Topic 1 - Striking: straight punches

 Striking - Of the 3 ranges, we start with striking as fights start from the standing. Of striking, we start with straight punches as they are foundational skill that are very practical - no warmup needed, and fairly easy to acquire functional skill in. The goal of this lesson is to develop functional skill applying and defending straight punches to the head,


Before we start striking, we need to start with stance. This is your base from which offense and defense is launched from. Not sexy, but foundationally important. As always, form follows function, there are always reasons for the form presented. A good stance is protective, mobile yet stable.

Prerequisites: None

End goal: Ability to spar (strike and defend) with straight punches


Stance

  • About shoulder width wide, about 1 1/2 shoulder width long
    • Need to be comfortable
    • Adjust to your preference and ability
    • Context matters
      • boxing vs kickboxing vs muay thai vs mma all have different conserations
  • Bend leg
    • Loaded legs to move
    • Also braced for leg kicks
    • Closer to lower level for shots
  • Balance is key
    • Facilitates mobility
    • Solid base
      • Power in striking
      • Stability in defense 
    • Hand position
      • Fists between temple and chin, made on preference
        • Protect head 
      • Elbows hang like hanging from subway handle
        • Shield your ribs 
 Footwork

  • Foot closest to desired direction moves first
    • Moving forward, forward foot first, rear leg second
    • Moving left, left foot first, right foot second
    • Reason for this is you don't want to cross your feet, - vulnerable if hit at that time
  • Stay same height 
    • More efficient - all the force goes towards movement in that direction and not up
    • More stable 
  • Sliding of feet can give more stability - both feet in contact w/the ground
Stance drill
  • Mirror partner, keep distance between chest the same
  • Keep good fight stance 
  • Practice efficient footwork, don't cross feet 
  • Keep your guns pointed at partner
  • Work on proper movement, reading your opponents movement, maintaining distance



Jab - the lead hand. The bread and butter - closest hand to opponent. Called the 1 in boxing

  • Configuration
    • Punch is in in the center, if your in the centerline, it is hard for for your opponent to be in the center and thus to hit you
    • Elbow, picky knuckle, shoulder up - these protect the chin which is an easy knock out point
      • Been there, done that
    • Rear hand at chin, protects that side
  • Body mechanics
    • Turn body - door slam
      • Bag toss 
      • Ping pong ball
    • Weight shift
    • Push off the rear leg
    • Skeletal alignment 
  • Distance
    • Close - turn in place 
    • Medium - step
      • Follow step 
        • Keep weight under you
        • Follow up strikes
    • Long - lunge 
      • Follow step
Jab defense
  • Blocking - easier, more basic 
    • Build up natural flinch
      • "Oh s**t" blocks for self defense
    • Matching side hands: he punches with left hand, you block w/right hand
      • Cross hand blocks opens up hole on that side
  • Catch - easier with boxing gloves, harder with MMA gloves or bare knuckle 
    • Strong structure 
    • Don't reach out 
  • Cover - glove or palm on head
    • Don't hit head with hand 
    • Strong base 
    • Crazy monkey variation preferable
  • Parry
    • Only head wide 
    • Don't cross center
Partner drills- progressive chaos 
  • Reach for head, if don't block, will get hit
    • Didn't aim for the glove 
  • Several of each block
  • Rotate blocks
  • One for one
    • Rotate blocks
    • Block of your choice
  • Two for two
  • 1 - 3 randomly for each

Cross
  • Same elements as Jab but on other side and cross body twist
  • Lead foot steps out to the side to allow hip to to turn not completely
Defense
  • Same blocks
Partner drills
  • Same with cross
  • Jab cross several of each block
    • Rotate blocks
    • Block of choice
  • Jab jab cross cross with the same block variation
  • Jab sparring 
  • Cross sparring 
  • Jab cross drill
    • Jab cross check
    • Jab cross check cross
  • Jab cross sparring 
  • Evasion jab sparring
  • Evasion jab cross sparring
Evasions
  • Done after confident with block


Class Notes with video:



Changes:
5/20/2024
  • Change title from Class 1 to Topic 1 - I realize that this will take longer than 1 class
  • Add prerequisite and objective - will have these for all topics going forward
  • Going to make class notes and attach back to this - originally planned on just notes
5/23/2024
  • Going to expand this to include evasions, post some sparring with Zach on Class 3
  • Thinking about also adding curved punches and calf kicks - per the whole game - explained in Class 3 notes
  • Also going to try to advance the chaos steps a little bit

Comments

  1. Forrest ChangMay 16, 2024 at 8:30 AM

    5/15/2024 Class notes (tracking everything - ala OSS), 6 attendees, Eric, Mike P, Shane S, Zach, Alexis, Andrew, got as far as jab defense, still wanting a little more proficiency before the constrained games. Did a preview class of same material w/Scott, the sat before, able to start working progressive chaos on jab and cross. Likely to be at least 2 more classes before we move to shoot boxing

    ReplyDelete
  2. VOctober 16, 2024 at 12:43 AM

    Hey Fo! Read through your notes. My only though is that is a whole lot of material to try and cover in a 60 minute format. But you already know this. I think you're inclusions of "why" is vital and allows for student self correction over time. I think this is a great project and you're off to a great start.

    ReplyDelete

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