Today let’s look at a nice drill you can practice to add
liveness to your training. Unlike other sport oriented martial art techniques,
self-defence based techniques are hard to practice in a free or “live” way. Now
when I refer to liveness I’m referring to a randomness of attack or technique.
Once we have learned some techniques we need to start
adding some liveness or randomness into our drills. When we learn a technique
it’s typically in a very static way. We know what’s coming and what we are
going to do. This is often referred to as “kata” or maybe “kumite”. When we
hear the work kata we often think of martial arts like karate, any pre-set
series of movements, with a partner or without, is a kata.
The thing is that in a fight we are not typically going
to have time to think about what their attack is going to be or what we want
our response to their attack to be. They are going to attack and we need to
respond. We need to take what they give us and work with it.
So how do we add this element of randomness and still
stay safe? Well one way is the SHARK BAIT OR CIRCLE DRILL that we talked about
before. Another way is to add randomness but narrow the focus.
The “Liveness” Drill
- This drill is designed to be done with two
people, one attacks and the other defends.
- Two (2) types of attacks are agreed on,
(straight punch and hook punch), (hook punch and front kick)…
- The defender then selects two techniques, one
for each attack.
- The drill is then ready to start.
- The attacker attacks with either of the two
selected attacks and the defender must respond to the attack. The defender is
NOT told which attack will be used by the attacker.
- Start slow, the speed and aggressiveness can be
slow increased as both people become comfortable with the drill.
- Make sure to very your timing and move around a
little, don’t stay too static.
As your skill with this drill improves you can add
additional attack options. (straight punch, hook punch, front kick)… You could
even add the element of weapons, with rubber knifes and padded batons, just
have the attacker start with their hand behind their back.
Another version
As above only the attacker and defender stand back to
back. The attacker shouts “GO” and then turns around and attacks. The defender
turns to defend. This will further reduce any visual clues as to what the
attack will be (especially if using weapons).
Remember start slow!
As with any drill remember to use your head, respect your
training partner and stay safe.
Once we know a bunch of techniques why don’t we train like
this all the time, wouldn’t it be better? No not really. Our ability to adapt
and adjust would become very good but our technique would suffer. You see we
still need the “kata”. It’s through the practice of the kata that we can work
on the never ending list of small details in an effort to perfect the
technique. This simply cannot be done in a random setting.
I will leave the discussion about good technique vs. perfect
technique for another day.
As always is you are looking for more great videos or to learn the wonderful art of jiu-jitsu please check out our web site at
www.learn-jiu-jitsu-online.com. There you will our distance education program so you can learn jiu-jitsu anywhere at your own pace.
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www.tigersdenjiu-jitsu.com, www.learn-jiu-jitsu-online.com"
Cheers,
Jamie Rickard (Sensei)
Head Instructor
Koketsu Kai - Tiger's Den Jiu-jitsu and Grappling
Located at:
SMA/Patry Total Fitness
745 Development Dr
Kingston, Ontario
