"Vagabond Warriors” Cross-Training Martial Arts Workshop in Denmark (Part 2)

09.11.19   Vagabond Warriors” Cross-Training Martial Arts Workshop in Denmark (Part 2)   After teaching the first part of “When Parents Aren’t Around” it was back to the adults with further “Vagabond Warriors” work. Continuing on from the previous night, we looked at the tactile hand set-ups in Muay Thai and bridged into clinch-work before going to the ground.   The session began with a series of MMA warm-ups covering all ranges. We looked at shadow boxing and I then ran an active commentary for better visualisation. The main point being made here is that shadow boxing should best resemble how an individual actually fights rather just a series of favourite combinations. The fighter should imagine their opponent and likely attacks made by different type of fighters. Depending on the objective of one’s shadow boxing it is also important to fluidly move through ranges.   We then continued where we had left off from last night with Muay Thai. The first drill consisted of one partner approaching the other in a boxing guard whilst the other trained shoving, pushing and framing techniques. Next the boxing guard partner threw light punches as their opponent continued shoving, pushing and framing whilst also slap-down parrying, covering, clinching and seeking to break the puncher’s balance.   The next stage involved using all these counter-strike techniques and tactics to set up kicks and knee strikes. With the hands preoccupied the low line is vulnerable to such strikes. Here I discussed that the attributes from this form of specific sparring could be applied to self-defence with a different strategy. The priority in a self-defence situation wouldn’t be set up the kicks and knee strikes but would serve as an incidental means if one becomes caught in a clinch. A key benefit refined through Muay Thai (and other Southeast Asian Boxing arts) is the breaking of a posture to inflict a percussive technique. Interestingly, this is the reverse to the way atemi is typically used in traditional jujutsu styles but it serves as great way to develop strike-grappling in-fighting in a very efficient and productive way.   Once in the clinch we did some striking and balance-taking exercises. This was followed with several wrestling takedown drills with strikes. We drilled sprawl ‘n brawl as a defence and the double-leg takedown. Moving onto the guillotine choke from guard and the anaconda-choke into the gator roll we began working the ground range. Here we covered ground ‘n pound from top position in the guard, also incorporating the foot-hold submission. Finally we looked at escaping from underneath in guard. I explained that if you land on your back in a self-defence situation or in MMA the priority is usually to get back to a standing position. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbXmXspA_1Q