Countering MMA style (diary entry)

13.05.15 What follows is report on the eighth lesson in CCMA’s Mixed Martial Arts for martial artscross-training course. Tonight we picked up on attacking and countering using striking and grappling in conjunction. This built on the previous seven lessons in general and also focused on counters to various kicking attacks. We warmed up on the focus mitts and belly-pad, looking at removing obstructions and clearing the guard whilst striking to exposed targets. This was done from stand-up and grounded positions as isolation drills and also as transitional drills. We then looked at taking advantage of common responses to obstruction removal, setting up grappling attacks. The trapped arm once freed to defend exposed targets can be passed over into arm-triangles and can also be used to set up for mid-section takedowns. We then looked at countering low kicks to set-up for waistlock takedowns and belly-to-back suplexes. This moved us onto countering back-kicks and spinning kicks with kicks, sweeps, takedowns and slams. The section finished with a re-introduction to using the cover that will dovetail into the next two lessons where my client returns back to the self-defence line. Photography by Charlotte Von Bulow Quirk featuring Tony Hughes of K.S.C.K.M and Jamie Clubb of CCMA for "Mordred's Victory and Other Martial Mutterings" and Jamie Clubb's upcoming book on critical thinking in martial arts.