Let me lead into this report article on the annual International Todd Systems headquarters course 2013.

The following are comments made by instructors and exponent’s attending the annual course between March 21st and March 31st 2013.

The long history of the Todd Group from when it was the Baldock Institute is something very special and unique.

Rubbing shoulders with military police bodyguards and so many Todd Group instructors gives you the opportunity to learn so much from so many and sometimes it was the little bits of information and advice that made all the difference.

The medic at the phase test was a Vietnam’s veteran and former special forces and like the Todd Group instructors was the quiet unassuming but confident type who was very down to earth and approachable.

As a civilian having exposure to the skills provided by Todd Group expert instructors is something that can’t be learnt from a book or brought from the Internet.

300 acres fantastic weather World War II eight-man army huts a good old mess hall and Gus the cook along with the phase 3 Todd Systems instructors provided me with some great memories along with excellent training.

I have attended many courses and workshops but none have the long history of providing military unarmed combat training as well as being current military elite combative training providers. 86 years says it all and to look at the history room and Tank’s private collection at the headquarters was a very remarkable experience for me personally as a combative enthusiast. I was lucky enough to look at Harry Baldock’s scrap books and his personally written programs.

Being permitted an inside look at the many facets of the Todd Group including all the research and development and inventing truly was mind boggling.

I don’t know when you sleep Tank and your enthusiasm professionalism and wealth of knowledge and experience is inspiring. I can see why people travel down under from all over the world to learn from the oldest training providers of their kind.

Training provision and instructor assistance was constant and there were no egos bullying or instructor attitudes or pulling rank.

It was very much an environment of the instructor and his assistants providing the very best of instruction and assistance to a group of individuals that understood the importance of getting along together and taking advantage of every opportunity to practice and get instructor personal assistance.

I met service personnel on this course that I would not have had the opportunity to meet or train with and hearing them speaking so highly of Tank and the Todd Systems just proved to me what I already knew.

We had the good fortune of being transported into the headquarters to train with the headquarters members and do a little shopping at fight times shop which was a well appreciated additional aspect.

The lectures that Tank took us for on the medical and mental subjects as well as the history were just so informative and revealing.

We all knew we were very privileged to be on this course and trained by Tank and his excellent assistant instructors.

I enjoyed watching the videos especially the video on the first 80 years of the Todd Group and hearing former and current military experts speak so highly of Tank and his Todd system.

Staying in camp with Tank was a great experience especially seeing how humble easy going and down to earth he is but how when it comes to instructing he just leads by example.

He never stopped instructing planning taking care of our many needs and requests and this was all tended to with his mean sense of humor.

He was out hunting every night to the early hours and just seems to never stop.

It’s unbelievable when you think he promotes conducts manages and oversees courses including fully resourcing them single-handedly year-round in New Zealand and around the world.

You New Zealand people are very lucky having such an expert in your country that is so driven and determined and of course has a pedigree second to none in military unarmed combat from the legendary experts we all hold in the highest regard.

It is my intention along with several of the other guys on course to attend the upcoming course in Thailand to continue our training.

The instructors and instruction on this course was the very best I have ever seen or experienced and the test phase is just so different to anything I have witnessed.

The phase 1 test has been so carefully developed that it is an experience no one will ever forget and is truly a great test of our CQC skills and of our mental toughness.

Every part of the phase 1 test ensures you have to know your stuff and be able to use it.

I lay in my World War II bunkhouse thinking about just how special this place and course is and how lucky I am to be able to be part of it.

To think for over 85 years in New Zealand an organization has been teaching the military and police their unarmed combat and self-defence and they are willing to train us civilians as well, makes you feel privileged.

……………………………………………………………………………………………

The previous and many other comments from the attendees on the 2013 phase 1, 2 and 3 courses of instruction made me feel very satisfied and extremely privileged to have so many responsible and committed exponents and instructors on course.

Outside all the facilities resources and equipment it is the people that make the group and training so special and memorable.

I’ve always believed that true military unarmed combat should be scarce on fancy facilities and over high-tech equipment.

For me the courses are best undertaken in the natural falling mats as in good old grass mud and sand.

While some inanimate objects are good for full contact impact training there is nothing better than controlled aggression against a live training buddy. No wasted time putting on protective suits just good controlled military unarmed combat increased in intensity with proficiency.

I have told the lads many times over that the headquarters facility building in central Dunedin and the camp in the great outdoors provides considerably more resources than required. We could conduct training for 100 exponents in an outdoors area the size of a Kiwi back yard.

We are truly fortunate to have such a long history and involvement with military close quarters combat that has enabled us to expand nationally and internationally including being fully resourced to conduct major courses with more than the basic requirements.

The annual course being conducted at the Todd Group headquarters allows us to introduce tested proven adopted current skills and tactics as well as allowing our attendees to experience new training equipment weapons and training concepts.

The Todd Group with its mandatory training hours required before undertaking the various phases of training tests ensures we recruit not only new exponents but also sees courses well attended by advanced and specialist exponents working towards their test phases.

Considerable time research and effort has gone into the Todd Group training packages methods of instruction and the management and resourcing aspects of our headquarters and exported courses of instruction.

The important thing is that all attendees receive the very best instruction uninterrupted at the camp and as a result achieve their very best combative outcomes.

The 2013 course begins with a three day phase 3 specialist course of instruction focusing on armed combat and lethal specialist unarmed combat as well as police defensive tactics and close protection related close combat. The attendees are all senior proponents and many are depot instructors.

On completion of their three day course of instruction they stay on and get up their instructing hours on the phase 1 and 2 courses of instruction.

The phase 1 and 2 courses of instruction are of seven days duration and are conducted in separate training areas at camp Todd.

All phases of training combine for training such as tactical control and restraint or for the medical or psychological lecture components and technique to command and brain and boot psychological enhancement drills.

Once again we were blessed with the very best of good weather and I’m sure the combative gods must be looking out for us as this has been the case since 1996 when we opened the annual course up to national and international approved attendees.

Taking the attendees into the old headquarters I know is a highlight of the course for many visiting attendees. The old facility was rocking with all in attendance practicing combat milling and coming back from the dead.

The days truly went extremely fast from the morning technique to command provided by both the technique to command audio CDs and by verbal instruction from myself.

All ranks were exposed to the brain to boot psychological preparation for unarmed combat self-defence package I have developed and many exponents on course commented on how it made them so much more confident and capable in their training and testing.

The positive reactions and responses to this the most important aspect of unarmed combat training were very pleasing and just another confirmation of the three decades of development and approving being so worthwhile.

The phase 1 and 2 courses of instruction progressed in a steady and beneficial manner only interrupted by Gus the course chef ringing the meal bell.

There was several video presentations conducted during the course that provided an insight into the history and people that have made the Baldock Institute now the Todd Group the very specialist training provider that it is today.

From stances and guard’s to footwork unarmed offensive assault then unarmed counter offensive assault,hold prevention and escapes, long and short sharp edge and bludgeon type weapon disarming under entry assault and point-blank ambush range as well as combative conditioning in the form of pugil stick fighting combat milling and coming back from the dead filled in the phase 1 course of instruction days to the maximum. From the initial enabling level through to the more committed combative level candidates gained in confidence through competency achievement and as a result the intensity gradually increased.

From drill practice to buddy training and combative stands the candidates improved to a point where they could test each other with increased levels of contact and no protective kit. Getting near the business end of the phase 1 course the candidates spent considerable time paired off practicing their primary secondary and emergency options against their willing and now more formidable fellow candidates.

Stands and battle handling exercises provided the introduction of the important factor of confusion that required the individual candidates to make sound assessments and tactically correct decisions to ensure they achieved the primary objective of quick and quiet ends to any encounter.

The phase 2 course of instruction worked diligently at not only practising skill sets and individual skills but also at a committed intensity.

Ground combat, strangulation and choking, multiple armed and unarmed enemy, coming to the aid of a victim at weapon point, breaking up a confrontation, tactical control and restraint as well as advanced self-defence skills included disarming flexible flail type weapon’s which were practiced until a high level of proficiency was achieved.

The weather turned on plenty of sunshine and this combined with the constant decentralization recovery clinching and the struggles of ground combat saw plenty of sweat given.

The candidates must be completely proficient in the execution of all skill sets and individual skills used to neutralize wide-ranging threat situations. The skills must be correctly set up executed and the objective achieved with proficiency.

Day six after lunch break two of the attending phase 2 exponents volunteered to undertake their phase 2 test. These two candidates had exceeded their mandatory 400 hours requires to undertake phase 2 testing by considerable.

They turned up not only highly skilled but highly committed exceeding the high training level by considerable at a high level of intensity.

Interestingly post their phase 2 test they agreed the brain to boot practices especially combative breathing had provided them with the capability to perform the requirements at a high level of intensity for an extended period of time. It is extremely satisfying to hear from so many individuals that have been trained in the brain to boot psychological preparation for close combat package of the considerable advantages provided.

Both the phase 2 candidates passed their phase 2 test of instruction and were accepted for phase 3 specialist training.

Day seven was the phase 1 basic test the most important test phase for any Todd Group exponent.

This is where all the important basic grounding principles are learnt and individual exponents strengths and weaknesses identified.

There were three candidates that successfully passed the phase 1 test.

They demonstrated good levels of competency and commitment exceeding the phase 1 test requirements in many aspects by considerable.

The levels of controlled aggression commitment yet safety tradecraft practices employed proved the caliber of candidate and the quality of instruction provided by my Todd Group instructors.

The effect of the factor of confusion fear of failing as well as the realities of being injured or injuring a fellow candidate all add to the pressure of phase 1 basic testing.

The candidates conquered their fears overcome the effects of the situation and achieved their objectives with the expected and required competency confidence inner resolve and commitment.

Post the phase 1 test was the annual Todd Group prize giving and a good old spit roast.

Attendees spent the evening sharing in the company of like-minded individuals reminiscing good times and planning to attend upcoming courses.

Every year combative ten percenters self identify on the annual course and exported courses of instruction and from these individuals the lifers or combative 1 percenters that make up the senior ranks of the Todd Group forge their status in the group.

The attendees thrive on the challenge of the courses and test phases and relish the opportunity to meet and learn from the lifers that make up the Todd Group instructing cadre.

Humility and respect are essential combined with being responsible having the practical smarts and determination to be the very best combatant the individual can be.

The Todd Group instructing team will provide every bit of instruction and assistance but it is the candidate that must surpass the test requirements and for the committed realist the challenge is what they expect and want.

The annual HQ course has motivated attendees to put their noms in for upcoming exported courses with the intention of testing or getting up required hours to test.

Objective achieved and looking forward to the May exported courses to Germany and Thailand and the following courses to Auckland Wellington South Africa and Thailand again.

Upcoming courses www.toddgroup.com