Tag Archives: Basque Boot

Basque Strength

Paulino Uzcudun, 1920s and 30s heavyweight known as “The Basque Woodchopper” as he used to enter traditional wood-chopping competitions in his native Regil, Spain. I learnt a little bit of Savate from that region, totally different outlook from the Paris crowd.

The Balance of Contact in Bare-Knuckle Training

Scuffing within our KORA system means working on bare-knuckle striking. Experience has taught our group that there has to be a balance between contact and repartition to avoid long term damage to the hands, wrists, elbows, shoulders and neck. Over the years, I have seen people, even pros, overdo it, and the results have alwaysContinue reading “The Balance of Contact in Bare-Knuckle Training”

Research Journey

In 1986 I attended a seminar with Guro Dan Inosanto partly because I wanted to meet him again and partly because I was bored with martial arts. My previous experience was mainly around boxing, fencing and Muay Thai with some grappling (Judo/Wresting) and a small amount of what we would call Combatives today. Mainly sportContinue reading “Research Journey”

Unlocking Savate: Mastering Boot Kicks for Combat

Savate offers many advantages and options to the martial artist, including control of range, timing, and unusual angles, contributing to its deceptive approach to combat. A key difference from other arts is how the boot or shoe is used in combat to supercharge techniques. I was a Muay Thai player from the early eighties, whichContinue reading “Unlocking Savate: Mastering Boot Kicks for Combat”

Basque Boot

In the mid-eighties, I had a French training partner, and in between Muay Thai classes, we worked out privately in a local French restaurant. We would clear away some tables and mostly worked on our Boxing and Muay Thai fight preparation. Fred was a great training partner, powerful and an excellent boxer and fighter.  DuringContinue reading “Basque Boot”

2019 The KORA Research Group Update

I receive quite a few private messages regarding my research group’s nature, and I want to take some time to clarify a few details.   When I retired from public teaching in 2005, after over twenty years of serving my community, I closed my school called the Primal Focus Gym, which covered my MMA orContinue reading “2019 The KORA Research Group Update”