The Todd Group has a very strict training and testing regime and a business model based on setting and maintaining the highest possible combative standards over attracting the masses.

Being established in 1927 and only having two instructors commanding the group in this time is testament to just how well the training provision model works. The model has stood the test of time and recognises the difference between battlefield close quarter combat and training and testing close quarters combat.

The training must reflect battlefield operational combative requirements, be challenging testing the candidate’s skill and inner resolve, but ensuring safety considerations are implemented.

Candidates having to pass the very real Phase 1 testing after completing an intensive week-long course of instruction or 100 hours of scheduled training, this has seen the Todd Group rank-and-file made up of individuals prepared to step up and accept the combative challenge. The Todd Group encourages individuals striving for combative excellence and supports individual’s goals to achieve promotion and instructor qualification.

Simple regulations such as no exponent will pay for testing or certification, as this must be earned and all Todd Group depot instructors and individual tuition instructors keep all proceeds from their instructing duties as well as receiving full headquarters support at no charge ensures everything is supportive, with individuals proving themselves as exponents and instructors. This has seen the group stand the test of time and grow at a natural rate in relation to all exponents surpassing the promotional requirements. There are no political passes and this has ensured all members respect the fact that all fellow members have had to pass the required combative test phases.

You cannot buy history or long-term developed, tested and proven expertise and this is what global candidates desire and receive on Todd Group intensive courses of instruction.

The May 11 to 16 course of instruction in Germany was the first to be conducted there by the Todd Group HQ and was a major success in relation to two candidates passing the Phase 1 test.

The course was managed by Ken Oesterreich, the Todd Group chief instructor in Germany and conducted at the Cross fit Assault Facility of Todd Group Phase 2 exponent Michael Strauch in Stuttgart. Mike passed his Phase 1 test at the Todd Group headquarters camp in Dunedin New Zealand in 2012 and partook in the Phase 2 training on this course.

Time on course goes very fast with training all day, every day and the Phase 1 test on the final day. Phase 1 and 2 to training was conducted in separate areas of the Cross fit Assault Facility simultaneously with both phases of training joining together for the technique command drills, brain to boot psychological conditioning for battle, D-War (declare war against rape) and defensive tactics tactical control restraint open training.

I very much enjoyed the company of Ken, Mike, Veit and all the German exponents on course and it didn’t take long for the camaraderie and at times, sick sense of humour to kick in.

While the atmosphere was consistent with constructive learning, when it got down to the phase test preparation and the phase test itself, the candidates knew what was required of them and how the intensity, risk factors and skills requirements had risen by considerable.

Two of the three candidates successfully passed the first Phase 1 test conducted in Germany and all three stepped up to the combative challenge with the desired attitude and will to achieve. If it was easy I informed them, everyone would be doing it. Exponents regularly tell me that they have never been privy to or participated in anything close to their Phase 1 test.

The Todd Group ethos includes providing training for any number of exponents in attendance from a single exponent through to several hundred in relation to instructor exponent ratios. It also demands phase test candidates exceed the requirements and that the standards will never be compromised.

I have been instructing for over 35 years and am still surprised at the phase test outcomes when compared to individual’s standards on the training phases. I have seen exponents on courses achieve excellent standards, but on the test phase, with the factor of confusion, sudden aggressive shock action and pressure of having to achieve the required standards, they simply failed to do so.

Failing to achieve for the candidate that is committed to self-improvement is the motivational catalysts for working on their shortcomings and retesting. If they don’t then they did not want it enough in the beginning. Although military CQC training and testing is not an exact science, but is by majority more a gross motor skill military science, its practices and methods prove its effectiveness at attracting, training, testing and promoting worthy candidates.

This was the case in Germany with the two successful Phase 1 test candidates. Encouraging candidates to achieve self-improvement, promotion, rank and pursue their combative goals is important for ensuring the group is made up of committed realists. This does future proof the continuation of the Todd Systems long-term.

We have been receiving regular enquiries from throughout Europe from interested individuals and by conducting this first intensive course of instruction and test phase we have identified considerable scope for recruiting exponents and potential future instructors from throughout Europe. The 2014 Germany course has already been confirmed, as well as possible introductory short courses throughout Germany and other European countries.

The Todd Group is not only a professional training provider but also is considered very much an extended family and as such promotes the requirement for all members to conduct themselves in a responsible, respectful manner and by doing so ensures they receive full support, assistance and guidance.

I thoroughly enjoyed my first visit to Germany and the hospitality and camaraderie, and look forward to future visits and expansion of the Todd Group and Todd Systems throughout Germany and Europe.

Next Stop Thailand

Brain to Boot CQC Psychological practise

The Thailand course this year marked my 21^st year of involvement with training and instructing CQC in Thailand.

The latest course of instruction was conducted by the Todd Group headquarters and managed by our Thailand depot instructor Ekachai. The venue was Marine Bay and the Navy base. The accommodation was very modern, clean and comfortable and right by the ocean providing a great training environment.

This course of 24 attendees included phase 1, 2 and 3 exponents and instructors with attendees from the United States, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and Thai nationals.

I provided various levels of amphib self-protection and combative training in relation to the individual exponents rank and level of training with Phase 1 receiving water based self-defence and unarmed combat, Phase 2 undergoing more advanced amphib combative training and Phase 3 lethal specialist amphibious assault unarmed combat training. There was time for the advanced and specialist proponents to partake in some night amphibious CQC practice which was a valuable and well received addition to the course.

Attendees came from wide and varying backgrounds, including formally serving in the British Army, specialist police personnel, current military instructors, miners security, specialist antipiracy operators and various trades persons. Some have trained for many years and others had been out of training for a considerable time, along with new entry-level exponents, which made for a good mix of committed individuals learning about living and training together as a group.

The Todd Group are in the process of developing a permanent training facility in Thailand to be overseen by Ekachai and during this visit decisions were made in relation to this.

Like with most exported courses of instruction the days are long and full of combative training and related specialist subjects. This was the case for the Thailand course with evenings after a hard day’s training taken up with the Todd Systems D-WAR (declare war against rape) anti-and counter sexual violence training, as well as an introduction to the theory behind the Todd Systems Brain to Boot psychological preparation for sudden aggressive shock action and deliberate offensive and counter offensive CQC tactics and skills employment requirements.

There were four females in attendance participating in various degrees in relation to their individual requirements.

This course also had a number of Thai nationals participating and observing including interested military personnel. The Todd Group objective is to ensure Thai nationals are aware of our European military self-defence and close combat training and provide the opportunity for them to train at our Thailand depot and on headquarters conducted course of instruction in Thailand. The general consensus was that the Todd Group means business when it comes to training and preparing candidates for testing and the skills are very deliberate, definite and effective.

I took two instructors from the New Zealand headquarters with me to assist on this exported course of instruction in Will the Phase 2 instructor on course and Jessie the Phase 1 instructor on course. This enabled me to focus on Phase 3 training and assisting with Phase 1 and 2 training which was an appreciated luxury.

Both instructors along with Phase 2 and 3 proponents on course that acted as assistant instructors and enemy party led by example and provided Phase 1 exponents with a high level of individual tuition instruction and assistance as well as willing enemy part on the battle handling exercises on the test phase. There were injuries but nothing that a tube of hardener and a slash of magic water could not assist with mending.

Beach training especially in the unarmed combative aspects where exponents must achieve a three second threat neutralisation was challenging and drained every exponent equally when combined with the blistering heat.

Footwork became arduous and the realities of environmental close quarters combat when fatigued, carrying injuries and trying to perform at a high level of commitment was very different to practice on desirable surfaces and under favourable conditions.

Expedient action was not possible and objective achievement became very difficult requiring exponents to make even closer range to their target before initiating offensive actions. Timing of evasive counter offensive actions had to be modified to take into account the difficulty of evasion in relation to the sandy terrain. This only enhanced the individual exponent’s capabilities when they were back on grassed area training. But at the time they were frustrated fatigued and felt less than capable under the conditions. It was designed to be character building and ensure the individuals could make immediate adjustments at real time in relation to the terrain environment and conditions.

I introduced the candidates to the practical brain to boot psychological preparation for combative violence package on two occasions. This made a considerable difference to their state of mind and physical execution of their primary skills.

Being able to assess, decide on the required option, listen to instructions on the move at real time while performing self-checks and constant checks on threat and situational changes, reduces the likelihood of focusing on enemy strengths and the dangers of self-doubt anticipation and perception over sound assessment definite decision-making and confident and committed skills employments.

The Phase 1 course of instruction promotes the realities of being compromised and as such going tactical, employing sound cover guarding to hard target oneself to reduce risk.

A considerable amount of the brain to boot training was focused on expected threats when compromised over expected threats uncompromised and unexpected threats immediate actions on situations.

Over three decades as the brain to boot training package has been developed and the individual components of the package extensively tested, the results have proven its worth and increased confidence and combative competency and the same was the case on this course in Thailand where the exponents benefited by considerable with the inclusion of the psychological preparation component of the course.

There were five candidates that volunteered for the Phase 1 test with three passing. Unfortunately one had to be removed for medical reasons and another that had performed well up until failing to achieve the objectives in a single required self-protection module.

This course of instruction was a great experience for those committed to combative self-improvement and as we got to the business end of the course and the critiquing requirement kicked in on earnest, the candidates appreciated the CQC TOET (test of elementary training) conducted that let them know exactly how ready they were for testing.

Believe me character adjustment and the occasional right old bollocking is a necessary part of proper and correct combative training, and bastardisation is a very important instructor tool in preparing candidates for testing and the ultimate realities of battlefield or specialist operational close combat tactics and skills employments. The exponent’s attitude, demeanour, respect of the chain of command, safety aspects and respect of fellow proponents is constantly monitored.

Dangerous practices, less than controlled aggression or disregard or disrespect for superiors or fellow candidates is met with immediate and definite intervention in the form of the individual exponent having the error clearly outlined and the consequences of such continued action sharply detailed. All part of sculpting exponents in relation to self-improvement and self-control.

There is no place for a PC be a well behaved non-reactive disarmed citizen on Todd Group courses and if bastardisation or colourful language intimidates, or affects an individual on a training course of instruction then the realities of real life conflict will have devastating effects.

So like the brain to boot, the test phases and their components including the combative and battle handling exercise phases are all self-revealing and provide individuals with an up close and personal look at their abilities and capabilities, individual fears, strengths and weaknesses under threat shock and stress situations.

I was told by a female observer of the phase test that just watching the candidates test made her tremble and she felt fear for the candidate’s safety. Another said it was a very serious course indeed. The lead up to the phase test obviously required a greater level of intensity if the willing candidates were to be best prepared for the challenge.

Two countries one month and 5 successful Phase 1 graduates is a pleasing result.

The next course of instruction for Thailand is a Todd Group HQ exported CPP (Body guard) course from September 22^nd until October 2^nd and then there will be another CQC course in Thailand from late November, early December, dates to be confirmed. Inquiries and information [email protected] Master website toddgroup.com Asia https://www.toddgroupasia.com/