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Copyright © 2003-2004 Phil Elmore, all rights
reserved.
Rat Packed (Tape 14)
A Product Review by Phil Elmore
Sammy
Franco first came to my attention through his Paladin Press books, Street
Lethal and Killer Instinct. In both he outlines the mindset
and principles behind his self-defense system, Contemporary Fighting Arts
(CFA). A modern “reality-based” fighting system, CFA and its
training encompass all ranges of unarmed and armed personal combat.
The Rat Packed tape the official title of which
is Rat Packing: Defeating Multiple Attackers was sent to me by
Sammy and CFA at my request. This is always a positive sign to me, for
it indicates a willingness on the part of instructors to stand behind their
materials. The video begins with a couple of advertisements for other
CFA products and cuts to credits, shots of training, and self-defense
scenarios filmed outside. Some of the shots are accompanied by music
from off-camera.
Production values are a little choppy, involving rough spots
one assumes Franco will iron out in future offerings. The sound is
hollow at times and accompanied by audible clicks that sound like a tape
recorder being stopped or started, though the intent Franco narrating
clips of students interacting is a good one. There is wind noise
outside, a problem common to videotaped instruction outdoors, while interior
scenes shot in front of a sheet background are sometimes dark. For his
part, Sammy is friendly and engaging, though he talks very quickly the
result of possessing a lot of information he wishes to impart to the
viewer. This tape was the first opportunity I’ve had to hear Sammy’s
voice, which is always a pleasant surprise when you “know” someone
only from pictures in books.
Sammy introduces the topic of fighting multiple attackers,
warns against panic, and sets the pattern for the video. Typically, a
concept is introduced, demonstrated by Franco or his training partners, then
demonstrated repeatedly by students in the CFA training facility. Often,
footage in which students roleplay an encounter is narrated by Franco, who
points out what the participants are doing correctly and incorrectly.
There are graphic blocks with text to highlight segments.
Sammy divides multiple opponent scenarios into two types
ambushes and set-ups. Set-ups, which involve more dialogue and generally
entail more reaction time and options, are the focus of the video.
Franco divides these into “parallel encroachments” and
“staggered encroachments,” discussing body positioning for each
before going on to identify the “alpha” and “subordinate”
attackers.
The information imparted on this video is quite sound.
The CFA fighting stances, including the “de-escalation stance” and
“first strike stance,” are fairly conventional, slightly bladed,
hands-up defensive postures that are good platforms from which to launch
techniques. Franco emphasizes the need to attack the “alpha”
in a multiple opponent scenario, warns the viewer repeatedly and adamantly
about the dangers of going to the ground, and correctly outlines the proper
positioning and distance techniques that give you the best chance of surviving
a multiple opponent situation. He warns the viewer never to put his back
to a wall, cautions against becoming “anchored” to one spot, and
identifies the throat and eyes as primary vulnerable targets.
Footwork is, of course, extremely important if one is to
position one’s person properly in dealing with multiple attackers.
“If you don’t have footwork,” Franco intones, “you’re fucking dead.”
Footwork drills are demonstrated and followed up with the “relocation
principle,” in which Franco explains how to move to the outside of a
group of attackers in order to put an opponent between you and the others.
Franco also discusses the need for situational awareness in
order to avoid attacks before they develop, emphasizing escape whenever
possible. He correctly states that running isn’t always an option,
however.
Sammy devoted an entire book, called First Strike, to
the concept of preemptive striking when confronted with the credible threat of
physical violence. He goes over these principles on the video and
explains why seizing the initiative in a violent encounter is of critical
importance when facing more than one assailant.
Numerous drills round out the remainder of the video.
These include an “alpha strike drill,” plenty of footage of students
training at CFA, “body tackle” and “human shield” drills,
and a “three-man tactile drill” that develops palm-to-palm touch
reflexes while focusing on angling and body positioning.
The tape concludes with a graphic crawl and footage of
various improvised weapons, which Franco divides into striking, distracting,
shielding, and cutting implements. (Weapons are not really the focus of
the tape and are covered only in passing.) Rat Packed and
numerous other books and videos are available through Sammy
Franco Dot Com.
“As always,” Franco says in
closing, “make sure your actions are legally and morally justified in the
eyes of the law.”