Overlapping Self-Defence and MMA (diary entry)
- jamie03066
- Jun 15, 2015
- 2 min read
06.02.12
Today’s approach to training began with some more revision of the fence and offline strikes. We began with natural postures and I isolated the pre-emptive stike. We began by firing it from the fence and then from less prepared positions, such as hands in pockets or with hands together in a “prayer stance”. This was to encourage fast twitch muscle responses from virtually nothing. It’s a concept I learnt from John “Awesome” Anderson, who used to spend our refining a single strike from every conceiveable position.
We then took this to the focus mitts, working on both straight and hooked strikes. This then was followed by the offline shot, delivered at short range with an elbow strike and at longer ranges with the outside of the forearm, the hammerfist and the back of the hand. It was trained both as a response to a single surprise attack from behind or as a secondary attack coming in from the side. In the second instance you can rebound a backhand strike into a forehand strike.
Overlapping self-defence with MMA, we looked at the tactic of the cover. I have gone over this tactic many times on the website. In this instance we began using the code white approach – the student has his eyes closed until physically prompted by the coach. The coach then immediately strikes to the head prompting the student to cover, engage and overcome the strikes with his own. As I have said on previous occasions, the reason for using the code white approach is because the cover is a recovery tactic and shouldn’t be considered to be a type of guarding or ready position. It’s a transitional tactic used to get the defender to strike or grapple.
We moved onto the grappling section next. First we drilled attacking all three lines – high, mid and low. Then we looked a midline attack – shoulder lock – changing to a single leg takedown.
The session finished with some MMA sparring, a shadow boxing warm-down, round the group choices of basic exercises and then a stretch.
I am tentatively planning a junior KEWAP (Knife and Edged Weapon Awareness Programme) for 20th February after our regular class. Everyone is welcome.
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