MT Fight Training "Knowledge and Skill Based Learning"

We trained at the Bugeishako today, starting with 10 minutes of kicks and the pitterpat ladder (exchanging the middle 32 push-up round for a 30 seconds hold, 30 seconds pitterpat, and 30 seconds hold). We then worked some thai pad rounds.

1. Breaking structure

   In this drill the holder feeds a standard boxing or thai round, but intermittently throws a reaction in the middle of the combination, e.g. calling 3 and hitting the fighter after they throw the cross. This is contrary to "normal" rounds since it breaks the fluid combination, however I think it is a valuable tool as it

   • Points out openings in the fighters striking game
     
   • Works the feel of a fight in the need to automatically switch from offense to defense
     
   • Shows that good offensive structure actually works really well in defense as well

2. Breaking structure with reaction

   As above but putting in 3 reaction after each combination "disruption"

3. Focusing the laser

   In this drill one partner forms a narrow window on the bag while the other calls off linear punching combinations. The fighter must work on throwing punches straight down the pipe without inefficient hooking of straight punches.

4. Balancing the equation

   Here the fighter starts with the holder slapping repeated shots against their cover and body movement, as soon as the holder stops the fighter must switch gears and go right back into reaction.

5. Evasion and invasion

   In this drill the fighter works a standard boxing/thai pad round but as soon as they open the range, e.g. evasion, they must fire a tiip.

We discussed the knees and two key elements of knees, the hips:

1. When defending the hips, head up, feet wide and "duck walk" in driving your hips close to your partner. In knee play, closing the distance solidly and rapidly is your best defense.
2. When trying to obtain neck control, swim the hips, turning your hips 90^o making your body almost perpendicular with your opponent. This narrows the target window for them, disrupts their arms by the twisting of their shoulders, and allows your glove to fit in between their arms. Then switch the other hip toward them and slide your other glove in and obtain control. If you cannot use the glove already there to push on their face.

We finished with a discussion of trick plays/fakes. There are basically two ways to use trick plays and fakes

1. Opposite Lines

   The opposite lines theory works by drawing attention and provoking reaction in one area and then attacking opposite to that. For example, from JKD the progressive indirect attack (PIA), faking a low kick to punch someone in the head. This works because of over reaction, all their tools become dedicated to defending something one side or level thereby creating openings in another.

2. Same Lines

   The same line theory works by the creation of a hole following the defensive reaction. A really simple example is the double or triple jab -- your opponent catches the first, but as they return their hand to guard they eat the second or third. This works because of refractory period, they are quick enough to pick up the first but not subsequent attacks.

In his thesis of martial arts ("Tao of Jeet Kune Do" (Bruce Lee)) Bruce Lee does an excellent breakdown of faking. One of the most important point is creating pain. Thus a real attack must cause the fear/respect in your opponent for that tool. Only then will a fake successfully land. A brief list of trick plays follows:

1. Fake high go low

   Use a jab fake to set up the leg kick

2. Fake low go high

   Use a kick fake, i.e. hip thrust, to set-up punches.

3. "Heatseeker"

   Here use the rear leg kick lateral line to set-up the central mid line tiip.

4. Show the knee

   Raise the knee as if to throw tiip and then go straight to jab or the rear tiip. The first is mid line to high line, while the second is one side to the other.

5. "Superman"

   Here use the rear leg kick low line to set-up the high line punches.

6. Switch step Punch

   Use the lead leg kick's switch step to close range and throw jab/cross. Again low line fake to high line attack.

7. Switch step Tiip

   Use the lead leg kick's switch step to provoke lateral defense and throw tiip. Again lateral line fake to mid line attack.

8. Tiip to head kick

   Throw the tiip and then readjust hips to throw head kick. Central line to lateral.