Foreign Legion H2H

Hi Nick

I was hoping to do some reading up on the H2H stuff the Legion uses/is taught.

Could you give me some insight or direct me to some links.

Cheers mate

Paul

Apart from my dvds mate there is almost nothing available that I'm aware of. You see them doing some from time to time when they run those discovery channel specials on the Legion but they don't go into it in any depth.

There was once an article in a French magazine (methinks it was "Raid") that delved into the whole French military approach to H2H as it was being taught (and that's the same course that Legion instructors went through) so I don't know how much luck you're going to have digger.

Nick

Nick Hughes wrote:Apart from my dvds mate there is almost nothing available that I'm aware of. You see them doing some from time to time when they run those discovery channel specials on the Legion but they don't go into it in any depth.

There was once an article in a French magazine (methinks it was "Raid") that delved into the whole French military approach to H2H as it was being taught (and that's the same course that Legion instructors went through) so I don't know how much luck you're going to have digger.

Nick

I didn't realise you'd realeased DVD's.

Is there much Legion stuff in those?

that's all they are pretty much. Brian S reviewed number one over on GTs. You can get them on the fight survival web site.

Nick

Nick Hughes - French Foreign Legion and Military Combative #1

Intro

This is the first part of a 6 DVD series outlining methods developed and taught by Nick Hughes, ex bouncer, French Foreign Legionnaire, Private Detective, Martial Arts Instructor etc. Volume 1 incorporates work regarding stances, hand techniques and power development.

Production values

Generally good. Much better than the “get a mate to point a camera at you” style of others. Good picture and sound quality. Nice safety advice and clear disclaimer. The introduction and opening credits are a little lengthy at 3 minutes. Overall the DVD lasted for an hour.

Presentation

Filmed out in the woods, with other guys in the background occasionally helping out and demonstrating. I did think that one or two of them looked a little stiff though, and don’t know their skill levels. Nick is an imposing figure at 6 feet 8 inches, along with bald head, goatee beard and combat pants….. These combat pants can be a little off putting, as they’re usually worn by out of shape fatties pretending to be Special Forces experts. Nick gets away with it. He isn’t fat and HAS worked with Special Forces. And it is outlining military styles after all. Overall this is quite professional in comparison with other works in the field.

Content

I was a little sceptical about what I was going to see in this DVD. Nick and I have had many a row about the values of “traditional” martial arts. Though I now realise that we both had a different interpretation of what we meant by “traditional”, I was still concerned that I might be tuning in to watch people marching about like robots whilst in their pyjamas. Luckily I was wrong!

Nick had a concern that I may find it too “basic” but, on the contrary, I don’t think I could understand his more advanced stuff without seeing and understanding where he is actually coming from.

i) Stance

Nice to see common sense theories demonstrated. Nick works in principles rather than absolutes, i.e. follow these general principles and its ok, rather than the “do it exactly the way I do” approach of some teachers Even early on his stance work has an emphasis on being able to deal with multiple opponents, and both his stance and methods of changing direction and moving seem very workable under stress. Again, no definitive fancy footwork, just move in accordance with principles.

I was particularly interested in what he calls “screening.” He is keen to not only be covered when in a stance, but also covered when getting into the stance in the first place, or when moving. He incorporates what I can only describe as a “double parrying” action, where the rear arm and the lead arm each sweep across the upper body and head, protecting you from any incoming blow. Interestingly, though he does believe in forward drive, he also acknowledges the value in an initial backward movement to allow more time and space to deal with any oncoming attack. I’ll be putting on my head gear and getting people to swing at me full power to test this “screening” out. I hope it works… maybe I’ll start out with little people!

ii) Open hand blows

Nick demonstrates a selection of open handed blows, including variants of the palm heel, edge of hand, hammer fist and web hand. He includes the odd contentious detail here and there, but does put good arguments forwards to justify the versions that he advocates.

He does not reject punching at all, as long as the method is trained and used correctly, including some knuckle conditioning. If people aren’t prepared to do this extra training, then he advises that they stick with the open hand.

iii) Power Development.

Again his theories were credible, including the importance of strength and speed, striking through the target, acceleration and visualisation. He uses a version of the drop step for many lead hand shots, and brings the rear leg forwards to add power to his rear hand blows.

iv) Drills

I fail to see the value in the passive use of focus mitts, where the partner merely keeps them held up in a static position allowing the trainee to hit whenever they want to. Nick agrees, and his drills include ingenious ways of making the trainee work to get the strike in, reacting to a visual stimulus rather than it all being made too easy. There were some good drills that would allow even a total beginner to begin to use these pads productively.

I felt that punching was a little over emphasised though, as almost all the power development and drills were done with the closed fist. The military combative tag is, in my view, a little under-mined when there is an over emphasis on boxing, but that is a personal opinion. But I do think his drills could have involved more open hand work, especially with the blows that are not similar to boxing mechanics.

Overall

This was a professionally produced piece of work, and something that had enough info for a complete beginner to get started. It is also of interest to the more experienced trainee, to see Nick’s own perspective on the subject. He’s certainly given me a few things to try out.

I would have like to see a little more of Nick going full out, and then seen that again in slow motion. The only slow motion in the film was of Nick casualty demonstrating a few punching options, and I couldn’t see the value in a replay of that at all. But that is a very minor point.

I can certainly recommend this to people interested in Nick’s take on real fighting. There is nothing in it that I saw as useless at all. Though there are things that I wouldn’t use myself I can certainly see the value in them and have no doubt that they would work.

This has been an appetiser for me. He’s already given me a fresh insight into things in this basic tape. I really wonder where things will lead when he gets into his more advanced stuff, and intend to find out!

Contact Nick if you're intterested in taking a look!

That reminds me...I haven't forgotten the subsequent dvds for you Brian...just got cleaned out of stock at the multiple seminar last weekend in Maryland. Awaiting a resupply.

Nick

No worries Nick.

Despite you thinking that Katas train you to fight multiples and that wrking the Horse stance trains you to fight sitting down.......

I STILL, 100% think you're absolutely World Class in your field!

Cheers Brian and Nick. I'll look into getting those DVDs when i've got the money for it.

One quick question Nick. Are the DVD's compatable with UK DVD players?

PaulRichard wrote:One quick question Nick. Are the DVD's compatable with UK DVD players?

Yes they are. They're not region coded. Most MA DVDs from the States are the same. As long as your TV and DVD player are NTSC compatible (most are these days) they'll work fine.

Richard, if you want to be sure first, PM me with your address and I'll send you one to check.

Fraser wrote:

PaulRichard wrote:One quick question Nick. Are the DVD's compatable with UK DVD players?

Yes they are. They're not region coded. Most MA DVDs from the States are the same. As long as your TV and DVD player are NTSC compatible (most are these days) they'll work fine.

Richard, if you want to be sure first, PM me with your address and I'll send you one to check.

Are playstation 2's NTSC compatable?

Afraid not. At least, mine isn't.

Fraser wrote:Afraid not. At least, mine isn't.

God dammit, that's the only DVD player i have at the moment.

I've played USA region DVDs on a British PS 2.

I just checked one of Nick's discs on my PS2. It played, but in black and white.

Brian S wrote:I've played USA region DVDs on a British PS 2.

Oh that's good.

I'll be sure to order them.

I also played Nick's DVD on a European region DVD player if that helps!

Most of them under 5 years (ish) should be fine.

Cheers Brian, how much did you pay for them yourself (in UK sterling)?

I read your review in great interest and i look forward to future reviews of Nicks DVDs.

Whatever I paid it was not enough! -

Check with Nick for prices!

Hi Nick

Could you give me an idea on what your DVD's would cost me in UK currency?

I've no idea how to convert it.

Much appreciated

Paul

Paul,

Go to this website and you can do conversions from any currency known to man pretty much.

www.xe.com/ucc/

Excellent, so the 6 DVD set will set me back about £105.

I should have that money soon, fingers crossed.

Just placed the order, looking forward to recieving it.

They should be on the way...can't wait to hear what you think about them.

Nick

Nick Hughes wrote:They should be on the way...can't wait to hear what you think about them.

Nick

Excellent, any idea when they might get here?