The Fence DVD and my 1st fence experience

I used the fence about a week ago and it was extremely sloppy and ackward but it worked. The guy was much larger than me and I imagine he's used to getting into peoples' spaces and intimidating them for change, fun, or whatever he wants. I don't know what he wanted or expected but he had violent plans for me. I pushed him hard in his chest with my lead palm, which stopped him for a couple seconds then he got angry and came back into my space. I immediately grabbed him and pushed him a few feet away from me to the side and the whole time was yelling at him to keep his fucking hands down, stay away from me, and keep walking, which he did. That was a very unprepared and poor fence. Richard, I am very greatful you introduced me to this concept because this was the first time something like this didn't turn into a fight with me. I realise now that I need a lot more practising of the fence, so it's going to be daily now until I get it to where I want it. I watched The Fence DVD after that incident and it is excellent. I highly recommend purchasing it. It's an invaluable DVD for people like me who have always stole off on people (pre-emtively struck them) because talking doesn't work, we are not good at diffusing things verbally, or just more comfortable fighting than saying a word. Thanks again Richard!

The fence seems to be a method that people (IMHO) think that they can watch and learn. It still has to be trained like anything else. Controlling and maintaining distance with an aggressive partner is fairly demanding, you'll soon learn that is isn't static, you'll also develop power shots whilst moving backwards, like self protection though (for me anyway) its conceptual rather than physical.

paulB I was training it on the bag and a little here and there. I was not training it seriously enough and drilling it more and better. It was nice to see how that response came automatically 1st instead of bombarding strikes on the guy, that the "keep your fucking hands down" was not a concious thought, the stance was decent, and that it worked. Yes you are correct, I underestimated how much practise of it I need to do in order to get the proper results I'm seeking.

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Richard, I am very greatful you introduced me to this concept because this was the first time something like this didn't turn into a fight with me.

Cool Sergei thanks... obviously its not my concept but Im glad the DVD helped a bit. I learnt it from Bob Spour, I know i was popularised by Geoff Thompson, Mick Coup tells me its been in the FBI field training manual for over 30 years...

anyway glad I could help pass it on for someone to actually use.

PaulB, yeah its definitely more of a psychological concept of strong boundaries manifesting as an attitude and an awareness than a physical technique

sounds like Sergei used it well enough... potentially bad situation diffused? jobs a good 'un.

Sergei,

have a partner move in on you, quickly ,aggressively whatever, they don't have to be throwing shots and neither do you, simply try to maintain your fence(distance etc).

We regularly drill our strikes from the fence as well as from a boxing guard on pads. We also drill it as reaction to an advancing opponent.

I like to use my co-instructor as a partner for this. I'm 5'9" and 170lb and he's 6'2" and around 100lb more than me. He's of a fairly strong constitution too so I can let go a bit.

He wears a full face Kali helmet. The metal grill is fairly heavy duty so a pair of MMA gloves is in order for me.

With my fence already up he advances sharply, throwing something. As soon as he moves I fire off a combination. We don't take it too conclusion, just going from stationary to being in action.

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Sergei,

have a partner move in on you, quickly ,aggressively whatever,

A problem is my roomie spends all his time playing chess and gambling (that's how he makes his living) so maybe I'll start to become sociable and see if anyone would like to train now and then. I'm confident in my fighting ability, what I'm capable of and what I'm not capable of, so I'm leaning more towards learning the psychological side of life. My confidence did go down for a while but I think that's only because of the length of time I have gone without fighting, which is a little over a year now. I've never gone that long since childhood so I guess it was natural for me to lose a bit of confidence. Anyway I find the psychology much more interesting and useful.