This shot comes from Claymore Fighting & Fitness in Huntsville, Alabama. Claymore teaches Krav Maga, Bang Muay Thai, Combat Submission Wrestling, and FightingFit fitness. Check them out!  www.claymoregym.com @claymore.fight

BEGINNER

Straight Punch with Advance

Straight Punch with Retreat

Elbows 4 and 5

Drill: Groups of 3; 2 pad holders, 1 Striker. Padholder 1 calls "ADVANCE" for 4 advancing straight punches or "RETREAT" for 4 retreating punches. At any time, Padholder 2 can give tap to Striker from behind. Striker makes Elbow 4 or Elbow 5 depending on hold, turns and faces for 4 advancing punches, and then returns to Padholder 1.

Headlock from Behind

Drill: Same as previous drill, but Padholder 2 can also apply Headlock from Behind at any time.

 

INTERMEDIATE

Thai Pads

Round 1: Hands only

Round 2: Hands and feet

Round 3: Sprawl to 2 frame-hold knees on Padholder's call

Ground – Foot Grab Strip

Ground – Foot Grab Spin Inward

Ground – Foot Grab Spin Outward

Ground – side mount position and strikes

Drill: A begins on ground in Basic Ground Position. B is standing and moving, forcing A to make movement on ground. B grabs A's foot at any time and attempts to get Side Mount. A makes appropriate Foot Grab defense.

 

ADVANCED

Thai Pad Cauldron

Round 1: Free work with pad holder calling all combinations including kicks + cover against the cross, counter with a #6

Round 2: For every call with a kick, Striker makes 2 round kicks + cover against the lead hook, counter with a #7

Round 3:  opposite stance! Parry the (in theory, opposite stanced opponent’s) cross, and counter with a lead hook and cross. For every call with a kick, Striker makes 3 round kicks. Add sprawls on Instructor's call.

Advanced Gun – from kneeling position

Drill: Roaming attackers. Defender/Striker begins mounted on pad sending all out strikes. Attackers “throw” strikers to ground and pick up pad. Striker gets into Ground – Back position, tracking padholder and sending kicks when approached. After several kicks, padholder should throw pad down, for mount/strikes, OR attackers can make a verbal cue and apply Advanced Gun – from kneeling position. Defender must make defense starting from mounted position on pad.

BEGINNER CLASS
Palm Heel Strikes
Straight Punch Low
Drill: Cauldron. 1 tombstone pad holder, 1 striker. Pad holder can call any of the following commands; punches high, punches low, kick, or sprawl. Pad holder is responsible for presenting pad for appropriate strike (i.e. calling "kick" and holding for either a groin kick or round kick). Round 1 - single combinations of everything. Round 2 - double combinations. Round 3 - triple combinations.
Inside Defense vs. Low Straight Punch
Choke from Front (1-handed)
Drill: A/B drill. Group A attacks, group B defends. Defenders stand in passive stance, eyes shut. Attackers either choke from front, or lightly shove defender before throwing low straight punch. Note: attackers should only shove hard enough to make defenders take 1 step back at most.

INTERMEDIATE CLASS
Inside Slap Kick
Outside Slap Kick
Focus Mitt Rounds: Free work combinations. Pad holders can call for slap kicks at any time. Round 1 - Combinations only. Round 2 - add sprawls. Round 3 - add bobbing/weaving.
Reverse Headlock Standing
Drill: Groups of 3. 1 focus mitt holder, 1 striker, 1 attacker. Repeat round 3 from focus mitt rounds above. Attacker may jump in at any time to apply reverse headlock standing on striker. Striker must allow attack to come on before defending, finish with combatives then return to focus mitt work.

ADVANCED CLASS
Scissor Round Kick
Jumping Round Kick
Thai Pad Rounds: Free work all combinations with a kick. Round 1 - Standard Combinations with regular round kicks. Round 2 - All kicks become scissor round kicks. Round 3 - All kicks become jumping round kicks.
Knife - Defense vs. Straight Stab
Knife - Defense vs. Back Slash
Drill: A/B drill. Group A attacks, Group B defends. Defenders stand in passive stance, eyes shut. Attackers may either straight stab or back slash defenders. No verbal warnings, attacker simply begin attacking rapidly with their chosen attack. Defenders must respond quickly & appropriately.

BEGINNER CLASS

Round Kick – practice angles chopping down to the leg and up to the ribs

Combo: Right Round Kick/Right Cross (to emphasize recoil of the kick

Knees – emphasize forward knee with a switch of the feet

Choke from Behind with a Push – practice turning both directions

 

INTERMEDIATE CLASS

Front Kick Vertical Target (review from level 1)

Defensive Front Kick – include follow up combatives

Drill: attacker advances with Defensive Front Kick; defender makes the kick; attacker either reacts to the kick and retreats OR simply stops, and defender finishes with additional combatives.

Kick Off From Guard

Foot Grab – Stripping

Drill: attacker is on top in guard; defender kicks off from guard; attacker stands up, grabbing defender’s foot; defender makes the Foot Grab defense.

 

ADVANCED CLASS

Front Kick (review; focus on high front kick)

Scissor Front Kick

Side Kick (review)

Plucking/Rowing Defense v. Medium Side Kick

Redirecting Defense v. High Side Kick

 

BEGINNER CLASS
Punches- Straight
Front Kick Vertical Target
Choke from Behind
Ground- Front Kick
Ground- Getting Up
Drill: Groups of 3; defender starts on the ground, Combo: Kick, get up, Front kick vertical target followed by non-stop strikes, attacker- choke from behind. Repeat.

INTERMEDIATE CLASS
Headbutt Forward
Front Kick with Advance
Combination: Front Kick with Advance, L/R Palm Heel Strike, Headbutt Forward
Bearhug Front Arms Caught
Bearhug Front Arms Free (Space)
Drill: Groups of 2, Small pad; Defender; eyes closed, attacker; Makes either Bearhug from Front (Arms Caught/Arms Free), or gives a verbal signal, and holds for the above combination.

ADVANCED CLASS
Mouth of Hand Punch
Axe Kick
Focus Mitts- 3-2 Minute Rounds;
Round 1- Basic Combinations- include: Axe Kick, and Mouth of Hand Punch.
Round 2- Add Sprawls
Round 3- After every sprawl switch fighting stance.
Gun from Front
Gun from Behind (touching)
Drill: Groups of 3, Focus Mitts; Pad holder calls out combinations, attacker, Gun from Front & Behind, defender, fast, aggressive defense, and back to working the Mitts.

BEGINNER CLASS

Straight Punches

Round Kick

Round 1: Pad holder calls a number 1-4, Striker makes that number of straight punches

Round 2: Pad holder calls 1K-4K, Striker makes straight punch followed by round kick with the opposite leg of the last punch, i.e. 2K = Left/Right/Left round kick

Round 3: Round 2 + Instructor calls "DOWN" at any time, Pad holder drops pad on the ground and Striker mounts for nonstop Ground and Pound strikes until Instructor calls "TIME!" Partners return to standing strikes.

Drill: G&P Musical Pads

Everyone with Kickshield. On “RUN!” all students run randomly around the room with pads scattered across mat. On “DOWN!” each mounts pad and sends all out ground and pound strikes to pad. “RUN!” everyone runs again, but instructor takes away one student’s pad. On next “GO!” round, padless student may distract another person striking. Repeat, removing a pad every round.

Basic Ground Position

Front Kick from the Ground

Tactical Get-Up

Drill: Roaming attackers. Defender/Striker begins mounted on pad sending all out strikes. Attackers “throw” strikers to ground and pick up pad. Striker gets into Ground – Back position, tracking padholder and sending kicks when approached. After several kicks, padholder should throw pad down, for mount/strikes.

INTERMEDIATE CLASS

Focus mitts and shin guards

Round 1: Free work with punch combinations

Round 2: Add 360 with simultaneous counterattack. Mitt holder can make a 360 attack with one mitt while holding the other mitt up for punch.

Round 3: Mitt holder can also make Front Kick at any time between calling combinations. Striker makes Reflexive Defense v. Front Kick.

Ground – Headlock from the Side Forward

Ground – Headlock from the Side Backward

Drill: A/B Drill. A's lay down on mat with eyes closed. B's are roaming attackers and can apply Headlock from the Side on the Ground, weight Forward or Backward

 

ADVANCED CLASS

Thai Pad Cauldron

Round 1: Free work with pad holder calling all combinations including kicks

Round 2: For every call with a kick, Striker makes 2 round kicks

Round 3: For every call with a kick, Striker makes 3 round kicks. Add sprawls on Instructor's call.

Advanced Gun – from kneeling position

Drill: Roaming attackers. Defender/Striker begins mounted on pad sending all out strikes. Attackers “throw” strikers to ground and pick up pad. Striker gets into Ground – Back position, tracking padholder and sending kicks when approached. After several kicks, padholder should throw pad down, for mount/strikes, OR attackers can make a verbal cue and apply Advanced Gun – from kneeling position. Defender must make defense starting from mounted position on pad.

BEGINNER CLASS
Straight Punches
Groin Kick
Drill: A/B drill with straight punches or groin kicks
Choke from the Side
Drill: eyes closed, choke from either side
Drill: eyes closed, choke from the side or strikes from any angle (hammer fist, straight punches, groin kicks)

INTERMEDIATE CLASS
Belt Drill
Headbutt forward
Focus Mitt Combination: Left, Right, Left Hook, Headbutt forward
Ground- Kick off from guard
Ground- Choke from the Side
Drill: Choke from the Side Ground- make space, kick attacker away; get up and work focus mitts (using today’s combo) then drop down and restart.

ADVANCED CLASS
Axe Kick
Jumping Front Kick
Drill: Target recognition on curved kick shield; 2 punches, FKG, Round Kick, Axe Kick, or Jumping Front Kick
Drill: Add sprawls
Knife – threat, def. to dead side
Knife – threat, def. to life side
Drill: A/B Drill: Have defenders standing with their backs to a wall. Roaming attackers can apply Knife – threat, def. to dead side, Knife – threat, def. to life side, or any beginner/intermediate technique (especially Choke from the Front Against a Wall!). Defenders make sure to make space away from wall after defense.
**Bonus: can establish cones or landmarks in the room as exits/safety points and have defenders sprint to exit after making defense.**

BEGINNER CLASS

Straight Punch Review

Drill: eyes closed; pad holder pushes; defender recovers and makes Right Punch; emphasize moving to the right after the punch, away from the opponent's power.

Basic Takedown Defense - after lesson, emphasize doing the technique with left arm framing attacker's left side and left foot back; include knees

Drill: eyes closed; pad holder pushes; defender recovers and makes Right Punch and moves right; attacker moves forward; defender frames and gives knees

Choke from the Front (2 Hands)

Drill: defender makes Choke from the Front; after the counterattacks, the attacker moves in again; defender frames and gives knees

 

INTERMEDIATE CLASS

Focus Mitts: Combo #3/slip right punch/Left Hook/Right Cross

Focus Mitts: Combo #4/slip left punch/Right Cross/Left Hook

Ground - Backward Roll

Ground - Headlock from the Side, Forward

Ground - Headlock from the Side, Backward

 

 

ADVANCED CLASS

Round Kick Review

Jumping Round Kick

Headlock from the Side (review)

Headlock from the Side, Spinning Inward

Headlock from the Side, Neck Break

BEGINNER CLASS

Left/Right Combination

Front Kick (Groin)

Round Kick

Drill: 30 seconds of max punches, then switch pad. 30 seconds of max FKG, then switch. 30 seconds of 2 round kicks right and 2 round kicks left, then switch. Have students keep track of their number of strikes as a team for friendly competition.

Drill: 4 minute shared interval round. 15 seconds of max punches, immediately switch the pad. Then, 15 seconds each of FKG, 2 Round Kicks left and 2 round kicks right, and 2 punches and a push-up. Repeat until the 4 minutes has elapsed. Emphasize that strikes should be maximum power and speed.

Choke from the Front, 2-handed Pluck

Drill: Round Robin; Groups of 3 A/B/C: A holds for punches at one end of the room; at the other end, B stands with eyes closed; C makes Choke Front, 2 handed Pluck to B; B defends, then sprints across the room while C stands with eyes closed; B makes 10 left/right combinations, then takes the pad; A runs across the room and attacks C. So all 3 students are rotating through attacking, being attacked, punching, and holding for punches.  They rotate continuously.

 

INTERMEDIATE CLASS

Headbutt Forward

Headbutt Backward

Uppercut

Spinning on centerline (review)

Focus mitts and belly pad

Combination 1: Headbutt Forward/Elbow #1/Rear Uppercut

Combination 2: Headbutt Forward/Elbow #1/Rear Uppercut/Knee/Spin on Centerline/Knee.

Drill: Striker stands in neutral stance with eyes closed, a step away from a wall. Mitt holder spins them and then gives a verbal cue. Striker opens their eyes. If they are facing the wall, with Mitt Holder behind them, they throw Headbutt Backward/turn and face/Elbow #1/Rear Uppercut/Knee/Spin on Centerline/Knee making sure to spin away from the wall. If Mitt holder is facing Striker, Striker throws Combination 2, making sure to spin away from the wall.

Headlock from the Side

Final Drill: Groups of 3: Mitt holder, Attacker, Defender/Striker. Mitt holder spins Defender and can verbal cue for drill from above OR Attacker makes Headlock from the Side. For experienced students, have them stack Attacker and Mitt holder when possible.

 

ADVANCED CLASS

Mouth of Hand Punch

Axe Kick

Drill: Padholder calls for any number 1-10. Striker makes that number of hand combatives to the pad. Padholder can also hold for Front Kick Groin to Mouth of Hand Punch.

Drill: Same as previous drill except after Front Kick Groin, Striker throws an Axe Kick. Discuss that the target for Axe Kick in this scenario could be the back of the head if our bad guy bent over from the Front Kick Groin.

Gun from the Front

Gun from the Front, Pushing Into Stomach

Drill: Diving for the Pads or Gun: Have partners line up facing each other at the center of the mat. Some partner groups have a gun between them and some have a pad. Partners should be equidistant from the pad/gun, with elbows on knees. On instructor’s call of “GO!” students attempt to grab the gun or touch the pad first. Whoever can get it first gets to be the attacker for Gun from the Front OR Gun from the Front, Pushing Into Stomach and partner must make defense. If it is a pad, the person who got pad holds for nonstop hand combatives until instructor calls “TIME!”

Note: Play with variations of distance (3 steps away, at opposite ends of the mat) and how they must get there (begin on stomach facing away from gun/pad, bear crawl, army crawl, etc.). Rotate one line at regular intervals to allow for different match-ups.

BEGINNER
Palm Heel Strikes
Straight and round knees
360 defense
Drill: Defender starts eyes closed. Attacker bumps with kick shield for palm heel strike (broken) flurry, followed by knees until “time” is called, or alerts the defender and attacks for 360s followed by control position & combatives.

INTERMEDIATE
Hook Punch
Uppercut Punch
Combo #8 (Right Uppercut/Left Hook/Right Straight)
Combo #9 (Left Uppercut/Right Straight/Left Hook)
Defense v. Front Kick to the Groin (redirect)
Defense v. Low Round Kick (absorb)
Drill: pad holder moves around and calls out punch combinations OR makes a low kick

ADVANCED
Focus Mitts – Right Cross/Liver Shot
Focus Mitts – Right Cross/Live Shot/Left Hook
Body Absorption – light work
Toe The Line! – stand across from partner, two lines, both attack with body shots; then move on to next person.
Gun Side Front of Arm – work both sides