Multiple Targets

Salam Budo!

Absent from today’s June 16, 2007 training session were several Beruang Merah club members who missed out an interesting session on wristlocks, sasae tsuri komi gaeshi, striking drills and multiple opponents.

Regular warms ups on kuzushi and stand up throws which is one of Beruang Merah’s club trade mark were replaced by striking drills divided in four phases. Listed below are the striking drills and their corresponding phase:

Phase 1: Precision/ Focused Striking

The aim of the first phase is to learn the motion of the strike and to understand the dynamics of the strike itself. Proper technique and body motion is monitored in order to achieve the best result which in turn equals damage for the opponent.

Phase 2: Speed striking

Delivering full power the trainee executes five to ten consecutive strikes while maintaining proper technique and breath control. At this phase there is a tendency for the trainee to soften up on the strikes due to improper breath control or fatigue beginning to settle in. Interestingly after a two or three time repetition, the gross motor movements are recorded which its benefit will be apparent during the fourth phase.

Phase 3: Combo striking

Under a two minute time limit the trainee delivers a barrage of striking techniques which may include any of the following:

• palm heel
• jab
• straight punch
• chop
• elbow smash
• head butt
• knees
• and kicks

At this phase, the drill will be quite demanding on the trainee’s physical stamina which will affect the striking power and focus.

Phase 4: Multiple targets & multiple opponents

The last phase which is highly demanding on the trainee’s physique and to a certain degree perhaps even more tiring than randori, the reason for this is that since the last phase is a “Live” drill; the targets and the opponents are constantly moving. The trainee simultaneously must also be on the move always repositioning either his position or the opponents making sure that no one comes around from behind to “Tag” him which is obviously lethal in real life.

Lessons learned:

1. Keeping your strikes simple not only shortens reaction time which is valuable in a real skirmish but constant repetition also programs the body muscles and memory to move without hesitation.
2. In a multiples situation move your opponent to form a single line thus decreasing the likelihood of them flanking you or by aggressively moving towards one, seizing, grabbing or controlling and using the opponent to shield or obstruct his tag team.
3. Attack, attack and attack! In fact do not stop until you know for sure that your strikes connected enough to stun or KO your opponent giving you the opportunity to escape and reach for safety.
4. When seconds count technical simplicity is gold