Mental note: shin to shin hurts, even with pads, and kicking wrong and hitting someone's knee REALLY hurts.. so working out your distance s really important. Also when you have a lot of things to think about go SLOW and build that muscle memory first.
Isolation, perfect each element of the technique, then flow, then build speed!
Thai techniques:
isolating long guard - left arm out straight to cut across centre line, right arm across your face at 45 degree angle covering your right eye keep arm tight to your face, (kiss the bicep) and loose neck. look out along outstretched arm with left eye reverse for the other side.
we then used/held the long guard while "treading grapes" small little controlled steps
finally we added a crush/check (which ever side elbow was across your face you checked with that side knee/shin.
Partner drills:
Lead hit (jab, upper cut, hook etc), rear round kick - focus on distance, putting the hit in, stepping off line and putting a nice low line round kick in.
Rear hit (cross uppercut etc), lead round kick - focus as above
A: attacks with lead hit rear round kick, B: defence hits and crush the kick
A: attacks with rear hit lead round kick, B: defence hits and crush the kick
We then started to mix any hit (lead or rear) with any round kick (lead or rear)
Once we started getting used to reading the kick we then changed it to 2 hits (any combination, high/low, double on lead or rear etc) and then any round kick - the key to this is to put in the 2 hits which keeps the defender occupied then you have a better chance of landing the kick.
Feints:
jab, cross lead kick x 3... on 3rd combo (now partner is expecting the same) fake the lead kick and change to a read round kick.. balance is crucial to this so a great drill to work.
Cross hook rear round kick x3 - on 3rd combination step through with rear leg as you cross (right lead now) step through again as you through the hook (the hits hide the steps your now back in left lead but off to the side) and rear kick partners REAR leg.
variation: on the 3rd combination, fake the rear round kick (you have to sell it so they go to check/crush it) then skip step and through the rear round kick at their rear leg.
Putting it al together: 1 for one -A: does any hit (single or double) any round kick (lead or rear) and could include any feint. B defends. then B attacks A defends etc... note': the feints only work once you have got your partner expecting an attack or really buying into it.. putting in the hits helps with this.
knife flow:
feeding the 5 angles and defenders defangs and stabs
we did this flow in:
Hammer grip vs hammer grip
Hammer grip vs Ice pick
Ice pick vs hammer
Ice pick vs ice pick
Again footwork and distance are key to this and the feeder needs to reach and not feed short so that the defender really moves.
free flow 2 knives vs 1: feeder attacks with either left or right hand any angle and put pressure on defender. Defenders defang and stabs, moving all the time. Don't wait for next attack just keep cutting and moving.
later there were "odd men out" who would roam around attacking anyone so yoy had to be aware of more than one attacker at all times.
Great fun as always comments and questions welcome
Wednesday, 21 February 2018
Friday, 16 February 2018
15/2/18: Sticks everwhere! Kali co-ordination drills and position/submission enhancing groundwork/BJJ
Todays session was more art than martial but don't let that fool you there was a lot of application in the learning. These drills help with flight time, constant repetition of motion and working on the correct body mechanics. After that you are then looking at range, are you using the full length of the stick or are you "flat sticking"?
Footwork comes into play, working on angles and hitting out of motion. And then there is co-ordination... what ever your right hand does so does your left (or as I like to call it, the strange hand that must belong to someone else!) and being able to strike no matter where your hand/stick is.
Stick Drills (double stick)
All partner drills hitting sticks
From open guard
1) R hand, A1 and 2, L hand A1 and 2 (we also did this moving forward and backward)
2) R hand High, Low, L hand high , Low
3) R hand High, Low, High L hand high , Low, High
4) R hand Low, High, Low, L hand Low, High , Low
Variation including circular movement: start circling clock wise right lead: R hand High, Low, High L hand high , Low, High, R hand Low, High, Low, L hand Low, High , Low THEN change direction but start with left hand in the same pattern as above
5) R hand: A1, A2, L hand: A1, A2, R hand: H,L,H L hand: H,L,H
Variation: Add odd series 1 at the end of combo (in chambered stance R hand A 1, bring that hand back to your right shoulder and simultaneous left hand A1 left hand goes back to left shoulder and right hand hits anther A1 follow through to left armpit so now chambered on left side and repeat)
6) R hand: A1, A2, L hand: A1, A2, R hand: H,L,H, L hand: H,L,H, R hand: L,H,L, L hand: L,H,L
Variation: Add odd series 2 roof block (in chambered stance R hand A 1, bring that hand back to roof block and simultaneous left hand A1 left hand goes back to left shoulder and right hand hits anther A1 follow through sto left armpit so now chambered on left side and repeat)
7) Cob Cob: (open guard watik type motion) right, left - H,H (stick pointing up), right, left - mid, mid (stick pointing down but aimed at elbow height don't go to low), right, left - low low (bend knees keep stick pointing down)
Variation: Add Odd series 3 umbrella (in chambered stance R hand A 1, follow through and wrap round you head/brush hair motion and simultaneous left hand A1 left hand goes back to left shoulder and right hand hits anther A1 follow through to left armpit so now chambered on left side and repeat)
8) as above bust do a couple starting with right hand then change to left hand to start
9) open to close cob cob: start with right hand - HH, Mid mid, LL on the last Low hit follow through so you are chambered under the arm and do an angle one and follow through on the high line. your arms should now be crossed in front of you (closed). now do same motion as cob cob but keep your arms crossed (use your waist to move you and slight arm extension) but start with your left hand: HH, mid mid, LL - when you do the last low hit follow through and come to an open guard then repeat form start.
10) - stick cycle
RH - A1, A2,
LH - A1, A2
RH - H, L, H
LH - H,L, H
RH - L,H,L
LH - L,H,L
Open Cob cob
Closed cob cob
11) Heaven 6 into odd series 1, Heaven 6 into odd series 2 (roof block), Heaven 6 into Odd series 3 (umbrella)
We did a lot of variations and the brain was fried so I may have missed something or got something a little wrong but you get the general idea. It was really important to work on range and the ability to hit while moving. none of these were static and there was a lot of footwork involved (regardless of what lead you were in). Always lots to work on but this is my personal favourite of all the arts and you can get totally lost in the flow of it.
Ground work BJJ
From my favourite to... the one I need most work on.
Ground work flow drills partner compliant sambrada style (counter for counter)
The aim of these flow were to help each other get used to positions, seeing shapes, applying a submission and then releasing t allow your partner to "escape" gain a better position and then apply their own technique. There was no rush in this drill and no resistance as such (other than body weight). A lovely drill to build and polish what you know whilst trying out a few new things.
This certainly highlighted to me how much thinking I am having to do with groundwork at the moment, thinking about weight distribution, how to move on the ground, how to counter how to make space, what submission to use how to actually apply it etc, etc. much more flight time is needed in order to make these things more natural and instinctive.
I'm not sure if everyone did this but I then worked with Steve, starting compliant, and then we built so that he added some resistance and "made it more challenging" by challenging I mean trying to wrestle a bear! (and he wasn't even trying thank god). Basically I had to try and get a submission and he was purely defending. To be honest I felt somewhat lost at this stage, I could only remember about 3 submissions and that's being generous. So I used the opportunity to focus on one thing and one thing only... moving. All I wanted to do was get myself in better positions and put him in worse ones (definitely NOT easy).. but my thinking was IF I can start to build confidence and ability in moving around then opportunities would shown them selves, if I hunted for them I was countered immediately!
Needless to say this needs a lot of work and I definitely need to work on isolation drills focusing on transitions, drilling the licks/chokes and getting used to moving my own body around the ground.
Some of the techniques we worked included scarf hold, side 4 quarters, mount and guard positions. I saw arm bars, kimura's Americana's and a triangle choke or two.
As always happy for questions, comments and suggestions.
Wednesday, 14 February 2018
13/2/18: Lead kick Thai counter masterclass and knife flow
Warm up:
Shadow boxing
Thai drills:
Defence off lead round kick (low line) - which might be followed but with a cross hook rear round kick combo (always expect more to be coming!)
1) Check round kick with lead leg (bring up to centre line not too far across and keep hands up) - as you put your checking leg down step it forward onto the ball of your foot (hard ankle) at a 45 angle to open up the hips - follow with a rear knee (use your hands to monitor their guard or pull arms down). Make sure you come back to a balanced stance ready to move away again.
2) Check lead leg as before - this time you can't throw your knee in time - your partner throws a cross. As they do step off 45 (like a slipping motion) and throw an overhand over their cross. Follow up with and uppercut and a rear round kick.
3) Check lead leg as before - now the cross is followed by a hook (not enough time to slip and throw overhand) - long guard cover/parry the cross, Thai wing/Hook cover their hook and drive forward as you do making sure your free hand monitors their rear hand or throws a simultaneous uppercut. Use your Hook covering hand and drive forward with the blade of your arm to HIT into the clinch (push you hand past their head as you do and bring it back to whip their head in... use one hand at a time to fasten the clinch if you use both you will be head buttered or counter clinched) - follow up with skipping knees (push then back a little then bring them in as you do)
4) Check lead leg, cover cross, cover hook as above- this time a round kick comes before you can clinch - Check the round kick using your lead leg and follow up with a rear leg groin kick. "fall forward" into the kick so your right leg (kicking leg) is now in front - as you do drive head forward and push their rear shoulder so you are off balancing them. AS this is happening you are trying to wrap your other hand round their back, reaching up the back of their head and then moving into a backsweep.
We spent a lot of time drilling these so that by the end the checking motion at the start was instinctual.. from this point we will go on to mixing it up (next session/future sessions)... using these combinations in a flow off of your partners attacks (various 4 count drills) and depending on the pace/intensity will depend out you react/what openings you have available... this of course will all come off of the lead leg check so as so as you have done this you can then "go" - again another great drill to take the thinking out of it when you start mixing it up.
Pad round:
Pad holder holds pads at a slight angle so any punch can be thrown. They call out how many and you throw any punch combo to that amount. Pad holder also moves (pivots) making their partner have to do a lot of moving to get into position again. pad holder also checks guard, advances retreats etc forcing partner to keep moving.
Knife flow:
Off the 5 angles
Cut and reply (cut the attacking limb and stab as an immediate reply. keep the reply tight):
A1 - leand back and cut inside arm pass with outside arm, A2 - pivot away from attack (move lead leg back) shield with back of arm pushing down and in and cut up their arm, A3 - shift waist/bum back Cut inside arm and pass with outside arm, A4 - pivot away from attack (move lead leg back) shield with back of arm pushing down and in and cut up their arm, A5 - shift wais/bum back cut inside arm pass with outside arm
Cut, reply and keep cutting moving to zero pressure.
any order feed -Cut, reply then feed - cut, reply then feed (any angles)
Really important to keep movements tight, move your body out the way, defang with the knife first (the parry is extra support but use the knife!), try keep same leg and knife hand forward (and regain that "stance" after pivoting away)
Shadow boxing
Thai drills:
Defence off lead round kick (low line) - which might be followed but with a cross hook rear round kick combo (always expect more to be coming!)
1) Check round kick with lead leg (bring up to centre line not too far across and keep hands up) - as you put your checking leg down step it forward onto the ball of your foot (hard ankle) at a 45 angle to open up the hips - follow with a rear knee (use your hands to monitor their guard or pull arms down). Make sure you come back to a balanced stance ready to move away again.
2) Check lead leg as before - this time you can't throw your knee in time - your partner throws a cross. As they do step off 45 (like a slipping motion) and throw an overhand over their cross. Follow up with and uppercut and a rear round kick.
3) Check lead leg as before - now the cross is followed by a hook (not enough time to slip and throw overhand) - long guard cover/parry the cross, Thai wing/Hook cover their hook and drive forward as you do making sure your free hand monitors their rear hand or throws a simultaneous uppercut. Use your Hook covering hand and drive forward with the blade of your arm to HIT into the clinch (push you hand past their head as you do and bring it back to whip their head in... use one hand at a time to fasten the clinch if you use both you will be head buttered or counter clinched) - follow up with skipping knees (push then back a little then bring them in as you do)
4) Check lead leg, cover cross, cover hook as above- this time a round kick comes before you can clinch - Check the round kick using your lead leg and follow up with a rear leg groin kick. "fall forward" into the kick so your right leg (kicking leg) is now in front - as you do drive head forward and push their rear shoulder so you are off balancing them. AS this is happening you are trying to wrap your other hand round their back, reaching up the back of their head and then moving into a backsweep.
We spent a lot of time drilling these so that by the end the checking motion at the start was instinctual.. from this point we will go on to mixing it up (next session/future sessions)... using these combinations in a flow off of your partners attacks (various 4 count drills) and depending on the pace/intensity will depend out you react/what openings you have available... this of course will all come off of the lead leg check so as so as you have done this you can then "go" - again another great drill to take the thinking out of it when you start mixing it up.
Pad round:
Pad holder holds pads at a slight angle so any punch can be thrown. They call out how many and you throw any punch combo to that amount. Pad holder also moves (pivots) making their partner have to do a lot of moving to get into position again. pad holder also checks guard, advances retreats etc forcing partner to keep moving.
Knife flow:
Off the 5 angles
Cut and reply (cut the attacking limb and stab as an immediate reply. keep the reply tight):
A1 - leand back and cut inside arm pass with outside arm, A2 - pivot away from attack (move lead leg back) shield with back of arm pushing down and in and cut up their arm, A3 - shift waist/bum back Cut inside arm and pass with outside arm, A4 - pivot away from attack (move lead leg back) shield with back of arm pushing down and in and cut up their arm, A5 - shift wais/bum back cut inside arm pass with outside arm
Cut, reply and keep cutting moving to zero pressure.
any order feed -Cut, reply then feed - cut, reply then feed (any angles)
Really important to keep movements tight, move your body out the way, defang with the knife first (the parry is extra support but use the knife!), try keep same leg and knife hand forward (and regain that "stance" after pivoting away)
Wednesday, 7 February 2018
6/2/18: Slips, Bobs, Parries, Covers and smothering - Boxing "basics" and Lock flow playtime!
Todays session was all about evasion and defence. one of the lessons learned is that the evasions have to come out of your own striking... apparently when people get hit they tend to hit back so you need to be able to move, cover, block etc during your own attack. It also helps if you have the right body mechanics on your striking and evading! (I will learn to throw a decent hook eventually and keep my chin down!)
Boxing drills:
All based off a Jab, Cross, Lead hook, Rear hook feed.
Warm up - Slip Jab, Slip Cross, Bob and weave lead hook bob and weave rear hook
Evading:
A Jab - B catch and reply with jab - A slip and rear uppercut
A Jab - B catch and reply with cross - A slip and lead uppercut
A Jab - B catch and reply with lead hook - A bob and weave, body shot
A Jab - B catch and reply with rear hook - A bob and weave, body shot
Parry/cover:
A Jab - B catch and reply with jab - A outside parry with rear hand, lead hand push elbow away follow up with ABC
A Jab - B catch and reply with cross - A outside parry with lead hand, rear hand push elbow away follow up with ABC
A Jab - B catch and reply with lead hook - A Thai wing cover (driving fwd with elbow) other hand covering partners rear hand follow up with ABC
A Jab - B catch and reply with rear hook - A Thai wing cover (driving fwd with elbow) other hand covering partners free hand follow up with ABC
Long Guard (hands high) tip: when you are bringing your hand back after your jab you need to keep you hand high to do long guard defence... this can help you bait your opponent by leaving the hand out a bit after your jab
A Jab - B catch and reply with jab - A long guard cover (rear hand drops down and forward to push their jab off line) then hit with same hand you covered with
A Jab - B catch and reply with cross - A long guard cover (lead hand drops down and forward to push their cross off line) then hit with same hand you covered with
A Jab - B catch and reply with lead hook - A long guard shield (rear arm goes out to the side to block the hook trying to catch their forearm with the blade of your arm) use free hand to cover centre line then follow with dumog drag (free arm shooting under their hooking arm pulling them round and then follow with ABC.
A Jab - B catch and reply with rear hook - A long guard shield (lead arm goes out to the side to block the hook trying to catch their forearm with the blade of your arm) use free hand to cover centre line then follow with dumog drag (free arm shooting under their hooking arm pulling them round and then follow with ABC.
with the long guard it can help if you move off line a little too.
We then mixed all the defences, partner feeding 4 attacks and you choosing any of the above defences to work.
Pad rounds: (the cardio killer)
3 stations for 2 mins each
1) Thai pads - cross hook rear elbow rear knee - pressure going forward and finishing able to defend pad holders reply
2) Kick shield - body shots, lower stance, punches in bunches, moving off 45, bump offs and work rate
3) Focus mitts - jab, cross (stepping through as you cross) body hook, head hook (or as I like to call it... ow my wrist, my hooks suck)
Training note - sometimes it is easy to get carried away with pads thinking you need to go a hundred miles an hour... but your form goes to crap (at least mine does). it is OK to slow down for a couple make sure your technique is ok, the combo is smooth and then build the speed again
Lock flow:
Wrist locks 1 -16 in flow trying to keep movements between each lock tight s there are no gaps
we then moved to Lock and disturb (also starting to use arm locks and chokes)
Finally we moved into: lock -disturb - hit - lock pattern (as its easier to lock someone after you have hit them! we were then able to look for shapes and begin to implement clinch, 50/50, body lock, wrist locks arm bars sweeps etc.
This is FUN. it's compliant and it gets your brain thinking in order to recognise shapes. Let your partner get the lock on first (go light) to build confidence and understanding - it's a development drill that has huge applications.
As always hope you enjoyed and it makes sense. comments questions observations always welcome
Boxing drills:
All based off a Jab, Cross, Lead hook, Rear hook feed.
Warm up - Slip Jab, Slip Cross, Bob and weave lead hook bob and weave rear hook
Evading:
A Jab - B catch and reply with jab - A slip and rear uppercut
A Jab - B catch and reply with cross - A slip and lead uppercut
A Jab - B catch and reply with lead hook - A bob and weave, body shot
A Jab - B catch and reply with rear hook - A bob and weave, body shot
Parry/cover:
A Jab - B catch and reply with jab - A outside parry with rear hand, lead hand push elbow away follow up with ABC
A Jab - B catch and reply with cross - A outside parry with lead hand, rear hand push elbow away follow up with ABC
A Jab - B catch and reply with lead hook - A Thai wing cover (driving fwd with elbow) other hand covering partners rear hand follow up with ABC
A Jab - B catch and reply with rear hook - A Thai wing cover (driving fwd with elbow) other hand covering partners free hand follow up with ABC
Long Guard (hands high) tip: when you are bringing your hand back after your jab you need to keep you hand high to do long guard defence... this can help you bait your opponent by leaving the hand out a bit after your jab
A Jab - B catch and reply with jab - A long guard cover (rear hand drops down and forward to push their jab off line) then hit with same hand you covered with
A Jab - B catch and reply with cross - A long guard cover (lead hand drops down and forward to push their cross off line) then hit with same hand you covered with
A Jab - B catch and reply with lead hook - A long guard shield (rear arm goes out to the side to block the hook trying to catch their forearm with the blade of your arm) use free hand to cover centre line then follow with dumog drag (free arm shooting under their hooking arm pulling them round and then follow with ABC.
A Jab - B catch and reply with rear hook - A long guard shield (lead arm goes out to the side to block the hook trying to catch their forearm with the blade of your arm) use free hand to cover centre line then follow with dumog drag (free arm shooting under their hooking arm pulling them round and then follow with ABC.
with the long guard it can help if you move off line a little too.
We then mixed all the defences, partner feeding 4 attacks and you choosing any of the above defences to work.
Pad rounds: (the cardio killer)
3 stations for 2 mins each
1) Thai pads - cross hook rear elbow rear knee - pressure going forward and finishing able to defend pad holders reply
2) Kick shield - body shots, lower stance, punches in bunches, moving off 45, bump offs and work rate
3) Focus mitts - jab, cross (stepping through as you cross) body hook, head hook (or as I like to call it... ow my wrist, my hooks suck)
Training note - sometimes it is easy to get carried away with pads thinking you need to go a hundred miles an hour... but your form goes to crap (at least mine does). it is OK to slow down for a couple make sure your technique is ok, the combo is smooth and then build the speed again
Lock flow:
Wrist locks 1 -16 in flow trying to keep movements between each lock tight s there are no gaps
we then moved to Lock and disturb (also starting to use arm locks and chokes)
Finally we moved into: lock -disturb - hit - lock pattern (as its easier to lock someone after you have hit them! we were then able to look for shapes and begin to implement clinch, 50/50, body lock, wrist locks arm bars sweeps etc.
This is FUN. it's compliant and it gets your brain thinking in order to recognise shapes. Let your partner get the lock on first (go light) to build confidence and understanding - it's a development drill that has huge applications.
As always hope you enjoyed and it makes sense. comments questions observations always welcome
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