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)

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

24/1/18: Teep masterclass, Pad rounds and double stick drills

Moral of the session: make sure every weapon, be it punch, kick, elbow or knee, works with great technique and power first and foremost... you cannot drill it enough. Know a few techniques inside out and how to apply them first... then get creative!

Warm up:

Footwork (using a pad on the floor to move around)

Pivoting to your left
stepping off to your right (45 forward the twisting to face imaginary opponents side so that you are in left lead)
circling right (pushing off with rear leg)
Circling left (L step)

After each movement fire ABC and then move again. We isolated the movements and then combined them.

Teep:

There are many ways of teaching and learning the teep. It is not a karate front kick, it is not a snap kick (although you do have to raise and bend the knee before the kick). Instead it is driven from the hips like a spear with the ball of your foot.

Low line teep using rear leg to partners lead leg/knee (keep hands up!) - can also do this with lead leg

Mid height lead leg teep (slight twist of standing foot to help extend the kick - trying not to move standing leg so there is no tell) - can also do this with rear leg.

High teep to head - lead or rear leg - bring knee up high first then drive leg up and forward with hips (need some flexibility in hips for this one and is a real surprise of opponent!

We first practice d these in isolation 1 for 1 with partner. then we drilled 3 for 3 any order while partner tried to jab, cross or hook so no matter what they try to do you teep them! (useful sparring strategy)

Pad rounds (Circle of death)

3 x pad stations

Combo 1: jab corss rear elbow (Every round)
Combo 2: corss hook lead elbow Every round)
Thai pad stations: pad holder calls out any of the following - round one: lead teep, rear teep, lead teep rear round kick, rear teep lead round kick. Round 2 - Lead teep, rear teep, lead teep rear knee, rear teep lead knee. Round 3 - everything form previous rounds.

Keep hitting the pads until you are told to move!

Double stick Guntings (scissor motion)

Off of 5 angles (down ward forehand, down ward back hand, horizontal forehand , horizontal back hand, stab)

Meet the force (hit hand as it coming at you) - right hand stick always hits the hand other stick check/monitors/passes partners stick

A1 - open guard to close, A 2 close to open, A3 open to close (point sticks down as you cut), A4 close to open (point stick down as you cut), stab  open to close.

Remember to step off line/lean back....evasion (female/male triangular footwork) and hitting hand most important part of this drill.

Follow the force (using your right hand stick hit the hand as if you are pushing it away..following the direction of travel)

A1 - close to open, A2 - open to close, A3 - close to open (stick down), A4 - open to close (stick down) stab - close to open

Remember to step off line/lean back....evasion and hitting hand most important.

Totsata (stabbing/hooking round motion)

A1 - use right stick to hook round (outside) the attacking stick immediately follow with other stick stabbing to face then follow with multiple hits (stab stab stab left righ left right) your right shoulder will be in front.
A2 - as above but now left shoulder will be in lead
A3 - pass/drop stick using right hand (follow the force) then stab stab stab as above
A4 - as above
Stab - pass/drop stick using right hand (follow the force) then stab stab stab as above

Combining it all:

Higher grades: any of the 5 feeds in any order, use any of the three guntings that we drilled. After the gunting keep hitting like a numerada drill - don't wait for the next feed. Feeder varies tempo and frequency of attacks.

16/1/18: Angles of Defence, Thai round kicks, pad rounds and syllabus work

Todays sessions was about taking some fundamental boxing/JKD/Panantukan defences and applying them to the Jab and Cross (first in isolation and then in a randomised drill).

Warm up:

Shadow boxing incorporating various footwork patterns - left lead jab only and then both hands, then right lead jab only and both hands

Off Jab:

1) Rear hand parry, lead arm push/eye swipe motion (comes up under parrying hand and pushes elbow so opponent is pushed off centre line/twisted) follow with ABC - this gets you on the outside line defence

2) Split entry (hitting down at solor plexis or on the jaw) follow up with ABC (remember to slip off line your rear hand to parry as extra defence) - this gets you on the centre line

3) Rear hand Waslix scoop (guard needs to be a bit higher like thai style as you are coming down on the arm, also works with a little step to the side as a waslik but this drill is more crashing so the thai style is a bit better to close the distance I feel), followed but simultaneous lead elbow crash (driving into face neck area elbow infront of your face to give you protection) follow up with ABC elbows - this gets you on the inside line

Off Cross (same but with other hand!)

1) Lead hand parry and rear arm push (as above) - outside line

2) Split entry (remember to slip off line your lead hand to parry as extra defence)  -centre line

3) Lead hand waslik scoop with simultaneous elbow - inside line

Random drill:

We then started feeding left right left right and parnetr did any of the defences practiced. Higher had random feeds any order and could use any defences/counters they knew inc: stop kicks, jeet tek, thai kicks, cut punches, slips. bobs and weaves etc etc (whatever you knew)

Thai round kicks (with partner)

Focus on proper thai technique rear round kick - stepping onto ball of foot turned 45/90, hard ankle, using hips to rotate, hitting through target with shin almost straight legged like a baseball bat, and coming straight back into balanced stance.

We then did this without the step (no tell) and to get used to rotating on ball of foot from standing position.

Finally with practiced the round kick technique and following through so you are using your hips to drive your leg and turn in a complete circle (while maintaining balance)

Pad rounds (circle of death!!!!!!)

4x pad stations at each station you do the following:

jab, cross, hook,
double jab, cross
3x uppercuts
Thai round kicks (thai pad holder to call out single, double or triple round kicks or fake jab and round kick) - also defending after the kick depending on what pad holder feeds!

Each person stays on their station hitting the pads until they are told to move round (dictated by the thai pad holder). circuit done x3

Syllabus stuff:

We all paired up and looked through a variety of our syllabus work for the upcoming gradings in a few months time. Most people worked a variety of stick and knife drills inc disarms, 3 and 5 count sumbrada, guntings, single and double stick work

14/12/17: Functionalising the trap - Conditioned sparring session Hunting the hunter!

This session was all about trapping, exploring 4 variations and applying it to sparring. Always remember the aim of the trap is to simply remove a barrier so you can hit them. Trapping occurs in all combat sports in one way shape or form, and can either be instigated before an opponents action or as a counter to their action (and sometimes at the same time).

Below you can see some trapping in action:

Warm up sparring (light):

Standard and south paw stances, jab only. Holding a spare glove under your elbow to keep it pinned to your body and rear hand up.

Trap drills:

1) Pak with rear hand and hit with lead hand
2) Lop with lead hand and cross/hit with rear hand
3) Inside parry with lead hand and cross/hit with rear hand
4) catch/tap with rear hand (forgot proper name for it) and cross hit with same hand

These drills were done in isolation and high reps first.

Sparring drills:

Jab only, standard stance (everyone right handed) one person attacking with jabs only other person also jabbing but also using trapping techniques above.

Explored timing angles and footwork to implement the traps effectively e.g. a lop works as a result of you throwing a "missed jab", the inside parry work will in conjunction with footwork and as a counter to an opponents jab

Standard vs south paw:

We fist practiced the traps in isolation against the south paw (we are all right handed)

1) Pak with lead hand and cross/hit with rear
2) lop with rear hand and hit with lead
3) Inside parry with rear hand and lead hand hit
4) Catch/tap with lead hand and lead hand hit

we then implemented it in sparring .. southpaw attacker in sparring, standard stance also jab sparring but implementing the traps as well (as above). Footwork and movement were key in implementing the traps.

A "trapping mentality" also makes you more aggressive, you are more aware of the guard positions and therefore more able to see "gaps" e.g. if lead hand is wide you can go inside, if too narrow can go outside if not active you can jam with a pak or a lop, if aggressive you can catch/hit or inside parry.

Yes this is only off a jab but is part of a long range sparring game plan that helps you keep the hands occupied so you have easier access to the head (as with everything requires practice!)

Pad rounds:

Partner calls any combo you hit pads

Hubud with knife (ice pick grip):

(A) - A1 stab,  (B) - blocks, other hand parries going under their arm as you simultaneously remove the blocking hand, then replace blocking hand by pak on top of partner A's knife hand/arm.

Variations in the flow:

1) After the pak do a back hand knife hit which they stop and then back hand knife hit over the top... flow continues until one of you breaks back into normal Hubud

2) after the block, as you pass use palm up control to move arm out of way and stab low at leg, partner needs to step back block  (palm up fingers down) and reply with a low hit... flow continues until someone breaks flow into normal hubud

3) instead of blocking do a dagger pass

We then Mix them all up in any order! (fun and confusing!)

See below for an example of the type of thing we were doing (the video is a beginner drill and very loose, I would be looking to tighten to movements, make the smaller and have more control on their knife hand/wrist with my blocking hand).

Strips from hubud:

When blocking the A1 stab grab wrist and twist pushing arm/elbow into them or their hand onto you, reach free hand up under their arm (salute motion) and then use that arm in a cutting motion towards their neck to strip the knife.

when doing dagger pass (making sure you step back out the way) keep hold of the hand/thumb and then insert your hand on the inside line (like a split entry) close to their arm between the knife and arm. and you punch forward twist your arm punching one way and pulling the other to strip the knife.

As always feel free to amend if I have missed something or it doesn't make sense!

5/12/17: The science of the sweet science - close range Boxing 101

Close range boxing, body mechanics and stepping off the line to create angles in close.

Warm up:

Shadow boxing

Partner drills (Big gloves) - All punches aiming for the chest/arms so you can put it in a bit

Body mechanics:

lead uppercut, cross
rear uppercut, jab

This is a static partner drill but the defending partner has to keep tight arms, don't let them in. Bocks, parries etc at this range will most likely be off the forearms

Defending the upper cut:

using your own shovel hook to off set (again this is timing and would be really challenging to pull off in sparring but is really handy as it turns defence into attack.

as they hook you throw a shovel hook on the same side as their punching arm. twist your body and cut into the forearm a bit like a cut punch principle. Use forward pressure to hit the head. We first drilled this in isolation (left right left right etc) then we drilled it with any order and you had to try and "read" your partner (we then incorporated this defence when doing the drills defending off the uppercuts and cross/jab

Creating angles:

lead uppercut, cross (keeps the top line busy), step off 45 to the left and pivot (keep tight) as you do this pivot and throw a lead hook follow up with ABC (start slow to get the right distance, timing and to make sure you end up at 90 degrees to partner and balanced)

Rear uppercut, jab (keep top line busy), step off 45 to the right and pivot/twist (you will still be in left lead when you face partner after pivot). As you pivot through a rear hand hook follow up with ABC (note the rear hook can also be a cross depending on where you are and what is open. I also found that as I stepped 45 I had a tendency to use my left are to check/pin/trap partners arm.. was useful but not part of the drill)

combining the two moving left first and as partner starts to turn back to you move right, and then moving right first and as partner turns move left.

Pad Drills (surprisingly exhausting!!!!)

as the drills above

lead uppercut, cross, (pad holder pivots then to help you) - step left 45 and pivot and immediately throw a hook cross hook

Rear uppercut, jab (pad holder pivots to help you) - step right 45 and pivot and immediately throw a rear hook (more tricky than it sounds I ended up throwing a cross most of the time) hook, cross.

The final round would have been combining the two!

Single stick warm up:

Single stick carenza (shadow boxing) using any striking families and footwork first right hand then left

Single stick 5 count sambrada

(A) A1
(B) roof block (check hand) reply with A1
(A) inside sweep (check hand over top oh stick hand) reply with A4
(B) Pass (outside gunting?) use back of free hand/forearm to pass (pushing back into their body and away and hit hand with stick) reply with A3
(A) Parry (inside gunting?) use free hand to pass (pushing from left to right) and cutting forearm with stick (move body out the way) reply with A2
(B) wing block and check hand reply with A1

flow continues from here but everything is reversed so now A is doing B moves and B is doing A moves.

higher grades added an element of surprise by occasionally changing an A1 strike for an A2 (doing the A1 as a feint first)

29/11/19: Moving, hitting and counterhitting

This session was all about incorporating multiple layers of defence and counter hitting - trying to think a few moves ahead and being able to defend while attacking.

Drills:

Slipping warm up:

Jab and then slip their jab
cross and slip their cross
Lead hook and bob their lead hook
Rear hook and bob their rear hook.

long guard: (note: keep hands up, if you are shorter than your opponent this is not as effective?)

Long parry the jab and throw your own jab
long parry Cross and throw your own cross
Thai/wing block the lead hook while using your lead hand to check their rear hand, then throw a lead hook.
Thai/wing block the rear hook while using your rear hand to check their lead hand, then throw a rear hook.

mixing the two:

long parry the jab, return a jab which they slip,
long parry the cross return a cross which they slip
Thai block the lead hook and return a lead hook which they bob and weave
Thai block the rear hook and return a  rear hook which they bob and weave

Simultaneous strikes (off the slips/evasions)

Jab and then slip their jab as soon as you slip throw a uppercut (half beat as soon as you can)
cross and slip their cross as you slip throw an uppercut
Lead hook and bob their lead hook and body throw a body hook as you bob
Rear hook and bob their rear hook and body hook as you bob.

this is trying to build fast twitch reflexes and encourage you to throw while moving/evading. Also helps you to no overcommit to your initial strike as you "know" they will be returning fire!

Putting it all together:

long parry the jab, return a jab which they slip and throw an uppercut
long parry the cross return a cross which they slip and throw an uppercut
Thai block the lead hook and return a lead hook which they bob and weave and throw a body hook
Thai block the rear hook and return a  rear hook which they bob and weave and throw a body hook

Close range (drill with big gloves):

hitting arms so you can put them in a bit (defender hold arms in tight and firm not defending as such just being there to drill the technique)

1) Lead body hook, rear uppercut, then step of to your left (tight 45 degree angle, cutting the angle close to their rear foot) and then pivot on lead foot. AS you pivot simultaneously throw a hook (trying to keep the half beat timing) this moves you so you are now facing your opponents side and you can then hit ABC to the arms (you can play with high and low shots just make sure you are balanced after the pivot.). you can also use your lead arm to check the guard as you pivot instead of throwing the hook.

2) rear uppercut, lead hook then step off right 45 (again a tight angle cutting the corner - a bit like the Mike Tyson shift). As you step you can use you left arm to check/trap the arm. as soon as you have moved off 45 pivot to face opponents side and immediately throw a cross, then rip in a lead hook and ABC.

We then did these in any order so partner didn't know what way we were moving.

The key to these is to keep the pivoting tight, be close to partners feet as you pivot,  and the hits half beat to keep partner defending and giving no time to return fire!

Knife vs empty hand drills:

straight stab to belly: drop lead arm (left) down so blocking with blade of the arm. As you do this step back with lead leg to get body out of the way. Reach over the top of your arm with other hand (half beat) and grab wrist. pull towards you (shifting grip to thumb) and use your other arm to pin the wrist against. feed back (oops you stabbed yourself) and then straighten arm again. cup their wrist with your free hand, turn your body and peel knife.

Variation: drop lead arm, then use read arm to scoop knife arm (again go over the top of your blocking arm and use the blade of your arm to pass it) once the arm s off line use your blocking arm to grab (which now goes over the passing arm) and grab in their wrist (wrist lock 1 form lock flow) disarm with wrist lock and keep elbow in front of your face to protect form any punch.

double pump: (if attacker comes with several quick strikes)

block with lead arm and then block with rear hand (more of a passing motion with blade of arm) - shift body back as you do this. AS the stabbing arm goes slightly off line reach over the top with your free hand and do wrist lock number 1 as described above.

we then drilled these in any order