[quote]Sentoguy wrote:
Well, he is your trainer, you are trusting him with training you, and he is watching you spar in person, so if you take his advice I respect your decision. But, straight line punches like jabs and straight right hands must be thrown at shoulder height in order to generate maximal force and optimize mechanics. So you must lower the shoulders to the height of your target when throwing them to the body of you want to be able to really hurt people with them. Throwing punches to the body while remaining upright also decreases the range of the punch and opens your head up to easier left hook counters or getting clinched.
My suggestion would be to:
not lead off with it as it takes too long to get to the target and you may give your opponent enough time to catch you coming in but instead to throw it as a follow up to a jab or other lead off technique or throw it as a counter
turn your left knee/foot out to your left more (like you were about to start throwing a rear leg round kick) to allow you to “check” the kick (which is different than shin blocking it where you actually lift the leg and turn the shin out) as you throw the punch. You will take some impact on the top of your thigh, but they will be taking a right hand to the body (liver or solar plexus depending on how far they are able to rotate through before you land, and so they should be on the losing end of the exchange
make sure to keep your left hand/arm up just in case
don’t pause after throwing it but instead follow it with a left hook, left round kick, left knee or other left side attack which should take your head and body back across to your right and out of danger from their right leg; jam in/trap and clinch; or jab out and clear via distance (preferrably at an angle towards your right if you are worried about the right counter kick).
Hope this helps.[/quote]
This is brilliant Sento. You hit the nail right on its head. I will be using this specific post in mind and apply it to when I spar next time.
I was leading off with the right hand body attack at times and found the most success when I was throwing a jab at first. I am really going to apply your suggestions especially throwing a jab at first, then body attack, and either ending it with another jab, leg kick, or attack from the left side (such as left body kick or left knee). I like the idea of following it up with the left side attack. I will put this into my mind for my next sparring session.
Thanks again Sento. Your insights are truly invaluable. I can’t thank you enough.
1 round of jab-cross-hook-right middle kick and hook-cross-left middle kick
1 round of jab-cross-slip the jab-cross-hook-right low kick
3 rounds of freestyle pad work, starting each round with 10 right middle kicks and 10 left middle kicks
7 rounds holding thai pads
…
Judo - 1 hour
1 round (5 minutes) of me going up against two training partners. 2 on 1
the goal was for me not to allow them to tap me out
2 rounds (5 minutes each round) of me and a training partner going up against another training partner. 2 on 1
Drilled ground work consisting of the following:
when an opponent gives his back and flattens out, dig the elbow into opponents back, this will cause his head to rise which will enable the rear choke to be applied
drilling the arm-bar when opponent is in turtle position
when in half guard, use the leg that is free to base out, then turn around causing opponent to turn on his stomach, and then sit on his back, grab ankle, and look up to the sky and pull back
when I am standing and opponent is on his back, grab his feet to prevent up-kicks, and knee cut by placing knee on opponents stomach
100 alternating knees on the thai heavy bag immediately after 10 minutes of running
2 minutes of shadow boxing immediately after alternating knees
50 alternating teeps on the thai heavy bag immediately after shadow boxing
2 minutes of shadow boxing immediately after alternating teeps
20 pushups immediately after shadow boxing
10 minutes (no rest) of jab-cross and alternating knees using 3lb dumbbells in each hand
fast punches during the final 30 seconds
20 pushups immediately after the 10 minutes
2 rounds (4 minutes each round with no rest between rounds) of jab-jab-jab-cross-step back-cross-hook using 3lb dumbbells in each hand
20 pushups immediately after the 2nd round
30 right middle kicks while training partner throws 30 left middle kicks and 30 left middle kicks while training partner throws 30 right middle kicks on the thai heavy bag
7 rounds (4 minutes each round, 30 seconds rest between rounds) of sparring
3 rounds (4 minutes each round, 30 second rest between rounds) holding thai pads
3 rounds (4 minutes each round, 30 seconds rest between rounds) of thai pad work
20 minutes of clinch work
worked a lot of defense from the clinch. When someone is trying to throw the knees from the clinch, place the leg horizontally on opponents legs, place my knee on opponents thigh, hook his leg with my foot, and push out
when opponent is very aggressive coming in for the clinch, do the same as above, turn quickly and place him in a headlock
Finisher:
100 alternating knees on the thai heavy bag
10 minutes of jab-cross and alternating knees using 3lb dumbbells in each hand
50 right middle kicks and 30 left middle kicks on the thai heavy bag
100 situps
This week sparring session was a lot better than last weeks. I barely got caught with leg kicks. I checked nearly every single leg kick. I utilized an active and defensive movement with my lead leg (moving it up a lot in a checking fashion). This also helped to throw my opponents off, as I was able to throw the left middle kick with some success
I started a lot of my combinations with the jab. It is by far my most effective punch in terms of accuracy and landing percentage. I like to use it a lot as a measuring stick against shorter fighters, too
I blocked and caught a lot of high leg kicks
One thing that I do which I shouldn’t be doing is trying to block and catch low leg kicks with my arms. I have to break this pattern asap because it opens me up for punches
One of the fighters helped me in telling me to utilize the lead teep when a shorter opponent is coming in
Since I was checking kicks a lot with the lead leg, one of my sparring partners swept me by going under my lead leg and sweeping my right leg causing me to fall. After he caught me with this my timing was a lot better in the sense that I was able to prevent him from doing it again
Another aspect of my game that needs improvement is when someone is coming in aggressively with a flurry of punches, I tend to shell up and try to block, when I should utilize foot movement and angles to move side to side. I did time them a few times as they were coming in with my jab and right cross. The lead leg teep is a good strike when an opponent is coming in like this
I threw a lot more left middle kicks and right middle kicks. Varying up the strikes with punches and kicks is vital. Last week I relied to much on punches and this week I felt like I improved by throwing and landing more middle kicks. I also threw a few high kicks
I need to stop looking at my opponents legs and look directly at them when I am sparring
The lead left hook was landing at a high rate for me, probably because I was leading so much with the jab that my sparring partners were not expecting it
One of the fighters showed me a good technique in which he was catching me with all the time. He would come in close, and bring my left hand down slightly and simultaneously throw the right cross. He told me a good way to defend against this is simply to move back and counter with the right cross
There was a guy at the gym, whom I had never seen before. He and I sparred and I instantly knew he had some experience. He was shorter than I, so I was working the jab. He had some defense against punches and kicks. One thing that I didn’t like was how hard he was going. He was literally going close to 100% on his punches. He even dropped one guy with a hard body shot. Getting hit hard is expected in sparring, but, when a guy is sparring as if it is a fight, then there is a little bit of a problem. He caught me with one good right hook to the liver and a flush right cross. I never was throwing any of my shots with 100% power, however, I decided that I would add a little muster and speed to my kicks and punches when I noticed he wanted to spar hard. I caught him with a flush right uppercut to the nose and left hook to the head which instantly sent him back and bloodied his nose. That was the end of him sparring against me. He stopped and didn’t come back in to spar against me
I drank more water than last week, but, I cramped up again, but, a little bit, and it wasn’t bad at all. I also purchased some thai oil which I plan on using from now on
Things to work on for next sparring session
end combinations with the jab
throw the lead teep against shorter opponents when they are trying to coming in
when an opponent is inside, put him in the clinch and work on delivering knees
after throwing a right punch or right kick, follow it up with a left side attack. I did this a few times and it worked when I did. I need to implement it more frequently
throw punches to the solar plexus
throw the left hook to the liver
look at opponent, not at his legs
do not try to grab low kicks
use feints
move the head and utilize slips
work the body more by delivering the left hook to the liver and right hook to the ribs
utilize foot movement and angles when an opponent is coming in aggressively
when an opponent is trying to throw 3 to 4 strike combinations, I must respond quickly with my own combinations to push him back
Things to continue for next sparring session
leading with the jab
leading with the left hook
check leg kicks at a high rate
throwing more left middle kicks and right middle kicks
1 minute of left middle kicks on the thai heavy bag
1 minute of right middle kicks on the thai heavy bag
1 minute of pushups
1 minute of situps
1 minute of burpees
4 rounds holding thai pads
4 rounds on thai pads
1 round of jab-cross-slip the jab-slip the cross-hook-right uppercut
1 round of jab-cross-slip the cross-slip the hook-cross-left uppercut
1 round of jab-cross-slip the jab-slip the cross-check the right middle kick-counter with left middle kick
1 round of jab-cross-slip the jab-slip the cross-check the left middle kick-counter with the right middle kick
Pyramids holding thai pads
Pyramids on thai pads
1 right middle kick, 1 left middle kick
2 right middle kicks, 2 left middle kicks
3 right middle kicks, 3 left middle kicks
4 right middle kicks, 4 left middle kicks
5 right middle kicks, 5 left middle kicks
6 right middle kicks, 6 left middle kicks
7 right middle kicks, 7 left middle kicks
8 right middle kicks, 8 left middle kicks
9 right middle kicks, 9 left middle kicks
10 right middle kicks, 10 left middle kicks
9 right middle kicks, 9 left middle kicks
8 right middle kicks, 8 left middle kicks
7 right middle kicks, 7 left middle kicks
6 right middle kicks, 6 left middle kicks
5 right middle kicks, 5 left middle kicks
4 right middle kicks, 4 left middle kicks
3 right middle kicks, 3 left middle kicks
2 right middle kicks, 2 left middle kicks
1 right middle kick, 1 left middle kick
When I am throwing the jab-cross, I am coming in too much and not utilizing my reach to the fullest extent. I should be coming in with my hips and shoulders, without stepping in with my feet, while having a slight bend at the hips so I can have more power when throwing the right cross
When I am throwing the jab-cross, I am coming in too much and not utilizing my reach to the fullest extent. I should be coming in with my hips and shoulders, without stepping in with my feet, while having a slight bend at the hips so I can have more power when throwing the right cross[/quote]
I strongly disagree with this. You ALWAYS want to step into your punches if possible (that you expect/are attempting to land anyhow) as this adds weight to them and keeps your shoulders over your base of support. This might not always be a big step (if you are trying to maintain distance) but even a small step is preferable to leaning in (with your hips and shoulders).
When I am throwing the jab-cross, I am coming in too much and not utilizing my reach to the fullest extent. I should be coming in with my hips and shoulders, without stepping in with my feet, while having a slight bend at the hips so I can have more power when throwing the right cross[/quote]
I strongly disagree with this. You ALWAYS want to step into your punches if possible (that you expect/are attempting to land anyhow) as this adds weight to them and keeps your shoulders over your base of support. This might not always be a big step (if you are trying to maintain distance) but even a small step is preferable to leaning in (with your hips and shoulders).
[/quote]
This is what happens when you train at 2 different Muay Thai gyms. When I make a post on this thread that says “Thai Boxing” and another that says “Muay Thai” it means that I am training at two different gyms. The gym I go to that I train in that I categorize as “Thai Boxing” in my post, has us doing a lot of stepping in for the jab-cross. Whenever I put that we are doing the jab-cross with 3lb dumbbells in the “Thai Boxing” gym, I am stepping in. This other gym that I term as “Muay Thai” in my post, had a trainer that told me today that I shouldn’t be stepping in.
Anyhow, once my work schedule changes and I have more of a normal schedule where I am not working nights, I plan to train at the “Thai Boxing” gym only.
1 round (4 minutes) of left middle kicks on the thai heavy bag while training partner throws right middle kicks
1 round (4 minutes) of right middle kicks on the thai heavy bag while training partner throws left middle kicks
100 alternating knees on the thai heavy bag
2 minutes of shadow boxing
13 rounds (4 minutes each round, 30 seconds rest between rounds) of sparring
I did 10 rounds of sparring, 2 rounds on the thai heavy bag, and rested 1 round
20 minutes of clinching
Finisher:
100 situps
I’m not sure if it is because I sparred everyone who is having a fight coming up or has had a ton of amateur and pros fights, but, today I ate a lot of kicks. I even threw a low right kick which was checked and when I walk I am dragging it. I stopped throwing it after like the 8th round of sparring
Regardless of the skill level of the guys I was sparring against today, there are still some fundamental mistakes that I am making. Here is a list:
When an opponent is coming in, in a blitzing fashion to throw their combinations, I am backing up in a straight line. There were a few times when I was stepping to the side, but, I shouldn’t just back up in a straight line. It makes the aggressor think they can continue to be aggressive and it takes power off of my punches and kicks
I sparred against one fighter who literally had my rear leg (right leg) for breakfast. He was throwing his lead leg (left leg) to my right thigh and connected nearly every time. The fact that he was landing it nearly at will was frustrating and took me out of my game. I was shelling up too, being too defensive, and waited too long. When I didn’t give him time to set up and I attacked with the jab and left hook to the body and right hook to the body, it took off some steam from his attack
When I was in the clinch and threw knees, my sparring partner threw me and landed some sweeps as I was throwing the knees. He timed it well
I need to stop looking at my opponents legs when I am getting ready to land a kick
I have to mix up my attacks more. I am relying too much on my boxing. I am throwing combination punches and am not ending the combination with a kick. If I vary up the attacks and include and end the combination with a kick, it will improve my offensive skill set
When defending against knees in the clinch, I should not be trying to defend against them by bringing my hand down and pushing the knee down, this opens me up to get punched
When I am throwing body shots from the inside such as a left hook and right hook, I shouldn’t stay there too long. I should land my body shots and move out
I need to throw more body and head kicks. I favor the low kick too much. With my range and size, I should add body and head kicks into my offensive attacks
I should be keeping my hands up at all times. There were numerous instances when my trainer had to tell me to keep my hands up
Every time they throw a kick, I should respond quickly with a kick or punch to the body. I need to start applying this to sparring
After throwing a right punch to the body, I should follow it up with a left side attack. I need to start applying this to sparring
I am thinking too much and giving away too much time for my opponent to think, too. I think I am naturally a counter puncher and a guy who tries to find out a fighters mistakes and tendencies so I can time them, but, I need to throw punches in bunches and throw a lot more kicks to make it tougher on my sparring partners. In other words, I need to be more aggressive
Here are some things that I did good and should continue to do:
I am checking kicks very well with my lead leg (left leg)
I am throwing the teep against shorter opponents and am using it as a measuring stick to judge distance and to set up other punches and kicks
I had a lot of success with the left uppercut. I will use it a lot more
The jab is my best punch and when I throw it, it usually lands
The left hook to the body and head was thrown a lot more and I did more damage with it this week than last week
I used a lot more feints
Whenever I didn’t give my training partner a chance to set-up and I threw, it was successful. This is a crucial part that I need to implement nearly every time
[quote]fearnloathingnyc wrote:
Judo - 1 hour and 30 minutes
15 minute warmup
Various front break falls
Forward rolls
Rolls into pins
30 minutes of Uchikomi
Osoto gari
15 minutes of pin work
when opponent is in turtle, from his left side, grab his right lapel with my left hand, move to his right from the back, push his right elbow away, and turn lapel which will cause opponent to fall to his back, then the pin is performed
6 rounds of live sparring
3 rounds of newaza
3 rounds of randori
On my osoto gari, I have to really bend the knee that is hooking opponents leg and make it reach the top
During randori, I have to be more loose and grip hard when I am getting ready to throw
Circling my opponent is crucial during randori
[/quote]
Your success with Osoto-Gari, is in your ability to get them unbalanced through applying a wheel motion with your arms, the leg just sweeps. I am not trying to underscore the technique used in the leg curve just point out that it is much more important to have the proper lead in technique.
A technique I use during randori, is to pulse my grip and alternate it so I have at least one very solid hand all the time. And last during randori the more you remain neutral the better, if you want to circle use their energy to initiate the circular flow alternating right or left and stop the movement when they pull, this always lulls them into thinking that the motion is weak and since they think they control it they begin to ignore it. Then you have a advantage.
You will only realize these advantages if you are predominantly neutral, and through this get a good read on the opponents intent. I hope this comes across right, it is very difficult to convey the subtleties of judo through the written word. Unfortunately I do not have a lot of experience as a instructor.
IME my success with Ashi Waza techniques (like Osoto Gari) has gone way up since I stopped focusing on trying to break their structure with my upper body and started to really focus on timing and understanding the principles upon which effective Ashi Waza techniques were originally based on.
We as human beings are in a constant process of falling down and catching ourselves as we walk. This also results in us being hard wired to unweight one foot as the other one is taking out weight. Ashi Waza techniques are based on preventing your opponent from catching themselves as they attempt to step. Even though most people’s applications of Osoto do not adhere to this concept (most applications are more like what Dude described, which do work well in competition as your opponents are always roughly your same size) Osoto can be applied using this principle and if it is then not only will you not encounter any resistance from the leg you are reaping (since the weight will not be on it), but if done with offensive timing (just as they are about to step down) there will be no chance of them resisting the fall (really their only chance of counter is to attempt to turn their fall into a Sutemi Waza an use their falling momentum to throw you). Even when using defensive timing (right as they take weight onto their other leg as they are stepping backwards) the leg should be light if your timing is on; you then want to pull them into trying to take a step with the leg you have reaped (and thus they will be unable to and will fall as a result.
This is a paradigm shift from how I was originally taught Osoto and how I see 90% of people demoing it, but upon further researching older pre-competition (pre-weight class) Judo I happened upon this principle and low and behold it works fantastically, even with bigger people.
Not saying that what Dude is saying is incorrect as there are a lot of very good, very successful grapplers who utilize and teach those mechanics (though if you watch most actual successful Osotos in competition the takedown doesn’t actually work until the opponent has put the other foot down at which time the reaped leg becomes light, comes off the ground, and is this prevented from further catching the weight resulting in a fall, so actually the principle holds true even there), just throwing out a different perspective and a little principle based knowledge which will hopefully help you in all of your Ashi Waza techniques.
1 round of 10 jabs, 10 crosses, 10 hooks, focusing on technique
1 round of 10 jabs, 10 crosses, 10 hooks, focusing on power
1 round of jab-cross
1 round of jab-jab, jab-jab-cross, jab-cross-hook
1 round of 50 alternating teeps
1 round of 100 alternating knees
2 rounds of shadow boxing
Weighted Chin-ups
BW x 3
45lbs x 3
45lbs x 3
Machine Rows
180 x 5
270 x 5
270 x 5
Neck Harness
90 x 100
90 x 100
90 x 100
DB Curl Up
60 x 3 (3 second hold)
60 x 3 (3 second hold)
60 x 3 (3 second hold)
DB Reverse Curl
80 x 3
80 x 3
80 x 3
My ankle is feeling better, but, not good enough to throw a right kick. I tried to throw a right kick on the heavy bag yesterday and instantly felt pain
I will go to Judo tomorrow and won’t spar in Muay Thai this week
I’m hoping to get back to Muay Thai training by next week
[quote]fearnloathingnyc wrote:
Judo - 1 hour and 30 minutes
15 minute warmup
Various front break falls
Forward rolls
Rolls into pins
30 minutes of Uchikomi
Osoto gari
15 minutes of pin work
when opponent is in turtle, from his left side, grab his right lapel with my left hand, move to his right from the back, push his right elbow away, and turn lapel which will cause opponent to fall to his back, then the pin is performed
6 rounds of live sparring
3 rounds of newaza
3 rounds of randori
On my osoto gari, I have to really bend the knee that is hooking opponents leg and make it reach the top
During randori, I have to be more loose and grip hard when I am getting ready to throw
Circling my opponent is crucial during randori
[/quote]
Your success with Osoto-Gari, is in your ability to get them unbalanced through applying a wheel motion with your arms, the leg just sweeps. I am not trying to underscore the technique used in the leg curve just point out that it is much more important to have the proper lead in technique.
A technique I use during randori, is to pulse my grip and alternate it so I have at least one very solid hand all the time. And last during randori the more you remain neutral the better, if you want to circle use their energy to initiate the circular flow alternating right or left and stop the movement when they pull, this always lulls them into thinking that the motion is weak and since they think they control it they begin to ignore it. Then you have a advantage.
You will only realize these advantages if you are predominantly neutral, and through this get a good read on the opponents intent. I hope this comes across right, it is very difficult to convey the subtleties of judo through the written word. Unfortunately I do not have a lot of experience as a instructor. [/quote]
Thanks for the suggestions. At the previous Judo club I went to they emphasized a lot of the wheel motion with the arms. I tend to do it automatically now. I think my sensei at my new Judo club is a big advocate of hooking the leg to execute the end portion of the throw.
I like the part you mention about staying neutral and stopping the movement when they pull me to lull them into thinking the movement is weak when going left or right. I will implement this into my randori
[quote]Sentoguy wrote:
IME my success with Ashi Waza techniques (like Osoto Gari) has gone way up since I stopped focusing on trying to break their structure with my upper body and started to really focus on timing and understanding the principles upon which effective Ashi Waza techniques were originally based on.
We as human beings are in a constant process of falling down and catching ourselves as we walk. This also results in us being hard wired to unweight one foot as the other one is taking out weight. Ashi Waza techniques are based on preventing your opponent from catching themselves as they attempt to step. Even though most people’s applications of Osoto do not adhere to this concept (most applications are more like what Dude described, which do work well in competition as your opponents are always roughly your same size) Osoto can be applied using this principle and if it is then not only will you not encounter any resistance from the leg you are reaping (since the weight will not be on it), but if done with offensive timing (just as they are about to step down) there will be no chance of them resisting the fall (really their only chance of counter is to attempt to turn their fall into a Sutemi Waza an use their falling momentum to throw you). Even when using defensive timing (right as they take weight onto their other leg as they are stepping backwards) the leg should be light if your timing is on; you then want to pull them into trying to take a step with the leg you have reaped (and thus they will be unable to and will fall as a result.
This is a paradigm shift from how I was originally taught Osoto and how I see 90% of people demoing it, but upon further researching older pre-competition (pre-weight class) Judo I happened upon this principle and low and behold it works fantastically, even with bigger people.
Not saying that what Dude is saying is incorrect as there are a lot of very good, very successful grapplers who utilize and teach those mechanics (though if you watch most actual successful Osotos in competition the takedown doesn’t actually work until the opponent has put the other foot down at which time the reaped leg becomes light, comes off the ground, and is this prevented from further catching the weight resulting in a fall, so actually the principle holds true even there), just throwing out a different perspective and a little principle based knowledge which will hopefully help you in all of your Ashi Waza techniques.[/quote]
Sento, you are a fountain of knowledge brother. Thanks so much for your contributions. I have so much to learn. Your description on timing is something that I think will come as second nature to me once I am able to train consistently at least 3 times per week. I really can’t wait for my work schedule to change for the better.
1 round of kick for kick with training partner which consisted of me throwing the right middle kick and training partner throwing the right middle kick
1 round of kick for kick with training partner which consisted of me throwing the left middle kick and training partner throwing the left middle kick
1 round of teep for teep with training partner which consisted of me throwing the left teep and training partner throwing the left teep and me throwing the right teep and training partner throwing the left teep
1 round of alternating kick for kick with training partner which consisted of me throwing the right middle kick and training partner throwing the right middle kick and me throwing the left middle kick and training partner throwing the left middle kick
1 round of jab-cross-hook-right middle kick and cross-hook-cross-left middle kick
1 round of jab-jab-right middle kick and cross-hook-cross-left middle kick
2 rounds of freestyle pad work
8 rounds holding thai pads
Finisher
5 minute plank hold
I was very conservative with my right middle kicks because my ankle still is not 100%. As I tried to amp up the power on my right middle kicks during pad work, I experienced some pain. Nothing serious, but, I can still feel that my right ankle isn’t 100% just yet
I wasn’t able to train at the gym today, so I am going to hit the heavy bag at work, shadow box, and do some strength and conditioning. Here is what I have planned for tonight:
10 minutes of running mixed in with:
20 alternating knees on the heavy bag
20 alternating knees on the heavy bag
20 alternating knees on the heavy bag
20 alternating knees on the heavy bag
20 alternating knees on the heavy bag
20 pushups immediately after alternating knees
50 left middle kicks and 50 right middle kicks on the heavy bag, immediately after pushups
1 round (3 minutes) of jab-cross using 5lb dumbbells in each hand
20 pushups during 30 second rest period
1 round (3 minutes) of alternating knees using 5lb dumbbells in each hand
20 pushups during 30 second rest period
50 alternating knees on the heavy bag, immediately after pushups
50 left middle kicks and 50 right middle kicks immediately after alternating knees
3 rounds (3 minutes each round, 20 pushups during 30 second rest period) of shadow boxing
1 round of jab-cross-step back-step in-cross-hook-cross-hook-right middle kick
1 round of parry the jab-cross-check right low kick-counter with cross-hook-right middle kick
1 round of jab-hook-right high kick
4 rounds (3 minutes each round, 20 pushups during 30 second rest period) on the heavy bag
1 round of jab-cross-left middle kick
1 round of jab-cross-slip the jab-cross-hook
1 round of jab-left uppercut-left hook
1 round of jab-jab-straight right to the body-hook to the body-hook to the head-hook to the head
First let me say great work with the conditioning; you are really putting in the time and as a result will reap the rewards.
One thing about choosing combinations to throw though is that you want to really think about likely reactions from your opponent while sparring/fighting and try to choose movements, strikes, and defenses that provide for the most efficient use of energy.
For instance:
[quote]fearnloathingnyc wrote:
3 rounds (3 minutes each round, 20 pushups during 30 second rest period) of shadow boxing
1 round of jab-cross-step back-step in-cross-hook-cross-hook-right middle kick [/quote]
There is nothing technically wrong with this combination, but take into consideration what a likely defensive action and counter strike is going to be off a straight right hand/overhand right (they could roll it and come back with their own right, they could parry it with their lead hand and throw a left cross/cross jab over top of it, they could slip to the left and throw a counter left kick, they could just cover/forearm block it and come back with their own jab, etc… and these are only examples of Defensive Timing responses). Now understand that unless you are extremely explosive/fast with your footwork, then the law of time is going to make stepping back out of range to avoid these counters very difficult (unless you were not committing and therefore most likely out of range anyhow) if not impossible. Also moving straight back, while not always a bad idea, makes you and easier target for an aggressive, faster, or taller opponent.
I’d suggest picking a common response and counter that you get while sparring (let’s use the cover and counter jab since it’s fairly basic as an example). Now you have to consider your position upon completing your straight right and where you want to end up.
Here are a couple examples of how you can slightly change your above combination to help you deal with this counter:
jab, straight right, turn in/pivot your rear foot counter-clockwise to about “4-4:30” (if you were standing on a clock your rear foot would start out at about 5:30-5). This pivoting motion will cause your head to move slightly to your right, thus making their counter jab just barely miss you (you can also slip to your right, bob to your right, or duck while you do this if your really want to, it can be unnerving to just pivot at first). You will now be off to your opponent’s left flank (if you did it right your right foot should have landed on the line created by your opponent’s feet) and have taken away their right hand and right leg. As soon as your right foot touches the ground (or as soon as your weight shifts to your right leg if slipping/bobbing) fire your straight right cross over their left elbow crease. Now throw your left hook to their solar plexus (even if they brought their left back fast enough to block your right their arm(s) will be up and their attention will be to the outside, leaving the middle of the body wide open and because of your angle you in a great position to hit it flush with your hook) which will cause their body to fold forwards slightly and arms to come down just a little, then right hand to the head, left hook between the arms to the head, trap the left arm down with your right arm (both to distract them, put weight on their front leg so they can’t lift it, and prevent them from running) and throw your right round kick to their left leg (in reality the trap and kick are part of the same movement and occur in quick succession).
jab, straight right, angle step right foot to “2:30” (short step, you still want to land your foot on the line created by their two feet) as you drop your level and throw a “straight left hook/sticking hook” to their solar plexus or heart. Your change of level and angle will have made their jab miss and better still their forward mass transfer and spreading of the ribs while attempting to jab you will have added power to your hook. Now you can again land your right to the head, and left to the head, but now we’ll throw a right uppercut to the head (your angulation and the fact that their arms will be up covering should make it impossible for them to see the uppercut coming), left hook to the head, trap/right round kick to the left leg (in reality the trap is optional, but I like it a lot for the reasons mentioned earlier and the fact that it fills an otherwise empty gap in time).
I could go on and on with variations here, but you get the idea. So just a simple couple variations in footwork and viola, you’ve got superior positioning, have taken away your opponent’s power side, created angles which will allow you to slip around/through your opponent’s guard more easily, and made the chances of your opponent checking/shin blocking your final kick slim to nonexistent.
Again, nothing wrong with this combo, but I would again alter it slightly to allow you to improve your positioning or destabilize your opponent’s and put yourself out of harm’s way.
Something like:
Jab, straight right, rear forearm bump across both forearms (of if you were doing Muay Thai/Muay Boran where elbows were legal you could use a “splitting/spearing elbow” to split their guard), this should at least put them on their heels this making throwing a right round kick with any kind of power next to impossible and at best knock them back a couple steps, left hook to solar plexus while angling off with right step, right hand to head, left jab and simultaneous switch step, left middle kick to liver/bladder (I’m not a big fan of right middle kicks to the body especially when off at an angle)
jab, straight right, left “trapping/clearing hook” (imagine you are throwing a left “ice picking/ripping” hook but instead of really trying to land it to the head you are trying to catch your opponent’s right wrist/forearm in the bend of your elbow to rip their guard down away from their head/body), this will break their balance forward or at least put them on their toes thus making throwing a powerful low round kick impossible, left hammerfist to the head (or groin if it was self defense, conversely you could also throw back/back riding elbows to the body or chin if they were allowed), straight right to the body, left hook to the body, straight right to the head immediately into right middle kick/right round kick to the body (you want to blind them with your straight right and make them react to it (most likely by bringing their arms up, this opening up the body for your kick and making it unlikely that they block it or your catch an elbow).
You could also…
-angle forward out to your right and throw your own left round kick to their left supporting leg
-throw your own right push kick to their right thigh (using the whole bottom of the foot and not just the ball, hip (might catch the groin though), or right side of the body thus stopping the kick and/or knocking them off balance
-jab their right shoulder/oblique area
-step inside and throw your jab over top of their right shoulder thus smothering the kick and putting you in great position to punch or elbow them in the face
-“spin them” to their right with or without moving to your right
-“elbow post” them (not to a takedown, just to off balance them backwards)
-“turn in” as you jab and straight right (thus slightly squaring their body to you) and then just push them off balance with an double Palm jam to your elbows/forearms and follow immediately with your own right push kick to the body
Etc…etc…etc…
And again, these are just ideas and there is nothing wrong with what you are throwing. One thing that GM Lewis used to say though, which I always try to incorporate into my combinations, was “the gaps in our offense create the holes in our defense.” So I am always looking to try to identify holes/gaps in time where I am not either attacking, stabilizing, destabilizing, or maneuvering to a position of superiority in my combinations/sparring. The more you can learn to fill those holes the less your opponent will have opportunities to fill them with their own attacks. Hope this helps.
I wasn’t able to train at the gym today, but, I’m going do a strength and conditioning workout tonight before I start work, with some bag work. Here is what I have planned for tonight:
Deadlifts
135 x 3
225 x 3
315 x 2
Strength and Conditioning Circuit
10 chin-ups
10 kettlebell swings per arm x 25lbs
10 plyometric pushups
10 knee tuck jump squats
I completed 10 circuits in 18 minutes and 30 seconds
Heavy Bag Work
30 left middle kicks and 30 right middle kicks on the heavy bag
100 alternating knees on the heavy bag
50 alternating teeps
5 rounds (3 minutes each round, 30 seconds rest between rounds) on the heavy bag using freestyle combinations