8/1/19:Footwork, Round kick drills, Thai pads and stick drills

Warm up:

Foot work patterns

step and slide fwd, back left and right
slide and step fwd and backwards
pivot left (slight step left before pivot)
L step right (hard ankle pushing off with your switching leg)
Circle right
L step left
Circle right
circling and changing directions (inc L steps)
Pivot on the spot, left and right (for when someone if trying to move around you, you hold your position)
Shuffle step

Round kick defences: Off rear round kick

Check/ block with lead leg - 90 degrees out - standing foot pointing forward, long guard to off balance and cover head in case kick goes high.

Stop hit (punch) - as kick comes in drive forward to jam the kicking leg and fire a cross straight down the middle (this is why it is important for the kicker to keep the swiping arm high so its a line of defence)

Jeet tek with your rear leg stomping onto the kickers standing leg/knee as they throw a kick to off balance/damage standing leg

Shuffle step back then forward and follow up with ABC (lead hook uppercut jab or cross good here) - trick is to work shuffle step so you are out of the way and back in before they have spun all the way round or can re adjust

Cut kick - switch kick with lead leg to the kickers standing leg, moving to your right away form their kick

Pad rounds: 3 min rounds

1) Jab cross, rear round x2
2) jab rear round cross switch lead round kick. (trying to make it a fast 123, then 4 beat as apposed to a 1, 2,3,4 beat)

Stick drills:

experienced guys did 8 count sinwali, standard earth and heaven, then also played with 5/10 count sinwali (I will try and get some clips form class and add them to this to show what it looks like as hard to explain)

Also did an ABCdario (HH, HH, HLH, HLH, open cob cob, hit through, closed cob cob then repeat starting with left hand)

Key points: Balance rhythm flow are important, having a "bounce feel" all over, from your stepping, to kicking to punching (A bit like the feeling of a snap back or jumping.. the moment you feel that tiny bit of resistance/loading is when you "go"). Not a hard and fast rule but something I have been experimenting with during training to make things a bit snappier. I've also found that with the odd injury hear and there mentally I've not been going all out (nor can I physically) but I have noticed I have been less tense, more "relaxed" but focused and more concerned with targeting as opposed to trying to hit hard and I just feel this is helping in some way. Not sue if that makes sense but just a thought