Footwork (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
10.11.14
This was my client’s second lesson and followed on from our discussion session last week. We looked at aspects of stand-up and clinch, focusing on mobility. The first area of mobility we covered was footwork. This began with some agility drills, moving forwards and backwards around objects. Here the fighter retains a high guard and coordinates various footwork movements. I often focus on this early when I cover combat sports, as I feel it is essential that a fighter gets used to coordinating techniques whilst constantly moving. He needs to know how to take advantage of angles, to attack and retreat, and to retain his balance whilst keeping his hands up.
We then examined the squatting principle. I had to laugh at a criticism that Martin Rooney easily refuted on the apparent non-functionality of squatting. Although I appreciate that not enough combat athletes look at compound leg movements that send them forwards and backwards, the actual squatting motion underlines many foundation principles in fight movements. The squat addresses dropping below an opponent’s level of vision, which can be applied to many techniques. The squat also addresses up from a low position, which also has a direct application. Being able to perform a good squat teaches students to retain a firm posture whilst moving up and down, and to engage the correct leg muscles, which help put power behind many techniques. To help correct posture I advised that my client also incorporate overhead squats into his training regime.
Using a stance switching and bobbing exercise, the client was able to continue a degree of footwork training. We then applied this to jabbing high and low, which we brought into a combination on the focus mitts along with the cross. Then we covered bobbing and weaving/rolling. Next we looked at how the dropping low provides the exact same principle that can be used in a double leg takedown. The client combined the highline jab with the lowline takedown.
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