Libre Fighting

Piper System DVD

2011-12-16T13:25:00.000-08:00

So I’ve just finished watching the Piper System DVD. I’ll sum things up quick, right off the bat, encase you don’t feel like sifting through to unabridged version that follows. So here is the short version:

Good things come to those who wait, and we’ve all be waited for this DVD for a very long time. The Piper guys don’t disappoint. The DVD brings the e-book to life and really gives us a feel for how Piper should look, move and even sound. Clocking in at well over an hour, they could have easily split this DVD into two discs, charging twice as much, and I don’t think anyone would have complained. If, like many people who study knife combatives, Piper has piqued your interest, this DVD is well worth investing in. It is available at www.PiperKnife.com

Now, onto the long version…

I have been in a very privileged position regarding Piper over the last several years. I’ve had extensive dialog with Nigel February, the founder, regarding all aspects of Piper, including the history and development of the system, but especially the psychological aspects from which the movements stem. Having access to Nigel provided me with insight and ways of thinking about knife combat ( and martial arts in general) that has forever altered my perception of combat arts and changed the way I teach my own system. Nigel has also been kind enough to give me instruction and feedback as I have started to very slowly progress through the Piper System.

There are only a handful of people within the United States who have been trained in Piper, and I am very lucky to be one of those people. I should mention that I am at best an enthusiastic amateur when it comes to Piper, and there are people within the United States and around the world who are infinity more versed in the discipline. My first face to face experience with Piper came when I hosted Master Guardian Lloyd (featured heavily in the DVD) for a seminar here in San Diego. Before the seminar Lloyd worked with my privately for several hours. We hiked up to the top of a hill to train in seclusion, and for the better part of an hour Lloyd proceeded to explain to me the nuances and socio-political aspects of South African culture. To really gain insight into Piper (which I have only begun to do) it is important to understand the world from which it came and the elements from which it was born. For the next several hours and then the following morning, Lloyd opened my eyes to Piper, taking me through all of the material featured in the DVD.

Earlier this year, Guardian Corey took me further into Piper, introducing me into some more advanced tactics and applications. Corey reiterated what both Nigel and Lloyd had told me; the culture of Piper is as important as the movement itself.

I have also been fortunate in that I have developed a close friendship with Erik, the author of the Piper E-book and the driving force behind the DVD. Erik and I have talked extensively about the challenges he faced in learning Piper. Erik is very tall, about six and a half feet tall. He also is German, and therefore did not have the benefit of growing up in the culture from which Piper stems. Although Erik now lives in South Africa, being German, he was the very first “outsider” to master Piper System. Why is this important? Because this means Erik is perhaps the best person in the world to bridge the gap for the rest of us. Erik faced the challenges that the rest of us (those who grew up outside of Capetown) will face in learning Piper. He was forced to learn the body mechanics which come very naturally to those who grew up in South Africa. Lucky for us, Erik is also an accomplished writer and is so trusted within the Piper Hierarchy that Nigel gave his blessing for Erik to write the E-book and produce the Piper DVD.

In this DVD we a treated to two very different perspectives on Piper. Lloyd moves in blindingly fast, almost incomprehensible, ways. His movements are explosive, natural, and rhythmic. Erik is a big man, huge in fact, and he moves with power, lunging, evading and taking full advantage of his height and build. With this dynamic, we see the way two different men, with different builds, from different cultures, can take these principles and make them work for themselves. And it gives us the key to start figuring out how to make Piper work for us as individuals.

Is Piper for everyone? No. Piper is completely alien to any other knife combat system out there. Some people will be too stuck in their ways to understand and appreciate the Piper approach. Some will shun it, just because it is different. Recently, I came across an editorial in which Piper was referred to as “the unwanted stepchild of knife combatives.” In some respects, this is a very accurate assessment. There are many people who are threatened by the unorthodox nature of Piper and would like to see it disappear completely. If you are the kind of person who is slow to adapt to that which is new or different, chances are you will look at Piper and find yourself very confused. However, if you are the kind of person who is always seeking out new and better methods, who gets excited at the prospect of exploring something strange and fascinating, and places functionality over all else, this DVD is definitely for you.

Finding Libre: My Life in the Martial Arts

2011-12-09T13:41:00.000-08:00

I've been quietly working on this project for a while now and it is finally ready and available for pre-order ($19.95 + $2.95 S&H). Orders should ship out no later than December 16th. If you are interested in preordering, e-mail me at LibreFighting@Yahoo.com

Here is a sneak preview (sorry for the formatting, blogger is kinda limited):

Introduction

If you’re expecting a story about honor, respect, discipline, commitment, and all the other bullshit that Hollywood and the storefront family karate schools tell you is synonymous with martial arts; you’re going to be disappointed.

If you’re expecting a story that paints the martial arts community as a group of humble, deadly yet-insightful warriors, who shape lost, wayward youths into confident productive members of society; you are going to be similarly disappointed.

If you’re expecting a chronicle of kicking-ass-and-taking-names; once again, sorry.

That shit is for the tourists, the rubes, the blissfully ignorant suburban middle-class couple that cheerfully forks over their hard-earned cash to watch some barely-qualified instructor wrap a piece of black electrical tape around their child’s belt every three months and think about how wonderful it will be when their pride and joy has earned the rank of Master before his balls drop. They don’t know what really goes on behind the scenes in world of martial arts, and they don’t want to know.

If that sounds like you, it’s probably best that you stop reading now.

The truth is this is a world filled with bullshit artists, child-molesters, petty criminals, egomaniacs and hustlers, all of which will be discussed in-depth. This is a world where the deadliest instructors are usually guys you’ve never heard of, who often can’t hold on to students because, whether it’s motivated by deep-seeded psychological issues, drug addiction, arrogance or just plain run-of-the-mill cruelty, they like to dance on the line between ‘hard training’ and ‘physical abuse'.

This is a world where the most respected and influential people are often the shadiest of the bunch. A world where brainwashing children into believing you’re a superhuman, unstoppable, magic killing machine is just part of doing business; if you can get their parents to buy into it, so much the better.

This is a world where politics rule, where alliances are forged, backroom deals are made, and friends and mentors are betrayed.

This is a world where rank (and therefore respect) is a largely for sale, a commodity to by bought and sold. At the highest levels titles and rank are often awarded through running in the right circles, paying dues to the right people, and kissing the right asses. Of course, if that seems distasteful to you, you can always just award yourself the rank – it happens a lot.

Don’t get me wrong, there are some talented, well-meaning, honest, wise, ass-kicking people in this field. Unfortunately, as you will see, they are the exception to the rule.

Moving on, if you are expecting a story about a bullied kid who uses his martial arts training as a tool to defeat his tormentors, gain self-respect, and win the respect of his peers; you’re not exactly on the money, but you’re getting closer. But be aware that there is going to be a lot of darkness and self-destructive behavior along the way. It’s a journey filled with self-doubt and disappointment, often at the hands of the unsavory types mentioned above.

Though this is, in large part, an expose’ on the lessor-known elements of the martial arts world, it is also a very personal story about the first twenty-seven years of my journey in the martial arts.

It’s the story of how the martial arts, despite the harsh realities that will be discussed, allowed me to overcome paralyzing low self-esteem and life-threatening depression through the tools that my training gave me. This is the story of how a depressed, introverted youth endured two-and-a-half decades of lies, corruption and abuse to learn the skills needed to be a success in life.

This is also, in part, a story of my family, and how my mother’s drug addiction and criminal behavior played a pivotal role in setting me on the path I now walk today. There are some things in here I have never told another human being, not even my wife, and to be honest I have no idea why I’m sharing it now.

Finally it’s the story of Libre Fighting, the knife fighting system I created, and the brave new world in which Libre Fighting now thrives. A world free of the bullshit I endured coming up through the ranks. A new philosophy and new approach to how combat skills are taught, learned and passed on from generation to generation. For the first time the whole story of the history, development and growth of Libre as a worldwide entity will be told.

I’ll apologize in advance for the language contained within these pages, and also for some of the horrible and offensive behavior I displayed in some of the darker moments chronicled here. I wanted this to be an honest depiction of who I am, and my journey in the martial arts, so I attempted to be as brutally honest as I could.

You’ll find that many times I use only initials in place of names when discussing individuals, and I will at occasionally mention that the name I am using to describe a person on organization is a pseudonym. Real names where only used with the individual’s permission. Anyone I couldn’t contact, or preferred not to speak to, has had their identity protected.

Agents of Chaos Stick Fighting 2 Disc DVD set

2011-10-30T11:04:00.000-07:00

Libre Fighting London Seminar - October 22nd, 2011

2011-10-30T11:01:00.000-07:00

DVD Orders

2011-10-21T15:14:00.000-07:00

Due to us currently being in the UK for the Libre Fighting London Seminar, all DVD orders will ship out on October 29th.

Reaper Method Seminar - San Diego October 15th, 2011

2011-10-07T22:03:00.000-07:00

Email Librefighting@yahoo.com to reserve your spot today!

Street Edge 4 - Reaper Method

2011-08-07T21:17:00.000-07:00

The latest installment in the Street Edge series is done, at the printers and available for pre-order now! Orders will ship on Tuesday, 8/9/2011.

Reaper Method is the curriculum that was designed specifically for military and law enforcement professionals.

Included in this DVD:

- The Scythe Grip
- Striking Methods
- Offensive and Defensive Applications
- The Concealed Blade
- The Knife as and Equalizer for Woman

The Libre Fighting Manifesto

2011-07-30T18:36:00.001-07:00

(This started as an e-mail exchange between Rob and I awhile back. The vast majority of this comes from a passage in which Rob stated what he saw Libre as. In reading it, I realized Rob defined Libre more clearly than I ever had.)

The Libre Fighting Manifesto
by Rob Andersen and Scott Babb

Libre is a mental, physical and even spiritual Manifesto of your evolution in the martial arts.

It started with a young kid following the rules and etiquette of traditional martial arts, who became an adult who saw how corrupt the thing he loved really was. Libre was formed to kill the beast, it is the anti-martial arts establishment. Libre was born as the rebel of martial arts. The titles, the rank that did not represent real skill, the bowing to foreign flags, the forced recital of creeds, all of the irrelevant ritual that was thrust upon all of us who just wanted to learn the martial arts. These things were on the Libre chopping block.

Because the Libre vison is in complete opposition to that of the martial arts establishment, it will ruffle a lot of feathers, and that is a good thing. First, because it feels good just to piss people off sometimes. Second, because all those who want to continue to submit to the established rules and creeds of commercial martial arts will be forced to reveal themselves eventually. They will ask:

“How can you have a martial art without rules?”
“Who is your Master?”
“Where is your creed?”
“Where is the belt ranking chart?”
“Why are people not bowing to me?”
“Why don't you have matching uniforms?”

They are the ones who need to box up their students and establish a pecking order, because they know a free thinking student is a student is a dangerous student.

The genius behind Libre is it gives every martial artist freedom. They can train with highly talented individuals in a world class system and still retain their individuality. Race, politics, theology and lifestyles are irrelevant within the scope of Libre, because Libre transcends that which binds, labels and defines the individual. Libre is about one thing, and one thing only: Direct, focused and extreme aggression toward those who would hurt you or a loved one. That is all it is... and that is enough!

"Chaos is the Law of the universe. Control is a dream of man..."

New Libre Chapters

2011-07-21T16:36:00.000-07:00

Here is a list of newly opened Libre Fighting Chapters, and Chapters that will be opening soon.

GERMANY Frankfurt: Libre Fighting Germany - Reaper Method Chapter
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Foothills CQC - Reaper Method Chapter

October 2011 - LIBRE FIGHTING, LONDON
January 2012 - LIBRE FIGHTING, OCEANSIDE CALIFORNIA

E-mail me at: Librefighting@yahoo.com for information on any of these Chapters.

Thoughts on Mastery

2011-06-16T11:10:00.000-07:00

What does it take to become a “Master” in the realm of martial arts? Nowadays, it’s not incredibly difficult. Any combination of the follow should be more than enough to earn this distinguished title:

1) Time served. 6 to 10 years at most storefront martial arts schools will do.

2) Learning a set number of techniques.

3)Political alliances. Rubbing elbows with instructors of note can take you a long way.

4) Money. Yes, mastership is for sale. In fact, it almost always comes with a price tag.

While those who are new to the world of martial arts may still believe that the title of Master implies some level of competence, those of us who have been around for a while know better. Most of the “Masters” I have encountered in recent years do little to invoke awe in the eyes of the discerning practitioner. Most are in their forties or fifties and grossly overweight, so much so that the ends of the belt that once hung proudly from their waist has now been reduced to two tiny nubs protruding from a strained knot. They strut around the dojo, chest puffed out, hands clasped around their rank. Their students bow and grovel in class, and stroke their ego shameless before and after.

If you want to believe that’s Mastery, you are free to do so. Join the masses; grovel at the feet of your Master. Just know that it is far more likely that your Master achieved his rank through running in the right circles, and lining the right pockets, than through displaying exceptional martial abilities.

True Mastery, however, is something much different. What does it take to become a Master? There is an answer. And it doesn’t just apply to martial arts. Studies have determined exactly what it takes to master anything. From chess, to computer programing, to Donkey Kong, to football, to martial arts… the requirement is the same-

10,000 hours of practice.

The book Outliers examined world class experts as diverse as the Beatles, Bill Gates and professional athletes, and the one thing they all had in common was they trained in their respective crafts for 10,000 hours.

To put that into context, if your average martial artist attends 2-hours classes twice a week, and spends an additional 1-hour a week training on their own, in 10 years they will only have reached 2600 hours of practice, barely 1/4th of the way to being a true Master. At this pace it will take over 38 years to reach the level of a real Master.

Training 10 hours a week, it will take close to 20 years. (this is 2 hours a day, 5 days a week.)

Training 20 hours a week it will take almost 10 years. (this is 4 hours a day, 5 days a week.)

If you think the 10,000 hours mark seems inflated, I can assure you it’s not. How do I know? Because counting the hours I have spent training and teaching martial arts over the last 26 years I myself have cracked the 10,000 hours mark, and I don’t consider myself a Master. So if anything, I would consider 10,000 hours low.

Furthermore, studies showed that natural ability had very little to do with success compared to the 10,000 hours rule. More important than natural ability were various social and cultural circumstances that allowed these world class experts to develop their abilities. But above all, it was the 10,000 hours of practice that mattered.
It’s shameful that the martial arts industry, which has valued the title of “Master” for so long, has developed so many shortcuts to attain it. It has been cheapened. It has become a commodity that can be traded or purchased.

These days, when I see a Master, I can’t help but wonder “Did they put in their 10,000+ hours? Or did they take the easy route? Did they really earn their title? Or did they buy it? Are they really a Master? Or are they just pretending.

The Current Evolution of Libre Fighting

2011-06-07T21:24:00.000-07:00

May 14th, Reaper Method Seminar

2011-05-16T18:15:00.000-07:00

Reaper Method Seminar

2011-04-23T16:23:00.000-07:00

Handmade Knives

2011-04-23T10:56:00.001-07:00

Got the opportunity to check out some of these handmade blades last week. Excellent craftsmanship!

www.kramercustomknives.com.

The State of Libre Fighting

2011-03-25T11:32:00.001-07:00

The State of Libre Fighting #1

Just wanted to take a few moments to update everyone on where Libre Fighting is currently at, and where it is heading in the next several months. We’ve got a lot of projects in the works, and at times it is a bit overwhelming keeping on top of it all, but everything is still managing to move forward - slowly but surely.

Chapters: We currently have Chapters up and running in San Diego CA, Spokane WA, Gilbert AZ, Artesia NM, Fayettville Arkansas and Orlando FL. We also have Chapters opening soon in Indio CA, London UK, and Mark Salum of our San Diego Chapter will be relocation and heading up a Chapter in Germany in a few months. In addition, we also have some things in the works for additional Chapters, including at least one more international location.

Seminars: I’m going to be doing a lot of traveling for Libre this year. We have the Libre Throwdown Seminar happening in Devils Den, Arkansas in June (I can’t tell you how much I am looking forward to the pleasant, ridiculously humid, southern summer.) LibrePalooza in Orlando this September. And the Libre Fighting London Seminar in October. Additionally, we will be participating in the Fighting For Lives Worldwide Charity Event in November. We are also looking at doing a Reaper seminar here in San Diego in the coming months (e-mail me at Librefighting@yahoo.com for more information)

Television: I’ve hinted at a Television project that will involve Libre in at least one episode, and things are still looking good. The show has found a distributor, and will be doing at six episodes to start. There will be 3 fight sequences showcasing Libre in our episode, 2 of which have already been staged. I have been working very closely with my childhood friend Phil “Superfly” Brown and his wife Natasha to give the sequences a really unique look and feel. I am also very involved in the writing of the script for this episode, and it is coming along… slowly. We are hoping to start filming in late summer.

The Next DVD: We’ve already done some of the early shooting for the next Libre Fighting DVD “The Razor’s Edge”, and it is already looking awesome! I can’t tell you how excited I am about this project. It is going to take the series to a whole new level. I’m hoping to have it ready to roll in late April. As a tie-in to the DVD, David O’Hanlon (head of our Arkansas Chapter) has been working on a Training Straight Razor. I have been working with the prototype he sent me for the last several days, and I can tell you it is FLAWLESS! We are hoping to have the Training Razors available on his website by the time the DVD comes out.

New Website: We’ve put up a new website that has a very “Libre” feel to it. If you haven’t checked it out, goto www.LibreFightingSystems.com.

The Libre Fighting Order: My vision for Libre, on a worldwide level, has been to have each Chapter be somewhat autonomous. I have often said that the Chapters should be “branches of the same tree, free to grow independently.” However, several of the Chapter heads have expressed the desire to have a bit more structure implemented, to create a deeper sense of unity and connection among practitioners. After two weeks of discussion, we have come to a consensus on the issue, and are in the process of creating the Libre Fighting Order. The LFO is a non-invasive entity that will award “Commissions” to practitioners based on the amount of training they have had in the discipline of Libre Fighting (independent ranking systems and the awarding of ranks is still done through the Chapters). Our hope is that these Commissions will create a standardized hierarchy among practitioners at a worldwide level, without sacrificing the Chapters freedom to grow in its own direction.

Well, that’s about it for now. I’d like to thank everyone for all of the support they have given Libre, it really means more to us than you could ever know.

Scott Babb
Founder, Libre Fighting

New Website

2011-03-11T11:05:00.000-08:00

Check out our new and improved website at:

www.LibreFightingSystems.com

Libre Fighting in Indio, CA

2011-03-08T13:10:00.001-08:00

Libre Fighting in Florida

2011-03-06T11:24:00.001-08:00

Libre Straight Razor

2011-02-22T20:50:00.001-08:00

Chad McBrooms New Self Defense Tool

2011-01-24T08:41:00.000-08:00

LIBRE FIGHTING CONTEST!

2010-12-20T22:54:00.001-08:00

Come up with the best "tag line" to describe Libre Fighting and win a FREE Libre Fighting T-Shirt! (naturally we get to use the line on our website, dvd's, ect.)

ENTRIES MUST BE 100% ORIGINAL. NO LINES FROM MOVIES, TELEVISION SHOWS, QUOTES... ECT.

Deadline Dec. 22nd. E-mail you entry to LibreFighting@yahoo.com, please title the E-mail "My Line".

Reaper Method Seminar, Dec 11th

2010-12-04T10:58:00.001-08:00

Reminder:

The Reaper Method Seminar is being held in San Diego.

Saturday, Dec 11th
4pm - 9pm
$125.00

Learn more about Reaper Method at www.librefighting.com

Space is very limited, reserve your spot today by e-mailing librefighting@yahoo.com

Orlando Seminar Footage

2010-10-18T10:54:00.000-07:00

Artesia, NM Libre Chapter

2010-10-18T10:49:00.000-07:00

Libre Fighting is now up and running in New Mexico at Comprehensive Fighting Systems, represented by Chad McBroom!

Cutting Edge Combatives, Orlando FL

2010-10-18T09:07:00.000-07:00

Floridas first Libre Fighting Chapter is up and running! Go to www.cuttingedgecombative.com for more information.

New Video

2010-09-25T14:23:00.001-07:00

Piper System: Banned in Germany

2010-09-18T18:18:00.000-07:00

Yes, you read that right, Piper has been banned in Germany! It seems that the German government feels that Piper is too "aggressive" to be taught. Members of the German law enforecement community attended the last Piper seminar in Germany, and afterwards expressed concerns that it was too deadly to be taught in their country.

No one really took these concerns too seriously... After all, it doesn't take any special training to murder someone with a knife.

Well, an upcoming Piper seminar in Germany has just been given notice... The promoters have been threatened with criminal prosecution should the event take place.

Is Piper destined to become an underground art in Germany? Practiced in secret, in dusty basements, always withone eye out for the fuzz?

September Reaper Method Seminar

2010-08-11T19:39:00.000-07:00

We are looking at doing another Reaper Method seminar here in San Diego in September. If you are interested in attending please e-mail me at librefighting@yahoo.com

Last Weekends Seminar

2010-07-26T23:01:00.000-07:00

We did the first ever Reaper Method Seminar last weekend and we couldn't be happier with the way it went! We ended up going an hour longer than we had planned, but when people are coming in from as far away as Georgia we want to make sure we get as much work in as possible.

The feedback was overwhelmingly good!

If anyone is interested in attending the next one, shoot me an e-mail and we'll start working on a date!

David O'Hanlon

2010-07-19T21:45:00.000-07:00

We are pleased to announce that David O'Hanlon has completed the Libre Distance Learning Program. He spent last week here in San Diego training with us, and is now a certified Trainer in Libre Fighting and is heading up the Libre South Chapter in Arkansas!

Reaper Method Seminar

2010-07-02T22:37:00.000-07:00

Reaper Method is a streamlined version of Libre Knife Fighting, taught entirely in the Scythe Grip (ice pick, blade facing in) designed to be learned in a seminar format.

Reaper Method is ideal for military, law enforcement, martial arts schools or anybody seeking to learn a simple but devastating knife fighting method.

This seminar is being held in San Diego, Ca. SPACE IS VERY LIMITED.
Cost: $175.00

For more information, to reserve your spot, or to book a seminar go to:

www.LibreFighting.com

Or e-mail at librefighting@yahoo.com

An American Perspective on Piper

2010-06-12T21:35:00.000-07:00

For over a year now, I have been in a very privileged position regarding Piper. I have had an on-going dialog with the founder, and two of the Master Guardians of the System. All three of them have been kind enough to help guide me through the basics of their system and give me feedback by way of videos on the Internet. I was one of the first people outside of South Africa to receive a copy of the Piper E-Book. From time to time I have also served as a sort of Piper Emissary (in a completely unofficial capacity) in the United States. I have been lucky enough to see footage that hasn’t been released to the public. Recently, I also helped put together the first Piper seminar featuring a Master Guardian in the U.S. I was fortunate enough to spend the better part of a weekend interacting and training with this Master Guardian as well.

So unlike many Internet dwelling Americans who seem to have formed opinions of Piper, I actually have a perspective that reaches far beyond watching a handful of 30 second clips on Youtube.

First off, Piper isn’t a martial art as we define it here in America. Here, on the most basic level, with think of martial arts in terms of “movements” and “techniques”. Piper doesn’t function that way. Piper is based concepts and applications. When you see isolated clips of Piper on the Internet, you are seeing a “concept” being practiced. As far as “applications” go, there haven’t been a whole lot shown in the open, and there is a reason…

Piper’s early history is rich with outsiders trying to steal and manipulate Piper for their own purposes. It is a really fascinating story, spanning several years, that is filled with scheming, lying, racial tensions, martial arts politics and secret alliances. It is almost Shakespearian in nature. Unfortunately, the story isn’t told outside of the Piper circle, as there are too many big names playing the roles of the villains. But trust me, it is a great story.

Because of this, the godfathers of Piper have been very reluctant to showcase more than the most rudimentary elements of their art openly.

Next, there is a more complicated issue to address. The godfathers of Piper HATE knives. I have witnessed this first hand, They don’t like being around knives, or ever talking about knives. They are not in any way enamored with knives the way many FMA practitioners are. Many Master Guardians don’t even carry knives. My American mind had a hard time processing this, and it wasn’t until after a conversation that lasted deep into the night, that I started to understand it. At first, I equated this with an NRA member saying he doesn’t like guns… It just didn’t compute. What you have to realize, is that the godfathers of Piper have all been touched by knife violence in very tragic ways. There stories aren’t mind to tell, but I will say that there are very good reasons these guys don’t like knives.

So why train with knives?

The most basic answer is that Piper started out as a research project: Learn about the culture and use of the knife by the indigenous gangs to find a way to defeat it. Along the way, they learned to be very deadly with the weapon they despised so much.

I suspect there is a deeper psychological reason rooted in this. Much like Batman, who embraced the image of the creature he feared, the Piper guys have embraced the method of the weapon they feared for so long.

Fans of the television show Dexter may be able to relate to this line of thinking. Due to childhood trauma, serial killer Dexter Morgan HATES blood. He hates it so much that he becomes a Blood Splatter expert for the police. As a Blood Splatter expert he takes the thing he hates and studies it, categorizes it. Ultimately, by becoming an expert in the thing he hates the most, he gains a psychological control over this thing he despises. He makes it his own.

This is just my theory, but I think on some level many of the upper echelon of Piper are doing this very thing. They are taking this horrible phenomenon, that has touched their lives in such horrible ways, and mastering it. They are giving themselves control over this thing that used to control them.

Many people wonder why the Piper guys get so venomous when Piper is attacked in martial arts forums. I myself often wondered this, and have advised the Piper guys on numerous occasions not to dwell on what is said in the forums — using rather colorful terms and my extensive urban vocabulary to illustrate exactly the type of person who feels the need to bash others in an online forum, rather than simply showcase their own skill for side-by-side comparison.

I have, over the last several weeks, just started to understand why they take this so personally. Piper isn’t just a system of movements to these guys… to them it is a living, breathing monster that they have tamed. To question this monstrous thing that has destroyed so many lives, to them, is an affront to the misery they have endured in the face of knife violence in their homeland.

As an admittedly exaggerated parallel, imagine how pissed you get, as an American, when some dickhead downplays the horror or 9/11.

Moving on…

There is one dimension to Piper, that has not extensively been discussed, but it is worth exploring. Piper isn’t really a “knife” system, — it is an “Okapi” system. To be technically accurate, it is a system of movement, but its influence stemmed from the Okapi. Unless you live in South Africa, or have really read up on Piper, you probably have never even heard of an Okapi.

The Okapi is a very cheap, very common blade that is favored by the Numbers Gangs of South Africa. It is a very strange, very unique weapon. First off, it is the biggest piece-of-shit folding knife you will ever put your hands on. The blade comes dull, very dull. So dull it would take great effort to draw the smallest amount of blood from an opponent with a slash. Slashing someone to death would be about as practical as beating them to death with a newspaper. (Note: the American knock-off of the Okapi, the Kudu, comes razor sharp, and is a much higher quality knife, but this is not what is used in South Africa.)

Some criminals will mar the dull edge of Okapi, by striking it on curbs and pavement to give the weapon a ragged edge, but this still does not make it any kind of practical slashing weapon. Hence, Piper consists only of stabbing and ripping motions.

Because the knife is considered “disposable”, it is often abused to the point of barely being trustworthy as a weapon. Hence, the knife is held in an ice-pick position, with the blade facing in. This way, if the locking mechanism fails, the blade (although dull) will not collapse on the holder’s fingers. This grip, no doubt, lead to the development of the ripping motions we see in Piper.

Lastly, the knife has a pull-ring (essentially the kind of ring you put your keys on) that is used to release the locking mechanism and fold the blade. On the street, a rapid flicking of the wrist makes this ring create a distracting rattling sound. When combined with the (very African) stomping, snapping, and slapping motions, this rattle becomes a very disconcerting auditory element for an opponent to process.

In training, this ring serves an additional purpose. The rattle of the pull ring gives the student an indication as to if his movements have to right snap to them. The instructor can also create a sort of rhythm with the rattling ring for the student to mimic. More often than not, this mimicking happens subconsciously, with the student naturally falling into his instructors beat.

With a bit of practice and care, Piper can be adapted to any small, light blade. But at its heart, it is the way of the Okapi.

I could go on, lavishing well-deserved praise on the system and its leading exponents. I could explain the way it moves, the way it feels, what it is like when you are staring it in the face. I could fill a couple of pages just clearing up some common misconceptions about its origins. But all of that has been said time and time again, and it’s out there to be read if you are willing to do the least amount of diligence and seek it out. The truth is, if I took this discussion in any of the directions I have just listed, that would become the focus of this article in many eyes, and that’s not what this is about.

Really, Piper isn’t a martial art at all. It is the lightened counterpart to a very dark phenomenon that has touched many lives in South Africa. From a psychological standpoint, it is a fascinating study. To its founding practitioners, it is a wild beast, tamed and collared. To the rest of the world, it is still largely a mystery. Many people have made up their minds about Piper — most have reacted very favorably to it, some have not. Controversy is the destiny of any fresh idea. Sadly, most of the people who have already made up their minds about Piper, both the fans and the haters, will never look beyond the movement to see the deeper truth that lies at its core. Hopefully a few people will take the time to explore what Piper really is… It is worth the effort.

Street Edge 3 AVAILABLE NOW!

2010-05-21T19:58:00.001-07:00

DVD's Are In!

2010-05-10T22:14:00.000-07:00

Yes, the new order is in. We placed a very big order this time to keep up with the demand, so hopefully there won't be any more issues.

Piper Seminar!

2010-05-09T21:08:00.000-07:00

Alright, you've been asking for it for months, years, and now it is finally happening.

The FIRST Piper seminar ever held in the USA!

May 22nd, 1:00pm - 5:00pm

Cost: $125.00

Master Guardian Lloyd De Jongh will be in southern California, and we are looking at doing a seminar on the weekend of May 22-23. It will be held in La Mesa, Ca (15 minutes east of downtown San Diego), and space will be limited, so if you are interested e-mail me at librefighting@yahoo.com so I can hold your spot.

DVD Demand

2010-05-05T07:43:00.000-07:00

Once again we must apologize. Demand for the DVD's had simply been overwhelming, and we are constantly struggling to keep up. Once again, we have the DVD's on back order. Any orders placed will be shipping out next week. Sorry for the inconvenience.

Scott

DVD's in Stock

2010-05-01T15:51:00.000-07:00

BTW, this is a little late, but the DVD's are back in stock.

Also, we are beginning production on Street Edge 3 next week.

Latest Youtube Video

2010-04-09T19:11:00.000-07:00

Just a little vid we put together to promote the new website and Facebook page.

DVD's Are Back Ordered Once Again

2010-04-09T07:53:00.000-07:00

All DVD's ordered this weekend will ship out on Tuesday, April 13th. Sorry about the inconvenience.

Facebook Libre Fighting Fan Page!

2010-04-04T21:06:00.000-07:00

Check out the new Libre Fighting fan page on Facebook!

Facebook Fan Page

And don't forget to check out the Libre Website!

www.librefighting.com

The Libre Fighting Website

2010-03-17T23:59:00.000-07:00

Check it out:

Http://www.librefighting.com

And don't worry, the blog isn't going anywhere.

Delta Zulu

2010-03-07T12:24:00.000-08:00

Libre practitioners and firearms combatives trainers Sam Hwang of HST, and Cody Cohen of Ru-Tac, are currently involved in the production of a new movie called Delta Zulu (Cody also plays a mercenary in the film). I was at the launch party last night, and the flick looks really good! It was described to me as District 9, meets Black Hawk Down, meets 28 Days Later. It is a post apocalyptic movie that focuses on the role private military companies play in times of war, obviously paralleling the role that private military contractors are currently playing in the Middle East.

The movie will be premiering at this years International Comic Con in San Diego. You can check it out at:

http://www.warehouse1904.com

DVD's Are In!

2010-02-17T22:08:00.001-08:00

Just a quick update. Street Edge 1 & 2 are back in stock! Order away!

DVD's Back Ordered

2010-02-12T07:11:00.000-08:00

Due to overwhelming demand, all DVD orders placed from now through the weekend will ship out February 16th. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Sifu Dan Donzella

2010-02-05T18:06:00.000-08:00

Sifu Dan Donzella, friend of Libre Fighting and certified bad ass, will be conducting a series of seminars in Southern California in April. Tentative dates are April 16th in San Diego, and April 24th in Los Angeles. I had the chance to stop in on the tail end of the last Seminar Sifu Dan did here in San Diego, as well as view a couple of his DVD's, and let me tell you, this is one guy you want to train with! Simply amazing! Keep an eye out here for more information coming soon.

What Are People Saying About Libre Fighting? — Part 2

2010-01-30T14:11:00.000-08:00

I came across Libre Fighting Academy on youtube. Head instructor Scott Babb's knife techniques, movements and timing was beyond his years. Seeing a young man with such clean and precise movements was a pleasure and a joy to watch. For true knife training as well as empty hand this is the man to see in southern California.

Sifu Guru Dan Donzella

_________________________________________

Very nice, smooth and tight.
pisau77

Awesome!
6Liberte

This looks a lot like Philppino knife fighting and Panatukan . Either way this is bad ass.
Simbrada

The presentation and the song were sick. Pretty much gave me a hard on.
Xekxkox

Now this is what you call realistic training. People are not rushing in from 5 meters with a attack. Very nice job. If I didn’t live in Amsterdam I would join your training for sure.
boeyaka

That was pretty damn impressive stuff.
Redneckninjanc

Direct to the point… :) Awesome. Top notch!! 5/5 rating:)
TheVelocidad

The knife fighting on the ground against stand up opponents was some of the hottest footage I’ve seen! Great post!
Bladesaint21

Hey man, this is incredible, I've been doing Filipino kali now for about a year, and I love this stuff. Keep up the good work my friend.
AVeryDarkKnight

Another Street Edge DVD Review

2010-01-29T22:18:00.000-08:00

Noted martial arts instructor and author of several articles for Black Belt magazine, Erik Petermann took the time to do a review for the Street Edge DVD. Read it here—

http://www.piperknife.com/html/libre_street_edge.html

Street Edge DVD Review

2010-01-29T22:16:00.000-08:00

Tips for Haters

2010-01-29T22:15:00.000-08:00

It has been just over a year since I went public with Libre Fighting. The response, from day one, has been overwhelmingly good. The interest and support Libre Fighting has received from all over the world has been great. I really can’t express my gratitude to everyone who has helped Libre grow over this last year.

The Distance Program exploded in ways I never dared dream. The DVD’s have sold well and been very well received. By the end of this year we will have Libre Fighting Chapters in various states throughout the USA.

Naturally, I have long expected the haters to come out. Such is the destiny of any successful endeavor. It took longer than I expected, and even still, the hating has been minimal. Just a couple of “My style is better than your style. Your way is wrong because I do it differently” comments. The hacky, unimaginative criticism you see all over the internet.

I haven’t allowed these comments to be posted, because quite frankly I am very busy training, teaching, and managing the development of students all over the world, and I just don’t have time to deal with it.

I promised myself very early on, I wouldn’t get caught up in arguing with haters on the internet, and I fully intend to stand by that policy. To that end, I probably will not address the issue much after this blog has been posted.

If however, you simply MUST engage me in debate, I will give you a few tips to improve your chances of getting your opinions posted.

1) Don’t use the “My style is better than your style because…” angle. It is tired, played out, and reeks of insecurity. If you are really so insecure about what you are doing that you must validate yourself and your training to total strangers by attempting to belittle others, look elsewhere. There are plenty of people equally as insecure who would love to go around in circles with you. I’m just not one of them.

2) Don’t be a rookie. I’ve been training in martial arts for 25 years, I have been teaching for 18 years. I have been around the block. If you are a newbie with a few years under your belt, I am glad to know that you are on your way, and you are passionate about what you are doing, but go argue with your peers. I have been down this road time and time again, and it’s just not all that intellectually stimulating to me anymore.

3) Express yourself, but be polite, coherent, and have an open mind. I have no interest beating my head against the wall of closed-mindedness. Any rude comments, threats, or other such non-sense will be laughed at and promptly deleted.

Follow these tips, and if I am in the mood, and have the time, I may post/respond to your comments. But no promises. In fact, the chances are still pretty slim. I have better things to do. If you don’t follow them, the best that you can hope for is that I will someday gather and post the most laughable of the hating messages I have received for the amusement of serious martial artists.

Help a Libre Brother Out

2010-01-29T22:13:00.000-08:00

A message from David O'Hanlon—

I am raising funds for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) as a participant in their Team In Training program and I'm asking you to help by making a donation to my fundraising campaign.

Please use the link in this email to donate online quickly and securely plus learn more about my progress. You will receive a confirmation of your donation by email and I will be notified as soon as you make your donation.

http://pages.teamintraining.org/gat/rnr10/dohanlon

Each donation helps accelerate finding a cure for leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. More than 823,000 Americans are battling these blood cancers. I am hoping that my participation in Team In Training will help bring them hope and support.

On behalf of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, thank you very much for your support. I greatly appreciate your generosity.

Thank you,

David O'Hanlon

2009 in Review

2010-01-12T18:15:00.001-08:00

With the economic downturn of 2009, and the ensuing misery, I don't think too many people will be remembering last year fondly. Despite these hardships, 2009 somehow managed to be a huge year in the world of Libre Fighting. We released our first two DVD's, and have shipped them all over the world. We started up the Distance Learning Program, and it has become so popular, that the current waiting list has reached ridiculous proportions. Through the DVD's and Distance Learning Program, people all over the world are now studying Libre Fighting.

The support that we have received, has been both incredible and humbling, and I cannot begin to express the gratitude we feel for everyone who is helping us spread Libre.

2010 looks to be an even bigger year for Libre Fighting. We will be releasing the third installment of the Street Edge DVD series. We are also exploring options to expedite the ever-growing waiting list for the LDLP. Most importantly, we will be certifying the first graduates of the LDLP this year. This year, Libre Fighting Chapters in several states. There are also tentative plans to conduct Libre Fighting seminars at several locations around the country.

Piper E-book Review

2009-12-27T16:24:00.001-08:00

Street Edge 2 DVD —— Now Available!

2009-12-22T21:45:00.000-08:00

The Piper E-Book

2009-12-13T18:28:00.000-08:00

Yes, the long awaited E-book about what may be the most clandestine knife combat system in the world is finally here!

http://www.piperknife.com

Our friends at Piper System have finally brought Piper out of the shadows of Capetown, and are sharing their knowledge with the world.

General Update

2009-12-08T17:41:00.000-08:00

Couple points to hit real quick:

1) The 3rd cycle of the Apprentice Level of the Distance Learning Program is full, and there are several names on the waiting list for the 4th cycle already! So sign up quick if you want to get in on the fourth cycle.

2) We got a great response to our first DVD, and the sequel (Street Edge 2: Evolution in Libre Fighting) has been shot, edited, and will be available within the next week or so. Keep an eye out for the commercial here and on our youtube accounts.

Street Edge — The Libre Fighting DVD

2009-09-20T19:05:00.000-07:00

Available now!!!!

LDLP Cycle 2

2009-09-20T00:26:00.000-07:00

The second cycle of the LDLP began this last Friday. Unfortunately, by Saturday morning it was completely full. We are looking at ways to expand the number of people we can include. So if you are interested in participating, please send us an e-mail requesting to be put on the waiting list. Hopefully we will be able to resolve the space issue soon, but worst case scenario, cycle 3 will be starting in about 10 weeks. Spots fill up quick, so save your spot today!

LDLP Update

2009-08-02T20:33:00.000-07:00

The LDLP has been a much bigger success than we ever could have imagined! We now have people studying with us via this program all over the United States and in five other countries.

Unfortunately, Youtube will only allow us to share "private" videos with 25 people. We have reached the 25 person limit and this cycle of the LDLP Apprentice Level is now full — That's the bad news.

The good news is that we next cycle of the LDLP Apprentice Level will be starting in six weeks. We are scheduled to start the next cycle of the Apprentice Level in mid-september, so secure your spot now! Just sent us an e-mail at librefighting@yahoo.com and ask to be put on the Waiting List. When the next cycle is ready to start will will contact you with all the information.

Those participating in the Apprentice Level now, will be eligible to move on to the LDLP Fighter Level when this current cycle concludes.

Latest Video

2009-07-31T18:23:00.001-07:00

Piper System Seminar Tour 2010

2009-07-28T17:03:00.000-07:00

It looks like our friends at Piper System are finally bringing Piper to the USA! Look for them at a town near you in March of 2010. There are many possible locations being discussed, but Missouri looks like it is definitely locked in. I will post updates regarding times, dates, and locations as the information becomes available. If you are interested in hosting the Piper guys you can reach them through their website http://www.pipersystem.com

Thank You

2009-07-11T15:57:00.001-07:00

We just wanted to say "thank you" to everyone who signed up for the Apprentice Level of the distance program. The response was MUCH BIGGER than anything we expected!

We are going to start production on the LDLP — Fighter Level next week, and it should be up and running in 8 weeks (at the conclusion of the Apprentice Program.) Since the basics fundamentals will have been established in the Apprentice Level, the Fighter Level will move much faster, each lesson containing more material.

Keep an eye on this blog for further updates.

LDLP is up and running!

2009-07-03T20:17:00.000-07:00

First off, let me apologize for not yet responding to so many e-mails. We’ve been really busy filming and editing for the Libre Distance Learning Program (LDLP), and I’ve fallen behind in my correspondence.

However, the Libre Distance Learning Program is now LIVE! Hopefully I can answer all the questions I’ve been getting in the message.

What you will need:

1) A TRAINING knife. (DO NOT use a real knife when TRAINING!) Training knives are made out of wood or aluminum and are dull. Again, DO NOT use a real knife when training! Even if you are training alone!

2) Some way of videotaping yourself.

How to join the LDLP: Log into your youtube account, and go to http://www.youtube.com/libredistance. Click “+ Friend” button at the top left-hand side of the page. That’s it! Shortly after joining you will receive the “Lesson One” video.

To find the lesson videos, click on the envelope icon at the top of your main page. The lesson videos will appear in the “Shared with You” section. Please carefully read the description of each video located in the upper right-hand corner of the video page.

Pricing and structure: The structure will be as follows—

Apprentice Level
Fighter Level
Disciple Level
Trainer Level

The apprentice level is FREE, with no obligations to continue. The additional three levels will run $25.00/each. However, to be certified as a "Trainer", you will need to do a one on one three-hour class with myself or one of my Trainers. This is to fine-tune your skills. You can travel to San Diego, or bring us out to you. The cost will be $100.00/hour if you come to San Diego, or $150.00/hour plus travel expenses if we come to you. When you consider that the entire program will cost as little as $375.00, we feel that this is actually quite a bargain.

We encourage you to have a training partner to work the material with if at all possible. You may add ONE additional person to your account at NO COST, who will also be certified.

There will be no contracts required, so if at any point you want to discontinue your training there will be no further obligation.

These rates WILL GO UP, in time. Because this is a pilot program, we are offering it at a lower rate while we test it out. But, IF YOU SIGN UP NOW, YOU WILL BE LOCKED IN AT THESE AFFORDABLE RATES!

About the Apprentice Level: The LDLP Apprentice Level is a ten-week course. You will receive one video each week. After working the material, you will send a video of yourself back to us for feedback. The LDLP is an interactive program! We don’t just send you videos and expect you to work it out on your own. We are here to answer questions and give you feedback. So if you ever have any questions about the material, just send us an e-mail.

When sending us your return videos, it is best to post them on your Youtube account. Please set them to “Private” then “Share” them with “Libredistance.” If this is not an option, you can mail them to us on a DVD.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION!

Waiver of Liability—

You are participating in this program at YOUR OWN RISK!

The Libre Fighting Academy, Scott Babb, or anyone else affiliated with this program will not be responsible for any injuries or damages of ANY KIND that may be incurred while participating in the Libre Distance Learning Program.

Any medical or other expenses incurred through participating in this program are YOUR RESPONSIBILITY.

Your safety is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY, and no one else’s. It is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to use proper safety and training equipment, including wooden or aluminum TRAINING knives. Real and/or sharp knives should NEVER be used.

Again, you are participating at YOUR OWN RISK!

Libre Distance Learning Program Commercial

2009-07-01T20:39:00.000-07:00

What Are People Saying About Libre Fighting?

2009-06-25T00:08:00.000-07:00

There are some comments about Libre Fighting, coming from various sources. I'd like to thank everyone who has taken the time to give us such great feedback. It really means a lot to all of us....
__________________________________________________

I have been involved in Martial Arts training for over 27 years. During this time, I’ve had the unique opportunity to train with top combatives instructors from around the world; in both civilian and private security work. It is within this context and without reservation that I fully endorse Mr. Scott Babb and the Libre Fighting System.

Mr. Babb is a unique professional, who has attained the elite level as a Fighter, Technician and Teacher. And as for the Libre Fighting System; you will be hard pressed to find another martial art that’s training methodology is more precise, calculated and executed.

Mr. Babb and the Libre Fighting System are extoardinary in that they are equally at home developing civilians, vip security or military personnel. With dedicated practice, it can and will help any individual become much safer in a violent world. And in the final analysis that is what our training is suppposed to do.

If you have the opportunity to train with Mr. Scott Babb; do it.

Robert C. Andersen
Founder Warrior One Combatives

___________________________________________

Libre Fighting is off da hook!!!
The movement is chaotic & a real bitch to deal with...

Nigel February
Founder Piper System

___________________________________________

From Youtube—

Absolutely amazing.
—sigmacombatsystems

Excellent way of training. Very close to the real situation, to mucho adrenaline rush.
—NANGPA2008

Oooohhhh the carnage is making me tingle in my special place
—LakesideNinja

Great knife work.
—gurupenglimaderek

Really cool group of Martial Artists that are versatile and practical. Love the knife stuff.
—ellul613

This looks brutal!
—kainthornn

This guy is no joke. He is a rare combination: Great Fighter, Technician and Teacher...and very nice guy! If you have a chance to train with him...DO!
—methodtraining

You guys are a breath of fresh air...technique is superb! intent is right on! Congrats to you! Hope we can all meet up some day.
—methodtraining

You move very, very well. Wow! It looks effective as hell to me
—PiperSystem

Your empty hand stuff is awesome! Once again, wow! I couldn't help but sit here and think to myself, "Cool! I gotta learn this!".
—PiperSystem

Excellent stuff guys.
—ellul613

Libre Distance Update

2009-06-21T10:57:00.000-07:00

Just an update on the Libre Distance Learning Program (LDLP).

We have had a lot of inquires ever since we proposed the idea of doing a Distance Learning Program. So we are getting ready to launch!

The LDLP—Apprentice Level is set to go live in about two weeks. Instructional videos will be placed on a private YouTube account for participants. To participate, you will need a YouTube account of your own (which is free), and some means of videotaping yourself for feedback. Feedback videos can be posted on YouTube, or mailed to the Libre Fighting Academy on a DVD.

Because this is a pilot program, we are offering the LDLP—Apprentice Level for FREE, with NO FURTHER OBLIGATIONS! You can try our Distance Learning Program out at NO COST, to see if it is right for you. We will give you access to all of the Apprentice Level videos, AND give you feedback on your progress at NO CHARGE. Once you have shown satisfactory skill in all of the required skills, you will be ranked as a graduate of the Apprentice Level program, and will be eligible to continue your training all the way up to the Trainer Levels, where you will be certified to train others in discipline of Libre Fighting.

If you choose to continue your training beyond the Apprentice Level, there will be a small fee for each additional level.

Look for more information to come in about two weeks!

Scott Babb
Head Instructor

New Black Belt

2009-06-06T12:53:00.000-07:00

After the grueling 2 1/2 hour Empty Hand Foundation Certification Test, the Libre Fighting Academy is proud to award Victoria Rhodes the rank of Black Belt. This is not a rank our school awards lightly, only the most dedicated and skilled individuals ever reach this level.

Kinamutai

2009-06-06T00:26:00.001-07:00

This is a photo of a 230lbs mans arm. The bruises were administered by a woman who is half his size, using techniques from kinamutai — the art of Filipino pinching and biting. Kinamutai is taught at the advanced levels here at the Libre Fighting
Academy.

Dirty Boxing

2009-06-03T18:50:00.000-07:00

So I wanted to post this to illustrate the application and effectiveness of dirty fighting. Of course, this is fighting in the ring, and obviously forbidden — but our focus is street fighting, where head butts, sucker punches, low blows and biting should be embraced.

My only problem with this video is that Evander Holyfield only comes in at #4.

My opinion: Holyfield is #1 with a bullet.

Just look at the beautiful way he lands a head butt AND a low blow simultaneously! This guy is the Leonardo da Vinci of fighting dirty.

Piper System

2009-05-16T16:10:00.000-07:00

For anyone who doesn't know, Piper System is a form of knife combat, founded by Nigel February, based on tactics used by knife-wielding criminals in southern Africa. It is unlike anything else out there. The movement is unique, deceptive, and relentless... almost primal. Movement isn't the only unique thing about Piper, the mindset, tactics, and entire structure of the system in different from anything you have ever seen. I would try to describe it further, but words don't do it justice. I think the only way to start to understand Piper, is to actually do it.

I've spent quite a bit of time looking into Piper System over the last few weeks. I've known about Piper for a while now, but information had always been hard to come by. Fortunately, the Piper guys started putting up some great videos along with some really insightful descriptions on youtube not too long ago. After studying what was available, and having a lot of corespondance with the top guys in Piper, I started experimenting with what little I had picked up. Anyway, I put it together into a new video. For more information of Piper go to http://www.pipersystem.com

New Video

2009-05-02T22:34:00.000-07:00

Slipping Bobbing and Weaving

2009-04-29T21:39:00.000-07:00

Ya know, sometimes I'm really not that bright.

I mean, for years I've been telling my students to track down a particular vintage boxing match, or study a footage of a particular boxer to see a master of his craft at work. Seems like every time we are working any kind of evasive skills (particularly slipping) I find myself saying "Study Mike Tyson's old fights! Have you guys been looking for old footage of Tyson? Mike Tyson, best slips in boxing history!"

I've had this blog up for months now, and it just now occurred to me to put the footage up that I have been urging my people to study. So over the next few months you can expect to see footage here of George Foreman, Jack Johnson, Ali, and Pacquiao. Hell, even though I can't stand him, I may even put up footage of Evander Holyfield, just so we can examine a proper headbutt in action.

Of course, I have to start with my all time favorite, my man — Mike Tyson. And let me tell you right now, if you plan on sending me a hateful e-mail about what a scum bag Mike Tyson is you can fuck right off, cause I don't give a shit.

So without further ado, here is Mike Tyson — Master of Slipping, Bobbing and Weaving.

Distance Learning?

2009-04-26T16:05:00.000-07:00

Over the last few months I have gotten a few inquires about DVD’s and/or creating a Distance Learning Program. To be honest I have never considered doing anything like this, but if people are interested in learning more about how we do things then who am I so refuse them?

Right now we are in the preliminary stages of exploring the possibility, and my hopes are high that this will happen within the next few months. There are a lot of logistics to be worked out, but we are working diligently. If this is something we choose to move forward with, the program will be kept small at first, no more than 5-10 people. If you are interested in participating please send me an e-mail at librefighting@yahoo.com and I will put you on a mailing list to keep you updated on our progress.

New Video is Up

2009-04-14T22:46:00.001-07:00

The Libre Fighting Crew

2009-04-12T14:42:00.001-07:00

Instructor Scott Babb

Scott Case

Victoria

Joe

The Libre Fighting Crew

2009-04-12T14:30:00.001-07:00

Steve

Mikey

Amber

The Lakeside Ninja

Thoughts on the Worlds Most Controversial Martial Art

2009-04-01T21:19:00.000-07:00

It is known by many names: Jailhouse, Jailhouse Rock, Jailhouse Boxing, JHR, Wall Boxing, 52 Hand Blocks, 52 Blocks, or simply “the 52.”

Let me start by saying that I am not an expert in the discipline of 52 Blocks. What follows is solely based on my research and opinions, and I am sure that there are many out there that would disagree with my research and conclusions.

So what is 52 Blocks? In it’s simplest form, it is a set of defensive skills, specializing in intercepting incoming punches with the elbows (and thereby causing damage to the attacking fist.)

The harshest critics of 52 Blocks say that it doesn’t exist at all. It’s an urban legend, nothing more. Or even worse, that it is a scam. Nothing but smoke and mirrors hiding behind rumors and decades old stories of a secret African-American fighting art.

Myself, I disagree.

Although 52 Blocks is known as a “Prison Fighting System”, it seems that it is in fact a street-fighting based evolution of defensive skills used in boxing. Certainly the prisons of the American northeast played a pivotal role in the development of 52 Blocks, as many of the most well-known and skilled practitioners learned and refined their skills while incarcerated. However, it would seem that the basic movements are derived from boxing. Take for example the techniques “Cover the Bullet”, “Closed Door”, “Double Guard”, and “The Robot.” All of these seem to be evolutions of the basic boxing cover, in which the fighter raises their glove to their ear to defend against incoming blows. Furthermore, techniques such as “Skull and Cross Bones”, “Rob the Bank”, and “Revolving Door” seem to be evolutions of the less orthodox “Cross Arm Guard” used by fighters like Archie Moore and George Foreman.

It seems silly to deny the existence of 52 Blocks. It has been around “in name” for at least three and a half or four decades. The seventies appear to have been the golden age of 52 Blocks, where it was commonly known as “Jail House” or “Jail House Rock”. The techniques from which the 52 Blocks evolved have certainly been around much longer. There are many known practitioners from that era who developed reputations as formidable fighters. Many boxers, including Mike Tyson, have testified as to the existence of 52 Blocks. To say that it doesn’t exist just seems ridiculous.

Some critics say that the “Real 52 Blocks” have been lost to the ages, and what is being seen now is just a reinvention based of hearsay and faded memories. To an extent, this may be true. But then again, without a doubt some of the original traditional Kung Fu must have been lost during the Communist occupation of China, when the practice of all martial arts was banned. I would guess that many of the original techniques of the Filipino Martial Arts were similarly lost during the Spanish occupation of the Philippines, where the practice of martial arts was also banned. So it seems fair to say that some of the original 52 Blocks may have been lost in the late 1980’s and 1990’s when guns became more prevalent in urban culture, and shanks became more common in the prison systems.

I would argue, however, that the root concepts of 52 Blocks remain eternal — just as with the Chinese and Filipino Martial Arts. In my opinion, concepts are always more important than individual techniques. Therefore, it seems fair to say that the 52 Blocks today, may not be exactly like the 52 Blocks that was practiced in the 1970’s. My guess, however, would be that by and large it is very similar.

So why does so much controversy surround 52 Blocks? For one, there is no definitive history. No single creator, no cool origin story. It was taken from the ring and forged on the streets. It was carried not by monks or warring tribes, but by young men who as often as not were serving hard time. Many people are turned off by the flashier traditions found in 52 Blocks, such as catching and kissing an opponents fist and turning your hat around to signal an impending knock out. Furthermore, there is no manual that has been passed down from generation to generation. There are no ranking systems, no Grand Master. 52 Blocks simply IS. It was never structured. It is a highly individualized. It is a personal expression of core concepts and basic techniques. The individual does not mold to the techniques, but rather the individual molds the concepts to their own image. Practitioners of many of the Filipino Martial Arts know what I am talking about here. To me, this is the greatest strength of 52 Blocks — it isn’t held back by the institutions that have stunted many of the more formalized martial arts.

Is 52 Blocks effective? I first became interested in 52 Blocks because it shares the “defanging the snake” concept found in many Filipino Martial Arts (the art of destroying the opponents attacking limb.) The application between the two, however, is quite different. In the Filipino Martial Arts, this is done by guiding the incoming blow into the defenders elbow. Since the attack is guided into the elbow, the defense requires both of the defenders hands, working together. In 52 Blocks, the elbow is simply placed in front of the defenders head or body. If the attack is accurate, the fist impacts the defenders elbow. If the attack is not precise, it simply glances off leaving the defender unharmed. A couple of years ago I began experimenting with the 52 Blocks concept of simply placing the elbow in the path of the attack. I worked it with my students and encouraged them to try it out in sparring sessions. To put it bluntly I was extremely impressed with the results. In fact, this defense has become a staple in our empty hand training.

I don’t know what the future holds for 52 Blocks. Many people seem to have trouble accepting a fighting system that doesn’t have roots in the far east. There also seems to be a great deal of infighting amongst the experts who have begun to propagate their various interpretations of the system.

Maybe someday someone will formalize the system, ascribing ranks and setting up by-laws, claiming the title of Grand Master. Maybe there will be a 52 Blocks Martial Arts Association. And maybe if all this happens martial artists will finally recognize this unique and highly effective form of combat as being legit.

Personally, I hope none of this happens. I think 52 Blocks would lose that which makes it unique if it went down the path of most other martial arts. There is something raw and elemental about 52 Blocks as it stands now. It is a breath of fresh air in a world filled with very stale martial arts. Today, 52 Blocks is still largely taught on the streets — in parks, backyards, and alleyways, just like it was in the old days. The people who hold the art don’t have impressive titles and lavish certificates — they have ability, and that’s enough. I’d hate to see all of that change.

Our Favorite Reviewer Comments on Our New Video

2009-03-09T22:02:00.000-07:00

Steve's cousin (sorry, I don't know his name) shared his thoughts on our new video. I can't get enough of this guy!

Good grief man; once again I have to ask what the hell are you doing in your everyday life that you might find yourself in a situation that would require that much carnage? There is so much cutting, stabbing and slashing going on in that video that I’m surprised you don’t have to stop mid-way thru to sharpen the knife. I mean, just buy your self a good handgun and be done with it. And by the way; I believe I saw some “crotch stabbing” going on or something close to it. My question is, once you stab a guy in the crotch, with a knife, do you then really need to slice & dice him any further? Doesn’t a knife to the crotch pretty much immobilize just about anyone? Is the cutting open of the torso from the back really necessary at that point?

Once again, major props to the author. Keep 'em coming.

Libre Fighting, promoting gang warfare since 2004.

New Video and Updates

2009-02-06T21:27:00.000-08:00

I got rid of the video we used to have on this site and added a new and improved one. I feel this new video is a much better representation of what we do.

So far the year is rolling along nicely. Our Winter Mountain Workout is tentatively scheduled for February 21st, and we are in the process of choreographing eight fight sequences for a local play. Lastly, will be performing at the "How We Live" festival in Lakeside on March 28th (more specifics to come...) Unfortunately, we have been informed that due to complaints from a another martial arts class last year, we will not be allowed to use any weapons in our demonstration. Apparently our last demonstration was "too violent". We are all still trying to wrap our heads around that one.

Well, we are nothing if not adaptable, and have a few really cool tricks up our sleeves for our upcoming performance.

2008 in Review

2008-12-28T20:01:00.001-08:00

2008 was a busy year at the Libre Fighting Academy.

We started off with what has become our traditional new year workout. We spent the day at a secluded spot high in the mountains overlooking the desert. Lots of focus on conditioning and confronting multiple attackers. We took a break halfway through the day to watch some hang-gliders fly by. Not as cold as we would have liked it, and we didn’t catch any snow this year, but it was a great workout anyways.

In February we did a last minute demonstration at the Lakeside Expo. We literally put together the demo less than an hour before show time. Turned out to be a waste, very small crowd.

The following month we did a demonstration at the “How We Live Festival.” Had a hell of a time securing a decent show time, but it all worked out in the end. Couple hundred people in the crowd, a great response. Apparently some parents from another martial arts group complained to the promoters of the event that our demonstration was “too violent.” We all got a kick out of that. In response, I am planning a much more violent show for next year…

We did a great Women’s Self Defense seminar over the summer, and Steve Leclair passed his Empty-Hand Certification Test.

We spent the fall almost exclusively working knives.

In December we did our annual “Movie Night”, posted our first video on You Tube, and put up this website.

We rounded out the year with our annual Urban Training Night. We spent the evening in an alley working intense simulated mugging scenarios, identifying and responding to assailants, and working concealed blade entries.

2009 is shaping up to be a busy year already. We are currently putting together a mini-documentary for youtube (probably ready in mid-January) and are slated to do a demonstration in March. We may also be choreographing the fight sequences for a local stage production. Later in the year we will be filming our base empty-hand and knife curriculum for student use.

This Site's First Official Review

2008-12-04T21:30:00.000-08:00

One of our guys sent a link to this site to his cousin. What follows is his cousin's response.

Why am I getting this link to what is obviously a gang-warfare promoting website? Is that you in the photo where the little girl is giving some guy a beat down? Really, fighting on the beach and in alleys? What the hell would you be doing in an alley in the first place? I can only imagine. And on a beach? Are you preparing for the time when someone steals your beach blanket? Knives, baseball bats? I thought this was karate, not the Bloods & Crips. Do you also do group-practice robbing mini-marts?

I haven't stopped laughing since I read this. Major props to the author.

Libre Fighting Academy, promoting gang warfare since 2004.

Frequently Asked Questions

2008-12-02T19:57:00.000-08:00

What is “Libre”?
Libre means “free”, freedom from the institutions that hold back our progress in the martial arts. Freedom from the silliness of phony inflated ranks and titles, do-nothing martial arts associations, and the limitations of a single-minded approach to combat. It represents our freedom to explore new ideas and to seek out better methods.

Is your class suitable for women?
Absolutely. The knife can be a great equalizer in the hands of a trained individual. About half of our practitioners are female.

Do you have any special events?
We do three annual workouts every year— A mountain retreat, a beach workout, and an alley training night. We also do a handful of demonstrations each year.

What about the legal, moral, and psychological ramifications of using a blade?
To understand the seriousness involved, new students are shown photographs of actual knife wounds before ever handling a blade. This material is also periodically reviewed after sparring sessions, to help illustrate the severity of wounds both inflicted and received. Materials relating to the legal issues of carrying and using blades are also made available.

Do you do any empty-hand training?
Unarmed fighting is touched on in every class. Thursday nights are exclusively empty-hand training. Concepts from Filipino martial arts, boxing, and street-fighting are explored.

How intense are the workouts?
Minor bumps and bruises are common. Workouts can range from mild to moderately strenuous depending on the night, and body conditioning is done at the end of every class. Adjustments can be made for any injuries or physical limitations one might have.

What are your fees? Do you require contracts?
There are NEVER any contracts, testing fees, hidden costs, or association fees.
$60.00/month Weapons AND Empty-Hand Training
$30.00/month Weapons OR Empty-hand Training only
$15.00/half-hour Private Lessons (limited availability)
$50.00/hour On-Site Seminars (weapons, empty-hand, women’s self-defense…ect)
$60.00/hour Off-Site Seminars

Are you available to demo at my event/charity/fundraiser?
We are always willing to give back to the community.

What should I wear to class?
Sweats and a t-shirt for the first few nights are fine. A black class shirt or black t-shirt with any kind of black athletic pants are fine.

What equipment will I need?
For the our empty hand class you will eventually need a pair of boxing gloves (available at most sports stores for about $25.00) For our weapons class you will eventually need a training knife (available at most martial arts stores $7.00-$25.00 depending on quality) and a rattan stick (available at most martial arts stores for about $12.00.) Loaner equipment is available to new students.