Striking from Grappling Positions Part 2 (diary entry)

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05.12.11.

Today's warm-up was more about getting a flow going and keeping heart rates moving. The weather is beginning to more resemble the winter now, catching most people off their guard, so I think everyone was grateful of a more thorough warm-up. We cover all the specific and functional fitness movements, moving in and out of freestyle and set movements. This same principle was then carried over onto focus-mitt work, which was a blend of high intensity speed striking from set positions, freestyle proactive pad-work and set boxing and kickboxing combinations.

Striking from grappling positions continued to the ground for tonight's lesson. We focused on the top position. The first thing most people will teach you when in someone's guard is to get to your feet as soon as possible. You immediately assert dominance. If the person holding the guard is up against the cage then so much the better. I had the students put pressure onto their opponents and perform a two-footed jump to their feet. Once standing they ensured their knees were pressing in and their hips were pushed foward, helping to break the control of the guard and retain balance. Then it was a question of using downward strikes in rapid combinations, forcing your opponent to focus on defence and away from using their guard.

The second position looked at fighting a more energetic guard. We looked at striking the legs using the elbows and knees, as well as smashing the cover guard away using hammer fists. We also looked at transitioning to combat base to break through the guard.

These areas were then trained with some specific sparring in the guard. The lesson was then finished with a shadow boxing warm-down and stretch.

I couldn't help but be reflective about tonight's lesson. If anyone ever doubted my dedication to this club and my students, they need to consider that I travel a two round trip for a single class, my three year-old daughter was performing in her first dance display and I missed an opportunity to work with Penn and Teller at the Royal Variety Performance!