Hello North, You posted, “I recall thinking it was absurd to believe he could have any real skill after only 6 months. Then I thought, well, what has he been doing for 6 months? Maybe he logs 12 hours a day? Maybe he is cross training 4 styles and having professionals pick the techniques that he is allowed to use in the octagon.” There is also this fact to consider. Military personnel often learn with time restraints. As well, there are “Reality Base Self Defense” courses like “Model Mugging”. I have heard that some of these are actually quite good. In any event, as you have said, the idea is sound enough. Take a fit, aggressive and competitive person. Teach them a few moves and have them practice a lot over a short period of time. I once knew a military investigator who was trained in just this way. He was called upon to use his training and he lived (although his knife wielding attacker did not). You posted, “I grew up fighting. I wasn't trained yet I was in many many fights. I was respected my alot of my schoolmates and people in nearby schools because I was always willing to fight and always came out on top.” I didn’t. I was not one to fight when I was a kid. I actually had to get smacked around as a bit before I finally got it through my noggin that if I stepped back the first time and then I would be willing to fight, the bad guys would leave me alone more often than not. You posted, “Respect even the completely untrained attacker because he is probibly the one who is most likely to pull some oddball attack you haven't considered.” Ya, ain’t that the truth! Regards, MrE2Me2

Yes no question it's the individual that makes the difference and desire is a big part of that. If you have the desire you can be great at anything. The style is the expression of the individual it's how a painter paints, how a musician makes music. If your a have the desire and some talent you will make great music. So do I believe the individual is more important than the system they train, absolutely! A good system helps a lot, better to have a Stradivarius instead of a kazoo. To answer your earlier question I'm not familiar with what Tony Blair teaches outside of Labour party politics. Yes, I did train with Tony Blauer many years ago. Back then his system was called Chu Fen Do and was tuned specifically for self-defence and only that. His system has evolved a lot over the years now and has some kind of tactical system name, but I believe the foundation is the same.

Hello Current Student, You posted, “So do I believe the individual is more important than the system they train, absolutely! A good system helps a lot, better to have a Stradivarius instead of a kazoo.” Yes, that can often be the case. The person makes the difference but the system is of real importance too. When I was a beginner; my enthusiasm carried me for a long way. Eventually I ran into some other really good teachers (of the same system) who were technically and tactically superior to those I had trained with previously. It was then that I found out that merely having a willingness to engage (by itself) was not enough. I had to have the skill that went with it too. You posted, “I'm not familiar with what Tony Blair teaches outside of Labour party politics.” L.O.L.! I make one little spelling mistake and I’ll never hear the end of it. :-D Regards, MrE2Me2