Hi everyone, Alexandre’s speaking! After an intense training in Belgium with my friend Fred Mastro, it was high time for me to take stock and share with you my feedback on this explosive Level 1 seminar, which marks my first steps into the world of MDS, and which I remember fondly.
I know I had teased you about this event for a while!
So, today is the day I tell you about this new path I took!
We practiced self defense with pragmatism and lots of sweat! All right, let’s get started!
A little reminder for latecomers: Fred Mastro is the founder of the Mastro defense System (previously known as Silat defence System), a self defense method that gathers several styles including Pencak Silat, and which is largely based on real-life experiences.
Fred Mastro has been working in the security industry for over 20 years. Throughout his career, he has had to update a number of self defense techniques that were a bit too “fantasized” and recalibrate them for the current needs of the street.
It gives a simple, sleek and explosive method, a real condensation of experience and common sense that has allowed MDS to acquire a worldwide reputation.
Indeed, today the school is established in 13 countries, spread over 4 continents:
- Europe: Belgium (MDS headquarters), France, Italy, Poland, Germany, Greece, Switzerland, Ireland, Slovakia.
- North America: United States, Canada.
- Asia: South Korea.
- Africa: Morocco.
Among the people who practice it, there are notably bodyguards of celebrities such as Jean-Claude Van Damme, but also instructors for professionals (close protection, law enforcement, etc.). Fred Mastro has also worked in the nightlife industry and has gradually become a reference in the self defense world, both in the French-speaking world and abroad.
Table of Contents
The story of a round trip
Early in the morning at the Marseille Provence airport in Marignane and after having a breakfast, I was on the starting blocks, deprived of gel and deodorant by the security, but finally about to go.
After a quick flight, a radical change of temperature in Brussels, the first step of the stopover that led me to my Airbnb, a rather spacious apartment but a bit “rustic”!
A kind of Halloween atmosphere, perfect for an evening in the right conditions! Too bad, it was not the season anymore 🙂
Apart from that, I had very positive first impressions, Belgian people are very nice and friendly! What happiness!
Time to do some shopping for the days to come and that’s it, all set. I don’t have the time to go in too much details, tomorrow is going to be a tough day and I’m so excited that I might not be able to sleep. Time to rest now.
Day #1: First contact
Anecdote of the day
First training day (or rather first afternoon since the session only started at 1pm), and first night rather difficult since I realized too late that the window of the room did not have shutters! The first glimmers of sunlight were… decisive!
Of course, I was thinking about the afternoon to come, while waiting to fall asleep, which reminded me of a funny anecdote I wanted to share with you.
Recently, I participated to a seminar with Fred Mastro in Martigues, near Marseille.
Among the different trainees I met, one of them (whose first name I can’t remember, sorry if he recognizes himself, hi!) was talking about the recent developments of the school, especially at the “Marineland”, where a new MDS section was to open soon.
Marineland!? Ok. I had a little trouble picturing what Fred Mastro was going to do among dolphins, but never mind. At the time, I didn’t understand how huge this project was. When I remembered the scene a little later, I decided to check the information that seemed surreal.
I laughed when I realized that he wasn’t talking about Marineland but about Maryland, a state in the USA!
Can you imagine Fred beating up an aggressor, standing on top of a killer whale? Let’s vote and see if Fred likes the concept 🙂!
Who knows, maybe there’s something great we could do, a kind of aquatic self defense!
Rendezvous in an unknown land
I arrived on site and the team welcomed me very kindly.
The session started very hard: muscle and bone hardening galore (between 1h and 2h, I still have trouble figuring out the duration of the exercise, to tell you how much it finished me off!)
No part was spared: forearms, kentos, palms, thighs, etc.
A first approach of the MDS, quite muscular, which may not suit everyone because of its intensity but which has a certain merit. As Fred says, toughness is important to prepare the body for the sometimes very violent impacts in the street.
Getting out of your comfort zone never hurts! Well, comfort was already gone on vacation for a while!
The second part of the afternoon was dedicated to techniques.
A lot of content to digest, a lot of interventions from Fred, his feedback and tracks to optimize the work, especially on the angle of the punches according to the target. All this, always with a concrete discourse that I totally agree with.
Here is a pell-mell of techniques we worked on:
- Hook strikes and related blocking
- Irrevocable strikes
- Low-kicks
- Elbow strikes
- Tiger paws
- And much more techniques…
I have integrated many martial arts and self defense schools, and I can assure you that MDS has a strong personal identity, which I kindly call “oaf”. But I would rather say “intelligent oaf”: if the counterattacks are hard, it’s for a precise and well thought-out reason, there is always a reason carefully studied beforehand behind each technique, as violent as they may sometimes seem to uninitiated people.
Clearly, this is a rough style, with no fuss or concessions. The MDS is therefore a school that I can relate to.
First observation of the day: the technical level is very, very high. Fred’s teaching is anchored in reality, very pragmatic. The different counterattacks proposed were real re-readings of techniques that are a bit “obsolete”, considering the social context and the hyper-violence of aggression.
No fancy words at the MDS, the key word was “operational”, just what I like.
Back to the apartment after a nice diner at the restaurant with the MDS team. The pain is real, but it’s a healthy pain! A shower and off to bed without further delay, the party is just starting!
Day #2: It is time to suffer
If you want to know what it feels like to be run over by a truck, then attend a Mastro defence System Level 1 training!
Not to mention the physical challenges of the previous day and the aches and pains with which you have to start this second day of training, after a good night’s sleep.
I have to say that the previous day’s exercises were no picnic! During my modest martial arts career, I have taken quite a few blows, but it was punctual, not so intense during 1h30 to 2h as yesterday. I recommend you to try it!
But I don’t have time to complain anymore, the session starts at 10 am.
Another great day.
After 30 min of preparation (still hurts the same!), we moved on to a variety of technical work (triangle movements, striking distances, blocking, etc.).
The technical program went on and on, at a good pace. Even if we already had a great technical level, it was a real pleasure to discover new things. It doesn’t take much to be starry-eyed 🙂
I already have several avenues of work to pursue after I came back home, and we’re only halfway through the program!
Relationships are beginning to develop between the participants. There was a family atmosphere that I particularly appreciate. Note that this Level 1 attracts many practitioners, in addition to being friendly! There are people of different nationalities, which is quite logical as the MDS exists abroad.
So we suffer, but in a good mood!
It is a real opportunity to practice in such conditions, so I ask for more! Unfortunately times runs very fast, and it was already 4 pm. End of the second day.
Day #3: Finish him
Third and last day of MDS training. To tell you the truth, I’m quite dozy. It has “only” been 2 days, but I’m tired and I feel that my body has been put through the mill, it was very intense!
Strangely I don’t have any bruises, whereas I am used to all kinds of post seminar bruises. On the other hand, this time I feel crushed from the inside 🙂
I cannot deny that the MDS school is excellent to take stock of one’s physical condition!
So here I am, ready to start this last day not
knowing what fate awaits me.
The program was: dodges, ground work, strangulation, etc.
A little physical conditioning at the beginning of the day of course, we know the routine!
I still appreciate the pedagogy and the research that lie behind each situation.
Maybe I am more aware of these points than others, as I am myself in constant research and evolution. I appreciate all the investment Fred put in this seminar. As they say, “you get you’re money’s worth”!
As you know, I’m not a fan of overly traditional techniques that are not adapted to the street. MDS has really dusted off the subject, which is great because I totally agree with this vision of self defense.
All good things come to an end. This is the end of 3 days of intensive work, at the end of which I had the honor to receive the Mastro defense System level 1 instructor diploma by Fred Mastro.
I am very glad and proud to have been able to join a seminar of such a technical level and in such a good atmosphere!
To sum up my impressions
After more than 25 years practicing and all the seminars I have attended, I must say that on the whole technical panel presented during these last 3 days, we have approached aspects that I had never found anywhere else, which really surprised me!
Fred Mastro has really done a lot of research to bring up to date techniques from Silat, or other traditional martial arts.
This is one of the reasons why I wanted to join this school in particular, for this aspect dedicated to research and evolution. Indeed, as you know, I am not a big fan of frozen disciplines.
Another point that really surprised me was the atmosphere. I’m used to training with a great atmosphere, most of the time we’re having fun, but it’s always a kind of “camaraderie” rather than real friendship.
This time was the first time I felt a sense of family! I deeply appreciated it and I’m even more proud to be part of this great family of the Mastro defense System!
Well, that’s it for today, I hope you liked this little immersion through this presentation.
I would also like to thank Fred and the whole MDS team for these 3 fantastic days, as well as the colleagues with whom I sweated! It was a great pleasure to work with you!
As for you, if you enjoyed it, don’t hesitate to check my YouTube channel for more 100% self defense content, as well as the one of my friend Fred whose link is available at the bottom of the article!
Mastro Defence System Official Website: https://mastrodefencesystem.com/fr/
Fred Mastro’s Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkAgTd8YQRSwPqzScsWs7nw
