24/10/17: Developing from drills to sparring - Thai Boxing and a little stick work

Over the last few weeks we have been looking at some simple strategies that can be applied to sparring, through drills then incorporated into conditioned sparring where there is skill development but an ever increasing amount of uncertainty.. leading into "full sparring".

In this session we explored some simple combinations, which the attacker could then tie together in a variety of ways, while the defender trains themselves to maintain correct distance, defensive actions and looks for gaps to exploit.

It goes without saying that we had to make sure we were trying to hit our partner (nicely, but not pulling punches) and use proper body mechanics at all times adjusting range and getting back out again and "defencing ourselves at all times"

Thai drills

1) Lead hand punch followed by rear round kick: any lead hand punch (jab high/low/at different angles, upper cut, hook). When moving forward remember to step off line slightly and prep your "hard ankle" for the round kick.

2) Rear hand punch followed by lead round kick: any rear hand punch (cross high/low/angles, upper cut, hook, overhand). On lead round kick you can't use a switch step at times but not all the time or it might be read more easily.

After we drilled these independently we then mixed any punch/any kick and defender used a Thai leg crush to block the round kick if they could. We also occasionally returned a jab or cross to check that the attacker was using a swiping action with their arm during their round kick to protect themselves.


3) Rear teep (step back on landing to stay in left lead), jab cross (or any lead then rear hand combo).

4) Rear teep (step forward landing in right lead) jab cross (is south paw stance) or any lead/rear hand combo

5) Lead leg teep (lead/rear or rear lead punch follow up)


After drilling independently we mixed up order and also mixed up the punches meaning we could double up on the lead or rear etc. We then added some additional defences - using the elbow to "brush off" the teeps (being careful not to drop hands) or scooping the teeps so that partner is off balanced (stepping off to outside line)  if we could.

Putting it all together:

Partner A fed any attack we had done tonight - mixing up order and types of punches, Partner B defender (with occasional return hit if possible) and also used crashes, Elbow brush offs and scooping if they could. (we all got hit lots but also managed to "read" some attacks without "looking for them")

Basic stick drills:

A1, A2, A1 (H), A2 (L watik), A2 (H follow through) - then swtich hands (e.g. right hand going UNDER left arm  - point of stick coming up to your ear - ben left arm gran top of stick and then repeat flow with left hand)

Upward A1, A2, A1 , A2 (L watik), A2 (H follow through) A1, A2, A1 (H), A2 (L watik), A2 (H follow through)

Partner feeds A1, A2 - Off of A2 feed: Oustide deflection and with free hand grab partners stick hand (stepping of line as you do). using punyo of stick hammer strike dowards (keeping point of your stic toward partners face (making sure you adjust feet so you have same foot in lead as your weapon hand) - strip stick, stab and hit.

Lots to play with and work on!