Since the announcement of the Spyderco MBC training program, we have received numerous questions concerning its curriculum. Although my hope is to soon have an MBC page on the Spyderco web site that would provide a comprehensive description of the program, for now I’d like to provide some insight via this post.
The MBC curriculum is a subset of my personal knife curriculum, which has its roots in the Filipino martial arts. This is the same core curriculum I have taught to my private students, through seminars, and at Gunsite’s Edged Weapons Symposium. This curriculum is based on the use of the knife as a self-defense tool and, like all responsible forms of self-defense, is intended to provide an effective means of stopping an unlawful attack. After extensive research into knife wounds and actual knife encounters, I’ve determined that the most effective method of achieving “stopping power” with a knife is through structural stops (what Bram Frank would term “biomechanical cutting”<img src="wink.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle> – an advanced form of the Filipino concept of “defanging the snake.” This tactic focuses almost exclusively on targeting an attacker’s limbs, making it a highly effective, yet humane and legally defensible form of self-defense.
My curriculum is also designed to be easily learned. The basic idea is to learn to recognize the basic forms of attack by categorizing them according to angles, learn a few basic techniques that work for all the angles, and then practice these techniques efficiently through targeted partner training drills. The basic system consists of 12 techniques that can be effectively used to defend against literally hundreds of different types of attacks.
Based on a recent meeting with Sal, we’ve determined that the MBC curriculum will consist of 4 levels (at least for now). Following are brief summaries of the contents and goals of each level.
LEVEL 1 – This course is designed to lay the foundation of effective defensive knife use. It focuses on establishing the basics and includes specific, hands-on instruction in the topics listed below. Tuition for this course includes a Spyderco Endura or Delica training knife (a $70.00 value).
-Martial knife grips that actually work in a fight
-The angles of attack
-Effective cutting and thrusting methods
-The “Zone Defense” system that enables a practitioner to effectively defend himself against hundreds of different attacks by mastering a few basic defensive movements.
-The use of natural body weapons in conjunction with the knife
-Reflex training drills – the most efficient and effective method of developing usable defensive skills.
-Inside tips on defensive knife selection and evaluation
-Tactical folding knife carry and deployment
-High-speed one-handed opening techniques
LEVEL 2 – This course picks up where Level 1 left off. After a brief review to refresh your memory, it continues your education in the defensive use of the knife. The focus of Level 2 is to develop more spontaneous defensive reflexes for all types of attack and introduce variations of the training drills. These variations allow training partners to make their practice very spontaneous and unpredictable, thus simulating the dynamics of a self-defense situation while still maintaining control and a safe training environment. Tuition for this course includes a Spyderco Endura or Delica live-blade knife. The topics of instruction for Level 2 include the following:
-Advanced training drills to develop conditioned defensive reflexes (including my variation of the “Sumbrada” Drill of the Filipino martial arts)
-Advanced combative applications
-Integration of striking and independent “live hand” checking into defensive knife use
-“Speed Stops” –high-speed, fight-stopping tactics that will enable you to quickly, humanely and legally end a fight with an edged weapon
-Combination cutting and the concept of cutting on retraction
-“Speed strips” and spontaneous weapon disarming using a knife
LEVEL 3 – The Level 3 course introduces the use of the reverse grip in defensive knife use. In Levels 1 and 2, almost all training is done in the standard (knife extending from the thumb side of the hand) grip. Reverse-grip (knife extending form the little-finger side of the hand) is a very close-quarters fighting method suitable for confined areas and against attacks from behind or by multiple attackers. It also translates well into improvised weapon use. The topics taught in this course include the following:
-Development of independent checking hand skills
-Reverse-Grip basics – cutting, thrusting, and indexing
-Reverse grip vs. standard grip, advantages and disadvantages
-Reverse-grip Six Count Drill
-Reverse-grip Sumbrada Drill
-Trap and Roll Drill
-Cover and Slash Drill
-Hooking and Redirecting – The Pallasoot Drill
-Defensive Applications of the Reverse Grip
-Speed Stops with the reverse grip
-Defending against attacks from the flanks and rear
-Applying the lessons of reverse grip to standard-grip tactics
-Empty-hand derivations of reverse-grip tactics
LEVEL 4 – This course is designed to put all the pieces together into a street-applicable system of self-defense. One of the primary focuses of this course is realistic weapon deployment skill. It is very unlikely that you will be attacked with an open knife already in your hand. As such, you must be able to respond with an initial empty-hand tactic that buys you time and distance to draw and deploy your knife. When combined with the knowledge learned in Levels 1-3, these tactics provide a complete, usable, edged-weapon self-defense system. They are also applicable to the deployment and use of any other type of legally carried weapon. The topics taught in this course include the following:
-Empty-hand threat management tactics
-Integrating empty-hand techniques with the draw
-Practical combat draws and openings
-Ballistic striking combined with the draw and opening
-Advanced reflex training drills for practicing combat draws (including the Filipino “Hubud” drill)
-Draws from disadvantaged positions
-Knife disarms with empty hands and improvised weapons
-Knife defenses from disadvantaged positions (mugging, grappling, carjacking)
-Putting it all together – Integrating your skills into a complete system
I hope this provides some insight into the MBC program and the specific elements of the instruction. At present, all courses are conducted at the Spyderco facility in Golden, CO. We have made an effort to offer back-to-back Level 1-2 and Level 3-4 classes to make it more convenient and cost effective for students traveling from other areas.
If you have any specific questions, please feel free to voice them on this forum. I’ll do my best to provide answers.
Thanks for your patience with this exceptionally long post.
mike j
Spyderco MBC Curriculum - A Detailed Look
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Michael Janich
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Michael Janich
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- Posts: 3029
- Joined: Fri Sep 24, 2004 10:33 am
- Location: Longmont, CO USA
- Contact:
One additional note...
Initially, we offered separate MBC classes for civilians and law enforcement officers/security professionals. Although much of the core curriculum was the same, the law enforcement classes focused on putting the knife into perspective within the officers' use-of-force continuum and its use as a potentially lethal survival tool in officer survival situations. I also taught my version of handgun retention tactics both with and without a knife in these classes.
Although the officers that attended these classes were very positive about the program, interest on the LEO side was not as high as on the civilian side. As such, we have decided to offer the law enforcement MBC program as a departmental or agency program rather than a course for individual officers. This program is available for on-site instruction and need not be conducted in Colorado.
Please contact Spyderco for more information.
Thanks.
mike j
Initially, we offered separate MBC classes for civilians and law enforcement officers/security professionals. Although much of the core curriculum was the same, the law enforcement classes focused on putting the knife into perspective within the officers' use-of-force continuum and its use as a potentially lethal survival tool in officer survival situations. I also taught my version of handgun retention tactics both with and without a knife in these classes.
Although the officers that attended these classes were very positive about the program, interest on the LEO side was not as high as on the civilian side. As such, we have decided to offer the law enforcement MBC program as a departmental or agency program rather than a course for individual officers. This program is available for on-site instruction and need not be conducted in Colorado.
Please contact Spyderco for more information.
Thanks.
mike j
Good morning,
in the early 90's, almost ten yrs ago, I found your combat tape (with Mr. Webb) and it has stayed a main focus of quality, practical, no fancy 'dojo only' stuff for me.
I look forward to a face to face but I am in the Denver area too late, I believe.
Could you address the question as to HOW you keep the content of class 3 and 4 from getting into the "art" of what you teach and not leave efficient self defense behind, (since my pov is that not all martial / blade "art" is practical when you are under attack)? I trust you have this covered?
The Fighting Old Man
in the early 90's, almost ten yrs ago, I found your combat tape (with Mr. Webb) and it has stayed a main focus of quality, practical, no fancy 'dojo only' stuff for me.
I look forward to a face to face but I am in the Denver area too late, I believe.
Could you address the question as to HOW you keep the content of class 3 and 4 from getting into the "art" of what you teach and not leave efficient self defense behind, (since my pov is that not all martial / blade "art" is practical when you are under attack)? I trust you have this covered?
The Fighting Old Man
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Michael Janich
- Member
- Posts: 3029
- Joined: Fri Sep 24, 2004 10:33 am
- Location: Longmont, CO USA
- Contact:
Dear Sochin:
Thank you for your comments. Compared to the presentation in my videos with Mr. Webb, my knife system has evolved quite a bit, but has not become more complex or artistic. The major advance that I've made has been the addition, then modification (some might say mutation), of Filipino flow drills like the Sumbrada drill. These drills allow both practitioners to practice spontaneous defenses against all five angles in a high-speed, adrenalized state - very much the condition you would be in on the street. I have found them to be the best way of developing perceptual speed and ingraining solid technique.
As for the content of levels 3 and 4, it is far from "art." Reverse grip tactics, although of limited use at long range, work extremely well up close and require a higher degree of commitment than standard grip. As such, they are quite "down and dirty." From a technique standpoint, the reverse grip indexes just the opposite of standard grip, bringing out a new set of body mechanics. With standard grip, the most natural actions are cutting down and thrusting up. Reverse grip is just the opposite - cutting up and thrusting down. When the lessons of reverse grip are applied back to standard grip and empty-hand fighting, they bring out the qualities of using the butt of the knife to strike and pass and the use of the elbows as striking tools. Reverse grip is also excellent training for improvised weapon use.
As for level 4, I believe that it contains the information missing from most other knife programs - how to go from your normal condition to blade out, ready to go (where most other programs start AND end). Without these skills and tactics, your only hope of using a knife in self-defense is to carry it constantly in your hand, waiting for a fight.
Based on the classes we have conducted thus far, the amount of information presented in each level has been ideally suited to an 8-hour course. I refuse to "drag out" the instruction or add things that are not directly applicable to self-defense.
I hope this answers your question. Thanks again for your interest.
mike j
Thank you for your comments. Compared to the presentation in my videos with Mr. Webb, my knife system has evolved quite a bit, but has not become more complex or artistic. The major advance that I've made has been the addition, then modification (some might say mutation), of Filipino flow drills like the Sumbrada drill. These drills allow both practitioners to practice spontaneous defenses against all five angles in a high-speed, adrenalized state - very much the condition you would be in on the street. I have found them to be the best way of developing perceptual speed and ingraining solid technique.
As for the content of levels 3 and 4, it is far from "art." Reverse grip tactics, although of limited use at long range, work extremely well up close and require a higher degree of commitment than standard grip. As such, they are quite "down and dirty." From a technique standpoint, the reverse grip indexes just the opposite of standard grip, bringing out a new set of body mechanics. With standard grip, the most natural actions are cutting down and thrusting up. Reverse grip is just the opposite - cutting up and thrusting down. When the lessons of reverse grip are applied back to standard grip and empty-hand fighting, they bring out the qualities of using the butt of the knife to strike and pass and the use of the elbows as striking tools. Reverse grip is also excellent training for improvised weapon use.
As for level 4, I believe that it contains the information missing from most other knife programs - how to go from your normal condition to blade out, ready to go (where most other programs start AND end). Without these skills and tactics, your only hope of using a knife in self-defense is to carry it constantly in your hand, waiting for a fight.
Based on the classes we have conducted thus far, the amount of information presented in each level has been ideally suited to an 8-hour course. I refuse to "drag out" the instruction or add things that are not directly applicable to self-defense.
I hope this answers your question. Thanks again for your interest.
mike j
I'm somehow missed this post..but Mike knows I'm sometimes headless...ROFL..
Mike's MBC curriculumn is one of the best programs to learn really "gross motor- skill defense" as well as immediate response under duress no matter what condition you are at..i.e. knife drawn or knife still pockted..or even NO knife available..
If you have not experienced him teaching this, words will not do Mike justice..The course itself, intellectually as written and then read back makes sense..but to participate in it..to physically feel it and respond will make you... or anyone appreciate the thoght that went into Mike's program..
It helps that a great course NEEDS a great teacher..again something that cannot possibly be appreciated UNTIL you are on the floor with Mike. He has the way of teaching, of imparting knowlege that is not learned..its what maks him special..his own innate ability to communicate what hes devolped!
As we train we do under duress or in real time..
Mike has eliminated the "fat" the extra "oh this looks good" type of stuff and the only things taught in the MBC classes are the usable, real self defense items!
Mike's MBC curriculumn is one of the best programs to learn really "gross motor- skill defense" as well as immediate response under duress no matter what condition you are at..i.e. knife drawn or knife still pockted..or even NO knife available..
If you have not experienced him teaching this, words will not do Mike justice..The course itself, intellectually as written and then read back makes sense..but to participate in it..to physically feel it and respond will make you... or anyone appreciate the thoght that went into Mike's program..
It helps that a great course NEEDS a great teacher..again something that cannot possibly be appreciated UNTIL you are on the floor with Mike. He has the way of teaching, of imparting knowlege that is not learned..its what maks him special..his own innate ability to communicate what hes devolped!
As we train we do under duress or in real time..
Mike has eliminated the "fat" the extra "oh this looks good" type of stuff and the only things taught in the MBC classes are the usable, real self defense items!