopped when another LOUD sound is registered. It then gives the measurement when the timer was turned on, and when it was turned off.

The Shot Timer is used by pistol shooters that want to register their reaction or draw speed.
I was introduced to this valuable tool by Stephen Chan (who is the FFS representative in Indonesia). He did target and IPSC shooting, and used the timer to improve his abilities.

We were just toying with the idea of trying to measure how fast the various strikes were, so he suggested we use it.

The initial problem we had was finding some way of producing a loud “bang” so we could turn off the timer. We thought about balloons, but the thought of blowing a balloon for each strike did not appeal.
Having played “percussion” in a past life, I knew that a tambourine would cut through the sound, …….SUCCESS!!!!!!!!

The greatest benefit in using the timer is that it gives a quantifiable measure of how fast the speed and reaction is of the student’s actions. More importantly it helps to STOP them from telegraphing their strikes with their body. They have no choice but to wait for the “beep”, and only then can they react.

If they try to move before, by anticipating the beep…………they will actually score a SLOWER result. The great thing about the timer is that you place it on a setting that has a “random delay”……..so the beep is announced at varying times. Hence the student CANNOT anticipate the strike.

This is key to non-telegraphic striking, as when the students “anticipate” the beep; their body betrays them by the slight shift in weight……

There are several drills in my DVD that I go through, that takes full advantage of the timer.

What timer do I use…………….well; a student Stephen was kind enough to trade lessons for his timer. But alas, that timer has been retired, as an overly zealous student mistakenly stabbed the timer instead of the tambourine (WARNING NOTE: ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, tie a cord on the timer and wear it as a necklace).

The current timer I am using, I’m not completely happy with. It seems to have problems registering accurate measurements………so I won’t mention that brand.

One timer I am curious to try (and bear in mind, I have not personally tried it out) is the PACT Timer……….you can check them out here:

http://pact.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=17&Itemid=63

So……….is it around the $130.00 dollar mark to purchase one.

Well……my profession is to teach, so I DO use the timer day after day and it is one of the MOST VALUABLE tools I have to help develop the students non telegraphic strike. Plus the fact that it can be claimed as a tax deduction!

Ray Floro.

This week I’ve reverted back to my old standby “Reverse Grip / Edge In”.

I have to say that it’s good to be back to the “old” method.  Fits just like an old shoe.

So the question is:  Is one method better than the other?. 

NOT AT ALL! 

I think it just highlights the fact that people are different and the old adage “different strokes for different folks” holds true.

The reason why I prefer my “old” Reverse Grip is that I KNOW that I can rely on its techniques.
I know this method so well, and it fits the way my body moves and is so suited to my character, that I am confident of its attack and defensive tactics.

When I am determined to score a strike – I can. When I am determined to repel an attack – I can.

It all comes down to training a few techniques against a lot of varied scenarios. I think this is the key to any system. It is better to master a few, than to be familiar with a hundred.

I see this with very accomplished people in their fields.  Even though the true “Master” will know all the techniques, they will have only a few “bread and butter” moves that they rely on.

These moves are so trained and ingrained in their psyche, that they do it instinctively, and it is second nature to them.  They have solid foundation in the way the technique is executed.  They know subtle variations and nuances that just make the technique work better.

With this extensive familiarity with these basic moves, they can disguise them, so that even though their opponent is hit by the same move time and time again, it seems that they are being attacked by several techniques rather than the one.

One of the ways I try to develop my “bread and butter” moves is to tell my training partner EXACTLY how I will attack them, and where.  I will give them every advantage by telling them my strategy, and even when I’m actually going to attack.

Training in this way, develops timing, distance and non telegraphic striking.

It also develops your ability to recover more quickly from an unsuccessful attack, because your opponent is aware of your offensive moves, and will usually counter more them readily.  Hence, if you don’t get back to an effective defensive posture, you’ll get “tagged”.

This comes back to the biggest benefit of this type of training. 

KNOWING that what you do WILL WORK, WHEN YOU WANT IT TO WORK.

Developing confidence and trust in what you do, is key to dealing with many potentially dangerous scenarios.  Confidence in your poise, confidence in the way you speak, and the way you carry yourself, may be the difference between a potential attacker pursuing his threat or simply backing down.

Ray Floro.

“What knife do you prefer?”

Given the perfect situation, where one can LEGALLY carry a knife, and if I was only given ONE choice, my answer would be easy.

My personal choice would be the Randall Made Knives Model 18. 7 1/2 inch spear-point Stainless Steel blade, with saw-teeth spine and a hollow handle.

I have been enamored with this knife ever since I saw the movie “First Blood” (I know, I know).

But this knife was also prominently mentioned in David Steele’s book “Secrets of Modern Knife Fighting”, and glaringly recommended by Leroy Thompson’s book “Survival / Fighting Knives”. Coupled with my interest in Survivalism, I had to have the knife.

I have owed and sold at least 6 Model 18’s in my lifetime. Its appeal hasn’t waned one bit. In fact, I’m saving up to buy another this year (hopefully).

Carried by many elite members of the military, the Randall name has been a staple amongst those “In the know”. It has also achieved collector’s cult status that it is a 6 year wait if you order from Randall Made Knives directly.

A story that I should relate was an instance where a student of mine in the Australian Military was deployed in Iraq last year.

He carried on his webbing, one of the Randall Model 18’s that he “acquired” from me

On this particular day, he was working “checkpoint”. A group of US Soldiers was approaching his station. He had suspicions that these groups of US guys were Special Forces. Since they were wearing local “tribal” garb and by the weapons they were carrying.

There wasn’t much “conversation” with the Aussie and US troops in general, but as this group passed my student……..they actually stopped and doubled back to talk to him.

The US guys noticed the Randall Model 18 on my student’s web gear and wanted to have a little play with it since they’ve been pining for one.

Turns out that this group of US soldiers was part of the Delta Force assigned to that region.

There you go…..proof that the Randall IS recognized by Elite Military troops.

Is the Model 18 the best in the market? Not at all, there are many other makers out there that uses better steel, better designs and have better finishes. I guess it’s like the Harley Davidson. There are better makers out there. But like I said, the Randall name has developed a cult following, and me being an avid fan.

Other knives that I would also carry is the Camillus USAF Pilot Survival Knife (Camillus has since gone defunct, but not till I stocked up on at least 4 of these knives) and the other one is the Finnish Puukko (extremely sharp, timeless, simple design).

At present James Seckold is heading the design team to create the latest Floro Fighting Systems knife (stay tuned).

Like I’ve said before, I see knives as tools first, and there isn’t a week where I don’t find a use for this versatile tool.

I must stress IT IS ILLEGAL in my state to carry an edged weapon. In fact, technically, even the Swiss Army Knife would be illegal.

For me, to be caught with a knife, let alone using it against another person would be a legal nightmare.

All the prosecutor has to do is to search my name through “Google” and he would have a legal field day to build a case against me.

So why do I still learn / teach knife defense. For the IMPORTANT reason that to defend against an edged weapon, one should fully understand its capability.

Even more important, is that the skills and knowledge that I have accumulated is READILY transferred to be used with COMMON easily accessed, improvised weapons.

I believe that in some instances, it is this knowledge that may give you the only chance for survival.

My DVD – The Essential Ray Floro goes through various everyday items that I can rely on in lieu of the knife. It is just as effective, but more importantly, easier to defend in court when you are sued for protecting yourself and your loved ones.

Ray Floro

The Model 18 shown at right is a current-production model available in two blade lengths — 5.5″ and 7.5″. It is a dual-edged blade, with a three-quarter length sawtooth edge on top.