Self-defence techniques to keep you safe at home

MBOMBELA – RGLC has taken the initiative to train security companies. “It is suited to their industry in that their objectives, through their training, would be to neutralise the immediate threat, retain their weapon, gain positional advantage and control or submit their opponent,” said Craig McFayden from RGLC.

Divergent Ops was the first company it approached. Thereafter it will be approaching the larger security businesses in the Lowveld.

“We worked specifically on taking an opponent to the ground from the clinch situation, then positional control on the ground. We then moved them to a ‘bad’ position and taught them one escape, one sweep or reversal and two submissions from that position. We finished off by giving them some gloves and letting them practise what they had learnt but under the pressure of strikes, which is a big factor to consider.

“We will be doing two sessions a week for a month, hopefully they continue their training thereafter to keep sharp. One of the basic positions are guard, where an opponent is between your locked legs, we use this position a lot when teaching rape defence and our students learn many attacks and sweeps from their back. We teach control and striking from side mount, which is when you are pressuring your opponent from their side. We then teach the transition into mount, which is a very dominant position with you on top of your opponent, and the eventual transition to taking an opponent’s back when he inevitably turns under the mount. The back is a very good position and opens the door for many attacks and chokes, the most common being the rear naked choke or ‘lion killer’ as it is known in Brazil.”

Private security firms are prolific and often play a big role fighting crime. RGLC is giving these free, month-long training seminars to improve unarmed combat skills and thereby assist in keeping them safe, allowing them to perform at their best when serving the community. In addition, McFayden hopes that some of the people they train, will fall in love with martial arts and join the club to grow the sport.

“We are very passionate about our sport, Lourens Botes is a professional mixed martial arts fighter (MMA) and we both still compete in Brazilian Jiu JItsu (BJJ) around the country, as do some of our students. From fitness to sport combat to effective self-defence, we have an open door for anybody to join.”

McFayden started with MMA several years ago to get fit and it developed into a lifestyle for him. He ended up competing in MMA and numerous BJJ events, as well as being co-owner of the RGLC with Botes.

“I have become fanatical about BJJ. It is, in my opinion, the most effective all-round fighting style, as it teaches you to neutralise threats from a standing position but with a big focus on ground fighting which is foreign to many people.”

Any interested students or companies can view Facebook, Rio Grappling Club Lowveld, alternatively they can contact Craig McFayden on 082-459-5898 or Lourens Botes on 082-779-7419.