Week 58

Warm up sets:

As last week the main focus of the class was looking at the concept of the immoveable elbow and working the counter to the plum clinch.

Sparring

I want to spend time talking about this aspect of the class as it where I made the most errors and thus have most to meditate on.
Firstly I did not apply the techniques learned in the class. Specifically the immoveable elbow. When the speed goes up then I forget the basics and just seek to clinch. Further problem is that I clinch with poor defence as I enter elbow range. Luckily only a few use elbows in sparring. Time to assume all use them. I must control the elbow on my way in. Or even avoid the clinch work and stay in punching range.

At the end of the sparring I was very tired. Interestingly Martin gave some tips on what not to do in sparring based on what he saw from everyone tonight.
Firstly face the punch. Sparring should be fairly controlled so if a hit to the face is received then is should be too traumatic. We need to be controlled in the fight and to be alert. Sparring is the time in which we can practise this internal focus as the punches are coming in.

Effort: All were too knackered at the end. We need to keep something in reserve so should we need to go to a higher gear, we have it. Sparring should be at a slower pace where we can practise and perfect, not point score and be dominated by ego. Therefore sparring is about developing timing and rhythm.