BEGINNER CLASS
Ground – Back Position
Ground – Front Kick
Ground – Get Up
Hammerfist to the Side
Choke from Behind
Drill: groups of 3; one person makes Palm Heel Strikes to pad; attacker makes Choke from Behind; sometimes, during the Choke, the attacker says “Down!” The defender lies down into Ground Back Position, kicks, and gets up to continue striking the pad.

INTERMEDIATE CLASS
Hook Punch
Round Kick (Quick Review)
Switch Round Kick (Quick Review)
Drill: Thai Pads/ 3 rounds of 2 minutes
Round 1: Work these combinations in the following order: Jab/Round Kick, Jab/Cross/Switch Round Kick, Jab/Cross/Hook/Round Kick, Jab/Cross/Hook/Cross/Switch Round Kick.
Round 2: Jab/2 Round Kicks, Jab/Cross/ 2 Switch Round Kick, Jab/Cross/Hook/2 Round Kick, Jab/Cross/Hook/Cross/ 2 Switch Round Kick ** Include sprawls**
Round 3: Jab/3 Round Kicks, Jab/Cross/ 3 Switch Round Kick, Jab/Cross/Hook/3 Round Kick, Jab/Cross/Hook/Cross/ 3 Switch Round Kick **Include Sprawls & 3 Push ups**
Defense v. Front Kick (Redirect)
Advanced: Knife- Straight Stab
Drill: Defender; eyes closed, defend Straight Stab OR Defense v. Front Kick

ADVANCED CLASS
Spinning Heel Kick
Focus Mitt Drill: 3 Rounds. Free work combinations mixing in spinning heel kicks
Machine Gun Take-down (lifting & leverage on neck variations)
Advanced Gun – from the front, assailant using off hand (dead side only)
Circle-of-Death: All self defenses Levels 1-3. Advanced Gun technique should be mixed in every 3rd or 4th attack.

BEGINNER CLASS

Palm Heel Strikes

Front Kick Vertical Target

Drill: move around, pad holder calls out Left/Right or Front Kick Vertical Target

Choke From the Side

Drill: as above, but a third person makes Choke From the Side at any time

 

INTERMEDIATE CLASS

Focus Mitts: 2 rounds of 3 minutes

Straight Punch With Advance (review)

Front Kick With Advance

Drill: eyes closed, attacker pushes defender, then holds pad up or down; defender recovers and makes Advancing Straight Punch or Front Kick With Advance as appropriate

Ground - Kick Off From Guard

Drill: as above, but sometimes pad holder pushes and says "Down!" Defender must drop down. Attacker goes into guard, and defender must make Kick Off From Guard

 

ADVANCED CLASS

Thai Pads: 2 rounds of 4 minutes

One Arm Shoulder Throw

Drill Option 1 (Basic): attacker makes straight punches and defender defends; when attacker makes a 360 attack, the defender defends, then makes One Arm Shoulder Throw

Drill Option 2(Advanced): attacker makes straight punches and defender defends; attacker moves in to clinch; defender establishes 50/50 (arms over and under position), then makes One Arm Shoulder Throw.

Gun From The Front

BEGINNER CLASS
Front Kick to a Vertical Target
Straight Punches
Knees
Drill 1: 1 attacker, 1 striker. Attacker with kick shield advances towards defender. Defender throws front kick to vertical target and then follows up with 6 straight punches. Strikers may start from fighting stance until they’re comfortable with range, then move to passive stance. Once in passive stance, attackers should make their advance faster and faster as striker has success delivering kick.
Drill 2: Now, Pad holder should move fast enough that Striker can't always make FKVT. When attacker comes in too fast, Striker hits frame-hold position to 4 frame-hold knees.
Drill 3: 30 seconds max straight punches standing, instructor calls "DOWN" and Striker and pad holder go to 30 seconds kneeling straight punches. Instructor calls "DOWN" one more time and 30 seconds hand combatives with striker on back and tombstone holder standing over them.
Choke from Behind
Final Drill: A's-B's-C's. A's are holding for Drill 2 from earlier. B's are Strikers/Defenders. C's are roaming attackers and can apply Choke from Behind to any B.

INTERMEDIATE CLASS
Headbutt Forward
Headbutt Side
Headbutt Backward
Focus mitts
Round 1: Basic combinations with a sprawl
Round 2: All combinations begin with a Headbutt Forward. Mitt holder should hold one mitt at very close range for headbutt and then move to mid-range for combination.
Round 3: Striker stands close to wall with eyes closed. Mitt holder can orient them in any direction, and then gives a verbal cue. Depending on where holder stands, Striker makes Headbutt Forward, Headbutt Side, or Headbutt Backward, then turns and faces and makes an Elbow 1 followed up by Combo 8 (rear uppercut/lead hook/cross).
Bearhug Front Arms Caught
Bearhug Front Arms Free (space)
Drill: Non-compliant Attacker A/B: A's are standing in neutral with eyes closed. B's are roaming attackers. B can make Bearhug Front Arms Caught or Bearhug Front Arms Free (space) OR apply any Level 1 attack and during follow up combatives, make Bearhug. A must be prepared for potential follow-up attack. Switch roles.

ADVANCED CLASS
Thai Pads
Round 1: All combinations
Round 2: Double the combination, i.e. when pad holder calls "2K" Striker makes a jab/cross/lead kick/jab/cross/lead kick
Round 3: Triple the combination + sprawls
Gun from the Front, 2 handed technique
Advanced Gun – from kneeling position
Drill: Ground, Pound, and Attack. A is at one end of the mat with a curved kick shield and B is stationed at opposite end with a gun on floor next to them. A makes 20 Ground and Pound strikes to pad and then sprints to B. B is doing 5 push ups and 5 air squats. If B is in push up position when A picks up gun, B makes Advanced Gun – from kneeling position. If B is doing air squats when A points gun at them, B makes Gun from the Front, 2 handed technique. After making defense, partners switch roles.

BEGINNER CLASS
Movement – Fighting Stance (forward, backward, left, right)
Basic takedown defense (changing height, moving feet)
360 Defense
Drill: 1 partner attacks, the other defends. Defender stands in passive stance, eyes shut. Attacker gives verbal cue and attacks after defender opens their eyes.
Advanced Drill: have an advanced student or instructor roam around training area with a training knife and step in randomly as an attacker for the drill above.

INTERMEDIATE CLASS
Uppercut Punch
Focus Mitt Drill: Round 1 – Combo 1: Jab/Slip/Lead Uppercut. Round 2 – Combo 2: Jab/Cross/Slip/Rear Uppercut. Round 3 – Free work Combos 1 & 2.
Defense vs. Low Round Kick (adsorbing)
Review: Defense vs. Low Round Kick (shin block)
Focus Mitt Drill: Same as above, but now striker adds round kicks at the end of the combinations for pad holder to block or adsorb.
Sparring Drill: 1-for-1 Standard Kickboxing combinations 1 or 2. Round kicks should be mixed into combinations. Start at 50% speed, 1% power. Once students are comfortable, free work sparring.

ADVANCED CLASS 

Thai Pads – 3 rounds of 2 minutes, 30 seconds rest
Forward Slash
Back Slash
Slash variation – like general defense
Using common objects as shields
Drill: recognize attack, decide whether or not you have time to access common objects, defend

BEGINNER CLASS

Hammerfist to the Side- Let students know this strike is Reactive and windup is not recommended!

Elbows 1-3

Thai Clinch- Knees

Combo- Hammerfist to the side, Right Cross, Right Elbow, Thia Clinch 2 Knees

Choke from Front (2 Handed)

Drill: Groups of 3, Attacker; makes Choke from Front, during the defense, pad holder bumps defender from the side, Defender; Reacts to the bump with a side hammerfist strike, turns and immediately follows with counter attacks until time is called. Reset!

 

INTERMEDIATE CLASS

Bobbing and Weaving

Front Kick with Advance (fighting and neutral)

Combo-Front Kick with Advance, Left/Right Combo followed by Right Elbow

Defense v. Low Round Kick (Shin Block)

Drill: Light Strikes- Attacker; Straight punches, Hooks and Low Round Kicks. Defender; Bobbing and Weaving, Blocking and Defense v. Low Round Kick (shin block)

Headlock from the side

 

ADVANCED CLASS

Light Sparring- 4 Rounds of 2 min

Spinning Heel Kick

Focus Mitts- Combo # 3, followed spinning Heel Kick

Machine Gun Takedown

Gun from the front

Advanced Gun- from behind, attacker close (hug defense)

Drill- Groups of 4-5

Defender; is in the middle, Attackers; non stop various Gun threats.

BEGINNER CLASS
Movement- Fighting stance Moving forward, Left, Right, Back
Straight Punch Low
Front Kick Vertical Target
Combo: Front kick vertical target, L&R Combination, Drop levels-Straight Punch Low.
Inside Defense
Inside Defense v. Low punch
Choke from Front (1 handed)
Drill: Defender; Eyes closed Attacker; makes a Choke from front or gives a verbal signal and makes a Straight Punch Low
Ground- Side Kick
Ground- Getting up
Drill: 2ppl/Large shield
Striker; non stop strikes on the pad, on instructors signal, drop to the ground-Side position, Side kick from the ground, get up and continue working the pads. Repeat!

INTERMEDIATE CLASS
Focus Mitts- Left Jab, Right Uppercut, Left Hook, Right Cross
Defensive Back kick
Drill: Groups of 3, Focus Mitts, Large Kicking Shield; Striker; works todays combination on focus mitts, 2nd pad holder walks towards striker from behind and gives verbal signal, striker; makes a back kick and continues working the mitts.
Choke from Behind against the Wall
Choke from Behind with a pull
Drill: defender; eyes closed, defend against-Choke from Behind against the Wall or
Choke from Behind with a pull
Ground- arm lock from the side

ADVANCED CLASS
3 Round Drill
Thai Pads- 3-2 min. rounds- Basic combinations, plus kicks, include combo # 8 and # 9- opposite stance
Spinning Outside Slap Kick
Sliding Defense v. Spinning Heel Kick
Plucking/Rowing defense v. A Side Kick
Drill: defender; eyes closed, attacker; gives a verbal signal and makes either a Spinning Heel Kick or a Side Kick
Face-to-Face throw
Stick-Overhead Defense
Stick-Baseball bat swing
Drill: 2ppl/1 large shield; defender- Muay Thai Clinch- Non stop knee strikes
attacker- Gives a verbal signal and makes a stick- Overhead or baseball bat swing, defender; makes the appropriate defense and continues with knees!!

BEGINNER CLASS 
Eye Strikes
Elbows 4 & 5
Choke from Behind with a Push
Drill: Shark tank. 1 defender, 2-4 attackers. Defender starts in passive stance, eyes shut. When round begins, attackers may either present a tombstone pad for elbows 4 or 5, present a focus mitt for eye strikes, or choke from behind with a push.

INTERMEDIATE CLASS
Basic Take-down Defense/Spinning on Center-line
Outside Defenses 1-5
Focus Mitt Drill: 1 striker, 1 mitt holder, 1 attacker. Pad holder and striker free work combinations. Attacker verbally gets striker's attention before bursting in with one straight punch from outside. Striker defends, counters with combatives, and returns to pad work.
Choke from the Front Against a Wall
Choke from Behind Against a Wall
Drill: Ring-around-the-rosy. 1 defender, 1 attacker. Defender stands 2-3 feet away from a wall in passive stance with eyes shut. Defender starts turning around constantly in place, keeping eyes shut until attacked. Attacker should time their attack to either choke from the front or rear and push defender into wall. Defender completes skill and finishes with combatives before resetting back to passive stance & spinning in front of wall again.

ADVANCED CLASS
Thai Pad Rounds: Round 1 - free work combinations with 1 kick. Round 2 - free work combinations with 2 kicks (one medium, one high).
General Defense vs. Medium to High Round Kicks
Sliding Defense vs. Medium to High Round Kicks
Stick - Baseball Bat Defense (both sides)
Drill: Don't bat an eye. 1 defender, rest of class attacking. All basic choke defenses and baseball bat attacks are fair game. Note: Once defender gets to control position & begins delivering combatives, the next attack should be coming on.

 

Check out the new video under Technique Variations and Concepts for some good training tips on Elbows!

BEGINNER CLASS
Left Right Combination
Round Kick
Knees (Regular and Round)
Drill: Introduce Muay Thai Pads
-- Round 1- Pad holder- Calls out straight punch combinations- 1-4 (straight punches)
-- Round 2- Straight punch combinations plus Round kicks & Knee strikes
Wrist Releases
Inside Defense
Choke from Behind with a push
Drill: Defender, yes closed; attacker gives a verbal signal and makes a straight punch or makes choke from behind with a push

INTERMEDIATE CLASS
Side Kick (with and without advance)
Combo: Side Kick, side Hammer fist followed by knee strikes
Outside defense v. Right Punch
Hair Grab Behind
Bearhug Behind Lifting
Drill: Focus Mitts
Defender combo #5; attacker make a Hair Grab from behind OR Bearhug Lifting
Ground- Strike from Full Mount
Ground- side mount to full mount

ADVANCED CLASS
3 Round Drill
Ax Kick
Combo: Front Kick Groin (Back Leg) followed by an Ax Kick (Forward Leg)
General Defense v. Medium to high Kicks
Hip Throw
stick- overhead defense
Headlock from the side, spinning inward
Drill: Groups of 3, one large shield
Defender non stop knee strikes; attacker gives a verbal signal and makes an overhead defense OR Headlock from the side, spinning inward

 

Thanks to everyone who came out to Advanced Prep weekend.  We had instructors and students from around the country train in advanced techniques for two days. Advanced Prep is a FREE weekend of training for anyone who wants to focus on higher level techniques. It's especially good for those people getting ready for advanced testing. Join us next year!