# Friday Recommendation #5 - Link: https://brianejohns.com/2021/03/26/blog-friday-recommendation-5/ - Published: 2021-03-26T10:00:00-04:00 - Author: Brian Johns If you are not able to view this video, click [here](https://youtu.be/DA-xbHRKSGM). Sensei Jesse Enkamp and [MMA Coach Ramsey Dewey](https://brianejohns.com/2023/07/14/friday-recommendation-13/) pack quite a bit into this 10-minute discussion. The exchange between the two veers away from the video’s title. For this post, I’d like to focus on the last half of the video, which touches on pressure testing. The theme is questioning or testing the material that you are learning. In particular, Coach Ramsey discussed an experience where he tested a self-defence technique recommended on a YouTube Channel. It did not work. As Sensei Jesse points out, many traditional martial arts fail to pressure test their techniques. I agree with this assessment. Many of us _assume_ that the techniques will work. In this regard, I am guilty as charged! With this in mind, I introduced variable resistance into my classes and private lessons a few years ago. The senior partner would usually vary the amount of resistance depending on their partner’s skill level. Compliant training is great for learning the basic building blocks of an art. But, at some point, resistance and non-compliance need to be introduced. I allude to this idea in the below video: If you are not able to view this video, click [here](https://youtu.be/UCceF4wM9zs). What happens if you encounter resistance? You have to find a way to deal with that resistance. Not everyone is going to be compliant. To this extent, I have instructed students to mix it up, resistance-wise, with their training partners. As I have told my students many times, the problem with compliant training is that we go on auto-pilot, which does not meet the reality test. ## I apply the same concept to 󠀁[my flow drills](https://brianejohns.com//2016/10/04/blog-flow-drills-vs-techniques/)󠁿. We’ll start with the compliant version. Once the students have them memorized, I will introduce resistance and non-compliance. One problem that I have found with counter-to-counter play is that it is almost entirely premised on compliance. Yes, you can learn many things from playing with counters. But once you encounter resistance, many counters are difficult to execute. By working with resistance, my students learn to counter that. Because of this, I have changed my teaching to emphasize sensitivity before teaching counters. With all that said, I think that pressure testing is a good idea. It’s not for everyone. Many enjoy martial arts for different reasons. In any case, I have done some free play with various students. Now, there are parameters with the free play that we do. No protection, no hitting, and TONS of control. See the below video: If you are not able to view this video, click [here](https://youtu.be/CdOYOjwbhBs). ## I have done similar sessions with several students. What have I learned from these pressure-testing sessions? 1. Not every counter works. In theory, there is supposed to be a counter for every move. In theory……… yes. The reality is that the counter either is not timely or fails. In short, counters fail A LOT. 2. Your partner will often move in ways they never did in dojo training, throwing you off. For example, one student would initiate the action with a “T-rex” feed. He never did that before the pressure testing session, probably due to stress. That seriously threw me off. Most of the time, my counter worked—just barely. A couple of times, it completely failed and left me wide open. After the video analysis, I knew what to do the next time I encountered this. 3. I know some folks who do not want to pressure test for fear of being knocked off the pedestal. I say to them, “Suck it up, buttercup!!” I’m going to win some exchanges. My training buddies will win sometimes. The great thing is that it really doesn’t matter to us who won and who lost. The pertinent question is, “Why did this work, and why did this counter go to shit?” It’s the intellectual pursuit that matters more than winning or losing. 4. Some techniques work pretty reliably, and others fail reliably. Nothing more. You have to find out for yourself what works for you and what doesn’t. As I said earlier, pressure testing is not for everyone. There are perfectly good reasons not to engage in this endeavour. That said, there is one non-negotiable requirement for a pressure testing session with me. The student MUST demonstrate control of his/her stick and go full speed without hitting. Otherwise, I will not engage with a student who doesn’t demonstrate excellent control. ## Over to you. Have you pressure-tested your material? What have you learned? ## Additional Reading * [Killer Concepts!](https://brianejohns.com/2020/11/17/blog-killer-concepts/) * [Friday Recommendation #10](https://brianejohns.com/2021/05/28/blog-friday-recommendation-10/) * [Old School Garage Testing](https://brianejohns.com/2020/12/07/blog-old-school-garage-testing/) * [GM Bobby Taboada/Master Chuck Gauss Seminar](https://brianejohns.com/2014/05/05/blog-gm-bobby-taboada-master-chuck-gauss-seminar/) * [A Look Back on 2023](https://brianejohns.com/2023/12/29/a-look-back-on-2023/) ### Share this post: * [ X ](https://brianejohns.com/2021/03/26/blog-friday-recommendation-5/?share=twitter) * [ Facebook ](https://brianejohns.com/2021/03/26/blog-friday-recommendation-5/?share=facebook) * [ LinkedIn ](https://brianejohns.com/2021/03/26/blog-friday-recommendation-5/?share=linkedin) * [ Threads ](https://brianejohns.com/2021/03/26/blog-friday-recommendation-5/?share=threads) * [ WhatsApp ](https://brianejohns.com/2021/03/26/blog-friday-recommendation-5/?share=jetpack-whatsapp) * [ Email ](https://brianejohns.com/2021/03/26/blog-friday-recommendation-5/?subject=%5BShared%20Post%5D%20Friday%20Recommendation%20%235&body=https%3A%2F%2Fbrianejohns.com%2F2021%2F03%2F26%2Fblog-friday-recommendation-5%2F&share=email) * [ Print ](https://brianejohns.com/2021/03/26/blog-friday-recommendation-5/#print?share=print) ### Like this: Like Loading… ### _Related_