renegade-world-mma

old dogs

2009-11-10T16:55:00.000-08:00

Life has had many twists and turns for me. I never was welcomed in the "old boy's" club, with its quaint blazers and pretty crests and instead of the "silver spoon" mine was a rust-covered one. As the decades went-by, I scratched and clawed for every morsel I got with a simple notion that I'll never be vanquished and never stay down for the count.

If you were a betting-man, the odds were staked against me but despite being counted-out on a number of occasions and cheating the death dealer, I made it back up and withstood all challengers. I suppose more than anything that wasn't a matter of chance but part of the stock I came from as the claret the teems through me is that those whose hearts are emblazoned with the words honour, commitment, loyalty and faith. It may be bold to say and easily mistaken as arrogant but I am a man who walks forward with each step knowing I will burn a trail for others, honouring my family name and all the while recognizing leadership must start with each individual. Though repetitious, that comes not from chance but of a stock this modern world knows little-of but I shall save that for another time.

Of the many things life's lessons have taught me, it is that principles never have a price-tag and right is never wrong. Simple, honest notions that the modern world has forgot are the measure of the man. In this substance ravaged world, men of conviction are a rare breed and leadership is twisting in the wind. All too often "style" has overtaken true substance and all the glistening new baubles are bought up as fast as the public can slide its plastic through the till.

It is the oldest tale a raconteur spins a yarn of walking by the worst part of town. The dark lonely streets, rife with danger and crime are no place to be this time of night and you stroll by a desolate spot, a young dog snarls at you from a distance. Protecting his property the young pup, snarls a nasty growl and stands it ground as you continue your way as you know the youngster's bark is worse than its bite. However in the distance, sitting on rotting porch is a old dog. His beard is graying, the bounce from the those days of youth aren't quite there anymore but this is his home and he holds down what is his. One eye opens as the visitor walks-by, an efficient turn of the head, the paws reach up as the hair of his old coat stiffens. The old dog is ready, ready to to put up a fight to end all fights and that is the rawest sense of danger the visitor can ever face. The visitor is no fool, his heart picks up more than a few beats as he knows that old dog has nothing to lose and there will be hell to pay if you cross that line.

This past weekend Danny Dring and I ran our very first MMA certification class and after mulling over it for a few days, I think it was my highlight seminar of the decade. While I have had the luxury of very well received speaking engagements and the like, this was the perfect ending to the decade. Not only was it the perfect mix of practical work and promising young athletes but it reminded a bunch of old dogs, there still is a lot of life left to be lived, a lot of lessons to be taught.

Any discussion of the class would begin the day before as I started a 1,000 mile plus road-trip with Frank and Danny Lupiani. Fueled with bad coffee, beef jerky and the endless assault of a Jimmy Page riff's, we ate up those miles at a maddening clip before our Friday evening training session. The "blow by blow" recount of working with Danny Dring is easily summarized as within a career of many accolades, this was a honour I will not soon forget. While I am obviously quite biased the delivery was seamless and though we had no rehearsals, our unit was tight efficient team from the get-go. Though the work was a challenge our young bucks did well and of-course in a moment of need, like a great reliever coming in from the bullpen when we needed the most, Frank Lupiani stole the show to how it's done. Maybe it was the simple, if not brutal training that was stripped down basics, the raw boned work on the mats needed to produce champions or even that much of our group set-up an impromptu "campgrounds" but the weekend will forever known as the level that all are judged against.

Yet there still is more to be said and in-fact a lesson came from a old dog. A fine spirited old sort, who like me recognizes all too many tend to count him out. In a playful moment gone array, a testing parry drew some claret, not enough for serious concern and far below a full-out effort but still enough to prove the old boy is ready to go toe-to-toe. Quick as can be, fleshy sinew pieces get put back together just fine and after the claret is cleaned up, what is remembered is that old graying dog proved he still has a lot of life left him.

We finished up our clinic and after a quick interview with Danny, with that old graying dog trying to scale his backyard wall now, to which I claim it his new-found blood lines, we poured ourselves back into the car for the return trip. Another road trip fueled by bad coffee and Jimmy Page riff's and a decade of clinics was put to rest. It could not have ended on a better note and with 2010 in the horizon, these old dogs are about to prove we should never to be counted out.

John Davies
Founder Renegade Training International

Training Camp

2009-11-10T15:37:00.000-08:00

This past weekend saw a gathering of renegade individuals at the inaugural athletic performance for martial arts training camp. The camp was spearheaded by Coach Davies and myself and was attended by fitness professionals and martial arts practicioners. What a blast!!! The focus of the camp helped everyone connect the dots of training movement as it related to technique and reinforced the concept of training to fight and not just training to train. The passion of performance preached by Coach Davies inspired everyone. After the saturday session even my dog attacked his tug of war with a surprising ferocity no doubt motivated by the events of the day. The combination of renegade philosophy and athletic performance training geared specifically to the combat athlete is a ground breaking approach to martial arts. My mantra of training smarter was constantly reinforced by the volume of subtle detail taught in athletic and skill development. I live for camps like this!!! I was thrilled to host everyone at my gym and in my home as we trained, ate and watched fights together. The energy of the camp was contagious and so was the laughter. This was an unforgetable event and one I hope many of you that were unable to attend will be able to experience in the future.

Living Defense and Living the Renegade Lifestyle

Danny Dring

50 years

2009-09-17T06:20:00.000-07:00

Last sat. was a milestone in the life of my parents--- they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.
Fifty years equals a lifetime of joys and sorrows that they have shared together and is an accomplishment that is somewhat
rare for this day and age. The night was bittersweet with the thought of Mom's cancer lingering like an elephant in the living room. On the day of their 49th anniversary they found out she had cancer so making it to the 50th anniversary was an uncertainty over the trials of the past year. Chemo therapy is brutal and made planning anything special to mark the occasion problematic as she has good days and bad and it is hard to know when the bad days will lay her down. Fortunately
she was having a better day and was able to keep a good spirit and we celebrated as family will with love and laughter.
I share this because life is precious and brief and we should all remember to cherish the ones we love.
I love you Mom and Dad.

Love your family,

Danny Dring

A busy summer

2009-08-26T07:38:00.000-07:00

Either my wife or I had to stay home this morning to let the pest control guy in for our regular spray and I readily agreed to handle the chore. A 9am appointment meant I could sleep a little longer and since I have people fighting this weekend in Memphis we are tapering back and focusing on recovery thus a morning off is timely. So with coffee cup in hand I fired up the laptop and checked the renegade site and saw to my horror just how long it has been since I last blogged. Incredible yet it feels like yesterday I was with Bill and it has in fact been a couple of months. And during those months I had a team fight at the International Kickboxing Federations world amateur championships and brought home two world titles. I have taught several seminars and have stayed very busy. And I have to admit that between my training, travel and teaching schedule I have let this whole blogging thing slide.

My training discipline reigns triumphant while my blogging discipline lags behind.
Today I begin anew and commit yet again to get the blog rolling.

Delay is not denial.

Danny Dring

Superfoot

2009-06-08T16:23:00.000-07:00

Back from a busy weekend in Mobile, AL where Bill 'Superfoot' Wallace just had his annual blackbelt camp.
Bill Wallace is a martial art icon central to the development of martial arts in America. (Just google his name and browse) In addition to working his famed superfoot kicking system we all trained boxing, wrestling (Bill was the wrestling coach at Memphis State University) judo(Bill's first martial art) and some submissions from BJJ which he asked me to teach. Blackbelts in the Superfoot system come from a variety of martial art backgrounds and were all just great people. Paul Acklin from Tamp FL had even brought an indo board and I discovered he was working with Hunter Joslin on using the Indo board for martial athletes and we had a good discussion on how we were each incorporating the indo board into our classrooms.

Both Bill Wallace and Joe Lewis have been profound influences in my martial art career and both were the 'renegades' of their era. Their influence on the development of American martial arts will live on long after they are gone. Joe's camp is in Oct. and I am sure that my time spent with Bill will keep me charged up until then.

Train on

Danny Dring

Seminars

2009-05-18T16:26:00.001-07:00

I Love seminars (and camps, clinics, workshops, etc...) and the training environment that the seminar offers. When I am not teaching seminars I am attending them. This month has seen me teach a women's kickboxing camp here in Little Rock followed by a BJJ/ Weeping Style Jujutsu seminar in Gulfport, MS and then last weekend a MMA camp back here in Little Rock.
The information exchange and training at these events motivate me to maintain my daily routine and stay excited about working out.

Catch a seminar or training camp when you can. From brushing up on your form at a Renegade camp taught by Coach Davies to learning new moves on the mat the seminar experience can breath new life into your training regime.

Stay alive.

Danny Dring
www.livingdefense.com

Check out the June issue of Black Belt Magazine

2009-05-12T10:58:00.000-07:00

Check out the June issue of Black Belt Magazine for an article on recovering from a martial arts injury
written by Danny Dring and Johnny Taylor. While geared to the martial athlete the information in the article pertains to any injuried athlete.

The authors highly recommend reading this article;)

Danny Dring

A fight for life

2009-03-26T20:53:00.000-07:00

It has been a month since I have blogged. Incredible that time passes so quickly and so much has occurred. I have produced and promoted mma and kickboxing matches. Traveled to several states to teach seminars. Took fighters to the Arnold Classic to kickbox and do BJJ (and went undefeated). Had 7x world champion Robson Moura in to teach a seminar at my school and no matter how many times I train with him I still marvel at his movement and technical excellence. All this in addition to maintaining my training and teaching schedule and all relating to the fight game. During this time I also stood helplessly on the sidelines and watched as my mother fought for her life in the battle with cancer.

The moment one is diagnosed with cancer their life and the lives of their loved ones are changed. A fight for life with a very real and very scary killer begins. My mom is a fighter. She traveled to Birmingham, AL and had a very delicate surgery that could have had several bad outcomes but, thanks to a very skilled surgeon, came out successful. Three ribs and one third of her lung were removed which now makes her cancer free. She is in pain but progressing daily and feels blessed to have had the success she had with her surgery. Her experience has sharpened my passion for helping people find health and wellness in their lives. Self defense comes in many forms and being healthy is a great defense.

Cherish your health

Danny Dring

fight week

2009-02-20T07:35:00.000-08:00

Training for a fight is inherently dangerous. To get ready to fight you have to fight and as fight time draws near you have to spar hard to get ready for the performance at the event. And when people spar hard they run the risk of getting injured so the hardest training sessions should be just over a week away from the day of the event. It makes no sense to go into the fight so banged up that a fighter cannot perform at a maximal level. Worse yet, hard sparring the week of the fight could cause an injury that prevents a fighter from passing the prefight physical and keeps them from being able to compete. The week of a fight should be about active recovery, visualization and technical fine tuning. Preparing mentally and physically for peak performance
is preparing for victory.

Prepare to win!

Danny Dring

Of Fear

2009-01-29T08:45:00.000-08:00

Borrowing upon Danny Dring's lead on Intensity, I wanted to throw my support not only of doing what you do with all your might but additionally riding yourself of fear. Fear in my opinion is the brake that we apply to life and the internal fear not of just failure but of success.

From my book, "The Mark of R", fear is possibly our greatest foe:

"It is the double-edge sword of the development of the warrior. It is the delicate mixture of possessing a heart of compassion, a soul of honor to defend those less fortunate yet with the total resolve to devastate those who bear arms against you. It is undeniable and an unforgettable error with society today. The spirit of being relentless, intense with complete and utter resolve to push beyond where others fail.

As you scream out for resolve, you realize it is an open letter sitting unanswered on the nightstand. For while we hear often of commitment and resolve, we equally realize the façade this sits behind. A curtain masking the reality of the grotesque difference between jawing about having game or being able to back it up. In fact it is not so difficult at all but it takes that ever-so-present leap of faith once again which is simply -- You have nothing to lose. Nothing.

Fear absolutely nothing. Look straight into the bowels of hell and realize your greatest demon you will face lays within."

J. Davies

Intensity

2009-01-26T09:09:00.000-08:00

The difference between training to train and training to fight can be summed up with one word--- intensity. With the New Year firmly in place fighters from gyms across the country (mine included) are preparing to fight. Among evenly paired fighters the difference between victory and defeat will be the intensity of their training. Anyone can train intensely...once in a while, but as fight time draws near it is imperative to work with intensity daily. Like deposits to a bank account add up so do the workouts where we ramp up the intensity. Upping the volume of work and condensing the time to fit round lengths increase intensity but so does having everyone in the gym scream at you while your training. Successful fighters can focus on the task while being put on display in front of a crowd. This is very different then training in the relative quiet of the gym and changes the intensity of your performance. The “hype” of the fight event can cause even good fighters to falter. Crowds, lights, cameras music and other trappings of the show can boost an adrenaline response that if not managed mentally and accounted for in training will cause even the most conditioned fighter to gas. Stars in the gym are not always the stars in the ring because they just were not prepared for the pressure of public performance.

This past weekend while teaching a self-defense seminar I was able to illustrate the difference in training intensity for the attendees. We were working on knife defense and while doing drills I had every one working with wooden training knives. All partners were working at the same time and as it was a very disciplined and focused group of individuals they were all training hard and relatively unaware of the others as they focused on the techniques. I then changed the intensity level by having the group stop and placed one pair in the middle and gave them a pair of shock knives. Shock knifes do just that… they shock people that are put in contact with the blade. Now the dynamics of the drill have been changed. The attention of the group and the reality of the pain made the previous work much less intense, even though they were all training hard, they were not training intense. When they stepped up to a competitive environment in front of the group with the negative reinforcement of being zapped ever present they were then training intensely and (while still below the intensity of a life or death edged weapon encounter) way better prepared to defend themselves.

Stay intense.

Danny Dring

“Life is tough but if you are tough with yourself, life will be your best friend.”

- Zig Ziglar

Flexibility

2009-01-14T10:56:00.000-08:00

Do you want to develop your technique both standing and on the ground? Then develop your flexibility. Static and dynamic stretching should be included in every training session because your range of motion determines the range of possibilities for executing technique. Thus the greater your range of motion the greater the technical options. A fierce leg kick often causes an opponent to drop their hands to defend and creates an opening for a head kick but only if one has the ability to kick to the head. The examples are endless and obvious yet flexibility training is an oft-neglected part of the total training picture. Why? Well it is time consuming, if not done properly it is painful and you clock your progress with a calendar---these are the reasons most fail to properly develop their range of motion. If you are more concerned with active recovery, injury prevention and increased range of motion then do not fall prey to these worthless and weak excuses!
Stretch your limits.

Danny Dring

The MMA Warrior

2009-01-09T06:43:00.000-08:00

A slice before the midnight hour, I powered-up my phone on quickly to review any important calls that I had missed in my absence. A few moments later, the consistent drone of annoying hum of message alerts began. Scanning quickly through the myriad of texts, I stumbled upon one that stood out. Somewhere rolling along the 1,300 mile stretch of the I81 as they were headed home, Abbey and Jory Malone had sent me a text of their BJJ tournament. It was a humble message that noted their extraordinary triumph, the anguish of injury and the noble determination that only a great champion knows. I waited anxiously till the morn to call them.

“Pursue the enemy with the utmost audacity.”
General George Patton

It has become a darling of sporting media in the last few years, the modern gladiator, the combative athlete in the many fighting styles. Where once was a unique and rarely visited domain within the cages, octagon’s or mat’s has now all of sudden become, dare-I-say, become popular in the mainstream. Oddly while there are few sporting activities that I feel were as overdue for acceptance and respect as the combative athlete, yet with this new found publicity, invariably some peculiarities would arrive with it as well. It wouldn’t be too long before a hodge-podge of training equipment and theories would be pitched to the new found combative athlete market and possibly most disturbing is the modern profile of this combative athlete was decidedly different from the classic vision, which I whole-heartedly embrace.

to continue reading The MMA Warrior please visit ProSource.

J. Davies

In Search of Power, part 5

2009-01-08T06:38:00.000-08:00

As we look upon the next stage of “In Search of Power” with part four of the development program leading into the full-scale DMC™ system, we will begin to see the first signs of merging the ground-based DMC™ with the upright RED2 system first seen in part two of the series.

For followers of the previous sections, overall strength in the lower extremities and trunk should be exploding and for many it will be a surprise given the lack of cumbersome gym equipment or expensive gym memberships. As shown in the photos, this workout can be done in any setting (i.e. a nice snowy day on top of a mountain) and only requires a minimum amount of space. In fact, exercise enthusiasts and professional trainers and coaches should consider doing this section and eventually the entire DMC™ system in large group settings.

to continue reading In Search of Power, Part 5 please visit ProSource.

J. Davies

In Search of Power, part 4

2009-01-07T06:33:00.000-08:00

Following parts 1, 2 and 3, it is likely best to take a step back and review development as well as address potential concerns of early users of the DMC™ system. For those who have gone through the program to-date, the typical problems experienced relate to basically insufficient lower body strength as evidenced by the inability to maintain body position during longer holds. Not only does this suggest the lack of appropriate balance between the upper and lower body, as well as poor relative, posterior-chain and core strength, but it reveals an insufficient work threshold.

to continue reading In Search of Power, Part 4 please visit ProSource.

J. Davies

In Search of Power, part 3

2009-01-06T06:29:00.000-08:00

As we go forward in the next stage of our preliminary DMC™ training session from parts 1 and part 2 of “In Search of Power“, it is very obvious to users how this program points out weaknesses in lower body, core strength as well as lack of appropriate balance between upper and lower body strength. This in itself is one of the most important points I can make within athletic training, whereby far too much focus is spent on developing the upper body as opposed to looking at overall body development with the lower extremities as the basis. We’ll continue with this further but the point is that most training develops an individual as an inverted triangle (aka “the dreidel” complex) whereas it should be precisely the opposite.

to continue reading In Search of Power, Part 3 please visit ProSource.

J. Davies

Merry Christmas

2008-12-25T12:49:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas to all!!!!!

Have a wonderful holiday season.

Danny Dring

Defense

2008-12-16T10:25:00.000-08:00

You win fights with offense but you lose fights from a lack of defense. How many just read that and automatically thought, "The best defense is a good offense". And while that old saw is true it is also true that we are always open when attacking and it is wise to have your defense built into your offense.

There are only two things that I want my fighters to do while fighting and that is move and fire. Firepower (attacks) and mobility win wars and when we build our defense into our offense we become much harder to hit. It doesn’t matter if we get hit standing or caught in a submission on the ground, a lack of prevention caused us to get caught and maybe even lose. Defend early and avoid being caught by strikes, position or submission. In seminars I am often asked how to escape this choke or that armbar and my favorite answer (before I show the escape) is don’t get put in that technique. I don't want you to defend the right cross after it has hit you on the chin and while there are many good sound escapes to virtually every submission the best strategy is to not get put in the position.

Desire – Discipline – Defense These are the cornerstones for success in the ring, on the mat or in the cage. The parallels to everyday life are abundant and worth your consideration.

Danny Dring

On being accountable

2008-12-09T05:37:00.000-08:00

The rear-view mirror is always the most telling story and if I was to look back over the decades and ask of the greatest change in athletics (if not all of society) it is would say the issue of "accountability." Sadly as athletes today go forward today there are few that discuss the notion of being responsible for your actions and how it will influence your life, those immediately around you and possibly even greater, those who look towards you for leadership.

Being accountable is a curious tale, that respects a person is answerable for their actions. For athletes the role of accountability is very straight-forward, to look ahead with focus but always remember the influence the actions will take. Be dedicated in your pursuit of success but always remember each step you take will leave footprints that others will follow.

John Davies

Discipline

2008-12-04T08:27:00.000-08:00

Discipline

Main Entry:
1dis·ci·pline
Pronunciation:
\ˈdi-sə-plən\
Function:
noun
Etymology:
Middle English, from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French, from Latin disciplina teaching, learning, from discipulus pupil
Date:
13th century
1: punishment2obsolete : instruction3: a field of study4: training that corrects, molds, or perfects the mental faculties or moral character5 a: control gained by enforcing obedience or order b: orderly or prescribed conduct or pattern of behavior c: self-control6: a rule or system of rules governing conduct or activity

"discipline." Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. 2008.
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/discipline

Desire fuels our passion while discipline guides us toward success. One can have the discipline to train but lack the discipline to stay out of trouble. Self –control in and out of the sporting arena has been somewhat neglected as a virtue. True champions, the ones worthy of emulation, have discipline. Reflect upon your life---do you have discipline in all areas? The discipline to train is one area but what about your eating habits or sleep patterns? Are you so committed to your work that you neglect family and friends?

Identify those areas in your life where you have discipline and prioritize an action plan for those areas where you lack discipline.

Danny Dring

Desire

2008-11-25T16:25:00.000-08:00

Nothing is so common in the athletic world as talented and gifted athletes not realizing their full potential. Anyone that has coached for any length of time has felt the frustration of having a truly talented individual that just didn’t perform up to his or her ability.

Simply stated they lacked desire.

Desire is the fuel that fires the drive of a champion. Without desire there is no passion, no drive and ultimately no success. Desire is among the most important attributes of elite athletes. An intense burning desire to be the best is imperative for success in the fight world. Many would “like” to fight or “like” to win but few desire or want “it’ so bad that they strive with single minded determination to achieve.

Set your goals and desire them with a passion that forces action.

Danny Dring

In Search of Power, part 2

2008-11-21T06:00:00.000-08:00

Within “In Search of Power, Part 1” I introduced a plan to improve strength and power, targeting the posterior chain via the use of basic static holds found in the preliminary work of my DMC™ system. In many ways the basic notion of this training system revolves around poor movement patterns and key structural problems that the overwhelming majority of the public is plagued with and results in the inability to maintain proper posture under duress. Running parallel to the nine-stage DMC™ system that I introduced in my book on middle-aged fitness “With Grace”, is another new system of mine, RED2.

to continue reading In Search of Power, Part 2 please visit ProSource.

J. Davies

Seamless integration--- a MMA model continued

2008-11-17T18:43:00.000-08:00

The ability to navigate thru the various ranges of fighting require a matrix of styles that excel at each range. --- Kicking for the outfighting, punching for in fighting, clinching and takedowns as well as groundwork. Each range should be studied for offense as well as defense. Individual attributes and preferences may lead an individual to focus their offense in one range (i.e.… ground and pound) but no one should ever neglect defense against all forms of attack least your opponent dictate the range the game is played.

Our ultimate goal is to have a seamless integration of the fighting styles we use as we flow through the ranges of combat. An operating system like windows has some programs running continuously and others only when accessed from a pull down menu of options; the training of the mma athlete can also use this format. For example my footwork is my footwork when I am boxing, kicking, setting up a shot or even when I am stick fighting, knife fighting or doing tactical hand gunning. I do not want to learn a new system of footwork for every discipline studied therefore my footwork is a ‘read only’ type of program. While defending against an armbar is a totally different animal than defending against an overhand right and the pull down menu format for defense allows one to learn to defend various attacks both standing and on the ground.

The ability to conceptualize fight training with the above stated model should speed the learning curve of the fighter. And allow one to optimize the physical training necessary to develop the skill, strategy and spirit to triumph in combat. Principles drive the seamless integration of many styles into one unique system that should be unique for each individual in the same way that no two fingerprints are alike (but we can all recognize a fingerprint).

Danny Dring

a peculiar consequence

2008-11-13T05:08:00.000-08:00

Twenty-years ago I doubt there would have been anyone that would have expected the growth that the MMA community has experienced. It is said to be one of fastest growing sporting activities and has stretched its tentacles far into the mainstream media. Amongst the general acceptance of the sport for its tremendous qualities comes a realization that it has a long way to go in a number of areas and is equally preyed upon but a number of business sorts with questionable motives.

Unfortunately one of the worst offenders of using the growth the MMA to suit its business agenda is the very broad training industry. Whether it is supplement companies who target end-users with glitzy ad-campaigns, equipment manufacturers who come up with "specific" training tools to pillage the wallets of the MA enthusiast or the bravado-laced "training professional" that talks of training hardcore but in-fact knows little of "what it takes" in the ring but everything about marketing, the MA business has become an opera of ridiculous claims.

While I'll save my venom on the training professional for another time, I will remind readers to look beyond the cut and paste web-site designs with ridiculous promises and the new found gym look that with a fresh coat of paint and some storm-fence has turned a latte-swilling boxercise class into a "hard-core" gym. I say that with great intent particularly as I have seen areas such as Southern California inundated with "hard-core" training environments but lacking any substance.

Saving my heated comments on that area for another time, I wish to simply point out the problems associated to the equipment sector. While there have been a number of good quality products that come to the market place in the last decade, the majority of claims are pure nonsense. Unfortunately some advertising experts have made use of the camaraderie and brotherhood in the sport and through questionable use of testimonials have suggested some harebrained ideas. Very simple to the point, no one-piece of equipment is the panacea. MMA athletes are some of the best all-around athletes in the sporting world today and because of it, should be highly competent in using a variety of training mediums. As the MMA athlete develops a high-level of general athletic ability and then layers a mastery of skill on top he or she will attain their goals.

J. Davies

A model for mma training

2008-11-10T12:12:00.000-08:00

The computer functions best when the hardware components are optimized for the software it runs. Likewise the martial athlete should focus their training on both hardware (physical preparation) and software (techniques and tactics).
Hardware refers to your body and is basically strength, cardiovascular endurance and flexibility as well as hydration, nutrition and rest. (See Coach Davies prosource blog MMA WARRIOR for the Renegade Wheel of Conditioning tm and Renegade Training Concepts tm) Software is your technical and tactical knowledge (mental) and must fit your hardware (the mind/body connection).

Your body type will influence your fighting style. Just as all football players do not play in the backfield or on the line, not all fighters will excel in all aspects of the game. I am not going to coach a guy with 'alligator arms' to fight on the outside or ask a 300 pound man to fight with the frantic pace of a 145 pounder. Fighters will have to learn how to handle each range of fighting based on their particular build. Outfighting, infighting, clinch work and mat work comprise the ranges of fighting and each can be identified with various fighting styles. Before you can mix martial arts you must learn the arts you want to mix.

MMA is an evolution of the styles that work best at the various ranges and are comprised primarily of muay thai, boxing, wrestling and Brazilian jiujitsu. (Of course there have been other stylists that have done well with judo or sambo backgrounds or have come from a traditional based art like karate, taekwondo or kempo.) Fundamentally you are striking or grappling and you are either standing, clinching or on the ground. With this in mind a matrix of styles that help one to navigate the ranges or distance that the bout is contested is paramount to success. He who controls the distance controls the fight and is best able to impose their will upon their opponent.

Danny Dring

In Search of Power, Part 1

2008-11-10T11:01:00.000-08:00

When working with the Throwdown team of Provo Utah recently I introduced them to the new "DMC™" system with punishing results. Prior to getting involved in the full-scale program, along with its sister-program "RED2" we utilized the following start-up outlined in my new article "In Search of Power, part 1" found at ProSource.

Enjoy as you'll find it extremely helpful in your training goals.

J. Davies

Inner voice

2008-11-06T09:13:00.000-08:00

Just as I cherish my training partners I value my training time alone with myself. The serenity of walking into a training area and having it all to myself with no outside distractions is simply priceless. The training area is anywhere in the world I happen to be at that moment but most frequently is either my school or the high school track close to my school. The familiarity of either place is steeped in athletic endeavor and both represent my lifelong passion for training. In the solitude of the time I spend training alone I strengthen my inner voice.

The inner voice is a critical component of any successful athlete. My inner voice is that conscious decision to be more and to do more because that is who I am. It is why when no one is looking and no one cares I push because that voice cries faster. It demands one more rep, one more round and is the only honest judge of how hard I work. My inner voice has pushed me thru international competitions and serious rehab. The way in which a fighting athlete communicates with their self in training is going to be directly reflected in the way they handle adversity in the ring and in life. So I take the opportunity to focus on the inner voice when I am alone and I have it coach me in the manner that I coach others. My inner voice reminds me of that which I tell my fighters... "Do not tell me who you are but show me! Show me in action and show me in deeds accomplished just who you are!!!"

Listen to your inner voice

Danny Dring
www.livingdefense.com

Victory

2008-11-03T19:23:00.000-08:00

North Carolina was intense. Step off the plane and drive to the gym and train. Wake up and train again, this time an advanced bjj seminar and testing. The guys looked good and much credit goes to Steve Snyder and his senior students.
Steve is now a faixa marrom (brown belt) and earned it old school with years of blood and sweat.

The fights Sat night saw his team go 3-1 on the evening with his team fighting both kickboxing and mma. However I truly feel the result should have been 4-0 as the sole loss was a split dec. by a very game fighter. Victory comes in many forms and when one trains with conviction and fights with honor and courage there is always victory. When your fighter comes back to your corner primed to get back to the action and presses the opponent with relentless ferocity you cannot help but be proud of that effort. Mariea Snyder was that fighter Sat. night and fought a game opponent with drive and determination that won the crowd over. I hate losing but when the split dec. did not go our way there was no way I felt like I was part of a losing performance and I was proud to be in the corner. I have had fighters win with less then peak performance and I was not happy. This time we did not get the highly subjective vote but I had witnessed guts, grit and a moment of greatness in the ring shared by two capable fighters that elevated a brutal sport to a noble and honourable test of will and skills.
Victory... defined by action and valor in combat.

The credit belongs to the man (and woman) in the ring...

Danny Dring
www.livingdefense.com

honesty

2008-10-31T06:33:00.000-07:00

There is an "honesty" in the combative sport world that for the most part doesn't exist in many sports today.

Amongst most sporting environments, we're weighted down with little darling's who strut around without any game, more worried about their well-coiffed hair then what they can put out. Most team sports, unless you're at an elite level, are a shadow of what they once were in the message they teach and the intensity they are played at. Young athletes "learn" how to trash their competition through the media and yet lack the fortitude to "back it up."

However their are a few sports and for that matter areas of the world, where athletes know what its like to "back it up." Setting aside the discussion of geographic locations for another day, the MA world is a no-nonsense area that if you can't "back it up", it'll bite back hard. The "honesty" of the sport is settled "simply" because talk means little when you're on the canvass. It's a point of delineation, a line drawn in the sand where little darling's need not venture into because this is about action and the honesty of getting the tough job done.

John Davies

The morning after...

2008-10-30T07:36:00.000-07:00

Big day of training yesterday. Bleachers with Nicky in the morning. (More on my bleacher routines in future posts) followed by nutrition and ice until I returned for a noon time training session which lasted for two hours. Normally noon class is just an hour long (ok more than an hour for you guys rolling your eyes at my sense of time) but class was small and the guys were fired up so we got on the mat and worked technique and rolled. Great session with good people. Again time to feed the beast, run a few business related errends and crash for a 25 minute nap before returning to the gym for the evening classes. I had the kids at 5pm followed by a bjj class at 6 that ran until 8 and then off with the gi and time to work on standup sparring for an hour. Bjj class was even more special due to the recognition of a few select individuals with a jump in rank. The time had come to award tips to a few for their noted improvement and work and we had one individual (Corey Springer) earn their bluebelt. Corey has been training for the past year and has competed successfully in bjj tournaments, mma competitions and kickboxing. He is a talented athlete with great potential and I am proud he has earned his bluebelt. The promotion ceremony at the end of the bjj class motivated everyone that stayed (or arrived) for the stand up sparring and the session that followed was spirited. Along with everyone else I was dripping with sweat and didn't stop sweating until long after the workout was over. I went home pumped up and honored to have the people that came to class train with me.

I woke up this morning and immediately knew it was the morning after a monster training day. Muscles had stiffend and protested the morning ritual of getting up and getting my son to school. Tomorrow I head to High Point, North Carolina to teach a seminar and to work the corner for Steve Snyder's fighters including his wife Mariea. Mariea is a very tough lady kickboxing in front of her hometown crowd. Steve and Mariea own and operate a Living Defense affiliate in High Point and in addition to Mariea fighting also have other kickboxers and mma fighters competing on sat. night. So today is a busy day and I have just completed two back to back private lessons and must get ready for the trip that lies ahead while taking care of business and training again this evening. That's it for now so train hard, train often and train smart.

Danny Dring
www.livingdefense.com

2008-10-28T10:38:00.000-07:00

The morning workout is over and I've wolfed down my hard boiled eggs and now I am banging on the keys of my laptop in much the way I imagine a chicken on crack would. I have an appointment in 45min accross town and classes to teach this evening and I am starting now to blog. This blogging thing is new for me and I am going to have to develop the discipline to sit down and get it done. I am lifelong martial artist and I teach my people that before you can be a martial artist you must be a martial athlete. I hold 7th degree blackbelts in Taekwondo, Weeping Style Jujutsu and was just presented my 7th degree by Bill Wallace. I am a 6th degree blackbelt with Joe Lewis and a two time fight trainer of the year in his fighting system. I am also a 3rd degree blackbelt in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu under Toni Emanuel with Team Nova Uniao. As a competitor I fought in Athens, Greece and Moscow, Russa I have 6 international gold medals and 2 international silver medals. I kickboxed on ESPN and won over 300 trophies while I was still competing. My toughest competion was coming back from having my hip replaced and I am back in a full center split and running bleachers and training at a respectable level. I was doing mma before mma was cool and promoted one of the first amateur mma cards in the nation. I am passionate about training and am excited to share my passion with those who care to read my stories. That's it for now as I am going to have to drive across town to make that appointment and continue the rest of the hectic day that makes up the life I love. As for the blog the thought
"And so it begins..."

Danny Dring

Welcome

2008-10-27T07:00:00.000-07:00

I wanted to welcome everyone to the new Renegade World blog specifically for MMA / combative athletes. With world renowned combative sport athlete, Danny Dring, we will host this blog dedicated to the training measures for the specialized athlete.

Please add this blog feeder to your menu and get ready for Renegade World MMA.

Thank you,

John Davies
Founder Renegade Training International