SDF and BCA

Joined : 23 Jan 2008 Posts : 15

Hi,

What is the syllabus structure in the SDF in comparison with the BCA and in what way do the organizations differentiate ?

Regards

Dave

Subject: Re: SDF and BCA Fri Apr 18, 2008 11:59 am

Hi Dave .. wow this might take a while mate..and perhaps I am not the best person to answer, although I was a senior instructor in the BCA prior to starting the SDF in 2000

Second bit first ... there are not TOO many differences per se.... however I believe we are unique in our Instructors Diploma Courses ... We also have seminars devoted to even street talking, body language etc...as well as all the usual other aspects...

The BCA mainly have seminars every few months but no real 'club' structure as such.. (not always a bad thing) .. the SDF strives to get anyone from any background to learn how best to devote their individual styles for street use.

Geoff and Peter both having Karate backgounds use less of the combat grappling methods, although many of their members are very good.. I know Geoff dioes do a lot of grappling having been to wrestling clubs, Judo with Neil Adams, and several years training under myself in various Ju-Jutsus and combat grappling methods. however there is still a greater emphasis on the pre-emptive strike and the Fence than I teach (although I dont neglect those aspects)
I teach both those methods as well as the Guard .. however I differ in my approach to attack scenarios, and probably do more with everyday articles as weapons etc. Also because Geoff and Peter have longer 'door experience'than me a great deal of their attack scenarios are done 'face off' style.. we train in cars.. at tables etc.. a lot of everyday scenarios, such as shopping etc.. we try to train in situations that may occur the most on the street.. because of this we have a lot of training against more than one attacker, odd angles of attack etc.

I must be honest and say that Geoff and Peters backgrounds and reputations are higher than mine, even though Geoff sought me out to teach him and his higher graded students for a while.. ( a few short years)

They are both highly skilled individuals with years of experience and highly motivated as well as being very straight and honest.. The BCA is a very well run organsation. My admin is not as good a Peter's for example , and I know it.

Not sure how the syallbus structure runs these days in the BCA as I left in 2000.. however in the SDF we have a couple of syllabus options available.

There is the SDF Self-Defence System, which for want of a better term is just my original Goshinkwai Combat System slightly modified and renamed.

We do not use Gi's nor Oriental termanology in anything unless there is a reason.. (i.e. a translation)

Grades are available in SDF from white belt to 6th Dan FOR THOSE WHO WANT IT.. nothing is compulsary.

However grades are also available in other arts due to our plethora of high graded instructors in them .. from traditional to eclectic.. we also have a system which allows individuals to have their own styles acknowledged provided they meet some pretty stringent criteria. I have only allowed FOUR in 8 years..

For those whose paths are not traditional and follow self-protection and self-defence as well as personal safety skills, we have diploma courses that qualify members to teach various methods.. from pure ladies self-defence to Kids self-defence.. Corporate teaching of threat evaluation... conflict management.. specialised instruction for small groups on short term courses.. such as a 10 week course for ladies SD etc..

people can learn and be graded and/or qualified in most aspect sof self-defence and combat arts, and can ADD to their own skill base without having to drop what they already do.. so for example a 3rd Dan Kickboxer could add some street combat grappling without having to stop his kickboxing and thus increase his own skill base.

both the BCA and the SDF are nationwide, although there are a couple of areas the SDF hasnt landed in yet.. we have Reps and Instructors as far north as the Shetlands and down to Cornwall, most major cities have SDF people in or near.. London, Manchester, Midlands, The North East, Ireland Wales, Scotland etc, as indeed do the BCA..

I believe we both have many aspects similar to each other with a couple of 'extras' either way.....we both lean towards reality as opposed to being TOO traditional.. many SDF members compete in various competitions having produced national and international champs in K1, MMA etc

I for one am not concerned with being 'better' than the BCA and I am sure Geoff and Peter feel that way about the SDF.. we respect each other and co-exist well.. I dont think we have had a single bad word since I left, and no reason why we should have done... there's room for both of us after all
not sure what else you need to know mate ,, but if its about the SDF just ask and I'll do what I can to answer

Joined : 23 Jan 2008 Posts : 15

Hi Dave,

Thanks for a long and insightful reply. Going from Geoff Thompson's books/dvds and Peter Consterdine's there is not set 'syllabus' as I understand, rather techniques and drills for a individual to incorporate into their own syllabus. I'm not sure about the details here, but I did read somewhere that Geoff Thompson was offering teaching in his 'self defence' system for £1,000 for ten days. Regarding Peter Consterdine his syllabus, as I see it is contained within his books and dvds as well as his seminars .You could say that Geoff and Peter's teaching is geared towards door work confrontations, and as you say "greater emphasis on the pre-emptive strike and the Fence". I know that Peter Consterdine places emphasis on Power, Speed and Aggression as well as transfer of body weight through dynamics such as the 'double hip' strike from short range distances . I have not seen any material by Peter that deals with grappling and ground , maybe it's a situation that he makes sure he will never be in. Geoff on the other hand covers grappling and ground fighting as when it goes 'physical' things might just go wrong. I believe he got this from yourself "The What If" factor, what if your pre-emptive strike does not knock him out and he grapples with you and both of you go to the ground, what do you do then .Can you explain more about the SDF Self-Defence System syllabus and the contents of the SDF Instructor Diploma Course ?

Best Regards

Dave

Subject: Re: SDF and BCA Mon Apr 21, 2008 1:42 am

Thanks Dave

OK .. The actual SDF System syllabus runs in a similar way to more traditional martial arts gradings in that we have coloured 'belts' (although few actually WEAR the belts)

A grading is run on 2 sections for the 'coloured' belts..
section 1 is the 'demonstrations' of their abilities via more or less set attacks.. although these are only set exactly for the first 2 grades, such a righthand swinging punch attach ... and they are catagorised for the others.. i.e. striking attacks, grabbing attacks, weapon attacks and so on, so the 'attackers' cam do whatever they want given the catagory.

Black Belt gradings are genuinley tough, ask any one who has taken one.. Peter Consterdine once saw a couple and wrote in a mag .. "Dave's black belt gradings range from severe to near fatal"

Pressure is everything.. all atttacks on the 'free attack' section are just that.. the attackers come in with what they want.. and applicants must both standing spar and ground grapple spar with at east 8 opponents one after the other.

the last 2-4 minutes include the 'beasting session' where all (ALL) the attackers pounce on the candidate at once.. often 6-8 of them. they push, pull slap, punch, drag, dump whatever on the single candidate, a kind of ref allows them to get to their feet if they are doing nothing under the pile, but it starts again instantly..and only stops when the grading officers are happy

you cant defend or win, but you HAVE to keep fighting and trying..

for the lower grades pressure is moderated to suit the grade....
in the early stages its simply not knowing how many actual defences will have to be performed.. rather than say 6 attacks .. in later grades if a throw or takedown or standing hold etc isnt on, then the attackers are allowed to counter

The grading officers give 'points' for each 'defence' or move.. the points are added up and a set percentage for each grade has to be reached..

defences are totally in the hands of the candidate... no set ones required, they defend as they see fit.. so someone with a more impact based art may do more strikes.. grapplers more grappling and so on.. the grading officers may ask certain restrictions or requests.. such as "Must finish with a choke".. or NO Kicks on this one" etc

anyway Diplomas.. we have SIX instructors diploma courses each covering a specific aspect
1. Basic Self-defence instructors award
2. basic ladies SD award
3. Adverse and multiple attackers (adverse meaning anything other than standing facing your attacker/s)
4 Advanced ladies .. including date rape, drug rape, sexual assaults, domestic violence etc
5. Street weapons SD diploma
6. Children and teenagers SD diploma

each diploma last about 3-4 hours and is a mixture of lecture/discussion and practical work, with a greater percentage of lecture/discussion work
applicants must possess certain criteria to apply, not everyone is accepted, though most are/

You are being taught to TEACH not perform, so teaching methods are emphasised greatly with 'group' practice of each candidate having a turn at teaching the rest of their group.. usually 3-4 in each group.

on the succesful completion of each diploma course the new instructor is issued with a diploma and is given authority through the SDF to start instructing under our banner..... but ONLY at the levels they have achieved..

Everyone HAS to start with the level 1 basic award, but then can apply for all or any of the others as they see fit.. so someone working with kids will only need level 1 and level 6.. others may want all SIX which then allows them to take the SEVENTH which is the Masters award and if successful allows them to be an assessor in their own right.

these are NOT black belts, they are diplomas in certain aspects of SD and SP
holding one doesnt allow you to grade or turn others into instructors. merely to teach under our banner..

hope that helps a bit mate

Admin Joined : 16 Aug 2007 Posts : 232