System and Philosophy
Webster defines "PRAXIS" as-
(1) practice (practical application), as distinguished from and opposed to theory
(2) a set of examples or exercises
This is exactly what Team Praxis is all about.
Many traditional martial arts are rooted in theory with disregard for practical application. The concept behind Team Praxis is that we have discarded all theory and focused only on the practical application, and in turn, we have replaced the martial "art" with martial "science".
The entire concept behind every martial art was initially to exploit the weaknesses of the other arts and each one was constantly evolving. When the need for martial training came to an end most of the "arts" were frozen in time and continued to be taught in a static form devoid of "evolution" solely for the sake of posterity and tradition. Because the actual need for martial skill was nonexistent the techniques that made up these styles were never really put to the test in practical application and therefore the efficacy of the techniques turned into pure theoretical speculation.
In the early 1990s the Gracie family of Brazil brought their style of Brazillian Jiu-Jitsu to the United States. They had been practicing this style for the past century in "no holds barred" challenge matches all over South America and were undefeated against other styles. The Gracies claimed they had created the ultimate style and that it was superior to all other styles. History would prove this to be a fallacy over time as Brazillian Jiu-Jitsu would be exposed as being one dimensional and static in its own right. BJJ is a great "art" and is replete with very sound techniques but the Gracies did not invent the ultimate, unbeatable martial art... they merely jump started the evolutionary (revolution?) process that causes all "arts" to constantly evolve and adapt.
With this new "revolution" came an influx of training ideas, the most prolific one being that martial athletes need to "cross train", or train in multiple arts. The idea behind this was to produce a perfectly well-rounded fighter that had no weaknesses to exploit. He could punch, kick, and wrestle and was well versed in submissions. The only drawback to this was that the practitioners would become victims of what we call "compartmentalization". These guys had the right idea but were going about it the wrong way...
Techniques do not define an art, or "style". A "style" is defined by the strategy and training philosophy it employs. The same techniques can be found in jiu-jitsu, judo, and sambo but it is the strategies of each of these arts that sets them apart. They all have the same tools but the way they build their "structure" is ultimately different. When one studies a particular style for any length of time they become a slave to the strategy of that particular style and they then get locked into a certain frame of mind when competing. Submission grappling arts such as Brazillian Jiu-Jitsu are geared toward the strategy of taking the opponent down to the ground and submitting them via choke or joint lock. Striking styles such as Muay Thai are geared toward the strategy of wearing the opponent down with strikes and ultimately scoring the knockout. If one trains in styles such as these they will ultimately become a slave to each style's strategy over time.
The cross trainers' idea is to spend time studying an art such as Muay Thai for striking and BJJ for submission grappling. While they are learning the techniques of BJJ they are also having the BJJ strategy embedded in their psyche. The same is true when they are learning the Muay Thai techniques... they are also having the Muay Thai strategy imprinted upon them. These two styles (or strategies) are not intended to work together in conjunction. As a matter of fact, they are entirely opposite because each style is designed to exploit the weaknesses and shortcomings of the other!!! Unless the cross trainer makes a special effort to seek instruction or "step outside the box", so to speak, he will suffer major confusion and have problems with the transitional stages between the two strategies that he has been taught to follow. Small details such as change of stance, shifting of weight, etc. can cause a fighter to stutter during transitional periods and in the fight mere seconds can mean the difference between victory and defeat.
Training philosophy is also important in the formation of an efficient combat athlete. The traditional styles that have become the "styles of choice" of the competitive MMA crosstrainer are predominantly BJJ, wrestling, Muay Thai kickboxing and western boxing. The reason for this selectivity is apparent. These "styles", all self contained, have sporting aspects that allow their competitors to spar and compete at full speed. The benefits of being able to do this are self evident. Primarily the ability to judge the efficacy of the techniques is readily available when training "live" at full speed. This is in direct contrast to the training philosophies of many traditional martial arts schools that rely on performing kata, or prearranged dances, punching static targets and depending on the cooperation of a non-resisting opponent. Not only do these types of training practices rely on theory and blind faith in the efficacy of their techniques, they also build a false sense of confidence by deluding the practitioner into believeing that the techniques actually WILL work because either the instructor tells them it will or because they are told some tales of a 10th degree grandmaster that performed the same techniques on a mythical battlefield 1000 years ago with great success.
Training live is the ultimate litmus test for techniques and whether or not they will work when applied. The second benefit of being able to train "live" is conditioning, both physical and mental. Grueling physical training will prepare the student physically by preparing him to deal with being hit and actually hitting his opponent. One who has never been hit with ill intent will not perform very well once they ARE hit full force with malicious intent in a real confrontation. The student will have no idea HOW they will react when put in that situation. In adddition to the physical preparation, training "live" prepares the competitor to more readily deal and cope with things like stress, fear, and the adrenaline dump that accompanies a real confrontation. Kata and pre-arranged static drilling is very valuable for building muscle memory and developing fundamental mechanical skills but these practices must be done in conjunction with live training in order to develop true combat skills.
At Team Praxis, even though we have instructors that come from various disciplines, we do not teach multiple styles. We teach effective, high percentage techniques. We do not compartmentalize, meaning we do not teach a multitude of different strategies and then depend on the fighter to put them all together for himself while in the heat of battle to form a mish-mash hodge podge "style" that will be mediocre and wanting at best. Our instructors have done all the research and have weeded out all the low percentage techniques and made the modifications to the high percentage techniques to give the MMA fighter the tools that he needs to be successful. Everything is tested and nothing is left to theory. We have put it all together into one self contained "style" and we call that style Praxis. The strategy of our style is a simple one-exploit the weaknesses of your opponent.
Every fighter's style will be unique and ever evolving.
There are no superior styles or arts. Only the training philosophies and the way each individual approaches the subject matter will determine the efficacy of that individual's "style".
Take all ranges into consideration.
Techniques take precedence over styles or "arts".
Principles take precedence over techniques.
Burning Clean
When a jeweler refines a precious metal, or a common metalworker smelts iron ore, the process is most accurately deemed a cleaning. The goal of the process is to remove all of the impurities, leaving behind only that which is pure--only that which is of the highest value.
To refine most precious metals, workers use a smelting furnace that runs at about 1500� C (2732� F). This intense heat puts extreme stress on the metal, breaking it down to its barest component parts. Nothing is hidden. Nothing stays together. The metals are completely broken down for purification.
My life has been like that, and I would go so far as to guess that your's has, too. Those times when we have been most tried, most stressed, most challenged, most broken, have also been the times when we have grown the most. That which is childish, that which is foolish, that which is weak, that which is wrong...all these things are tested and found wanting when we go through the furnace. When we come through these times, we are stronger, more honest, more aware, more pure. We are burned clean. No gentle washing, no careful scrubbing could remove those weaknesses ingrained in our character. No amount of fervent polishing could remove the impurities bonded within our souls. Only trial, only adversity, only hardship can separate the gold from the dross.
When all is laid bare, when we are stretched thin, when we have no more secrets and nothing is hidden from view, the pain is almost unbearable. When we have no more illusions, no mask before the world, no false bravado or self-importance, we are shown for what we really are--and that is more than many can bear. But for those who can last through the pain, through the shame, through the honesty--there comes a strength and assurance. A peace and comfort that defies comprehension. A confidence and a hope that comes from knowing that you have been tested and that you have made it through. You are no longer who you were. You are pure. You are strong. You are refined.
-Matthew "El Toro Loco" Corsey
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