Carl Cestari on "The Charlie Nelson System",
techniques, training and aggression.
Here's "my" take on the "Nelson" system.
NO ONE can replicate Charlies methods because NO ONE else is Charlie!
It was Charlie's LIFE that brought to life his method. You can try and duplicate it, but Charlie Nelson's system was CHARLIE.
Charlie was a MASTER of improvisation and body mechanics. The "by rote" defenses that were taught reflect only the SHADOW. Plato's allegory of the cave jumps to mind.
What drew so many to the School of Self Defense? Certainly it was the "method" initially, but what kept you coming back for more was CHARLIE! It was the MAN himself more so than the "method".
Yes, we can discuss individual technique, i.e. the "swivel" punch, but if we concentrate on this we miss the forest for the trees, as they say.
The framework of Charlie's system is useful ONLY if it guides you towards the functional reality of what Charlie taugjht.
In other words, forget the "by rote" ABC patterns and concentrate on what Charlie was REALLY doing. Subtle shifts in movement, great footwork and an innate instinctive use of proper body mechanics.
In my opinion the "framework" is only useful if it gets you to the point that YOU can think and "act" on YOUR OWN.
But this goes for anything in life, right?
The bottom line is this: The Nelson system is useful ONLY if it allows for the "John Doe" system or the "Joey Bagadonuts" method.
Sure, this is just one guy's opinion, but give it some thought.
Later,
Carl
Besides......the REAL secret to the Nelson system........was that DAMN LEAD PIPE. Go figure.
9/8/02 Re: The "Charlie Nelson" system
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...Charlie was attacked by a skel on PCP. The guy came right thru the steel door of the school. The fight went from the school, out onto to the landing, down the stairwell, into the vestibule, out the front door, and onto the street.
The festivities were brought to a conclusion by the judicious use of the age old secret technique of multiple head shots from a lead pipe.
Later Gentlemen,
Carl
9/10/02 Re: The "Charlie Nelson" system
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Pedro,
Here's my BEST no bullshit answer to your query.
If limited funds are the issue then I would suggest investing your hard earned cash in the following:
1. "Kill or Get Killed" by Applegate
"Get Tough" by Fairbairn
"Cold Steel" by Styers
2. A quality heavy bag. Spar Pro is good, but heavy bags are fine and cheaper. Ringside probably best all around quality/price. A speed bag is nice, but not mandatory.
3. A good basic bench, squat stands/safety stands, a straight bar, an e-z curl bar and about 300lbs of plates.
STUDY the books, experiment/TRAIN them "like the devil" on the heavy bag and LIFT weights.
This is the BEST way to invest your funds and get a return that is thousand fold.
No matter whose "tapes" you get, there will be things that you do and do not agree with.
Get the fundamentals down and TRAIN THEM. HARD!
I've always said that most guys are better off lifting weights and pounding a heavybag. Boxing basics, chin jab, edge of hand, elbows, knees, feet and head. AND get STRONG!
From what you're saying, forget the videos, IMPROVE your training! That's the way to go!
Good luck with your TRAINING!
Carl
9/11/02 Re: The "Charlie Nelson" system
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Pedro,
As far as "aggression" goes, well Brother, you CAN'T get that from ANY tape, or really from ANYONE.
IT'S YOU BRO! McCann's tapes are fine for seeing how McCann does things, Charlies are good for seeing how Charlie does things. In the end, it's still gonna be you and you alone that sinks or swims.
Speed, power, accuracy and aggression(focused RAGE). Those are the keys.
The mechanics of the edge of hand blows, the chin-jab, and the rest of the fundamentals are easily understood. PRACTICE and then MORE practice is what hones them into useable weapons. More than that though is YOUR determination, attitude, heart, guts, BALLS. NO ONE and I mean NO ONE can give that to YOU. You have to develop it, nurture it and learn to USE IT for yourself.
Now I won't bullshit you about this. Want to "get in touch" with your inner demons? Simple. Just think back thru your memory banks and visualize all the SOB's that you would like to stomp into gooey puddles. Taste that feeling. Eat IT! Let it nourish the beast. Then USE that when you TRAIN. Dare I say IT? HATE. Pure and unadulterated. To do the deed when it has to be done you MUST be meaner, dirtier, nastier, more vicious, ferocious, and TOUGHER than the other guy. Those qualities have more to do with what YOU BELIEVE about yourself, than anything else.
The bodyweight stuff is great, BUT I think the BEST system is a combination of both weights and "free hand" exercise.
Do yourself a favor and read Michael Colgan's books, as well as the GREAT training advice from Bud Jeffries.
The speedbag is used just like a boxer, AND is GREAT for tattooing with edge of hand blows. Also, very good for developing the eye jab/finger dart(ala O'Neil). With practice you can combine, punches, elbows, side of hand whips, and even head butts into you speedbag workout.
SPAR PRO - Forget the base and all the advice about taping this and that to it to make a "groin" and leg. Now that Clint has a scanner we can really show some good stuff. Let me get with Clint and Chuck and see if we can't show how to set up the spar pro so you can use it for EVERYTHING! You guys will love this!
Again, GOOD LUCK!
Carl Cestari
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