Mastering the Martial Arts of Cali Combat Systems: A Guide to Jeet Kune Do, Kali-Silat, Krav Maga, and JuJitsu at CCSMA
- Sifu Jeramiah Giehl
- Sep 2
- 10 min read
Introduction to Cali Combat Systems Martial Arts
Cali Combat Systems (CCS) Martial Arts, based in San Diego, California, is a premier training academy offering a reality-based, comprehensive martial arts curriculum designed for self-defense, personal growth, and tactical applications. Founded and led by Sifu Jeramiah Giehl, a highly credentialed instructor with Black Belts in Combat JuJitsu, Shorinji Ryu JuJitsu, Limand Songahm Taekwondo, as well as certifications in Progressive Fighting Systems (PFS) under Sifu Paul Vunak, Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do (JKD) Grappling under Sifu John Doty, Krav Maga under Master Alain Cohen, and Level 5 Professional Grappler status under Sensei David Tice, CCS integrates four core martial arts systems: Fight Rhythm Jeet Kune Do, Kali-Silat Motion, First To Fight Retzev Combatives, and Integrated Ground Fighting Systems (IGFS). These systems address the four main realities of self-defense: stand-up kickboxing, integrated grappling (clinch and ground), weapons tactics, and multiple opponent engagements. Tailored for civilians, law enforcement, military, and security professionals, with a special emphasis on empowering women and children, CCS’s curriculum draws from the teachings of martial arts pioneers like Bruce Lee, Imi Lichtenfeld, Dan Inosanto, and Paul Vunak. This article provides an exhaustive, comprehensive, and detailed exploration of the martial arts taught at CCS, covering their philosophies, lineages, core components, techniques, training methodologies, and real-world applications.
Overview of the Four Core Arts
CCS’s martial arts curriculum is structured around four interconnected systems, each addressing distinct aspects of combat while integrating seamlessly to form a holistic self-defense framework:
Fight Rhythm Jeet Kune Do: Rooted in Bruce Lee’s philosophy, this system emphasizes adaptability, simplicity, and directness in stand-up striking, trapping, and sensitivity drills, preparing practitioners for fluid combat across ranges.
Kali-Silat Motion: A Filipino and Southeast Asian martial arts system focusing on weapons-based combat (stick, knife, gun) and empty-hand techniques, including Dumog and Silat, for versatile offense and defense.
First To Fight Retzev Combatives: A reality-based self-defense system centered on Israeli Krav Maga’s principle of Retzev (continuous motion), integrating Rapid Assault Tactics (RAT), Escape To Gain Safety (ETGS), Kina Mutai, and weapons-based grappling for military, law enforcement, and civilian applications.
Integrated Ground Fighting Systems (IGFS): Inspired by Sifu Larry Hartsell’s Integrated Grappling Systems but expanded at CCS, IGFS combines Judo, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), Russian Sambo, Wrestling, Shooto, Catch Wrestling, Dumog, Silat, and Kina Mutai for clinch and ground combat, adapted for street scenarios.
These systems are taught under Sifu Jeramiah’s guidance, ensuring accessibility for all skill levels and a focus on practical, real-world effectiveness.
Fight Rhythm Jeet Kune Do
Philosophy and Principles
Fight Rhythm Jeet Kune Do (JKD) at CCS is an evolution of Bruce Lee’s revolutionary martial art, emphasizing adaptability, efficiency, and combat flow. Based on the principle of “no holds barred,” JKD rejects rigid adherence to traditional forms, encouraging practitioners to “absorb what is useful, discard what is not, and add what is uniquely your own.” CCS’s Fight Rhythm JKD focuses on developing a natural, rhythmic flow in combat, integrating striking, trapping, and sensitivity drills to address stand-up kickboxing and clinch scenarios. Key principles include:
Simplicity and Directness: Techniques are streamlined to minimize complexity, ensuring quick, effective responses under stress.
Sensitivity and Flow: Drills like Hubud and Chi Sao develop tactile awareness, enabling practitioners to “feel” and counter opponents’ movements intuitively.
Adaptability Across Ranges: JKD seamlessly transitions between striking, trapping, and grappling, preparing practitioners for dynamic, unpredictable encounters.
Combat Rhythm: Emphasizes timing and flow to maintain offensive and defensive momentum, inspired by Bruce Lee’s concept of intercepting attacks.
Lineages and Influences
Bruce Lee: The founder of JKD, whose philosophy shapes CCS’s approach to adaptable, reality-based combat.
Guro Dan Inosanto: A senior student of Lee, Inosanto’s Chinatown JKD and JKD Concepts influence CCS’s curriculum, blending Wing Chun, Boxing, and Filipino arts.
Sifu Paul Vunak: Through PFS, Vunak’s contributions to JKD’s street applications, including trapping and clinch work, enhance CCS’s Fight Rhythm approach.
Sifu John Doty: An authority in Jun Fan JKD Grappling, Doty’s teachings inform CCS’s integration of JKD with grappling elements.
Core Components and Techniques
Striking: Incorporates Panantukan (Filipino boxing) for jabs, crosses, hooks, and uppercuts; JKD Straight Blast for rapid, continuous punches; and Savate-style kicks (e.g., low kicks, push kicks) for range control.
Trapping: Draws from Wing Chun and JKD, using techniques like Pak Sao (slapping hand), Lop Sao (pulling hand), and Jao Sao (crossing hand) to immobilize opponents’ limbs and set up strikes or takedowns.
Sensitivity Drills: Hubud (flow drill) and Chi Sao (sticking hands) develop tactile awareness for close-quarters combat, enabling quick counters and transitions.
Clinch Work: Integrates trapping with grappling (e.g., JKD Grappling, Dumog) to control opponents in close range, setting up throws or submissions.
Attributes Developed: Timing, sensitivity, speed, power, and flow, achieved through repetitive drilling (1,000 repetitions for muscle memory, 10,000 for instinct).
Real-World Applications
Fight Rhythm JKD excels in stand-up scenarios, such as street fights or bar altercations, where quick, direct strikes and trapping neutralize single or multiple attackers. Its sensitivity drills prepare practitioners for dynamic, unpredictable encounters, while its adaptability ensures effective responses in confined spaces or against aggressive opponents.
Kali-Silat Motion
Philosophy and Principles
Kali-Silat Motion encompasses Filipino and Southeast Asian martial arts, including Kali (Inosanto-LaCoste, Pekiti-Tirsia), Maphilindo Silat, Harimau Silat, and Panantukan, focusing on weapons-based combat and empty-hand techniques. This system emphasizes versatility, flow, and lethality, preparing practitioners for armed and unarmed scenarios. Key principles include:
Weapons-First Approach: Training begins with weapons (stick, knife, gun) to develop universal movement patterns applicable to empty-hand combat.
Flow and Mobility: Emphasizes continuous motion and adaptability, using angles and footwork to outmaneuver opponents.
Practicality for Survival: Techniques are designed for real-world threats, including edged weapons, firearms, and multiple attackers.
Integration with Grappling: Incorporates Dumog and Silat for weapons-based and empty-hand grappling, enhancing close-quarters control.
Lineages and Influences
Guro Dan Inosanto: A master of Filipino Kali and Silat, Inosanto’s teachings form the backbone of CCS’s Kali-Silat Motion, emphasizing weapons and empty-hand flow.
Guro Burton Richardson, Guro Daniel Sullivan, Guro David Seiwert, Guro Ron Balicki: These experts contribute to CCS’s Kali and Silat curriculum, focusing on practical, street-oriented techniques.
Sifu Paul Vunak: Vunak’s PFS integrates Kali’s weapons tactics with JKD, influencing CCS’s approach to weapon retention and disarms.
Core Components and Techniques
Weapons-Based Combat:
Single/Double Stick: Techniques like Sinawali (weaving patterns) and Redonda for offensive and defensive stick fighting.
Knife Fighting: Pekiti-Tirsia and Inosanto-LaCoste methods for slashing, thrusting, and disarms.
Gun Defense/Retention: Redirecting firearms, disarming techniques, and weapon retention for close-quarters scenarios.
Empty-Hand Techniques:
Panantukan: Filipino boxing with elbows, knees, and dirty tactics (e.g., eye rakes, hair pulls).
Dumog: Filipino wrestling for off-balancing, throws, and joint locks, often integrated with weapons.
Maphilindo/Harimau Silat: Low-line sweeps, takedowns, and ground finishes, with Harimau emphasizing tiger-like ground mobility.
Sensitivity Drills: Hubud and flow drills develop tactile awareness for weapons and empty-hand combat.
Attributes Developed: Coordination, precision, agility, and flow, with emphasis on weapon proficiency and adaptability.
Real-World Applications
Kali-Silat Motion is ideal for defending against armed attackers in urban environments, such as knife or gun assaults. Its weapons-based grappling and empty-hand techniques prepare practitioners for multiple opponent scenarios, while its focus on disarms and retention suits law enforcement, military, and civilian self-defense.
First To Fight Retzev Combatives
Philosophy and Principles
First To Fight Retzev Combatives is a reality-based self-defense system centered on Israeli Krav Maga’s principle of Retzev (continuous motion), integrating Rapid Assault Tactics (RAT), Escape To Gain Safety (ETGS), Kina Mutai, JKD, and weapons-based grappling. Designed to address the four realities of self-defense (stand-up, grappling, weapons, multiple opponents), it prepares practitioners for military termination tactics, law enforcement control tactics, and civilian self-defense, with a focus on empowering women and children. Key principles include:
Continuous Motion (Retzev): Relentless pressure to overwhelm opponents, transitioning seamlessly between striking, grappling, and weapon defense.
Practicality and Simplicity: Techniques are instinctive and direct, tailored for high-stress scenarios like assaults or active shooter situations.
Empowerment through Escape: ETGS and Kina Mutai’s “Bite, Fight, and Get-Away” approach enable women and children to escape violent attacks (e.g., rape, human trafficking).
Control vs. Termination: Balances restraint for law enforcement with lethal tactics for military and civilian survival.
Lineages and Influences
Imi Lichtenfeld: The founder of Krav Maga, whose IDF system informs Retzev’s aggressive, practical approach.
Master Alain Cohen: Sifu Jeramiah’s Krav Maga mentor, emphasizing real-world applications like active shooter defense.
Sifu Paul Vunak: Developer of RAT and Kina Mutai, Vunak’s PFS contributions add rapid, brutal tactics for street survival.
Guro Dan Inosanto: Influences weapons-based grappling and empty-hand techniques through Kali and Silat.
Core Components and Techniques
Israeli Krav Maga: Defenses against punches, kicks, chokes, grabs, and weapons (gun, knife, stick), using Retzev for continuous counterattacks.
Rapid Assault Tactics (RAT): Straight blast, Clinch RAT (standing control), and Ground RAT (ground dominance) for rapid threat termination.
Escape To Gain Safety (ETGS): Women’s and children’s self-defense, focusing on escapes from chokeholds, wrist grabs, and ground entanglements.
Kina Mutai: Asymmetrical grappling with biting, eye gouging, and finger breaks for escaping violent attacks, particularly for women.
Weapons-Based Grappling: Kali and Silat techniques for gun, stick, and knife disarms, retention, and offensive use.
JKD Elements: Striking (Panantukan, straight blast) and trapping (Hubud) for seamless transitions.
Military Termination Tactics:
Straight blast, Kina Mutai (biting, eye gouging), lethal strikes (throat, groin), and Shooto/Catch Wrestling submissions (neck cranks, heel hooks) for rapid neutralization.
Law Enforcement Control Tactics:
Krav Maga control holds (arm drags, wrist locks), Judo throws (Osoto Gari), and BJJ positional dominance (mount, guard) for restraint.
Civilian Self-Defense Combatives:
ETGS escapes, Kina Mutai’s “Bite, Fight, and Get-Away,” and weapon defenses for street survival.
Attributes Developed: Aggression, sensitivity, leverage, and combat flow, with emphasis on instinctive responses.
Real-World Applications
Retzev Combatives excels in:
Military: Rapid termination of threats (e.g., active shooters, multiple opponents) using RAT, Kina Mutai, and weapon disarms.
Law Enforcement: Controlled restraint for arrests, using Krav Maga and BJJ techniques to minimize harm.
Civilians: Escape from assaults (e.g., rape, trafficking) via ETGS and Kina Mutai, with weapon defenses for urban threats.
Multiple Opponents: Retzev’s continuous motion manages mass attacks effectively.
Integrated Ground Fighting Systems (IGFS)
Philosophy and Principles
Integrated Ground Fighting Systems (IGFS) at CCS is a hybrid grappling system inspired by Sifu Larry Hartsell’s Integrated Grappling Systems but expanded to include Judo, BJJ, Russian Sambo, Greco-Roman/Freestyle Wrestling, Shooto, Catch Wrestling, Dumog, Silat, and Kina Mutai, with the Stand-Up Guys Fighting Method Grappling Arts as a key component. IGFS emphasizes clinch and ground combat, adapted for street scenarios, balancing control and brutal tactics. Key principles include:
Seamless Transitions: Fluid movement between standing clinch and ground fighting, integrating with JKD and Kali-Silat.
Control with Minimal Harm: Techniques for restraint (e.g., law enforcement) using leverage-based holds.
Asymmetrical Tactics: Kina Mutai’s “Bite, Fight, and Get-Away” for survival in extreme scenarios.
Real-World Adaptability: Addresses chaotic environments, including weapons and multiple attackers.
Lineages and Influences
Sifu Larry Hartsell: Founder of Integrated Grappling Systems, inspiring CCS’s broader IGFS.
Sensei David Tice: Shapes Combat JuJitsu elements.
Sifu Paul Vunak: Contributes Kina Mutai’s asymmetrical tactics.
Inosanto, Richardson, Sullivan, Seiwert, Balicki: Provide Dumog and Silat expertise.
Core Components and Techniques
Judo: Throws (Osoto Gari, hip throws) and sweeps for standing grappling.
BJJ: Submissions (armbars, triangles, chokes) and positional control (guard, mount) for ground dominance.
Russian Sambo: Dynamic throws (ankle picks), leg locks, and arm locks.
Wrestling: Greco-Roman/Freestyle takedowns (double-leg, single-leg) and top control.
Shooto: Hybrid wrestling with strikes (punches from mount) and submissions (guillotines).
Catch Wrestling: Aggressive submissions (neck cranks, heel hooks) for rapid finishes.
Dumog: Filipino wrestling for off-balancing and joint locks, often with weapons.
Silat (Maphilindo, Harimau): Sweeps, takedowns, and ground finishes with mobile ground movement.
Kina Mutai: Biting, eye gouging, and finger breaks for escape, especially for women.
Trap Fighting: An offshoot of Shooto, blending JKD, Wing Chun, and Shooto/Catch Wrestling (e.g., Paul Varelans in early UFC) for clinch control and takedowns.
Attributes Developed: Sensitivity (Hubud, Chi Sao), balance, leverage, and stamina.
Real-World Applications
IGFS is ideal for street scenarios requiring clinch or ground combat, such as defending against larger opponents or weapon-wielding attackers. Its control techniques suit law enforcement, while Kina Mutai and Catch Wrestling provide brutal options for military and civilian survival. The system’s weapons-based grappling addresses knife and gun threats effectively.
Training Phases and Methodologies
CCS employs the PFS phased approach across all four systems:
Phase 1 – Foundational: Introduces core techniques (JKD striking, Kali weapons, Krav Maga defenses, IGFS grappling) and sensitivity drills, focusing on mechanics and survival mindset.
Phase 2 – Self-Perfection: Refines techniques, flow, and stress inoculation, incorporating advanced Kina Mutai, weapon disarms, and ground submissions for real-world scenarios.
Phase 3 – Self-Expression: Encourages personalization, blending systems to suit individual needs, emphasizing adaptability and combat flow.
Training methods include:
Semi-Private and Private Sessions: Held at Patriot Park in 4S Ranch, tailored for all skill levels.
Drills: Sensitivity (Hubud, Chi Sao), focus mitts (Panantukan, JKD), grappling (Dumog, Kina Mutai), and weapons training (stick, knife, gun).
Stress Inoculation: Simulates chaos (multiple attackers, low-light, weapons) to build resilience.
Workshops: Courses like “De-Fang The Snake” (escapes), “Single/Double Stick,” “Knife Grappling,” and “Filthy MMA” cover all systems.
Mindfulness and Ethics: Meditation and philosophical discussions ensure responsible use of techniques, emphasizing empowerment.
Real-World Applications
CCS’s four core arts address diverse scenarios:
Military: RAT, Kina Mutai, and weapons-based grappling for rapid threat termination in war zones or active shooter scenarios.
Law Enforcement: Krav Maga, BJJ, and Judo for controlled restraint in arrests or crowd management.
Civilians: ETGS, Kina Mutai, and weapon defenses for escaping assaults, rape, or trafficking, with JKD and Kali for stand-up and armed threats.
Multiple Opponents/Weapons: Retzev’s continuous motion, Kali’s disarms, and IGFS’s grappling manage mass attacks and armed encounters.
Instructor Profile and CCS’s Unique Approach
Sifu Jeramiah Giehl’s credentials, including certifications in PFS, Krav Maga, Active Shooter Defense, and Military Edged Weapons, ensure expert instruction. His roles as a kids’ instructor and anti-gang educator create an inclusive, community-oriented environment. CCS’s unique approach lies in its seamless integration of Fight Rhythm JKD, Kali-Silat Motion, Retzev Combatives, and IGFS, addressing all combat ranges with a focus on real-world survival, women’s empowerment, and ethical training.
Conclusion
The martial arts of Cali Combat Systems—Fight Rhythm Jeet Kune Do, Kali-Silat Motion, First To Fight Retzev Combatives, and Integrated Ground Fighting Systems—form a comprehensive, reality-based curriculum that prepares practitioners for the complexities of self-defense. From JKD’s adaptable striking to Kali’s weapons mastery, Retzev’s relentless pressure, and IGFS’s versatile grappling, CCS equips civilians, law enforcement, and military personnel with practical skills for survival. With a focus on empowering women and children through ETGS and Kina Mutai’s “Bite, Fight, and Get-Away” approach, CCS offers a holistic path to martial arts mastery, blending physical prowess, mental resilience, and ethical responsibility under Sifu Jeramiah Giehl’s expert guidance.
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