A slightly Random session based on low numbers due to various pox's and plagues suffered by the regulars.
These are very much notes to help remember the session as apposed to my usual detailed blog as it was a session designed to focus on the syllabus elements of those in attendance
Arms bars and locks our of Hubud:
1) Salute into arm break
2) Uppercut into sandwich grip and arm break on shoulder
3) cut punch through, turn the head, armpit on elbow into arm wrench/break
4) drive in with elbow, into over arm, arm wrench.
5) Scoop the wrist like a knife disarm (feeding it back), bringing it into your arm/elbow, then move into lock number 2 from lock flow
Upper body control off Jab:
Parry Jab and eye swipe into rear uppercut:
1) use uppercutting hand to clinch neck head and with a motor bike throttle motion twist head to off set, control their arm that is hanging on your uppercut arm with your free hand
2) switch hands so now other hand is controlling head.
3) Waist control (head against their shoulder to stop being elbowed and using fingers to manipulate hips.)
4) jab fingers into clavicle to lift them up
5) full nelson (pushing forward with arms not down
6) flow through to other side and go into head clinch again (like a split punch motion so your clinching arm is inside their arm)
7) change arms so other hand is controlling head
Upper body off the cross:
Parry/salute the cross and then lead uppercut, then go into flow from above but starting on the other arm
Parry repost switches:
1) Stop, inside pass or inside gunting straight into back hand (to go form outside to inside)
2) Inside parry and then punch through with other hand to clinch (changes from inside to outside line)
Tips: keep the stopping hand (stopping the back fist/chop) tight to you as the more to extend the more unlikely you will be able to stop a reversal and you will open yourself up to other attacks)
Note; interesting blends between various types of Hubud (standard, punching, lop sau cycle and parry repost) very easy to start flowing between different variations but the key is to remember all you are doing is trying to hit, grab - stop the hit/grab - or remove a barrier in order to hit and grab, yes you can play a game and have hundreds of variations but you need a basic set that you can make work and can potentially apply to sparring/grappling.
Stick disarm flow:
roof block snake strip
outside stab and strip vine
stick down, squeezing the sticks together on hand to try and strip
punyo to forearm
wrap round (hitting head) into punyo hit forearm strip
pull punyo strip
"figure four" (sab belly and under arm) wrench strip
Monday, 29 October 2018
Wednesday, 24 October 2018
23/10/18: Double stick drills and cob cob
This session was focused on double stick. The key was to not focus on collecting lists of drills and flows, but rather ensuring that the basics are correct and then playing with those. that way your creativity creates combinations for you to explore rather than lists to robotically follow. yes its nice to see variation but it is more useful to make sure what you have works rather than have a dozen lists of 17 hit combo's etc etc
Double stick drills:
Looking at basic angle 1 and 2 strikes, high line and low line and varying these and also implementing sinwalai (weaving motion) - heaven and standard 6
RH A1 and 2, LH A1 and 2
RH A1 and 2, LH A1 and 2 and then heavan 6
RH A1 and 2, LH A1 and 2 and then standard 6
RH A1 and 2, RH half of heavan LH A1 and 2 LH half of heavan
RH A1, watik A2, follow through A2 then RH half of heavan, LH A1, watik A2, follow through A2 the LH half of heavan.
RH - HLH RH half of standard, LH - HLH LH half of standard
Cob Cob (open and closed stance)
Cob cob is a tight motion, not much arm extension, using your body rotation to make the stick hit. It is much more like a tap tap tap like a hammer type of motion as opposed to a baseball bat swing with follow through
RH A1, A2
LH A1,A2
open cob cob RH fisrt (HH, MM, LL)
hit through with RH A1 into closed position
closed cob cob LH first (HH MM LL)
hit through on last low strike then start flow again but with opposite hand
LH A1, A2
RH A1,A2
open cob cob LH fisrt (HH, MM, LL)
hit through with LH A1 into closed position
closed cob cob RH first (HH MM LL)
hit through on last low strike then start flow again but with opposite hand
We did more variations I am sure but the key here was to look at some types of strikes and in partner drills combine them. working with a partner also encourages you to focus on range, hitting with correct part of stick and exploring footwork.(as well as reacting to some slightly wild feeds on occasion!)
Now that we had drilled these concepts we were able to implement them into correnza (stick shadow boxing) - using the footwork we know and combining these striking families (and others we might know but mainly these ones today) - finding ways to implement cob cob into the flow as well, visualising who and what you are hitting and where you are htting them to give your flow purpose.
Syllabus:
We then split into groups to work on syllabus stuff.
I worked with the other higher grades on:
upperbody and arm bar/clinch flows
Take downs from jab and cross
Hubud variations (standard hubud, punching hubud, Lop sau cyle and parry repost) including switches.(1 lop on the hit, 2 inside parry of hit into punch which is bong sau'd - 1 stop, inside, parry, chop, 2 inside parry and punch through with other hand instead of chop)
knife work
5 count hammer and anvil from stab to heart (5 motions not five different feeds -hammer anvil, on me not in me, scoop, slap, elbow control)
Palasut cylcle
THOUGHTS: What was important to note here is that the higher grades "know" these drills - though admittedly a bit rusty - but there are stages to the learning.
Step 1 is mechanical- getting used to the technique and drilling the motion and feel for it - even if it is a natural motion (which most are -if it's not natural then its not going to work in "real life) - you still need to practice it in this compliant form
Step 2 - add forward intent - we are at a stage when we should be aiming for everything we do to have forward pressure, this means motions are tight, "solid" almost "aggressive" in mentality/intent but not at the cost of technique at this stage (and obviously not smashing your training partner but hitting them to let them know they need to keep their hands up etc)
Step 3 - variation and chaos - once you have the forward pressure and have drilled the flow and variations you then apply chaos.. controlled at first - so the focus is on applying the skills, making them work but having to be alert enough to adapt to whatever is given to you (again it is conditioned chaos to start otherwise your not learning) - this means that you have to be focused on what you are trying to do e.g in hubud/trapping: I want to grab them for a clinch or hit them.... that's all... and depending on what gets in the way will decide what I do to remove that thing so I can still grab them or hit them!
Step 4 - sparring.. no compliance and seeing what you can make work BUT to get the most out of it although the sparring might be anything goes YOU have to have a plan of what things you want to try... otherwise you are just sticking to your main/favoured tools
So a very technical brain frying session but a lot of little tips throughout the session, specifically in how to approach the drills, to try and take your training to the next stage.
At the end of the day just keep turning up, work hard, be consistent - but most of all have fun and enjoy! the rest will take care of itself
Double stick drills:
Looking at basic angle 1 and 2 strikes, high line and low line and varying these and also implementing sinwalai (weaving motion) - heaven and standard 6
RH A1 and 2, LH A1 and 2
RH A1 and 2, LH A1 and 2 and then heavan 6
RH A1 and 2, LH A1 and 2 and then standard 6
RH A1 and 2, RH half of heavan LH A1 and 2 LH half of heavan
RH A1, watik A2, follow through A2 then RH half of heavan, LH A1, watik A2, follow through A2 the LH half of heavan.
RH - HLH RH half of standard, LH - HLH LH half of standard
Cob Cob (open and closed stance)
Cob cob is a tight motion, not much arm extension, using your body rotation to make the stick hit. It is much more like a tap tap tap like a hammer type of motion as opposed to a baseball bat swing with follow through
RH A1, A2
LH A1,A2
open cob cob RH fisrt (HH, MM, LL)
hit through with RH A1 into closed position
closed cob cob LH first (HH MM LL)
hit through on last low strike then start flow again but with opposite hand
LH A1, A2
RH A1,A2
open cob cob LH fisrt (HH, MM, LL)
hit through with LH A1 into closed position
closed cob cob RH first (HH MM LL)
hit through on last low strike then start flow again but with opposite hand
We did more variations I am sure but the key here was to look at some types of strikes and in partner drills combine them. working with a partner also encourages you to focus on range, hitting with correct part of stick and exploring footwork.(as well as reacting to some slightly wild feeds on occasion!)
Now that we had drilled these concepts we were able to implement them into correnza (stick shadow boxing) - using the footwork we know and combining these striking families (and others we might know but mainly these ones today) - finding ways to implement cob cob into the flow as well, visualising who and what you are hitting and where you are htting them to give your flow purpose.
Syllabus:
We then split into groups to work on syllabus stuff.
I worked with the other higher grades on:
upperbody and arm bar/clinch flows
Take downs from jab and cross
Hubud variations (standard hubud, punching hubud, Lop sau cyle and parry repost) including switches.(1 lop on the hit, 2 inside parry of hit into punch which is bong sau'd - 1 stop, inside, parry, chop, 2 inside parry and punch through with other hand instead of chop)
knife work
5 count hammer and anvil from stab to heart (5 motions not five different feeds -hammer anvil, on me not in me, scoop, slap, elbow control)
Palasut cylcle
THOUGHTS: What was important to note here is that the higher grades "know" these drills - though admittedly a bit rusty - but there are stages to the learning.
Step 1 is mechanical- getting used to the technique and drilling the motion and feel for it - even if it is a natural motion (which most are -if it's not natural then its not going to work in "real life) - you still need to practice it in this compliant form
Step 2 - add forward intent - we are at a stage when we should be aiming for everything we do to have forward pressure, this means motions are tight, "solid" almost "aggressive" in mentality/intent but not at the cost of technique at this stage (and obviously not smashing your training partner but hitting them to let them know they need to keep their hands up etc)
Step 3 - variation and chaos - once you have the forward pressure and have drilled the flow and variations you then apply chaos.. controlled at first - so the focus is on applying the skills, making them work but having to be alert enough to adapt to whatever is given to you (again it is conditioned chaos to start otherwise your not learning) - this means that you have to be focused on what you are trying to do e.g in hubud/trapping: I want to grab them for a clinch or hit them.... that's all... and depending on what gets in the way will decide what I do to remove that thing so I can still grab them or hit them!
Step 4 - sparring.. no compliance and seeing what you can make work BUT to get the most out of it although the sparring might be anything goes YOU have to have a plan of what things you want to try... otherwise you are just sticking to your main/favoured tools
So a very technical brain frying session but a lot of little tips throughout the session, specifically in how to approach the drills, to try and take your training to the next stage.
At the end of the day just keep turning up, work hard, be consistent - but most of all have fun and enjoy! the rest will take care of itself
Monday, 22 October 2018
18/10/18: Clinch workshop
Warm up
shadow boxing
Clinch
Off jab:
Entry - Waslik/scoop the jab and drive in with lead elbow (covering your face)
From the entry - the hand that did the scoop shoots up into single arm clinch (like you are chopping neck with forearm) and gripping the head (top/back of head not neck), while the hand that did the elbow slides down their arm, gripping the tricep (no thumbs) with elbow inside their forearm. your head should ne next to their head on the side of the tricep gripping arm.
Weight should be as if you are leaning on them (dropping weight from hips not bending over)
From this position we worked on several concepts:
1) Being punch proof - (keep weight on head and arm moving arms in a steering wheel motion as partner tries to punch you and moving partner around with the clinch.
2) Trip/Throw - step off 45 to left, steering wheel motion of clinch, and pivot on stepping foot to move/offset partner, follow up with double knee.
3) Add double clinch - after offset and knee's go into double clinch and work on control. Partner tries a variety of escapes. Keep clinch tight their head on your shoulder your head very close to theirs. Manipulate and move them around and lay with distance. They are trying to drop low get knee on your thigh and bear hug you close
Off cross:
Entry as above and clinch is the same but on the opposite side.
same drills as above but the throw/trip s slightly different:
from clinch, step forward with your rear leg and BUMP their lead leg (et it off the floor) as you do this steering wheel the clinch and pivot off to the right in one motion (this will most likely send person to the floor). if they don't fall over follow up with knee's
PURPOSE OF THE CLINCH: clinching is NOT wrestling, when you clinch you are either going to throw them or hit them. and although we drill escapes when the clinch is on and you try and escape you are often opening yourself up to get hit so escapes need to be drilled carefully with a view to stopping the hits as much as possible.
Pad drills:
From single clinch, throw 3 elbow (on the left) going up, horizontal and downwards, then switch side of the clinch and throw 3 elbows for the other side. repeat for 3 mins - elbow is to hit with tip of elbow not forearm (hand on chest when throwing elbow)
Knees: hold partner in double clinch, control them and throw 2 knees (skipping steps) pad holder will try to hit you and move around as well to keep your clinch honest.
Knife hubud:
in once pick grip - Hubud just like standard hubud (remember to block the knife hand to keep structure strong you don't need the "octopus" covering the hand like in stick hubud)
3 different controls: Pak, push elbow (moving off to side slightly) and control thumb (moving back slightly)
Strip:
Blocking hand grabs and twists wrist, depending on energy given you either push the arm back into ethm, or pull the knife onto your hip. To srip your free hand goes up under the forearm then in a cutting motion towards the neck push with the cutting hand and pull with the twisting hand to striup the knife.
shadow boxing
Clinch
Off jab:
Entry - Waslik/scoop the jab and drive in with lead elbow (covering your face)
From the entry - the hand that did the scoop shoots up into single arm clinch (like you are chopping neck with forearm) and gripping the head (top/back of head not neck), while the hand that did the elbow slides down their arm, gripping the tricep (no thumbs) with elbow inside their forearm. your head should ne next to their head on the side of the tricep gripping arm.
Weight should be as if you are leaning on them (dropping weight from hips not bending over)
From this position we worked on several concepts:
1) Being punch proof - (keep weight on head and arm moving arms in a steering wheel motion as partner tries to punch you and moving partner around with the clinch.
2) Trip/Throw - step off 45 to left, steering wheel motion of clinch, and pivot on stepping foot to move/offset partner, follow up with double knee.
3) Add double clinch - after offset and knee's go into double clinch and work on control. Partner tries a variety of escapes. Keep clinch tight their head on your shoulder your head very close to theirs. Manipulate and move them around and lay with distance. They are trying to drop low get knee on your thigh and bear hug you close
Off cross:
Entry as above and clinch is the same but on the opposite side.
same drills as above but the throw/trip s slightly different:
from clinch, step forward with your rear leg and BUMP their lead leg (et it off the floor) as you do this steering wheel the clinch and pivot off to the right in one motion (this will most likely send person to the floor). if they don't fall over follow up with knee's
PURPOSE OF THE CLINCH: clinching is NOT wrestling, when you clinch you are either going to throw them or hit them. and although we drill escapes when the clinch is on and you try and escape you are often opening yourself up to get hit so escapes need to be drilled carefully with a view to stopping the hits as much as possible.
Pad drills:
From single clinch, throw 3 elbow (on the left) going up, horizontal and downwards, then switch side of the clinch and throw 3 elbows for the other side. repeat for 3 mins - elbow is to hit with tip of elbow not forearm (hand on chest when throwing elbow)
Knees: hold partner in double clinch, control them and throw 2 knees (skipping steps) pad holder will try to hit you and move around as well to keep your clinch honest.
Knife hubud:
in once pick grip - Hubud just like standard hubud (remember to block the knife hand to keep structure strong you don't need the "octopus" covering the hand like in stick hubud)
3 different controls: Pak, push elbow (moving off to side slightly) and control thumb (moving back slightly)
Strip:
Blocking hand grabs and twists wrist, depending on energy given you either push the arm back into ethm, or pull the knife onto your hip. To srip your free hand goes up under the forearm then in a cutting motion towards the neck push with the cutting hand and pull with the twisting hand to striup the knife.
Friday, 5 October 2018
2/10/18: Single Stick and Hubud: Playing with variations and flows
Another week of covering classes. This week I looked at some basics that we had not done for a while and tried to take specific elements to work. The stick section was making sure we got good mechanics of each strike, hitting with correct part of stick and using full body rotation.
The footwork portion was to get familiar with the angels and the reasons for them, the need to "bounce" and be explosive in order to move direction and the importance of moving in triangles (or cutting the corner and being aware of the triangle shape of the movement.
This was applied to range work in numerada and applying the striking families while moving and maintaining optimum range (hitting them without getting hit back)
2/10/18
warm up:
Kali footwork patterns
Male and female triangle
lateral movement
closed triangles
changing direction with triangles
box pattern ("cutting the corners of the triangles")
Single stick
Striking families and body mechanics
cinco terras
Fig 8
Redondo
Abenico
Sunkiti
Numerada with striking families after the hit the hand (targeting and letting it flow and footwork/range)
Really focused on moving out of range and using triangular footwork to get out of range and back in to hit a target and then "cutting the corner" to move round the person
Experienced did Meet the force and follow the force Numerada followed by mixed striking families
Hubud:
Hubud is an energy drill that helps you build sensitivity, reactions, maintain connection/control to a partner, and manage distance. It allows you to play and explore out of movement and can be compliant or competitive depending on your specific needs
Basic flow:
Block the grab/hit with blade of arm, fingers pointing at eye same side as hand energy going forward, other hand goes under the striking arm and lifts up and across slightly (brushing hair motion), pak the arm down with free hand (near elbow and keep light pressure/contact on arm) then hit/grab at partner (wide line) for them to do the drill and repeat.
Experienced guys added different pak motions (hand on top, push elbow, control thumb)
Tried to focus on details: Being relaxed, forward energy, maintaining contact and controlling correct part of the arm or the energy can be used to turn them into locks and arm bars or escapes
Experienced added Switches:
Wave and hack
dagger pass (on the hit)
chi sau
ton sau (which helps to go into punching hubud)
They then did the flow into hubud with switches and into punching hubud and then switches from that
Punching hubud switches included:
Punching hubud (outside parry of straight punch, other hand lifts and brushes, then pak and punch back)
elbow destruction (into hammer, wedge, pak parry)
Gunting
indside parry
low line hit
face slap/lop (not sure of technical name
Doing this made us very aware of foot work and shifting weight and position (essentially a lateral step to the side and the other foot moving forward to the point of a triangle)
4/10/18
Focus of these sessions was getting the basics right: making the "blocks" in sambrada functional (work first time - stopping the stick and not letting them slide through), again make sure footwork is functional (range spring back etc) and then making sure we don't get stuck in a pattern.. add a little chaos in order to react to and not just act robotically.
warm up:
Carenza (stick shadow boxing using movement and striking families from Tuesday)
Single stick
(this was a lot to focus on for the beginners and they did really well)
3 count sambrada (individual blocks and putting together)
Roof block (above head punching up and dropping your head down below the stick)
Inside sweep (stop the stick and check the hand first while moving off line - hide behind the stick)
Outside deflection (step back to give yourself range, checking hand and hitting stick at same time)
Note: when we hit sticks we are really hitting the hand, also range was important; you must be close enough to hit the persons head otherwise you are just defanging)
Experienced: play time!!!!
5 count sambrada, making it tight, correct movement (e.g. off line and range) then introducing random feed (turn an A1 into an A2 at any time) to break the flow (the random A2 meant the response frome that could be anything and therefore makes both partners have to react.
We then added puno sumbrada to the mix (with one person still feeding random A2 strikes into the standard sumbrada) - again it was important to close the range and use correct footwork to make sure (lots of replacement steps!)
Challenge: while doing standard sumbrada with a random A2 and mixing in Puno sumbrada one person at a time add a disarm
This was all about playing with what you know, revisiting the material and trying to apply some things... play time is the best learning time!
Hubud:
Basic flow (as Tuesday) - the beginners did this
switches (as Tuesday) _experienced guys played with these
experienced:
Flow into hubud with switches, into punching hubud and then switches from that.
Once they had this they then had to add locks to the mix (wrist locks arm bars chokes etc anything they knew)
Again there was a lot of playing here, varying speeds trail an error and seeing what you can find from the shapes being presented all the while remaining switched on and trying to make each element effective
A really fun week and the time flew on thursdays session!
The footwork portion was to get familiar with the angels and the reasons for them, the need to "bounce" and be explosive in order to move direction and the importance of moving in triangles (or cutting the corner and being aware of the triangle shape of the movement.
This was applied to range work in numerada and applying the striking families while moving and maintaining optimum range (hitting them without getting hit back)
2/10/18
warm up:
Kali footwork patterns
Male and female triangle
lateral movement
closed triangles
changing direction with triangles
box pattern ("cutting the corners of the triangles")
Single stick
Striking families and body mechanics
cinco terras
Fig 8
Redondo
Abenico
Sunkiti
Numerada with striking families after the hit the hand (targeting and letting it flow and footwork/range)
Really focused on moving out of range and using triangular footwork to get out of range and back in to hit a target and then "cutting the corner" to move round the person
Experienced did Meet the force and follow the force Numerada followed by mixed striking families
Hubud:
Hubud is an energy drill that helps you build sensitivity, reactions, maintain connection/control to a partner, and manage distance. It allows you to play and explore out of movement and can be compliant or competitive depending on your specific needs
Basic flow:
Block the grab/hit with blade of arm, fingers pointing at eye same side as hand energy going forward, other hand goes under the striking arm and lifts up and across slightly (brushing hair motion), pak the arm down with free hand (near elbow and keep light pressure/contact on arm) then hit/grab at partner (wide line) for them to do the drill and repeat.
Experienced guys added different pak motions (hand on top, push elbow, control thumb)
Tried to focus on details: Being relaxed, forward energy, maintaining contact and controlling correct part of the arm or the energy can be used to turn them into locks and arm bars or escapes
Experienced added Switches:
Wave and hack
dagger pass (on the hit)
chi sau
ton sau (which helps to go into punching hubud)
They then did the flow into hubud with switches and into punching hubud and then switches from that
Punching hubud switches included:
Punching hubud (outside parry of straight punch, other hand lifts and brushes, then pak and punch back)
elbow destruction (into hammer, wedge, pak parry)
Gunting
indside parry
low line hit
face slap/lop (not sure of technical name
Doing this made us very aware of foot work and shifting weight and position (essentially a lateral step to the side and the other foot moving forward to the point of a triangle)
4/10/18
Focus of these sessions was getting the basics right: making the "blocks" in sambrada functional (work first time - stopping the stick and not letting them slide through), again make sure footwork is functional (range spring back etc) and then making sure we don't get stuck in a pattern.. add a little chaos in order to react to and not just act robotically.
warm up:
Carenza (stick shadow boxing using movement and striking families from Tuesday)
Single stick
(this was a lot to focus on for the beginners and they did really well)
3 count sambrada (individual blocks and putting together)
Roof block (above head punching up and dropping your head down below the stick)
Inside sweep (stop the stick and check the hand first while moving off line - hide behind the stick)
Outside deflection (step back to give yourself range, checking hand and hitting stick at same time)
Note: when we hit sticks we are really hitting the hand, also range was important; you must be close enough to hit the persons head otherwise you are just defanging)
Experienced: play time!!!!
5 count sambrada, making it tight, correct movement (e.g. off line and range) then introducing random feed (turn an A1 into an A2 at any time) to break the flow (the random A2 meant the response frome that could be anything and therefore makes both partners have to react.
We then added puno sumbrada to the mix (with one person still feeding random A2 strikes into the standard sumbrada) - again it was important to close the range and use correct footwork to make sure (lots of replacement steps!)
Challenge: while doing standard sumbrada with a random A2 and mixing in Puno sumbrada one person at a time add a disarm
This was all about playing with what you know, revisiting the material and trying to apply some things... play time is the best learning time!
Hubud:
Basic flow (as Tuesday) - the beginners did this
switches (as Tuesday) _experienced guys played with these
experienced:
Flow into hubud with switches, into punching hubud and then switches from that.
Once they had this they then had to add locks to the mix (wrist locks arm bars chokes etc anything they knew)
Again there was a lot of playing here, varying speeds trail an error and seeing what you can find from the shapes being presented all the while remaining switched on and trying to make each element effective
A really fun week and the time flew on thursdays session!
Thursday, 27 September 2018
25/9/18 and 27/9/18: Boxing basic and mixng thai combo's and fakes
I ran the class this week while Steve is on holiday. I found running the sessions quite challenging as there is a gap between the beginner grades and the more experienced and trying to organise a session which combines the two groups and allows me time to support each group was tricky.
That being said my thought process was to work on fundamental skills with the beginners to give them flight time (which are the building blocks of the rest of the skills they develop), while the more experienced reviewed what they already know and see how they can combine them. The Thai pad drill had mixed success but I think it is something that can be tweeked to have a better effect, However the more conditioned rounds, based off some simple patterns and adding variety, seemed more effective and with a more obvious "take away" for everyone.
Just reinforces how good Steve is at teaching, how much further I still have to go, but also that I am able to blend what I know and I am definitley getting better at observing others small errors and correcting them (and catching them in myself!)
25/9/18
Warm up:
footwork lonero style - bouncing on the spot, using that feel of motion to move forward back left and right, box pattern and pivots
Beginners:
Jab defences :
1) catch and immediate jab reply
2) slip followed by uppercut and hook
3) split entry (using slip motion, jab to head or solar plexus)
essentially building on the motion of a slip and importance of getting out the way and using the parry to support the evasions not relying on the hand to block
In pairs: one person jabbing at forehead (keep chin down and hands up) every so often slip the jab. then we added slips to cross, bob and weave hooks
Pad work:
Jab, slip, cross, slip, jab cross, bob and weave lead and rear hook
Experienced:
The idea of this session was to blend defences and attacking first by drilling all the defences they could remember off of a jab catch drill focusing on a variety of:
jab defences, cross defences, teep and round kick defences
We then attempted to apply these in a long thai pad round. not smashing the pads but using the pads to enhance technique while finishing ready to counter/defend an attack - pad holder called combos and then responded with a steady pace
experimental thai pad round lasted for aout 5/6 mins:
essentially the pad holder calls out combo's to hit, but also feeds attacks which the striker defends and follows up with ABC. focus on not over committing and balance and being able to use what we know.
using pads as a target not hitting hard
All:
lock flow first four - all grades supporting eachother.
27/8/18
warm up:
movement patterns (box pattern, pivot, lstep moving forward and sideways and moving 45 female triangle)
into a routine of fwd, back left right, back to middle then 45 right, 45 left back to middle pivot x 4 left (make a circle) L step x 4 right (make a circle)
Beginners:
Cross defences (off jab cross feed)
1) parry (keep hand high, rotate body don't push hand too far across or pull down almost keep your arm vertical like a pillar.
2) split entry (focus on slip motion to evade and get off line while,after catching the jab, almost following their jabbing hand back in order to hit them)
3) salute (again slip motion and then using salute to off balance and drive forward)
we then mixed these up using a cross loop drill to practice the defences (default was the parry) to get flight time and to get the defences "out of motion"
Pads: 3 min round
jab
jab cross
jab jab cross
jab cross cross
also some discussion about throwing the jab and cross from the shoulder without dropping fist first or "telling" the blow and not over reaching and off balancing. Also keeping your hands up at all times (the Bruce Lee eyebrow brush to tell you your hands are high enough!)
lock flow 1-4 - gradually putting pressure on the locks not snapping them on (and snapping partners wrists.. especially on us old folk!)
Experienced
based on the Thai 4 count
1) rear round kick hook croos lead round kick
2) lead round kick cross hook rear round kick
Then add different punches e.g. instead of lead, cross, hook, rear, could change the punches to: body cross, upper cut (defend punches let kicks land occasionally,)
Fakes
isolating the fakes to drill before adding to the 4 counts above
1) Lead kick to rear kick - fake the lead kick (knee up) then switch to a rear kick (move off line!)
2) Switch kick to lead hook (In change of stance) - sell the switch to prompt a block, use you swinging arm to move a punch or to move the arm out the way to then land the hook) - may need a slightly deeper switch to close the range (or hook to body)
3) Rear kick targeting lead leg - as they lift to check you skip through to kick back leg
4) Rear kick to teep (question mark kick?) - fake the round (keep leg bent) and swing the leg round into teep (need strong balancing leg to help drive)
We then added fakes to the combo.. eg did the 4 count with a variety of punches or did the 4 count with a variety of fakes to keep defender guessing and trying to defend all
Lock drills:
1-16
disturb and lock flow (take time if you keep doing same 2 or 3 locks that's ok but stop and think about what else you can try to add to the flow)
Basic hubud with 4 switched (wave and hack, dagger pass (on the hit) ton sau and chi sau)
That being said my thought process was to work on fundamental skills with the beginners to give them flight time (which are the building blocks of the rest of the skills they develop), while the more experienced reviewed what they already know and see how they can combine them. The Thai pad drill had mixed success but I think it is something that can be tweeked to have a better effect, However the more conditioned rounds, based off some simple patterns and adding variety, seemed more effective and with a more obvious "take away" for everyone.
Just reinforces how good Steve is at teaching, how much further I still have to go, but also that I am able to blend what I know and I am definitley getting better at observing others small errors and correcting them (and catching them in myself!)
25/9/18
Warm up:
footwork lonero style - bouncing on the spot, using that feel of motion to move forward back left and right, box pattern and pivots
Beginners:
Jab defences :
1) catch and immediate jab reply
2) slip followed by uppercut and hook
3) split entry (using slip motion, jab to head or solar plexus)
essentially building on the motion of a slip and importance of getting out the way and using the parry to support the evasions not relying on the hand to block
In pairs: one person jabbing at forehead (keep chin down and hands up) every so often slip the jab. then we added slips to cross, bob and weave hooks
Pad work:
Jab, slip, cross, slip, jab cross, bob and weave lead and rear hook
Experienced:
The idea of this session was to blend defences and attacking first by drilling all the defences they could remember off of a jab catch drill focusing on a variety of:
jab defences, cross defences, teep and round kick defences
We then attempted to apply these in a long thai pad round. not smashing the pads but using the pads to enhance technique while finishing ready to counter/defend an attack - pad holder called combos and then responded with a steady pace
experimental thai pad round lasted for aout 5/6 mins:
essentially the pad holder calls out combo's to hit, but also feeds attacks which the striker defends and follows up with ABC. focus on not over committing and balance and being able to use what we know.
using pads as a target not hitting hard
All:
lock flow first four - all grades supporting eachother.
27/8/18
warm up:
movement patterns (box pattern, pivot, lstep moving forward and sideways and moving 45 female triangle)
into a routine of fwd, back left right, back to middle then 45 right, 45 left back to middle pivot x 4 left (make a circle) L step x 4 right (make a circle)
Beginners:
Cross defences (off jab cross feed)
1) parry (keep hand high, rotate body don't push hand too far across or pull down almost keep your arm vertical like a pillar.
2) split entry (focus on slip motion to evade and get off line while,after catching the jab, almost following their jabbing hand back in order to hit them)
3) salute (again slip motion and then using salute to off balance and drive forward)
we then mixed these up using a cross loop drill to practice the defences (default was the parry) to get flight time and to get the defences "out of motion"
Pads: 3 min round
jab
jab cross
jab jab cross
jab cross cross
also some discussion about throwing the jab and cross from the shoulder without dropping fist first or "telling" the blow and not over reaching and off balancing. Also keeping your hands up at all times (the Bruce Lee eyebrow brush to tell you your hands are high enough!)
lock flow 1-4 - gradually putting pressure on the locks not snapping them on (and snapping partners wrists.. especially on us old folk!)
Experienced
based on the Thai 4 count
1) rear round kick hook croos lead round kick
2) lead round kick cross hook rear round kick
Then add different punches e.g. instead of lead, cross, hook, rear, could change the punches to: body cross, upper cut (defend punches let kicks land occasionally,)
Fakes
isolating the fakes to drill before adding to the 4 counts above
1) Lead kick to rear kick - fake the lead kick (knee up) then switch to a rear kick (move off line!)
2) Switch kick to lead hook (In change of stance) - sell the switch to prompt a block, use you swinging arm to move a punch or to move the arm out the way to then land the hook) - may need a slightly deeper switch to close the range (or hook to body)
3) Rear kick targeting lead leg - as they lift to check you skip through to kick back leg
4) Rear kick to teep (question mark kick?) - fake the round (keep leg bent) and swing the leg round into teep (need strong balancing leg to help drive)
We then added fakes to the combo.. eg did the 4 count with a variety of punches or did the 4 count with a variety of fakes to keep defender guessing and trying to defend all
Lock drills:
1-16
disturb and lock flow (take time if you keep doing same 2 or 3 locks that's ok but stop and think about what else you can try to add to the flow)
Basic hubud with 4 switched (wave and hack, dagger pass (on the hit) ton sau and chi sau)
Friday, 21 September 2018
20/9/18: 12 count and stick flows, ground and pound and takedowns
Tonight's session was about getting back to basics, working through various techniques and applying correct mechanics.
Single stick:
Illustrimo 12 count
A1
A4 backhand
A3 forehand
A2
Stab
back hand uppercut
forehand uppercut
stab to side of head (your left)
stab to side of head (your right)
Redondo straight down middle
low level A1
Low level A2
We also added footwork to this flow stepping forward and back and also did this with left hand
Defang on Illustrimo 6 count:
feed the following -
A1
A4 backhand
A3 forehand
A2
Stab
back hand uppercut
on each feed hit the hand and then watik the stick
Stick flow:
A1, A2, A1 umbrella to A1
A2, A1, A2, umbrella to A2
add this flow to the defang drill above after hitting hand (we put gloves on and feeder holds stick out for you to hit - focus on speed and smooth not smashing the stick)
Ground and Pound:
feeder with focus mitts
1) feed jab, duck under jab and drive in, bear hug (there is a better name but I cant remember it) and knee pinch into take down. land in the mount on top of pad holder. 6 hits on pads (not too much energy as you don't want to over balance) then lop one arm and elbow, lop the other arm and elbow. repeat for 3 min round (and thinking about how to move off them in control with knee on belly)
2) this time pad holder takes you down with same takedown as above. they are in mount position and start to hit at you with pads. cover up and keep head off floor. after 6 or seven hits you return fire and hit the pads for 6 hits. once down you stay down for 3 mins doing this drill (this is an ab killer who needs sit ups)
Take downs:
1) Off jab, parry and eye strike with lead hand. wrap arm drive in (stepping forward) with head next to their head. free hand grabs shoulder, step back and drag down. once down hammer fist to head, step over and then branch down arm/shoulder wrench)
2) Off jab, parry and eye strike with lead hand into lop and then cross. move into figure 4 lock and throw/takedown. knee on head and ribs and the keeping elbow tight against you lift up into wrist lock
3) Off Cross, Over hand, uppercut, arm break on shoulder. keep tight grip and bob and weave under arm and pivot as you twist writ to take down. when down put one leg behind head so they can't twist away, place the palm of their hand on your hip furthers away from them (and a slight step away form their body) keeping tight grip twist body and apply wrist/arm/ shoulder lock.
4) Off cross, cut punch over cross to turn their head, lean straight over onto arm bar (try to get this on straight away) take down by falling on arm (but with parent go down slowly with bent lead leg then support with one arm. take them to where you want them.. stretch them out/pull them into position. apply arm lock on ground if arm bends can turn into wrist lock.
There were lots of little tips tonight, how to punch on the ground so you don't over balance, cutting elbows so you aren't falling over onto the floor to just hit the person, maintaining torque and pressure through the locks and takedowns.
I was also becoming more aware of my partners energy. for example with doing one of the arm bars I could feel how solid they were and that I would not have been able to lock out their arm. I used the pause while I was thinking (which you can do when you drill) to visualise going with that energy and turing it onto a figure 4 (or another lock which works on a bent arm).
I know for my personal journey I am trying to tighten up the things I know and make sure I am nailing the techniques I am learning steo by step. But I also feel that my awareness of some things is expanding and I am looking at exploring variations of technique in that, if I am trying something and the resistance is significant. I am able to switch to something else that will be more effective. again something to focus on for me in drills when I am able to (which means when I am confident I can apply something effectively and smoothly in the first place)
Single stick:
Illustrimo 12 count
A1
A4 backhand
A3 forehand
A2
Stab
back hand uppercut
forehand uppercut
stab to side of head (your left)
stab to side of head (your right)
Redondo straight down middle
low level A1
Low level A2
We also added footwork to this flow stepping forward and back and also did this with left hand
Defang on Illustrimo 6 count:
feed the following -
A1
A4 backhand
A3 forehand
A2
Stab
back hand uppercut
on each feed hit the hand and then watik the stick
Stick flow:
A1, A2, A1 umbrella to A1
A2, A1, A2, umbrella to A2
add this flow to the defang drill above after hitting hand (we put gloves on and feeder holds stick out for you to hit - focus on speed and smooth not smashing the stick)
Ground and Pound:
feeder with focus mitts
1) feed jab, duck under jab and drive in, bear hug (there is a better name but I cant remember it) and knee pinch into take down. land in the mount on top of pad holder. 6 hits on pads (not too much energy as you don't want to over balance) then lop one arm and elbow, lop the other arm and elbow. repeat for 3 min round (and thinking about how to move off them in control with knee on belly)
2) this time pad holder takes you down with same takedown as above. they are in mount position and start to hit at you with pads. cover up and keep head off floor. after 6 or seven hits you return fire and hit the pads for 6 hits. once down you stay down for 3 mins doing this drill (this is an ab killer who needs sit ups)
Take downs:
1) Off jab, parry and eye strike with lead hand. wrap arm drive in (stepping forward) with head next to their head. free hand grabs shoulder, step back and drag down. once down hammer fist to head, step over and then branch down arm/shoulder wrench)
2) Off jab, parry and eye strike with lead hand into lop and then cross. move into figure 4 lock and throw/takedown. knee on head and ribs and the keeping elbow tight against you lift up into wrist lock
3) Off Cross, Over hand, uppercut, arm break on shoulder. keep tight grip and bob and weave under arm and pivot as you twist writ to take down. when down put one leg behind head so they can't twist away, place the palm of their hand on your hip furthers away from them (and a slight step away form their body) keeping tight grip twist body and apply wrist/arm/ shoulder lock.
4) Off cross, cut punch over cross to turn their head, lean straight over onto arm bar (try to get this on straight away) take down by falling on arm (but with parent go down slowly with bent lead leg then support with one arm. take them to where you want them.. stretch them out/pull them into position. apply arm lock on ground if arm bends can turn into wrist lock.
There were lots of little tips tonight, how to punch on the ground so you don't over balance, cutting elbows so you aren't falling over onto the floor to just hit the person, maintaining torque and pressure through the locks and takedowns.
I was also becoming more aware of my partners energy. for example with doing one of the arm bars I could feel how solid they were and that I would not have been able to lock out their arm. I used the pause while I was thinking (which you can do when you drill) to visualise going with that energy and turing it onto a figure 4 (or another lock which works on a bent arm).
I know for my personal journey I am trying to tighten up the things I know and make sure I am nailing the techniques I am learning steo by step. But I also feel that my awareness of some things is expanding and I am looking at exploring variations of technique in that, if I am trying something and the resistance is significant. I am able to switch to something else that will be more effective. again something to focus on for me in drills when I am able to (which means when I am confident I can apply something effectively and smoothly in the first place)
Friday, 14 September 2018
13/9/18: Muay Thai variations and a little stick
Tonight's session continued our focus on Thai defences. Over the last few weeks we have been building a repertoire of techniques/skills which we have gradually been challenging through uncertainty (in a build up to chaos and sparring).
In pervious sessions (see older blog entries) we have worker thai defences off the lead round kick combos and started to build some options against this, and we continue here with the rear round kick option.
I must stress that action is better than reaction, so it's always better to get the hits in first...but... your opponent is a moving target and they are not just going to let you hit them. So having some frame of reference for what you are going to do no matter what your opponent throws at you (tested under pressure of course) is going to be more effective than having no options (or too many).
Warm up:
Shadow boxing
Isolating drills
Round Kick
Jab, round kick
Jab, cross, round kick
Jab, cross, hook, round kick
Tips: twist standing leg on ball of foot with a "hard ankle" to open you hips, get the hip over when throwing the kick, use the arms to help swing the leg, step off the line with the hook.
Thai defences:
All off the jab cross hook rear round kick combo
The point of these variations is that your opponent that you don't really know how what they are going to throw or how many hits/combo. We started with variation 1 (detailed below) as default but if (when) you don't managed to pull this off (too close, too fast you miss etc) you have other options you can flow into. usual rules apply... hands up, movement, focus etc etc
1) Teep: whatever they throw (in this case the jab... throw a rear teep (and follow with rear round kick)... keep your hands up in case they move too fast and get in before your teep lands, or have a really long reach.
They jab to fast and you don't manage to pull the teep off
2) long Parry the jab and using the same hand throw a cross (step forward and off line) follow with uppercut and cross (or any ABC)
The cross comes too fast or you miss.
3) long parry jab and cross and lean back on the hook to make it miss then "bounce/shuffle" forward and follow up with cross hook and round kick
you don't manage to lean back on the hook
4) long parry jab and cross, thai cover the hook, check the round kick (block with shin), follow up with rear knee, into back sweep.
we drilled these in isolation and then applied them in any order with partner throwing the full combo without stopping and you trying to apply these and make alterations depending on if you pull them off or not
Pad rounds: circle of death!
6 stations. 5 of which had thai pads 1 had focus mitts.
Round 1: on thai pads you do jab cross hook rear round kick, on focus mitts you do jab cross hook cross. Hit pads until you are told to change to next station. we went round every station, no idea how long we did this for.
Round 2: on thai pads we did rear round kick pyramids (1,2,3,2,1), on focus mitts we did, jab/ jab cross/ jab ross hook/ jab cross/ jab... again went round every station only moving on when we were told to.
Stick work:
5 count feed (A1, A2, A3,A4, A5)
1) hit sick and then zone off throwing A1 and A2 strikes
2) hit sick and then zone off throwing upward A1 and A2 strikes
3) hit sick and then zone off throwing abenico
Stick choke/strangle
insode sweep off angle 1, check hand, throw the hand away and abenico to head, stab stick past head and slide to opposite side. reach free hand just behind head close to neck, grip stick and squeeze (like a scissor motion. when it hurst .. and it will... tap on your partner to tell them to stop... or they won't!
In pervious sessions (see older blog entries) we have worker thai defences off the lead round kick combos and started to build some options against this, and we continue here with the rear round kick option.
I must stress that action is better than reaction, so it's always better to get the hits in first...but... your opponent is a moving target and they are not just going to let you hit them. So having some frame of reference for what you are going to do no matter what your opponent throws at you (tested under pressure of course) is going to be more effective than having no options (or too many).
Warm up:
Shadow boxing
Isolating drills
Round Kick
Jab, round kick
Jab, cross, round kick
Jab, cross, hook, round kick
Tips: twist standing leg on ball of foot with a "hard ankle" to open you hips, get the hip over when throwing the kick, use the arms to help swing the leg, step off the line with the hook.
Thai defences:
All off the jab cross hook rear round kick combo
The point of these variations is that your opponent that you don't really know how what they are going to throw or how many hits/combo. We started with variation 1 (detailed below) as default but if (when) you don't managed to pull this off (too close, too fast you miss etc) you have other options you can flow into. usual rules apply... hands up, movement, focus etc etc
1) Teep: whatever they throw (in this case the jab... throw a rear teep (and follow with rear round kick)... keep your hands up in case they move too fast and get in before your teep lands, or have a really long reach.
They jab to fast and you don't manage to pull the teep off
2) long Parry the jab and using the same hand throw a cross (step forward and off line) follow with uppercut and cross (or any ABC)
The cross comes too fast or you miss.
3) long parry jab and cross and lean back on the hook to make it miss then "bounce/shuffle" forward and follow up with cross hook and round kick
you don't manage to lean back on the hook
4) long parry jab and cross, thai cover the hook, check the round kick (block with shin), follow up with rear knee, into back sweep.
we drilled these in isolation and then applied them in any order with partner throwing the full combo without stopping and you trying to apply these and make alterations depending on if you pull them off or not
Pad rounds: circle of death!
6 stations. 5 of which had thai pads 1 had focus mitts.
Round 1: on thai pads you do jab cross hook rear round kick, on focus mitts you do jab cross hook cross. Hit pads until you are told to change to next station. we went round every station, no idea how long we did this for.
Round 2: on thai pads we did rear round kick pyramids (1,2,3,2,1), on focus mitts we did, jab/ jab cross/ jab ross hook/ jab cross/ jab... again went round every station only moving on when we were told to.
Stick work:
5 count feed (A1, A2, A3,A4, A5)
1) hit sick and then zone off throwing A1 and A2 strikes
2) hit sick and then zone off throwing upward A1 and A2 strikes
3) hit sick and then zone off throwing abenico
Stick choke/strangle
insode sweep off angle 1, check hand, throw the hand away and abenico to head, stab stick past head and slide to opposite side. reach free hand just behind head close to neck, grip stick and squeeze (like a scissor motion. when it hurst .. and it will... tap on your partner to tell them to stop... or they won't!
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