Recent Todd group training focused on training in our Jiu Jitsu training program for two purposes.
The first purpose was familiarisation with the techniques and the second is to prepare a combat sports proponent and coach for a black belt grading.
While our primary roles are in the trade-crafts of mil close quarters combat/close quarters battle and mil self-defence we have always operated a combat sports school division for the learning of competitive combat sports and also conduct familiarisation with enemy/other fighting styles and codes for our close combat exponents, proponents and instructors.
Our combat sports school, like our CQC and self-defence schools is also the oldest of its type in NZ.
Our mil unarmed combat and mil self-defence training provision dates back to 1927 and our combat sports school wrestling and other styles and codes date back further.
We will celebrate our 100th anniversary of close combat training provision in 2027 and this is something never achieved by any other private specialist skills training provider in our close combat and self-defence fields of expertise.
There is no other school with over 90 years history in our European military close combat/self-defence and in our Jiu Jitsu and other combat sports codes.
We are very proud of our long commitment and history and the fact that we have been continuously committed for the last 94 years under the control and command of only two Master-Chief instructors.
Our founder the late Harry Baldock did not instruct anyone other than Geoff Todd our current Master-Chief instructor in the mil armed and unarmed combat packages but did instruct self- defence, wrestling, boxing and Jiu Jitsu along with physical culture that included high level physical fitness and strength development training.
Harry’s Jiu Jitsu was a combination of Japanese non-competitive techniques as well as European combat sports techniques and specific self-defence training based on such practices.
You were either a white belt or a black belt and the training uniform was a jacket belt and shorts.
The black belt took decades to earn and you could count those that achieved it on one hand.
Geoff was the only member that went above the first level or degree black belt under Harry earning a 5th degree black belt from him before taking over the facility in the 1980s.
Jiu Jitsu was never his passion but was part of his required training to become the facility Chief Instructor.
While European mil CQB/CQC/MSD is our primary trade-craft commitment we have maintained our training in combat sports and practical jiu jitsu.
Pics below from yesteryear Jiu Jitsu and wrestling training at our old HQ facility
Our mil self-defence and unarmed combat is all about dirty tricks brigade tactics and skills that provide even the under-dog with the best chances of winning hence their relevance to the battlefield and urban jungle where there are no weight divisions, age group, gender categories, rules or officials there to ensure individuals safety.
Knowledge is power and arming our close combat practitioners with knowledge of not only our mil packages and our allies’ mil skills but also combat sports and other fighting arts including enemy fighting arts is an important aspect of arming our people with capabilities to neutralise different threats.
We have produced champions and winners in wrestling, boxing, kick boxing, MMA and grappling and our Combat Sports School Head Coach Caleb Steven continues with the training that Harry started and Geoff continued with.
Caleb has competed in multiple combat sports codes with distinction and was chosen as the Combat Sports School Head Coach for his abilities to not only instruct the techniques he has learnt as a combat sports competitor and coach but also how to develop techniques and strategies to give his understudies edges and advantages.
Some claim combat sports codes expertise with minimal involvement or competition experience and often with no success but Caleb has always known the importance of not only commitment but proving yourself in competition against formidable opponents.
From his close combat training under Geoff he has been privy to the trade-craft high level expertise facets of tactics and skills development and has transferred this knowledge into his combat sports school codes techniques development.
Just like with our mil CQC/MSD training we conduct small group as well as individual tuition instruction that attract serious types with commitment to achieving their very best from an instructor of high level expertise that has proven his capabilities.
The Combat Sports School training attracts practitioners of other styles that want to learn what we have to offer in an environment that welcomes and encourages all that are responsible, of high integrity and that are serious and committed to their training.
Caleb has trained heavy and super heavy weight combat sports competitors as well as a female champion in Jessica Todd that won the Queen of the Mat at the NZ wrestling and grappling championships both times she competed in the dual wrestling and grappling competitions.
We have lost count of the NZ wrestling champions we have produced over such a long history.
Soon Caleb will black belt test which is a rare opportunity at the Todd Group formerly the Baldock institute that has to be earned with decades of commitment.
The recent attending exponents enjoy the provided familiarisation with other styles and codes training including enemy fighting arts as well as the access they have to combat sports training under the high level coach that Caleb is.
There is always specialist skills training being conducted at Todd Group HQ and Camp Todd as well as exported training.
We have upcoming DWAR declare war against rape instructor training and an attached females workshop as well defensive tactics and as a specialist close personal protection course coming up later in the year.
The Todd Group is the holder of the close combat doctrine and the developer of the individual tactics and skills as well as the training packages which equates to exponents getting their skills training directly from the source.
Our expertise derives from our HQ and sees overseas enthusiasts getting their training from us the HQ source which is not the norm with most styles in NZ.
We not are only the source of training but also write the manuals and produce the training resources and equipment.
We are involved in every aspect of our specialist trade-craft at the highest level and our Master-Instructors and Head Coaches are leaders in their fields.
Our members receive training in the most current and proven Todd systems skills which is important with MCQC/MSD being living progressive trade-crafts that are essential to stay ahead of violent threats.
Our in-house staff selection and training in our 95th year has proven to be the best way to set and maintain standards and high level expertise.
There have only been two MCQC/MSD Master-Chief Instructors in Harry Baldock and Geoff Todd and four Master-Instructors in Harry Baldock, Geoff Todd, Howard Bell and Kowley Mitchell at the old HQ over the past nine plus decades.
There have only been three head coaches at the Combat Sports School in Harry Baldock, Geoff Todd and Caleb Steven and we have had only three Head wrestling coaches in Harry Baldock, Alan Rolton and Caleb Steven.
When our leader’s time at the top comes to an end we have in-house trained experts selected to take over to ensure the standards and momentum are maintained and our leading unique status is continued.
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