BEGINNER CLASS
Palm Strikes
Front Kick Vertical Target
Drill: partner moves around, then gives command to strike; defender makes Front Kick Vertical Target, then continues with Palm Strikes until pad holder calls time
Headlock from Behind
Drill: as above, but third person can make Headlock from Behind
INTERMEDIATE CLASS
Focus Mitts: Left/Right combo
Slipping punches -- emphasize shoulder roll to cover chin
Focus Mitts: Left/Right/slip left/Right
Defense v. High Round Kick (2 or 3 points of contact)
Defense v. Front Kick (plucking/rowing)
Fight Drill: focus mitt holder moves around; either calls out combination above OR makes a high front or round kick
ADVANCED CLASS
After warm up, review round kicks and side kicks, emphasis on higher kicks
Axe Kick
Arm Bar -- use axe kick on the ground after arm break, then kick away and get up
Simple Takedown -- person on the bottom pulls guard, makes Arm Bar, then gets up
BEGINNER CLASS
Punches- Straight Punch
Hammerfist Side
Combination- Side Hammerfist , turn and face the pad, 6 straight punches
Drill: striker starts with their eyes closed, attacker bumps striker from various angles with pad and holds for Straight punches. Striker; if bumped from the side make a hammerfist to the side then face pad and continue with non-stop straight punches until pad holder calls time. Reset!
360 defense
Advanced- Knife- downward stab
Drill: Groups of 3; defender; non-stop straight punches on pad, defend downward stab.
INTERMEDIATE CLASS
Punches- Straight (quick review)
Drill: striker sits on a chair and from that position makes non-stop punches on pad, when possible defender much stand up out of the chair and continue with counters until pad holder calls time. Reset!
Defense v. High Round Kick (2 and 3 Points)
Defense v. High Round Kick (Covering)
Advanced- Gun- 2 handed cupping technique
Drill: defender sits on a chair, eyes closed; defend High Round Kick OR Gun (2 handed cupping technique)
ADVANCED CLASS
Warm up with level 1, 2 & 3 self-defense techniques
Drill: 2 rounds of 90 seconds- one defender, non-stop attacks (moderate speed in round 1; fast and aggressive in round 2)
Sweep with Heel Kick
Drill: groups of 2; Level 1, 2 OR 3 self-defense techniques; Sweep with Heel Kick when possible
Gun from Behind (touching)
Advanced Gun- from Behind the side or behind, assailant using off hand
Gun from Behind (touching)- while holding a bag or pads
Advanced Gun- from Behind the side or behind, assailant using off hand- while holding a bag or pads
BEGINNER CLASS
Intro to Thai Pads
Round 1: 1-4 as palm strikes
Round 2: Add 1elbow-4elbow, 1knee-4knee
Round 3: Round 2 + on padholder’s call of “CLINCH!” add 4 clinch knees
Headlock from Behind
Drill: Groups of 3; 1 thai pad holder; 1 attacker; 1 striker/defender. Defender making combinations from Round 3 on pad holder's call. Attacker can apply Headlock from Behind at any time. Defender makes defense and returns to pads.
INTERMEDIATE CLASS
Defense v. Hook
Defense v. Uppercut
Partner drills; both partners wearing gloves and shin guards; using gloves like focus mitts
Round 1: Back and forth, 6-10
Round 2: A throws a combo from Round 1 at B, who is shelled up. B responds with a jab or a cross. A defends by inside defense, and comes back (light contact) with any 3-4 combatives. Switch roles on instructor’s call after 2 minutes.
Round 3: Now B can respond with a hook or straight punch. 2 minutes then switch
Round 4: B can respond with a straight punch, hook, or uppercut. 2 minutes then switch
Defense v. High Round Kick (2 and 3 points)
Defense v. High Round Kick (covering)
Round 5: A throws a combo from Round 1 at B, but B responds with a High Round Kick. Switch roles on instructor's call after 2 minutes.
Round 6: A throws a combo from Round 1 at B, B can respond with a straight punch, hook, uppercut, or High Round Kick
Final rounds: Isolation 3-step sparring. A makes three combatives: a straight punch, hook, uppercut, or High Round Kick at B. B defends against all three combatives and then makes three of the above combatives at A. Back and forth, switch partners as time permits.
ADVANCED CLASS
Frame-hold knees (driving pad holder back ; proper footwork)
Defensive Front Kick (quick review)
Advancing front kick
2 Front Kicks with a Switch
2 straight Knees with a Switch
Drill: Drive partner back with the following combatives from one end of the mat to the other, then partner groups jog back together to the starting side and switch pad: Frame-hold knees, Advancing front kick, 2 Front Kicks with a Switch (Defensive Front Kick in between to create distance), 2 straight Knees with a Switch (Defensive Front Kick in between to create distance)
=Knife – kick from distance
Knife – defense v. downward stab
Drill: Ground, Pound, and Stab. Wearing a belly pad, A is at one end of the room with curved kick shield and knife. B is at other side of mat, eyes closed. A performs 30 Ground and Pound strikes on kick shield then picks up knife and sprints to B. A decides when to offer a verbal cue to B to open their eyes, or can choose to begin stabs with training knife to chest. If B has time, B should kick defense from a distance against the knife. Otherwise, B performs Defense v. Downward Stab. Repeat for time before switching.
BEGINNER CLASS
Front Kick Vertical Target – work both legs at various angles
Ground – Back Position and Movement
Ground – Get Up
Drill: Outside, practice movement and getting up on grass, concrete, asphalt
Drill: Outside; ground movement, get up, make Front Kick Vertical Target
Knife – Downward Stab (Front Kick Defense)
INTERMEDIATE CLASS
Basic Takedown Defense/Spin on the centerline
Knee strikes- Review
Drill: groups of 2; On Instructors signal “GO”, striker delivers non stop knees, when Instructor says “Stop”, striker stops striking but maintains control of the pad holder, pad holder changes levels and attempts basic takedown, striker stays engaged, maintains control and defends the takedown. If the striker disengages at any time, everyone does burpees.
Reverse Headlock from standing
Ground- Arm Bar from Guard
Ground- Guard Reversal
ADVANCED CLASS
After warm up, review round kicks and side kicks, emphasis on higher kicks
Axe Kick
Arm Bar — use axe kick on the ground after arm break, then kick away and get up
Simple Takedown — person on the bottom pulls guard, makes Arm Bar, then gets up
BEGINNER CLASS
Straight Punches
Drill: 30 seconds non-stop straight punches with 15 second rest x 3 rounds
Hammerfist to the Side
Drill: eyes closed, pushed from either side, make the appropriate Hammerfist and continue with punches
Choke from Behind
INTERMEDIATE CLASS
Focus Mitts: Combo #6/slip left punch/Combo #6
Focus Mitts: Combo #7/duck right hook/Combo #7
Advanced technique: Gun to the Side of the Head
ADVANCED CLASS
Sparring - include clinch control (Muay Thai clinch and escape from clinch using cross face)
Knife - Downward Stab
Knife - Forward Slash
Drill: light sparring, attacker sometimes pulls knife and tries to stab or slash
BEGINNER CLASS
Straight Punches: Left/Left/Right and Left/Right/Right
Elbows 1-3 (emphasize #2)
Hammerfist to the Side
Choke From The Side
INTERMEDIATE CLASS
Focus Mitts: Combo #3 and Combo #7
Head Butt Forward
Focus Mitts: Combos 3 and 7, finish with Head Butt
Choke From Behind (review)
Choke From Behind With A Pull
ADVANCED CLASS
Overhand Right Punch
Combo #10 (Overhand/Left Upper/Overhand)
Focus Mitts: work Combo #2 and Combo #10, 2 rounds of 2 minutes
Gun from the Front
Gun from a Kneeling Position
BEGINNER
Straight Punches
Front Groin Kick
DRILL: Reaction 1
Groups of 2 (padholder, striker). Striker always throws 4 Straight Punches and 1 Front Groin Kick for each combo. The padholder determines the start of the combo by what strike is held for first, e.g. if FGK, then the striker begins with the kick and ends with punches and vice versa.
Side Hammerfist
DRILL: Reaction 2
Groups of 3 (2 padholders, 1 striker). Same drill as above, but additional padholder can approach striker for hammerfist strike. Striker should send SHF, then burst into new pad with straight punches before returning to original pad.
Front Choke 2-Hand Pluck
FINAL DRILL:
Groups of 2 (attacker, defender) with additional roaming padholders. Defender works choke defense. Roaming attacker can show up at any point in the defense and hold for Side Hammerfist. Striker sends SHF bursts in with straight punches before resetting.
INTERMEDIATE
360 Defense w/ Counter (only upper if time is an issue)
DRILL: Ground - Strikes while Mounted
Groups of 2 (one on back, one mounted). All out strikes (punches, elbows, hammerfists, etc.) from striker. On “SWITCH” pad is passed to person in mount (or on bottom, depending) and other person begins striking.
Ground - Trap, Buck and Roll
Advanced Technique : Ground - Downward Stab while Mounted
Combines downward stab defense w/ trap buck and roll. Defend knife with 360 and wrap. Buck and roll into guard. Control the knife arm while sending counters. Best takeaway is disarm by destruction, but can also strike or rub the knife hand on the concrete to open/disarm.
ADVANCED
Warmup Drill: Slow & GO! Straight Punches
360 Defense w/ Counter Review
Knife - Downward Stab
Sweep w/ Heel Kick
Knife - Downward Stab + Heel Kick*
*Caution that a sweep may not be the greatest idea due to getting closer to/falling on the knife, but sets up for a fun flow.
Ground - Trap, Buck and Roll (Review)
Ground - Downward Stab while Mounted
Flow:
(A) attacks with Knife - Downward Stab. (B) defends wraps and sweeps, then mounts (A). (B) begins stabbing (A) in mount. (A) defends, counters, regains knife and the flow resets. After several rounds, switch so (B) begins the flow.
BEGINNER CLASS
Basic Takedown Defense (changing height, moving feet)
Knees (regular and round)
Control Position Drill: 1 kick shield holder, 1 striker. Striker keeps kick shield holder in control position and delivers hard knees constantly. Pad holder moves in random directions (including level changes) trying to throw striker off balance.
Choke from the Front with a Push
A/B Drill: Group A attacks, group B defends. All defenders in a line, eyes shut, passive stance. Attackers either choke from the front with a push or grab a kick shield and “chest bump” defenders. Once defenders complete skills with combatives, they should reset for the next attack.
INTERMEDIATE CLASS
Bobbing/Weaving/Slipping
Defense vs. High Round Kick (reflexive)
Defense vs. High Round Kick (2 & 3 points of contact)
Defense vs. High Round Kick (covering)
Sparring Drill: 1-for-1, partners throw any combination 1-4 with a high round kick. Receiver slips, bobs, and weaves punches and uses appropriate defense for kick.
Free Sparring: 15 second rounds, 10 seconds to find a new partner. Goal is to land as many strikes in 15 seconds as possible. Safety Note: Treat this sparring like shoulder tag. The point is to land strikes not deliver power shots.
ADVANCED CLASS
2 Straight Knees with a Switch
Gun from the Side, Behind the Arm
Gun from Behind (touching)
Drill: Roaming Gunman. Groups of 2. 1 striker, 1 kick shield holder. Striker delivers combative combinations to pad including 2 straight knees with a switch. 1 set of partners are designated gunmen and randomly attack any striker with either gun technique listed above.
BEGINNER CLASS
Left/Right/Left Knee
Left/Right/Left/Right Knee
360
Headlock from Behind
Drill: groups of 3; one person attacks with 360; defender defends 360; third person makes Headlock from Behind against the 360 ATTACKER whenever they want to.
INTERMEDIATE CLASS
Focus Mitts: combinations 8 & 9
Basic Clinch Defense (previously called Basic Takedown Defense)
Drill: Combination 8 or 9; pad holder closes distance; striker uses Basic Clinch Defense; disengage, repeat
Reverse Headlock Standing
ADVANCED CLASS
Front Kick Vertical Target (review)
2 Front Kicks with a Switch
Knife - Kick Defense v. Knife
Knife - Forward Slash
Drill: defender's eyes are closed; attacker gives a verbal signal and then attacks with a slash from different distances; defender must kick or make hand defense
BEGINNER CLASS
Movement- Fighting Stance Moving Forward., Left, Right, Back
L/R Combination- Review
Straight Punch Low
Combination: Straight Punch Low, L/R Combination
Inside Defense v. Straight Punch Low
Drill: Groups of 2; Defender eyes closed; pad holder bumps defender and holds for today’s combination OR gives a verbal signal and makes a Straight Punch Low.
Choke from Front (1-handed)
Choke from Front with a Push
INTERMEDIATE CLASS
Round Kicks Low- Review
Side Kick (with and w/o advance)
Combination: Side Kick/Round Kick Low
Defense Vs. Hook (Covering)
Defense Vs. Uppercut
Drill: Focus Mitts: 2 rounds of 2 minutes; basic combinations; Pad holder; anytime during the rounds makes a Hook OR Uppercut at the striker; striker makes the appropriate Defense and continues with combinations.
Choke from Behind Against Wall
ADVANCED CLASS
Warm up with basic self-defense techniques
Overhand Right
Combination: Overhand Right/L-Uppercut/Right Cross
Drill: Focus Mitts: 2 rounds of 3 minutes- Combinations plus today’s combination, include sprawls and push ups.
One Arm Shoulder Throw
Drill: Non-stop self-defense techniques, One Arm Shoulder Throw when possible
Stick- Overhead Defense
Stick-Baseball Bat Defense
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