Liberation Martial Arts Training Thesis (Patreon)

• LMA Curriculum

Our online MMA curriculum will be a mix of articles and videos to maximize learning and knowledge. Some concepts are better suited to be read and studied, whereas techniques must be seen. Since this is a Marxist endeavor, it'll mix theory and practice, text and visuals. I'm also thinking about our comrades who can't hear and will include transcripts and closed captioning.

Rather than teaching self-defense, the curriculum will be dedicated to mixed martial arts training. That way, it's more open-ended in how you use these skills and what you get out of them, giving you more autonomy and flexibility.

Self-defense is limited to predetermined scenarios plagued with bias. However, with an open-ended art, you as the practitioner can be fluid in its application. You dictate your goals, context, and application—not the instructor. This is your training, not mine. You're a participant, not a robot, so your creativity and agency will make these skills unique to you. There's also a lot to be said for training for enjoyment and exercise.

In self-defense and traditional martial arts, everyone is meant to fight the same (in karate, you do karate; in self-defense, you train for the scenarios conjured up by your instructor). Whereas in MMA, you're not confined by any doctrine or tradition, your individual style will be unique to you. It's your art, and you're the artist.

The LMA curriculum is meant to be a resource for instructors, collectives, and individuals, or as a liberatory supplement to your preexisting training. This is to prevent reliance on reactionaries and to avoid financially supporting them.

Due to COVID-19 safety, we'll start with striking and then build out grappling.

Note for Training

Practice all movements on both sides. This isn't to make you ambidextrous but to prevent injuries. Training only on one side creates overuse and asymmetry. Instead, do everything on both sides for longevity, body care, and brain health. Furthermore, breathe into everything you do.

Warm-up drills are the fundamental motor skills for sparring. But what's even more important than motor skills is cardio. Cardio is more important than strength and flexibility. It's where you'll derive your confidence and composure while giving you the capacity to apply what you know. Panic, anxiety, and adrenaline dumps can tire you out quickly, but developing cardio will keep you functional even under those conditions.

Cardio shouldn't be something you only do in class but something you develop and maintain even on your own. Beyond just the cardio examples we show in the curriculum, find something you like and do it often.

Regarding the order of the curriculum, it's progressive and meant to build you up step-by-step from scratch. That means the curriculum builds upon itself, where each section is the scaffolding for the next. As you build a skill, you've also built the scaffolding for the next skill. Everything you learn will be interconnected rather than isolated. The curriculum develops with you.

– Sam