I think your best shot is to ask one of the more experienced folks to help you "mano a mano". Many will be willing in order to get a new flier going. I flew with Rich "von" Lopez a bunch of times when learning. We'd mix it up for a while and he'd cut me almost at will (surprise!); then he'd fly gentle, open maneuvers and say, "Come and get     me". We'd keep flying until I could get a few cuts, and then he'd turn up the flame a bit more. Use streamers and make it as realistic a practice session as possible.

Some standard advice for newer combat flyers-
Don't hit the ground.
Don't maneuver when you cannot see the other plane.
Don't pull sudden maneuvers.  Doing weird things makes it just that much harder for your opponent to keep clear of you

Practice flying eyes-off a lot.  Do it until you can fly a four leaf clover that way and do figure eights both directions without watching the plane.  You want to learn this so you can fly the match while keeping track of the other plane without worrying about yours.  Flying behind your head and other tricks in a match is a good way to serve up cuts to your opponent.

Trim the plane so it doesn't do weird things.  Get it straight.  Get the tip weight and leadouts right.  Adjust the balance point, control travel, and stab throw for a stable feel.  The plane has to go where you point it, other wise getting cuts is mostly luck.  For practice, trick up a special plane trimmed tail heavy and with too much elevator throw and practice flying that precisely.  It will make a competition plane feel much easier to handle.

Eventually, you WILL hit what you look at.  Flying for cuts, look only at the tip of the other guy's streamer.  If you watch his plane you will hit it.

Do a lot of cloud flying.  Try to hit a cloud from every direction(all eight ways) without watching your plane.

Learn how low you can be and still pull an outside loop.

As Ralph said, if you have a flying buddy, fly lots of practice matches.  That means preplanning the match, talking about what you are doing/going to do, and practicing specific moves.  When you just go out and tear up the sky you usually tear up some planes too.

Most basic is: Reverse the direction that got you into the tangle, i.e. if you were doing outsides when you tangled, go to insides.  Another equally important: Don't crash!  People sometimes give up on their planes when tangled and only try halfheartedly to keep it up; but you can maintain control under some pretty adverse conditions if you really try.  Stay close to the other pilot and keep the planes close too, and concentrate on staying out of the dirt. If the other guy crashes, do lazy eights while he tries to unwrap the lines. Best of all, stay out of tangles in the first place (not always possible; it takes two).
  DO NOT jerk the lines; that's what causes cut lines and flyaways.
--Ray

That does the trick - thanks!

Peter

You want a Ringmaster for combat?  Best to try something else.
several of the smaller kit cutters have Rings.  I don't think any of them are bad, but not having seen them all I can't say which is the "best".

i have been debating wheather to post this or not
hope i dont loose friends over it--sorry guys-its kill or die.
probably will never fly combat agin so here goes.
combine this with others advice.
not aware of current rules so adjust for them
make sure you really want to do these things--your a winner or your not--you live or you die
 kill or be killed--ruthless attitude during match--you have no friends while the CLOCK IS RUNNING.
you must be a killer or you will not win
always fly at 11/10ths even in pratice--you will fold wings-you will dig dirt out of the intake--build lots of airplanes.

RULE #1(one)
IF YOU LOOSE a match or even win you must be willing give your opponent(even if you loose to him)and other fellows your airplanes and equiptment so they can continue.DO NOT wait to be asked--bring it to them.set it up start and needle it.supply your fuel props ect-DO NOT make them have to set it up.and if controls are set up like i like they will be amazed at what it can do--explain to them what and why.understand that being human some people are to hardheaded to accept the above rule.even if they say no do it--its amazing how many refuse and then run to the handle at the last second!have it ready for them.if your out spend the rest of day helping others

 
side thrust---use more than enough so in line tangles yours over powers opponent--ignore tangles and concentrete on cuts&kills--at this point its almost over and this is your last chance usualy. if opponent goes down fly high--almost straight up so his lines will slide down yours--reach inside his lines(from outside) with other hand and pull your handle out(thong? and all)--make sure you can fly with both hands--at this point match is over--time to be friends and help each other agin--carry cutting pliers-cut you own lines when needed-with out hesitation.do it.
should be able to control airplane with 10-20 twist in your lines-may get real stiff though--move that hande.

elevator travel---all you can get even to the point of stalling the wing and then some--use enough tip weight to keep it from rolling in.get all bellcrank movement possible- use long control horns 1 1/2+inch for stability and small handle--90% movement of handle should not run controls out of movement---your hand is the control stop--if you run out of travel it will upset the airplane.

use less pitch and more dia on props -extra dia reaches out futher for cuts/kills---lower pitch will pull you back to speed if you have to do 180 /stall it ect--you wont lose hardly any level speed.

when your going to get cut pull your hand in or out to get out of line of fire.if you are going to make a cut make sure you hand is even with opponents at the right moment.

pratice pumping the airplane in consecutive outside loops---do this by moving hand out at top of loop and pulling hand down to you side on down side of loop-when done right the airplane will gain speed--rapidly.
 when you can do it and have 6in of ground clearance at bottom this is a verry good defensive move that can be turned offensive when hes where you want him.KILL HIM.
this move is good when pinned down in level flight--expessily at end of first level lap(go).
same inverted--just cant pump it.

build constantly--2 or 3 on the board allways.
fly every day---bull bats/chimney sweeps will come out late evenings--good pratice--they will chase you--follow them--if you hit one you both lose--dont be afraid to hit one--build lots of airplanes.pratice flying kneeling down-sitting down-laying down even on your stomach-eyes closed--under you off arm-hand behind your head- from launch until engine runs out.never tryed between my legs.


if you pratice with friendly combat you will not be able to do whats needed to win at top levels--like pratice in a race car on dead tires--when you have good/new tires you wont reach their max level of addhesion.it teaches you the wrong things.

i dont think i will ever compete seriously agin--just for fun with Dad -Son-friends.unless ama fast makes a comeback as a vintage friendly thing with no winners or trophys.

I love combat to death
               David

   Stand on their foot, put your elbow in there face, and do a bunt around their lines ? ? ?

   ACTUALLY,if you know how tight your plane turns,if you stay above that hight,its harder to hit the deck.
   If you hang it on a line below that hight , it SHOULD clear the deck.

   Hit full down, if you loose it inverted.

  And practise AVOIDING and ESCAPING line tangles.

  If you can stay airborne for the whole bout, your on to a good start at least.

Why not go to the Corehouse site and see what is there.  I think it is listed in the vendors section, Have fun,  DOC Holliday