Patterns of Movement (diary entry)

29.04.13

General Lesson – Junior Mixed Martial Arts – Patterns of Movement

After performing a series of warm-up exercises that covered all three ranges of combat, we began on the focus mitts. Today, we looked at timing and patterns of movement. We began with a very basic boxing three-punch combination and then put in an evasion; in this instance it was a roll (bob ‘n weave). At length you can add on more techniques and bring in the evasions at agreed intervals or do them at random. I prefer the second option. This makes a student react to unrehearsed stimuli when they are focused on another task.

We then looked at the kick/punch/punch/kick combination, which is different from our usual method of having punches set the pace for kicks. It helped me to identify certain mistakes that had formed through using comfortable combinations. For example, many students were not working their lead leg kicks and instinctively would switch their stance form orthodox to southpaw in order to start the combination with a rear leg. The unusual cross/jab section of this combination also through a lot of students and exposed their positioning. It also got the pad-holders thinking too. By using the same pattern of movement we changed the combination into a knee/clinch/knee combination. This brought up the pendulum kicking principle with the lead knee strike and really confused students in how they went into a clinch. I was always taught to form the plumb position of the clinch by gripping with one hand at a time, like a wrestling necktie position. This is so that the arms don’t get trapped and the fighter doesn’t over-expose himself to a counter attack.  Usually this is done in the same manner as a jab/cross. In this instance it was cross/jab motion.

I don’t lock myself into set combinations; rather I use them to develop certain attributes. Today, students were thrown by a change in different techniques and yet they learnt they were moving their bodies in the same pattern. Everything moved in a left/right (or for southpaws right/left) sequence.

We then moved into timing, slipping a jab into arm triangle clinch position. The exercise was first performed as a timing exercise and then we looked at standing striking and manoeuvring from the arm triangle. Finally we performed the takedown into the submission. The class was finished with three rounds of MMA sparring.

Private Lesson – Self-Protection – Hard Skills

We went straight into hard skills this week, having covered most of the personal security information during the past two lessons and via online correspondence. The lesson began with a warm-up motions involved in the delivery of hand strikes. This increased to transitioning through postures. We then moved onto the focus mitts for pre-emptive striking from the fence. We revised both straight hand striking and hooks.

Next we revised the cover and worked it as a code white exercise. This is an exercise whereby the student closes their eyes in order replicate being in an unaware state. As is the normal with these exercises, the student is given a physical prompt so that they open their eyes and receive strikes from the focus mitts. They respond by covering and moving in to start striking the pads again. Next we incorporated incidental combinations and added them both to responses from the cover and also the fence.

We then touched upon anti-grappling. As I often do, we began this section with the student getting used to striking whilst being grappled. Then we moved onto anti-grappling techniques. This included finger and thumb breaks, eyes gouges and head-butts. We did a small pressure test to get the students used to the feel of a fight.

The lesson was finished with some two-on-one pad-work. This particular exercise got the students switching angles, further desensitized them from the pressures of combat, had them transition through postures, promoted the use of the cover and, of course, got them used to handling more than one fighter. 

My Combat Grappling Article