2/8/16: punch defences, pad training and knife work

Shadow boxing warm up

4 corners (long high arm stance)
Feeder throws jab-cross-lead hook-rear hook
Cover with the forearm cutting across the centreline against the jab and cross. Mirror his motion; if he throws the left you use the right.
Against the hooks cover inside of the elbow crease, the rear hand covers the centreline at head height.

Arm drag to uppercut
Feeder throws jab-cross-lead hook. (Use the 4 corners practise) Cover the lead hook, arm drag with left but step in and squeeze the arm with your arm, head against his shoulder to stay covered. Step out to the right and pivot (like a reverse L-step), as you land throw the uppercut under his arm followed by the shot over the top.

Shoulder brace to knee lock
Feeder throws jab-cross-lead hook-rear hook. Shoulder brace (long, straight arm, palm up on the shoulder and thumb included, chin tucked into your shoulder), step the rear foot out, step the front but on to his foot as you slap the head. This will isolate his knee and send him off balance, follow up with the lateral elbow strike to the head.

Elbow cover to elbow extension.
Feeder throws jab-cross-lead hook. On the lead hook, step in with the elbow head cover, the checking hand covers his right hand. Overhook the punching arm at the elbow tightly, turn his face away and step to wrench the arm.

Pad training
Feeder throws the 4 corners punches - jab-cross-lead hook and rear hook. You cover the 4 punches then throw the cross-hook-cross.
Power right cross drilling

Knife movement against the angle 1 and 2
Feeder attacks repeatedly with angle 1 and 2. Similar motions to the hooks - rear hand at the lower forearm, lead hand (same leg forward) to the eyes. Wearing eye protection allows proper targeting with no injury.

Elbow and head control.
More motion this time, control the elbow after the pass. Make sure the hand is palm up, this offers much greater control. Also get used to striking the head whilst passing. He will need to reset to throw the angles.

2/8/16: punch defences, pad training and knife work

Shadow boxing warm up

4 corners (long high arm stance)
Feeder throws jab-cross-lead hook-rear hook
Cover with the forearm cutting across the centreline against the jab and cross. Mirror his motion; if he throws the left you use the right.
Against the hooks cover inside of the elbow crease, the rear hand covers the centreline at head height.

Arm drag to uppercut
Feeder throws jab-cross-lead hook. (Use the 4 corners practise) Cover the lead hook, arm drag with left but step in and squeeze the arm with your arm, head against his shoulder to stay covered. Step out to the right and pivot (like a reverse L-step), as you land throw the uppercut under his arm followed by the shot over the top.

Shoulder brace to knee lock
Feeder throws jab-cross-lead hook-rear hook. Shoulder brace (long, straight arm, palm up on the shoulder and thumb included, chin tucked into your shoulder), step the rear foot out, step the front but on to his foot as you slap the head. This will isolate his knee and send him off balance, follow up with the lateral elbow strike to the head.

Elbow cover to elbow extension.
Feeder throws jab-cross-lead hook. On the lead hook, step in with the elbow head cover, the checking hand covers his right hand. Overhook the punching arm at the elbow tightly, turn his face away and step to wrench the arm.

Pad training
Feeder throws the 4 corners punches - jab-cross-lead hook and rear hook. You cover the 4 punches then throw the cross-hook-cross.
Power right cross drilling

Knife movement against the angle 1 and 2
Feeder attacks repeatedly with angle 1 and 2. Similar motions to the hooks - rear hand at the lower forearm, lead hand (same leg forward) to the eyes. Wearing eye protection allows proper targeting with no injury.

Elbow and head control.
More motion this time, control the elbow after the pass. Make sure the hand is palm up, this offers much greater control. Also get used to striking the head whilst passing. He will need to reset to throw the angles.

CSW podcasts

Here are the video versions.I subscribe to the audio ones. Listened to the first 2 so far and really informative.

Bob Burgee & Alan Baker discussing ways to keep your workouts on track. Efficiently scheduling your workouts can accelerate the learning process and keep you on track. http://erikpaulson.com



CSW Podcast - July 12, 2016. Greg Nelson shares some behind the scenes stories of Brock Lesnar, UFC 200, Training Fighters, and setting up your Personal Workout Plan.

Pressure testing

A few things from last night that Steve talked about were:

Hit first and last. This will give a tremendous psychological edge.

Work the basics until the last day you train. Make sure you pressure test.

Following are a selection of videos showing different arts and the arts being pressure tested.

Lethwei is an unarmed Burmese Kick Boxing also known as Bando Kick Boxing. It is similar to related styles of Indochinese kickboxing, namely Muay Thai from Thailand, pradal serey from Cambodia, Muay Lao from Laos and tomoi from Malaysia.

Techniques

Aside from punches, kicks, elbows and knee attacks, Burmese boxers also make use of head-butts, raking knuckle strikes and take downs. This may be due to the fact that lethwei was more strongly influenced by musti-yuddha than the other styles were.

Rules

Matches today are carried out in both the traditional manner and a more modern offshoot called "Myanma traditional boxing" which started in 1996. The latter was based on the sporting outlook of Muay Thai and uses a point system. If a knockout occurs, the boxer is revived and has the option of continuing the bout. In traditional fights, the winner is the first to draw blood which may be wiped away three times before victory is declared.



pressure testing of weapons - higher consciousness through harder contact!!



An interesting insight into using 2 attackers and how quick it can go wrong. I assume the purpose is to feel the pressure rather than being clean and effective in application?



Strategy 1 = Creating distance by use of pushes, strikes, anti-grappling and evasion
Strategy 2 = Closing distance by use of covering and grappling

There are many variations on this type of pressure test. It differs from sparring in that the people involved have different objectives. S1s play the role of the "defender", an individual trying to avoid contact with a would-be attacker. S2s play the role of an "attacker", their role is to capture. By defining the different tactics of these two people you create more intensity than you would find in a typical sparring bout (although we also train full contact MMA as well).

You will note in all the S1 vs S2 drills that the S1s are instructed to keep going after the headcage with everything. Other parts of the body are legitimate targets, but the head is preferred if it is within range.

Other variables on this type of training include multiple S1s and S2s, practice weapons and sensorary deprivation

28/7/16: Jab defences, pad training and knife tapping

GLOVE WORK

DEFENDING THE JAB
1: Pak and punch
A jabs
B catch jab and jab
A catch jab and jab
B short pak to clear the line and hit off with the right hand followed by the left hook to the body.

After 3 rounds, A walks forward to B and B uses pivot or L-step to evade the motion. L-stepping is something I need to work on. Was very messy and barely accurate tonight.

Examples of the pivot and L-step



2: Split entry
A jabs
B catch jab and jab
A catch jab and jab
B split entry (parry right and punch left) followed by 2 punches.

3: Elbow destruction
A jabs
B catch jab and jab
A catch jab and jab
B rock back on the rear heel, use the left to guide the jab to the right elbow destruction, female step with the right as you attack with a right hammer fist followed by the left overhand to the head.

Some use of elbow destructions followed by a comedic rant with interesting undertones. His wing chun use of the elbows to destroy punches looks very similar, to my eye, to the Kali methods we have looked at recently.



PAD TRAINING

ROUND 1: Jab-cross, he walks you down and L-step then attack with right cross-lead body hook-lead head hook

ROUND 2: Jab-cross, long fence with the left - right cross

Make each punch meaningful, keep the hands up at all times.

KNIFE TAPPING
Working the footwork in the mirrors.
Working the footwork and the hands in the mirrors (1 count, 1-2-3 count)
The attack is stab to the head, bladder and stab to the other side of head.
Round 1 was passing the knife.
Round 2 was passing the knife but they replace your arm with a 2nd attack, cover the wrist immediately and then pass it it. Be aware of the bladder cut so ensure the hand being passed is pressed towards his legs.

Steve called this Who's the hunter? Meaning, in this drill, it is pretty grim being the person attacking with the knife as finger strikes end up in your eyes and throat. Thankfully, eye protectors shield the eyes and enable this type of targeting work.

21/7/16: Muay Thai masterclass

Tonight was a focus on less in terms of techniques but more on drilling, improving and continuing to drill.

The crush

Solo and against kicks.
Compression: as the leg comes up, to the side and not in front, lift the toes. This makes the leg solid. If the toes are down or the leg it at 45 degrees, they can kick right through you.
Cover the head with the same arm as the leg which is being lifted. The standing leg arm extends towards his chest to disrupt his energy and motion.

When kicking, get the hips through, there is lots of motion. Use the shin on the lower part of the thigh and turn the foot out on a hard ankle.

Thai 4 counts:
- Inside leg kick (front leg), right cross, left hook, outside leg kick (rear leg)
- Outside leg kick (front leg), lead hook, right cross, insert extra hand check for the body torque for the outside leg kick (front leg)
- Outside leg kick (front leg), lead hook, right cross, inside leg kick (front leg)

Defending punches
against the jab-cross-hook by using the long arm stance, dropping the arms down on to his punches but not so much energy that it makes massive gaps. The block against the hook is the long arm brace into his upper arm.

Everything seemed so simple to the eye yet there are so many intricacies that make it all happen. Lots of practise and filming for refinement over the holidays needs to happen. I felt very mechanical and wooden but that is because it is a new skill. The first time we do anything, it is horrible. So with effort and practise we can reduce the horrible and make the movement patterns smoother.

14/7/16: Clinch work, takedowns from strikes, takedowns from clinch

SHADOW FIGHTING
Moving to get warmed up.

ROLLING
Basic forward and backward rolling.

The following video is great for variety of rolling. I love the work he has put in to have such control. I don't know how practical this method of rolling is, as it is mostly seen in matted dojo. That is not to say that these skills do not have value for what we do.



I spent several years training is Systema and they have excellent methods for falling and rolling into the floor, which was always hard, often concrete. One of the points Nigel made tonight was about getting your hips to the floor as quickly as possible. If I was to fall or roll on a hard floor, it is the Systema method I would use because I got used to working on the hard, unforgiving floor.



CLINCH: MANIPULATION OF THE LEGS
From the 50/50 clinch: lead knee to inner thigh, rear knee to outer thigh

CLINCH: ATTACKING THE HEAD
Holding the head in tight to your shoulder, pop it up by extending the arm, catch the back of the neck and snap it back towards your head as you drop your wight and level.

TAKEDOWN AS RESPONSE TO THE JAB
Come under the jab and move into him with the shoulder strike, squeeze his thigh between your legs as you take the grip around the waist with the hand sin the middle of his back (at waist height). Lever him for the takedown. Follow into top control (mount). Strike from this position, person on the bottom uses crazy monkey defence whilst trying to move.

TAKEDOWN AS RESPONSE TO JAB-CROSS
Split-entry, drop your weight by attacking his elbow crease. His arms will be pinned to your torso. I remember Nigel saying, "step in (right), step back (left) and turn. This will apply the takedown. Keep the arm extended as he hits the floor, check the back of the head. Leave no gaps.

TAKEDOWN FROM CLINCH
Same motions as at the start of the class. Knee to inner thigh, hooking heel to the back of the leg, step through for the throw. Keeping hold of the hand like above when he goes down to the floor.

The final throw or reap looked like osoto gari in that we used the back of our leg to throw him.





This video has lots of striking from the clinch. It also shows how much cumulative damage can happen from the clinch, both for you and him. But also because this is just a crazy fight where technique went out of the window and testicular fortitude took over.