The Todd Group have an unequalled history not only in New Zealand and Australia in military CQB /CQC defensive tactics and self protection training dating back to our founder, the late Harry Baldock, but also globally.
The Todd Group, formerly the Baldock Institute, was established in 1927 making it the oldest private training provider of European military armed and unarmed combat in the world. Harry was my first unarmed combat and self-defence instructor and part of his preparation for my taking over as chief instructor of the training facility was the requirement to test and instructor qualify in not only the combative instruction but also all related subjects of instruction. These subjects included physical culture as it was known then and now known as physical fitness or physical conditioning. I also had to train and qualify in massage therapy, power and strength training boxing and wrestling jiu jitsu and my primary-training subjects of unarmed combat and self-defence. Since the handover from Harry, I've made CQB/CQC my primary practices and core instructing roles. From our one headquarters facility in Dunedin to our national and international expansion to include over 35 Todd Group depots we have grown beyond our expectations by considerable. One system one headquarters one master chief instructor and 35 satellite Todd Group depots. This has all been achieved the correct and proper way by all depot instructors coming up through the ranks completing the required phases of training and undergoing the gruelling phase tests to achieve promotion and rank. The Todd Group military contract training provided in CQB has a training team of over 50 instructors that have all achieved their rank and position on training and qualification courses. The training and business model for the Todd Group is one of setting and maintaining the highest standards. The Todd Group is not a franchise and depot instructors keep every cent earned from their instructing efforts. No one pays for testing or certification. There are no easy or fast track back door options and the training team are constantly evaluating the training and testing packages to ensure the highest levels are set and maintained.
Australia has been a major country for the Todd Group for over 30 years and we have an Australian chief instructor, Shane Gordon, and depot instructors in New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia, Queensland, and Canberra. Annually, we have many current and entry level exponents from Australia visit our Dunedin headquarters and training camp for the annual international Todd Group training course of instruction or for individual small group privately arranged training. We also endeavour to conduct an annual course in Australia for phase 1, 2 and 3 exponents and instructors. The Todd Group have an international reputation built on excellence in our field and the demand for our services exceeds our instructing resources and capabilities by considerable. This has led to, at times, having to postpone all but our annual headquarters international course and military, police, and close protection courses and having courses scheduled up to five years out. Fortunately in 2010 the Australian chief instructor Shane Gordon made it back just in time for the course from India and I made it back from Hong Kong in time to prepare and head for Australia. Exporting the course and phase test from the headquarters and Camp Todd in New Zealand is something we do globally and have such courses scheduled several years out.
This year’s Australian course was conducted out of Shane's training organization facility on the Gold Coast. Having Shane, the Australian chief instructor, and the New South Wales chief instructor, Andy Boag, as well as depot instructors from Victoria, Canberra, Queensland, New South Wales, and our combative medical director and NSW instructor Dr. Steffan Ericsson in attendance provided an excellent training team for the basic level exponents on the phase 1 course. The phase 1 [basic] group of exponents knew from the outset they were in for a torrid time and the phase test would be gruelling. Some had been privy to comments of previous phase one exponents including professional footballers, Olympians, and a wide range of combat sports fighters, who had all conveyed just how much of a challenge the phase one test was for them personally. The exponents on this Australian course, by fronting up, showed they have courage to accept the challenge. The Todd Group does not need advertising campaigns outside our own online website posts asking for nominations for such courses. This is a site where exponents operators and instructors from all over the world check for training. Referrals, and the Todd Group online website, achieve full musters of volunteers and the majority are committed realists that are quietly confident and seriously committed. The training is partly regular and partly irregular in its delivery and practices. State, explain, demonstrate, questions answered, practice, critique, is the initial training order of instruction. Instructions are delivered plain and simple and the terms and terminology combined with the common profanities and hard words are the combative way in the world of dirty and deadly close combat training. The sick sense of humour is important and nothing is sacred. This is where our combative 1%ers are identified, the type that know what they are looking for, volunteers who are prepared to accept the combative challenge and the tough, rough, and coarse environment that is military CQC/CQB. Commitment on this course could be seen in abundance. There was an exponent that had not achieved the required objectives on three previous phase tests and he was some 50 KGs lighter than other candidates. There are no gender or weight categories in CQC. There was another candidate that was still carrying a leg injury from the 2009 course and test and another mature candidate who had previously had back surgery. They all shared one thing in common, commitment to be the best combatant they could be. After six days of instruction, practice, revising, and managing injuries their test time begun. They all knew that failing to achieve the objectives in any module on the phase test meant immediate removal from the phase test. The test phase is a very individual thing and exponents are very aware post the training phase of if they are confident and competent in their physical and psychological abilities to test. There were some that chose not to volunteer for testing on this test phase and their decision is respected by everyone. Those that volunteer to test now experience a change in atmosphere and intensity from the previous training environment to the realities of testing. They know it's all up to them and it's no longer instructions assistance and encouragement but now is complete orders and achieve expectations and objectives. They are on their own and it's not fellow candidates that provide the enemy party component that needs concern them but more their individual capabilities to overcome the inner demons that are personal fears and situational stress related. The only combatants they must defeat is the combatant within when it comes to the required commitment and achieving the objectives. Five exponents attempted the ultimate basic training and combative challenge that is the gruelling phase 1 basic test phase. Two failed to achieve the required objectives early but made it through the toughener and sickener component showing their desire and commitment. Their skills early on in the self defence components were not of the required level, possibly a result of the stress of the occasion, or possibly they simply needed more training time. They did show courage and the test for them now is what they do next and I make this as a general statement based on all candidates on all previous phase 1 tests that have failed to achieve the required objectives. There should be no excuses, just an immediate training plan established in preparation for future phase testing. Anyone that opts out of continued training and future phase testing, well then the process has identified an individual that did not deserve to pass in the beginning. The test phase is a combination of exact skills in the drills component and rugged but controlled aggression in the toughener and sickener component that tests combative fitness and conditioning as well as inner resolve and the ability to absorb punishment and go counter offensive. It's very much a case of this component being not tactically correct but very revealing of the candidate’s levels of physical and mental toughness. It prepares them well for when up against a formidable enemy to be able to endure and overcome the initial onslaught, pain, pressure, and injury and set about winning. Then immediately to the military armed and unarmed self-defence modules testing where the candidate must demonstrate anti- and counter- actions in their exact and correct execution achieving the objective in every execution. The CQC phase is next with little in the way of safeguards or rules and no padding or protective gear. The brief is simple: employ primary phase 1 skills to combat or counter your enemy party and do not give up and only halt when told to. The reality is the sudden aggressive shock actions and situational stress means there is a reduction in the skill level and objectives that were achieved with ease in training now require a marked increase in effort and inner-resolve and combative smarts. Where on the sports field you can see a player fowled with a bare hand strike and give in and up to the effects, the phase one test candidates must endure constant unarmed assault and combat or counter it. Then immediately after achieving the CQC component objectives the battle handling exercises begin and facing the unknown. You are a victim of the unknown and the enemy party can come from anywhere and the threat can be anything armed or unarmed and you must neutralize the threat correctly. Finally when you are feeling the effects of numerous unprotected stamp kicks and bare hand strikes, not to mention physical fatigue and mental exhaustion, you must once again get into formation order for final drills in the form of combative technique to command, knowing you could fail after achieving all previous component objectives. This is a final test of the candidate’s ability to stay combative ready and willing and not lose focus or control. They must not fall victim to the effects of adrenaline dumping and must maintain as high a level as possible of the combative drill required motor skills. They must also be able to listen to instructions and orders and execute them fast time. There is no place for tunnel vision, audio exclusion, or lack of concentration, and we end the test phase as we started it, with drills that prove prior training and skills retention. The three remaining candidates on this phase 1 test achieved the required objectives and can be proud of their achievement and promotion to phase two advanced Todd Systems training.
There is no fanfare or ceremony but everyone in attendance is pleased with these candidates success and quietly congratulate them or opt for the camaraderie angle in the form of some humorous criticism and reminders of any minor imperfections noticed during the test phase. Comments like “not bad, but always room for improvement,” or “don’t forget to attend phase one training as well as phase two.” ensure the successful tested candidate remains humble.
Finally one headquarters, one system, one Master chief instructor, and all the rank-and-file trained, tested, and qualified under the same conditions, and all striving for their combative best, whether it be as exponents or instructors is our strength and what sets and maintains combative excellence.
To count in the Todd Group and be respected one must be committed to striving for combative excellence and being the best combatant they possibly can be and understanding humility. The instructors present led by example on this course and as always were prepared to focus completely on assisting the basic course of instruction to ensure they received the best training and preparation possible for the phase one testing. The Todd Group instructing cadre always put the exponents’ requirements before their own personal combative training.
There are many benefits and advantages of being a Todd Group member including training and support, aide-memoires, distance learning, continuation training, support manuals, training equipment, and having access to national and international training courses of instruction.
The non-public members-only benefits that include joining the training team on overseas military camps for exported courses of CQC instruction and receiving training from some of the world’s leading military combative instructors are privileges associated with committing to entry level phase one training at minimum. Every time we export such courses as the recent course in Australia and as such we increase the number of combative one percenters that make up the Todd Group rank and file. That is, if any candidates pass their phase one test on the specific course test phase. There have been many courses, such as the 2009 Australian phase test, where not a single candidate passed.
Those that do successfully test have the privilege of phase 2 advanced and phase 3 specialist training to look forward to.
