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

21/11/17: Back to basics - making my simple better than your simple.

Back to some basic combinations tonight (but the basics are the fundamentals and the go to skills which must be endlessly polished and perfected.. and are still huge fun).

Before I describe the session I just wanted to share something that I heard from a martial arts clip I watched the other day that I though was relevant:

In a combative sense - Everyone is looking to make things simple. So how do I make my simple better than your simple?

The discussion goes along the lines of ensuring the fundamentals are flawless. But if two people of equal skill were to face off and both had the same repertoire of "simple/basic skills", how does one gain an advantage?

Obviously there is the psychological aspect, aggression, resilience, cardio etc to take into account. But within this discussion was the concept of exploring more complex skills (the art) and training that until it is "simple" (much like we did at Bob's seminar taking two techniques and finding them everywhere).

Then if my complex has become simple - my simple is better than your simple...and perhaps gives me an edge... make sense?

So how does that fit in with the session? The way I see it is that by taking basic combinations. drilling it to "perfection" really working on body mechanics, distance timing etc. then once you can do it with your eyes shut you can then add elements to make it more challenging, but the core element is still simple to execute and then you can start to find it anywhere. I guess this goes with muscle memory repetition and flight time. Get amazing at a  few things that you can make work EVERYWHERE, but also enjoy the art.

Right enough of my ramblings

Warm up:

Shadow boxing

Drills (hands and feet):

off jab cross: Catch jab parry cross. As you do step off 45 and overhand (hitting down ), uppercut to head (under their arm so they don't see it - oh look an arm bar!!!!), then cross again and move off line and away. (this could easily turn into an armbar back sweep drill)

Off jab cross: catch jab, cut punch the cross with lead hand (slight step off 45) then round kick to thigh.

Off jab cross: catch jab, scoop the cross ( hands need to be high, waslik stepping off line or like a thai long guard motion into a scoop drag). As you do this (half beat) shift forward with a diagonal upward elbow with your rear arm, then hook elbow with lead arm, downward elbow rear arm.

We then mixed these up  off of the feeds:

Some of us did these out of a jab catch drill and then we added a jab lead hook cross so we had to play with an extra defence off the hook and see what position we were in to find which defence we would use (e.g. very close use elbows, if you lead back away from hook a cut punch might be better)

Pads:

3min rounds - jab cross on way in and jab on way out then jab cross rear elbow (getting in close as you cross).

clinch:

using the elbow entry off the jab cross as described above we then went into clinch:

catch jab, scoop the cross ( hands need to be high, wasllik stepping off line or like a thai long guard motion into a scoop drag). As you do this (half beat) shift forward with a diagonal upward elbow with your rear arm. at this poit use the arm you scooped with (lead arm) to grab head/neck (striking with blade of forearm) then use other hand to tie in the clinch (hand on hand at crown of head). curl hands and weight down).

From here we did a slight push with arms (not too far keep theior head close to your chest) and skip out with your hips to then deliver an upward knee (and then skip into a second knee)

We practiced a defence off the clinch: once they had you in a clinch, you drop your weight and get you hips against theirs, use your thighs to clamp onto their lead leg (keep you head against heir chest as it reduces what they can do).wrap arms round waist and then simultaneously drive forward with your head/shoulders, pull thei hipd to you and squeeze their thigh and straighten your legs to lift then up to take them down (adjusting your feet as you got to land on them in a mount position).

So... simple concepts but not easy...

16/11/17: Groundwork masterclass - Movement, resistance and defending the ground and pound!

First things first. This was not a "BJJ" lesson. The groundwork we do in sessions incorporates BJJ so that we can experience and be "comfortable" if things go to the ground. To develop skills so that we know how to move our bodies, find submissions/break/chokes if they present themselves, but more importantly get into a position where you can get off the floor and get away!

It is a really interesting art, hugely technical, very tactical and makes your body move in ways you are not used to (warning up, stretching a must and I for one need more work on my hip mobility!).

Movement drills: position to position:

Moving round the body: scarf hold, to side 4 quarters, to mount, to side 4 quarters on other side, to scarf hold.

Key points: Keep tight and pressure down, Use hands to check the body (use clothes to help you to move around or pin down as you move). When escaping from mount or moving into mount use your "free leg" to trap the body - again stay tight

Forgive me I am not sure of the technical names for these yet

Escape from scarf hold: shift onto your side (no flat back), pull your arm (right arm in this case) out of their grip so that your elbow and upper arm is resting to he floor. reach your left arm around and place your wrist in your right hand (arms should now make the frame of a square). the blade of your left arm is under their chin. Shrimp your hips away, Extend both arms up, using fingers of right hand to push into throat, as they are forced back lift your left leg to hook their head and use the momentum to push them back and sit up. From here you move into mount (via side 4 quarter).

Escape the mount: as they sit up to punch you, lift hips up and raise a knee to their back to push them off balance. AS they base out grab one of their arms with both of yours and pin to your body(eg left arm). AS you do this use the leg on that same side (e.g. left) to hook outside their leg. Lift your hips up again forcing them straight up (12 o'clock) and then using your legs roll them over (keeping hold of their arm). You will now be in their guard. After a cheeky head butt, posture up, pinning them down by grabbing top of their shorts and driving fists into abdomen.

Escape inside of guard: move one leg (left) so that the knee is pushing against their backside, put your other leg out to the side (knee on the floor so your upper and lower leg make a right angle).lift that knee keeping your foot where it is (pulling up and back motion) while pushing forwards with your hands. This will cause the guard to loosen or break. Reach under their leg (e.g. with your right arm under their left leg - dig in elbow for a bit more of a release) posture up and grab your shirt to pin their straight leg against you. posture up and lean forward (Slowly) getting onto your toes. keep pushing forward slowly then let go of your shirt grab their opposite shoulder and put blade of arm against throat. (they should almost be bent in double and begging for you to stop.) slowly move your body round the side. keeping pressure on. At some point they will actually help you pass the guard by moving their leg out the way and you then land into side 4 quarters.

Alternate version: as you pin leg and are pushing forward their other leg may be n the floor still. If this happens use your leg nearest the leg on the floor to trap their leg (put knee over first) then go to side 4 quarters on the other side (I think).

Escape side 4 Quarter:  get one arm wedged between their hip, the other between neck and shoulder - bench press them away moving your body away (key tip if you can move them move yourself!). if they don't try to regain position you can pivot your body and wedge a knee in. If they do follow up use their momentum to roll them over (keep arm pinned to floor so you are using structure not strength). you are now on top again and can move into scarf hold.

We then flowed with all these holds transitioning form one to another.

Resistance drill: counter for counter

This was only about getting better position (using moves above). NO submissions. we had to try and resist while getting better positions ourselves: one partner trying to get better position, the other trying to stop them.

A key learning here was that when doing this type of drill it is very challenging to get anything to work well. You have to "relax" use smaller movements (which are actually harder to defend against) and realise that if you can't move them to make space you can move yourself to make a gap to use.

Ground and pound drill (only going 10- 20% on punches)

one partner punches and is only concerned with hitting, the other partner is only grappling and trying to get better position. Starting on knees, then take down and the grapple/punch.

This drill helped you focus on keeping your head covered at all times, experience that you are going to take shots but these can be minimised to back of the head and reduced power. But most importantly it showed us all that with some very basic movement drills (repeated a lot and needing more practice still) you can out manoeuvre and escape from someone who is focused on "knocking your block off". when they punch they create gaps you can move to and give you limbs you can lock up. And what seemed at times almost impossible to pull off in the previous drill, you were able to do in dynamic and effective fashion

A super session. So many tips it's hard to capture them all. But if I have missed anything major or things don't make sense let me know. it is NOT easy trying to describe groundwork!