Controlled-Focused-Fury

INTRODUCTION:

In this two part article we will discuss a martial philosophy called; Controlled Focused Fury. CFF translates to, and can be applied to any combative situation, but for the purposes of this particular article will be framed as it applies to self-protection applications.  This article will explain what the concept of CFF is. Controlled-Focused-Fury is not a  new martial arts style.  It is merely a broad-based martial philosophy, but one that will lead those who ascribe to it, closer to what ultimately is the truth in combat. 

We are truth seekers, investigating and practicing to find where the truth in combat lies and how to ultimately reach that truth.  Our philosophy is that we teach and practice Self protection not self defense, thinking defensively only, and not initiating your own protective attack against those who would assault you is thinking a step-behind, and too passively.  In any self-protection situation you must be immediately more ballistic, brutal, violent, and decisive than those who have assaulted you or those you seek to protect.  You must also be immediately defensive and offensive, and willing to win or end the fight; having the desire to finish until your attacker submits.

The problems that exist in modern-day self-defense programs is waiting for the attack to happen and staying on the defensive, thereby never taking away the altercations’ and your attackers momentum, and taking control yourself.  The other problem lies with sparring and sport-fighting schools that have a sparring focus.  Sparring is wonderful for building attributes and combat skills and awareness, but they instill bad habits, such as fighting. 

Fighting and attacking/counter-attacking and being truly combative are entirely different things.  Whenever I see programs with excessive amounts of sparring, even if the instruction is good, the fighters are just that…fighters. 

They possess a sport mentality and practice within the confines of the rules. Most fighters have some type of protective equipment if only a groin cup and a mouth piece, but this can make a big difference in the street if these items were missing. There is usually a referee or someone there to stop a match if the other person is taking too much damage or if we just don’t want to fight anymore due to injury or pain we can just “tap out.” We don’t have the luxury of protective gear, referees or quitting in real combat or a home invasion. Also there are rules against dirty fighting tactics such as, eye poking, eye gouging, biting (see Mike Tyson), and the use of weapons.

One observation we have noticed while watching the UFC bouts is fighters backing off after they have hurt or knocked down there opponent. They actually pause for a moment amazed that they have knocked this person down or they are waiting to see if they have hurt this person and what the ref is going to do. Many times this pause in action or lack of finishing mind set and improper training gives their opponent time to shake off the cob webs and recover and then get back into the fight. If you hurt a predator in a street altercation and don’t escape or move in immediately to neutralize them than this could be the last thing you ever do.

 This can be extremely problematic when protecting loved ones, or dealing with multiple opponent scenarios, or unexpected attacks (unplanned multiple opponent scenarios; when you are beating up your opponent and taking your time about it, and his friends decide to jump in because you’re too busy FIGHTING and therefore not paying attention to your surroundings or environment, and they are tired of seeing you dominate their buddy).  You do not have to be any more violent or brutal than necessary, and to do so would be a compromise in morality, and would legally constitute an assault (even if you were attacked first) and violate any potential to legally protect yourself from prosecution and civil consequences.  However, being decisive and DOING WHATEVER IS NECESSARY to end the altercation as swiftly and efficiently as possible is acceptable; BUT DO NO MORE.

 PART 1, CONTROLED:

What does it mean to be in control in any combative situation?  You can only control certain aspects of a combative encounter.  Only focus on those things you can control, and nothing else.  In a combative scenario you should take control of the timing, distance & special awareness.  This area of control begins and ends with your level of mobility, which is of primary importance, and crucial for anyone studying any combative art.

 If you can’t move, you can’t fight.  You should also be in total control of yourself, your emotional and physical reactions to stimuli (stimuli could be the attack on you causing you anger; the attack causing you fear; the attack causing you pain; feeling overconfident about the odds, or the type of physical response you’re mentally prepared to initiate; or the attack causing you emotions you weren’t prepared to deal with when you actually see a loved one get hurt and attacked, or just threatened), and thereby unable to control the outcome of the confrontation. 

Finally, while you may not be able to control the environment in which the confrontation takes place (even ring or sport combat can have mushy or extra-soft or too stiff matting, and ropes or fencing that is too rough, too soft, to loose, or too hard), you can adjust your timing, distancing, and thinking to account for the environmental issues.  And you potentially should be able to use the environment (whatever it may be) to your advantage, and even as a weapon against your opponent.  Remember, the samurai were so deadly because of their control.  Kenjutsu requires total patience and control.  Samurai would wait until the last possible moment, setting up the perfect attack, showing no emotions, seemingly unprepared to defend or attack, and then launch a deadly, impossibly fast, killing strike.  The samurai were the epitome of control as discussed above.

See part 2 for Focused & Fury.

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Grant Bacon is Head Instructor and Co-Founder of The Truth in Combat Method and Delaware Combat University. He is a Certified Level II PFS Jeet Kune Do Concepts and Filipino Kali Instructor. Grant has many years of grappling, weapons & amature MMA fighting experience.