Timing! (diary entry)

12.06.12

We are following a series of principle-led lessons. Previously we looked at positions and postures, and last week it was movement. Tonight we focused on timing. One of the best coaches I have encountered that taught me about timing was the boxer, Tommy Thompson. He really made me think about how to drill reactions and movement. After a student-led warm-up, I went straight into some bobbing and weaving timing drills:

Slipping single straight hand strikes

Rolling single hooks

Slipping jab/cross

Rolling hooks off both hands

These drills are performed with the coach throwing a particular technique continuously and the student working the timing out to close in. Although initially a boxing exercise, this works very well with MMA, as the student learns how to clinch whilst defending a strike. We then moved onto the clinch-range. Each student placed one hand on each other and moved, feeling when it was time to take the other’s balance. This built up into various takedowns. Finally we looked at timing on the ground – focusing attack and defence from pins. One student continuously transitioned through pins around the body of the other whilst the student underneath moved to escape.

The session was finished with some medicine ball exercises incorporating sprawls and sit-throughs.

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