Unique Log Training Movements

Many times a new student will have a strange look on their face when we perform some of our log training exercises. It is a typical thing for this to happen to a student participating only in log training or to a new student of the Nabard Combat System. In each case, these students have not experienced the more dynamic ranges of motion or the unique movements associated with the Nabard Combat Systems weapons. I have tried to explain this to the new students before their first class, but it has always been better received after a class is complete and the student has experienced the movements and motions first hand. Once they have seen an entire class doing the movements as they are trying themselves, it just makes more sense to them through a connection. In the end there is always some amount of surprise at how much sense the movements now make and how much fun it can be.

A few examples of our log training movements relate to our Nabard Combat Systems weapons are included below:

Butterfly Sword Blocks - Nabard Short Logs

Butterfly Sword Attack Around the Head - Nabard Clubs


Butterfly Swords Forward Thrusts - Nabard Clubs


Stay tuned for more to come...

Watching a Sparring Class...

Normally I take part in every sparring class that I can. Not only is the sparring class the culmination of everything that we are learning and have been training for, but it is also where we are to push ourselves beyond our current boundary limitations that we put upon ourselves.

Well today I had to participate in an all day meeting in Biloxi, which is almost 2 hours from Pensacola. We departed for Biloxi at 6:30 am and I arrived back in Pensacola at 5:00 pm (which is when sparring class began). Not anticipating being able to participate, I did not have my uniform or shoes with me. Never-the-less, I wanted to go to class and observe others and learn from them. What I learned was interesting:

1. When you are not exhausted, you can really observe others pretty closely.
2. It is a lot of fun cheering on your friends and encouraging them to open up and do more.
3. Observation can teach a lot!

Not only was I enjoying myself, but I was able to closely watch everyone and see from a "different eye". By this I mean that I was not focused on catching my breath while observing. However I was able to truly observe what was working for some and not so much for others. Although I knew this already, I really "saw" how those people that did not move so well from exhaustion or less experience really were hit much more often and were unable to control the outcome as well.

Master Safakhoo has often said that in order to control the situation, you must first "not get hit". If you are getting hit, then you are vulnerable. That is why we have practice drills or reaction training. These drills are to teach us to "not get hit". If we move correctly, we reduce the exposure to hitting and can therefore control the outcome more easily. Through our movement, we are also able to quickly adjust and adapt our attacks further increasing our ability to control the situation. This is also the reason that some of our drills are set up to make us overcome our lack of control. If we can block with control faster that the other person is able to punch and kick, we can then take control of the situation.

All of this from observing a sparring class. I encourage everyone to observe someone else whenever possible. You can learn a lot by watching and studying someone else.

Log Training Review (week ending 10/01/2009)

This week there were a number of new students that joined in on log training for the first time.  Some of them were first exposed to log training last weekend at the Power Expo in Fort Walton Beach.  At the conclusion of their classes, each one talked about how fun and engaging log training was for them.  Some were very surprised at how log training was able to provide such a total body workout with only a few devices.  Each time they were smiling and sharing the virtues of what our training has to offer.  Once again it was a pretty exciting week in Nabard Log Training.

Nabard Combat System: Speed, Rhythm, Effectiveness

This afternoon in my Nabard Combat System training class we were working on a bag technique.  Master Safakhoo was emphasizing that our reactions are often too exaggerated.  This got me to thinking. 

The tendency of students (especially those that are new) is to either over exaggerate our movements like we are in a movie (no offense JCVD), or to not move enough thereby not transferring power correctly into our punches and kicks.   As Master was saying, it is very important for us to move, but we must also do so with purpose.  We need to know not only where the punch or kick is intended to strike, but from where we start.  If we are over exaggerating our movements we have too far to move for our next strike.  If we move to little, our strikes are ineffective.  With the Nabard Combat System, the balance in the middle of these two extremes is crucial.  Fine tuning our movements so that we are where we need to be at all times not only means we have the opportunity to be faster, but we also have the opportunity to interchange our movements between strikes, grabs, and blocks.  Therefore, Master was focusing on our range of motion today, with particular emphasis on knowing your body position and where your arms and legs are at all times.


Another focus for students must be rhythm.  As a student becomes more comfortable with their body and the movements within the Nabard Combat System, the rhythm of their strike transitions must become more consistent and quicker.  By working on rhythm and consistent transitions, a student will shorten and eventually eliminate those small gaps between strikes which allow an opponent the time to adjust and/or take over.  That is why we start with 3 strike combinations then build up to a 12+ strike combination.  Start with a small combination then keep adding to it all the while maintaining and improving the rhythm and consistency of the strikes.

Emerald Coast Power Expo

Yesterday was an exciting day.  Master Safakhoo, Phillip, Liz, Michelle and I spent the day at the Emerald Coast Power Expo (link).  Actually Master Safakhoo, Phillip, and Liz spent all day at the expo.  Michelle and I spent half a day there after leading the log training class that morning.

It was a very exciting event for all of us.  We were able to share the uniqueness and wonder of log training with people from all over.  We were demonstrating and discussing log training by giving people hands on experience and it did not matter what background or training they possessed.  Each person was wowed by the simplicity, flexibility, and applicability of our logs.  We had very muscular body builders, power lifters, MMA fighters, boxers, and generally fit people that were participants and public alike explore and use the logs.  In each case, they were amazed and wanted to know how they too could have log training in their life.  Some of the body builders even took the logs back stage and used them to pump-up prior to their stage time. 

It was truly inspiring to know that we are at the forefront of a remarkable fitness program with incredible fitness devices (our logs)!  It was also kind of cool to impress the very muscular and powerful people with our typical exercises.  There were many expressions of surprise and wonder at what Master Safakhoo has provided the world of fitness and what we are already doing at the Nabard Systems Academy.  Let's keep this momentum going and help spread the word.  How cool is it going to be when as a current student you too can say that you have been there since the beginning?

Log Training Review (week ending 09/19/2009)

This week Master Safakhoo and I changed up the log training routines a bit. We shifted around the order in which we used the logs to bring a bit of freshness to our classes and to also present a new set of challenges to our bodies. We also introduced a few new exercises in our constant and ongoing efforts to provide an invigorating total body fitness routine.

It was nice to see our new students welcomed by existing students and smiling after their first experiences with log training. It was also nice to see existing students pushing themselves with heaver logs, longer clubs, and increased focus on proper techniques.

We are continuing to push forward with Log Training and every day we see the positive changes to our bodies and our increased fitness levels. Keep up the good work, and we will see you next week!

Nabard Fitness Systems Log Training - Hand/Log Positions

With this post I will briefly describe the unique design of the Nabard Fitness System Logs. Unlike any other fitness device, the Nabard Fitness Systems Log allows full range of motion of the body by not trapping the user within a confined machine or limited path of motion. This freedom allows the body to utilize many muscles at once.

The design of the log itself takes the engagement of muscles during an exercise to another level. The off-center handle of the long log as well the off-set or extended handle of the short logs were designed into each device so that with proper technique and grip the user utilizes many muscles at once within a given exercise. Utilizing assistor muscles in addition to the major muscle groups creates a full body exercise that cannot be achieved with standard dumbbells, barbells, and other free-weight types of devices.

When properly gripped within the hand, the user resists the rotational forces acting upon the log introduced by the off-center or off-set (extended) handles. When gripped as intended, the user maintains the positional relationship of the log relative to the hand throughout the exercise and effectively shifts the center of gravity of the log further away from the hand or further up the arm from the hand depending on the chosen position. This change in the center of gravity relative to the hand forces many muscles to act in unison throughout the exercise creating a totally engaging and revolutionary approach to exercise and fitness.

Below are images illustrating how the design of the log handles allow for multiple hand/log positions thereby allowing for the targeting of different muscle groups over the entire body.

(Thanks Phillip for the photos)

Long Log - Horizontal Position


Long Log - Vertical Position


Long Log - Horizontal Position Reverse Grip (Curl)


Short Log - Hanging Position


Short Log - Horizontal Forearm Position


Short Log - Vertical Extended Position


Short Log - Vertical Forearm Outside Position


Short Log - Vertical Forearm Inside Position

Nabard Fitness Systems

As mentioned in my first post, Nabard Fitness Systems was developed to support the unique physical demands of the Nabard Combat System developed by Marco Safakhoo. As any practitioner of Nabard Combat Systems will tell you, this system is demanding and requires physical abilities not typically emphasized in other martial arts or combat systems. The Nabard Combat System utilizes a multitude of movements and positions which have a variety of full range of motion and flexibility requirements. As a practitioner advances in this system these requirements become even more important.

Having said this, the need for a supportive fitness system was always an important and desired part of the overall Nabard Combat System. Over the years a number of exercises and devices were implemented into Safakhoo's training classes. Any practitioner can tell you that each session in the Nabard Combat System is different from the last and you never know what you are going to do. Typical Nabard Combat System training includes fitness, which is an integral component of our system.

Many of you have likely seen those instructors and students in other settings which are overweight and lack flexibility. This is not the case within our system due to the built-in fitness requirements utilized dailiy. Even new students quickly begin noticing changes in themselves as do their family members, friends, and coworkers.

- Now for Nabard Fitness Systems -

Through the years many different methods and tools were developed and used within Safakhoo's academies. Each of them became integrated into greater more encompassing devices and routines. All of them, which will receive a future post I'm sure, are important in the development of the Nabard Fitness Systems Log Training exercises.

Nabard Fitness Systems Log Training is Raw, Natural, Fitness at its best. Utilizing a full spherical range of motion, Log Training engages your body core during each exercise as well as other major and minor muscle groups. Key to this success is the emphasis on the minor or assistor muscles which are necessary for proper balance of your body and the log(s). No matter which particular exercise is being utilized, the practitioner is engaged on multiple levels.

After implementing Log Training into his Nabard Combat System sessions, Safakhoo quickly realized that people outside of the typical Nabard Combat System classes could benefit greatly as well. So special Log Training classes were scheduled and opened up to people outside of his Nabard Combat System classes. We currently have 1 hour classes four times a week and if class sizes continue to grow additional class times will become necessary. While our classes are 1 hour long, a user outside of our academy can achieve great results in shorter time durations with a home set of Logs.

Not detailed so far in my posts, are the Nabard Fitness Systems Logs. My next few posts will focus on each of them and provide more information on their revolutionary design, which has been submitted for patent.

Stay tuned for more information on the unique and revolutionary design of the Nabard Fitness Systems Log.

The Nabard Combat System

As I mentioned in my previous post, the Nabard Combat System was developed over the course of Marco Safakhoo's life utilizing the ancient Persian approach to combat, known as Nabard. As a native of Persia, he utilized his opportunities to study this approach and observed numerous forms of combat from which he based the Nabard Combat System.

Safakhoo has now been sharing this combat system with others for almost 30 years within his academies in the Pensacola, Florida area. The Nabard Combat System has a primary focus on movement and instantaneous interchangeability which is a constant training point for his students. Through constant and deliberate motion the Nabard Combat System is an ever adaptable method of combat which presents an opponent with a insurmountable array of instantaneous targeted attacks, defenses, and adaptations.

With the Nabard Combat System Safakhoo's students acknowledge the full range of motion available with our human bodies. Realizing the full spherical range of motion available to our bodies is often a barrier to many other combat systems as they focus on and utilize rigid forms and postures which do little for real time life threatening situations. Many students that have experienced various other forms of martial arts comment on this and are often surprised by Nabard Combat System's focus in this area and therefore are also surprised by our ability to gain the level of results which we are accustomed to.

There will be many more posts to come that focus on the Nabard Combat System, but you can click this link to see more information currently available on Marco Safakhoo's website. (www.nabardcombatsystem.com)

My next post will provide more information on Nabard Fitness Systems (www.nabardfitnesssystems.com) which was developed to support the unique needs of the Nabard Combat System. Stay tuned for more to come.

First Post - Information on Nabard Systems

For an initial post, I thought it would be beneficial to explain a little bit about Nabard Systems created by Marco Safakhoo.

First of all, what is Nabard? Nabard as a term, means the "Persian art of combat". Nabard - The Persian Art of Combat, is designed as a war strategy and is based on multifaceted concepts and interchangeable techniques. See a full description here (http://www.nabardcombatsystem.com/history.shtml). Being a native of Persia, Marco Safakhoo brought the underlying concepts to the United States and developed the Nabard Systems.

Nabard Systems originally began as a Martial Art most easily described as similar to Kung Fu. This martial art was developed solely within Safakhoo's academies and has become known as the Nabard Combat System. The Nabard Combat System consists of constant offensive and defensive techniques which are interchangeable with one another at all times. It is through constant movement and the instantaneous moments of change and decision making that the Nabard Combat System achieves success. There will be more to come in future posts on Nabard Combat Systems. For more information please check out our website at (www.nabardcombatsystem.com).

In conjunction with Nabard Combat Systems, Safakhoo developed the Nabard Fitness System to fully support the unique requirements of the Nabard Combat System. Through his years of developing and teaching the Nabard Combat System (almost 30 years at the time of this post), it became obvious that the available exercise techniques and devices were not able capture the essence of the Nabard Combat System and therefore did not achieve the results necessary to take his students to the levels necessary for success. Safakhoo therefore began exploring and studying the motions within his Nabard Combat System and developed a supporting exercise routine. Today that focused study and exploration has led to the creation of the completely unique Nabard Fitness System. Utilizing a number of fitness devices that Safakhoo invented (patent pending) a practitioner not only exercises the larger primary muscles of the body, but the very important smaller assistor muscles of the body. Through the total body exercises of the Nabard Fitness System, the practitioner fully prepares their body for the requirements of the Nabard Combat System. Although primarily developed as a supporting exercise to the Nabard Combat System, people of all ages and physical abilities have joined in on our unique and revolutionary exercise movement. For more information please check out our website at (www.nabardfitnesssystems.com).

There is plenty more to follow. Be sure to continue reading our future posts.