Clubb Chimera Martial Arts : CCMA

 

 

 

 

 

We began with a look at training the importance of understanding how to engage and evade. This was done through various warm-up drills. We marked out different areas for partners to work in, which limits and therefore refines movement. The first drill was a simple Peter Consterdine style chasing and evasion drill, which increases footwork against a resisting adversary. Next the exercise changed into a more coaching-based exercise with one person mirroring others movements and sprawling when physically prompted.

 

I then introduced a new exercise, which the seniors would also experience tonight. One partner held two focus mitts tight into their armpits whilst holding a third one above their eyes. They then have to mirror their coach’s footwork, including height of stance. The exercise teaches the student to retain an effective combat structure, keeping their hands up and their ribs protecting at the same time as moving correctly.

 

We then returned to last week’s topic of the triangle structure. Most remembered the simple principles and how it was applied, so revised and improved both the takedown work – using the apex of a triangle taken from either end of spaced out feet as the balance point – and the cover. This week re-introduced the triangle choke – a common and popular groundfighting technique from the guard position. The class was finished with some MMA sparring.

 

The grading is now set for 5 December, giving the class a new target to aim for.

 

Seniors

 

Warm-up

 

Student-led solo movement drills. This consisted of different footwork, moving from a seated position and moving on the back. This was followed by the standard high percentage technique warm-up.

 

Straight hand strikes

 

We began with simple self defence line-ups from the natural fence position. Students drill offsetting and making contact with the target as a repetition drill, reinforcing the behaviour of setting up pre-emption. The leading hand acts like a sensorary tentacle or antenna negotiating distance and whether or not an adversary is a physical threat. This lead hand then becomes a striking tool at the in-fight stage. So we worked rounds just drilling lead hand straights to the head with the coach parrying and checking for weaknesses, followed by straights to the head and body and finally followed with a straight rear hand strike. Having coupled a rear hand strike with a lead, we combined a rear kick or a takedown with a lead straight hand strike.

 

Hooking hand strikes

 

The same process of one to one and a half minute rounds was repeated with the leading hooking hand strikes. This included uppercuts and when the rear hand is brought in, the overhand right – Marciano’s very own “Suzie Q”.

 

Before moving on the cover I introduced the seniors to the new functional fighting position training using the three focus mitts. Another element was added. The student now had to also strike from either hand at the coach’s targets. This trains hand speed, as the student cannot fully extend their arms, and also returning back to the high hand position, in order to keep hold of the third focus mitt.

 

Covers

 

The cover contingency plan was drilled for striking and grappling. We drilled the striking by having the student in code white – beginning with their eyes closed – and the coach, adorned with full face head cage and boxing gloves, prompting the defence with a shove to the chest and then a stream of strikes to the head. The student immediately opens their eyes when they feel the shove and uses the cover to wade through the onslaught of strikes to return fire to the head.

 

The grappling version is a little more sparring based with the coach simply wading in with strikes and the student responding by tying up and clinching or going for a takedown.

 

Ground positions

 

We revised the butterfly guard sweep and taking the back followed by the closed guard sweep and kimura lock.

 

The class was finished with some MMA sparring.

 

 

Photograph by Sonia Audhali, Sonia’s Photography www.soniasphotography.com