04.06.14
The ninth of the CCMA cross training course in western boxing methods. We began with a revision of footwork, flash pad work (building up combinations), set combinations on focus mitts and then onto timing. I assessed the progress of timing drills on the heavy bag.
Then we moved onto generating force. This is an area covered first in self-defence training, but later in martial arts. We isolated and restricted power jabs, crosses, overhands, hooks, uppercuts and shovel hooks.
Punching is a controversial subject in self-defence. So much so, that I felt the need to address it in my second DVD, "Cross Training in the Martial Arts: The Anatomy of Hand Strikes". My foundation school for self-defence came from Geoff Thompson's Real Combat Method. All their first generation instructors tend to advocate punching, arguing that the hard bone of the knuckles will cause more damage to a facial target than an open hand. This might stem from the fact that Geoff's main background was in karate and his education in streetfighting came from the Coventry doors of the 1980s, where most bouncers trained in boxing. Geoff also immersed himself in boxing amongst other martial arts and gained an ABA (Amateur Boxing Association) coaching qualification. John "Awesome" Anderson (pictured above with me) was a fan of using the clenched fist and told me so in my interview.
However, the open hand requires little training, has a far larger margin for accuracy error and is more resilent. It can also be adapted faster. As Rick Young pointed out on my DVD, the fist did not evolve for punching, but rather grabbing. Chris Rowen argued the importance of using the right tool for the right job, and such an argument could be made for this whole cross-training exercise of brining attributes back to the self-defence line from boxing. I teach the open hand first and prefer to teaching punching for the body. This isn't to say I haven't used fists to the head in "real life" situations or that I don't advocate them. It is just that I believe they require more training, conditioning and don't tick as many performance criteria as open hands.
So with 8 hours one-to-one instruction in boxing cross-training, where does that leave my client when it comes to punching for self-defence? Body shots. Whereas palms can work very effeciently on the head, the clenched fist is undeniably effective on the body. It is harder work, but a fight can be finished with punches to the soft and semi-soft areas of the body. We worked at adapting the barehanded punch at close range aiming at the solar plexus, liver, kidneys, floating ribs and groin.
The session was finished with some proactive pad-work. This consisted of 3 x 2 minute rounds of attack only, defence only and attack with defence.
or purchase these DVD directly from me at jamie@clubbchimera.com for a discounted price.
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