What's your favorite training drill? Let's share some training ideas.
I like to use focus mits (hand pads) to practice blocking and striking. I've noticed when you bring out the focus mits people think you are going to practice punching or boxing drills. I like to use them to practice my Kajukenbo block/strikes.
I practice "hardline" Kajukenbo so my primary block/strikes are upward, downward, short inward, short outward, long inward and long outward.
Now, you often hear hardline methods call their blocks-- block/strikes or strike/blocks. The reason for this is when we block we don't place our arm out and let the attacker hit it (block), we actualy practice striking the attacker's arm with our arm as the attacker is trying to hit us. (Sigung John Bishop talks about this on one of his posts). So, when we block we are actually striking the attacker.
Now for the drill. I pair the students up. I have one put on a focus mit. I have them stand facing each other in a front stance. Then I have the person holding the mit swing at the other student as if they are punching or striking them. The defending student executes their block/strikes into the focus mit depending on where the mit is coming from.
To practice upward block/strikes, I have the attacker execute a downward overhead strike with the mit. To practice downward block/strikes, I have the attacker execute an uppercut punch to the ribs with the mit. To practice long outward and long inward block/strikes, I have the attacker execute a roundhouse punch to the head with the mit. To practice short inward and short outward block/strikes, I have the attacker execute a straight punch to the face with the mit.
I usually have the students practice about 25 block/strikes per attack, covering all six block/strikes, from both the left side and the right side. It's a great workout. I have found the students develop a lot of power, focus, and confidence in their blocking and striking ability.
Just a note, Sam Carter, one of our newer black belts, did a lot of this type of training as he rose through the ranks. During a demonstration at the Vallejo fair last year, Sam did a left long outward block/strike as the attacker threw a right roundhouse punch and Sam broke the other black belts arm.
It was nasty. A plate and five pins later, the arm is back together and the guy is actually training again. For the record, that fight was over after the first move, which was in essence was just a block!
