Block / Check / Counter

http://youtu.be/JM9cXgBEveI

This drill is a basic block with one hand, check with the other and follow-up counter with the first one. It is done today against a braced heavy bag. The bag does not actually sway upon impact. The effect must be felt to be appreciated. Sometimes an attacker will move and react to a strike and sometimes they don’t.

Without prejudice

Same Limb Block and Counter

http://youtu.be/xwnELpYATww

This is a similar idea to yesterday’s. I block pause and then counter. The main difference is I use the same limb for both.

The idea is that some counters are against a target that simply absorbs them and some counters make the bag move. Both impacts may look similar from a third party point of view but they feel very different.

Without prejudice

Block and Counter Punch

  http://youtu.be/7kWnev4e7eA

This is a very basic Lead Arm Block-slight pause-Rear arm Counter Punch.

What makes today’s drill a bit more interesting is that when I counter with one arm, the bag is set to move with the punch but when I switch sides, I am punching a bag that will not move at all.

This drill creates a whole different feeling upon impact and a whole different type of recovery. Looks the same both ways but it feels very different.

Without prejudice

Shift Away Spin Swing Kick

http://youtu.be/1fJzJgEStZE
From a Leading Horse Stance I turn and step away so that my rear leg is free to swing up behind me into my attacker.

The dangers of being close with my back to my opponent are even more pronounced with this kick than yesterday’s. Therefore, this is a good follow-up to a powerful counter that has landed but only temporarily stunned an attacker.

Without prejudice

Spinning Back Heel Swing Kick

http://youtu.be/L4wL7ZZCN2c
Starting in a leading Horse Stance, I step sideways and turn my back to my attacker. Then I swing my rear heel into his groin.

This is similar to yesterday’s kick only instead of stepping in and kicking with my lead leg; I am shifting forward and kicking with the rear leg. Both kicks reach out to the same distance.

Once again, if I’m even a little off, I will be a punching range with my back to my attacker…

Without prejudice

Slide in Back Heel Swing Kick

Slide in Back Heel Swing Kick
I step toward my attacker as I turn my back and swing my lead heel into his groin. This is both a very powerful kick and a dangerous one to the kicker. If I’m even a little off, I will be a punching range with my back to my attacker…

Without prejudice

Shift Away Spin Back Heel Thrust Kick

I start in a leading Horse Stance. I turn away, step away and lifting my rear leg up, I drive my heel back. This is a powerful follow-up strike that should only be done on an attacker who has been temporarily immobilized but is still determined to advance.

Without prejudice

Spinning Back Thrust Kick

Yesterday, I did this kick with a slide in delivery using my lead leg. Today I spin and drive my rear leg into my attacker.

Without prejudice

Slide in Back Heel Thrust Kick

In comparison to the Slide in Side Kick; The Back Heel Thrust Kick reaches only slightly further and it is slower kick.

But…

It is a much more powerful strike.

Without prejudice

Shift Away Side Snap Kick

The shift away kick makes an excellent follow-up technique to a counter punch. I would use a counter punch to stop a rushing attacker and the shift away kick against their (probably wild) counter punch.

It may also be used effectively against a kicker who is falling into his kick (and thus, into mine as well).

Without prejudice

Shift Forward Side Snap Kick

I use my rear leg by shifting my weight forward, bending my knee, turning my side to my opponent and snapping the heel out and then back.

As has been stated previously, this looks very like a roundhouse kick. Only when I make contact with the bag is the difference apparent.

Without prejudice

Slide in Side Snap Kick

Done without a target to watch, this kick looks very similar to a Roundhouse Kick with the Ball of the Foot.

The main difference is that I make contact with the heel.

This is an easy way to snap this kick out and back. The power is readily seen when I strike the bag.

Without prejudice

Shift Away Classic Side Kick

I start in a Leading Horse Stance. Shifting all my weight onto my back leg, I raise my lead knee up and shoot the side edge of my heel into my attacker. This is an excellent follow-up technique to a solid counter punch; usually against an overly aggressive student or an attacker who keeps coming (despite the initial counter attack).

Without prejudice

Shift Forward Classic Side Kick

I perform this with the rear leg. I shift forward and torque to a Side Kick Crane Stance before thrusting the kick out and back.

In this kick, power is not the issue. Proper targeting, balance, form and ease of movement are.

Without prejudice

Slide in Classic Side Kick

I step forward, tilt my hips, point my knee at an angle towards my attacker and drive the outside edge of my heel into him.

This is called a ‘Classic Side Kick’ in Kisae because this was how I learned to perform this kick with the actual kicking leg.

Without prejudice

Shift Forward Roundhouse Kick with The Ball of the Foot

When performing this kick with the rear leg, I torque completely to the side as I strike with the leg. This is just like I showed a couple of days ago with the top of the foot.

As I show on the bag, this kick is powerful but a solid recovery back to the ground in preparation to follow-up is an absolute ‘must’.

Without prejudice

Shift Forward Offset Kick with the Ball of the Foot

This is another light easy looking kick that uses the ball of the foot to strike with. There is only a slight turn of the hip and leg allowing this kick to go into a target at an upward and slightly offset angle.

As shown, this is a deceptively powerful kick but I do not reply on any single punch or kick to defend myself with. I also analyzed and train natural follow-up strikes that would be used against a still pressing opponent (should my initial counter not be a successful deterrent).

Without prejudice

Shift Forward Front Thrust Kick with the Ball of the Foot

This is a forward driving kick. As I show on the bag at the end of the vid, the kick sends the bag away (and not up).

Without prejudice

Shift Forward Roundhouse Kick with the Top of the Foot

As seen in the video, the Roundhouse Kick travels horizontally to the ground. In order to use the rear leg, I must shift and turn completely to the side before kicking.

By contrast, the Offset travels on a diagonal upward angle away from the ground and when the rear leg is used, there is minimal hip torque involved.

Without prejudice

Shift Forward Offset Kick with the Top of the Foot

I shift forward and use the back leg to kick at a slight angle. The kick works well against the outside of the thigh.

Without prejudice

Shift Forward Front Snap Kick with the Top of The Foot

This is similar to a slide in version. The main difference is that I use the back leg to kick with.

I make No attempt to drive in. This Front Snap Kick is Quick, Light and Easy (until it lands).

Without prejudice

Slide in (multiple) Roundhouse Kicks with The Top of The Foot

This is the same idea as yesterday, just using a Roundhouse Kick instead.

The kick is light, quick, easy to use and follow up on.

Without prejudice

Slide in (multiple) Front Snap Kicks with the Top of The Foot

The trick to multiple kicks is not to kick so hard that balance is lost. The kicks should feel light, quick, easy and balanced. Essentially they should feel like nothing at all (unless one is on the receiving end).

Without prejudice

Slide in Classic Side Kick

From a Leading Horse I advance my rear foot forward. Tilting my hips, I raise my lead knee upward. Canting my foot down, I drive the outside edge of my heel into my attacker.

Describing this action and doing it are two different things. So is doing it with effort and doing it effortlessly.

The trick is to be able to snap it out effortlessly over and over again. That requires practice which requires discipline which requires passion.

Without prejudice

Slide in Roundhouse Kick with the Top of The Foot

This is a Basic Slide in Roundhouse Kick. Done correctly, it must be dealt with. Eaten, blocked or avoided, this kick will force an attacker to deal with it. This makes him (or her) predictable...

As I show, it looks like nothing…Until it lands on the bag.

Without prejudice

Slide in Offset Kick with Top of Foot

Usually, I aim this kick for the outside of the attackers lead thigh. It inhibits forward movement on their part and sets up other techniques nicely.

Without prejudice