A Review of the 2006 San Francisco/Sacramento Rick Clark Seminar
On Oct. 20, 2006 Rick Clark arrived in San Francisco. Since was arriving early Friday afternoon he had agreed to do a private class for my students at my school.
The class started with a lecture where Prof. Clark discussed the pros and cons of using vital point striking in an actual life and death altercation. He discussed the controversy over whether or not vitals were possible to hit on a moving target. While Prof. Clark readily admits it takes a lot of accuracy to hit vital points on a moving target, his rebuttal is that not every part of attacker’s body is moving during every phase of an attack. For example, when a person is grabbed the attacking arm is static and a fairly easy target for vital point striking. Or, when a person is kicking with one leg, the other leg is static.
He then told us about a new concept he has been using to describe the advantages of utilizing vital points in various techniques. He has started using the term "force multiplier." Basically, this is a military term that he uses to explain how vital points can enhance other techniques: if an arm lock is effective, applying that arm-lock with the addition of vital points increases the force and lethality of the technique. The way he described things made a lot of sense.
After the lecture, Prof. Clark then showed us various techniques, which utilized vital points to make techniques more effective.
Among the techniques he taught were several variations of thumb locks. Unlike the straightforward method where one grabs his opponent’s thumb and bends it backwards, these thumb locks were done by rotating the wrist is specific directions such that the thumb was in a position where the slightest pressure would cause discomfort/pain.
Now, these thumb locks were nothing new to me, but it’s the first time I actually understood—consciously became aware of—what I’ve been doing all these years. In this case, Prof. Clark made me more conscious of how my techniques work, which in the long run will help me to execute and teach them better.
The most interesting technique of the evening was a counter to the technique called Ni-kyu. Now, in my 30 plus years of doing martial arts I have been taught and/or discovered about 67 different ways to apply/counter ni-kyu. However, this variation was a new one for me, and so easy I can’t believe I hadn’t discovered it long ago.
Not only was this counter to ni-kyu simple, but within moments I came up with three new variations I can apply from it. That brings my total to over 70 ways to apply/counter ni-kyu.
Now before I go on, I should mention that I was very worried about how this weekend would go. Not because I was worried about what Prof. Clark would teach, he always teaches an excellent seminar, but because so few people had pre-registered. I told Spencer several times that I was worried I would lose money on this venture. This fact kept bugging me until Spencer said I wasn’t doing this seminar for others, I was just bringing Prof. Clark here because I wanted to learn form him.
You know that is so true. I firmly believe that if one can walk away from a seminar with one or two new techniques, concepts, or theories, then one’s time and money was well spent.
So, worry as I might about breaking even financially, I clearly got my money's worth on day one.
Approximately 15 people showed up for Saturday’s class. The group was small, but this worked out well since it allowed for a lot of individual instruction and time for specific questions to be addressed.
One of the things I like, and really respect, about Prof. Clark is his openness to answering questions. He shares information clearly, openly, and often with a sense of humor that tends to keep things very relaxed.
Prof. Clark is also open to discussing new ideas and discovering what other people have to offer on the topics brought up during the seminar. In other words, if someone can answer a question better than he can, he has no problem letting him or her take the floor. This “lack of ego” is refreshing in the martial arts, and once again I proved my belief that one can learn from just about anyone no matter what their skill level may be. I mean isn’t there a saying…’Out of the mouth of babes come the darndest things?”
Saturday’s seminar started basically the same as the private class Prof. Clark had done for my students. After that basic introduction came the techniques and the daylong application of painful locks and pressure points.
The techniques we worked on ranged from the various thumbs locks we had worked on the previous night to vital point location and activation. We also practiced various defensive vital point striking techniques that can be used to set up and enhance the joint locks already done in most martial art systems.
Saturday was a day full of pain, laughter, hard work, and some very interesting techniques and concepts. There was a lot of material to think over and work on for some time to come.
While Prof. Clark covered the same basic information he covered on Saturday, we ended up doing a lot more variations. This made the class very interesting for those of us now on our third day of training and let the other people in attendance see just how vast and varied these techniques can be.
Even my wife, Shirly, joined in. She took a lot of pleasure trying the techniques out on me. A warning to all you martial artists out there: beware of training with your wife/girlfriend, especially if she doesn’t normally practice martial arts. Like the saying goes, “A little knowledge can be a dangerous thing.” My poor wrist will never be the same.
Of course, my wife’s participation just shows that Prof. Clark has something to offer anyone no matter what his or her experience level happens to be.
It’s been four days since Prof. Clark left, and my body is just returning to normal. The bruises are almost gone—or at least they are now a lesser shade of pale green.
The consensus among my students and other attendees who offered feedback was that Prof. Clark’s seminar was very valuable. It helped them understand what vital point striking was all about, and how to apply it in their respective martial arts.
As for me, I learned, relearned, and came away with new ideas and concepts to explore. More importantly, I had the chance to spend a lot of time with Prof. Clark and really get to know him. We share a lot of things in common, especially our views regarding martial arts training, and seeking out new information that will make us better practitioners.
I’m planning on bring Prof. Clark out again in June or July of 2006, and I hope at that time to learn a lot more. I’m also hopeful that many of those who attended this past weekend will tell their friends about their experience and that we have a lot more people come and train with us.
The class started with a lecture where Prof. Clark discussed the pros and cons of using vital point striking in an actual life and death altercation. He discussed the controversy over whether or not vitals were possible to hit on a moving target. While Prof. Clark readily admits it takes a lot of accuracy to hit vital points on a moving target, his rebuttal is that not every part of attacker’s body is moving during every phase of an attack. For example, when a person is grabbed the attacking arm is static and a fairly easy target for vital point striking. Or, when a person is kicking with one leg, the other leg is static.
He then told us about a new concept he has been using to describe the advantages of utilizing vital points in various techniques. He has started using the term "force multiplier." Basically, this is a military term that he uses to explain how vital points can enhance other techniques: if an arm lock is effective, applying that arm-lock with the addition of vital points increases the force and lethality of the technique. The way he described things made a lot of sense.
After the lecture, Prof. Clark then showed us various techniques, which utilized vital points to make techniques more effective.
Among the techniques he taught were several variations of thumb locks. Unlike the straightforward method where one grabs his opponent’s thumb and bends it backwards, these thumb locks were done by rotating the wrist is specific directions such that the thumb was in a position where the slightest pressure would cause discomfort/pain.
Now, these thumb locks were nothing new to me, but it’s the first time I actually understood—consciously became aware of—what I’ve been doing all these years. In this case, Prof. Clark made me more conscious of how my techniques work, which in the long run will help me to execute and teach them better.
The most interesting technique of the evening was a counter to the technique called Ni-kyu. Now, in my 30 plus years of doing martial arts I have been taught and/or discovered about 67 different ways to apply/counter ni-kyu. However, this variation was a new one for me, and so easy I can’t believe I hadn’t discovered it long ago.
Not only was this counter to ni-kyu simple, but within moments I came up with three new variations I can apply from it. That brings my total to over 70 ways to apply/counter ni-kyu.
Now before I go on, I should mention that I was very worried about how this weekend would go. Not because I was worried about what Prof. Clark would teach, he always teaches an excellent seminar, but because so few people had pre-registered. I told Spencer several times that I was worried I would lose money on this venture. This fact kept bugging me until Spencer said I wasn’t doing this seminar for others, I was just bringing Prof. Clark here because I wanted to learn form him.
You know that is so true. I firmly believe that if one can walk away from a seminar with one or two new techniques, concepts, or theories, then one’s time and money was well spent.
So, worry as I might about breaking even financially, I clearly got my money's worth on day one.
Saturday October 21, 2006 – San Francisco
Approximately 15 people showed up for Saturday’s class. The group was small, but this worked out well since it allowed for a lot of individual instruction and time for specific questions to be addressed.
One of the things I like, and really respect, about Prof. Clark is his openness to answering questions. He shares information clearly, openly, and often with a sense of humor that tends to keep things very relaxed.
Prof. Clark is also open to discussing new ideas and discovering what other people have to offer on the topics brought up during the seminar. In other words, if someone can answer a question better than he can, he has no problem letting him or her take the floor. This “lack of ego” is refreshing in the martial arts, and once again I proved my belief that one can learn from just about anyone no matter what their skill level may be. I mean isn’t there a saying…’Out of the mouth of babes come the darndest things?”
Saturday’s seminar started basically the same as the private class Prof. Clark had done for my students. After that basic introduction came the techniques and the daylong application of painful locks and pressure points.
 |  |
The techniques we worked on ranged from the various thumbs locks we had worked on the previous night to vital point location and activation. We also practiced various defensive vital point striking techniques that can be used to set up and enhance the joint locks already done in most martial art systems.
 |  |
Saturday was a day full of pain, laughter, hard work, and some very interesting techniques and concepts. There was a lot of material to think over and work on for some time to come.
Sunday October 22, 2006 – Sacramento
About 12 people showed for the Sacramento seminar. Like Saturday this small group led to a lot of one on one instruction, as well as addressing questions brought up during various techniques.While Prof. Clark covered the same basic information he covered on Saturday, we ended up doing a lot more variations. This made the class very interesting for those of us now on our third day of training and let the other people in attendance see just how vast and varied these techniques can be.
Even my wife, Shirly, joined in. She took a lot of pleasure trying the techniques out on me. A warning to all you martial artists out there: beware of training with your wife/girlfriend, especially if she doesn’t normally practice martial arts. Like the saying goes, “A little knowledge can be a dangerous thing.” My poor wrist will never be the same.
Of course, my wife’s participation just shows that Prof. Clark has something to offer anyone no matter what his or her experience level happens to be.
The consensus among my students and other attendees who offered feedback was that Prof. Clark’s seminar was very valuable. It helped them understand what vital point striking was all about, and how to apply it in their respective martial arts.
As for me, I learned, relearned, and came away with new ideas and concepts to explore. More importantly, I had the chance to spend a lot of time with Prof. Clark and really get to know him. We share a lot of things in common, especially our views regarding martial arts training, and seeking out new information that will make us better practitioners.
I’m planning on bring Prof. Clark out again in June or July of 2006, and I hope at that time to learn a lot more. I’m also hopeful that many of those who attended this past weekend will tell their friends about their experience and that we have a lot more people come and train with us.
Labels: Seminars, Vital Points
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