Vagabond Warriors at The Martial Arts Show Part 1 (diary)

A little bit of pro-activity and a lot of aggressive on-the-spot selling alongside some genuine support we filled up the first Vagabond Warriors session of the weekend. I have been connected to The Martial Arts Shows since was The Martial Arts Festival, the brainchild of Kwoklyn Wan. Martial arts trade shows are not my favourite places, but somehow Kwoklyn manages to create a good atmosphere and books some of the nicest martial artists in the UK and internationally.

The Saturday taster seminar began with shadow boxing at all ranges and with visualisation. We then moved onto all ranges of 30% sparring, both striking and grappling. Next I introduced everyone to the Strategy One versus Strategy Two pressure test. This exercise enabled the participants to quarry straight strikes. They carried this over to a flash-pad drill. Then we looked at 360 coaching.

The lesson finished with some functional fitness, looking at the way medicine ball throws work the mechanics of a straight strike. This happened at all ranges – standing, kneeling, seated and on the back. Students caught and through the ball back using the same loading up and delivery principle behind a straight strike and then transferred it back to the actual straight strike.  

Later in the day I attended an autograph signing and photo shoot for fans of the show.