Monday 20 June 2011

Week 55

3 drill

Entries using inside gate pak sau.

Pad circuit:
A 5 station 2minute with 15 seconds rest. Seems like a long time since the last time we did this. The rounds were
• 1, 2, 3, 2
• 1, 2, 1, 14
• 1, 10, 3, 2
• 1, 6, 3, 2
• 1, 2, 7, 3, 2
It was very tough on the last round as I was losing form due to fatigue. My diaphragm was friggin killing me. I also had the pleasure of using Stable’s pads that be new and thus stained the backs of my hands so they now look like they belong to a miner.

Sparring:

It seems so long since we have sparred and in that time I have lost all self discipline. Defence was shocking, attacks were random with no intention. I need to go back and look through my notes and re-establish my focus for sparring and stick to it. Play my own game not match those who are in front of me. I know there are many things I use sparring for, primarily pain and fear management but I must use it by being smart. But my dilemma is what is sparring for? I know it is to work techniques against a non compliant opponent but at times my ego forgets this and becomes fixed on match fighting. Perhaps there is too much thinking about what is and what is not. Back to the drawing board and back to the beginning.

Saturday 18 June 2011

Week 54

3 drill detail.

From the backfist they can apply a short pak and hit. The counter to this is to drop the elbow and circle upwards in the centre which will enable you to do a short lap and hit. They key for me was getting the elbow dropped into the centre, my mistake was using the elbow as the pivot point from their attack. This requires far too much effort.

X-trap:

The best way to set this up is when doing the backfist lap, drag their arm far across their centre, then lap the defence to the backfist down to their hip. This will provide lots of torque and off balancing in their body then the X-trap can be applied much more effectively.

Escape:

Simply lift and bend the elbows. Not the shoulders. The point for me of this is that at some point they are going to release energy so they can hit as from this position you can still attack with the head if desired.
Counter to the escape is to simply release as they will bring a hand up to defend the impending attack, dive in with a snatch attack and hit.
Other attacks open when applying the X-trap are body shots to the ribs after you slip off and cover. Due to the range, elbows are also an option.

Headlock defence:

Posture up and palm across their face. If contact is felt on the back of the head or neck, it is good practise to not curl into a ball as this will ensure your rapid demise.

A.D.M. (Am drag maintenance) Reps, reps and more reps of the main 4.

The Whizzer:

This is the counter to double underhooks with lots of forward energy. This will not work if they have the hands clasped. It is for when they have got past your sprawl defence. Using the crook of your arm hook it tightly around their underhook and shrug throw them in the direction their energy is going. You will need to turn yourself to help them on their way.

Saturday 4 June 2011

Week 53

We worked the arm drag series from last week to act as a refresher and reinforce. We were extended by giving our partners different energies and they have to apply the correct arm drag. No point fighting energy with energy. If they give it to us then we must use it to our advantage, This led into the striking options utilising arm drags. As you saw from the video posted last week, usually arm drags lead to grappling stage contact and control. This can be standing as well as looking for takedowns and floor work. Only if the surface and situation permits it. We do not want to injure ourselves going to the ground nor tie up with another to enable their mates to practise their footy skills on our heads.

Arm drag 1: (Pak and punch, arm drag) simply can’t remember. My gut says hit through the centre when elbow control is got...

Arm drag 2: (Pak and punch, inside gate lap) Funky side step thingy. Did not like it so refuse to talk about it.

Arm drag 3: (Pak and punch, roll over) Instead of going for the arm drag look to get the Thai neck clinch. Some key tips are to squeeze the elbows together and thus clamping the head. A most uncomfortable position to find yourself in. In terms of the hand grip the best thing I can liken it to is the butterfly shadow silhouette you make with your hands. When clinching ensure the lower wrist is under and in contact with the upper wrist. From head control, knees, knees and more knees.

Arm drag 4: (Pak and punch, wrist then elbow control and shrug) there were several options we studied. 1. Maintain wrist control and hit through the centre with the left palm. 2. Simply lift off wrist control and hit with elbow. 3. Charge in with an elbow using explosive footwork.