A review of Bruno Orozco Sensei’s Seminar
I recently participated in a Combatives seminar held by Bruno Orozco Sensei in Mexico City.
Since I recently went through back surgery, I couldn’t participate in the seminar but I took video and notes and below, you’ll find a list of the main concepts he taught during the seminar, in my own words:
In the context of self-defense, focus on large motor skills rather than fine ones.
Don’t get obsessed with variations. Focus in a few techniques and do them well.
If an opponent is “too much”, take their back.
To take the back, you need a clear path through the side.
Hit larger surfaces than smaller targets (thighs vs knees)
Different weapons for different distances.
Use both hands.
Do not sacrifice your posture.
Use strikes to facilitate grappling.
Do not overcommit your hips to avoid being grabbed.
If it doesn’t work, do something else.
Lower your stance for better control.
Control distance using your arms.
Grabbing is dynamic.
Use your feet to maintain your structure and your base.
Fighting is close quarter.
Use your whole body when throwing/grappling.
When you cannot move away, drive in.
Blocking punches, in the street, is very difficult.
Be quick and violent.
In knife defense, the goal is to reduce the assailant’s mobility.
Have the mindset of “don’t grab me / don’t push me”
Knife attacks are very fast. You have to move faster and be more impactiful (violent).
Quickly deal with the hand grabbing you.
Try to interrupt the grabbing.
The best and final piece of advice Sensei Orozco offered was:
Be fit, keep training and practicing. It will only help. Strength is very important, just technique is not enough. Aim to be Strong and Capable.
Overall, it was a great seminar. I learned quite a lot even from sitting on the sidelines and I really look forward to participate as soon as I physically can.
