End of course group picture and the only on course rest for the lads over the week long intensive Leipzig Germany Phase 1 intensive Basic course.
This was the first course to be conducted back in Germany post Covid-19 and it was a full muster course.
We had to close off applications acceptance some weeks before the course which is a good indicator of training re-establishment interest.
During the course, I received requests to conduct training in several other countries this and next year including European and South East Asian countries.
More and more serious enthusiasts are wanting to get involved and they are savvy when it comes to systems training and requiring highly qualified military instructors to deliver their training.
They are not fooled by innuendo or credibility gained by association and they know the difference between traditional arts and competitive codes and official military close combat skillsets.
The point of difference they seek is mil elite Master Instructor qualified instructors delivering strictly mil CQC/MSD training.
This ensures attendees on our intensive one and two week long courses are practical realists that know what they want and understand what is expected of them.
The temperature on course was hot with fine weather from start to finish.
Full muster courses are determined in relation to our instructor to exponent ratios and this is important with such demanding training schedules to complete.
Ken the Germany Chief Instructor and owner of the Germany CQC training HQ depot was the course manager and his HQ depot is fully equipt.
Thanks to Kens course resourcing and facilitating the course wanted for nothing.
Having a separate mess facility for the course added to the uninterrupted flow of the course.
The Todd Group with its longest history as a private specialist training provider of mil CQC and mil Self-defence, prides itself in its own training facilities in NZ and overseas and with us being developers of CQC specific kit and training weapons our courses have all the trade-craft training equipment required to maximise training time and enhance outcomes.
Such is the increased interest this late in the training year we have had to add another Thailand end of year Phase 1 Basic course in early December for international and HQ exponents.
Thailand is our international hub country and we have been involved in mil CQC training there for over 30 years.
We are the only training providers in Thailand instructing our European mil elite close combat training packages.
We have an in country staff that take care of all visiting exponents and instructors needs from when they arrive until when they leave and we have our own standalone training facility and satellite training facilities.
The Germany course comprised of a group of exponents extremely interested in our exclusive lineage and my former instructors that were all allied mil Chief instructors dating back over one hundred years.
They were interested in these experts systems and the individual skills specific to wide ranging situational threat neutralisation.
Attendees on this course included individuals from military, law enforcement and security services all keen to ask questions and be instructed in tactics and skills specific to their roles and duties.
They all commented that getting their training from the HQ source is very important to them.
Apologies to those that missed out on the available positions but members always get the first chance to course confirm for available positions and then remaining positions are allocated to new entry applicants that complete vetting and meet the course joining conditions and requirements on a first accepted for course joining basis.
Course joining and conducting is very similar to our mil course joining SOPs and applicants have to conduct themselves accordingly and live by our hard, heavy and hostile modus operandi.
It’s not for everyone as those that can’t take orders, follow instructions and know their place in the food chain have no place on our courses.
The course kicked off with the brain to boot mental toughness and psychological conditioning for actions on CQC/MSD that all accepted exponents had received a pre-course PAM on to ensure they knew the terminology and correct order of execution of tactics and skills. This is important to ensure they are best ready and prepared.
There were individuals that had trained in other self-defence and unarmed combat styles that commented as usual that they had never been privy to our mil elite CQC/MSD methods before.
Many new entry exponents of recent are readers of our online tradecraft e-magazine CQC times which ensures they know what they want and what to expect.
No matter what Todd Group depot delivers training, the skills are the same and this is important for competency and confidence.
The training packages are same system skills cohesive through such commonality which is a mil close combat must over a collection of different civi styles techniques.
The Long range and point blank range stamp kicks and close range striking strategies were practiced on our objectives achievement specific fit for purpose mil CQC kit, that best increased and enhanced individual exponents confidence and competency in their capabilities.
Close range unarmed offensive assault strategies training
Close proximity training in regard to environment combatants and enemy party as well as risks in relation to terrain threats and hazards is an important aspect of gaining effective real time decision making and the execution of safe and effective threat neutralisation.
Close proximity dagger disarming training
The know-how and understanding of how to make a high risk situation safer at real time is something that comes after basic enabling skills competency is achieved and when error critiquing is undertaken as in TOCs tests of competency.
Minor adjustments can be the difference between objective achievement and failure to achieve objectives and wounding or worse.
Disarm, disable and dispose by weapon seizure and re-direction
Skills that provide for adjustments while maintaining control and retention are primary practices as in the above depiction of the redirection of the weapon in disarming at the enemy per.
Another aspect of the course that is part of toughner and sickner training is special awareness tactical risk reduction as a detainee, where mechanical restraint and confinement are realities that must be overcome in order to increase safety and threat neutralisation.
Above head mechanical restrained threat neutralisation practice
There was no Phase 1 Basic testing undertaken on this course as there were no volunteer candidates that come forward which is testament to the reality based mind-sets of the exponents on course and them wanting to be at their highest levels of capabilities when they do volunteer for testing.
We have seen all too many candidates that think they are better than they actually are fail to achieve objectives and be removed from testing including some with extensive backgrounds in fighting arts styles and competitive codes.
It is truly the combat that our dedicated and committed members seek and not the art or sport.
There was a considerable amount of translation required on course especially in the drills to command where exponents must know skills by title and execution.
This is where Ken as the assistant instructor had to translate the English titles and descriptions for hours on end over the week.
I am pleased to report that the new entry exponents on course will join the Todd Group and we will have them on course again soon including back here in Leipzig in 2025.
Next stop for me Dubai and then Thailand before heading for home to conduct a CPO course.
I would like to convey my thanks to Ken for a job well done and some great hospitality and to all the lads on course, well done for accepting the challenge of attending a week long intensive course of instruction and completing it.
Upcoming courses www.toddgroup.com
Mil CQC trade-craft on-line magazine www.cqctimes.com
