Dear MBC alumni (or future alumni):
I've received a number of requests for intensive training events that go beyond the normal MBC schedule to help MBC alumni refresh and further develop their skills. Right now, I'm investigating the idea of a 3-day camp at a scenic location in the Rocky Mountains around this time next year. The plan is to have lodging and meals included in the price to make the logistics as easy as possible. Other amenities (like swimming pools, hot tubs, etc.) are also targeted for inclusion in the package.
Is anyone interested in this and, if so, what types of things would you like to see there? What would you consider a fair price? Please provide your comments and suggestions and I'll do my best to make it happen.
Thanks in advance.
Stay safe,
mike j
Anyone Interested in an MBC Alumni Gathering?
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Michael Janich
- Member
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- Joined: Fri Sep 24, 2004 10:33 am
- Location: Longmont, CO USA
- Contact:
Mike, you can count me in. The Rockies would an outstanding backdrop for this gathering. How much? $400-$600. Ideas on what I'd like to do besides normal MBC stuff: Some new skill building drills (i.e. hubud variations, kali thrusting triangle, etc.); CBC empty hand type stuff; improvised weapons; maybe even some FMA and/or Silat techniques.
YES!!!
Cost: 3 days with room & broad $400-$600 (I'm with RPierce)
Training Blocks (2 hours) each with a different topic.
Some topics outside of knife work: Stick, Locks, Controlling the elbow, CBC, Empty Hand.
Maybe a few blocks/hours of guest instruction. Keating, Worden, McCann.
The opportunity to buy a Special Yojimbo (folding Ronin) with "MBC Camp 2003" on the blade, Limited number (pre-orders).
Gavin
Cost: 3 days with room & broad $400-$600 (I'm with RPierce)
Training Blocks (2 hours) each with a different topic.
Some topics outside of knife work: Stick, Locks, Controlling the elbow, CBC, Empty Hand.
Maybe a few blocks/hours of guest instruction. Keating, Worden, McCann.
The opportunity to buy a Special Yojimbo (folding Ronin) with "MBC Camp 2003" on the blade, Limited number (pre-orders).
Gavin
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Tom Christy
- Member
- Posts: 4
- Joined: Fri Sep 24, 2004 10:33 am
- Location: Aurora, CO USA
Count me in. I think that $400-600 sounds right for three days of training. You mentioned on Sunday that it would be open to folks who had completed level 2, so it would obviously have to have blocks of material covering levels 3 & 4. This would give the "newbies" a chance to learn more advanced material as well as allow people who have already taken 3 & 4 to knock the rust off. Given that the CBC material wasn't in this last 3/4 class, I'd love to see it covered as well. Also, a chance to actually play with the grappling stuff you demonstrated would be fantastic. Lastly, Porkman for everybody!
Tom
Tom
I think an alumni camp is a great idea and you can count on my attendance. It would give everybody a chance to renew friendships and improve their skills.
A cost of $150 to $200 per day sounds pretty reasonable and if you are able to include lodging and meals in that price, it would be more than reasonable (it would be phenomenal). I would like to see the tuition charged on a per day basis. I realize that for those individuals with large travel costs, a 3 day event gives them more bang for their travel buck. But for some of us who are not as young as we used to be, 2 days are about all we can handle at one time. I was moving real slow on Monday after having a great time last weekend with MBC levels 3 & 4.
You might consider setting the alumni camp up in (2 to) 4 hour training blocks, where each block gives plenty of time to firmly embed that block's skill set into muscle memory. Training blocks might include: reverse grip drill transitions, standard grip drill transitions, speed stops applied during the drills, combat knife openings, knife against empty hand, improvised weapons, empty hand against empty hand, or anything you think would be valuable for us to learn. I don't think anybody can get too much practice transitioning from one drill to the next on the fly.
I very much like Tom Christy's idea of a Mr. Porkman for everyone. I think it would be very valuable for each participant to experience cutting flesh and seeing how their live blade(s) actually perform.
I also like Gavin's idea of having an engraved Alumni knife to commemorate the event. While I think a Yojimbo would be a fantastic commemorative knife; I realize the Ronin is more likely to fulfill that function and would be very happy to add an engraved Alumni Ronin to my knife collection.
A cost of $150 to $200 per day sounds pretty reasonable and if you are able to include lodging and meals in that price, it would be more than reasonable (it would be phenomenal). I would like to see the tuition charged on a per day basis. I realize that for those individuals with large travel costs, a 3 day event gives them more bang for their travel buck. But for some of us who are not as young as we used to be, 2 days are about all we can handle at one time. I was moving real slow on Monday after having a great time last weekend with MBC levels 3 & 4.
You might consider setting the alumni camp up in (2 to) 4 hour training blocks, where each block gives plenty of time to firmly embed that block's skill set into muscle memory. Training blocks might include: reverse grip drill transitions, standard grip drill transitions, speed stops applied during the drills, combat knife openings, knife against empty hand, improvised weapons, empty hand against empty hand, or anything you think would be valuable for us to learn. I don't think anybody can get too much practice transitioning from one drill to the next on the fly.
I very much like Tom Christy's idea of a Mr. Porkman for everyone. I think it would be very valuable for each participant to experience cutting flesh and seeing how their live blade(s) actually perform.
I also like Gavin's idea of having an engraved Alumni knife to commemorate the event. While I think a Yojimbo would be a fantastic commemorative knife; I realize the Ronin is more likely to fulfill that function and would be very happy to add an engraved Alumni Ronin to my knife collection.
Mike:
This sounds like a terrific idea. The price of approx.$200/day sounds good, too. As for content, whatever you want to cover - as far as I'm concerned, every day is holiday and every meals is a feast! You did mention having Mr. Keating in sometime - perhaps this would be a good event for that.
I can bring my own training dummy, but I'll need him in one piece so he can drive us home.
Be safe -
Ethan
This sounds like a terrific idea. The price of approx.$200/day sounds good, too. As for content, whatever you want to cover - as far as I'm concerned, every day is holiday and every meals is a feast! You did mention having Mr. Keating in sometime - perhaps this would be a good event for that.
I can bring my own training dummy, but I'll need him in one piece so he can drive us home.
Be safe -
Ethan
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Michael Janich
- Member
- Posts: 3289
- Joined: Fri Sep 24, 2004 10:33 am
- Location: Longmont, CO USA
- Contact:
To everyone:
Thanks for your input. It's a great help in trying to define the goals and format of the camp.
Matt and I are going to check out a potential location this coming Friday to see if the facilities and, just as importantly, the terms, work for our needs. I'll keep you posted as we get more information and the plans develop.
Thanks again for your interest. I'm confident that if we do this right, we can make it an awesome training experience.
Stay safe,
mike j
Thanks for your input. It's a great help in trying to define the goals and format of the camp.
Matt and I are going to check out a potential location this coming Friday to see if the facilities and, just as importantly, the terms, work for our needs. I'll keep you posted as we get more information and the plans develop.
Thanks again for your interest. I'm confident that if we do this right, we can make it an awesome training experience.
Stay safe,
mike j