Story and photo by Robert W. Young – February 21, 2013
http://www.blackbeltmag.com/daily/traditional-martial-arts-training/jeet-kune-do/larry-hartsell-on-jeet-kune-do-grappling-and-open-mindedness-part-1/
For years, martial artists have associated Larry Hartsell with two ultra-effective fighting concepts: grappling and jeet kune do. Bruce Lee’s system will forever stand at the forefront of martial arts popularity, and now that proponents of Brazilian jiu-jitsu have focused the world’s attention on the effectiveness of ground fighting, grappling is in vogue. This naturally brings us to Larry Hartsell — an expert in both ways of fighting — as he twists Black Belt into a knot and chokes us into submission. At the mercy of his elbow lock and hook punch, we bring you the following interview.
Could you begin by discussing your martial arts background?
My first martial art, in 1958 or 1959, was judo. At the same time, I was a high-school wrestler in the light-heavyweight class. I had a football scholarship and went to Wingate Junior College and got involved in tang soo do when I met a Korean foreign-exchange student. After that, [the college] dropped the football program, and I became enthusiastic about the only martial arts books they had out in 1960: books by Masutatsu Oyama [of kyokushin karate], Ed Parker of kenpo karate and Hidetaka Nishiyama [of shotokan karate]. I got interested, so I moved to California, where I started shotokan at the University of California at Los Angeles with Nishiyama.
Later, I rode by Ed Parker’s kenpo karate school on Santa Monica Boulevard and looked in. Dan Inosanto was teaching the kenpo class. I said, “This is what I want.” I became a student of Dan and Ed. I met Bruce Lee in 1964 at Ed Parker’s just before I got drafted into the Army. I was home on leave later in 1964 before I went to Vietnam, and that’s when I really came to know Bruce. We became friends, and after I got out of the Army, I came back and studied with him. From 1967 to 1970, I studied with Bruce and Dan and taught at Ed Parker’s.
When you went to Ed Parker’s, did you have to drop things you learned from Bruce Lee?
Yes, I did because Bruce had adopted boxing then. He [mixed] it with wing chun kung fu. Also, there were grappling techniques he picked up from Gene LeBell and some stuff from Wally Jay’s small-circle jujitsu, which he added to jeet kune do.
What interest did Bruce Lee have in grappling?
Before his death, he had added 33 grappling moves to the jeet kune do concept.
He got those from Gene LeBell and Wally Jay?
Wally Jay, Gene LeBell and Hayward Nishioka. And he had some chin-na and silat. He would mix the arts. He would enter to trapping and take down into a submission. If you read Tao of Jeet Kune Do, you’ll see those grappling [techniques].
How well do jeet kune do principles apply to grappling?
I think the attack-by-drawing principle, where you deliberately set an opening for the guy to come in so you can counter, [applies well]. You can leave an opening for a side kick, then capture the leg and go for a takedown. Also, you can use progressive indirect attack — faking the attack to go into a single-leg takedown and an Achilles-lock submission or some other technique.
So, for the most part, jeet kune do principles work well to move in and go to the ground, after which pure grappling takes over?
Yes, that’s one way. Any range can be closed quickly. In kicking range, you can capture the kick. In boxing range, you can arm-wrap and take him down. Any range can be closed, and you can be on the ground very quickly. I’ve had people at seminars say, “I would just stay outside and kick.” But suppose you’re on a slippery surface; how are you going to kick? Suppose you kick and slip, and the guy’s on top of you. You have to learn to deal with grappling range. Sometimes you cannot dictate your own environment; you’re into grappling range whether you want to be or not.
Is the best way to deal with the environmental factor to study a variety of arts?
I think so. You should be experienced in all ranges. How are you going to effectively counter a boxer who’s a good inside fighter unless you experience that range? I believe a blend is the best.
For beginners, what styles do you recommend for blending?
For weapons range, I recommend the Filipino martial arts because [they come from] a knife culture. For grappling range, shootwrestling or Brazilian jiu-jitsu. For punching range, I would find a good boxing or kickboxing gym. As far as overall conditioning, Thai boxing is king. It also has good standing grappling — hookups, which use knees and elbows.
Some people say that if your opponent wants to grapple, you will end up grappling. You can avoid grappling if both of you want to keep your distance; but if either person wants to come in, the other person has no choice.
Exactly. If there’s going to be a fight, somebody’s got to come in at you — whether it’s in kicking, punching or grappling range.
So kicking, punching and trapping ranges are used mainly to get into grappling range?
That’s one way.
Would you ever stay out of grappling range on purpose and not go in?
Yes. If a guy is physically stronger or moving quickly, I would probably stay back and let him come to me. My defense would be my offense.
But your ultimate goal in self-defense would still be to grapple?
To end a street fight, use whatever works — a left hook, an uppercut, maybe a right cross. If he comes in, maybe a figure-4 face lock or whatever’s there.
Once you’re in, would you ever pull back out and continue striking?
No. There’s a saying in wing chun that I like: “Once you have him, you keep him.”
How do you know when to close the distance to grapple?
If you know something about boxing, about kicking, it helps you time [your entry]. Dan Inosanto told me, “You never grapple with a grappler; you never kick with a kicker; you never box with a boxer. You do something he doesn’t know.” But sometimes you’re forced to go into one of the ranges whether you want to or not. So you should know something about each range.
Know something about each and specialize in one or two?
Yes. Use what you do best to counter what he has.
Is entering into trapping range and grappling range what you do best?
Yes, getting to the inside range.
How do you generally finish a fight after going to the ground?
I just go into a submission hold — kata gatame or yoko shiho gatame, then maybe into an arm lock or neck crank.
When you face an opponent in a self-defense situation, do you plan on getting into grappling range, or do you just work in whatever range he takes you to?
Your opponent’s move is your move. Go with the flow. You can initiate the first move or you can counter his move. It can be done two ways; I do both.
How well does grappling mix with arts that focus on punching and kicking?
Every martial art should have some form of grappling. I have worked as a doorman and bouncer in some of the worst bars in Charlotte, North Carolina, and most fights I saw ended up on the ground. One guy was either in the mount position beating the hell out of the other guy or grabbing [whatever he could]. Judging from what I’ve seen and been involved in, you have only one or two punches. If they don’t knock out the other guy — or at least hurt or stagger him — you end up in clinching range.
For grappling self-defense, how important is ground work vs. throwing? Do you need throwing techniques, or is throwing something you can avoid?
There are different types of throws for competition and self-defense. If you’re fighting on pavement, you don’t want to throw where you’re going to injure yourself. But there are many different ways to take a person to the ground: single-leg and double-leg takedowns, body tackles and go-behinds.
Those are ways to get to the ground without using a traditional judo throw?
Yes.
Do the same things that make grappling so effective in competitions like the Ultimate Fighting Championship make it effective on the street?
Definitely. You can throw a guy, tie him up or go into a standing lock. Locking, grappling and takedowns — it’s all a blend. But you have to realize that if you’re fighting two or three people on the street, you might not want to take it to the ground because the other guys might start kicking you in the head. You have to be effective in standing grappling to turn your opponent and get behind him, then use him as a shield.
Some people say grappling is best for self-defense because you can win a fight without hurting your attacker.
Exactly. You can go into a time hold, control hold or submission. That’s why I like it.
Is the best way to improve — as a striker and a grappler — to acquire as many skills as you can from different styles?
I think so. It reminds me of a saying: “There are many paths to the top of the mountain, but my path may not be your path.” We’re all built differently; we all have different instincts. That’s what Bruce Lee believed. You have to pick your own path. Some are short, and some are long. I always encourage students to attend any seminars they want. When it comes to knowledge, you owe allegiance only to yourself.
Saturday, 30 April 2016
Long Beach 1967
I remember buying a VHS of this. It was barely black and white, it was barely in focus. It was clearly a VHS copy, of a copy, of a copy...
But here we have it in glorious 1960s colour and focus.
But here we have it in glorious 1960s colour and focus.
JKD locking
Taken from http://jkdlibrary.com/jeet-kune-do-counter-attacks-locking/270/
In the original article there are lots of screen captures from magazines showing a range of lock flow methods
There are times when controlling an opponent is more important than cleaning his clock.
Arm and wristlocks are common to many martial arts. They are important primary techniques in chin na, jiujitsu and aikido.
In developing Jeet Kune Do, Bruce Lee considered locking to be either accidental or incidental. It’s accidental because in JKD, while we don’t look for a lock, we may find one. For example, you may slip an opponent’s punch, throw an uppercut to the stomach and get him in a front headlock. It’s accidental because it’s not planned; it’s just there. It’s as if your opponent’s own energy or body position leads him into a lock. Locking in JKD is incidental because it’s seldom a primary goal. Locking almost always follows a punch, kick, trap or throw. We believe in softening up and opponent before locking him.
This is not to say that locking should be disregarded. There are times when controlling an opponent may be more important than punching him out. For example, your “opponent” may be a drunk at a party of a mentally disturbed person who may harm himself or others. You may have a job such as bodyguard, bouncer or police officer where controlling an opponent is desired.
The Kali Lock-Flow
Experts in Filipino Kali practice locking by flowing from one lock to another. The flow occurs when you attempt a lock and your opponent resists. When he resists he gives you energy. You flow (or go with) his energy and into another lock. The
Kali lock-flow is an example of flowing with your opponent’s energy.
Many Kali instructors will do a different lock-flow every time they show you an example. This follows the JKD principle of no set pattern, and shows that energy will differ from opponent to opponent. Remember, the lock-flow shown in this article is only one example. Learn it, but don’t be bound to it. Once you’ve learned it, dissolve it and just go with the flow. Take each lock to the point where it is defined or set. Stay on the threshold of pain, but don’t push past it.
In the original article there are lots of screen captures from magazines showing a range of lock flow methods
There are times when controlling an opponent is more important than cleaning his clock.
Arm and wristlocks are common to many martial arts. They are important primary techniques in chin na, jiujitsu and aikido.
In developing Jeet Kune Do, Bruce Lee considered locking to be either accidental or incidental. It’s accidental because in JKD, while we don’t look for a lock, we may find one. For example, you may slip an opponent’s punch, throw an uppercut to the stomach and get him in a front headlock. It’s accidental because it’s not planned; it’s just there. It’s as if your opponent’s own energy or body position leads him into a lock. Locking in JKD is incidental because it’s seldom a primary goal. Locking almost always follows a punch, kick, trap or throw. We believe in softening up and opponent before locking him.
This is not to say that locking should be disregarded. There are times when controlling an opponent may be more important than punching him out. For example, your “opponent” may be a drunk at a party of a mentally disturbed person who may harm himself or others. You may have a job such as bodyguard, bouncer or police officer where controlling an opponent is desired.
The Kali Lock-Flow
Experts in Filipino Kali practice locking by flowing from one lock to another. The flow occurs when you attempt a lock and your opponent resists. When he resists he gives you energy. You flow (or go with) his energy and into another lock. The
Kali lock-flow is an example of flowing with your opponent’s energy.
Many Kali instructors will do a different lock-flow every time they show you an example. This follows the JKD principle of no set pattern, and shows that energy will differ from opponent to opponent. Remember, the lock-flow shown in this article is only one example. Learn it, but don’t be bound to it. Once you’ve learned it, dissolve it and just go with the flow. Take each lock to the point where it is defined or set. Stay on the threshold of pain, but don’t push past it.
Incremental sparring progression
High Performance Sparring Part 1: Coaching The Basics
by Mike Blesch taken from http://www.jkdwednite.com/articles.htm
One of the most frequently recurring topics of discussion within our group centers around sparring. Specifically, the best progression of drills to prepare new students for contact sparring, as well as how and when to step up the intensity. Now, we realize there is a certain segment of the martial arts community that believes light contact sparring, including sparring progressions, drills, and games is a waste of time. Realism is the priority, therefore it’s high intensity or nothing all. Some flat out do not believe in “sparring.” They tend to be the Combatives and/or Reality-Based Self Defense groups, who sometimes prefer Scenario Training (simulating everyday, real life situations as opposed to “dueling”), and other times simply believe that the only way to prepare for a fight is by fighting, whether for self defense, sport, or anything in between. While the sentiment is understood, we do not wholly agree.
When you find yourself struggling with a technique, or, are having trouble dealing with a technique being used against you, the most simple solution is to break it down to a basic level and work the fundamentals. Repetition is king. The more times an undesirable action is repeated, especially under acute stress, the more ingrained it will become. That can only be resolved by repeating the proper response, over, and over, and over. In our opinion, this is where low intensity sparring, drills, and games become invaluable.
The purpose of this guide is to introduce the training methods and concepts that our group utilizes, and then ask that you, the reader, join in the discussion on our forum JKDTalk.com.
Skill Assessment
When dealing with a new student we look for the following skills and attributes to determine how prepared he or she is for sparring.
• Defense – Do they know basic covers, slips, parries, and defensive footwork?
• Stress Response – How do they respond to slight increases in pressure from the trainer during drills? Do they have poor natural responses like turning their back to the attacker, leaning away with the head to try and keep from getting hit, thrusting both hands outward to try and
block the incoming strikes, etc.?
• Attitude – Do they display self-confidence? Have a naturally aggressive or passive personality?
Are they critical of themselves when they make a mistake?
• Attack/Counterattack – Do they have a basic understanding of distance, striking tools,
takedowns, etc.?
Basic Drills for Assessment
The two drills we use most often during the assessment phase are the “Wall Survival” and “Jab- Catch-Return” drills. These are very basic boxing drills. If you are not an instructor or coach, and need to gauge your own strengths and weaknesses, then an alternative is to record yourself performing the drills with a partner.
Wall Survival Drill
This drill comes to us from the late Bert Poe. It’s used by pro fighters/trainers and has been invaluable to our group. There are several variations of the drill, but for this section we’ll stick to the most basic version.
The student places his back to a wall (ideally padded, but any wall or even the corner of a boxing ring or cage wall will do).
One round should last about 60 seconds for a beginner.
While wearing boxing gloves, the trainer will feed punches to the head and body at random. It is extremely important that the contact level and speed of the punches are kept to a minimum to begin with. Gradually increase the pressure based on the student’s abilities.
The student must keep his back to the wall. He may use only defensive maneuvers at this point.
Note: More advanced versions of this drill include allowing the student lateral movement and having the trainer feed kicks as well as punches.
Jab-Catch-Return
This is a simple test of the students ability to defend and counterattack. Before getting to the drill, let’s define exactly what a “catch” is and how it’s used.
Technically a block, the catch can be a useful defense against a surprise hand attack. Ideally, the fighter should be striking simultaneously while catching. If unprepared, this may not be possible, in which case he or she would catch and follow up with a counterstrike. Mechanically, the technique resembles catching a baseball in a glove. The catch provides a bit more subtlety for counter punching than a regular block.
The drill can be done with or without boxing gloves.
The trainer initiates the drill by throwing a u The student will catch the incoming punch jab at the students chin. and return a jab.
The trainer catches the students punch and returns a jab. The drill is performed in sets of 3 jabs.
Either side can initiate the set once a rhythm is established.
Begin with a steady rhythm and as the drill progresses, introduce half beats. This is where bad habits will begin to show themselves, even under light pressure.
Sparring Safety 101
The staples of creating a safe and productive training/sparring environment include providing your students and/or training partners with the skills needed to prevent themselves from getting knocked out, and to control the power of their punches (by controlling follow through). First and foremost, let’s look at what causes knockouts and some general rules for preventing them.
Preventing Knockouts
Most of the knockouts that take place during sparring/ fighting are caused by a sudden whipping action of the head (rotational force) from strikes. The result is quite literally brain damage (lesions in white matter tracts), due to shearing forces that occur when the head is rapidly accelerated or decelerated. For the most part, these lesions do not heal. A build-up of lesions from repeated blows to the head will actually make you easier to knock out!
The thought of “losing your chin” should make most fighters reconsider the protective measures they take to avoid getting knocked out, not to mention the long term effects of brain injury that may include physical, cognitive, emotional, and behavioral complications.
How To Protect Yourself
Our skulls are best suited to protecting the brain from forward impacts. If you are going to take a punch, you need to take it on the forehead if at all possible. This is the reason (along with protecting the chin) for the forward and downward tilt of the head in any good fighting stance.
In addition to tucking the chin and leading with the forehead, it’s also important to pull your shoulders up. Not only does this protect your chin and jaw line, it shortens your neck and minimizes rotational force when you do get hit. The shorter you can make your neck the better.
The Knockout Drill (for worst case scenarios)
We all get caught with a big punch from time to time, so it’s important to condition yourself to fight through that “daze” if at all possible. The Knockout Drill is a pretty good alternative to taking real punches to the head. This drill only requires 2 people, but is most safely performed with 3.
The student crosses his arms over his chest, and bends at the waist so his upper torso is horizontal and he is staring at the ground.
The trainer gently spins the student around in a circle. Number of rotations:
| Beginner: 6-9 | Intermediate: 10-14 | Advanced: 15-20 | Expert: 21+ |
After the chosen number of rotations are completed, either the trainer or a 3rd person will feed focus mitts which the student will punch repeatedly for 20 seconds. The straight blast (straight lead and rear punches in rapid succession) is the simplest to feed, but can be replaced with any punching combination.
Note: Perform this drill with caution. If the student does not have good balance, make sure that a 3rd person is there to prevent them from falling. Even a few slow spins can cause some people to lose their balance completely.
Eliminating Dangerous Stress Responses
Next, we need to address the natural responses to danger that most of us have which serve us well in everyday situations, but can cause a lot of problems in a fight. Imagine turning around to see a baseball flying directly at your face. The most natural reactions are to turn your back, lean your head away, or even to throw your hands out to try and stop it from hitting you. They’re usually good enough to keep you from getting hurt. The problem with reacting that way when you’re attacked by another person is there’s almost always more than one punch coming at you. Turning your back may save you from the first shot, but you will end up in a very bad position to deal with further attacks. We need to ingrain, through repetition, safe and effective responses to replace the ineffective natural ones.
Proper Emergency Reactions
Within the curriculum of many combative systems you will find techniques for dealing with what one of my teachers likes to call the “Oh Crap! Moment”. You are caught in a vulnerable position and your tools have been spent, are out of play, or for one reason or another cannot be employed effectively. Maybe you’re just outgunned. This is where the emergency response comes in to play.
Salute / High Cover-Up
To get a feel for the technique, grab the back of your head with your lead hand so that the point of your elbow is aimed down your partner’s centerline. Notice that your jaw, neck, temple, and the area behind your ear is protected. This can be done on either side of the head.
3-Point Cover / Supported Elbow Frame
The Modified Dive
This is the most aggressive emergency response and therefore has to be modified for use in sparring. In a self defense situation, the intention is to slam your fingers into the attackers face. In sparring, we’ll use our palms to strike the opponent’s forehead rather than his face. The technique involves thrusting both hands outward and lowering your head, similar to diving into a pool
Similar to the Salute, but now your rear hand will reach over top and grab the lead forearm just above the elbow, creating a “frame.” The head is lowered slightly, so that you are looking under your rear forearm. Notice the 3 points created by the elbows along with the top of the head. This technique was popularized by a very good defensive boxing program that has been used in MMA and elsewhere successfully.
Proper Defensive Maneuvers
Footwork
Note: As a Jeet Kune Do group, we very rarely, if ever, use any defensive move without striking at the same time (or before if possible - think hit first, then defend). Keep that in mind while reading this section.
Without a doubt, the most important element of defense in sparring is footwork. Let’s look at a few of the maneuvers we consider to be crucial to a proper defensive game.
Curve Step
Curving and striking can be a very effective counter to a straight punch. It’s especially useful against an opponent in an unmatched stance (orthodox vs southpaw, or vice versa). The curved punch is initiated with the hand, followed by a lead step and ending with a rear step (all in one fluid motion) so that you are now aligned at a 45 degree angle to the opponent. Exercise caution when using the technique against a fighter in a matched lead as you will be moving towards his rear hand. Like many footwork methods, this must be executed with explosive energy.
Side Step (Lateral Push Step)
Against an unmatched lead.
A side step in Jeet Kune Do is usually thought of as 2 movements, a step with the outside foot and then with the inside foot to recover back to your stance. We try to make every footwork maneuver as explosive or “crisp” as possible, regardless of the distance we want to move. Our version of the side step is essentially a lateral push step (a.k.a. push shuffle). It involves pushing off the foot opposite the direction you want to move, while lifting the other foot off the ground just enough to allow yourself to move freely. If you want to move to your right, you will push off your left foot. To move left, simply push off your right foot.
Against a matched lead.
Step Out
A simple technique whereby the fighter will take a one step in any direction to evade or counter the opponent. This can be done with either the lead or rear foot. When stepping out to the rear hand side, the fighter will step with his rear foot. Common strikes would be a straight punch to the head or a kick to the leg/body while stepping. When moving to the lead hand side, the fighter will step with his lead foot and typically launch a straight rear punch or cross at his opponents chin.
Rear Step
As the name suggests, this is a simple step back with the rear foot. We prefer to step back at a slight angle rather than straight backward. In an orthodox stance we would step to 5 o’clock with the right foot. A southpaw would step to 7 o’clock with his left foot. We call the combination of a rear step and a straight lead punch the “Dempsey punch,” as it’s essentially a backward falling step punch. Others may refer to it as a “defensive jab.”
• Keep in mind protecting the groin (just in case).
• Practice springiness in returning to the “On Guard” position.
Head & Upper Body Movement
Secondary to footwork is head and upper body movement.
Slip
A slip is an evasive movement that will allow you to place your head and upper body to the outside or inside of an incoming straight punch. Typically, you will take a small step forward and to the side with the front foot (outside or inside depending on the direction of the slip). This will provide enough space to evade the punch without having to lean too much with your upper body.
Duck
The duck is a useful defense against both straight punches and hooks. Drop into your legs by bending at the knees and letting your body fall into a half-squat position. Keep your eyes focused on the opponent’s sternum. Do not look down. As always, to protect yourself, pull your shoulders up to shorten your neck.
Bob & Weave
The Bob & Weave as we teach it is basically an angular ducking movement used against hooking punches.
You would evade a left hook by ducking slightly forward and to your left (to the 11 o’clock position - away from the opponent’s left hand) and then “bobbing” under the punch and back up to the 1 o’clock position (now outside the opponent’s left hand, as it has passed over your head).
For a right hook you would duck at 1 o’clock and come back up at 11 o’clock. The key is always initiating the movement by going away from the incoming punch.
Crunch
The first defense against body shots that we teach is the Crunch. You defend the side of your body being attacked by bending to the side slightly from your waist to drop the point of your elbow into the area just above your hip bone. DO NOT bring your guard down by taking your hand away from your head. Your hand will be able to maintain contact with your head around the temple area. The trick is to shorten one side of your torso by bending in that direction.
Hand Defenses
Lastly, we’ll deal with hand defenses. These are usually the lowest percentage defensive maneuvers, and are rarely used without some type of head movement.
Catch
Technically a block, the catch can be a useful defense against a surprise hand attack. Ideally, the fighter should be striking simultaneously while catching. If unprepared, this may not be possible, in which case he would catch and follow up with a counterstrike. Mechanically, the technique resembles catching a baseball in a glove. The catch provides a bit more subtlety for counter punching than a regular block.
Cuff
A cuff is essentially an upward catch. By moving the opponent’s extended punching arm upward, a gap is created that can be used to get to close range. It was traditionally used to set up body shots but it can also be used to setup a takedown or clinch.
Parry
A parry is a simple hand maneuver used to deflect an incoming strike. Parries are NOT a primary means of defense in Jeet Kune Do. Viewed as a safety measure, parries are almost always used in conjunction with a strike. As a last resort a parry may be used with some type of defensive footwork or body motion. Here we’ll focus on the two types of parries we use most often:
High Outside
High Inside
Note: We’ve intentionally left out a few techniques such as the Shoulder Roll, Sliding Roll, and Snap Back, simply because of the skill and timing required to make them work consistently. Doing them incorrectly can leave you in a worse position than not having done them at all. If you would like to learn those techniques, check out JKDLessons.com.
Preserve Your Partner!
You must be able to control the damage done by your strikes without having to alter the mechanics. This is done by controlling the penetration or follow through of the strike.
1-to-5 Drill
This drill comes from a gentleman named Dan Lee. He was a student of Bruce Lee in the 1960s. What makes this drill so great is that it teaches you to punch with full speed and power without harming your partner. There are 5 levels of follow through.
1. Surface punching. Little to no follow through. This is referred to as “cracking the egg.”
2. Punch 1⁄2 an inch through the target.
3. 1 Inch of follow through.
4. 1 1⁄2 Inches of follow through.
5. Punch 2 inches or more into the target.
Run the drill on hard focus mitts. They provide the best feedback.
1. The trainer calls out a number between 1 and 5 then flashes a mitt (any punch).
2. The student must hit with the appropriate amount of follow through and recover as fast as
possible.
The deeper the follow through, the longer it takes to recover. The trainer can run the same drill with combinations. For example, he can call out “1 - 3” and then feed a jab/cross combination. The drill works for kicks, elbows, and knees as well.
Ingraining Proper Responses
Here is an example of how we utilize the 1-to-5 progression of power and resistance within simple drills to ingrain proper defensive responses.
Slipping Progression
1. Slip a single straight punch (outside or inside)
2. Slip two straight punches (outside then inside or vice versa)
3. Hitting to slipping (student throws 4 straights, trainer returns 2 straights)
Bob & Weave Progression
1. B/w a single hook
2. B/w two hooks
3. B/w two hooks with broken rhythm
4. Hitting to b/w (student throws 4 straights or hooks, trainer returns 2 hooks)
Boxing Survival Drill
1. Use all head and upper body movement plus hand defenses (stay in the pocket - student defends only)
Kick Defense Progression
1. Low line kicks 2. Mid line kicks 3. High line kicks
Kickboxing Survival Drill
1. Use all footwork, head and upper body movement, plus hand defenses (student defends only)
Wall Survival Drill Progression
1. No movement (hand defense and crunch only)
2. Evasive movement only (hand defense and upper body movement only)
3. Allow lateral movement against the wall plus hand/upper body defense (trainer adds kicks) 4. Move away from wall –
Circling/angling footwork only – No retreating (all other defenses)
Fight Survival Drill
1. Add takedown defense to previous drills (trainer shoots, punches, and kicks)
As the trainer, you must steadily increase the pressure. Use the 1-to-5 progression. If the student fails to defend the majority of attacks, take a step back to a lesser level of resistance and power. The ability to defend 80% of the incoming attacks should be your cue to move up to the next level.
Sparring Games
Attitude is 80% of the battle in sparring (and fighting for that matter). We never want a student to feel that they cannot defend themselves. Sparring games come after acquiring at least a basic level of defensive skill.
With small class sizes it becomes difficult to match up students based on skill level. One of the major advantages of sparring games is that students of varying skill levels can work together, without forcing the more skilled students to have to fight down to their partners level. By terming these drills “games,” it lowers stress levels right off the bat. Emphasis is on “play” rather than competition. Here are a few examples.
Isolation Sparring
Isolation drills are great for honing individual tools and can also help “level the playing field” when students of different skill levels are matched up. Both tools and targets can be restricted.
An endless number of combinations can be created to challenge students. For advanced students that have no trouble with simple restrictions, try making them spar on one leg (for example: stand on right leg and jab with right hand).
Styles Game
An interesting variation for advanced students is to assign each a specific “style”. For example, make one student a counter-puncher and the other a pressure fighter.
A vs B
Hands vs Feet
Jab vs Jab
Hook vs Jab
Rear hand only vs Front hand only
Kicks vs Takedowns
Elbows vs Kicks
Bodyshots only vs Headshots only
Defense & Evasion Game
This can be a very frustrating drill but the results will speak for themselves. The trainer will play the attacker while the student defends.
Sequence 1
• The student may use only his rear hand to parry, catch, or cuff. No head movement is allowed. • The trainer will feed only straight punches. Use of combinations and broken rhythm is
encouraged.
• To make the drill more difficult the trainer will randomly call out “switch” and the student must switch leads in his stance. The trainer may switch leads at any time without warning.
Note: Do not get caught up in playing the parrying/blocking game. The key component here is footwork! Make use of angled steps. Try to avoid moving straight backward.
Sequence 2
• The student may use only head movement, slipping, ducking, and the bob and weave. He may not defend with either hand.
• The trainer will feed both straight and curving punches.
• To make the drill more difficult the trainer will randomly call out “switch” and the student must switch leads in his stance. The trainer may switch leads at any time without warning. Footwork is again critical in surviving this drill without taking a beating.
Sequence 3
• The student may use all defensive maneuvers but cannot move his feet. He must remain stationary for the duration of the drill.
• The trainer will feed both straight and curving punches but will not circle the student or force the student to move his feet in any way. The covers discussed earlier are the only means of succeeding at this drill.
Trainer’s Choice Game
Not only is this drill good for the student, it’s also helps the trainer practice seeing openings quickly. It’s best that a student plays the role of trainer for this game before switching out and performing the drill himself.
1. Two students square off.
2. The trainer stands behind one of the students and calls out openings in the opponents defense as he sees them.
3. The student may only attack the target designated by the trainer (example: left leg, right body, or chin)
Start with only punches. When a basic level of proficiency is achieved add kicks. The student decides which tool to use to attack the chosen target. Finally, add takedowns.
Infighting Game
Two students stand toe to toe and duke it out at close range. Use of full face headgear is recommended for this drill as well as chest and rib protection. The starting distance should be inside of punching range but not quite clinch. Once the drill starts either student can use over/under-hooks to set up strikes. No knees, short kicks, throws, sweeps, or takedowns.
Open The Guard Game
This drill is based on infighting tactics we learned from Dennis Blue. It begins from close range in what’s called the “high outside reference point” in JKD terminology. The student will attempt to open his partners guard and score with a shovel hook, uppercut, or any close range strike.
Conclusion
Sparring obviously does lack realism, and that is exactly what makes it a valuable training tool. It doesn’t make much sense to intensely pressure test a technique you don’t “own”. There must be some progression from learning a tactic, honing the skills required to make the tactic successful, testing it in scenarios, and ultimately using it in combat. We, as martial artists, view sparring as a means of exposing and eliminating weaknesses in our skill set.
About the Author:
Mike Blesch is a co-founder of the Chinatown JKD Association and member of the JKD Wednesday Night Group.
For more information visit JKDLessons.com.
by Mike Blesch taken from http://www.jkdwednite.com/articles.htm
One of the most frequently recurring topics of discussion within our group centers around sparring. Specifically, the best progression of drills to prepare new students for contact sparring, as well as how and when to step up the intensity. Now, we realize there is a certain segment of the martial arts community that believes light contact sparring, including sparring progressions, drills, and games is a waste of time. Realism is the priority, therefore it’s high intensity or nothing all. Some flat out do not believe in “sparring.” They tend to be the Combatives and/or Reality-Based Self Defense groups, who sometimes prefer Scenario Training (simulating everyday, real life situations as opposed to “dueling”), and other times simply believe that the only way to prepare for a fight is by fighting, whether for self defense, sport, or anything in between. While the sentiment is understood, we do not wholly agree.
When you find yourself struggling with a technique, or, are having trouble dealing with a technique being used against you, the most simple solution is to break it down to a basic level and work the fundamentals. Repetition is king. The more times an undesirable action is repeated, especially under acute stress, the more ingrained it will become. That can only be resolved by repeating the proper response, over, and over, and over. In our opinion, this is where low intensity sparring, drills, and games become invaluable.
The purpose of this guide is to introduce the training methods and concepts that our group utilizes, and then ask that you, the reader, join in the discussion on our forum JKDTalk.com.
Skill Assessment
When dealing with a new student we look for the following skills and attributes to determine how prepared he or she is for sparring.
• Defense – Do they know basic covers, slips, parries, and defensive footwork?
• Stress Response – How do they respond to slight increases in pressure from the trainer during drills? Do they have poor natural responses like turning their back to the attacker, leaning away with the head to try and keep from getting hit, thrusting both hands outward to try and
block the incoming strikes, etc.?
• Attitude – Do they display self-confidence? Have a naturally aggressive or passive personality?
Are they critical of themselves when they make a mistake?
• Attack/Counterattack – Do they have a basic understanding of distance, striking tools,
takedowns, etc.?
Basic Drills for Assessment
The two drills we use most often during the assessment phase are the “Wall Survival” and “Jab- Catch-Return” drills. These are very basic boxing drills. If you are not an instructor or coach, and need to gauge your own strengths and weaknesses, then an alternative is to record yourself performing the drills with a partner.
Wall Survival Drill
This drill comes to us from the late Bert Poe. It’s used by pro fighters/trainers and has been invaluable to our group. There are several variations of the drill, but for this section we’ll stick to the most basic version.
The student places his back to a wall (ideally padded, but any wall or even the corner of a boxing ring or cage wall will do).
One round should last about 60 seconds for a beginner.
While wearing boxing gloves, the trainer will feed punches to the head and body at random. It is extremely important that the contact level and speed of the punches are kept to a minimum to begin with. Gradually increase the pressure based on the student’s abilities.
The student must keep his back to the wall. He may use only defensive maneuvers at this point.
Note: More advanced versions of this drill include allowing the student lateral movement and having the trainer feed kicks as well as punches.
Jab-Catch-Return
This is a simple test of the students ability to defend and counterattack. Before getting to the drill, let’s define exactly what a “catch” is and how it’s used.
Technically a block, the catch can be a useful defense against a surprise hand attack. Ideally, the fighter should be striking simultaneously while catching. If unprepared, this may not be possible, in which case he or she would catch and follow up with a counterstrike. Mechanically, the technique resembles catching a baseball in a glove. The catch provides a bit more subtlety for counter punching than a regular block.
The drill can be done with or without boxing gloves.
The trainer initiates the drill by throwing a u The student will catch the incoming punch jab at the students chin. and return a jab.
The trainer catches the students punch and returns a jab. The drill is performed in sets of 3 jabs.
Either side can initiate the set once a rhythm is established.
Begin with a steady rhythm and as the drill progresses, introduce half beats. This is where bad habits will begin to show themselves, even under light pressure.
Sparring Safety 101
The staples of creating a safe and productive training/sparring environment include providing your students and/or training partners with the skills needed to prevent themselves from getting knocked out, and to control the power of their punches (by controlling follow through). First and foremost, let’s look at what causes knockouts and some general rules for preventing them.
Preventing Knockouts
Most of the knockouts that take place during sparring/ fighting are caused by a sudden whipping action of the head (rotational force) from strikes. The result is quite literally brain damage (lesions in white matter tracts), due to shearing forces that occur when the head is rapidly accelerated or decelerated. For the most part, these lesions do not heal. A build-up of lesions from repeated blows to the head will actually make you easier to knock out!
The thought of “losing your chin” should make most fighters reconsider the protective measures they take to avoid getting knocked out, not to mention the long term effects of brain injury that may include physical, cognitive, emotional, and behavioral complications.
How To Protect Yourself
Our skulls are best suited to protecting the brain from forward impacts. If you are going to take a punch, you need to take it on the forehead if at all possible. This is the reason (along with protecting the chin) for the forward and downward tilt of the head in any good fighting stance.
In addition to tucking the chin and leading with the forehead, it’s also important to pull your shoulders up. Not only does this protect your chin and jaw line, it shortens your neck and minimizes rotational force when you do get hit. The shorter you can make your neck the better.
The Knockout Drill (for worst case scenarios)
We all get caught with a big punch from time to time, so it’s important to condition yourself to fight through that “daze” if at all possible. The Knockout Drill is a pretty good alternative to taking real punches to the head. This drill only requires 2 people, but is most safely performed with 3.
The student crosses his arms over his chest, and bends at the waist so his upper torso is horizontal and he is staring at the ground.
The trainer gently spins the student around in a circle. Number of rotations:
| Beginner: 6-9 | Intermediate: 10-14 | Advanced: 15-20 | Expert: 21+ |
After the chosen number of rotations are completed, either the trainer or a 3rd person will feed focus mitts which the student will punch repeatedly for 20 seconds. The straight blast (straight lead and rear punches in rapid succession) is the simplest to feed, but can be replaced with any punching combination.
Note: Perform this drill with caution. If the student does not have good balance, make sure that a 3rd person is there to prevent them from falling. Even a few slow spins can cause some people to lose their balance completely.
Eliminating Dangerous Stress Responses
Next, we need to address the natural responses to danger that most of us have which serve us well in everyday situations, but can cause a lot of problems in a fight. Imagine turning around to see a baseball flying directly at your face. The most natural reactions are to turn your back, lean your head away, or even to throw your hands out to try and stop it from hitting you. They’re usually good enough to keep you from getting hurt. The problem with reacting that way when you’re attacked by another person is there’s almost always more than one punch coming at you. Turning your back may save you from the first shot, but you will end up in a very bad position to deal with further attacks. We need to ingrain, through repetition, safe and effective responses to replace the ineffective natural ones.
Proper Emergency Reactions
Within the curriculum of many combative systems you will find techniques for dealing with what one of my teachers likes to call the “Oh Crap! Moment”. You are caught in a vulnerable position and your tools have been spent, are out of play, or for one reason or another cannot be employed effectively. Maybe you’re just outgunned. This is where the emergency response comes in to play.
Salute / High Cover-Up
To get a feel for the technique, grab the back of your head with your lead hand so that the point of your elbow is aimed down your partner’s centerline. Notice that your jaw, neck, temple, and the area behind your ear is protected. This can be done on either side of the head.
3-Point Cover / Supported Elbow Frame
The Modified Dive
This is the most aggressive emergency response and therefore has to be modified for use in sparring. In a self defense situation, the intention is to slam your fingers into the attackers face. In sparring, we’ll use our palms to strike the opponent’s forehead rather than his face. The technique involves thrusting both hands outward and lowering your head, similar to diving into a pool
Similar to the Salute, but now your rear hand will reach over top and grab the lead forearm just above the elbow, creating a “frame.” The head is lowered slightly, so that you are looking under your rear forearm. Notice the 3 points created by the elbows along with the top of the head. This technique was popularized by a very good defensive boxing program that has been used in MMA and elsewhere successfully.
Proper Defensive Maneuvers
Footwork
Note: As a Jeet Kune Do group, we very rarely, if ever, use any defensive move without striking at the same time (or before if possible - think hit first, then defend). Keep that in mind while reading this section.
Without a doubt, the most important element of defense in sparring is footwork. Let’s look at a few of the maneuvers we consider to be crucial to a proper defensive game.
Curve Step
Curving and striking can be a very effective counter to a straight punch. It’s especially useful against an opponent in an unmatched stance (orthodox vs southpaw, or vice versa). The curved punch is initiated with the hand, followed by a lead step and ending with a rear step (all in one fluid motion) so that you are now aligned at a 45 degree angle to the opponent. Exercise caution when using the technique against a fighter in a matched lead as you will be moving towards his rear hand. Like many footwork methods, this must be executed with explosive energy.
Side Step (Lateral Push Step)
Against an unmatched lead.
A side step in Jeet Kune Do is usually thought of as 2 movements, a step with the outside foot and then with the inside foot to recover back to your stance. We try to make every footwork maneuver as explosive or “crisp” as possible, regardless of the distance we want to move. Our version of the side step is essentially a lateral push step (a.k.a. push shuffle). It involves pushing off the foot opposite the direction you want to move, while lifting the other foot off the ground just enough to allow yourself to move freely. If you want to move to your right, you will push off your left foot. To move left, simply push off your right foot.
Against a matched lead.
Step Out
A simple technique whereby the fighter will take a one step in any direction to evade or counter the opponent. This can be done with either the lead or rear foot. When stepping out to the rear hand side, the fighter will step with his rear foot. Common strikes would be a straight punch to the head or a kick to the leg/body while stepping. When moving to the lead hand side, the fighter will step with his lead foot and typically launch a straight rear punch or cross at his opponents chin.
Rear Step
As the name suggests, this is a simple step back with the rear foot. We prefer to step back at a slight angle rather than straight backward. In an orthodox stance we would step to 5 o’clock with the right foot. A southpaw would step to 7 o’clock with his left foot. We call the combination of a rear step and a straight lead punch the “Dempsey punch,” as it’s essentially a backward falling step punch. Others may refer to it as a “defensive jab.”
• Keep in mind protecting the groin (just in case).
• Practice springiness in returning to the “On Guard” position.
Head & Upper Body Movement
Secondary to footwork is head and upper body movement.
Slip
A slip is an evasive movement that will allow you to place your head and upper body to the outside or inside of an incoming straight punch. Typically, you will take a small step forward and to the side with the front foot (outside or inside depending on the direction of the slip). This will provide enough space to evade the punch without having to lean too much with your upper body.
Duck
The duck is a useful defense against both straight punches and hooks. Drop into your legs by bending at the knees and letting your body fall into a half-squat position. Keep your eyes focused on the opponent’s sternum. Do not look down. As always, to protect yourself, pull your shoulders up to shorten your neck.
Bob & Weave
The Bob & Weave as we teach it is basically an angular ducking movement used against hooking punches.
You would evade a left hook by ducking slightly forward and to your left (to the 11 o’clock position - away from the opponent’s left hand) and then “bobbing” under the punch and back up to the 1 o’clock position (now outside the opponent’s left hand, as it has passed over your head).
For a right hook you would duck at 1 o’clock and come back up at 11 o’clock. The key is always initiating the movement by going away from the incoming punch.
Crunch
The first defense against body shots that we teach is the Crunch. You defend the side of your body being attacked by bending to the side slightly from your waist to drop the point of your elbow into the area just above your hip bone. DO NOT bring your guard down by taking your hand away from your head. Your hand will be able to maintain contact with your head around the temple area. The trick is to shorten one side of your torso by bending in that direction.
Hand Defenses
Lastly, we’ll deal with hand defenses. These are usually the lowest percentage defensive maneuvers, and are rarely used without some type of head movement.
Catch
Technically a block, the catch can be a useful defense against a surprise hand attack. Ideally, the fighter should be striking simultaneously while catching. If unprepared, this may not be possible, in which case he would catch and follow up with a counterstrike. Mechanically, the technique resembles catching a baseball in a glove. The catch provides a bit more subtlety for counter punching than a regular block.
Cuff
A cuff is essentially an upward catch. By moving the opponent’s extended punching arm upward, a gap is created that can be used to get to close range. It was traditionally used to set up body shots but it can also be used to setup a takedown or clinch.
Parry
A parry is a simple hand maneuver used to deflect an incoming strike. Parries are NOT a primary means of defense in Jeet Kune Do. Viewed as a safety measure, parries are almost always used in conjunction with a strike. As a last resort a parry may be used with some type of defensive footwork or body motion. Here we’ll focus on the two types of parries we use most often:
High Outside
High Inside
Note: We’ve intentionally left out a few techniques such as the Shoulder Roll, Sliding Roll, and Snap Back, simply because of the skill and timing required to make them work consistently. Doing them incorrectly can leave you in a worse position than not having done them at all. If you would like to learn those techniques, check out JKDLessons.com.
Preserve Your Partner!
You must be able to control the damage done by your strikes without having to alter the mechanics. This is done by controlling the penetration or follow through of the strike.
1-to-5 Drill
This drill comes from a gentleman named Dan Lee. He was a student of Bruce Lee in the 1960s. What makes this drill so great is that it teaches you to punch with full speed and power without harming your partner. There are 5 levels of follow through.
1. Surface punching. Little to no follow through. This is referred to as “cracking the egg.”
2. Punch 1⁄2 an inch through the target.
3. 1 Inch of follow through.
4. 1 1⁄2 Inches of follow through.
5. Punch 2 inches or more into the target.
Run the drill on hard focus mitts. They provide the best feedback.
1. The trainer calls out a number between 1 and 5 then flashes a mitt (any punch).
2. The student must hit with the appropriate amount of follow through and recover as fast as
possible.
The deeper the follow through, the longer it takes to recover. The trainer can run the same drill with combinations. For example, he can call out “1 - 3” and then feed a jab/cross combination. The drill works for kicks, elbows, and knees as well.
Ingraining Proper Responses
Here is an example of how we utilize the 1-to-5 progression of power and resistance within simple drills to ingrain proper defensive responses.
Slipping Progression
1. Slip a single straight punch (outside or inside)
2. Slip two straight punches (outside then inside or vice versa)
3. Hitting to slipping (student throws 4 straights, trainer returns 2 straights)
Bob & Weave Progression
1. B/w a single hook
2. B/w two hooks
3. B/w two hooks with broken rhythm
4. Hitting to b/w (student throws 4 straights or hooks, trainer returns 2 hooks)
Boxing Survival Drill
1. Use all head and upper body movement plus hand defenses (stay in the pocket - student defends only)
Kick Defense Progression
1. Low line kicks 2. Mid line kicks 3. High line kicks
Kickboxing Survival Drill
1. Use all footwork, head and upper body movement, plus hand defenses (student defends only)
Wall Survival Drill Progression
1. No movement (hand defense and crunch only)
2. Evasive movement only (hand defense and upper body movement only)
3. Allow lateral movement against the wall plus hand/upper body defense (trainer adds kicks) 4. Move away from wall –
Circling/angling footwork only – No retreating (all other defenses)
Fight Survival Drill
1. Add takedown defense to previous drills (trainer shoots, punches, and kicks)
As the trainer, you must steadily increase the pressure. Use the 1-to-5 progression. If the student fails to defend the majority of attacks, take a step back to a lesser level of resistance and power. The ability to defend 80% of the incoming attacks should be your cue to move up to the next level.
Sparring Games
Attitude is 80% of the battle in sparring (and fighting for that matter). We never want a student to feel that they cannot defend themselves. Sparring games come after acquiring at least a basic level of defensive skill.
With small class sizes it becomes difficult to match up students based on skill level. One of the major advantages of sparring games is that students of varying skill levels can work together, without forcing the more skilled students to have to fight down to their partners level. By terming these drills “games,” it lowers stress levels right off the bat. Emphasis is on “play” rather than competition. Here are a few examples.
Isolation Sparring
Isolation drills are great for honing individual tools and can also help “level the playing field” when students of different skill levels are matched up. Both tools and targets can be restricted.
An endless number of combinations can be created to challenge students. For advanced students that have no trouble with simple restrictions, try making them spar on one leg (for example: stand on right leg and jab with right hand).
Styles Game
An interesting variation for advanced students is to assign each a specific “style”. For example, make one student a counter-puncher and the other a pressure fighter.
A vs B
Hands vs Feet
Jab vs Jab
Hook vs Jab
Rear hand only vs Front hand only
Kicks vs Takedowns
Elbows vs Kicks
Bodyshots only vs Headshots only
Defense & Evasion Game
This can be a very frustrating drill but the results will speak for themselves. The trainer will play the attacker while the student defends.
Sequence 1
• The student may use only his rear hand to parry, catch, or cuff. No head movement is allowed. • The trainer will feed only straight punches. Use of combinations and broken rhythm is
encouraged.
• To make the drill more difficult the trainer will randomly call out “switch” and the student must switch leads in his stance. The trainer may switch leads at any time without warning.
Note: Do not get caught up in playing the parrying/blocking game. The key component here is footwork! Make use of angled steps. Try to avoid moving straight backward.
Sequence 2
• The student may use only head movement, slipping, ducking, and the bob and weave. He may not defend with either hand.
• The trainer will feed both straight and curving punches.
• To make the drill more difficult the trainer will randomly call out “switch” and the student must switch leads in his stance. The trainer may switch leads at any time without warning. Footwork is again critical in surviving this drill without taking a beating.
Sequence 3
• The student may use all defensive maneuvers but cannot move his feet. He must remain stationary for the duration of the drill.
• The trainer will feed both straight and curving punches but will not circle the student or force the student to move his feet in any way. The covers discussed earlier are the only means of succeeding at this drill.
Trainer’s Choice Game
Not only is this drill good for the student, it’s also helps the trainer practice seeing openings quickly. It’s best that a student plays the role of trainer for this game before switching out and performing the drill himself.
1. Two students square off.
2. The trainer stands behind one of the students and calls out openings in the opponents defense as he sees them.
3. The student may only attack the target designated by the trainer (example: left leg, right body, or chin)
Start with only punches. When a basic level of proficiency is achieved add kicks. The student decides which tool to use to attack the chosen target. Finally, add takedowns.
Infighting Game
Two students stand toe to toe and duke it out at close range. Use of full face headgear is recommended for this drill as well as chest and rib protection. The starting distance should be inside of punching range but not quite clinch. Once the drill starts either student can use over/under-hooks to set up strikes. No knees, short kicks, throws, sweeps, or takedowns.
Open The Guard Game
This drill is based on infighting tactics we learned from Dennis Blue. It begins from close range in what’s called the “high outside reference point” in JKD terminology. The student will attempt to open his partners guard and score with a shovel hook, uppercut, or any close range strike.
Conclusion
Sparring obviously does lack realism, and that is exactly what makes it a valuable training tool. It doesn’t make much sense to intensely pressure test a technique you don’t “own”. There must be some progression from learning a tactic, honing the skills required to make the tactic successful, testing it in scenarios, and ultimately using it in combat. We, as martial artists, view sparring as a means of exposing and eliminating weaknesses in our skill set.
About the Author:
Mike Blesch is a co-founder of the Chinatown JKD Association and member of the JKD Wednesday Night Group.
For more information visit JKDLessons.com.
Thursday, 28 April 2016
28/4/16 Footwork, jab defence, locks out of strikes, lock flow
Tonight it was grading for James and Charlie, they went for their orange belt. At the end of the session, Steve was proud to announce that they had passed. Many congratulations to the boys for all their hard work and dedication paying off. So as Steve was assessing, we had Nigel take the class.
FOOTWORK
Male and female patterns plus the diamond, in both directions.
3 JAB DEFENCES
1: Shoulder roll, ABC (Attack by combination)
2: Split attack, ABC
3: Uppercut, ABC
LOCK HUNTING OUT OF STRIKING
1: Elbow destruction, hammer in, lock flow number 1
2: Cut punch, rotate the arm for lock flow number 2.
At all times in the above 2 parts of the class, Nigel was emphatic in his expectations of keeping you tight to his body and whatever 'gifts' he gives you (such as a punch). Allow no gaps and always keep the head protected. These will only work after strikes, simply looking for them in the fashion of Aikido is not practical. Whilst Aikido locks are most effective, they are from pre-determined attacks where no other strikes are being throw. These controls are used as an add on after strikes when hopefully the head is ringing from a strike or two.
LOCKFLOW
We did 1-8 both left and right. Below are my words that help me to remember at are probably not that accurate at my current level. To be reviewed in the future.
5: slap in inner elbow, rotate the palm towards him, isolate his elbow under your armpit
6: bring it to horizontal, your elbow under his side ribs
7: nikkyo
8: step on the foot, arm under for thumb joystick control
Tuesday, 26 April 2016
26/4/16 Footwork, jab drilling, jab sparring, lock flow and single stick
FOOTOWRK
4 directions singles and doubles, pivot, double L-step, crashing cross step.
JAB DRILLING (against the pads)
1: Jab 6 inches out of range, leaning in and extending int the jab.
2: A further half step away so you have to step in and jab.
3: And now a further full step away, enter with the crashing cross step and jab.
Steve kept reminding us that he wanted it like a piston
JAB SPARRING ROUNDS
Active jab,
Elbows tight as opposed to flared (which mine were)
Angled body,
Variety of levels,
Active footwork,
I was trying to attack at the end of their attacks.
LOCKFLOW
1-4. New learning point was that if we are, at this level, working on their right hand, then our right hand is doing the majority of the work. Steve drew our attention to 2 of the lad showing the place to get to; counter for counter lock flow which was free, fluid and alive.
SINGLE STICK
Working up the 3 beat high box sumbtrada. Breaking down each component part then adding then on sequentially until the whole flow is going.
Friday, 22 April 2016
21/4/16 Thai entries, pad training and takedown
THAI ENTRIES
Feeder throws jab or a jab cross, response is scoop down enough to clear and enter with the one-eye covering elbow, from here move to the half clinch - one arm on the neck with the elbow clamped on to his chest, the other on the bicep.
Feeder throws jab-cross, this time you just block and cover in the Thai long arm style (the one-eye cover is the same as above. This method offers excellent protection for the head and jaw). As gravity is helping the long arm block, slide up the arm and enter to take the half clinch control.
You attack with a jab, he covers and goes for the clinch. As the arm slides up yours for neck control, lose the neck and shrug it away by lifting the elbow and using that to get rid of his arm. From here throw cross-lead hook-round kick to the thigh.
You attack with a jab, he parrys and steps in with the elbow then goes for the clinch, push u(with the webbed part of the hand, push or pop up with hands on both arms at the same time)p on the triceps as you drop your weight, left teep then right round kick to the thigh. The point of the method is to stop his arms from following you, allowing you a brief window of time for escape.Steve said that in reality, when going for the neck clinch it fast and snappy as to disrupt balance and awareness. This is quite tricky to train on each other because it looked like a violent and shocking motion; other words to describe what it looked like at speed are ragging, owning, manipulating. Steve also mentioned that as soon as the neck control is on, knees will start attacking.
If he does land the clinch, it would be ineffective to use this escape then. When he does have the clinch there are two options.
1: Posture up and get your hips glued to his.
2: Double palm push against the chin.
PAD TRAINING ROUNDS
1: Any combinations or solo punch. Pad holder also moved, checked the guard and called the punches.
10s rounds of jab-cross, cross-uppercut, uppercut-uppercut balls to the wall Tabata style.
TAKEDOWNS
1: Feeder throws a jab, response is to parry, v-step and left punch to the jaw or low line. Slide the ear along the arm and move to the back whilst either having the hands on his hips or clasping the hands. Hook his rear arm so yours is 90 degrees, you have now moved to be in line with him - all 4 feet are in a line. Link your hands and pull your wrists to your centre as you take leg back and drop your centre. As he hits the floor maintain control with knee on belly. From here you have the arm to manipulate as you please.
2: Feeder throws jab-cross, response is catch the jab and as the right comes in, cut along the arm and thumb strike to the eye. Follow up by covering the arm as you punch the elbow to close the distance. Wrap the arm and control the neck with the thumb in the neck. Throw the right shin kick to the head and step on his lead foot. As you land, give him a push which will unbalance him. From here, scissor takedown the head under the arm and complete with knee on belly control as above.
Tuesday, 19 April 2016
19/4/16 Shadow fighting, Muay Thai, pad training and knife
SHADOW FIGHTING
hands only
hands and knees
THAI TECHNIQUES
Feeder throw the jab; catch the jab, jab - cross round kick.
There was a second technique but Steve talked about the importance of stepping offline and varying the attacks. This will prevent him from (and ultimately you) from attacking in easily to read lines and patterns. IN this part of the class, Steve felt I was too often in front of my partner. He showed how to get offline with the punches.
I have a feeling the other technique involved some type of lead hook and a outer thigh kick.
Using the opponent for target practise:
1: inside thigh kick - cross - hook - outer thigh kick
2: outer thigh kick - hook - cross - inner thigh kick
PAD ROUNDS
1: feeder throws jab-lead hook; catch the jab, bob and weave under the hook, body shot, up tall, cross-hook-cross
2: feeder throw jab-looping right hand; catch the jab, shoulder roll, cross-left uppercut-cross
KNIFE
Numerada tips - weapon hand and same leg forward, angled stance, get the body out of the way, high knife (tip up) on the backhand, low knife (tip down) on the low backhand slash.
Really great session tonight. Loving the journey of learning, refining, mistakes and progress; no matter how fast or slow.
Thursday, 14 April 2016
14/4/16 Striking techniques, hook defence, par training, knife numerada and knife strips
STRIKING TECHNIQUES
Feeder throws a jab:
- Parry and eye jab (brush the eyes as opposed to going into the eyes), lap and punch, pak and punch, take the head and arm rotation finishing with the arm control and the hand on the back of the neck with the thumb in the side of the neck. This is an excellent control and compliance technique.
HOOK DEFENCE
Feeder throws jab and lead hook, cover the jab and long arm bicep brace and cover elbow across own face, one eye open), left uppercut-right cross-left hook-right thigh kick.
Cover high and step in with the elbow cover, throw the elbow with the non covering arm.
PAD ROUNDS
Feeder throws jab and lead hook, cover the jab and long arm bicep brace and cover elbow across own face, one eye open), left uppercut-right cross-left hook-right thigh kick.
KNIFE NUMERADA
1 - 5 Working with Darren, he gave me tips about the non knife hand having lots of pressure pushing their blade arm back into them. Also, get the Legs out of the way!!
KNIFE STRIPS
Against the #1: Parry-cut-pass and stab, slash across, take the thumb and strip with the back of the forearm
Against the #1 and then the #2
Feeder throws a jab:
- Parry and eye jab (brush the eyes as opposed to going into the eyes), lap and punch, pak and punch, take the head and arm rotation finishing with the arm control and the hand on the back of the neck with the thumb in the side of the neck. This is an excellent control and compliance technique.
HOOK DEFENCE
Feeder throws jab and lead hook, cover the jab and long arm bicep brace and cover elbow across own face, one eye open), left uppercut-right cross-left hook-right thigh kick.
Cover high and step in with the elbow cover, throw the elbow with the non covering arm.
PAD ROUNDS
Feeder throws jab and lead hook, cover the jab and long arm bicep brace and cover elbow across own face, one eye open), left uppercut-right cross-left hook-right thigh kick.
KNIFE NUMERADA
1 - 5 Working with Darren, he gave me tips about the non knife hand having lots of pressure pushing their blade arm back into them. Also, get the Legs out of the way!!
KNIFE STRIPS
Against the #1: Parry-cut-pass and stab, slash across, take the thumb and strip with the back of the forearm
Against the #1 and then the #2
Tuesday, 12 April 2016
12/4/16 Trapping, pad training and single stick
TRAPPING
The aim is to hit but practising the drills will develop the sensitivity to remove the obstacle to enable the hit.
1. Pak and punch, tan and punch, pak and punch then continue the roll.
2. Pak and punch, inside gate tan and punch, pak and punch.
3. Pak and punch, energy across the centreline, lap and rolling backfist, pak and punch.
4. Pak and punch, forward energy from the defender, lap across his centre and punch, pak and punch.
5. Short lap and short punch (you want no reaction), pak and deep punch then continue the roll.
In sets of 3: 2 x #2 and 1 x #3
In sets of 10 and in any order to develop greater sensitivity: 8 x #2, 1 x #3, 1 x #4
PAD TRAINING
Round of random combinations of either: jab, jab-cross, jab-cross-hook. The pad holder was responsible for the range, motion, checking the guard and which combinations to hit.
SINGLE STICK
Numerada - hitting the 5 angles of the attacking hand (boxing gloved) as the primary aim is to destroy the hand. At this range we are not in a 50/50 gamble about who will hit the head first.
Striking families against the 5 angles
- destroy the hand then abaniko
- destroy the hand then stabbing
- destroy the hand then figure 8s
Sunday, 10 April 2016
Learning from the stories and experiences of others.
I am a big fan of podcasts and my most recent discovery is that of Graplearts radio hosted by Stephan Kesting.
The latest 2 I recommend are the Tony Blauer interview and the Erik Paulson interview.
Blauer gives his interesting opinions about such aspects as coaching and fitness, of particular interest to me was when he talked in length about how competition fighting and sparring can prepare you better for the street. This was also echoed in an interview with Burton Richardson who is a very well established JKD trainer out of Hawaii.
I found his honesty fascinating about how all his years of training did not work in the competitive environment. It was as if he had a false sense of what he could do because it had never been tested. Please listen as it is a fascinating interview.
Skipping back to the Blauer interview, he also talked a lot about fear and the two acronyms he uses to help understand it. Check it out.
Finally is the Erik Paulson interview. He is just an encyclopaedia of information and worth a listen, he created CSW, Combat Submission Wrestling. Again, listen to the path he took, the influences on his systems and the path he is now on.
Words of wisdom from Mushashi
Dokkōdō – The Way to Go Forth Alone
Every martial artist should read this. You can pick and choose what you like about them. I don’t agree with all of them, but there is wisdom in there.
1. Accept everything the way it is.
2. Do not seek pleasure for its own sake.
3. Do not, under any circumstances, depend on a partial feeling.
4. Think lightly of yourself, and deep of the world
5. Be detached from desire your whole life long.
6. Do not regret what you have done.
7. Never be jealous.
8. Never let yourself be saddened by a separation.
9. Resentment and complaint are appropriate neither for oneself nor others
10. Do not let yourself be guided by the feeling of lust or lore.
11. In all things have no preference.
12. Be indifferent to where you live.
13. Do not pursue the taste of food.
14. Do not hold onto possessions you no longer need.
15. Do not act following customary belief.
16. Do not collect weapons or practice weapons beyond what is useful.\
17. Do not fear death.
18. Do not seek to possess either good or fiefs for your old age.
19. Respect Buddha and the Gods without counting on their help.
20. You may abandon your own body, but you must preserve your honor.
21. Never stray from the way.
- Miyamoto Musashi
Thursday, 7 April 2016
Jun Fan kick boxing video
Lots of details on striking using the hand and feet, building combinations. There is also some weapon work towards the end.
Tuesday, 5 April 2016
5/4/16 Striking, jab sparring and knife
STRIKING
Against the jab:
1: Catch the jab, step off line, jab - round kick.
2: Catch the jab, jab - cross - round kick to inside of the thigh
3: Catch the jab, simultaneous cover and lead uppercut - round kick
Key learning points (KLP)
- Keep the hands up
- Use body torque to set up the kick
JAB SPARRING
Round 1: Keeping the jab pumping out, just the jab.
Round 2: As above but 1 person gets to also add in the right cross.
PAD TRAINING
Against the jab and lead hook
1: bob and weave, body shot - cross- hook - cross
2: simultaneous cover and uppercut, cross- hook - cross
3: shoulder roll, cross- hook - cross
KNIFE
Numerada
Sort of like the above but this was brain fizzing stuff. I just couldn't see and retain the 5 counter flow drill. Yet.
Knife v knife against
#1 attack - lean back cut across the wrist and pass the knife hand (scissor motion) then stab to the eye. There was then some sliding down the arm and taking the thumb and stripping the knife. This detail will need to be added in the future when I have a much better grasp of this.
#1 then #2 attack - as above but when the #2 comes in cut the the forearm and left eye jab.
Knife v empty hand
#1 attack
#1 then #2 attack
#1 attack
The knife work was very confusing. I then let my ego get in the way and allowed myself to become frustrated ineffably at being unsuccessful. Thankfully, a few hours removed, I have recognised that and need to use this as a marker for learning. What is the point of being able to do it now? There would be no journey and no point to the learning process. This was a most valuable lesson tonight because it was difficult.
Against the jab:
1: Catch the jab, step off line, jab - round kick.
2: Catch the jab, jab - cross - round kick to inside of the thigh
3: Catch the jab, simultaneous cover and lead uppercut - round kick
Key learning points (KLP)
- Keep the hands up
- Use body torque to set up the kick
JAB SPARRING
Round 1: Keeping the jab pumping out, just the jab.
Round 2: As above but 1 person gets to also add in the right cross.
PAD TRAINING
Against the jab and lead hook
1: bob and weave, body shot - cross- hook - cross
2: simultaneous cover and uppercut, cross- hook - cross
3: shoulder roll, cross- hook - cross
KNIFE
Numerada
Sort of like the above but this was brain fizzing stuff. I just couldn't see and retain the 5 counter flow drill. Yet.
Knife v knife against
#1 attack - lean back cut across the wrist and pass the knife hand (scissor motion) then stab to the eye. There was then some sliding down the arm and taking the thumb and stripping the knife. This detail will need to be added in the future when I have a much better grasp of this.
#1 then #2 attack - as above but when the #2 comes in cut the the forearm and left eye jab.
Knife v empty hand
#1 attack
#1 then #2 attack
#1 attack
The knife work was very confusing. I then let my ego get in the way and allowed myself to become frustrated ineffably at being unsuccessful. Thankfully, a few hours removed, I have recognised that and need to use this as a marker for learning. What is the point of being able to do it now? There would be no journey and no point to the learning process. This was a most valuable lesson tonight because it was difficult.
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