Pad training.
Holy crap the hall is cold. Therefore we jumped straight into pad training. Began working the same initial punch combo as last week.
Footwork:
It is basic but I find it tough and quite enjoyable. Simply 'stepping' forward to a count. I do not think that 1 step I have ever done is identical to the last which makes this simple practise one that should not be overlooked for more sexy and exotic training methods. After-all, if we can't control our legs how the hell can we expect to survive that fury and chaos of street combat? Martin R gave me a fantastic tip; make sure the standing leg is under your ass at the end of the step. This made me much more mindful of all my legs and what they should be doing. My problem before tonight was my focus was on exploding forward with the lead leg, I almost assumed that the rear leg would catch up and take care of itself. Thankfully not so. No short cuts, no oversights. Crack on and control that rear leg.
More pad training:
Working a few simple combos; 1-2-3-4, solo practise of 5 and 6 ending up with 1-6-3-2.
Wrestling pummel:
Working the drill with Slippers, needed to have a solid and accurate structure to maintain my position. From the roll we looked to clinch the neck or take the hips. As we were working independently and alive it kept our posture more alert and not sloppy. Also looked at the neck clinch defence which is ultimately the palm push to chin move.
As always, great session tonight. Sorry that there was no sparring tonight but the thirst must wait until next week...
Thursday 27 January 2011
Week 35
This is late as a week has passed already. Anyhow...
Started with the 3 drill warm up. We started to look at posture and linked to sparring. For example we would look to attack the neck (Thai plum) or hips (takedown) in the 3 drill and when the neck is taken posture up BUT DO NOT STAND UP. When they go for the hips, ass back, spine straight but angled. This is a great addition to the 3 drill as it focuses the mind on keeping sound posture.
Pad training:
Drilling the basic footwork with triple punches. We then moved on to pre fight and meet and greet techniques.
Sparring technique:
Looking for the partner to give forward energy from the jab. Looking for them to almost give a palm out check. If you get this response on the second beat then step in deep and go for the head. This is a beautiful move if successful. However the problem is if done poorly, slowly or too obviously then you will get KO'd.
Sparring:
Hard and very tough spar with the boss. Generally got battered but managed to keep the footwork and posture sound as well as getting used to getting hit. Turning, ducking and flinching responses are slowly and gladly being reduced.
Started with the 3 drill warm up. We started to look at posture and linked to sparring. For example we would look to attack the neck (Thai plum) or hips (takedown) in the 3 drill and when the neck is taken posture up BUT DO NOT STAND UP. When they go for the hips, ass back, spine straight but angled. This is a great addition to the 3 drill as it focuses the mind on keeping sound posture.
Pad training:
Drilling the basic footwork with triple punches. We then moved on to pre fight and meet and greet techniques.
Sparring technique:
Looking for the partner to give forward energy from the jab. Looking for them to almost give a palm out check. If you get this response on the second beat then step in deep and go for the head. This is a beautiful move if successful. However the problem is if done poorly, slowly or too obviously then you will get KO'd.
Sparring:
Hard and very tough spar with the boss. Generally got battered but managed to keep the footwork and posture sound as well as getting used to getting hit. Turning, ducking and flinching responses are slowly and gladly being reduced.
Friday 14 January 2011
Week 34
3 drill: Warmed up with 3 drill. Still working on the chops being from the elbow and straight as possible. I found them to be most effective when doing multiple changes and for sitting down into them. If I turn my shoulders then I lose power and something resembling decent alignment. Stable was very dominant coming forward, even in his ‘defences’ so I tried to use off lining footwork to counter the pressure. 3 drill for me is tough with Stable as he always comes forward and no quarter is given hence a good time to work the off lining footwork.
Footwork: Up and down the hall but in 50/50 and ultimately with double punches. Training fast twitch response to the count and exploding forward but keeping the hips and shoulders square on.
Off lining footwork: With a partner , guard hand to guard hand. One applies forward pressure and the defender feels the pressure and offlines by moving THE FRONT FOOT FIRST then the rear foot into a position that enables you to explode forward and attack. As we moved through the drill, people started to employ tan or lap sau off the front hand to add control to the opponent.
Sparring: Tried to employ the tips Martin gave me last week. Two things happened, it went well and it fell apart. Firstly I sparred with Nick who last week peppered the crap out of my face. I worked the no takedown footwork and stance and moved backwards a lot as he comes forward relentlessly. Tried to offline, managed on a few occasions but did not really manage to attack. But I felt much more secure using the footwork style. In time the hands will come... Against Paul, my ego got the better of my and we locked horns in a 5 minute standing grapple. Was great fun, he is strong as an ox and does not give up and has a good understanding of his base and space me and him. He left few gaps. I should have escaped his clutches and worked my own agenda out of range but hey, the grapple is most addictive.
Footwork: Up and down the hall but in 50/50 and ultimately with double punches. Training fast twitch response to the count and exploding forward but keeping the hips and shoulders square on.
Off lining footwork: With a partner , guard hand to guard hand. One applies forward pressure and the defender feels the pressure and offlines by moving THE FRONT FOOT FIRST then the rear foot into a position that enables you to explode forward and attack. As we moved through the drill, people started to employ tan or lap sau off the front hand to add control to the opponent.
Sparring: Tried to employ the tips Martin gave me last week. Two things happened, it went well and it fell apart. Firstly I sparred with Nick who last week peppered the crap out of my face. I worked the no takedown footwork and stance and moved backwards a lot as he comes forward relentlessly. Tried to offline, managed on a few occasions but did not really manage to attack. But I felt much more secure using the footwork style. In time the hands will come... Against Paul, my ego got the better of my and we locked horns in a 5 minute standing grapple. Was great fun, he is strong as an ox and does not give up and has a good understanding of his base and space me and him. He left few gaps. I should have escaped his clutches and worked my own agenda out of range but hey, the grapple is most addictive.
Saturday 8 January 2011
Week 33
So 2011 has begun and with a painful bang. 2 days after training my left shoulder and neck are very sore and I am foolishly going to do some body weight conditioning after this post. We did 2 hours of sparring and I engaged too much in grappling but hey it was a fine workout.
During the session Martin stopped us all to talk about things we should avoid. For him and at the moment in our training they are
1. Don't turn away when hit
2. Don't duck.
3. Dont' pose and leave your technique out there.
After class I spoke to Martin about sparring and said that I find it hard as I am usually the shortest and am unsure about to use this as an advantage.
For the next 50 hours of sparring my goal is to primarily work on;
1. Maintaining takedown defence stance
2. Attack at the end of their attack.
Also i have just watched a bagua combat video on YouTube
( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPXHBIDO_1U and there are some ideas on that which I might also begin to play with. For example, off lining forward footwork on attack to 11 0r 1 because at the moment I am just working 12 and 6. That is no good as my forehead is a little lumpy today. Also look for elbow control instead of wrist. If I can control the wrist then they can still manipulate and move from and with the elbow. Finally, when engaged or controlled to try to fast twitch turn and attack forward.
I am going to try really hard to stick to these tactics for this year along with anti-grapple as it is far too easy to take hits, close the gap and grab a hold.
On Thursday night, standing grappling with Paul and Man mountain Nathan was extremely fun, bordering on addictive. Yes there might be an argument that I am developing and working on infight sensitivity and control of another but my weakness is out of range and initial boxing range. Therefore this should and will be at the forefront of my mind in sparring.
During the session Martin stopped us all to talk about things we should avoid. For him and at the moment in our training they are
1. Don't turn away when hit
2. Don't duck.
3. Dont' pose and leave your technique out there.
After class I spoke to Martin about sparring and said that I find it hard as I am usually the shortest and am unsure about to use this as an advantage.
For the next 50 hours of sparring my goal is to primarily work on;
1. Maintaining takedown defence stance
2. Attack at the end of their attack.
Also i have just watched a bagua combat video on YouTube
( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPXHBIDO_1U and there are some ideas on that which I might also begin to play with. For example, off lining forward footwork on attack to 11 0r 1 because at the moment I am just working 12 and 6. That is no good as my forehead is a little lumpy today. Also look for elbow control instead of wrist. If I can control the wrist then they can still manipulate and move from and with the elbow. Finally, when engaged or controlled to try to fast twitch turn and attack forward.
I am going to try really hard to stick to these tactics for this year along with anti-grapple as it is far too easy to take hits, close the gap and grab a hold.
On Thursday night, standing grappling with Paul and Man mountain Nathan was extremely fun, bordering on addictive. Yes there might be an argument that I am developing and working on infight sensitivity and control of another but my weakness is out of range and initial boxing range. Therefore this should and will be at the forefront of my mind in sparring.
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